Which players have the most dangerous bat speed from each state?
May 16, 2024
The ‘Hotlist’ is a series that provides weekly insight into the high school baseball scene spanning the country, curated by Prep Baseball’s state directors who are situated nationwide, with vital intel on the prospects who are in their own backyards. Each week, we’ll publish our ‘Hotlist’ on varying topics that are timeliest to the national baseball calendar at that point in time.
This week’s topic: Share a player with elite bat speed metrics who has earned a reputation as one of the most 'dangerous' hitters in your state.
+ Learn of our directors stationed nationwide by visiting the staff directory.
+ View which Prep Baseball events are headed your way next at this page.
+ Read about previously published ‘Hotlist’ topics here.
♨️ The ‘Hotlist’ (5/16):
Arizona
+ Boston Kellner, SS (Hamilton HS, 2025) | Louisville commit:
“Kellner has done nothing but drive the ball for extra-bases since transferring from Colorado. The right-handed hitter and No. 3-ranked junior in Arizona showed out in an early April matchup against Highland. It started with a leadoff double down the left field line and he followed it up later on with a no-doubt two-run shot out again to left. This spring, Kellner hit .462, with 14 doubles, 12 homers, and 29 RBIs.”
– Shea Sbranti, Arizona Scouting Director
Colorado
+ Tommy Feldhake, SS (Castle View HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“Feldhake is one of the state's top uncommitted prospects and he comes with some exceptional athleticism and strength. The junior runs a 6.70 in the 60-yard dash, has a 96 mph max exit velocity, an 88 mph infield velocity with defensive feel, and a top bat speed of 82 mph. The bat speed on Feldhake is an outlier number within the state and one of the highest recorded in the last year through Colorado events. Feldhake has been able to utilize his advanced bat speed and hit tool for a .356 average, 13 doubles, a triple, a homer, nine stolen bases and a 1.069 OPS across 89 plate appearances this spring at the 5A level.”
– Caleb Dameron, Colorado Staff
Hawaii
+ Chase Thompson, OF/1B (Iolani School HS, 2027) | Hawaii commit:
“Thompson is the top-ranked freshman in Hawaii, and at an event littered with top players in the state, he posted the top bat speed in Oahu in January. There, heatured peak bat speed of 78.1 mph and average of 74.6. The left/left outfielder provides a ton of production on the offensive side and will be a fun watch over the next three years in Hawaii.”
– Cam Black-Araujo, West Coast Content Manager
Idaho
+ Dawson McInelly, OF (Sugar Salem HS, 2025) | Utah Tech commit:
“McInelly started his year at our Idaho Falls Preseason ID where he posted the third highest bat speed measurement, with a peak of 76.5 mph and average of 73.4. The West Coast Games alum was one of the offensive leaders this spring in a loaded Sugar Salem lineup that saw him bat .370 (.554 OBP) with four home runs, a triple and six doubles. McInelly is one of the top 2025 prospects in the state and he continues to impress with offensive production. ”
– Cam Black-Araujo, West Coast Content Manager
Illinois
+ Tyler Bell, SS (Lincoln-Way East HS, 2024) | Kentucky commit:
“Bell led the entire Super 60 in bat speed, and from both sides of the plate, topping out at 86.6 mph. From Shooter Hunt's report following the event in February:
'Although Bell’s performance in Chicago was hardly as earth shattering as what he did at the All-American game in Milwaukee, it is for that very reason that it might have been even more important in the eyes of the more than 100 MLB scouts in attendance. Noticeably stronger at nearly 6-foot-2, 192-pounds, the switch-hitting shortstop posted the two highest average bat speeds, per Blast Motion, at the event even without the effort-driven violent outputs. Those quick hands worked the barrel uphill with a compact stroke that delivered length in the zone with his patented quiet-intensity throughout. Reassuring was the look in the box, and even his takes dripped with confidence and supreme balance. Maxing out at an exit velocity of 101.1 mph with a max distance of 378 feet, he was on the barrel for the majority from both sides. Whereas the right-handed side has been thought of as a notch below the left, this look continued an upward trend with a less pronounced late lift of the hands prior to the approach, but still with the usual ability to get quality use of the hips... '”
– Pete Hamot, Assistant Director Illinois & Wisconsin
Indiana
+ Rob Czarniecki, OF (Chesterton HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“Czarniecki has built a reputation within the state as one of the best right-handed hitters in the 2026 class. He continues to rise within our player rankings, currently No. 9 in the class, and he is slated to continue to move up the board after putting together monster numbers in his sophomore campaign. Through 22 games, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is slashing .474/.560/.855 with eight doubles, three triples, and five home runs. The physical sophomore owns some of the best bat speed metrics in Indiana's 2026 class, averaging 78 mph and peaking at 80.1 at our Preseason All-State in March. The combination of physical strength, advanced swing decisions, and elite bat speed will make Czarniecki a highly-touted uncommitted prospect when recruiting opens back up for 2026 graduates on Aug. 1 of this year.”
– Cooper Trinkle, Indiana Lead Scout
Iowa
+ Taitn Gray, OF/C ( Dallas Center-Grimes HS, 2025) | Notre Dame commit:
“Gray jumped on the national radar after a strong performance at the 2023 Future Games for Team Midwest. His elite bat speed combined with his power production for both sides of the plate led to his eventual commitment to Notre Dame.”
+ Caiden Buonadonna, OF (Cedar Rapids Washington HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“Buonadonna was a player who made his mark at a Preseason ID in February 2023, putting up impressive output from the left side of the plate. This earned him an invitation to this year's Preseason All-State where the Blast metrics showed high-end bat speed. Both players should be making Iowa's high school fields look small this season.”
– Parker Hageman, Upper Midwest Operations
Kansas
+ Holden Groebl, C (Blue Valley North HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“One of the top all around bats in the state, Groebl showed off why with eye-popping blast motion metrics at the BTL Scout Day this preseason. The right-handed hitter posted a bat speed of 78.9 mph and an average 74.7.”
– Andy Urban, Central Region Director
Nevada
+ Brady Dallimore, C (Palo Verde HS, 2025) | TCU commit:
“Dallimore was an underclassmen at last year's ProCase West in Los Angeles and he posted the top bat speed there by a wide margin, with a peak of 80.4 mph and average of 77.6. Dallimore is one of the most impactful offensive talents in Nevada's 2025 class and that was on display all spring long as he batted .565 with five home runs, three triples and eight doubles.”
– Cam Black-Araujo, West Coast Content Manager
North Carolina
+ Jaxon Matthews, OF (Hough HS, 2026) | Clemson commit:
“Matthews is one of the top hitters in the country in the 2026 class. He has performed in workout settings and transferred that into game settings, showing an ability to handle high end arms and stuff. At the NC Top Underclass Games in October, Matthews posted a peak exit velocity of 97.1 mph paired with an average bat speed from Blast of 76.8 mph in the BP session. Matthews separates himself with two key factors: He has both advanced bat speed and feel for his barrel. There is a willingness to use the entire field with present power populating to the pull-side. Still young, he will be exciting to watch as his 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame continues to fill out.”
– Brandon Hall, North Carolina & Mid-Atlantic Scouting Director
Tennessee
+ Ian Chambers, OF (Collierville HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“A virtually unknown prospect coming into the Mid-South Preseason ID, Chambers surely came away with impressive fashion and a name that should continue to gain attention. Arguably had the best showing during his BP rounds with impressive bat speed, hip trigger and swing that produced lasers with a different sound echoing off the bat throughout. One thing that you notice immediately in his swing is how strong his front arm lever is. He does a tremendous job of keeping his front side closed and staying through the baseball as he finishes his swing. Bottom hand heavy, which will allow him to make consistent hard contact. Average bat speed was off the charts at 77.5 mph average, with six swings above 80, while producing a peak speed of 86.
Those are numbers that you do not see on an everyday basis, absolutely really impressive and a testament to the power that he currently has and the potential for more.
Produced multiple EVs into the upper-90s, with a max of 101 mph that totaled into an average exit velocity of 93. Led the group with the furthest batted ball distance via Trackman with a 372-foot shot. Line-drive heavy swing that will run into his homers without trying to lift. Looking towards having a big spring on a really good Collierville team where he will be making his first appearance on varsity this spring. Arm is still developing in the upper-70s range. Works well to the baseball with clean feet and showing the ability to chop when timing his gather into his stride. He's a high-upside frame with strength and power that will fill a corner outfield spot for years to come for a club.”
– Hunter Martin, Tennessee State Director
Utah
+ Cy Chrisman, 1B/3B (Maple Mountain HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“Chrisman came into focus with a big showing at the GBG Utah Scout Day last September with triple-digit exit velocities, which was the fall of his sophomore year. As a big 6-foot-4, 210-pound physical right-handed hitter, Chrisman shined once again at the Utah State Games a month later, and he put up a max bat speed of 88.8 mph with an exit velo of 103.9 mph. He has since put up 109 mph in a BP session at his high school's indoor facility in early spring waiting for the weather to turn in his favor. After seeing Cy get off to a 10-15 start in an early pre-season tournament I was at in March in St. George, Chrisman has continued that early showing with a big spring. He enters the 5A play-in games this week, hitting a robust .500 with nine doubles and a triple over 101 plate appearances and 25 games. Chrisman will be a member of Team Utah at this July’s Prep Baseball Future Games.”
– Jeff Scholzen, Utah Scouting Director
Wisconsin
+ Logan Hagman, C/OF (Hudson HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“Hagman has had a splendid start to his prep career – and he looks poised to be one of the most dangerous hitters in the state throughout his four years at Hudson. As only a freshman, and inside a pretty experienced lineup, Hagman leads the Raiders in most offensive categories like batting average (.433), OPS (1.234), doubles (8), and home runs (3).
He foreshadowed the ability to generate this kind of run-production at last summer's Junior Future Games, and then again at our Western Wisconsin Preseason ID in February. At that most recent event, Hagman recorded elite bat speed for his age, averaging 77.0 mph. That, combined with his strong 6-foot-1 stature, has him making loud impact this spring. It's no surprise he's already reached the triple-digit EV mark in front of our staff as well, as his best batted ball in Eau Claire reached a 100.8 mph max exit speed.”
– Andy Sroka, Managing Editor, Scouting
Related Content
- PBRPlus What Senior From Your State Impressed at the Inaugural Senior Future Games? 8/15/24
- PBRPlus Who are the biggest rising talents from this summer? 8/09/24
- PBRPlus What Players From Your State Are Playing in the College World Series? 6/13/24
- PBRPlus Which 2027 Prospects Will Break Out In Our Next Rankings Update? 6/06/24
- PBRPlus Which 2026 prospects starred all spring? 5/30/24