Who showed the best breaking ball in 2025?

December 22, 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: You've heard of elf on a shelf? Well, we need help finding something else. Locate the best breaking balls of the year and send them our way.

+ 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’ (12/26):

Alabama

(5/7/25)

+ Jamarkius Smith, RHP (Reeltown HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Smith (Reeltown, 2027) has firmly established himself as one of the premier arms in the state and among the top pitching prospects nationally within his class. He boasts rare arm talent and flashes elite-level stuff that underscores a massive long-term ceiling. The uncommitted junior stands 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, with a lean, highly-projectable frame and athleticism that is evident throughout his delivery. Operating from a loose, whippy three-quarter arm slot, Smith works comfortably in the upper 80s while also bumping the low 90's. His slider is the clear separator and a true out-pitch spinning it in the mid-70s with 2400+ RPM and late, sharp bite. He shows advanced feel to manipulate both shape and velocity, often leaning on it as his primary offering. While the fastball continues to trend toward elite velocity, the slider remains the standout weapon, capable of landing for strikes or generating swing-and-miss, giving Smith significant upside moving forward. ”

– David Sharp, Deep South Supervisor

Canada

+ Shane Brinham, LHP (North Shore Twins HS, 2025) | Michigan:

“Brinham has possessed a high-spin arsenal since we first had data on him in 2023 and the numbers have only jumped from there. A freshman with the Wolverines, Brinham's slider was devastating on hitters this year and especially at the high school level, spinning it at 2900+ in the low-80s and generating a ton of whiffs and uncomfortable swings. The high-spin fastball/breaking ball combo led the Dodgers to select him in the 20th-round before he elected to step on Michigan's campus.”

– Cam Black-Araujo, Assistant Director

Colorado

+ Carter Wilcox, LHP (Cherokee Trail HS, 2025) | Iowa:

‘25 LHP Carter Wilcox (Cherokee Trail)

FB: 92-94 T95 🚨 (~2350 rpm)
SL: 76-78 (T2874 rpm 🌪️)

Colorado’s #3 ranked 2025 prospect brought the 🔥🔥 from the left-side tonight.

Opened the game for 2IP and 3Ks. Manipulates the SL well. Ability to generate whiffs all over the zone.… pic.twitter.com/wU9lNliLBd
— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) March 12, 2025

– Caleb Dameron, Assistant Director

Illinois

+ Samuel Finn , LHP (Plainfield North HS, 2026) | Kentucky :

“Finn exploded onto the scene this past year and shot up our rankings, now sitting at No. 14 as well as No. 292 in the country. The fastball is obviously impressive, creeping into the low-90s - but the separator for Finn is his breaking balls. He has an innate ability to spin the baseball and it clearly stands out, with the slider playing over 2,900 rpm and the curveball over 2,800. The action on his pitches and ugly swings he gets on these offerings are hard to ignore, giving him two wipeout breaking balls that he can land in the zone. ”

– Peter Hamot, Assistant Scouting Director Illinois/Wisconsin

Indiana

(4/8/25)

+ Josh Flores, RHP (Lake Central HS, 2025) | Kentucky, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in the 4th round of the 2025 MLB Draft:

“The breaking ball Josh Flores showed last spring was one of the best in the 2025 prep draft class and was a large reason why the Brewers selected him in the 4th round of last year's draft. From a metric perspective, the CB played at 84-87 with zero horizontal break, on average, with nearly a foot of drop, spinning north-of 2600 on average. The combination of premier velocity for a breaking ball, and late, top-down bite, allowed him to buckle knees and create ugly chase in each and every look our staff got on him, dating back to his underclass days in our follows. ”

– Cooper Trinkle, Scouting Director

Kansas

+ Carson Cooke, RHP (Mill Valley HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“A member of Team Kansas at this year’s Future Games, Cooke features a 2,900+ RPM sweeping slider from a low, near-sidearm slot with up to -14 inches of horizontal movement. With feel to control both sides of the zone and an ability to generate swing-and-miss against even the top hitters, Cooke’s slider stands among the best in the state.”

– Eliott Wilk, Central Region Operations Director

Maine

+ Hunter Finck, RHP (Gorham HS, 2027) | Alabama:

“Been a while since we have had the chance to see him. Recently committed to the SEC and Alabama. Quick armed right-hander, should be an interesting guy to see this winter/spring. ”

– Dennis Healy, New England Director

Massachusetts

(7/23/25)

+ Jameson Gray, LHP (Milton Academy HS, 2027) | Notre Dame:

“Big and long left-hander who pitched at the Future Games. The upside is enormous with him as he is just tapping into his leverage and stuff. It will be fun to see him grow on the mound.”

+ Luke Leger, LHP (Noble and Greenough HS, 2027) | Rutgers:

“Undersized left-handed pitcher with a plus slider. The pitch should fit nicely into a college bullpen as a match up guy”

+ Andrew Shute, RHP (Bishop Feehan HS, 2026) | Northeastern:

“Can really spin the breaking ball, sits in the low 90's but should be able to take college hitters out with the spin pitch”

– Dennis Healy, New England Director

Nevada

(6/1/25)

+ Giovanni Guariglia, RHP (Silverado HS, 2026) | TCU:

“The GBG Vegas / Silverado product has arguably one of the if not the top basketball ball curveball combinations in the state with his breaking ball routinely spinning above 2850 RPMs, throwing it with conviction and working well off his fastball. This pitch was on full display at the 2025 Prep Baseball ProCase where he put together one of the top performance for Team AZ/NV/UT and we expect that pitch to only continue trending as his game progresses with much more to come. ”

– Brett Harrison, West Coast Supervisor

New Jersey

+ Alex Weingartner, OF/RHP (St. Augustine Prep HS, 2026) | Penn State:

“Alex Weingartner showed the most polished breaking ball of any right‑hander we saw this year. The St. Augustine Prep product and Penn State commit—ranked No. 4 in New Jersey—was a consistent performer every look this spring. He demonstrated true feel for spinning both a slider and a curveball, separating shapes with intent and generating steady in‑zone takes and out‑of‑zone swing‑and‑miss.”

+ Daniel Pardini, LHP (Christian Brothers Academy HS, 2026) | Penn State:

“Pardini suited up for Team New England at the Prep Baseball Senior Future Games and showed one of the sharper breaking balls at the event. The Penn State commit spun a slider north of 2,800 rpm throughout his two‑inning look, pairing the power with advanced command to land it to all quadrants. It was a true separator — not just for Team New England, but one of the premier breaking balls on the entire showcase circuit.”

– Nathan Goranson, Northeast Asst Scout

North Carolina

+ Haitham Abulatifa, RHP (JH Rose HS HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:

“Abulatifa put himself in contention for a spot with Team NC at the 2026 Prep Baseball Future Games at the North Carolina Top Prospect Games. The right hander is a solid mover with a breaking ball that is a separator. Ranging 70-72 and spinning above 2800rpm, the tilt is tight and late, allowing the fastball to play above its radar reading.”

(8/1/25)

+ Jackson Silvers, RHP (Morehead HS HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:

“Silvers was a part of Team NC at the 2025 East Coast Super Sophomore Games where the right hander showed advanced feel for landing and manipulating his slider. The slider creates issues for hitters, and paired with a fastball that he cuts at times, right handed hitters have a lot to deal with. Spinning up to 2700rpm, the slider sat 70-75 with heavy horizontal action.”

– Brandon Hall, Mid-Atlantic Scouting Director

Oregon

+ Harrison Buckingham, RHP (South Salem HS, 2027) | Oregon State:

“The top-ranked pitcher in Oregon's 2027 class, Buckingham delivered stellar performances at both PNW Preseason All-State and Future Games. Buckingham's wipeout breaking ball is his slider, creating late horizontal break at 78-80 MPH with 2700 RPM at its best. The junior has worked his heater up to 91 MPH as well and picked up a well-earned commitment to Oregon State this fall.”

– Dylan Grenz, Associate Scout

Pennsylvania

+ Chris Grasso, RHP (St. Joseph's Prep HS, 2027) | Miami:

“The top right‑handed pitching prospect in Pennsylvania’s 2027 class has repeatedly shown that his slider stacks up not just within the state, but nationally. We’ve had multiple looks at Grasso — from the Prep Baseball Future Games to an early‑season outing in 40‑degree weather — and the pitch played every time. He ripped off sliders with the conviction that nobody was going to square it up, and that proved true. The offering spins up to 2,890 rpm with advanced feel, giving him the confidence to land it in any count. More often than not, it’s a strike that freezes hitters, leaving them locked up with the bat on their shoulder.”

+ Aaron Gaskey, RHP (Greater Latrobe HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:

“Gaskey is a follow I’m eager to get another look at this preseason at the PA Preseason ID: Southeast Session 1. The right‑hander turned in a strong showing at the PA Summer Top Prospect Games, bumping 87 mph, and he’s continued to trend upward through the fall and into the offseason. With the way the arrow is pointing, there’s every reason to believe he’ll take another meaningful jump heading into his sophomore campaign.”

– Nate Goranson, Northeast Asst Scout

Tennessee

(6/5/25)

+ Harrison Pollina, RHP (Arlington High HS, 2026) | Cincinnati :

“Harrison has a 2600 spin on his slider that is a true strikeout pitch. With his whippy arm action, it is devastating to right handed hitters.”

– Hunter Martin, State Director

Washington

+ Jake McCall, RHP (West Seattle HS, 2026) | Puget Sound:

“McCall, a veteran of many Prep Baseball events, has long held one of the best breaking balls in the state. The wipeout pitch was seen at both PNW Preseason All-State and PNW State Games this year, averaging 2950 RPM at 72-74 MPH with heavy horizontal movement. The wipeout offering was also seen in-game in the high school season, resulting in a double-digit strikeout performance.”