Future Games Recap : Team Indiana Takeaways
July 31, 2024
A record-breaking 425 coaches checked in at the 2024 Prep Baseball Future Games to see the top uncommitted talent from across the country travel to one place, Prep Baseball's state-of-the-art facilility - LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Georgia. Team Indiana made a serious name for itself during the workout portion, and that was validated by the hundreds of schools that followed the team throughout the gameplay portion of the weekend. It was standing room only behind the backstop when Team Indiana was on the field, which should make for a busy August 1st as we near the date that college recruiters can officially contact 2026 grads again. Read along for my biggest takeways from this loaded squad...
Star Power
These six names came up over and over again in our conversations with college recruiters. High-level national recruits that stoodout amongst the rest...
 |
Rob Czarniecki OF / Chesterton, IN / 2026Team Indiana's consensus MVP of the weekend - Czarniecki brought infectious energy to the Indiana dugout as one of the "captains" of the squad. The 6-foot-2, 200 pounder put together one of the more complete showcase performances of the group, burning a 6.6 60-yard dash before a professional round of batting practice where his exit velocities eclipsed the 100 mph mark routinely. Czarniecki brought a hot-bat to Atlanta, going 5 for 8 with a 3B, a HR, and he showcased his run-producing abilities with 5 RBI in three games. Coming into the event, Czarniecki was one of Indiana's more prized uncommitted position players in the class and his dazzling performance at the Future Games, along with showing the mental makeup required to play this game at a high level, did nothing but elevate his stock as we near August 1st.
|
 |
Beckett Doane LHP / Noblesville, IN / 2026Doane got the ball in Game 1 for Team Indiana and started the weekend with a loud look for the Hoosier State natives. The 6-foot-6 southpaw provided the look of a future front-line starter with feel for three and a all-kinds of deception in the delivery. Doane worked 88-90 mph on a lively heater, grabbing nine swings-and-misses with his fastball in his two-inning stint. Pitching with a dominant presense, Doane tunneled a shorter, low-80s slider off of his fastball and mixed in a low-80s splitter, as well. There is a controlled violence to the operation with levers flying all over, and above-average stuff presently, that allowed Doane to punch-out five of the six batters he faced. The Noblesville native is one of the top lefties in the class already with an uber-projectable frame that suggests even better stuff is on deck...
|
 |
Gannon Grant RHP / Center Grove , IN / 2026Grant has been the biggest riser in the class this summer and capped a breakout summer circuit with one of the biggest performances at the Future Games. A bulldog on the hill with real swagger - Grant's stuff is arguably the loudest of any Indiana '26 grad - offering the ability to get swings-and-misses with all three pitches in his arsenal. The fastball works with sizzle at 90-93 mph, pairing with a tightly-spun breaking ball that works in the 27-2900 range and a changeup that is a real weapon. There is electricity within the arm stroke that pairs with the athleticism that comes from a converted shortstop, allowing for even more upside as a right-handed arm. A slam-dunk back-end reliever with starter upside, Grant put the country on notice with one of the more electric outings of any right-handed arm at LakePoint this week.
|
 |
Sean Dunlap C / Crown Point, IN / 2026Dunlap asserted himself during the workout portion of the event - stepping to the plate with unwavering confidence in his batting practice round as he peppered the batter's eye with backspun liners. He then showed off real catch-and-throw abilities with plus arm strength from behind the dish and the look of a professional backstop with a physical, 6-foot-3 frame. As the weekend went on, Dunlap showed off astounding bat speed during in-game looks with an intent to do damge and multiple in-game exit velocities eclipsing 95+. There is real instincts behind the dish, looking for outs and unafraid to show off his big arm. Dunlap might be the best catcher to come out of Indiana in the last decade and will hear from national-level programs on August 1st.
|
 |
Dylan Bowen SS / Hanover Central, IN / 2026Bowen's body of work over the course of his high school career speaks for itself - an uber-athletic shortstop that quietly went 3 for 7 at the dish on the week. Bowen plays with poise and confidence, paired with loud tools, and the athleticism of a highly sought-after recruit. A 6.6 60-yard dash pairs with a line-drive oriented approach that should allow Bowen to be an impact bat at the top of the lineup at the next level. Big arm strength (up to 93 mph across) and the aformentioned athleticsm should keep him on the dirt - with the instincts to make an impact right away at whatever program lands this five star recruit.
|
 |
Aiden Smith RHP / Shelbyville, IN / 2026A prisitine mover with lots to dream on - Smith brough the look of a future weeked starter to the mound in his start in Atlanta. Working from over the top on an 87-90 mph heater, Smith's ability to carry his heater, along with sink it, to go along with a swing-and-miss slider and feel for a change gives him the ability to get through a lineup multiple times. His wiry, 6-foot-3 frame has ample room to add strength, which will only louden an already-quality array of pitches. Smith wants the ball in the biggest moments, boasting a competitive, confident aura that will give a pitching coach confidence as he toes the rubber, along with a ceiling that remains uncapped.
|
Almost Famous
Three prospects that burst on the scene with the big performances, generating positive buzz heading into August 1st.
 |
Desmond Francis OF / Park Tudor, IN / 2026"Dez" established his presense on Day 1, burning a 6.46 60-yard dash before making the park look small with multiple pull-side homers as the crowd of recruiters watched his batting practice round. Francis made everyone in the park circle his name before the top of the first inning, of the first game, was complete - leading off the game with a backside single, immediately swiping second, and scoring no-less than three pitches later. The feet are dynamic and well-documented, but the feel for the barrel was evident as the weekend went on. Francis showed no problem against premier velocity with barrel-after-barrel, due to a short, compact stroke with plenty of impact behind it. A slam-dunk CF at the next level - there is plenty to like presently in his game with still some rawness to the operation to dream on even more development to be had.
|
 |
Jake Winger 3B / OF McCutcheon High School, IN / 2026Winger was a "workout winner" who turned in a 6.9 60-yard dash and showed some thump in his round of BP. A high-level evaluator threw a "baby Kris Bryant" comp on Winger which is easy to see with the athletic, 6-foot-5 frame an upward stroke that oozes power potential. Winger top-spun homers to left in batting practice, balls that will turn into towering homers as he flattens the path to allow his levers to play more often. Although there are refinements that can still be made in the box, Winger provides the look of a middle-of-the-order bat at the next level with the ability to play multiple positions.
|
 |
Jaxon Lueken RHP / Forest Park Jr-Sr High School, IN / 2026A Southern Indiana native that showed a strong-armed look in his two innings of work, Lueken came out hot in his stint on the bump, grabbing 92 mph on his first bullet and holding 89-92 throughout. A raw, athletic operation - the heater jumps out of the hand with life and he pairs it with feel for a slurvey, upper 78-82 mph breaking ball that spun in the 2300s. Lueken teased a mid-80s change, that he was able to kill spin on, and use as an out-pitch to lefties. A crossfired delivery paired with long arm action that accelerates to release adds some deception to the already-loud stuff. Lueken is a no-doubt, power back-end arm with starter upside as the projectable, 6-foot-3, 180 pounder continues to polish up. — Cooper Trinkle (@CTrinkle23) July 28, 2024
|
Fall Follows
Six names to note with quality showings that recruiters need to get another look on in the fall...
 |
Matthew Cook RHP / Hanover Central , IN / 2026
|
 |
Beckett Suh SS / University, IN / 2026
|
 |
Eli Sinsabaugh SS / Cathedral, IN / 2026
|
 |
Lannon Nicoloff SS / William Henry Harrison High School, IN / 2026
|
 |
Ryan Murphy LHP / Brownsburg High School, IN / 2026
|
 |
Gavin Jackson 3B / Our Lady of Providence, IN / 2026
|