Shooter's Shortlist: Midwest 2026s
April 20, 2023
As the season inches towards summer and the recruiting trips get planned, a look into the must-see uncommitted underclassmen that PBR’s Vice President of Scouting, Shooter Hunt, is circling for college coaches to plan around.
Illinois
 |
Anthony Eberlin RHP / Edwardsville, IL / 2026Just 5-foot-10, 160-pounds and far from being physically developed, Eberlin was already running his fastball up to 88 mph during a preseason bullpen in front of PBR Illinois. Looking like an athletic shortstop on the mound, his short/quick/whippy arm allowed the fastball to jump while approaching the plate, and he exhibited feel for both a firmer curveball (73-75) and changeup (79-82). A dynamic mover down the mound, there is plenty to get excited about with regards to the arm and athleticism, and given the quiet confidence, it appears likely that the development will quickly continue. Adding to all of that is the fact that he will spend the next four years in one of the state’s preeminent power programs at Edwardsville. |
INDIANA
 |
Kobe Cherry RHP / 1B / Center Grove, IN / 2026An imposing 6-foot-3, 220-pounds, Cherry’s arm strength is equally as impressive as he ran his fastball up to 90 mph in a preseason bullpen for PBR Indiana. The big right-hander works aggressively down the mound with effort, and shows strong signs of a future ability to miss bats thanks to a sharper 70-73 curveball that he demonstrates the ability to throw for strikes. |
 |
Aiden Smith RHP / OF / Shelbyville, IN / 2026Rankings State Rank: 20 / POS: 7
The power arms continue to pour out of the Hoosier State, and Smith should elicit some excitement for college coaches early on in the summer. An elite mover down the mound with quality use of the lower-half in a drop-and-drive fashion, the lanky and athletic 6-foot-2, 155-pound right-hander was up to 88 mph in a preseason bullpen with feel for two sharp breaking balls. Check the fastball at :28…
|
MICHIGAN
 |
Ethan Armstrong RHP / 3B / Garden City, MI / 2026/var/www/html/login/modules/Player_profiles/shortcodes.json not found
|
MINNESOTA
 |
Ryan Christiansen RHP / 3B / Apple Valley, MN / 2026A quality mover with innate understanding of how his long limbs work, Christiansen is sure to excite college coaches all summer. At 6-foot-3, 185-pounds with square shoulders, his elite athleticism and quick arm create an impressively high ceiling. Flowing down the mound with strong use of the lower-half, his fastball ran up to 86.8 mph (2265 rpm) in a preseason bullpen where his low slot exhibited some deception along with an ease for finding a consistent release. He flashed feel for a future sweeper into the mid 70s along with a changeup (77-79, 1509 rpm max) for strikes. |
 |
Danny Scheller OF / RHP / Coon Rapids, MN / 2026Rankings Overall Rank: 250 / POS: 45
|
OHIO
 |
Conner Cuozzo 3B / RHP / Archbishop Moeller, OH / 2026Rankings Overall Rank: 218 / POS: 18
Set to impact the middle of an order at the next level, Cuozzo’s multi-sport athleticism (football/basketball) only makes his tools on the diamond that much more exciting. Built with compact strength on a 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame, the linebacker impacts the baseball from the right side, and plays with a determined intensity. |
 |
Casey Myser LHP / 1B / Highland, OH / 2026Rankings Overall Rank: 181 / POS: 17
Lean and loose with exciting athleticism on a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame, Myser is sure to grab the attention of college coaches this summer assuming they don’t get out during the spring. The arm works easy from the left side with an exciting hint of frontline potential that is only amplified by the easy stroke that he showcases at the plate. The ‘26 class coming out of Ohio is already buzz worthy, and Myser’s upside only serves to intensify that notion. |
 |
Jack Ryan RHP / 1B / St. Xavier, OH / 2026Ryan has wasted no time introducing himself to varsity baseball at state power, St. Xavier, as he is already making an impact both at the plate and on the mound. The left-handed hitter possesses some highly intriguing power potential to go along with a strong right arm on the mound. |
WISCONSIN
 |
Ben Kuglitsch SS / RHP / Muskego, WI / 2026Already a name to know heading into the new year, Kuglitsch continued to showcase his loud tools and potential at a preseason event for PBR Wisconsin. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound shortstop and right-handed pitcher is a premium athlete with a high-ceiling in a similar mold to what has quietly become the norm for Wisconsin infielders in recent memory.
|
 |
Calvin Moreau SS / RHP / Monona Grove, WI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 4
Moreau checks all the boxes that help lift a must-see player with a highly projectable frame (6-foot-2, 165-pounds), premium athleticism (6.61 60-yard dash), and in-game production. A right-handed hitter with a simple, short stroke, the athleticism should provide for more easy adjustments to be made at the plate as increased at-bats and repetitions provide for the same. He also shows plenty of upside on the mound where his quick arm produced fastball velocities up to 84.6 mph in the preseason with minimal use of the lower-half, feel for a tighter breaking ball, and an intriguing look at splitter (1678 rpm avg.) |
RELATED CONTENT
- PBRPlus Shooter's Shortlist: West Coast 2026s 4/20/23
- PBRPlus Shooter's Shortlist: The South 2026s 4/20/23
- PBRPlus Shooter's Shortlist: Great Plains & Texas 2026s 4/20/23
- PBRPlus Shooter's Shortlist: Midwest 2026s 4/20/23
- PBRPlus Shooter's Shortlist: Northeast & Canada 2026s 4/20/23
- PBRPlus Shooter's Shortlist: Atlantic Coast 4/20/23
- PBRPlus Shooter's Shortlist: Uncommitted 2026 Underclassmen 4/20/23