Prep Baseball Report

2024 Future Games: Team Michigan - Meet The Team


Bruce Hefflinger and Prep Baseball Michigan Staff
Michigan Senior Writer

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The 13th annual Future Games will take place on July 24-28 at LakePoint in Emerson, Georgia. Top uncommitted prospects in the classes of 2026 and 2027 will participate in one of the most popular events each year.

There will be 36 teams, including Team Michigan, with players representing 40 states plus Canadian prospects. Each team will play three games the final three days of the event after all position players are put through a showcase workout on Wednesday, the first day of the Future Games.

Team Michigan will play Team Pennsylvania at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Team Indiana at 12:30 p.m. Friday and Team Ohio at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

More than 300 colleges from across the country will be looking on as approximately 500 players participate in this year’s event. In years past, more than 330 college coaches from all over the country were in attendance.

To view the schedule/stats/articles related to the 2024 Future Games, please click here.

2024 Future Games: Team Michigan - Meet The Team

The Future Games - Prep Baseball’s premier event of the summer - is fast approaching and Michigan Scouting Director Adam Goodwin is amped up for his second year in charge.

“Our job is to make sure our kids are in a position to succeed, but this is also an incredible experience for them and their families,” Goodwin said. “Not every kid gets this opportunity to represent The Mitten on a national stage, but we'll make sure the kids are ready to go come first pitch. With the roster being set, we feel each individual can play at a high-level post-high school which is why they’re in this position.” 

Picking a roster was far from easy.

“We certainly had some tough decisions to make,” Goodwin explained. “There were over 100 players competing for limited spots to represent Team Michigan, but we feel good about the makeup of the roster and that they will represent our state in a first-class manner while competing between the lines when the first pitch is thrown.”

ROSTER SELECTED

There are 24 players on this year’s Team Michigan, all from the class of 2026.

“I’m happy that all of my hard work and consistency is being recognized,” noted Ethan Armstrong, a highly-regarded pitcher from Garden City who is the top-rated 2026 player in Michigan. “I got a call from coach Goodwin while I was down in Georgia telling me that he wanted me to come down to the Future Games. It felt good knowing I’ll be coming back down for my third time.”

Cole Duhaime is another ready to make a statement in front of college coaches.

“Being selected for the Prep Baseball Future Games means a lot to me because it will give

me the opportunity to showcase my skills while competing with players from my

home state of Michigan,” the left-handed pitcher from Brother Rice said. “When I found out I was selected for the Future Games, I was definitely excited and honored for this opportunity.”

The same goes for Keegan Malley, an outfielder from Midland Dow.

“I feel honored to represent my state and to be one of the few chosen for this event,” the third-rated 2026 outfielder in Michigan said. “It’s important because it’s a great way to get exposure to college coaches and it tells me that I’m one of the best in Michigan. It makes me feel very special and honored.”

Malley remembers well when he heard he was going to be part of Team Michigan.

“I was hitting at some batting cages when I found out,” the 5-9 185-pounder reflected. “My immediate reaction was instant happiness and excitement. I was very excited and felt fortunate for the opportunity.” 

Picking the team was a learning process according to Goodwin.

“The logistical side of things was new for me with managing families/rosters,” Goodwin said. “I feel lucky to have the support we do to make the process seamless.”

READY TO COMPETE

While the players understand how big the Future Games is, many are still learning about it.

“I was able to talk with some of my upperclassmen teammates who were alumni at the event and they were very helpful with explaining what to expect,” noted Duhaime, the top-ranked 2026 left-handed pitcher in the state.

Malley has had some experience being part of the event at a younger age.

“I know this is one of the biggest events for someone my age,” Malley said. “I haven’t talked to anyone specifically about it, but I participated in the Junior Future Games, so I know what to expect.”

Armstrong knows first hand what it is about after pitching an inning a year ago as the lone 2026 for Team Michigan.

“I learned that no matter the outcome I need to stay myself,” the 12th-ranked junior RHP in the nation said. “And just be you and enjoy it.”

Armstrong is confident he will be able to make a statement at the event.

“I hope that I can show my two-way potential to all the scouts that are there,” pointed out the 6-2 196-pounder, who will also play third base in addition to pitching. “I’ve been just lifting, hitting and throwing and I’ve had tournaments throughout the month, so it’s a little prep before the Future Games.”

Duhaime sees being at the Future Games as a chance to not only be seen, but help his squad succeed.

“I would like to accomplish a solid outing which will hopefully contribute to a Team Michigan victory,” Duhaime said. “This past month I have been working on my strength, mechanics and a third pitch with my coaches to help me prepare for the event.”

While Malley has not done anything special in preparation for the Future Games, the 18th-ranked 2026 in Michigan is of the belief his hard work and dedication in the past will result in a good showing.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve done anything in particular to get ready, just my normal routine of hitting, agility and lifting,” Malley said. “I’m just hoping to gain the attention of as many college coaches as possible. I want to play D-I baseball, so I’m working as hard as I can and plan to leave it all out on the field when the time comes.”

TIME TO SHOW

There are 14 players from last year’s Team Michigan that have committed to colleges, all at the Division I level.

In-state there were two Eastern Michigan commits and one each to Michigan and Michigan State. A pair of others decided on Wright State as a future home with additional recruits ready to make homes at Coastal Carolina, TCU, Ohio U, Bowling Green, Nevada, Kentucky, Army and West Virginia.

Armstrong is the lone returnee for Team Michigan, which is loaded with talent according to Goodwin.

“We have a group that has three nationally-ranked players trekking down the Peach State,” pointed out Goodwin, in reference to Armstrong, Duhaime and Carson Liedel, the 16th-ranked 2026 RHP in the country. “We're excited about the balance in our position players and quality arms joining us at the Future Games. It’s a one-of-a-kind event and one-stop-shop for coaches across America looking to identify our top amateur high school players.”

Even with that kind of talent, a lot of preparation goes into being ready when the time comes.

“We need to make sure the rotation is set for the week and notify the kids so they can make appropriate arrangements with travel,” Goodwin said. “Once we've identified the rotation for each game, we will notify schools on who’s throwing where. There’s some backend logistical pieces we work out with social coverage as well.” 

NEW DIVISION

One positive change to this year’s event is the inclusion of a 17U division.

“With the new recruiting rules, in addition to the growing impact of the transfer portal, more and more rising seniors are now uncommitted,” explained Prep Baseball president Sean Duncan. “Now colleges can see the best uncommitted players at the 16U, 17U levels while earmarking high-end eighth-graders for the future. Everything is on campus at LakePoint, so it’s super convenient for them to maximize their time and efforts.

“Ultimately, we’re really excited about this addition because it will attract all levels of college coaches.”

Goodwin sees the 17U division as a major plus.

“This is another phenomenal addition by our national team to implement this event for our uncommitted seniors,” the scouting director for Prep Baseball Michigan said. “Especially now with the way the portal has impacted recruiting, we’ve seen a stall in a lot of 2025s coming off the board, but this event gives them an opportunity to be seen by coaches from coast to coast and have another crack at finding a home their freshman fall.”

JUNIOR TEAM

The Junior Future Games team has also been chosen, with players from the classes of 2028 and 2029 comprising this year’s squad.

“We had fierce competition for the 16 roster spots on Team Michigan this year,” noted Goodwin. “We feel very good about where the roster stands with players who’ve continued to produce at their respective age group. For many, this will be their first time representing our great state on this type of level competing with kids from across the U.S. and Canada.

“We return Mike Steele to lead this group,” added Goodwin, in reference to the manager of the Junior Team. “He is the definition of a baseball lifer and a tremendous teacher of the game which will benefit our kids in the long run.” 

LET THE FUN BEGIN

The Future Games officially begin on Wednesday with Workout Day.

Junior players will get started at 10:30 a.m. with Team Michigan hitting the field at 1:30 along with Team Ohio. The Senior Future Games players will go at it beginning at 6 p.m.

Game action will take place Thursday through Saturday for each division, with the Juniors in a pool play that concludes on Sunday.

There are 36 teams this year in the Future Games, not including the Juniors and Seniors, with Team Michigan’s opening game against Pennsylvania on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The Michigan squad then meets Team Indiana at 12:30 p.m. on Friday and concludes with a game against Team Ohio on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Juniors face Georgia on Thursday at 8 a.m., face Pacific Northwest on Friday at 7:15 p.m. and take on Alabama 2 on Saturday at 2:45 p.m.

The Senior team, called Great Lakes, plays at 10:15 a.m. every day, with Midwest the opponent on Thursday, Central on Friday and Upper Midwest on Saturday.

No matter the division, the players are ready and anxious to get going.

“When it comes to being part of Team Michigan, I look forward to playing with players from my home state that I have played with and against throughout the years and hopefully we can compete and win some ball games,” Duhaime said.

Making new acquaintances is part of it all.

“I’m looking forward to playing with kids I grew up playing against and getting to know new people that I don’t know,” Armstrong said.

It will certainly make for a fun week as Malley anticipates.

“I’m looking forward to being around some of the other best players in the state and just playing baseball,” Malley concluded.

THE ROSTER

Name High School Class Pos.
Ethan Armstrong
Garden City 2026 RHP
Cole Duhaime
Brother Rice 2026 LHP
Henry Ewles
Notre Dame Prep & Marist Academy 2026 1B
Dylan Fairchild
Detroit Catholic Central 2026 SS
Kellen Ford
Hopkins 2026 OF
Gabriel Gaisner
Troy 2026 C
Jackson Gilbert Avondale 2026 RHP
Preston Kann Standish Sterling Central 2026 RHP
Carson Liedel Monroe 2026 RHP
Andrew Mahoney Detroit Catholic Central 2026 LHP
Keegan Malley HH Dow 2026 OF
Cole Novara Dexter 2026 OF
Cam Pallo Forest Hills Eastern 2026 RHP
Lennox Peacock Escanaba 2026 RHP
Jax Recht Niles 2026 RHP
Drake Roa Notre Dame Prep & Marist Academy 2026 SS
Jaden Saavedra South Lyon East 2026 C
Logan Slimko North Muskegon 2026 RHP
Dallas Terski Divine Child 2026 1B
Bennett Thompson Detroit Catholic Central 2026 C
Matt Toeppner Rochester Adams 2026 2B
Andrew Tribul Orchard Lake St. Mary's 2026 3B
Tristan Turner Brother Rice 2026 SS
Anthony Voikos Stoney Creek 2026 RHP

Team Michigan Future Games Records

Category Name High School Class Pos Stat
Year
Top Fastball Velo Keagen Kohlhoff Flint Powers 2025 RHP 93 mph 2023
Top Exit Velo Avain Rivera Dow 2020 OF 108 mph 2018
Top 60-Yard Dash Greg Pace Jr. Detroit Edison 2022 OF 6.37 2020
Top Infield Velo David Lally Grand Blanc 2022 SS 93 mph 2020
Top Outfield Velo John Locker Brother Rice 2021 OF 93 mph 2019
Top Catcher Velo Zack Horky Blissfield 2021 C 82 mph 2019
Top Catcher Velo Carson Raether Goodrich 2024 C 82 mph 2022
Top Catcher Pop Time Noah Miller Monroe 2023 C/P 1.80 2021

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