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Prep Baseball Dakota State Games: Quick Hits

June 17, 2024
Parker Hageman
Prep Baseball Minnesota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Here’s our reaction to some of the talent that was on display at Ronken Field at Augustana University for the first ever Dakota State Games.

More Dakota State Games coverage:

▪️CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE STATISTICS
▪️DAKOTA STATE GAMES DATA DIVE
▪️DAKOTA STATE GAMES TRACKMAN PITCHING LEADERBOARDS
▪️DAKOTA STATE GAMES TRACKMAN HITTING LEADERBOARDS

QUICK HITS

+ Noah Boschee | 2025 | 3B/2B | Harrisburg

Had presence on the field. Large, physical statute. Is farther along as a college-type prospect. Punctuated the day with a 98.1 max exit velo while sending multiple baseballs over the fence at Ronken. 

+ Brody Thompson | 2025 | C/OF | Rapid City Stevens 

Had an above average round of BP. Showed ability to square balls to the middle of the field as well as to the left-center gap. Posted a 1.90 pop and 78 MPH arm from behind the plate. Threw 87 from the outfield. Ran a 6.9 60 as well. Thompson is starting to mature physically, filling out his six-foot frame. Should be a strong follow. 

+ Kaden Rylance | 2025 | C/RHP | Watertown (SDSU commit)

Rylance is a steal for South Dakota State. He is physical with an elite arm. After running through a showcase circuit, where he showed off a 1.99 pop with a 79 mph max velo, Rylance continued to make quality throws to second in game play with high carry and straight-line fuzz. 

In game play, Rylance went 4-for-5. 

But wait, there’s more: He also hopped on the mound and topped out at 89.9 MPH. Peep the quick pitch in the video below.

+ Jack Samuelson | 2026 | 3B/SS | Valley City (ND)

Samuelson drew attention with his glove work at third base, fielding multiple hot smashes and making clean plays. Ran a 6.7 and checked in at six-foot-four. Went 2-for-4 with a walk. 

+ Ethan Biggar | 2025 | RHP | Sioux Falls Jefferson

Biggar opened eyes with his sizable jump in velocity from his showcase last August. At our Summer ID in Sioux Falls, he maxed out at 83.2 but was bumping 88 at the State Games. 

+ Parker Hoff | 2026 | RHP | West Fargo

Hoff has the baseline framework – tall, long limbed – and has a good feel for all his pitches. Has a high carry fastball that was 81 that he played well off a banger of a curveball. The curve had over 13 inches of drop and over 2,500 spin rate. 

+ Darren Safranski | 2025 | RHP | Harrisburg

Has the raw stuff to be a very good pitcher. Fastball moves hard to the arm side and the slider has good depth the other direction. 

+ Gavin Weir | 2027 | LHP | Harrisburg

Showed above average pitchability. Curveball was definitely a plus pitch: Over 19 inches of vertical movement and a 2,600 spin rate. 

+ Kason Syverson | 2025 | RHP/OF | Harrisburg

Showed solid two-way potential, going 3-for-5 at the plate. 

+ Drew Weir | 2025 | SS/RHP | Sioux Falls Christian

Solid performances in the showcase and in game. Went 2-for-4 on the day. 6.8 runner, 82 across the diamond. Spun a curveball at 2,700. 

+ Nick Riley | 2026 | RHP/SS | Harrisburg

Went 2-for-3. Was 81 across the diamond, 83.2 mph on the bump. 

+ Jadon Morano | 2025 | 3B/RHP | Rapid City Christian

Went 2-for-2 with a HBP and walk. 81 across the diamond. 

+ William Waddell | 2025 | 2B/RHP | Rapid City Stevens

Showed an 81 infield arm. Ran a 7.07. Went 2-for-3 with a walk in game play.