Our staff saw a handful of top-ranked arms from the 2025 and 2026 class over the past week of scouting. Find more Indiana Scout Blog coverage, HERE. 

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By : Cooper Trinkle

Parker Rhodes, RHP, 2025, Greenfield Central

Rhodes came out with electric stuff in my look, building off a winter where he built tons of positive momentum behind himself. A wiry, athletic, 6-foot-1, 175 pounder - Rhodes has an athletic delivery with dynamic twitch throughout. The arm sling works loose and whippy to a 3/4 slot, producing a fastball that worked at 92-93 mph early, settling at 90-92 throughout his five innings of work. The fastball works with above average carry and some arm-side life from a lower release height, and he showed control for it throughout his outing. Rhodes mixed with feel for a 78-81 mph slider, a pitch with late bite that is a present swing-and-miss offering. Rhodes flashed a mid-80s cutter and low-80s change to allow for starter upside. The Xavier recruit was in the zone more often in this look than I have seen previously (74% strikes) and he struck out nine without allowing a walk. One of the best movers in the class - Rhodes showed off premier arm talent in a cold weather look and will likely tick further into the mid-90s as the spring progresses. 

Kobe Cherry, RHP, 2026, Center Grove

One of the top uncommitted sophomores in the state, Cherry flashed dominant stuff to earn the win against a top-ranked 4A opponent in my look. An ultra-physical, 6-foot-4, 240 pounder that owns the mound and looks to attack - Cherry worked his heater up to 92 mph, holding 88-91 through five innings of work while collecting nine punch-outs. Cherry's fastball is heavy, working above barrels for tons of fastball swings-and-misses. The imposing right-hander has all-kinds of feel for spin, able to manipulate shape on two sharp breaking balls. Cherry showed a tight, 76-78 mph slider that was used primarily as an out-pitch, and he was confident in landing a bigger, 72-74 mph curveball with sharp bite and depth. He showed a low-80s change, as well. Cherry sinks into his legs during a drop-and-drive delivery that creates serious ground force, and his arm works from an over-the-top slot with significant arm strength. Kobe is starting to grow into his own on the mound, pitching with all-kinds of confidence and moxie, a tough sign for opposing hitters as he should only get better as the season goes on. 

Austin McNabb, RHP, 2025, Perry Meridian

One of my favorite arms to watch in Indiana's junior class - McNabb was outstanding in his first start of the season, earning the win while striking out five, and allowing zero runs, three hits, and no walks, in five innings of work. The delivery is balanced and athletic, riding out the back hip with control as he works down the slope. There is present athleticism in the wiry, projectable, 6-foot-4, 190 pounder and his arm works with a loose whip to a 3/4 release point, running his fastball up to 90 mph a handful of times, holding 86-89 mph throughout. He is able to command the fastball to all quadrants and can add / subtract with the breaking ball, working more in the low-70s with bigger shape, and ramping it into the mid-to-upper 70s with shorter shape when he needs chase. McNabb also flashed a usable changeup with sink at 80-81 mph. There is significant velocity left in the arm / frame, and his present ability to control the strike zone makes future starter projections a sure bet. 

Kellen Thomson, RHP, 2026, Center Grove

Thomson earned the win for Center Grove in the first start of his sophomore campaign, allowing just one earned run in five innings pitched, racking up six strike outs. A projectable, athletic, 6-foot-4, 190 pounder, Thomson touched 89 mph early in his start, settling at 85-88 mph on a fastball with arm-side run. His best off-speed pitch is his sinking, 78-82 mph changeup, a pitch that he shows all-kinds of confidence in. A real out-pitch, Thomson was able to induce groundball contact with his change, while also getting swings-and-misses, as it comes out of the hands with a similiar look to the fastball before sinking late. Thomson flashed bite on his 78-81 mph slider, but it was inconsistent in this early season look. It is easy to dream on Kellen in the long-run, with his lengthy, athletic frame and present strike-throwing abilities. He pitches with easy intent in a balanced delivery and his arm works clean to a 3/4 slot. 

Rhys Wolf, RHP, 2026, Martinsville

Wolf showed loud stuff with one of the better breaking balls in Indiana's sophomore class in my look. An athletic, 6-foot-1, 185 pounder with some present strength, Wolf punched out eleven in four innings of work, showing sporadic fastball command early in the outing that led to four earned runs. Wolf pitches with an up-tempo delivery, moving down the slope with an athletic pace. The arm works with quickness to a high 3/4 - OTT slot, showing advanced arm speed for the class. Wolf worked at 87-90 mph on a fastball with slight cut throughout his four innings of work. The Notre Dame recruit leaned on a sharp, wipeout slider at 76-78 mph and also showed the ability to spin a 72-74 mph curveball with late depth. His ability to spin led to his 11 K's, and kept him competitive when his fastball command went astray. 

By : Conner Madding

Blane Metz, RHP, 2025, Floyd Central

Metz offered a dominant look in his first start this spring. A projectable, 6-foot-3, 205 pound Indiana recruit - Metz sat 92-93 mph in the first inning, and held 89-91 mph the rest of the outing. The fastball is electric and shows life with some sink at times - the fastball command was solid throughout the outing. He ran the FB in on RHH and showed the ability to get it glove-side at times. Metz showed a 76-79 mph slurvey breaking ball that he was able to land for strikes and use as a put away pitch. The 82-84 mph changeup was my favorite offspeed pitch of the outing - showing fade with FB arm speed, Metz induced multiple swing-and-misses from RHH. The delivery is full of athleticism as he rides out the back hip down the slope before a dynamic finish. The arm action is uber fast from a H ¾ slot. The athleticism, frame, and arm speed stood out in my first in-game look at the right-hander.

Sammy Swank, RHP, 2026, McCutcheon

One of the top arms in the 2026 class, Swank offered a very electric look in the first outing of his sophomore campaign. A 6-foot-4, 205 pound Kentucky recruit - Swank has added noticeable mass to his projectable frame. The right-hander sat 92-93 mph the first two batters, before touching 94 mph once in the first inning. He sat 89-92 the rest of the outing. The fastball is one of the best in the class with real late life. Swank attacked hitters with it - inducing plenty of whiffs. The McCutcheon product flashed a 74-77 mph slurvey breaking ball that showed some sharp action at times - he buried it with two strikes. He also flashed a 79-82 mph sinking changeup. Swank gets to a tall balance point before an efficient move down the slope. The arm talent was obvious from Swank - long, loose, and whippy from a ¾ slot. The command in this look was inconsistent at times but I expect that to improve with added time on the mound this spring.