As we look back on the 2025 summer tournament circuit here in Kansas City, we’ll be breaking down the top players by tool from each class — based on evaluations from our scouting team at Homefield and Creekside. Follow along as we take a deep dive into these players and highlight the summers they put together. Each week will feature our top five players based on each tool from the class, presented in no particular order.

Top Defenders Class of 2026

Hunter Fryman C / SS / Marshfield, MO / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 39 / POS: 4

In a class loaded with catching talent, Hunter Fryman stands out as one of the top catch-and-throw backstops in the region. The Marshfield High School (MO) product was an eye-opener at the 2025 Senior Future Games, where he posted pop times ranging from 1.82–1.86. Fryman is a 6-foot-1, lean and athletic 170 pounds and has recorded a catcher’s velocity of 84 mph, the second-best mark among Missouri catchers in the 2025 class. We also saw Fryman this summer in Kansas City at the Midwest Premier Super 17, where he continued to show his defensive reliability. As he continues to add strength and size, we believe his catch-and-throw ability will benefit tremendously.

Fryman is committed to Davidson, where he has a chance to make an impact defensively behind the plate or in the infield. We are very high on his overall defensive capabilities.

Follow along on X: @ljhatchpb and Instagram: @ljhatchprepbaseball as we continue breaking down the top tools from this past summer.