Shooter's Shortlist: Great Plains & Texas 2026s
April 20, 2023
As the season inches towards summer and the recruiting trips get planned, a look into the must-see uncommitted underclassmen that PBR’s Vice President of Scouting, Shooter Hunt, is circling for college coaches to plan around.
TEXAS
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John Dolan C / 3B / Hargrave Huffman, TX / 2026
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Chandler Hart LHP / OF / Allen, TX / 2026
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Karson Reeder RHP / Tomball, TX / 2026
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CJ Sampson RHP / Tomball, TX / 2026
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COLORADO
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Hudson Alpert SS / RHP / Regis Jesuit, CO / 2026It is easy to bet on athletes, and that usually starts up the middle. Alpert’s profile as a shortstop & pitcher shines well on his future potential, and he demonstrated much to like at a preseason PBR Colorado event. The square-shouldered, 6-foot, 165-pounder has plenty of room to continue filling out along with natural athleticism. A simple approach at the plate sees the right-handed hitter relaxed in a square, slightly crouched stance with minor hand separation before creating some quickness on a direct path. He gets quality use of the lower half including impressive torque from the hips while showcasing some length through the zone with the potential for future power (91.2 mph max exit velo). Confident on the dirt with soft hands, there is some polish to his defensive capability that includes advanced glove-to-hand and a quick transfer/release. Amplifying his upside, Alpert also hopped on the mound at the event where he exhibited an ease of movement down the mound to go along with a quick arm that ran the fastball up to 84.2 mph with more on the way.
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Tyce Smith OF / SS / Regis Jesuit, CO / 2026First introducing himself at the Junior Future Games thanks to a sweet left-handed stroke, Smith now resides at Colorado power, Regis Jesuit, and that swing has only gotten better. Now 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, the left-handed hitter is an easy mover with an eye-opening ability to work quickly to the ball and long through it with controlled aggression that sees him work with strength from the ground up. A must-follow bat from a cold weather state, early and often looks will likely be bountiful for college recruiters in the summer.
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Ethan Wachsmann RHP / OF / Grandview, CO / 2026A smooth mover on the mound with advanced aptitude for spin, Wachsmann’s upside as an athletic right-hander should generate bubbling interest throughout the summer. Still very much developing physically at a wiry 5-foot-11, 155-pounds, his fastball was up to 83 mph in a preseason bullpen for PBR Colorado with upwards of 2257 rpm. Loose and continuous with some whip, the arm works free and easy with quickness out front, and he exhibited a polished delivery that should provide for more easier advancements to be made in coming years. Beyond the quick arm, the arsenal is sure to excite many recruiters including a faded changeup (77-78, 1919 rpm avg.) that is thrown for strikes, but especially a tightly spun slider. Working at 71-73 in this particular February bullpen setting, he ripped it off with upwards of 2769 rpm, and demonstrated the ability to throw it for strikes.
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Maddox Burnett 3B / C / Erie, CO / 2026Rankings State Rank: 7 / POS: 1
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IOWA
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Bryce Pauly 3B / RHP / Davenport North, IA / 2026Rankings OverallRank: 156 / POS: 12
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MISSOURI
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Jathan Spain RHP / 1B / Cape Central, MO / 2026Hailing from a state densely populated with physical frames and power-arms (Missouri), Spain appears poised to add to that moniker. At 6-foot-4, 190-pounds he is an imposing presence, and was already running the fastball up to 88 mph in preseason bullpens. A semi-longer, controlled arm stroke gives way to quickness out front with more velocity on the way. More intriguing, Spain also demonstrated some aptitude for spin with a curveball that reached as high as 2629 rpm with depth and a slider that took more lateral shape at 2608 rpm. Circle the name. |
OKLAHOMA
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Jase Winchester SS / 2B / Edmond Memorial, OK / 2026Rankings State Rank: 24 / POS: 8
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