Summer Scouting: 17U Champs

As we inch closer to the draft, we begin to experience an overlap of classes. It’s an incredibly busy time of year, but summer events are ongoing and extremely fun to attend. The 17U Champs event at the USA Complex is one of my favorites on the calendar, and I was able to kick-start our 2027 coverage last month.

Sixteen travel teams competed for the championship from June 10-13 in Cary, North Carolina, a key talent identifier at the complex. This applies not only to the USA coaching staff but to scouts in general.

The games were intense from beginning to end, including the championship game between USA Prime National and Charlotte Baseball Academy. It was the first of many events at the USA Complex this summer, including the 18U National Team Trials in July and August. These events will be important to our initial 2027 board at the end of the summer.

Some of the top 2027s in the country played on the numerous fields in Cary, including the likes of Dylan Seward and Connor Salerno.

However, many more prospects caught my attention throughout the four-day tournament. Most prospects on this list were seen for the first time, and I plan on seeing them again as the summer goes on. Let’s dive into who stood out at the complex, and I’ll preface this by saying the list is long.

SS Dylan Seward, Norco (CA)

Anointed by many as the best prospect in the 2027 prep ranks, Seward is an explosive athlete with outlandishly loud tools at his disposal. Despite just four hits in total on the week, he was able to showcase high-end upside on both sides of the ball.

A true switch-hitter, Seward punches above his weight class in terms of pure slugging ability. He coils his core incredibly well, and once his hips snap open, the barrel flies through the zone. He posted numerous exit velocities over 105 MPH, including a 108 MPH bolt to centerfield.

Seward primarily utilized an up-the-middle approach from either side, and he tends to stay short and direct to the baseball. He didn’t whiff at a single pitch as a right-handed bat, though velocity up and away was a concern as a left-handed bat. He does possess a two-strike approach, and he’ll put together quality at-bats and fight to fend off strikeouts. To pair with the offensive impact, Seward is a top-of-the-scale runner, terrorizing infield defenders with lightning-quick speed.

As a defender, Seward didn’t get a ton of opportunities at shortstop, though the instincts and athleticism stand out. He has a good internal clock and doesn’t rush himself. Given the speed and athleticism, there’s a chance that he could handle centerfield with ease. While our initial 2027 rankings are a couple of months away, the Tennessee commit will be near the top of the list, if not the top.

OF Kinon Bastian, The First Academy (FL)

The younger brother of current Florida Gator Jaden Bastian, Kinon is an incredibly strong individual with a game built around power. This is evident at first glance of his frame, which shows significant strength throughout, with a barrel chest and a stout lower half. This does mean his projection is limited, but there’s already robust power in the frame.

Bastian projects to be every bit of a pure slugger. There’s outstanding bat speed, torque, and leverage from the right side of the plate, attacking uphill and consistently creating damage in the air. This power plays to every part of the field, and while he didn’t leave the park in Cary, he crushed multiple baseballs. There are some swing-and-miss concerns, as Bastian’s timing and pitch recognition lag, though scouts believe this will improve with further reps.

The Florida commit played a majority of the week in centerfield, where he got good jumps and looked at home. However, considering his current size and average speed, he fits best in a corner outfield position.

SS/RHP Sebastian Castillo, Byron Nelson (TX)

One of the better two-way players in the country, Castillo has a well-rounded offensive toolset that was on display throughout the week. He recorded five hits on the week, racked up four walks, and struck out just twice as the keystone piece in Franklin Scout Team’s lineup.

Like Bastian, there’s not a ton of physical projection left to his frame, but there’s present strength with legitimate thump in the stick. Castillo has outstanding hip/shoulder separation and excellent rotational force, allowing the barrel to fly through the zone with authority. He does have a significant barrel wrap during his load, but he manages to stay short to the baseball and on time with a clean bat path. Scouts do want to see the wrap minimized, but the production and bat-to-ball skills have not suffered.

Castillo did hop on the mound and flashed potential, as well. He has a whippy arm that comes out of a traditional three-quarters arm slot, and there’s some downhill angle to his release. The fastball sat 89-92 MPH with good life, flashing some tailing action late in the zone. He pairs the heater with a low-80s gyro slider and an advanced mid-80s change-up with nasty tumble. Castillo is near the top of Louisiana State’s recruiting class.

SS Carter Hadnot, Aquinas (CA)

Hadnot may have had the most impressive showing of any position player at the event, recording four extra-base hits (1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR) while showcasing twitchy athleticism and defensive chops up the middle.

A switch-hitter, Hadnot has a picturesque left-handed swing with budding thump that was on display all week. He stays short to the baseball with solid bat speed and loft to his swing, which has aided his power surge to start the summer with more strength in his frame. There’s feel to backspin the baseball, as well.

Hadnot’s right-handed swing features a more linear path, though the same traits can be found on this side of the plate. He attacked fastballs in the zone and rarely whiffed, plus he racked up a healthy amount of walks on the week. It’s an enticing offensive profile with more room to grow into his frame.

Hadnot played at both middle infield positions, though his best fit is at shortstop long-term. The twitch shows up in the dirt, featuring bouncy action and range at the position, plus a solid internal clock with soft hands and quick exchanges. The arm is suitable for the position, as well. At the time of release, Hadnot remains the top uncommitted bat in the class.

3B/RHP Chase Fuller, Lincoln (FL)

One of the top two-way prospects in the class, Fuller certainly looks the part on the field. He’s sturdily built with plenty of present strength, which makes sense when you consider that his dad, Corey, was a defensive back in the NFL for ten seasons.

Fuller can deliver a powerful punch with the bat. Utilizing a simple swing, Fuller’s barrel flies through the zone thanks to superb rotation and quick hands. He also possesses an innate feel for backspin on the baseball, which aids his power.

He was aggressive against fastballs, though he handled them well. He can get into some trouble with spin below the zone, but it’s nothing egregious. He’s an on-base threat, as well, walking four times on the week. Fuller is capable of plus power with a reasonably good hit tool. A shortstop now, he moves well laterally with a strong arm, though his size equates to a potential move to the hot corner.

Fuller jumped on the mound, as well, closing out USA Prime National’s championship run. There’s some crudeness to the operation, most notably in his lower half, but it’s premium arm strength with feel for secondaries.

He started his outing sitting 92-95 MPH with the fastball before airing out towards the end, getting up to 97-99 MPH. It’s a heater with tailing life through the zone. His mid-80s change-up flashes quality tumble, and there’s feel for a solid curveball with 11-5 shape around 80 MPH.

Fuller’s future is most certainly as a bat, though the arm strength on the mound is worth mentioning. He is committed to his father’s alma mater, Florida State.

SS/OF Elyjah Mason, Huntington Beach (CA)

A wiry-framed athlete who hails from Huntington Beach, Mason made a name for himself in the spring. He’s exactly how you draw up a projection pick: long-levered, high-waisted, with plenty of room to fill out his frame. An Oklahoma State commit, Mason is one of my helium picks this summer.

Mason stands straight up from the left side of the plate, utilizing a moderate leg kick to trigger his operation. He’s an aggressive hitter at the dish, though he didn’t whiff a ton, especially against secondary offerings.

He does tend to drift off-line during his load, and he got beat by velocity away as a result of this. That said, it’s a fixable issue. Mason tends to utilize the opposite field heavily, and scouts would like to see him change his approach and pull the baseball more, especially as he grows into his body. It’s a promising bat that needs a coat of polish.

Mason didn’t get a ton of opportunities in the field, though there are traits to like. He’s a very good runner who glides in the infield, though his tools may fit better in centerfield, where his internal clock won’t be tested as much, and his arm strength is suitable. He is accustomed to the position, as he played there consistently in the spring.

OF Jack Leeper, St. Francis (CA)

Simply put, Leeper can really, really hit. The Stanford commit was at the top of my list of guys to see in Cary, and he delivered, recording six hits on the card throughout the week.

Leeper’s swing is built for line drives with a flatter bat path through the zone, and he’ll utilize the entire field to his advantage. He’s quick to the baseball with a simple move, featuring rhythmic triggers and an entry to the zone that is relatively flat. He covers the zone exceptionally well, and he whiffed on just one pitch the entire week, which was a fastball above the zone.

There’s solid bat speed here, and there’s a good chance of average raw power in the profile, as well. There’s robust offensive upside with outstanding bat-to-ball skills, even if he’s in no rush to take walks.

Leeper is capable of playing center field, where he can show off his above-average speed, though his route-running needs a bit of polish. He has played in corner spots before, and if he outgrows his current position, he’d fit well in either spot with decent arm strength. If the power continues to develop, Leeper has high-end upside in this class.

SS/3B Malachi Butler, McEachern (GA)

Another physical infielder with budding offensive skills, Butler is another candidate for the best showing at the event. Across six games, Butler reached base ten times, which included three extra-base hits and four walks.

Butler has been renowned for his polished approach and hit tool. It’s a smooth left-handed swing with little wasted movements, as he tends to stay simple and compact throughout his operation. He put together competitive at-bats throughout the week, rarely expanding the zone, and he likes to lace the baseball to both sides of the park.

While Butler has prioritized the hit tool, he has grown into more power and bat speed to start the summer. He hammered a hanging change-up in East Cobb’s first game of the week, a pull-side bomb to the trees. Given his physicality, there are more of those on the way.

Despite his physical nature, Butler is rather athletic and moves well in the dirt. He flipped between third base and shortstop on the week, displaying rangy, fluid actions with soft hands and a strong arm across the diamond. The Georgia Tech commit projects to fit on the left side of the dirt.

OF Ka’alekahi Kuhaulua, Kailua (HI)

Hawai’i has produced some quality talent over the past couple of years, and Kuhaulua looks to be next in line. A lean, projectable outfielder, Kuhaulua performed admirably throughout the event and is one of the top uncommitted bats in the class. Not to forget, there are big league bloodlines.

Kuhaulua has a sweet and easy left-handed swing, staying direct to the baseball with a longer follow-through. It’s a strong hit tool, as Kuhaulua likes to spray the baseball around the field, and he’ll keep the whiffs to a minimum, especially within the strike zone.

Scouts believe there’s more power in the tank, and there’s some bat speed and loft present, though his swing relies more upon rotation at this stage. As he matures physically, most expect the power to flourish.

He’s not as twitchy or athletic as his peers, and his defensive tools are projected to be merely average at the next level. This negates the possibility of staying in a center field role, though he will fit well in a corner outfield spot defensively.

OF Jacob Seamon, Metrolina Christian Academy (NC)

There are not many players that boast the blend of physicality, athleticism, and projection that Seamon does. At six-foot-five, 200 pounds, he is a behemoth with incredibly loud tools at this stage.

Despite the length of his body and limbs, Seamon possesses exceptional body control thanks to a simple swing that he repeats well. He starts upright from the left side and stays compact through the loading phase with a subtle lift of his front foot. Once that foot hits the dirt, violence is unleashed.

Seamon has outstanding bat speed with feel to lift and launch the baseball to both sides of the field. The potential for plus-or-better power is there, especially once he fills out his frame. Of course, there is swing-and-miss that accompanies his stature, and he had his fair share of whiffs on velocity, though he hammered a few in the upper half of the strike zone with ease.

To pair with the offensive upside, Seamon is a legitimate burner on the bases and in center field. He put together robust run times in-game, and it translates in the grass, where he has significant range and solid instincts. His size may move him to right field, where his arm strength would certainly play, though the LSU commit has the athleticism to handle center for a long time.

SS Kellen Rogers, Wake Forest (NC)

Hitting just behind Seamon in the South Charlotte lineup, Rogers has put together a nice start to his summer campaign. The NC State commit was on the barrel consistently and has plenty of tools to like.

He’s not an imposing presence in the box, but he’s incredibly twitchy and punches above his weight class. His swing is tight and compact, covering the inner half of the strike zone exceptionally well with little swing-and-miss.

Rogers has legitimate pull-side power, as well. He coils his core very well, and once his foot comes down, his hips snap open violently, and the barrel flies through the zone with loft to his swing path. It’s impressive offensive upside from Rogers.

The athleticism shines on the dirt, as well. Rogers operates smoothly at shortstop, boasting solid range and body control at the position. It’s a strong arm across the diamond, as well. He’s a plus runner and will pressure infield defenders down the line. Expect Rogers to pop up on more boards as the summer moves on.

RHP Trent Lutz, Souderton Area (PA)

Lutz is in for a huge summer, and his start at 17U Champs was a positive showing in front of a large scouting contingency.

An incredibly projectable right-hander, Lutz is a buttery-smooth mover on the mound, with natural deception, as he hides the ball behind his back towards the end of his arm swing, and he’ll climb up to a high three-quarters slot. He boasts exceptional hip/shoulder separation and massive arm speed, indicative of a player who will throw much harder in the coming years.

At times, Lutz had trouble finding the strike zone with the heater, but when he did, hitters struggled to catch up. He held low-90s velocity throughout the outing, touching 95 MPH at his peak in the first couple of frames. He generates great carry and ride through the zone, flashing some late cut.

He made up for his fastball misses by landing a mid-70s curveball with shape manipulation, flipping between a more traditional 12/6 shape and a two-plane breaker with super high spin rates. He pairs these pitches with a tightly spun mid-80s slider, an upper-80s cutter, and a diving mid-80s change-up.

Recently committed to Wake Forest, scouts want to see Lutz sync up his body better, though that should come with additional strength to his frame. That said, when you look at the frame, delivery, and pure stuff, it’s hard to keep Lutz away from the top of an early draft board.

RHP Soren Etheridge, Phoenix Country Day (AZ)

If you’ve been around the scouting scene for a few years, Etheridge will remind you distinctly of one name: Roman Kimball. While he is taller than Kimball, his drop-and-drive mechanics are nearly identical, with an extremely low release height and whippy arm speed from an over-the-top slot. It’s indicative of the athleticism and flexibility he possesses on the bump.

Etheridge pitched with a two-pitch mix, but it was an incredibly dominant showing by the fastball. While his overall control was lacking, he loved to elevate his heater, and the results were fantastic: 19 whiffs on 29 swings (66% whiff rate). Etheridge got up to 94 MPH early in his outing with explosive life, possessing considerable hop with slight cutting action late. The fastball potential is huge, and he has the room to add more weight and velocity. He pairs this heater with an upper-70s curveball with more gradual break and downer shape, though it lags behind the fastball.

Etheridge struck out ten batters, one of the highest figures on the week, but his command and control need refinement, especially with the fastball. The Wake Forest commit has starter upside, but will need to find the zone more consistently to earn a spot in a rotation.

RHP Calum Andersen, Vauxhall Academy (AB)

Canada has had a nice pipeline of arm talent the past couple of cycles with the likes of Sean Duncan and Will Hynes. Andersen is the next one up, and he fits the mold of the other two: athletic mover with immense projection.

While it wasn’t a lengthy look coming out of the bullpen, Andersen showcased an electric fastball on the bump. The heater will get on hitters quickly from an over-the-top slot, exploding out of the hand with significant hop and cut at the top of the zone. There’s a steeper plane to the plate with his fastball, given the arm slot, but he excelled at getting batters to chase the pitch. He sat in the low-90s, but I expect Andersen to sit in the mid-90s in due time.

His low-80s curveball has hammer traits, even if his feel for the pitch wasn’t strong. It tunnels well with the fastball and dives to the dirt with little to no hump in its shape, and it plays best when spiked in the dirt. It’s a fun 1-2 combination with more to come.

Andersen will need to grow into better command and strikes, but there’s time to work on that. The Oklahoma commit has immense projection and will be one of the youngest arms in the class. I’m excited to get more looks at him later this summer.

LHP Easton Sarmiento, Ruben S. Ayala (CA)

A highly projectable southpaw from Southern California, Sarmiento turned heads during his performance in Cary. Utilizing an over-the-top slot and easy mechanics, the UC Santa Barbara commit has significant arm speed and projects to throw much harder in due time.

Given the higher release, Sarmiento creates a steep angle to the plate with some crossfire. While the fastball command wasn’t sharp throughout the outing, the cut/ride shape he generates created swing-and-miss in and above the zone. He doesn’t throw hard yet, sitting 88-91 MPH during the outing, but the rail-thin nature of his frame presents significant projection.

To pair with his heater, Sarmiento threw two distinct breaking balls, leaning heavily upon his upper-70s curveball. It’s a pitch with significant depth and slightly horizontal action late, and he consistently landed it for strikes. His low-80s slider has a tighter shape, though he struggled to find feel early and ditched it in favor of the curveball.

As Sarmiento fills out his frame, his mechanics should tighten up. He can open his front side early, and he tends to pull the baseball to the glove side. That said, it’s a lethal combination with unique angles at release, and he should blossom into a solid arm in this cycle.

RHP Liam Radke, Faith Lutheran (NV)

While it was an abbreviated outing for Radke in Cary, he cruised through two innings with plenty of traits to like. The right-hander from Faith Lutheran struck out five batters and attacked the zone consistently.

Boasting a compact delivery with strength present in his frame, Radke pitches across his body from the third base side of the rubber with ease. It’s advanced feel for a three-pitch arsenal that comes from a traditional three-quarters slot, led by a firm fastball in the low-90s that Radke will bully batters with. He liked to work in and out of the zone, flashing some late running action that mixed with good carry. His primary breaking ball is a high-spin, two-plane slider that can get a bit slurvy, though it plays off the angle he creates. He has feel for a diving change-up in the low-80s, as well.

Radke has the look of a future starter, and the command is already impressive at this stage. There’s some projection to his frame, and he has shown mid-90s velocity in the past. He recently opened up his recruitment and is now committed to North Carolina.

SS/3B Jacsen Tucker, Oswego East (IL)

A physical right-handed hitter with quality athleticism and strength, Tucker has the look of a future slugger at a premium position. It will take some polish, but it’s hard to ignore the tools. It’s potentially above-average power and speed, maybe better.

Tucker possesses loud bat speed and barrel whip through the zone, and he’ll generate robust contact with his arms extended. He’ll attack pitches on the outer third and crush them the other way, though he has feel to put his foot down early and pull the baseball. His timing can be inconsistent, and he was beaten by velocity, though he didn’t expand the zone or whiff on breaking pitches. Refining his mechanics will be a key component to finding more success, but it’s good clay.

Defensively, his athleticism shines in the dirt, and he is capable of playing shortstop at the next level. He has a strong arm built for the left side of the diamond, and there are rangy actions with soft hands and instincts. If he outgrows his athleticism, the Oklahoma State commit can work well at third base.

2B/SS Trip Ostergard, James Island Charter (SC)

A teammate of Taj Marchand at James Island Charter, Ostergard is a well-known bat to scouts in the Southeast. While nothing in particular stands out from a tools perspective, his playstyle and consistency will get scouts to gravitate towards him.

Ostergard flat-out hits, tallying eight knocks on the week with little swing-and-miss to his game. He stays compact throughout his swing and takes a quick, direct path to the baseball. He has quick hands, solid rotation, and bat speed. Ostergard put together excellent at-bats throughout the week, and he’ll use the whole field to his advantage. His power plays best to his pull side, and he should grow into more as he develops. The UNC commit is a solid runner, as well.

Defensively, Ostergard spent most of the week at second base, though his athleticism and actions translate to shortstop well. He has range and instincts to play the position, though his arm strength may limit him to second base in the end.

C KJ Anderson, Cookeville (TN)

A physical backstop from the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee, Anderson raked throughout the week in Cary. Across five games for Canes National, he collected seven knocks in 14 at-bats (.500), including two doubles.

Anderson has grown into considerable bat speed from the left side, though he prioritized the hit tool during the event. He covers the zone exceptionally well, utilizing a selective approach and waiting for his pitch. He likes to lace the ball to both sides of the field, and his swing features adjustability. Scouts will want to see him lift the baseball more, as his swing is currently better suited to line drives, but his overall offensive profile has polish and should become more balanced as he develops.

Anderson has the tools to stick behind the dish, as well. He’s a solid receiver with quiet hands, and there’s some explosiveness out of the crouch. On his lone caught stealing of the week, Anderson recorded a 1.85-1.9 second pop time with a strong, accurate arm. It was a good first look for the Auburn commit.

RHP James Venick, Harvard-Westlake (CA)

One piece of a really good Harvard-Westlake rotation in Southern California, Venick made a stark impression in his relief outing against the FTB Phillies. He struck out four batters across three shutout frames and displayed higher velocity than he did a year ago.

Venick pitches from the stretch only, featuring drop-and-drive mechanics and a shorter arm swing that hides the ball rather well. From a low three-quarters slot, there’s good arm speed and extension, giving Venick good VAA traits to like. This helps the fastball play up from the low-90s velocity, and he garnered eight whiffs on fourteen swings (57% whiff rate) with the heater alone. The pitch has quality zip and tail through the zone. He paired the heater with an upper-70s curveball with 11-5 shape.

Committed to Southern California, the mold is there for a quality arm with deception and intriguing release traits.

SS Bear Calvo, Orange Lutheran (CA)

A staple in the SoCal scene, Calvo is a polished hitter who has an affinity for fastballs. On the week, the Arkansas commit recorded six knocks, including a long home run against Wow Factor in his first game of the tournament.

Calvo boasts a stout build with strength in his lower half, and he builds power from the ground up, using solid leverage and loft in his swing. Calvo can turn on the baseball, displaying a quick bat through the zone, and consistently gets to his pull side. He’s more on the selective side with his approach, attacking fastballs while spitting at secondaries and seldom expanding the zone. I would like to see him become a bit more aggressive to avoid pitchers getting to their stronger offerings more quickly in counts, but his bat-to-ball skills and power are impressive.

Defensively, Calvo has played shortstop, but his size, speed, and athleticism fit best at second base. There’s nothing wrong with an offensive-minded infielder, and he’s capable of providing steady, not flashy, defense in the dirt.

RHP Ryder Concannon, Saline (MI)

A West Virginia commit from the state of Michigan, Concannon was impressive in his outing in Cary. While his command and stamina wavered late in his showing, he has an electric arsenal with considerable upside.

Concannon has a lightning-quick right arm and throws from an over-the-top slot with the ability to tunnel his pitches. It’s a deep mix, led by his low-90s fastball with cut/ride shape. He sat at 93-94 MPH in the first two frames before losing his command velocity in the third, sitting 90-91 MPH in his final inning.

He has two distinct breaking balls, a powerful upper-70s/low-80s curveball with significant depth and a harder slider with more lateral break. Both pitches are spun very well, and hitters struggled to adjust, generating eight whiffs on eleven swings total. He has feel for a mid-80s kick-change with spin-killing traits and fade, too.

While the ingredients are there for a starting pitcher, Concannon has some refinement to achieve in terms of stamina and command. However, his performance was an eye-opener, and his breaking balls have above-average to plus upside.

RHP George Ferguson, Abilene (TX)

Ferguson has a case for the best right-handed pitcher in this year’s prep class, and he proved it in an 8 AM game against Performance Baseball. It’s high-octane stuff with command, physicality, and projection for the Texas commit.

Ferguson is an imposing presence on the bump, featuring broad shoulders and long limbs that he controls well down the bump. There is some effort and head whack at release, but despite that, Ferguson peppered the strike zone and bullied the opposition with his fastball.

The heater is a pitch possessed, sitting in the mid-90s with extremely high spin rates (2,700+ RPM) and a mix of ride and run through the zone. As a result, the pitch garnered thirteen whiffs on the outing, and it was an exceptional chase pitch. To pair with the heater, Ferguson throws a tight mid-80s slider with shorter break and angle, as well as a powerful mid-80s change-up with significant fade and tumble.

Ferguson’s outing was one of the strongest of the event, and he’s expected to have plenty of scouting heat at every start this summer. The Texas commit will be high on our initial 2027 board.

1B Frank Thomas III, IMG Academy (FL)

The last name should be a familiar sight to baseball fans, as Thomas is the son of the legendary slugger Frank Thomas. Unsurprisingly, he has a polished offensive toolset and looks a lot like his father in the box. Thomas was a huge catalyst to USA Prime National’s championship, racking up seven total hits, including four extra-base knocks.

Thomas has prioritized the hit tool to date, though he’s beginning to grow into easy juice from the left side. His swing plane is on the flatter side, which leads to more groundballs than you’d like, but he has easy bat speed with backspinning abilities. He stays within the zone and likes to lace the ball around the park, plus he takes his walks and fights off strikeouts. He’s a candidate for an approach and swing change to unlock more impact, but what he showed in Cary was impressive.

Thomas does have solid athleticism for his size, and he moves around the pillow at first base well. He projects to be a viable defender at the position. He is committed to his father’s alma mater, Auburn.

LHP Connor Salerno, Sun Valley (NC)

The top southpaw in the 2027 class, Salerno has considerable upside, and he showed it against Charlotte Baseball Academy, striking out five and generating thirteen whiffs in an abbreviated showing. It’s a powerful arsenal that he commands well, even with effort and limbs flying down the bump.

Salerno hides the ball well behind his back and creates width from a low three-quarters arm slot with considerable arm speed. As a result of the wider angle, he throws across his body, creating a tough at-bat for left-handed bats.

The fastball has tailing life through the zone, peaking at 94 MPH early before settling into 90-93 MPH. His best offering was a low-80s slider that plays off his angle, displaying great lateral bite and action. It generated seven whiffs alone on the day, and he landed it in the strike zone with ease. He had feel for a mid-80s change-up with depth and fade, as well.

The Mississippi State commit has a lengthy track record of performing, and his first stop of the summer was a delightful awakening at 8 AM in the morning. His mix of release traits, size, and strike-throwing will make him a priority for teams in the cycle.

C/RHP Brogan Witcher, Liberty (CA)

Witcher was originally part of the 2028 class, but a reclassification in April made him part of the 2027 ranks. He looks the part walking off the bus, with a lean, physical frame and robust upside on both sides of the ball.

We’ll start with the bat, where he projects to be a big power threat as a right-handed hitter. It’s an easy stroke with simplicity, rotating well with significant bat speed and intent through the zone. When he’s able to get his arms extended, he can obliterate heaters, which is what he did on a double early in the week, though he’ll need to find more consistent leverage in his swing.

He’s a selective hitter who handles fastballs well, plus he didn’t expand the zone against secondary offerings. As a defender, he’s explosive out of the crouch with quick transfers and a superb arm behind the dish. While he is on the bigger side for a catcher, he has the tools to stick.

Witcher can bring it on the mound, as well. It’s a loose delivery with some violence at release, hiding the ball well and displaying huge arm speed from a high three-quarters slot. The fastball has downhill plane in the mid-90s, peaking at 96 MPH with slight tailing action late in the zone. His upper-70s curveball has hammer qualities, tunneling well off the fastball and dropping to the dirt with immense depth. His command was streaky, though he struck out three batters.

Witcher has recently committed to South Carolina, becoming the first big recruiting win for Schnall’s regime in Columbia.

RHP Colin Doyle, Downers Grove North (IL)

One of the tallest figures on the bump in this class, Doyle is a six-foot-seven behemoth with impressive strength. While he was hit around in his first inning in Cary, his second inning was pure dominance, and it pointed to the upside he has.

Despite his length, Doyle controls his levers very well, driving down the mound with little effort, solid extension, and arm speed from a three-quarters slot. He gets behind the baseball and creates backspin with his release, which allows him to get considerable carry through the zone with some tail late. He held 92-94 MPH throughout his two-inning stint, improving as he went along. His primary breaking ball was a tight low-to-mid-80s slider with shorter break, and he tossed in a few change-ups, as well.

Doyle has a solid foundation set with his fastball, though he’ll need to refine his secondary feel and effectiveness to unlock another echelon to his game. The Illinois native is committed to Duke.

RHP Charlie Fuller, Mater Dei (CA)

Fuller is one of the youngest players in the class, as he projects to be 17 years old on draft day next summer. He’s a projectable athlete with mobility and a burgeoning arsenal, and he impressed against a solid Franklin Scout Team lineup, striking out four batters over just two innings.

Fuller lived within the zone throughout his outing, throwing strikes at a 73% clip. It’s an easy delivery with a traditional three-quarters arm slot, and there’s good arm speed at release.

His fastball projects as his best offering, missing bats on the top rail with good carry and running action. Fuller was up to 92 MPH in his outing, though he has flashed higher velocity at other events, and scouts expect him to throw harder in due time.

He spins an upper-70s curveball well, with spin rates above 2,700 RPM, and the pitch has solid depth and bite. He is working to incorporate a change-up, which he threw a handful of times with decent action.

An Oklahoma State commit, Fuller has a bright future and is worth watching throughout the rest of the summer.

Honorable Mentions: RHP Jude Carter (NC), SS Brayden Landry (WA), RHP Charlie Herr (IN), OF Griffin Boesen (FL), 3B Bryce Farris (CA), SS Juan Diaz (FL), RHP Camden Boehm (FL), OF Cooper Goff (UT), C Dariel Carrion (PR)