Focused on rising high school seniors in the 2027 class, this list serves as a roadmap for the next 12 months, highlighting prospects with a legitimate opportunity to generate significant draft buzz, gain helium throughout the summer showcase circuit, and elevate their standing as the industry turns its attention toward the next draft cycle. The goal is not simply to spotlight future first-rounders, but to sift through multiple tiers of talent, from nationally recognized standouts to emerging regional names, and identify players whose trajectories could look very different a year from now.

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TWENTY-SEVEN ‘27s

1. SS/OF Elyjah Mason (CA)
2. 1B/LHP Jake Turner (NV)
3. OF Anderson Lambert (MD)
4. SS Bobby Villa (AZ)
5. CF Drake McClurg (IN)
6. OF John Hucko (NC)
7. SS Alex Smith (FL)
8. LHP Kade Luker (LA)
9. SS Tyler Fryman (KY)
10. RHP Liam Radke (NV)
11. RHP Collin Doyle (IL)
12. OF Charlie Sarsfield (IA)
13. RHP Matthew Hernandez (TX)
14. 3B Brady Yates (MO)
15. RHP Ryder Concannon (MI)
16. RHP Chris Grasso (PA)
17. OF Cason Borchardt (ND)
18. IF Evan Brand (GA)
19. LHP Easton Sarmiento (CA)
20. SS Trip Ostergard (SC)
21. SS Grady Grant (IN)
22. 3B Nick Machusko (PA)
23. SS/P Sam Szefc (VA)
24. OF Ira Hilbelink (WI)
25. LHP Josh Vanderlugt (MI)
26. RHP Dylan Frers (NY)
27. SS Elijah Parkhurst (OK)

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ALMOST FAMOUS: CLASS OF 2027

Elyjah Mason SS / OF / Huntington Beach High, CA / 2027 Mason’s wiry-athletic, 6-foot-3 frame is packed with impressive athleticism that allows him to play both shortstop and center field with advanced feel. A dynamic athlete who tests well on the analytic side, his ability to produce as a left-handed hitter whose bat-to-ball skill is equally as exciting as the potential power production that he has steadily tapped into over the past year. The Oklahoma State recruit has handled high-level arms with ease, and the ability to move the barrel around and change planes is something that the scouting community will be tracking closely over the next year.

Jake Turner OF / LHP / Centennial, NV / 2027 Recent high-level prep prospects, Bryce Eldridge and Noah Franco, both come to mind when considering the two-way profile that Turner presents. Wide-shouldered with lean strength on an athletic 6-foot-4 frame that is likely to add considerable strength in coming years. As a left-handed arm, Turner’s pure stuff and arm talent is difficult to replicate within the class as he routinely churns out mid-to-upper 90s heat with the makings of a swing-and-miss slider. Effectively wild at times, the arm is electric at times and hard to walk away from until considering the excitement of the bat (similar to Eldridge). Featuring astounding Blast Motion data and (potentially) the best raw power in the class, Turner drives the ball with authority to all fields from a handsier setup while displaying the ability to cover the plate.

Anderson Lambert OF / McDonogh, MD / 2027 Lambert was a breakout star of the Prep Baseball Future Games, a year ago, and only elevated his ceiling after a strong spring. The 6-foot, 180-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder is set to be a data darling in analytics departments, but is equally as exciting for the area scouts who are set to witness the intangibles and daily impact that the Maryland native brings to the ball park. Athletic in the box with ultra-quick hands and a power tool that is quickly elevating, Lambert’s bat-to-ball skills and plate coverage shine, and the summer has a chance to be his proving ground amongst peers across the country.

Robert Villa III SS / Liberty, AZ / 2027 A switch-hitting shortstop who is currently in the shadow of Seward & Houston, Villa possesses the tools to drive considerable buzz over the course of the next year. Compact from both sides with a heavy barrel, Villa’s unassuming 5-foot-9, 175-pound frame delivers some thump from both sides, and as a 6.3-runner, he has the quick first step that warrants a look at shortstop long term though his McGonigle-esq bat is what will ultimately carry the profile.

Drake McClurg OF / Center Grove, IN / 2027 An absolute gamer who combines a high-motor with a valuable toolset, McClurg plays with chip on his shoulder that is likely to garner the respect of the scouting community. A switch-hitter with a compact stroke from each side, his ability to stick in center field long term will be critical to the ceiling, and closely monitored throughout the summer. A 6.50-runner with strong ground force, look for McClurg to stack positive days against premium arms.

John Hucko OF / Charlotte Catholic, NC / 2027 The state of North Carolina is always the first stop for early Day 1 helium candidates, and Hucko checks all the boxes for a summer (and beyond) of excitement. The 6-foot, 190-pound outfielder is a 6.4-runner with an impact hit/power bat from the left side and carries true five-tool potential. An athletic specimen with of-the-charts data, Hucko is a must-see talent that should receive incessant looks from the scouting community.

Alex Smith SS / North Broward Prep, FL / 2027 Older for the class, Smith’s skill and athleticism outpace any negative connotation that that might bring (for some teams), and he looked to be one of the top players in any class in the state of Florida throughout the spring. Quick twitch with adjustability from the left side, his ability to change planes while showcasing some adjustability is sure to excite teams (everyone) looking for an up-the-middle performer who might stick at shortstop long term. The 6-foot, 170-pound, who possesses soft hands on the dirt, should see an influx of strength in a hurry.

Kade Luker LHP / Cedar Creek, LA / 2027 Finding the southpaws is an undeniable trend year after year, and Luker’s quick arm and ultra-athleticism is sure to excite the masses. The 6-foot, 190-pounder currently sits in the low 90s with a fastball that jumps out of the hand and at the plate and counters with quality feel for a well-profiled changeup. The big bend of his 72-75 curveball has the ingredients for morphing into a firmer out-pitch, and should that happen sooner, expect Luker to jump up higher on boards.

Tyler Fryman SS / Beechwood, KY / 2027 While the right/right profile will take some winning-over from the professional scouting community, those who got in line early for a longer track record were greeted to a big spring from what could be a breakout, sleeper favorite of the summer. The 6-foot, 170-pound shortstop boasts a 6.5 60-yard dash time with speed and instincts that play up in game. Still more, his simple, two-handed approach yields big outputs, and the sum of the looks from professional clubs might ultimately push Fryman’s value even higher.

Liam Radke RHP / Faith Lutheran, NV / 2027 Radke’s silky movement patterns and quick, whippy arm are sure to catch the attention of the scouting community, even without the big, workhorse frame (6-foot-1, 185-pounds). Hoppy with a low 90s fastball that he moves to four quadrants with above average command, he counters with a wipeout breaking ball and above average changeup to elicit the look of a starter moving forward. There is likely more to come, both in velocity and arsenal offerings, and clubs are likely to scout the Vegas native closely over the next 12 months.

Colin Doyle RHP / Downers Grove North, IL / 2027 Impossible to miss at 6-foot-6, 225-pounds with a frame that immediately passes the eye-test, Doyle took a big jump forward in the offseason, and has carried it into a breakout spring that already has the midwest buzzing. Featuring a heavy, low-to-mid 90s fastball with tunneled slider and curveball to go along with a changeup, Doyle clearly has the look of a potential head-of-the-class arm. The state of Illinois’ ability to reload with the top arms in the country, year after year, is an uncanny trait, and Doyle appears poised to be the next big arm from the Land of Lincoln.

Charlie Sarsfield OF / Linn-Mar, IA / 2027 At 5-foot-10, 170-pound and as a 6.3-runner, Sarsfield’s undersized profile has been given plenty of attention in recent years, and he has an opportunity to be the next in line of prospects who drive the notion that “undersized is the new 6’4”. A left-handed hitter with tight turns and a short-to-long approach, the Iowa native’s aggressive approach and sneaky power will be monitored closely by the scouting community.

Matthew Hernandez RHP / Paschal, TX / 2027 No list of helium candidates is complete without a Texan arm, and Hernandez might be the sleeper of the bunch. Working 89-93 throughout the spring, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander missed bats with life on the fastball, and presented feel for a firm slider at 80-84 and split-finger at 83-87. Quick-armed with the ability to pound the zone with all three, he is likely to receive the yearly bump that (seemingly) all Texan arms receive, and will have the scouting community flocking to the DFW area, per usual.

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