Which Prospect Made the Biggest Rise This Winter?
February 27, 2026
The ‘Hotlist’ is a series that provides weekly insight into the high school baseball scene spanning the country, curated by Prep Baseball’s state directors who are situated nationwide, with vital intel on the prospects who are in their own backyards. Each week, we’ll publish our ‘Hotlist’ on varying topics that are timeliest to the national baseball calendar at that point in time.
This week’s topic: With preseason events wrapping up in some parts of the country, we’re spotlighting the prospect who made the biggest rise in your state this winter. Please submit a player whose stock climbed the most during the preseason circuit. Include where you saw them, what stood out in their performance or evaluation, and how their showing this winter elevated their standing heading into the spring season.
+ Learn of our directors stationed nationwide by visiting the staff directory.
+ View which Prep Baseball events are headed your way next at this page.
+ Read about previously published ‘Hotlist’ topics here.
♨️ The ‘Hotlist’ (2/27):
Alabama
+ Ethan O'Meara, RHP (Orange Beach HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“O’Meara delivered one of the most electric bullpens at the South Alabama Preseason All-State on January 11, emerging as a clear winner with big-time stuff that immediately jumped off the mound. Listed at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, he presents a lean, wiry, highly athletic build with obvious projection still ahead. Working from a two-piece arm stroke with excellent arm quickness, his fastball ranged 87-90 mph and topped at 91.6 mph, a notable jump from last summer, and consistently showed late hop with arm-side run that made the pitch play even quicker than the radar reading. He spun two distinct breakers,a 74-77 mph curveball with depth and a 76-77 mph slider with more lateral shape, while also turning over an 82-83 mph changeup as a legitimate fourth offering. All of this pointed to him making a huge jump in the recent rankings update as he continues to develop into one of the premier arms in Alabama’s 2027 class.”
– David Sharp, Deep South Supervisor
California
+ Joel Vargas, OF (Eastlake HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“Vargas has been a well known name in baseball circles throughout Southern California for some time. In January he attended the San Diego Preseason All-State and made an immediate impact with a blazing 6.63 sixty that he ran into a stiff wind which put him at the top of the leaderboard for the entire event. During the workout he showcased his high level arm strength and his innate ability to consistently square balls up at the plate by often leaving the yard with home runs. Moving into the gameplay portion of the event, Vargas continued to standout for his ability to track down balls in the outfield by getting excellent jumps and reads off the bat. At the plate it was more of the same as we saw Vargas barrel everything resulting in a hard contact for hits and a pair of very loud outs. Later in the game he took an inning at shortstop and more than held his own on the dirt. While he's an above average outfielder, a move to the infield in the future is not out of the question given his innate instincts there. Coming off a strong spring in 2025 and a solid summer, Vargas is primed to have a breakout season for Eastlake who are one of the top teams in the San Diego Section of CIF. ”
– Les Lukach, State Scouting Director
Colorado
+ Derek Graham, LHP (Doherty HS, 2027) | St.John's:
“Graham has been a quick riser in Colorado after committing to D1 St. John's while also posting a fastball up to 88 mph from the left-side at this year's Colorado Preseason All-State event. The southpaw comes with composure and confidence on the mound with a projectable fastball, changeup, and slider combination in his arsenal. We have seen Graham's fastball increase 13 mph since the last time we saw him at an event in 2023, and the lefty is certainly a name to follow closely over the next two seasons. ”
– Caleb Dameron, Assistant Director
Florida
+ Eisler Piloto, 3B (Miami Springs HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“A loud winter showing at Preseason All-State has firmly cemented Piloto as the No. 24 player in Florida's 2028 class. A switch-hitting infielder, Piloto flashed advanced bat-to-ball skills from both sides, with bat speed and rotational torque that already translates into easy, game-ready power — especially to the pull side as an LHH. The pull-side thunder he delivered during the workout made him one of the more complete, high-floor prospects in Florida's '28 group.”
– Cayden Hatcher, Scouting Director
Illinois
+ Dominic Maloney , RHP (Loyola Academy HS, 2027) | Uncommitted :
“Maloney opened some eyes last week with his bullpen at our Chicago Preseason ID, establishing himself as one of the top power arms in the state with his fastball up to 92 mph. Also a quarterback for the reigning state champions in the highest division of IHSA football, Maloney is clearly a gifted athlete with raw, natural arm-talent, and he's only scratching the surface of his upside on the mound. Listed at 6-foot, 205-pounds, Maloney is a clean and simple mover that looks to have added some mobility over the last year. His arm-speed also stands out, as he's able to spin both his breaking balls just under 80 mph. ”
– Peter Hamot, Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois/Wisconsin
Indiana
+ Quinn Lewis, SS (Northview HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“Lewis is a name that I've followed for a good part of a year and I was excited to see his name on this roster coming into the event. He didn't disappoint as his 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame jumped out during check-in and he followed it up by turning in an event-best 6.79 60-yard dash. The athletic traits excite, moving his massive frame well in both a straight line, and during infield evaluations where he showed as one of the top defenders in attendance. He moves well laterally with clean movement patterns and raw-but-athletic footwork. The arm works clean and there is some glove-to-hand feel apparent. Lewis reached 85 across the diamond, and that number likely ticks further once he is fully entrenched in baseball (in the middle of basketball now; currently averaging 16 PPG for 14-4 Northview). Offensively, he covers the box with a wide, closed setup with high hands to start. He takes a short load before a heavier forward move leads a direct, steep-at-times path. He was able to create some backspun contact while rotating very well (21+ rot. acceleration avg) and flashing big bat speed (77.7 mph max). His exits peaked at 96.2 mph, and I think there are fixable mechanics that could unlock even more power and consistency moving forward. In total, there is some rawness to the game now, but Lewis is a high-level athlete with a pristine frame and solid tools across the board. High follow that I will be seeing early & often in 2026; chance to end up as one of the top infield prospects in this 2028 class if tools/athleticism continues to trend and polishing occurs. ”
– Cooper Trinkle, Scouting Director
Iowa
+ Jack Isenhart, SS (Des Moines Christian HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“Jack Isenhart is a 6'0" 180lbs SS from Des Moines Christian. He improved his 60 time from 7.23 at the Preseason All-State event in March of 2025 to now 6.71 at the Central Iowa Preseason ID event. He also showed above average arm strength across the diamond topping out at 90mph. Jack is also coming off an impressive 2025 season where he hit .438 and an OPS of 1.107. In 73 at bats he tallied 9 doubles and 21 RBI's with only 10 strikeouts and took 19 walks. His athleticism translates into the box with an aggressive swing where he posted a 90.7 exit velocity. Jack will be looking to make an impact this upcoming summer for the Lions. ”
– Tyler Cropley, Scouting Director
Massachusetts
+ Owen Ma, 3B/RHP (St Marks HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“Athletic right-handed pitcher and right-handed hitting third baseman. Touched 93 mph on the mound, with room to grow. ”
– Dennis Healy, New England Owner
North Carolina
+ John Hucko, OF/LHP (Charlotte Catholic HS HS, 2027) | Auburn:
“The North Carolina staff saw Hucko twice within the span of one week at the Charlotte Catholic Analytics Day and the North Carolina ProCase. At each event it became very apparent that we were light on Hucko. Going into the preseason, Hucko was listed at No. 7 in the state and No. 170 in the overall rankings. His performances, athletic ability, and production will make him a "big mover" in the upcoming rankings releases. Grading out higher as a position player, Huck showed feel and stuff on the bump, sitting 90-93 from the left side. Offensively, the BP rounds were very loud with consistent, hard barrels, showing strength and carry to both gaps. The Exit velocity peaked at 103.2mph while carrying better than a 90mph average exit velocity over the course of 7 rounds in BP. Athletically, Hucko is elite. He ran a 6.46 on the laser while showcasing a 30in vertical on the VALD Athletics jump mat. Playing for the No. 1 team in North Carolina's Preseason Power 25, and a team inside the Prep Baseball National Team Rankings, look for Hucko to become a name to know in the 2027 class.”
– Brandon Hall, Mid-Atlantic Director of Scouting
Oklahoma
+ Jaxon Marshall, LHP/OF (Edmond Santa Fe HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“Marshall showed advanced athleticism throughout all facets of his game at the Preseason All State event earlier this month. The 2-way prospect turned in a 6.74 60 to showcase a foundation of a dynamic offensive game that also included an 80% Sweet Spot % as he drove the ball to all parts of the yard. He's also continued to develop arm strength working up to 92 from the outfield. He has also showed consistent development on the mound with legitimate upside - currently, a fastball up to 87, a tunneled slider, and a changeup with up to -18" of Horizontal Break. A rapid riser through the preseason, Marshall has an opportunity to be an impact player for the defending 6A State Champions in Edmond Santa Fe.”
+ Easton Selden, OF (Jenks HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“Selden showcased a game-changing offensive skillset with a power/speed combo from a still developing frame. The 6.47 60 is amongst the best turned in throughout the preseason here in the Sooner State and shows up on the diamond. He notched numerous personal bests offensively as well with a 96.4 mph max EV and 72% Sweet Spot %. The Jenks product has shown the ability to pressure opposing teams in a variety of ways. He will be a big part of a talented lineup this spring with a dynamic skillset that can impact the game.”
– Bret Schwartz, Oklahoma Scouting Director
Oregon
+ Evan Guadalupe, INF/RHP (Summit HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“The two-way talent was already ranked inside Oregon's top ten for the 2028 class, but had arguably the biggest breakout showing of any arm in the state this preseason. The sophomore hopped on the mound for the first time in a showcase setting at PNW Preseason All-State, where he hurled a fastball up to 89 MPH, sitting 87-88 with life up in the zone. Guadalupe also killed spin well on a mid-70's changeup and mixed in a low-70's slider as well. Guadalupe had not pitched in 2025 due to a slight injury risk, but elevates his stock massively as a prospect with his performance on the mound.”
– Dylan Grenz, Associate Scout
South Dakota
+ Kade Wede, RHP (Harrisburg HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“Kade Wede (‘27, RHP, Harrisburg) made a loud statement heading into the spring. The top-ranked uncommitted player in the class showed premium arm strength, running his fastball up to 91.1 mph with life through the zone. The right-hander also demonstrated advanced feel and landing multiple pitches for strikes with his off-speed. With power stuff and present command, Wede continues to separate himself as a high-follow arm in the 2027 class out of South Dakota”
– Andy Judkins, State Director
Washington
+ Steven Doersam, RHP (Stanwood HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“Few players have made a bigger jump in stuff on the mound in the Northwest than the junior out of Stanwood, seen at this February's Northern Washington Preseason ID. The righthander ran his fastball up to 88 MPH, sitting 85-87 throughout. The fastball velocity increased by nearly 15 MPH since his previous showcase look at last June's Spokane Summer ID, a remarkable uptick. Doersam mixed in a mid-70's slider and upper-70's changeup that flashed as potential plus offerings as well. The righthander immediately becomes a must-follow uncommitted junior in the PNW.”
– Dylan Grenz, Associate Scout
Wisconsin
+ Cade Heiman, RHP (Oshkosh West HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“The stuff really ticked up since our last look at Heiman, three pitch mix with the potential to get swing-and-miss from all three. The fastball averaged 87.9 mph throughout the 'pen with big carry action at the top of the zone. There's feel for a firm and sharp two-plane slider with high spin rates as well as a fading changeup.”
– Josh Fields, Wisconsin Staff
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