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Underclass Games : Quick Hits

July 22, 2024
Cooper Trinkle
Scouting Director

Our Underclass Games has a strong history of gathering some of the top to-be freshmen and sophomores from the state of Indiana. This year's crop was no different, with numerous eventual division one prospects in attendance. Below, you can find 5 must-know names, a handful of promising follows, along with a group of honorable mentions that made impressions on our staff. 

Full statistical analysis can be found -> HERE. 

Names to Know

Mason Gomez RHP / Franklin Community High School, IN / 2027

A high-ceiling right-hander, there is athleticism within an ultra-projectable, 6-foot-5, 180 pound frame that combines with above-average stuff and a starter's look. Gomez has a low-to-mid 80s fastball that plays up due to above-average carry properties, along with a 6'5" of extension (advanced), and the frame screams more velocity is to come. His breaking ball plays in the low-70s with shape and occasional bite, and he shows above-average feel for it. Gomez showed a mid-70s change that is still developing. 

 

Isaiah Snavely SS / Fort Wayne Snider, IN / 2027

Snavely showed polish throughout a quality batting practice round with a sweet left-handed stroke. The wiry, athletic, 6-foot-1, 170 pound shortstop owns one of my favorite swings of the class, mechanically sound with limited effort throughout. The feet are athletic on the dirt and his hands are soft, with an arm that works with above-average strength. Snavely was one of the better runners of the day, turning in a 6.90 60-yard dash.

 

Luke Brown C / Evansville Memorial, IN / 2027

There is real upside within the athletic, 6-foot-4, 175 pound frame of this catcher out of Evansville. Brown looks the part of a future run-stopper, with a 79 mph arm from the crouch and pops already as low as 1.87. The body + catch & throw look the part of a future high-end backstop, with offensive traits to dream on. The long-levered swing is athletic and handsy, with projectable strength. Brown put together a solid round of batting practice, flashing pull-side strength, and turned around a double versus a top arm from the event during gameplay. 

 

Hayden Zellers OF / Greenfield-Central, IN / 2028

Zellers is one of the more advanced hitters we have identified in a very young, 2028 class. Despite being one of the youngest in attendance, Zellers was easily one of the top hitters in attendance - if not the best. Zellers produced near-90 mph exit velocities despite his 5-foot-11, 140 pound frame. There is real twitch in the left-handed stroke, to go along a clean bat path that optimizes hard contact. Zellers is already a 7.11 runner, a number that will decrease rapidly as strength is added to the immature frame. 

 

Mason Biernacki OF / Penn , IN / 2028

The loudest toolset of the day came from another prospect who has yet to enter high school. Biernacki was one of only a few players to turn in a sub-7.00 60-yard dash, and grabbed the top outfield velocity of the day, reaching 89 mph. Biernacki was near the top of the leaderboards in exit velocity, with his best ball leaving the bat at 93.8 mph. There is already some electrcity in the way Biernacki turns the barrel, setting the stage for an exciting bat to follow in the Hoosier State's 2028 class. The 5-foot-10, 160 pounder showed off his arm strength on the bump, reaching 84 mph on his fastball and showing an offspeed arsenal that is intriguing. 

 

Promising Follows

+ No player made a bigger impression on our staff than OF/LHP Aden Baggett (Evansville North). Baggett cracked a tough varsity Husky lineup this spring and owns a projectable, wiry, 6-foot-1, 165 pound frame. Baggett torched two extra-base hits during gameplay, including a pull-side homer that struck the right field foul pole. The is twitch in a left-handed stroke that matches plane, along with promising arm talent. Baggett is an upside prospect as a left-handed pitcher, working up to 83 mph on a low-slot fastball with good breaking ball shape to pair. 

+ RHP/SS Connor Christiansen (Cathedral) is a talented right-handed arm that had one of the top outings of the day. The athletic, 5-foot-11, 160 pounder shows arm speed within an athletic delivery along with command of multiple offerings. Christiansen works a four-seam heater up to 86 mph, sinks a low-80s fastball with significant arm-side life, and his low-70s slider plays with sweep and shows upside as a future out-pitch. There is some feel to manipulate spin, along with a splitter that is developing. Christiansen doubles as slick-fielding shortstop with standout actions and arm strength. He hits from the right-side with an athletic swing and developing bat speed. 

+ OF Colin Axel-Adams (Pendleton Heights) showed real twitch throughout the day. A wiry, 6-foot-1, 170 pound frame pairs with a solid run tool for the age (6.91) that only adds to the rotational strength he provides from the left-side of the dish. Axel-Adams has produced mid-90s exit velocities that show up in game, as he produces across various looks on the circuit this summer. The power/speed combo to dream on makes Axel-Adams one of the more promising outfield follows in the 2027 class. 

+ LHP Gunner Wade (Franklin) offered a high-pitchability look with a projectable, 6-foot-2, 160 pound frame to pair. The fastball works with tremendous carry, averaging 21" of IVB and reaching 25" (advanced), topping out at 80 mph currently. The arm works continous on the backside, with ample room for strength gains, to suggest more velocity is on the way. His carry heater plays well with his 12/6 breaking ball at 70-73 mph, while his best offering is his changeup, a low-70s offering that he shows advanced feel for. 

+ An upside follow from the 2027 class is RHP Carter Strole (Fishers). Strole owns a projectable, 6-foot-3, 185 pound frame and his arm works in a clean, compact fashion. The fastball works in the low-80s at the moment, but that number will undoubtedly tick. Strole offers a firm, upper-70s splitter that is a sinker/splitter-hybrid pitch, and a mid-70s slider that is developing. There are very interesting traits within this operation that will make Strole a priority follow as the class ages.

+ OF Clark Bucher (Hamilton Southeastern) was one of the more projectable bats in attendance, providing the look of a future high-end bat. The 6-foot-1, 150 pound frame is an offseason in the weight room away from an above-average toolset becoming loud. A switch-hitter, Bucher provides one of the cleaner swings in the class from the left-side and his bat-to-ball was evident throughout summer looks on the circuit. The right-handed swing is behind the left at this time, however as strength is added the right side will clean up. Bucher has a chance to be one of the best players on this list when it is all said & done - with a breakout sophomore year lurking if strength is added...

+ SS Bo Blondi (Cathedral) showed off some of the best overall actions of the day. The switch-hitting shortstop boasts body control and a loose, whippy swing from both sides. Blondi shows all-kinds of feel on the dirt with soft hands to pair. The actions look the part of a strong defender, and he turned in the best infield arm of the day, firing it across at 86 mph. Young for the class, the 5-foot-9, 145 pounder holds an immature body that is still growing - physical development will improve the run tool and bat speed. 

+ SS Chase Nelson (Andrean) offers one of the more-promising hit tools in Indiana's 2027 class. Nelson provides energy in the left-handed batter's box, setting up in a wider stance with a rhythmic hand-waggle that flows to a strong position on a consistent basis. The path is ideal and he uses the ground well to create bat speed. An undersized, 5-foot-6 frame and developing strength limits impact at the moment, but Nelson offers one of the more accurate barrels we've seen in the class. 

+ OF/RHP Nomikos Zaronias (Crown Point) was one of the more physical players in attendance. A two-way player, Zaronias turned in the best 60-yard dash of the day with a 6.86. There is some natural strength to the 6-foot-1, 175 pound frame that created a 91.3 mph exit velocity, along with an 84 mph fastball and 89 mph arm from the outfield. 

+ My favorite arm action of the day came from RHP Andrew Broshears (Evansville Memorial). There is a loose whip to the full-circle arm action that will make his low-80s fastball jump very soon. An athletic mover with a 6-foot, 160 pound frame - the hips work well within a well-sequenced delivery and a tightly-spun breaking ball with outstanding shape only adds to an exciting follow. 

+ SS Kasen Jessup (Westfield) is a toolsy right-handed hitter with real twitch. Despite an undersized, 5-foot-7 frame there is rotational strength to go along with the aforementioned twitch that allows him to produce a 93 mph exit velocity. Jessup produced across summer looks and offers a potential future run tool, turning in a sub-7.00 at the event. Jessup is the youngest player currently in our 2027 rankings, slated to graduate at 17 years old. 

+ SS Cam Gates (Bedford North Lawrence) is a promising right-handed bat to follow. Storing energy in the back hip as he loads, Gates hits with athleticsm and turns a tight barrel that is accurate. Although the run tool isn't present yet, lateral movements are quick and there is body control to note. Gates has a bat to follow with an athletic, 5-foot-9 frame that will pack on strength to add to some already available twitch. 

Honorable Mentions