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

William Pepper SS / RHP / Spring Hill, KS / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 2

William Pepper made a significant jump this year, establishing himself not only as one of the top two-way players in the state of Kansas, but also as a standout defender on the infield. An athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound sophomore, Pepper is developing into a premier player on both sides of the ball. Primarily a shortstop, he has the athleticism and arm strength to play anywhere on the infield.

Pepper is an elite athlete, earning a 93.6 Athlete Score and ranking in the 99th percentile with a 1.59 10-yard dash, 97th percentile in the vertical jump at 26.3 inches, and an RSI of 1.72 (83rd percentile). His athleticism continues to stand out every time we see him. While the 90 mph arm strength jumps off the page, it’s his tenacity to attack balls, combined with that elite athletic profile that truly defines his playmaking ability.

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