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 Throw Tool Class of 2026 

Ethan Bass SS / RHP / Glenbrook North, IL / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 24 / POS: 9

Bass is another one of our two-time Prep Baseball All-Americans who consistently shows up on our top tools list. Ethan may be the best overall athlete we saw in the 2026 class all year, and he does an excellent job of translating that athleticism onto the field. He grades as one of our top defenders thanks to his playmaking ability and easy arm action from multiple slots. His arm strength allows him to complete difficult throws with ease, and he has the ability to turn it up when needed to cut down a plus runner.

We saw Ethan up close at the Midwest Premier Super 17, and while it can be difficult to fully evaluate a defender in a limited look, his confidence in the field immediately stood out. His 90 MPH arm strength allows him to stay under control on virtually every play, which is a huge asset at a demanding position like shortstop.

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