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 2028

Brooks Bond SS / Lewis Central Senior High School, IA / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 198 / POS: 56

Bond made our list after displaying some of the smoothest glove work we saw from any infielder this year, regardless of class. With an Athlete Score of 87.7, Bond shows the athletic ability to be a high-level playmaker at one of the toughest positions in sports. He was as steady as it gets this fall for the 2028 Iowa Sticks, making difficult plays look routine. His glove work stands out most, as the ball barely stays in his glove whether he’s working with one hand or two. Paired with a 91 mph infield velocity, there aren’t many plays he can’t physically make.

Bond also posted an above-average 1.64 10-yard dash (96th Percentile) and a 28-inch vertical leap (99th Percentile), highlighting the athleticism needed to range up the middle and into the six-hole to take away hits. We’re excited to follow his development over the next few years as he continues taking steps toward becoming an elite defender at the next level.

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