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 2027

Brayden Shannon SS / 3B / Blue Valley Southwest, KS / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 497 / POS: 99

Brayden Shannon, also one of our top runners, cracks our top five defenders list for the Class of 2027 thanks to his polished infield actions. The 6-foot, 170-pound shortstop owns an 87.8 Athlete Score and flashed some exciting metrics in showcase settings over the past year. The Nebraska commit played one tournament in Kansas City, and in that short time he clearly showed he can make an impact in the middle of the infield once he gets on campus.

On the surface, his 85 mph arm, elite speed, and quickness make him a desirable shortstop, but what stood out most was his ability to keep his glove quiet on the move. Few infielders show the maturity to maintain proper glove position while moving, which helps eliminate flipping and inconsistency at the catch point. Shannon also plays with clear intent, pitch to pitch he moves with the ball, consistently anticipating contact and showing that he wants the ball hit to him.

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