From the Hip: Spring Follows (2026)
January 9, 2024
A look at 20 uncommitted players from the sophomore class that are likely to make an impact on the spring and summer recruiting seasons.
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Colt DeHart OF / RHP / Indian Creek, IN / 2026At 6-foot-2, 185-pounds with a sweet left-handed stroke, DeHart is likely to have backstops crowded with college coaches next summer as his swing and frame provide the upside of an impact player. A 6.85-runner with graceful strides and potential two-way capability (he was up to 86 mph in the fall), his natural stroke and flick at the plate exhibits easy bat speed to go along with a crisp, fluid load that leads to effortless lag and plate coverage. |
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Wessley Roberson OF / SS / Glynn Academy, GA / 2026At 6-foot-1, 170-pounds with a projectable frame that provides for 6.77 60-yard dash times, 93 mph throws from the outfield and mid-90s exit velocities, Roberson presents much to like about his future on the diamond. Creating easy length through the zone while working with semi-pronounced uphill intent, there is clearly future (and present) power potential as a run-producing left-handed stick.
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Blake Killinger RHP / OF / Orange Lutheran, CA / 2026At 6-foot-5, 200-pound, Killinger is a can’t miss when stepping on the mound, and when tossing in the fact that he will be doing so for powerhouse program, Orange Lutheran, there is comfort in imagining the truth of the upside. Already up close to 90 mph, the broad-shouldered, yet wiry-athletic and projectable, right-hander features a clean, polished delivery with a whippy-quick arm that should see quick gains in velocity. With Friday Night potential, Killinger is sure to draw considerable attention from college coaches next summer. |
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Jordan Martinez SS / OF / Trinity Christian Academy (JAX), FL / 2026Already somewhat physical at 5-foot-11, 190-pounds, Martinez gets to that strength when hitting from the right side with exit velocities that jump to an astounding 102.7 mph max. Hitterish in the box with a short stroke that produces loud contact, he looks the part of a run-producing type, and workout looks have carried over into game play in each look. Sure-handed with quality glove-to-hand abilities, the 6.73-runner is a premium athlete with dynamic tools, and is a name to circle as a must-follow in the spring. |
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Robert Omidi SS / 3B / St. Martin, ON / 2026In aligning better with the draft process in Canada, Omidi’s listed grad year shifted from 2027 to 2026, but it did nothing to change his huge upside. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound shortstop was a standout at last summer’s Prep Baseball Future Games where his left-handed stroke and innate hit-tool stood out as one of the youngest players in attendance. Generating quality force from the ground up there is impressive bat speed and flick with the ability to drive the ball to all fields while generating considerable torque. A quality defender with solid hands, his athleticism should allow for a multitude of positions to be played as the left-handed stick should propel him into lineups at the next level. |
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Logan Sorrel RHP / 3B / The Dunham School, LA / 2026A broken hand stopped him from emerging on the national scene last summer, but Sorrel was back in full force at the Louisiana State Games at LSU this fall. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander was up to 90 mph with some electric spin rates, and looked the part of a future starter in the making. The frame still shows considerable signs of future development which will only provide the chance for the talented right-hander to make even more impressive jumps in coming years. |
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Hudson Alpert RHP / SS / Regis Jesuit, CO / 2026A polished athlete with real two-way upside, Alpert is sure to receive considerable attention over the next year as a recruit that coaches will want to get early and often looks at. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-hander is already up to 90 mph with a clean delivery that allows a quick arm to work freely in pounding the zone with multiple swing-and-miss pitches. While the present stuff and mound presence promises plenty to dream on, his bat-to-ball skills from the right side stand out with some innate ability to lift while turning the barrel with some controlled aggression. Betting on the athlete, Alpert is clearly a must-follow. |
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Ashten Ballew SS / RHP / Katy, TX / 2026The 6-foot-1, 160-pound shortstop announced his presence with authority in the fall and will look to force his way into an ultra-talented Katy High lineup, just outside of Houston, in the spring. A right-handed hitter who can turn the barrel with some authority, Ballew’s ability to remain compact to the frame while still producing some length through the zone stands out. Athletic in the box and in the field, the high-waisted athlete shows strong signs of developing even more in the future.
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Luke Paciorek OF / 1B / Ravenwood , TN / 2026An explosive athlete whose impact and acceleration stand out at a young age, Paciorek’s right-handed stick already shows some impact potential. Compact throughout the load with an emphasis in keeping the barrel in the zone, his direct path produces surprising power with exit velocities nearly climbing into triple digits from a simple approach. There is obviously more power on the way and with a lean, athletic, 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame showing signs of more physical development, there is a chance that Paciorek continues to rise in coming years. |
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Lawson Mcleod RHP / 1B / Trinity Episcopal, VA / 2026The 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander will be a must-watch all summer for power programs as his low 90s fastball and full array of pitches already provide some promise as a frontline starter. Impressively in tune with movement patterns, McLeod’s ability to find a consistent high ¾ release with each of his pitches along with the eye-opening velocity of each, is more than enough to warrant looks as early as this spring. Still very much filling out, McLeod might just be scratching the surface of his talent. |
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Gino Cappellazzo C / 3B / St. Francis, CA / 2026Still growing into his long, projectable, 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame, and the movement patterns that it brings, Cappellazzo’s present arm talent is more than enough to get excited about when watching on the mound. Also a talented backstop with some feel for the barrel (100 mph exit velocity) from the right side, his upside on the mound might be the highest as the loose whip of his arm stroke leads to a hoppy fastball that is likely to tack on much more velocity in coming years. Intriguing, he demonstrates some feel for dropping in a solid slider, but most exciting is the hand speed with which he will likely ultimately throw the pitch. No matter which position suits him best in the end, Cappellazzo is a player that coaches will want to follow closely all summer before the August 1 contact period begins. |
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Kaden Waechter RHP / SS / Jesuit, FL / 2026Waechter’s talent was on display last summer as a potential two-way player out of the Tampa area, and his preseason showing this year leaves plenty to get excited about for the summer. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound shortstop is a gifted athlete (6.9-runner) with some it-factor to his all around game including intriguing strength from the right side at the plate. However, his upside on the mound might be most intriguing with the look of a shortstop standing high on the rubber with a quick arm and propensity for missing bats. Look for Waechter to continue making steady advancements in coming months while eyeing a breakout summer. |
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Dylan Curtis RHP / SS / Francis Howell, MO / 2026Hailing from Missouri powerhouse program, Francis Howell, appears poised to create some buzz in the spring before diving into a big summer. Long and lean at 6-foot-5, 155-pounds, the big right-hander is a fluid mover with a short, quick arm that he utilizes in pumping out hoppy fastballs from a low ¾ slot into the mid 80s. Featuring a quality three-pitch mix, there are strong signs that Curtis will continue developing as a starter, and his impact potential is likely to have many college coaches circling his outings in the summer. |
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Brody Bumila LHP / 1B / Bishop Feehan, MA / 2026Long-limbed and wiry-athletic at 6-foot-6, 200-pounds, Bumila’s whippy left arm delivers to a low slot with a higher release in presenting an outlier look. A dynamic mover with a fastball that jumps out of the hand and at the plate, it is an uncomfortable at-bat against the big southpaw, and his ceiling might be one of the highest in the class. |
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Grant Hill RHP / SS / Chelsea , AL / 2026Already showcasing the ability to miss bats in the zone with a mid 80s fastball that carries well from a near over-the-top slot, Hill is clearly an arm that college coaches will want to follow. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander possesses a quick arm with some dynamic movement down the mound that includes getting significant extension out front. Presently showcasing feel for spin including a firmer, 75-77 downer curveball, the pitch presents an intriguing tunneling option off the whiff-inducing fastball, and provides Hill the opportunity for developing multiple weapons in his arsenal. |
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Beckham Stanger RHP / 1B / Woods Cross, UT / 2026Long and wiry at 6-foot-4, 190-pounds, Stanger was up to 88 mph as a young participant at the Prep Baseball Future Games last summer, and could see even bigger jumps in ‘24. Quick-armed with a hoppy fastball, there is some rawness to the delivery, but the unteachable athleticism and quickness of the arm stand out as must-follow tools4, and given the impressive frame, he is clearly an arm that college coaches will want to follow closely over the next year. |
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Matthew Neufeld RHP / 3B / Cardinal Carter , ON / 2026An impressive uncoiler with a short, quick arm, Neufield’s present ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes stands out as does his future upside as a starter. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Canadian has already climbed into the upper 80s with a fastball that runs north of 2500 rpm along with the ability to drop in multiple secondary offerings for strikes. As more and more prospects from the north make an impact on collegiate (and professional) rosters, Neufeld is a good name to circle heading into next summer. |
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Brooks Crawley 1B / OF / Northwest Rankin, MS / 2026There is something about the physical corner bats that the state of Mississippi produces that is perpetually intriguing. Crawley fits the mold at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds with an impact tool at the dish hitting from both sides. The right-handed swing is presently ahead of the left, but both offer significant power potential and a fluid stroke that generates effortless strength through the zone with eye-opening outputs. |
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Hunter Baugh SS / RHP / Edwardsville , IL / 2026There is a quiet intensity and confidence that Baugh already exudes as just a sophomore that is something college coaches are sure to take note of over the next couple of years. Still maturing physically at 5-foot-10, 140-pounds, the potential two-way player showcases a winning foundation with the tools to match. Short to the ball and long through the zone, there is some present gap-to-gap, line drive strength with more on the way as strength is added. There is a chance to play multiple positions on the dirt along with a quick arm that produces a hoppy fastball that jumps on the plate even without the (present) gaudy radar gun readings. Coming out of a stellar Illinois power program at Edwardsville, look for Baugh to continue drawing the eyes of college recruiters who will like him more with each new look. |
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Jory Crocker SS / RHP / Willowbrook, IL / 2026Smooth on the dirt with 6.8-speed, Crocker has multiple tools that are likely to draw interest from college coaches in the summer. A 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, the right-handed hitter showcases impressive bat speed at a young age with some controlled aggression at the plate and should see steady gains with more experience against high level arms. Perhaps just as intriguing is his upside on the mound where a live right arm and ease of movement might ultimately see his biggest advancement in coming years. |