Winter Watchlist: Names To Know
January 9, 2024
We're less than a month away from the start of the PBR Kansas winter calendar, in which our staff will trek across the state to run various different events prior to the start of the high school season.
These events, for high school aged players, serve as an opportunity for aspiring collegiate athletes to accumulate accurate and verified measureables in a workout setting while also showcasing their talents in front of our staffs. By attending, players have the opportunity to update their Prep Baseball profile, which serves as a recruiting 'resume' in a way for each perspective athlete. All of our events serve as identifiers for future high leve, invite-only events, like our Top Prospect Games, All-State events, the prestigious PBR Future Games, and even the Prep Baseball All-American Game.
To see what our events offer from a technology, athletic testing, and evaluation point of view, click HERE. For a look at all of the events our staff is running this winter and when, click HERE.
Several of the state's top prospects have already signed up for one of our upcoming winter events, and we're eager to see the multitude of talent that Missouri has to offer up-close. Below you will learn more about the high level prospects in the 'Show Me' state, regardless of class, that our staff will see this winter.
WINTER WATCHLIST
Keaton Neal SS / Springhill, KS / 20266-foot-3, 185-pound frame; really looks the part in a uniform with a lean and athletic frame that's far from finished maturing. Has long been one of the top prospects in the country for his class, slotted at No. 2 overall in Kansas and No. 55 overall nationally. High level two-way prospect with dynamic tools on both sides of the ball. Fast right-handed swing with barrel feel, polish, and juice. Posted a 98 mph max exit velocity and 352 ft. peak batted distance at an event last winter. Twitch and dynamism translates to other aspects of his athletic profile; 6.98 runner, 93 mph across the infield. Has also ran his fastball up to 92 mph on the mound, regularly pitching in the upper-80s, while showing feel to land a mid-to-upper-70s slider for strikes/whiffs. Should be one of the more coveted uncommitted 2026s in the nation come August 1st. |
Beau Peterson 3B / Mill Valley, KS / 2026Nebraska commit and the top-ranked prospect in the state's 2026 class, also sits at No. 12 overall nationally for his age group. Plenty physical at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds with room for more as he continues to mature. Left-handed hitter with inherent strength and bat speed, true middle-of-the-order type bat at the next level. Also owns an upper-80s fastball, that's breached the 90 mph mark, with a real swing-and-miss slider at 2700+ RPM. Should be a name that is at or near the top of our 2026 rankings for the duration of his high school career and eventually is a priority follow for area scouts. |
Benjamin Burton OF / Olathe East, KS / 2026From 7/6/23: "...6-foot-3, 175-pounds with long, upside limbs. Looked the part at the plate, controls his levers well for his age. Was on the barrel twice for Building Champions in a look on Sunday - went the other way for a loud triple and barreled a lineout to second base, too. A name to follow that’s trending upward in the Kansas’ 2026 class." |
Milo Burton RHP / Olathe East, KS / 2026From 7/6/23: "...6-foot-3, 175-pound highly projectable frame, is a name-to-know prospect in the Kansas’ 2026 class. Took the mound on Thursday morning, pumping his fastball at 85-88, touching 89 mph with downhill tilt from a high arm slot. Spun a slider at 75-76 mph with consistent depth and late break for strikes. Also a formidable follow at the plate." |
Parker Clubb C / Mulvane , KS / 2026From 7/6/23: "...Louisville commit, ranked nationally for the 2026 class. Lean, wiry 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame. Swings a highly projectable left-handed bat with present polish. Also one of the top defensive backstops in Kansas with the actions to stick behind the plate long term." |
Brody Cooper RHP / Shawnee Heights, KS / 2026Positional Profile: RHP |
Eli Dean OF / Perry-Lecompton , KS / 20255-foot-11, 180-pound athlete that's ranked inside the top-50 prospects for the Kansas' 2025 class. Strong and direct right-handed swing with hand speed. Posted a 94 mph max exit velocity at the Kansas City Fall Open, also showed favorable batted ball measures in terms of peak distance (336 ft.) and average distance (261 ft). Also a 7.04 runner with a 30 inch vertical and 87 mph arm from the outfield. |
Brody Epke OF / Maize South, KS / 2026Positional Profile: OF/LHP |
Cambren Floberg SS / Shawnee Heights, KS / 20265-foot-10, 155-pounds. Hitterish at the plate, simple and athletic right-handed swing, level barrel that stays in the zone through contact. Comfortable spraying line drives to all fields. Has some footwork feel and bounce on the infield, sure-handed. |
Max Flowers OF / Blue Valley Southwest, KS / 20255-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitter that's one of the top prospects in the Kansas' 2025 class. Athletic at the plate with balance through contact, barrel stays level and in the zone, gap-to-gap feel. Squared his hardest ball up at 94.2 mph at the MOKAN Top Prospect Games this summer, also launched his furthest batted ball 360 feet. Also a 6.96 runner in the 60. |
James Forgy C / St Thomas Aquinas, KS / 2026From 7/6/23: "...5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Currently slotted inside the top-20 prospects for the Kansas’ 2026 class. Started for Building Champions on Saturday afternoon and kept a talented offense off the board in a 3-0 win. Fastball touched 85, pitched at 83-84 mph with four-seam carry up in the zone. Mixed a low-70s curveball in as a change of pace throughout his outing as well." |
Ryan Gleason RHP / Mill Valley, KS / 2026Positional Profile: RHP/3B |
Cooper Grace 3B / Hayden, KS / 2025One of the top prospects in the Kansas 2025 class, represented the Sunflower State at the PBR Future Games this past summer. 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete with strength throughout. Swings a strong right-handed barrel with juice, 96.1 mph max exit velocity, 361 ft. max batted distance. Plenty talented on the mound, too, bumping his fastball up to 90 mph this summer while pitching in the mid-to-upper-80s. Feel to spin a low-70s breaking ball with depth and some bite at times, flashes swing-and-miss potential. |
Ben Graves SS / Free State , KS / 20265-foot-10, 165-pound left-handed hitter that's one of the top prospects in the state's 2026 class, currently slotted at No. 9 overall. Polished all-around offensive skill-set with advanced feel to hit for his age. Has shown our staff sure-handed actions on the infield in the past as well. |
Hudson Halstead RHP / Derby, KS / 2026Positional Profile: RHP/3B |
Max Hamilton RHP / Olathe West, KS / 2026Positional Profile: RHP/OF Follow in the KS 2026 class. |
Ryan Jackson RHP / Spring Hill, KS / 2025Positional Profile: RHP/OF |
Brogan Jaworski C / St. James Academy, KS / 2025Positional Profile: C/RHP |
Isaac Lager OF / Bishop Carroll, KS / 2025Positional Profile: OF/1B |
Brenden Lee RHP / Shawnee Mission Northwest, KS / 2025Positional Profile: RHP/OF Interesting follow in the KS 2025 class. |
Braxton Madrigal 1B / Mulvane , KS / 2025Positional Profile: 1B/RHP |
Micah McGavran C / Olathe West , KS / 20256-foot-2, 210-pound frame with strength packed throughout. Another name-to-know prospect in the Kansas' 2025 group that's still uncommitted. Right-handed swing works uphill to contact with intent to elevate. Showed above-average bat strength in BP at the PBR Future Games, posting a 96 mph max exit velocity with a 365 ft. peak batted distance. Also a 6.99 runner in the 60 with a 78 mph arm behind the plate and a 1.97 pop time at his best. |
Ty Miller RHP / Olathe West, KS / 2025Positional Profile: RHP/1B One of the top arms in the KS 2025 class. |
Roy Roseman C / Olathe West , KS / 2026Positional Profile: C/1B |
Luke Sahrmann OF / Olathe West , KS / 2025Positional Profile: OF/2B |
Jack Sells RHP / Blue Valley West, KS / 20256-foot-3, 188-pound athlete with a prototypical starter's frame. Fastball touched 86 mph this summer, playing in the low-to-mid-80s, while also showing a mid-70s breaking ball. |
Brayden Shannon SS / Basehor , KS / 20276-foot-1, 155-pound athlete that's one of the top prospects in the state's recent 2027 rankings, debuting at No. 9 overall. Noticeable athleticism for age, Ran a 6.95 60 at the PBR Junior Future Games with a 1.65 10-yard split. Athletic hands that work direct to the baseball with line drive feel, doesn't try to do too much. Shows above-average actions for his age on the infield. Sure-handed glove, comfortable on the move and trusts his hands. Also up to 85 mph from the outfield. Figures to be a name-to-know prospect in the state's 2027 class presently, as well as in the future. |
Colton Roberts RHP / Rose Hill, KS / 20256-foot-3, 185-pound well-proportioned frame that's plenty capable of adding more muscle mass in the near future. Was one of the biggest winners in the state this fall, rising to seventh overall on our 2025 rankings. Power arm with lively stuff, pitching in the upper-80s, and touching 90 mph at the Kansas City Fall Open this past September. Spins a firm 78-79 mph slider that flashes swing-and-miss potential. Also shows a changeup with low spin and lift at 75-76 mph. A high-follow, name-to-know prospect that's still uncommitted. |
Kaiden Simons OF / Piper, KS / 20265-foot-11, 165-pound left/left prospect with lean strength. Works direct to contact, barrel stays flat through the zone. Also a follow on the mound; fastball plays in the low-80s with a quick arm, flashes feel for CB/CH mix. |
Kam Smith RHP / Girard, KS / 20276-foot-2, 160-pound long, lean, and highly projectable athlete. Debuted at No. 5 overall on our 2027 rankings and within the top-250 nationally, too. Represented Kansas at the PBR Junior Future Games last summer. Polished delivery downhill with a loose and easy arm to pair. Fastball plays in the low-80s presently, though should climb quickly, and he's able to spin a bendy breaking ball with depth for strikes in the low-70s as well. |
Carson Umphres OF / Great Bend, KS / 2025Positional Profile: OF/RHP |
Tyler Vanderleest 1B / Blue Valley North, KS / 20256-foot-4, 185-pound strong, highly physical athlete that wields one of the more powerful right-handed swings in the 2025 class. Put that on full display at the Natural Baseball Academy Scout Day, barreling his firmest ball up at 97.6 mph, averaging 89.5 mph per swing, and swatting a 385 ft. peak batted ball as well. |
Colin Zimbelman C / Basehor Linwood, KS / 20275-foot-8, 145-pound athlete that's slotted within the top-25 on our Kansas' 2027 rankings. Represented Kansas at the PBR Junior Future Games this past summer. Swing plays with some length and stays level through the zone. Simple approach and doesn't try to do too much. Quick catch-and-throw from the chute for age, accurate and on the bag often. |
Steven Zimbelman 2B / Basehor Linwood, KS / 2026Lean, high-waisted 6-foot, 158-pound athlete that's starting to fill out his frame more. Works short and direct to the baseball at the plate, sprays line drives to all fields. Bouncy on the infield, sure-handed glove. |
Owen Gietzen C / Mill Valley, KS / 2025Physical 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame. Hands stay short and direct to contact, works on top of the baseball. Quick to release from behind the plate, arm peaked at 74 mph at one of our events this fall. |
Cayman Cook RHP / Lawrence Free State, KS / 20256-foot-5, 220-pounds. Impressed this past summer in a start at Creekside, pitching in the low-80s with his fastball, touching 84 mph. Able to spin two different breaking balls; a more bendy 68-70 mph curveball with higher arch and shape, and a tighter slider at 74-76 mph that he turned to for swing-and-miss in that look. |
Hayes Allen RHP / Bishop Carroll, KS / 2025Positional Profile: RHP/1B |
Carson Douglass RHP / Eisenhower , KS / 2027Positional Profile: RHP/SS. Another high follow prospect in the 2027 class. |
Rowan Foster SS / Derby, KS / 2026Positional Profile: SS/2B |
Quincy Koehn RHP / Maize, KS / 2027Positional Profile: RHP/1B. Ranked No. 4 overall in the state's 2027 class and inside the top-150 nationally, too. |
Carter Reed LHP / Andale, KS / 20275-foot-10, 175-pounds. Sits currently inside the top-15 on the Kansas 2027 rankings. Clean, athletic, and polished southpaw that repeats his delivery at a high level. Strike thrower with three pitches. |
Sam Soderstrom C / Maize, KS / 2025Positional Profile: C/RHP |
Ryder Zimmerman 3B / Maize, KS / 2027Physically advanced 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame with present proportional strength and room to add more. Strong, athletic right-handed swing with quick hands and some jump off the barrel. Also a wide receiver for Maize's football team and a PBR Junior Future Games alumni. Ranked within the top-25 prospects in the state's 2027 class. |
Camden Morris C / Blue Valley, KS / 2025Positional Profile: C/1B |