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Who are the must-see prospects this fall?

September 5, 2025
By: Andy Sroka
National Managing Editor, Scouting

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 our ‘Summer Awards’ series wrapped up, we’re shifting gears to a ‘Fall Preview’ theme. This week, we’re highlighting the "Must-See" player of the fall in your state. Please note if they're headed to a Prep Baseball showcase or tournament this fall, and specify which.

+ 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’ (9/5):

Alabama

+ Slade Bounds, OF (Spain Park HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“OF Slade Bounds (Spain Park, 2027) continuously puts his loud tools on full display at each showcase. At 5-foot-10, 187 pounds, the rising junior features a powerful, connected right-handed swing that works on a physical, upward path through contact. With a mostly pull-side approach and plenty of present power, he has posted a top exit velocity of 100.9 mph while also clocking a blazing 6.65 in the 60-yard dash. Bounds continues to trend upward and will be back in action at the Birmingham Fall ID on October 26.”

– David Sharp, Deep South Supervisor

California

(5/31/25)

+ Ayden Deome, SS/3B (West Park High School HS, 2026) | Arizona:

“Deome is really starting to come around defensively after making the transition from third base to shortstop. He’s got more than enough arm strength to stay on the left side, he just needs more reps at the spot and he will be more than capable to play both. There were a couple balls hit to Deome and he had no problem making the routine play, hands are soft. Deome is looking a lot more physical this season too and it’s showing in his offense since he’s starting the season off hitting a whopping .536 with six doubles and one homerun already. Deome doesn’t just show his power to one side of the field, he continues to prove his pop to spray the ball all over. This game he went 2-4 with a double the other way that split the gap, Deome looked like he was running the bases really well, the 6’3” 200lb frame got to second base on that double with very clean turns. Unfortunately, the Panthers couldn’t secure the win but they sure showed a lot of fight to get back into the game late after being down early.”

– Hank LoForte, NorCal Scouting Director

+ Oliver Dauskurdas, OF/RHP (Oaks Christian HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:

“Dauskurdas is a big, strong sophomore at 6'3" 198-pounds that caught our attention during the spring season where he stood out as a varsity player on a team that was a regular in our Power 25. His athleticism was on display at the OC Summer ID where his overall performance, that included a sub-7 60, earned him an invitation to the inaugural West Coast Super Sophomore Games to be held at the University of Oregon later this month. With exit velos approaching 100 mph and an 80 mph outfield velocity, Dauskurdas also impressed on the mound with a mid-80's fastball, a sharp slider/curveball mix, and feel for what is a very projectable changeup. The projection is off the charts when you put together the sum of all the parts, particularly as he continues to add strength to the frame and continued development of his athleticism. ”

– Les Lukach, State Director

+ Quinn Melton, C/OF (San Marcos Senior High School HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:

“Melton continues to trend up for me with each look at the offensive potential for the LH hitting Fr. C/OF from San Marcos. Physically well-built presently with interesting strength through his frame and still shows room to polish/improve as he matures to add more strength/athleticism to his profile. Melton started in LF (had DH’d and saw some time at C in my previous looks) where he looks comfortable moving around with a sound present defensive profile and could with work turn into a solid to strong defender in an OF corner for the future. But where Melton stands out is in the batter's box as a power potential profile from the LH side with an operation that features an aggressive uphill bat path that consistently lofts the ball from line to line. When the Fr. goes the opposite side of the field he can generate loft with carry from the LCF gap to down the LF line although he doesn’t have the present feel to stay behind the ball that way to drive it over the OF defense, but you can see the potential in there as he improves his feel to stay in his lower ½ and drive the barrel through a baseball to the opposite field there is real power potential to the opposite side of the field. At present though the offensive profile for Melton includes impressive raw power to the pull side where he is able to stay down in his back leg, keep his body behind the baseball at contact and explode through contact for loft with carry to the RCF gap to the RF line. Melton launched one of the deeper drives I’ve seen in 20+ years traveling to San Marcos High School as either a player or recruiter/scout when he uncorked on a ball that landed 100+ feet past the 330’ RF foul pole just foul. While the overall profile for Melton is closer to the floor of his future ability than the ceiling of his future. It's how high that ceiling can prove to ultimately be as an offensive piece from the LH side that has me high on the San Marcos product. Melton will be a must follow for me and others in the 2028 class going forward.”

– Steven Hardesty, Associate Director SoCal

Illinois

(7/23/25)

+ Kaden Wasniewski , RHP/INF (McHenry HS, 2027) | Uncommitted :

“Fresh off a dominant showing at the Future Games where he earned MV-Pitcher honors, Wasniewski is set for an even bigger fall that will be highlighted by a trip to Florida for our All American Game. He's the top two-way player in the Midwest, and his prospect status on the mound just keeps rising. He'll run the fastball into the 95 mph range to go along with a slider and changeup that both flash well above-average. He has freakish tools on the other side of the ball with a 6.54 in the 60 and plus arm strength on the infield - and he's also been a performer in-game with the bat. ”

– Peter Hamot, Assistant Scouting Director Illinois/Wisconsin

Indiana

+ Camden Moore, 3B/RHP (Zionsville HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Set to rise within our next 2027 rankings update, Camden Moore enjoyed a breakout spring and summer that culminated in a highly-intriguing performance at LakePoint during the Future Games this year. Moore led the HCC, one of the state's toughest conferences, in RBI's during the regular season as just a sophomore. The run-producing abilities continued to show up on the circuit, but his advances on the mound make him a must-see this fall. The outing Camden put together on the bump in Atlanta was outstanding - and even more impressive considering he virtually just picked up pitching within the last 3 months. It was 88-91 at the Future Games, with an above average slider spun, and the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder looked the part of real prospect in his scoreless frame with arm action that really projects. As a two-way player, his outing was limited to just one inning, so this fall he will be a priority watch for our staff.”

– Cooper Trinkle, Scouting Director

Iowa

+ Cullen Smith, OF (Ames HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:

“Ran well, threw well, and had a really good round recently at 3Ts Select Scout Day.”

– Tyler Cropley, Assistant State Director

Massachusetts

+ Jack Dorsey, OF (St. Sebastian's HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Athletic right-handed hitting outfielder. This guy is a player, watch him play multiple times and he is always in the action. He can run, swings the bat and can play all 3 in the outfield. ”

– Dennis Healy, New England Director

Nebraska

+ Markus Chandler, SS /RHP (Omaha Westside HS, 2027) | Uncommitted :

– Pascal Paul, State Director Nebraska

North Carolina

+ Brady Maxwell, C (Pro5 Baseball Academy HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:

“New to North Carolina as he transfers into Pro5 Academy, Maxwell was a top 20 player in Virginia's 2026 class. Left handed hitting catcher has good arm strength from behind the dish with whip in his swing. Good metrics, Maxwell has played above his raw tool score in live game action. The scouting staff in North Carolina is excited to see him this fall in their coverage of Pro5 as well as the Upperclass Top Prospect Games scheduled for mid-October in Asheboro, NC.”

– Brandon Hall, Mid-Atlantic Director

Oregon

+ Sam Smith, OF/LHP (Central Catholic HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:

“Smith, the number one ranked player in Oregon's 2028 class, will be a must-see player at this Fall's West Coast Super Sophomore event in Eugene. The two-way player had a productive freshman spring for Central Catholic, providing a dynamic, speedy presence atop the lineup paired with the ability to throw strikes and work deep into games on the mound. Smith was last seen at PNW Preseason All-State this past winter, and we look forward to seeing the strides made in his overall skillset.”

– Dylan Grenz, Associate Scout

Tennessee

+ DJ Lowery, OF (Knoxville Catholic HS, 2027) |

“Shows a lot of combinations of speed, ability, power, talent. Extremely young and shows a lot of potential with a present floor already established.”

– Hunter Martin, State Director

Washington

+ Lincoln Moore, INF (Kentlake HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:

“Moore, currently the second ranked prospect in Washington's 2028 player rankings, is a high-level talent nationally and will be seen this Fall at the West Coast Super Sophomore Games in Eugene. The 6'2 middle infielder has been seen multiple times this year, including at PNW State Games and PNW Preseason All-State. Moore is a plus defender with a mature, gap-to-gap approach at the plate, and will be one of the most highly sought-after players when his recruiting period opens next summer. ”

– Dylan Grenz, Associate Scout

Wisconsin

(7/25/25)

+ Ira Hilbelink, OF (Cedar Grove-Belgium HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Hilbelink is one of the best uncommitted '27s in the state of Wisconsin – and to this point, he's arguably been its most productive junior in the class. Offensively, Hilbelink's right-handed swing connects for both regular on-the-barrel contact as well as game power. He launched a long, no-doubt home run under the lights at the Future Games, and he's tooled up elsewhere on the diamond, too. He's an above-average athlete at a strong 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, which helped him record one of the highest average EVs (95.6 mph) during BP at the Future Games' workout day, with a 103.3 mph max there, aided by top-scale bat speed (75.4 mph avg.) and rotational acceleration (26.4g avg.). He's also a 7.03 runner that plays up in the outfield given his instincts for chasing down fly balls on efficient routes, and he might even prove himself to be a center fielder at the next level."

– Andy Sroka, National Managing Editor, Scouting

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