Midwest Super Sophomore Games : Team Indiana Takeaways
August 6, 2024
Indiana's class of 2027 has done nothing but compete at a high level when on the national scale over the course of the past two summers. After a 7-0 showing at the 14u Junior Future Games, this group turned around and went 4-0 at the inaugural Midwest Super Sophomore Games this week, outlasting Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky for the unofficial crown. This group featured 8 of the current top 10 players in the 2027 class, along with over 75% of the current players ranked in the top-25. Read along to learn about the top prospects from this group, along with a group of risers with upward arrows next to their name.
Blue-Chip Prospects
The top prospects from Team Indiana that seperated themselves amongst their peers and are deserving of national-level attention. Four names that recruiters should familiarize themselves with immediately, + the #1 prospect in this class...
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Grady Nelson OF / 1B / Warsaw Community High School, IN / 2027Nelson reaffirmed our thoughts and established himself as a premier power bat in the Midwest during this prestigious event. Offering a very physical look at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, the left-handed hitter splits time between OF & 1B but is most notably known for his abilities in the left-handed batter's box. One of the loudest BP's of Day 1 was a preview of his offensive prowess, as he showed off his premier run-producing abilities in-game with a pair of doubles that hopped over the wall, and an RBI single that he flicked into RCF. There is easy barrel strength in a short, uber-impactful stroke and the body still has room for strength/body composition improvements that will turn his best barrels into prodigious homers soon enough...
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Cole Cheatham RHP / Union County, IN / 2027Looking the part of a premier, power-armed, Midwest right-hander - Cheatham toed the rubber for a pair of dominant innings that left a lasting impression on our staff. The 6-foot-3, 180 pound frame holds present strength in the lower half, along with room for growth. Cheatham lifts to a big inward turn before uncoiling with aggression, powering the fastball into the low-90s with more coming as mechanical refinements are made. Cheatham bullied with an advanced fastball while showing a true 12/6 breaking ball with real upside in the shape. There are swing-and-miss traits in the heavy heater + top-down breaking ball with the frame to hold velocity and a starter profile that is not out of the question despite some rawness & effort.
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Isaiah Snavely SS / Fort Wayne Snider, IN / 2027Rankings StateRank: 13 / POS: 4
Snavley brought a high-motor, confident approach to Team Indiana's infield with impressive tools & the look of a high-level prospect. A wiry, athletic, 6-foot-1, 170 pounder - Snavely shined on the workout day as he blazed a 6.68 60-yard dash before showing off a silky left-handed stroke and above average arm strength across. The swing brought production during in-game looks and his fast hands add impact to the profile. The foot speed shows up in-game as he showed instincts and aggression on the bases, looking to steal and unafraid to take the extra base. Snavely showed athleticism on the dirt, able to play downhill with solid glove-to-hand, and his arm strength will keep him on the left side.
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Gavin Markus RHP / Greenfield Central, IN / 2027Offering a starter's look on night one, Markus walked to the mound with supreme confidence and a quality four-pitch mix. Wiry & extremely lean - Markus' 6-foot-3 frame is far from a finished product with strength gains to be had that will louden already-solid stuff. His fastball has a chance to be a real swing-and-miss pitch, averaging 18" of IVB at 84-86 with more velocity to come. He complimented the heater with a sweeping slider that worked firmly in the 74-77 mph range with bite. Markus also showed the ability to manipulate spin with a bigger curveball, as well as showing a change with low vert and significant horizontal. Markus was one of, if not the best, movers on the staff with a velo jump looming in the near future.
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Drake McClurg OF / Center Grove High School, IN / 2027The state's top ranked sophomore and one of the premier athletes in the '27 class - McClurg was kept quiet most of the weekend but nonetheless showed the traits of a high-level prospect. A slam-dunk CF that hits from both sides - the Indiana recruit boasts electric hands from both sides of the dish that hold present gap power. His best tool is his feet, a 6.5 runner in the 60 that got down the line in the 4.1 range (LH) this weekend. McClurg profiles as a high-level tablesetter with power on the way that will come with maturity, plus a defensive asset in the middle of the diamond.
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Helium Sophomores
Players that performed above our expectations with upward arrows currently next to their name...
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Cooper Collins C / Lincoln High School, IN / 2027Rankings StateRank: 15 / POS: 2
I haven't seen a better defender at the age than Collins - a true weapon behind the dish that makes the staff better and offers premier catch-and-throw abilities behind the dish. Collins shined on the workout day with an 81 mph arm from the crouch and pop times from 1.78 to 1.86, both metrics being event bests amongst IL, IN, KY, MI, and OH's top '27s. The glove is a real tool and the compact, 5-foot-11, 175 pounder shows solid bat-to-ball from the right-side with budding strength in the barrel.
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Brayden Ring SS / Zionsville Community High School, IN / 2027Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 3
Ring has a knack for performing on the big stages, backing strong JFG performances each of the last two seasons with another huge week for Team Indiana. The projectable, athletic, 6-foot shortstop was the unofficial "MVP" of this year's group - collecting four hits, three for extra bases, including the walk-off winner in the final game. A flat-out winner that plays with a low pulse, Ring showed exciting improvements in his toolset, with his 60 down to a 6.98 - and more barrel strength than we have seen previously. A sure-handed defender that can play all three infield spots - Ring did nothing but elevate himself in our staff's eyes after an outstanding weekend.
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Lincoln Hoffman OF / Westfield, IN / 2027Rankings StateRank: 19 / POS: 4
Hoffman proved to be one of the toughest outs within a loaded lineup throughout the weekend. A left-handed hitting outfielder with compact strength in an athletic, 5-foot-11, 185 pound frame - Linc hits out of a wide setup with quiet, efficient moves that allow for repeatability. A budding run tool (6.84 60) also adds to an already-solid hit tool. Hoffman's strong performance at the Sophomore Games, combined with showing an ability to hit high level pitching throughout the 24 spring and summer campaigns, makes him a high-floor bat in the '27 class with a chance to mature into a run producer.
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Davis Moore LHP / Zionsville Community High School, IN / 2027Rankings StateRank: 31 / POS: 2
Count me in on this '27 southpaw. One of my favorite arms rolled out for the Hoosier State - Moore will takeover as the top-ranked lefty in our next update with strong present abilities + many traits to dream on. The wiry, lean, 6-foot LHP is a quality mover that delivers from a low 3/4 slot to provide some funk & deception. Moore worked his running fastball up to 84, pitching in the low-80s, and showed two potential-plus offspeed offerings to go along with clean arm action and a projectable look. Davis spun a tight (2400s), low-70s breaking ball with sweeper properties that pairs excellently with his fastball that goes the other way. His low-to-mid 70s change comes out the hand with a similiar look as fastball and tumbles late. Strength gains will louden his arsenal and his baseball IQ only further justifies his bright future.
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Elijah Hall RHP / Noblesville, IN / 2027Rankings StateRank: 26 / POS: 8
Hall has developed nicely since early spring looks and jumps into consideration as one of the better RHP's to follow in the class. He has matured into a high-waisted, 6-foot-1 frame that has room for strength gains. The arm works on a longer, full path with some acceleration to a higher release - producing an 87 mph fastball on his best bullet and consistently pitching in the mid-80s. Hall's abilitiy to spin an upper-70s breaking ball with shape suggests another velocity jump is in on the way, and the breaking ball shows real out-pitch upside. Although Hall ran into some trouble in his first inning of work - pitch-ability has been the calling card previously and he dialed back in for a speedy second inning. Look for Hall to make another jump next spring with a breakout sophomore campaign looming...
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Carter Strole RHP / 3B / Fishers , IN / 2027Rankings StateRank: 27 / POS: 9
Strole elevated his stock tremendously for me personally with a quality showing on both sides of the ball. On the mound, the 6-foot-4, 190 pounder offered an upside look with a fastball up to 86, a firm, sinking splitter that worked in the upper-70s, and developing spin in the mid-70s. The lengthy, athletic frame - paired with a clean arm on the back side and above average pitch-ability presently makes for easy projections. Strole also offered intriguing upside as a two-way player, elevating the ball to his pull-side with leverage during batting practice with an exit velocity reaching into the mid-90s. He translated a solid approach to gameplay with a high percentage of barrels and a flatter path that optimizes firm contact. Strole moves well for his size at the hot-corner and his footspeed plays above his 60 time on the bases with quality instincts shown.
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