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Who Are The Top JUCO Position Players You've Seen This Fall?

September 12, 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: Last week, we kicked off our ‘Fall Preview’ series by spotlighting the ‘Must-See’ player of the fall in each state. This week, we’re asking for the top JUCO position players you've seen recently at a Scout Day or will see at an upcoming fall event. Please include the event(s) as well. 

+ 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’ (9/12):

Idaho

+ Mack Evans, CF (College of Southern Idaho HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

Quote from CSI Associate Head Coach, Nick Aiello

“Evans will be the every day starting Centerfielder. His leadership skills have exponentially improved over the past year and is a great teammate that will be a centerpiece of our group this Spring.” 

+ Cooper Scott, OF (College of Southern Idaho HS, Freshman) | Uncommitted:

Quote from CSI Associate Head Coach, Nick Aiello

“Uber athletic Swiss Army Knife type player that will be an asset for us all over the field this years as a freshman as well as a staple at the top of our order”

+ Cade Burnham, SS (College of Southern Idaho HS, Freshman) | Uncommitted:

Quote from CSI Associate Head Coach, Nick Aiello

"You want your players up the middle of the field to always make the routine plays and Burnham has an uncanny ability to make the routine play along with make exceptional plays at shortstop. He is a player who has impressed us so far this Fall and we expect to continue making big strides on both side of the ball heading into the Spring.”

– Brett Harrison, West Region Supervisor

Illinois

+ Nick Drtina, 1B (Harper HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Drtina returns to Harper this season after posting a .407 batting average with 14 extra base hits last spring. He owns an easy, repeatable left-handed swing with noticeable power in the bat. At the Harper JC Scout Day this fall, Drtina averaged 92 mph off his bat while peaking at 100 mph. He showed clear bat speed through the zone (72.5 mph avg) while staying on the barrel throughout his round for hard-hit contact.”

– Gavin Smith, Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout

+ Daniel Schuta, OF/RHP (Kaskaskia HS, R-Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Shuta looks like an intriguing two-way prospect joining the Blue Devils this year. On the mound, the right-hander ran his fastball up to 92 mph, sitting 89-91 mph throughout. He paired it with a high-spin slider in the low-80s, averaging 2,733 rpm with -6.1 inches of induced vertical break and -5.8 inches of horizontal movement. At the plate, the right-handed hitter produced some of the event’s loudest contact, averaging 97.4 mph exit velocity with a peak of 106.2 mph and driving the ball out to 425 feet at his furthest.”

– Gavin Smith, Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout

+ Jonah Weathers , UTIL (John A. Logan HS, Sophomore ) | Uncommitted :

“Weathers looks to be one of the top returners for an extremely strong John A. Logan club, as he hit .345 last spring in 171 at-bats with nine doubles, four triples, five home runs and 49 RBIs. We recently saw him at the John A. Logan scout day where he took an extremely loud round of BP, averaging 101 mph while peaking at 107 mph for his exit velocity (408' peak distance). He's a well above-average runner that has been down to a 6.66 in past events, and he has well above-average arm strength with a 98 mph peak velocity from the outfield and 97 mph peak velocity from the infield. He's a must-see name at the Puma Classic this weekend.”

– Peter Hamot, Assistant Director Illinois/Wisconsin

Louisiana

(8/21/25)

+ Mason Bordelon, OF (LSU-Eunice HS, R-Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Physical 6-3, 220-pound frame. Bordelon showed off real raw power at our LSU-Eunice Scout Day back on August 21st. He starts in an athletic stance with relaxed hands and uses a simple load and stride before whipping the barrel through the zone with exit velocities up to 111.4 mph. Last season, he hit .333 with 4 home runs and 17 runs batted in across 42 at-bats, and has the chance for a breakout 2026 on the Cajun Prairie.”

+ Aidan Mouton, INF (LSU-Eunice HS, R-Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Compact 5-11, 185-pound frame. Mouton is one of the top returning offensive performers for the Bengals from last spring. He hit an impressive .391 last season with 11 home runs and 53 runs batted in. Additionally, he drew more walks than strikeouts and also swiped 23 bags. ”

– Alex Armand, State Director

Minnesota

(9/4/25)

+ Jaxon Kenning, OF (Minnesota North - Itasca HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Jaxon Kenning an outfielder from Itasca CC had a dominant workout most recently at the Minnesota North Juco Scout Day. An athletic and physical build at 6-foot, 200-pounds, who ran a 6.60, posted 104.8 max exit velocity, averaging 98.4 mph, and has high end bat speed, hand speed, and rotates very well. A standout in the DIII juco ranks in Northern Minnesota, Kenning could be a very athletic add to a roster next fall.”

– Andy Judkins, State Director

Nebraska

+ Taccarri Brown, OF (Northeast CC HS, R-Freshman) | Uncommitted:

“Tiwtchy smooth athlete that ran a 6.50 with a 91 mph OF velo. Gap to gap line drives in his round of BP out of a compact flat swing and bat path with exit velos exceeding 95 mph. ”

+ Brady Fitzpatrick, OF (Northeast CC HS, R-Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Physical Left handed bat that impacted baseballs at a high level in bp. Athleticism plays to all three OF spots with a 6.76 sixty and 90 mph arm. ”

– Pascal Paul, Scouting Director

Nevada

+ AJ Diaz, 3B/RHP (College of Southern Nevada HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Diaz is a transfer in from Yavapai College that projects to be a staple in the heart of the order as well as a key piece on the mound for the Coyotes.”

+ Harvey Smerdon, SS (College of Southern Nevada HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Smerdon will be a catalyst at the top of the CSN order and will be a key part of a solid defense up the middle of the field.”

+ Caden Kirby, 2B (College of Southern Nevada HS, Freshman) | Uncommitted:

“Kirby will be another key piece at the top of the order and will be a dynamic defender all around the field. ”

– Brett Harrison, West Region Supervisor

Wisconsin

+ Bradyn Nelson, OF (Bryant & Stratton HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“All-Region performer from last year after hitting 11 home runs and hitting .361 as a freshman. Also reliable or better defense at either corner with 6.65 speed and arm strength that both play in game.”

+ Cole Wissen, OF (Milwaukee Area Technical HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Returning Region 4 Gold Glove winner in centerfield with speed that shows up in the outfield and on the bases. Budding power, flashing power to the pullside and reached 100 mph max exit velocity at a recent scout day. ”

+ Noah Marschke, LHP (Madison JC HS, Sophomore) | Uncommitted:

“Returning workhorse starting left-hander with feel to locate multiple pitches in and around the zone. Collects strikeouts in bunches cruising in the upper-80s last spring with seemingly more left in the tank for the 6-foot-3 lefty.”

– Josh Fields, Area Scout

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