TJ Collett, catcher from Terre Haute North (2016), is one of the most impressive hitters in the country in the 2016 class. Collett’s Future’s Game was less than what he wanted in game. The left handed catcher drew a lot of bad matchups against lefties and combined that with trying to do to much. Collett’s BP was jaw dropping at times. The lefty has plus plus bat speed and the rare ability to hit for power. The other thing Collett did was showed how much work he has put in behind the plate. A lot of people, me included, thought he was going to move to first base when he got to college. I have changed my opinion. Collett has good hand strength behind the plate and his exchange has become much cleaner than this winter. Collett is becoming more and more serviceable behind there. Collett is a premium prospect in the 2016 class.

Reid Schaller, a RHP from Lebanon (2016), is a premium power pitcher. Schaller continues to add velocity and become more mechanically refined. When we first saw Schaller in the fall he was a dangly righty with a high ceiling and topped out at 84. Now Schaller is one of the most talked about righties in the country. Schaller was up to 90 at the Future’s Games and has been up to 92. The righty shows a better breaking ball and a developing changeup. The most impressive thing about Reid is he throws strikes consistently, which is not common in young power arms.

Tyler Ward, a SS/RHP from Heritage Hills, continues to show plus actions up the middle and the ability to pitch. As a positional player, Ward probably projects as a rangy second baseman that game hits. Ward plays the game hard and is a competitor. Offensivley, Ward is a contact guy that uses the whole field. Ward, will have to get stronger to become a true offensive threat. On the mound, Ward gets outs. He pitches 82-85 and possesses a lot of movement. Everything he throws moves. He misses barrels a lot and gets easy outs throughout his outings. Several players in the Indiana dugout said Ward was one of the toughest guys they faced all year. Ward is still considered a two-way prospect and time will tell which direction he will head.

Zach Spears, a LHP from Greenfield-Central, is what you dream up when you are looking for an arm. Spears is 6-foot-6 and throws left handed. Spears is a two-sport athlete also playing basketball showing his athleticism. Currently, Spears pitches 84-85 and tops out at 86. Spears is still developing and when it clicks he will become one of the elite arms in the 2015 class. You have to remind yourself, Spears is still only going to be a junior and taller pitchers typically take more time to develop. Spears is a perfect example. The velocity will continue to increase as Spears becomes more comfortable on the mound. The only thing I worry about is the breaking ball. If Spears can develop that over the winter look for Spears to explode onto the recruiting scene.

Evan Giles, RHP from Franklin, might have been the most impressive arm for team Indiana. Giles continues to increase velocity up to 88 at the Futures Games. Combining the velocity increase with the plus ability to pitch and Giles is not so quietly becoming a very sought after pitcher. Giles throws a filthy slider that is his go to out pitch. He gets a lot of swing and miss with it. Rumors were Giles was up to 91 in Joplin earlier this summer. If he is seen at that velocity and combines his present pitch ability, he will be able to pick his school come next summer.