We are fast approaching our 2023 Preseason All State Underclass event and it is shaping up to be a loaded event. In the past two years we have seen over 80 players at this event that have made a college commitment and we expect this year’s talent to be similar, if not better, than we have seen in the past. We will see 200 of Indiana’s top underclassmen on March 5th, including 16 players that have already made division one commitments to date. Today, we are taking a look at some of the top players that will be showcasing their talents at Pro X Athlete in Westfield, IN. We will preview some of the top committed players, some highly ranked players that we will get another chance to evaluate, as well as a list of uncommitted names to know. 

 Top Dogs

As stated above, we have 16 division recruits attending the Preseason All State. These players are attending to show off their offseason gains and show why they deserve to be touted as some of the top ranked prospects in their respective graduating class. Taking a look at the roster, the first group of players that I am excited to see is a talented group of 2025 position players, headlined by the top 2 ranked players in our 2025 class, OF Brandon Logan (Vanderbilt) and SS Mason Barth (Notre Dame). Logan may be the best pure athlete at the event and will likely put up one of, if not the best, 60 yard dash times. Barth is coming off a 2022 season where he helped lead Andrean HS to a 3A state Championship and made a commitment to play at Notre Dame - I am expecting Barth to put on a show in his batting practice round, as he is one of the best pure hitters in Indiana’s 2025 class. OF Cal Gates (Indiana) is another highly ranked 2025 that I am excited to see. Gates bounced around with tons of energy and showed off next-level instincts at the PBR Future Games last August and I expect him to impress in every facet of the event due to his well-rounded toolset.

Not to be outdone by a talented group of position players, I am super intrigued to see the crop of committed 2025 arms that will be attending this event. LHP Caden Crowell (Louisville), the top ranked southpaw in Indiana’s ‘25 class, is a must-know prospect moving forward thanks to a wiry, athletic 6-foot-3 frame and reports of his fastball running up to 88 mph this offseason. I’m excited to see the progress of RHP’s Blane Metz (Indiana) and Gavin Meyer (Ohio State), two right-handers with sky high ceilings. LHP Alex Barr (Indiana) is a highly ranked southpaw with aptitude for spin that will look to cement himself as one of the top arms in the class.

Our 14u Team Indiana at the Junior Future Games in 2022 was full of talent, with seven 2026 graduates from that group already committed to division one programs. Five of those players will be in attendance on March 5th, headlined by RHP Tate Troxell (Alabama), who was up to 90 mph last summer. A pair of Indiana recruits in SS Trent Gill and 3B Aiden Reynolds are athletic infielders with quality hit tools that I think could have big showings. SS/RHP Peyton Gray (Western Kentucky) has improved his game every time I have seen him, dating back to my first look at him during the winter of his 8th grade year, and I’m looking forward to seeing him after an offseason of training. RHP Rhys Wolf (Notre Dame) has one of the top breaking balls in Indiana’s ‘26 class and his velocity continues to climb, so he’s another must see bullpen for me. 

Uncommitted Talent

Every year at the Preseason All State we see uncommitted prospects breakout and show high caliber tools. I have a handful of uncommitted prospects that I think college coaches are going to want to see, starting with 2025 RHP Parker Rhodes (Greenfield Central). Rhodes is an athletic, 6-foot-1, 170 pounder with long arms and plenty of twitch. I expect Rhodes to show an upper-80s to low-90s fastball with electric arm speed and a sharp, upper 70s slider. The next prospect on this list is 2026 RHP Hudson Devaughan (Mooresville), a projectable, 6-foot-2, 160 pound freshman with a chance to be one of the next power right-handed arms from Indiana. Devaughan will likely reach into the upper-80s for now, but expect him to tick over the 90 mph mark in the near future. 2025 RHP Grant Mercer (Lake Central) has the frame to dream on, standing at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds with a high waist and long arms - expect him to be another breakout candidate in the 2025 class. I’m excited to see 2025 RHP Tristan Wilson (North Central) after his big performance at last fall’s Canes Scout Weekend, where he was up to 89 mph on his fastball with serious run and showed an improving slider. 

2026 SS Dylan Bowen (Hanover Central) had an impressive showing at this event last year as an 8th grader, running a 6.89 60 and reaching a peak exit velocity of 88 mph. After a year of maturing, I’m very interested to see Bowen’s progress. A pair of my favorite left-handed bats in Indiana’s 2026 class will be in attendance in OF/RHP Colt Dehart (Indian Creek) and C Jace Watson (Castle). 2026 RHP Kobe Cherry (Center Grove) is another breakout candidate with a physically advanced frame and a fastball that could run into the upper-80s. 

Next Up

There will be a select group of 2027s in attendance this year, with OF/SS Drake McClurg (Center Grove) being the prospect that I am most excited to see. McClurg is a switch-hitter with true middle-of-the-diamond athleticism and will be a must-know name in the coming years. I am also interested to see OF Lincoln Hoffman (Westfield) - a smooth swinging left-handed hitter that is reportedly an advanced runner for the class.

 

Uncommitted Names to Know 

 

Luke Riha, RHP/3B, 2025, Homestead HS

From 2/25/2022- Standing at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Riha looks the part of a middle linebacker and has some of the most impressive raw strength in Indiana’s 2025 class. The Homestead product has a powerful right-arm, sitting 87-89 mph at a recent Summit City Sluggers Scout Day. Aside from a big fastball, Riha also showed the ability to spin two distinct breaking balls and showed feel for an upper-70s splitter. Riha shows impressive rotational capabilities on the mound, as well as at the dish, where he has an upward swing and looks to do damage to the big part of the field thanks to his impressive bat speed. 

Trevor Corbett, SS/UTL, 2025, Noblesville HS

FROM 7/11/2022 - I really like Corbett’s game, a primary SS that showed the ability to also play 3B and the OF on the weekend, with present strength and a clean RH swing. The 6-foot, 175 pounder stays behind the ball well w/ advanced bat speed for a 2025. Corbett hit .406  in arguably the state’s toughest conference as a FR. 

 

Kellen Thomson, RHP, 2026, Center Grove HS

FROM 11/16/2022 - A high-upside righty, Thomson has already been up to 83 mph on his fastball. The long, athletic 6-foot-3, 180 pounder has tons of feel for his slurvey, 70-74 mph breaking ball. His athleticism and high-waisted frame suggests a velocity jump will come soon. 

 

 

 

Will Jaisle, RHP, 2025, Batesville HS

FROM 7/2/2022- A strong, 6-foot-1, 200 pounder - Jaisle has shown off impressive arm strength for the class with clean arm action that suggests more velocity is in the tank. Jaisle moves with intent down the slope from the top of his balance point and his slurvey, mid-70s breaking ball has the chance to be a separator pitch. A multi-sport athlete, Jaisle has the frame to continue to add strength with the potential to be very physical as he continues to mature. 

 

 

Travis Combs, OF/LHP, 2025, Floyd Central HS

FROM 12/10/2022- Wiry, athletic 5-foot-11, 160 pounder with plenty of room to pack on strength. Combs has everything you’re looking for in a prospective outfielder - speed (6.86 runner), arm strength (89 OF Velo), and twitchy bat speed from the left-handed side of the box. Combs has an upward swing plane that works best when he stays to the middle of the field. 

 

Nolan Hataway, LHP, 2025, Avon HS

FROM 9/10/2022- Hataway has the frame to dream on - a southpaw standing at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds. His arm swing is compact and when it is synced up, works very well with the frame. His fastball currently sits in the low-80s, but that number has a chance to tick up considerably because of the frame/arm action. I really like Hataway’s breaking ball, a 1/7 shaped CB with depth that has a chance to be a separator pitch. 

 

 

Drew Graft, OF, 2025, Norwell HS

FROM 9/10/2022- A top of the order type bat, Graft has a short, balanced swing that produced a .432 batting average with 8 2B in his freshman season at Norwell. The swing is super repeatable, showing a well-timed toe tap with minimal movements in the upper half. Graft ran a 7.05 60 in the fall, but I think he has the athleticism to improve that number considerably. 

 

Aiden Smith, RHP, 2026, Shelbyville HS

FROM 6/7/2022- Athletic & projectable at 6-foot-2, 155 pounds - Aiden Smith is an arm in Indiana’s 2026 class with a chance to make considerable velocity gains in the coming months/years. It’s an easy operation on the mound, controlled tempo with long and uninterrupted arm action. The arm accelerates to release point and the controlled tempo allows him to find the zone consistently. High follow in the 2026 class.

 

Trent Kulig, RHP, 2025, Andrean HS

A well-put together, 6-foot-2, 200 pounder - Kulig is another 2025 arm with a chance to make some noise at the Underclass All-State event. Kulig moves down the slope in a controlled manner, showing well timed-intent that will produce fastball velocities in the mid-to-upper 80s. The arm action is a bit deep, but shows quickness and works from an over-the-top slot. 

 

 

Matthew Fisher, RHP, 2025, Evansville Memorial HS

A long, athletic multi-sport athlete with tons of upside on the mound. Fisher had a quality freshman year pitching for 3A power Evansville Memorial and I’m excited to see his bullpen at the Underclass All-State event after he ran his fastball up to 86 mph last summer. The 6-foot-3, 185 pounder is a “dark horse” contender to have a breakout performance come March 5th.

 

 

 

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