Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballOH
Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseOHScout
Follow on Instagram- @prepbaseballohio

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 Ohio, 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 Ohio will play Team Indiana at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Team Pennsylvania at 7:00 p.m. Friday and Team Michigan 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 Ohio - Meet The Team

The Future Games - Prep Baseball’s premier event of the summer - is fast approaching and Ohio Scouting Director Kyle Weldon is thrilled to be a part of it.

“We want to put kids in the best position possible to showcase their abilities and give college coaches a compelling reason to get them to campus over a JUCO or portal recruit,” Weldon said in looking ahead to his initial appearance at the event in his position with PBR. “High school players have more pressure on them than ever, the portal and NIL have created a free market that puts the burden of proof on the player more than ever in the history of our game. Our goal at LakePoint is to go show what Ohio has to offer.”

Picking a roster was far from easy.

“When compiling this roster, we tried to find the balance between current production and future  projection - there are a lot of talented players in Ohio who have played really well this year but might not project as well long term as their counterparts. Those decisions are tough, but we do our best to put the highest quality product together that we can. This event is for the kids, it’s important that we make sure we’re operating with that at the forefront.”

ROSTER SELECTED

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

“I feel blessed and honored to be selected for the Future Games,” explained Isaac Sullivan, a Chaminade-Julienne shortstop and pitcher who earned first-team all-state recognition this past school year as a sophomore. “I feel that it is a major accomplishment for me. I was very excited and anxious when I found out I was selected.”

Matt Ponatoski, an incoming junior at Moeller who plays shortstop and pitches, is another player happy to be able to show off his skills.

“I think it is a great opportunity to show my talents to the college coaches and get in front of the people I need to get in front of,” noted Ponatoski, one of two Moeller products on the team along with Conner Cuozzo. “I was excited when I found out because I knew I would be able to go and show what I have against the best uncommitted guys.”

Landon Thiel is one of four POs on the team and looking forward to his opportunity when he throws against Team Michigan in the finale for Ohio next Saturday.

“Being able to compete against elite talent from all over the country in a single spot for a week is a very special thing and I’m looking forward to competing,” the 6-7 190-pound southpaw from Massillon Jackson said. “When I found out,  I was super excited for the opportunity but also very grateful for the people like coaches, parents and others that have played a huge role in my career to get me to this point. They sacrificed a ton for me and I am forever grateful for them.”

Selecting the team brings some strategy according to Weldon.

“The Future Games rosters aren’t just the top-ranked players in the state, you have to build a roster which means you’re taking the top players at each position,” Weldon explained. “That creates some competition among players who play the same positions. I’ve learned just how competitive these players are and how badly they want the opportunity to showcase their skills.”

READY TO COMPETE

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

“I really don’t know much about the event,” related Sullivan, the fourth-ranked 2026 shortstop in Ohio. “My high school teammate Charlie Hoagland went last year and he said it was some of the best baseball he has played.”

The same goes for Thiel, the second-ranked junior left-handed pitcher in Ohio and the 25th-ranked in the nation in the 2026 class.

“I talked a lot to my good friend and high school teammate Landen Doll, who attended the event last year,” Thiel noted. “He’s shared his experience with me and what he learned from it.”

Ponatoski is looking forward to showing what he can do in front of more than 300 coaches expected to be on hand.

“I know the event is for only uncommitted guys and gives them great exposure to the college coaches,” the fifth-ranked 2026 shortstop in the country said. “It also gives you a chance to play with and against some of the best from each state.”

Talent will certainly be on display.

“With this being the first year of the new rule change, it means this is the most talented Future Games roster we’ve had,” Weldon said. “This is true for other states as well, which is exciting to think about the level of play we’re about to see at LakePoint.”

All those in attendance are hoping to be at their best when the opportunity comes.

“I want to go out, enjoy myself, compete to the best of my ability, and to get exposure at the Future Games,” explained Sullivan, a 6-2 190-pounder. “I’ve been playing in tournaments and taking swings outside of practice and games to prepare. I have also been recovering my body well to make sure I am at the top of my game.”

Thiel has been doing the same.

“I’ve been playing in the summer circuit through June into July and just focusing on getting stronger and perfecting my pitches,” the 285th-ranked 2026 in the nation noted. “I’m looking forward to building relationships with the top players in Ohio who I may have played against or with before. It’s pretty special to be a part of such a talented group of guys who I can not only play with but also learn from.”

Ponatoski, the No. 1 rated junior in Ohio, is ready for the challenge ahead.

“I just want to show schools that I’m not afraid to go and compete,” Ponatoski said. “I’ll bring my best to the ballpark everyday. I’m just ready for a whole lot of baseball!”

TIME TO SHOW

There are 18 players from last year’s Team Ohio that have committed to colleges since the 2023 event, all at the Division I level.

In-state there were three Kent State and three Toledo commits along with two each to Ohio State, Wright State and Miami, with one more headed to Ohio University. Additional recruits from the 2023 Futures team are ready to make homes at Auburn, NC State, Kansas State, East Carolina and Marshall. 

St. Xavier’s Jack Ryan and Badin’s Chandler Taylor are the lone returnees from a year ago, with Taylor joining Ponatoski and Cuozzo on the Elite 25 Ohio High School team for the 2024 season.

Preparing for the Future Games is non-stop leading up to it for the scouting director.

“Once everyone is registered, it’s just a matter of lining up the rotation and setting defensive alignments for the time that we’re there,” Weldon explained. “We’ll communicate prior to the event with players about what to expect and we’ll meet as a staff to make sure everyone’s going down there with a clear picture of how the week will unfold.” 

OTHER DIVISIONS

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.”

Weldon sees the 17U division as a major plus.

“The Senior Future Games is a great addition to the event,” Weldon noted. “With the rule change there’s really no need to have a large group of incoming eighth graders included in the event, so replacing them with uncommitted rising seniors made a lot of sense. Our Great Lakes (Ohio/Michigan) roster is full of players who have gone a little under the radar or bloomed later than others. College coaches will be really happy to see that level of quality.”

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

“This is one of the deepest middle infield groups I’ve seen,” Weldon said of the Junior Future Team for Ohio. “There are a lot of talented players on the roster with some premium left-handed bats in the mix. I’m excited to see how they stack up with the rest of the country.” 

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

The Future Games officially begin on Wednesday with Workout Day.

Junior players will get started at 10:30 a.m. with Team Ohio hitting the field at 1:30 along with Team Michigan. 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 Ohio’s opening game against Indiana on Thursday at 7 p.m.. The Ohio squad then meets Team Pennsylvania at 7 p.m. on Friday and concludes with a game against Team Michigan on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Juniors face Connecticut on Thursday at 5 p.m., take on Maryland on Friday at 10:15 a.m. and then play Georgia 2 on Saturday at 8 a.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.

“I’m excited about creating relationships with guys that I don’t really know too well,” Ponatoski said.

To have the name Ohio across the front of the jersey is special.

“I’m very excited to represent Ohio, to meet new teammates, and to just play baseball,” Sullivan said.

Thiel understands just how unique the opportunity is for himself and the rest of the players from across the United States. 

“Being able to be a member of such an elite team of guys who are all from one state is very cool,” Thiel concluded. “Getting to compete against the top players in other states from all over the country is going to make for a very fun and exciting week.”

THE ROSTER

Name	High School	Class	Pos.
Cameron Anderson	West Clermont	2026	RHP
Keaton Bowers	Hilliard Bradley	2026	C
Johnathan Brenner	Cardinal Mooney	2026	RHP
Nathan Bryant	Lake Center Christian	2026	RHP
Rhys Canan	Walnut Hills	2026	RHP
Donovan Corbett	Lakota East	2026	OF
Conner Cuozzo	Archbishop Moeller	2026	3B/P
Enzo DiCocco	Brecksville-Broadview Heights	2026	OF
Ben Hanley	Mason	2026	RHP
Brayden Johnson	Lakota West	2026	C
Grant Lashutka	St. Edward	2026	P/SS
Matthew Mansbery	Walsh Jesuit	2026	SS
Owen Mikin	Saint Ignatius	2026	C/P
Logan Minamyer	Hilliard Bradley	2026	RHP
Drew Oerther	Loveland	2026	1B/LHP
Matt Ponatoski	Archbishop Moeller	2026	SS
Jack Ryan	St. Xavier	2026	RHP/1B
Dominic Singleton	Saint Ignatius	2026	LHP
Mason Springs	Marysville	2026	SS/P
Isaac Sullivan	Chaminade-Julienne	2026	SS/P
Chandler Taylor	Badin	2026	OF
Landon Thiel	Massillon Jackson	2026	LHP
Zander Triplett	Louisville	2026	OF
Landon Wolf	Amherst Steele	2026	1B

Team Ohio Future Games Records
Category	Name	High School	Class	Pos	Stat	Year
Top Fastball Velo	Chris Machamer	Massillon Washington	2016	RHP	92 mph	2013
Top Fastball Velo	Andrew Edrington	Princeton	2023	RHP	92 mph	2021
Top Exit Velo	Caden Crawford	CHCA	2022	1B/OF	104 mph	2020
Top 60-Yard Dash	Kasey Centeno	Massillon Perry	2019	OF	6.49	2017
Top Infield Velo	Andrew Edrington	Princeton	2023	P/SS	93 mph	2021
Top Outfield Velo	Carter Christenson	Archbishop Moeller	2025	SS/OF	92 mph	2023
Top Catcher Velo	Dillon Dingler	Massillon Jackson	2017	C	82 mph	2015
Top Catcher Pop Time	Dillon Dingler	Massillon Jackson	2017	C	1.86	2015

Recent Articles