Arriving at training camp on June 26, over 50 of the top non draft-eligible collegians participated in the CNT Trials with two practices and six scrimmages over the next eight days to determine the final roster. This 26-man team then traveled across the Pacific to face the Samurai Japan 18O in the Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series.

This summer’s pitching staff lacked the firepower of last year’s squad that included No. 2 overall pick Tyler Bremner, No. 11 Jamie Arnold, No. 15 Kyson Witherspoon and No. 29 Patrick Forbes, but it did include plenty of top talent for future drafts, including the return of Gabe Gaeckle, Liam Peterson, Jason DeCaro, Jacob Dudan and Brett Renfrow from last summer's CNT.

RIGHTHANDERS

Jason DeCaro (North Carolina)- Although the smooth-working righthander hasn’t seen much uptick in his stuff since his freshman season, besides tightening up his breaking pitches for a bit more swing/miss, he still has much of what it takes to become a first round pick. Long and loose at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and young for his class, only recently turning 19 in May, DeCaro was up to 95 with his fastball and controlled two above average secondary pitches in a 76-77 curveball and a low-80s slider. He’ll also add in an 83-84 circle changeup with good sink and armside action. Against Japan he threw 2.2 scoreless innings in his lone appearance, allowing two hits and striking out a pair. His best pitch for the CNT was his curve which produced a 56% whiff rate. Although delivered with ease and quick-spin, his other fastball metrics are not favorable. Both his 2-seam and 4-seam have poor shapes. With near equal VB and HB movements it’s released from a dead zone 1:30 on the clock. It also enters the hitting zone at a common vertical approach angle (VAA) for the pitch type. Although more projectable due to his age and frame, DeCaro is similar to Anthony Eyanson in the ability to spin two distinct, effective breaking pitches. Eyanson was a third round selection by the Red Sox this summer, but was paid like a mid-second rounder. DeCaro also has similarities to Nate Snead in their fastball shape. Snead was also a third round pick. It may be as easy as just a slight grip adjustment on the seams for DeCaro to develop better shape and action, but it’s more likely a bit more complex with all of the other variables that go into pitch shaping. Regardless, DeCaro has a ton of valuable attributes and is currently a top two round prospect for next summer’s draft.

Jacob Dudan (NC State)- Lanky and projectable at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, with some length to his arm path, Dudan continues to be a developing talent that touches the upper-90s with his fastball. Working out of the Wolfpack pen this spring he improved his control, walking 17 in 30 innings compared to 34 in 48 innings his freshman season. Against Japan he faced the minimum nine batters over three scoreless innings. During the Trials, he sat 95-97 with some sink down and ride up in the zone. He paired his heater with a firm 86-88 mph slider and flashed an occasional 87-89 mph changeup to lefthanded batters. At this point, Dudan slots into the third round next summer, but could jump a bit with further refinement to his slider and improved whiff rates.

Gabe Gaeckle (Arkansas)- The 6-foot, 200 pound Gaeckle is a short, strong, power righthander with smooth delivery, compact arm action and control of a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and hard-biting slider. He’s a big arm with big stuff who reminds some of Spencer Strider. After a dominant freshman season for the Razorbacks when he walked just 19 in 42.2 innings with 57 strikeouts and a .167 opponent’s batting average as a go-to reliever, Gaeckle began the 2025 season in the rotation. He didn’t fare so well, but soon found greater success with consistent strike-throwing upon his return to the pen. Armed with primarily a fastball/slider mix, he also showed a 79-81 mph curve and a power changeup in the upper-80s for the CNT. His stuff was down a couple ticks, but still managed to go over bats at the top of the zone with his 93-96 heater and below them with his 87 mph slider (50% whiff rate). He was hit around a bit against Japan, allowing one run on five hits with two walks in 1.1 innings. Gaeckle could become Gage Wood 2.0 as one who will likely be considered a second round prospect this fall/winter only to emerge from the 2026 draft as a first rounder.

Liam Peterson (Florida)- After a rough season as a freshman in the SEC (6.18 ERA) Peterson improved to post a 4.28 ERA in 69.1 innings with 32 walks and 96 strikeouts in 2025. An average athlete, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander sat 94-97 with his fastball for the CNT, but ran it up to 99 this past spring. However, like DeCaro the pitch plays below its velocity as it’s pretty true. His mid-80s slider had plus action and some swing/miss when he lands it in the zone and his 84-88 mph changeup is currently his third pitch. Peterson made one appearance against Japan, allowing two hits, but no runs. Certainly a day one prospect for 2026, Peterson has less present stuff than fellow SEC arm Riley Quick who was selected 36th overall by the Twins this summer.

Brett Renfrow, RHP (Virginia Tech)- Made two appearances during the Trials that totaled three shutout innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Renfrow has good arm action and a fluid delivery to a high three-quarter release point. He spotted a 91-97 mph fastball and flashed an above average 83-87 slider. His third pitch was a firm 86-87 mph changeup. Renfrow made one start and went three innings against Japan, allowing five hits and one earned run. He currently projects to the 2nd-to-3rd round in 2026.

Blake Morningstar (Wake Forest)- Yet another talented arm from the Wake pitching factory, The 6-foot-4, 225 pound righthander excelled from his transition to the starting rotation as a sophomore after a freshman season in the bullpen. During the CNT Trials, he was extremely efficient in getting through three scoreless innings on just 35 pitches, pounding the zone with a 93-95 mph fastball, an 87-88 cutter, a low-80s curve and mid-80s changeup. Against Japan, Morningstar continued to shine, allowing no earned runs over two relief appearances that totaled 3.1 innings. He struck out four and walked two. His multi-pitch arsenal reminds of Drew Beam, a third rounder in 2024.

Ryan Lynch (North Carolina)- A draft-eligible sophomore for 2026, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound hurler logged 61 innings for the Tar Heels this spring as a freshman. Twenty-four of his 27 appearances were out of the bullpen, but he was at his best with a pair of starts late in the season at Oklahoma during Regionals and at home against Arizona in the Supers. For the CNT his fastball averaged 95 and peaked at 98 while his slider sat 83-86 and flashed plus. His results were mixed with a five strikeout, two-inning outing at the Trials, followed by two appearances covering 3.1 innings in Japan that yielded five hits and four earned runs.

Ryan McPherson (Mississippi State)- One of the biggest arms on the CNT, the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder touched several 98s on the radar gun during the Trials with a quick-paced and repeatable delivery. He also spun a 83-85 mph curveball with good depth and showed a power split changeup with good bottom at 88-90. The splitter was nearly unhittable, logging a 73% whiff rate during the Trials. Draft-eligible in 2027, McPherson already has three pitches that show plus to better and is a first round follow at this point in the process.

Dax Whitney (Oregon State)- Another big-armed freshman who projects to the first round in 2027, Whitney posted every weekend for the Beavers this spring. He accumulated 76.2 innings over 17 starts and struck out 120 against 37 walks. The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder powers the ball to the plate with a super short arm path (similar to the present day Cade Horton of the Cubs). Hitters get a late look as the ball is released quickly and from just above his back shoulder. It’s an unusual look and one that adds even more to his deception. For the CNT he led his four-pitch arsenal with a fastball at 95-97 mph and also showed an 83 mph slider, a 75-77 curveball and an upper-80s changeup. The changeup was his most effective pitch, producing a 64% whiff rate. Whitney made one appearance against Japan, a 4.1 inning start in which he allowed five hits and two runs on 70 pitches. He struck out four and walked one.