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Indiana Rankings Update : Class of 2025

August 28, 2024
Cooper Trinkle
Indiana Scouting Director

The class of 2025 now enters their senior year and we have already seen 47 prospects commit to Division I programs, along with 40 more commitments to programs across various levels. We will see plenty more talented players make commitments within the coming months, and be on the lookout for top uncommitted prospects at each position to be released later in the week.

Also - the 2024 MLB Draft has come and gone, and professional scouts have begun to shift their focus to the next crop of draft prospects. By all early indications, Indiana will have a quality crop of prep draft prospects in the 2025 class, arguably the deepest prep class Indiana has had in the past few seasons. 

You can find the full list of the Top 300 prospects, HERE... Read along to learn about Hoosier State natives that have pushed themselves onto early draft boards, along with a group of risers that saw their stock rise significantly after a big summer on the circuit. 

2025 Draft 

Indiana's 2025 class contains several potential-Day 1/2 pitching prospects, along with a couple of high-floor bats that will be followed.

Caden Crowell LHP / Valparaiso, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1

One of the nation's top southpaws - Crowell takes over as the new No. 1 ranked prospect in the class after a dominant summer that included big performances at both the NPI & Area Code Games. Crowell earned himself an invite to the Prep Baseball All American Games later this fall - one of only a handful of prep southpaws to make this prestigious roster. The Notre Dame recruit is a slam-dunk starter with plus-command of a three pitch arsenal - highlighted by a low-90's (T94) fastball, a plus-changeup that works with late fade, and a firm, low-80's slider that shows upside. The athleticism within Crowell's 6-foot-4 frame holds significant upside and makes it easy to dream on even more velocity out of his left-arm, which will only enhance his abilities further. The Valparaiso native should be one of the most followed prospects in the state next spring, with a chance to jump into Day 1 consideration if he maintains his current helium. 

Matthew Fisher RHP / Evansville Memorial , IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 

When comparing highly-ranked arms - a starter's tab elevates one over another and for that reason Fisher remains as the top-ranked righty in the class. Fisher was able to put those abilities on display at the East Coast Pro Showcase this summer, where he received high praise from a number of professional evaluators that were in attendance. Toeing the rubber at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, with athleticism in a projectable frame - Fisher offers pristine command of above-average overall stuff and a plus next to his ability to spin. His fastball works with carry in the low-90's (T93), pairing with the ability to add/subtract, along with manipulating shape, on a tightly-spun (2700+) breaking ball with true sweeper properties. His mid-80's changeup is a usable third pitch, and one of the better right-handed changeups in the class. While the stuff doesn't necessarily jump off the page - Fisher boasts some of the best arm action I have seen out of a prep prospect in my time with Prep Baseball, a key indicator of future success. 

Alex Barr LHP / Kankakee Valley High School, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 2

Owning one of the highest ceilings on the list - Barr jumps to No. 3 in this update after a strong summer including strong showings at marquee events like the USA Baseball 18u Team Trials and the East Coast Pro Showcase. A dynamic mover with loose whip to the arm action, Barr consistently works 88-92 (T94) on a riding fastball that pairs well with a 72-74 curveball with out-pitch upside. Barr hints at the ability to spin a firmer slider, a pitch that will pay dividends for him with further development. The 6-foot-2 frame still holds projection and I would not be surprised to see Barr tick further into the mid-90's next spring. 

Joshua Flores RHP / Lake Central, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 2

As far as pure stuff goes - Flores holds the crown amongst his peers on this list with the loudest stuff presently. The Kentucky recruit ran his fastball up to 96 mph at LakePoint this summer - also showing well at the East Coast Pro Showcase. Flores routinely sits in the low-to-mid 90's with a running heater, but his ability to spin the baseball is what has garnered the attention of scouts throughout the area. Flores offers a wipeout slider that routinely spins north of 2700 with premier velocity at 86-88. He is able to pair it with a devastating, 81-84 mph curveball that works with 12/6 shape, a true hammer. Both pitches are present swing-and-miss offerings, and he also shows a usable fourth pitch in his 81-83 mph change. The 6-foot-1 right-hander profiles best at the moment as a dominant back-end bullpen piece at the professional level, however if he is able to make further developments in his overall feel for command, starter potential is not out of the question. 

Brandon Logan OF / Fort Wayne Snider, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 1 

The top-ranked position player in the class - Logan's feet are an absolute weapon and he is the best athlete on this list by a substantial margin. Holding lean strength throughout a chiseled, 6-foot, 185 pound frame - Logan is a dual-sport commit to Notre Dame, a 3-star football recruit that has been tabbed as one of the best defensive CF in the 2025 class on the national level. Logan has burned 60's in the 6.3 range and his ball-hawking abilities in CF gives him the highest floor of any position player on the list. Offensively, Logan fits the mold of a table-setter with quick hands that can catch up to velocity, along with a simple operation that allows for quiet eyes. His game is more geared towards generating lower ball flights and letting his feet play, but there is some sneaky juice in the right-handed stroke. 

Xavier Carrera RHP / Boone Grove High School, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 3

Carrera checks in at No. 6 in this update, holding the most arm talent of any pitcher on the list. Long-limbed with all-kinds of athleticism in the 6-foot-3 frame, Carrera wowed in a look this summer, where his fastball touched 97 mph, and he held 90-95 throughout his start. It is not out of the realm of possibilites to imagine his fastball could reach into the triple digits before it is all said and done, especially when combining the present arm talent with the projectable, athletic frame that he holds. The Indiana recruit is an exceptional rotator with some special natural abilities that will only elevate. Carrera can flash a low-80's slider, but it is still in the development stage at this point, along with his ability to command the zone. While there are certaintly raw, unrefined parts of his game, Carrera is arguably the most talented prospect on the list with an uncapped ceiling that will make him one of the more intriguing arms in the Midwest next spring. 

Blane Metz RHP / Floyd Central, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 4 

Metz looks the part of a future workhorse with a projectable, 6-foot-3, 205 pound frame, another high-end arm that participated in the East Coast Pro Showcase this summer. Working from a 3/4 slot that induces sink on a low-90s (T94) fastball, the Indiana recruit creates an uncomfortable at-bat for righties with his ability to pitch inside. There is some starter upside, with two above average off speed offerings presently, a mid-to-upper 70's sweeper and a mid-80's change. The changeup is ahead of the slider at this time - but he has made solid strides in his ability to spin over the course of his high school career. Metz has average command currently, making it more of a reliever-type at the moment, but the upside is undeniable. 

 

 

Mason Braun OF / Penn High School, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 2 

The best overall hitter in the class, Braun's electric left-handed stroke earned him invites to both the East Coast Pro and Area Code Games this summer. Holding compact strength in a stocky, 6-foot, 190 pound frame, Braun is able to produce triple digit exit velocities on command with eye-opening bat speed to pair. The LSU recruit holds a bat-first profile, with average grades in the run and throw departments, with a future likely as a corner outfielder. Braun uses the ground well in a wider setup with more of a left-center approach in a game setting, but he has shown numerous times over the course of his high school career the ability to catch the ball out front and deposit balls over the RF wall. 

Parker Rhodes RHP / Greenfield Central, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 5

Rhodes is a sleeper to shoot up this list as we near the 2025 draft, offering several attributes that draw comparisons to 2024 7th rounder Cameron Sullivan. The wiry, 6-foot-1, 175 pounder holds ample twitch and allows for electric arm speed that produces a sizzling fastball in the low-to-mid 90's (T95). The heater is a plus-offering and his firm, low-to-mid 80's slider tunnels off of it with short, tight action. Rhodes' has made steady improvements in both his velocity, and pitchability, over the course of his career and another jump is likely looming before he enters his draft year next spring. The Mississippi State recruit has several scouts in his corner after an East Coast Pro invite and strong showings on the summer circuit. 

JD Stein SS / Carmel High School, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 10 / POS: 1 

The top-ranked shortstop in the class and an absolute gamer, Stein is the lone uncommitted player on this list, currently hearing from Top-25 programs from across the country. His card is littered with high grades, a plus thrower (97 across), with premier bat-to-ball abilities, a very strong run tool (6.6), and a chance to stick at short in the long run. Despite the undersized, 5-foot-9 frame, Stein has sneaky gap power that stems from above average bat speed and an accurate barrel. Stein earned an invite to the East Coast Pro this summer and although his frame does not fit the prototypical prep SS build, a loud toolset and strong track record of in-game production will keep him as a follow for scouts next spring. 

Almost Famous

A handful of players that are just outside the top ten - draft darkhorses with either a pro tool, substantial upside, or an elite track record of in-game production...

Summer Stars

Top-50 players seeing a significant jump on this list after a big summer on the circuit...

Wyatt Pennington, RHP/UTL, Avon HS, Evansville

+ Fresh off his recent commitment to the University of Evansville - Pennington makes a jump to No. 16 overall in the class after a huge junior season. A true two-way player, Pennington is further ahead on the mound, a right-hander up to 92 mph with pristine movement patterns and easy, athletic arm action to pair. He lights up the Trackman with several solid offerings. His 4S works w/ carry and he shows the ability to sink his heater, as well. His slider works in the mid-70's with true sweep, routinely spinning north of 2700. He also can kill spin on a swing-and-miss change that works with near 0" of IVB and 12"+ of horizontal break. To go along with a bright future on the bump, Pennington doubles as a versatile right-handed hitter with an athletic swing that produces present gap power. Although he doesn't possess a big run tool, Pennington shows premier body control and likely ends up as a 2B/RF offensively at the college level, but he has shown the ability man all 3 OF spots and all 3 infield spots at the high school level. 

Joe Washburn, MIF, South Bend Saint Joseph HS, Creighton

+ A dynamic left-handed hitter that recently verbaled to Creighton - Washburn dazzled on the summer circuit, a preview to his outstanding showing at the inaugural Prep Baseball Senior Future Games, catapulting himself into the top 20 in this update. Washburn was all over the barrel for Team Midwest at LakePoint, grabbing several hits and showing that his 6.7 speed plays even higher on the bases. Washburn's future is likely as a 2B/CF, however his present abilities in the box allows him to profile as a plug-and-play type that should make an impact early in college career. 

Colton Rerick, LHP, Penn HS, Valparaiso

+ Rerick was my favorite arm from our Top Prospect Games in late-June, a wiry southpaw with projection left in the 6-foot frame. Rerick floods the zone with a three pitch mix, highlighted by a two-plane breaking ball that he shows outstanding feel for, working in the low-70's. His ability to land his breaking ball allows his mid-to-upper 80's (T89) carry fastball to play up even higher, and he can also locate a straight change in the mid-70's. Rerick looks the part of a future weekend starter with present pitchability and stuff that will louden even further with strength gains. 

Trevor Fenters, RHP, Valparaiso HS, Uncommitted

+ Fenters saw a significant rise in this update, a projectable, 6-foot-3 right-hander with significant upside. Fenters reached 91 mph this summer, routinely working in the 87-90 range. His arm action works short & compact, hiding behind the body until late to add deception to the operation. He mixes with a slurvey, mid-70's breaking ball that is tightly-spun (2500) and shows out-pitch upside. A strong showing on the summer circuit earned Fenters an invite to the inaugural Prep Baseball Senior Future Games. 

Brad Rohde, RHP, Hanover Central HS, Uncommitted

+ Another Senior Future Games participant - Rohde broke out at our Great Lakes Summer ID, showing big gains compared to our last looks at him. An imposing presence on the hill with a 6-foot-5, 225 pound frame, Rohde works up to 91 mph on a lower slot heater that plays with ride/run properties. The heater is a future weapon that he is able to get swings-and-misses with, and he is also able to induce whiffs with a tight, slurvey, mid-to-upper 70's breaking ball.