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Which prospect has the best field tool in your state?

December 13, 2024
By: Andy Sroka
Managing Editor, Scouting

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: From now until the New Year, we'll be using 'The Hotlist' to highlight the Top Tools of 2024, and this week we're looking at the best field/defense tool from each state. Feel free to share 1-2 players from any class that best fit this description – this could be a player with a reputation as the best glove in your state, or a player who's garnered attention at the next level based on their defense primarily.

+ 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’ (12/13):

Alabama

+ Hayden Craycraft, SS (Thompson High School HS, 2025) | Shelton State CC:

“Craycraft (5'10 170 pounds) has shown high level defensive traits over the long haul to compliment a solid offensive game as well. Silky smooth with the glove at shortstop, the Shelton State CC signee shows easy, natural actions with the glove with an early presentation while consistently fielding the ball out in front of the body. He is equally adept to the backhand side or glove side, showing plenty of lateral range with advanced footwork. A clean exchange into the throw is also evident with enough arm strength (82 mph) to stick on the left side of the infield. ”

– David Sharp, Deep South Supervisor

Colorado

+ Spike Magill, C (Mountain Vista HS, 2025) | Evansville:

“Magill is a 2023 Future Games alumni who is regarded as one of the top defensive and receiving catchers within the state. The Mountain Vista senior has caught his fair share of high-end arms thanks to Grant Shepardson (drafted in 2024) and Chase Ruden (Santa Clara commit) being on his HS squad for a few years now. Magill also caught Colorado's premier pitchers during the 2023 Future Games at LakePoint. We have seen Magill into the low 1.80s on his pop time with a catcher throwing velocity in the low 80s as well. ”

– Caleb Dameron,Colorado Staff

Connecticut

+ Brady Collins, C/CF (La Salle Academy HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Shows a plus arm behind the plate at 81 mph, pop time of 1.90. The feet are super fast and quick. Can out run the baseball in the outfield. ”

– Trevor Brown, State Director

Georgia

+ Maddox Rogozinski, SS/RHP (Brookwood HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Maddox jumps back into the top 10 of the recent 2027 rankings update. He is one of the smoothest infielders in the state with effortless actions and plus arm strength. Up to 88 on the mound. The clean glove work, paired with a strong arm earned in a starting job as a freshman last season, and helped lead Brookwood in a state playoff run. ”

– Hudson Graham, Scouting Director

Hawaii

(10/25/24)

+ Alika Ahu, SS/3B (University Laboratory HS, 2026) | Stanford:

“Sure-handed defender with good actions, plus instincts & plus IQ, anticipates well playing up range to above-average at SS, plenty of arm for left side (90 mph infield velo) and arm still getting stronger, profiles at 3B as he could end up 6-04/210+ where he has all the ingredients for a plus defensive 3B.”

– Dan Cox, West Coast Crosschecker

Illinois

(8/6/24)

+ Lucas Simulick , SS (Joliet Catholic HS, 2026) | Uncommitted :

“INF Lucas Simulick (Joliet Catholic) continues to improve his overall game with every look. An athletic 5-foot-10, 167-pounds, Simulick began the event by posting strong numbers all-around during the workout. He ran a 6.73 60, tossed an 87 mph bullet across the infield, while also posting a max EV of 93.6 mph. Simulick’s tools continued to be loud during gameplay where he made play after play up the middle, both at shortstop and at second base. He swung a flat, direct path that produced consistent hard contact - including a double and a homer during gameplay. Simulick is a must-know uncommitted name to follow in the state.”

(7/24/24)

+ Brandon Thomsen , C (St. Viator HS, 2026) | Uncommitted :

“2024 Future Games: Brandon Thomsen (St. Viator) showed well all week behind the dish, a theme our staff has become accustomed to seeing out of the 6-foot-1, 188-pound backstop. The incoming-junior displayed advanced actions in the crouch and also seemed to be comfortable catching arms he had never handled in the past. His defensive tools shined brightly during the workout portion earlier in the week as well, where he had a 1.95 pop time, while tossing his best bullet at 80 mph from the crouch. Thomsen also showed the ability to barrel the baseball from the right side during batting practice, where his average exit velocity was 94.4 mph (T99), which was good for top-20 in the entire event. His average distance of 316 feet during BP, was another metric that found him among the event’s best.”

– Peter Hamot, Assistant Director Illinois/Wisconsin

Indiana

(8/2/24)

+ Cooper Collins, C (Vincennes Lincoln HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“From (Midwest Super Sophomore Games - Team Indiana Takeaways) : I haven't seen a better defender at the age than Collins - a true weapon behind the dish that makes the staff better and offers premier catch-and-throw abilities behind the dish. Collins shined on the workout day with an 81 mph arm from the crouch and pop times from 1.78 to 1.86, both metrics being event bests amongst IL, IN, KY, MI, and OH's top '27s. The glove is a real tool and the compact, 5-foot-11, 175 pounder shows solid bat-to-ball from the right-side with budding strength in the barrel.”

– Cooper Trinkle, Indiana Scouting Director

Iowa

+ Milo Kelly, C (Pleasant Valley HS, 2025) | Iowa:

“Kelly exhibits high end ability defensively as a catcher. Has current physicality and strength; with above avg. athleticism behind the plate. Is agile with quick feet and flexibility to block along with benefitting his superb catch and throw skills. Has registered top pop times of 1.87-2.00 with 82 mph arm strength to second base.”

– Rob Allison, Regional Supervisor, Upper Midwest

Kansas

+ Westin Boyle, SS (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, 2025) | Purdue:

“The long and rangy 6-foot-2 shortstop is not the flashiest player on the dirt, but it seems like every ball hit in his direction ends up in the first base mitt. Boyle shows surprisingly soft feet for his size, a sure handed glove, and one of the most accurate arms in the region with the ability to throw from every slot. ”

– Andy Urban, Central Region Scouting Supervisor

Louisiana

+ Josh Lim, SS/OF (Dunham HS, 2025) | Louisiana-Lafayette:

““Swiss-Army Knife” would be the best term to describe Lim. The former Future Gamer is one of the most versatile defenders in the state. Lim has the speed to track down balls in the outfield, and the soft hands, footwork, and arm to play all three infield spots. His defensive versatility and the variety of ways that he can impact a game should help him to earn playing time early next year at Louisiana-Lafayette. ”

– Alex Armand, State Director

Massachusetts

(7/25/24)

+ Nolan Rappoli, SS (Xaverian Brothers HS, 2026) | Harvard:

“Above average defender, shows tremendous feel for the glove and pace of infield play. He could play in the middle of the field in a college baseball game right now. ”

– Dennis Healy, New England Co-Scouting Director

Michigan

+ Jake Leonard, SS (Sterling Heights Stevenson HS, 2025) | Eastern Michigan:

“Jake has been a mainstay in the Stevenson lineup for a few years now and has developed himself into a leader for Joe Emmanuel's squad. It's evident when you watch Jake play he puts a priority on his defense with solid footwork and a quicker release from across the diamond. ”

– Adam Goodwin, Michigan Scouting Director

Mississippi

+ Drew Holliman, UT (East Union HS, 2025) | Northeast MS CC:

“Drew, a former Future Gamer, is a scrappy dirtbag type of player that you can put anywhere on the field and get plus defense. We’ve seen him at catcher, the middle infield, and running down baseballs in the gaps in the outfield. Not many players can play this many positions at an elite level. Coach Richie Harrelson at Northeast CC is getting a player he can count on no matter where he puts him. ”

– Matt Miller, State Director

New Jersey

+ JC Pacheco, SS (DePaul Catholic HS, 2026) | Arizona State:

“Pacheco has the actions to stick at SS. Smooth actions that are synced up beyond his years. The arm has variety and strength. Really fun watching him play the position. Another cool thing to see his how his body has been transforming. This plays right into his work ethic. Arrows pointing up for Pacheco. ”

+ Nicky Becker , SS (Don Bosco Prep HS, 2025) | UVA:

– Dan Valerio, Assistant Scouting Director

New York

+ Luis Marin, SS (West 50th HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:

“Marin was not only the top defender for Team NY at this past summer's Future Games but stood out amongst his peers across the country. It's very rare to get excited to watch someone go about their business defensively, but Marin is worth tuning in for. The NYC product possesses soft hands, lateral range and arm strength from the left side and can contribute offensively as well with some punch to the gaps. ”

– Jared Carrier, Executive Director, NY

North Carolina

(7/24/24)

+ Addison Rowland, C (Palisades HS HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:

“Rowland earns his way onto this list as a high end athlete that has advanced catch and throw skills. At the 2024 Prep Baseball Future Games, he flashed consistent sub-1.95 pop times in the workout and between innings. In game, the easy transfer and elite carry gave pop times in the 2.03 - 2.08 range. A good athlete, Rowland ran a 6.80 sixty and posted a 31in vertical. The athleticism plays behind the dish, but where Rowland can really separate himself is his ability to be average to above on the infield and in the outfield. A catch first, utility player with plenty of room to his ceiling, as the 6-foot, 158 pound frame continues to fill out, will continue to excite college coaches in the coming year.”

– Brandon Hall, Mid-Atlantic Director of Scouting

Ohio

+ Ian Cain, 3B (Avon HS, 2025) | Kent State:

“Toolsy infielder with advanced footwork and feel for the baseball. Quick hands on his exchanges and carries throws with backspin across the infield. Should stick on the left side at the next level.”

(10/13/24)

+ Reggie Watson III, SS (Archbishop Moeller HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“A technician on the dirt. Reggie shows off the lateral quickness, dynamic throwing ability, and instincts that you want to see from a high level infielder. ”

– Kyle Weldon, Director of Scouting

Oklahoma

+ Jase Winchester, SS (Edmond Memorial HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:

“Winchester has proven to be an advanced defender at a premium position in shortstop. He has flashed exceptional actions and glove work alike. At the Future Games, Winchester was 90 mph across the infield furthermore showcasing the ability to stick on the left side of the infield at the next level.”

+ Brady Holliday, SS/2B (Stillwater HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Holliday is as sure handed as anyone in the state on the infield. Strong actions, clean feet, and advanced on-field IQ put him in position to make all the plays necessary. As the Future Games alum continues to grow and develop physically, the playmaking ability will continue to play up with the advanced defensive skillset already present.”

– Bret Schwartz, Oklahoma Scouting Director

Ontario

+ Gabriel Larocque, C (Sudbury Voyageurs HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:

“Larocque is the most advanced defensive catcher right now in the country and his work behind the dish has drawn plenty of interest from college coaches since the Future Games. Arm strength and accuracy quickly catch your attention and possesses all the intangibles you'd want in a backstop. A prospect coaches will need to circle back on this summer if he's still on the board.”

+ Lincoln Rose, SS (Terriers Baseball HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Rose's actions, glove and feet are among the best in Ontario's underclass grad years and his best days are still ahead of him. His overall game will take off as he matures and adds strength but his abilities on the dirt are undeniable and he should be pencilled in as a 2027 in Canada to follow throughout the summer circuit in 2025.”

– Cam Black-Araujo, Asst. Director, CAN

Tennessee

+ Banks Addison, SS (Evangelical Christian School HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:

“Currently ranked the number 1 shortstop in the state of TN for his class, Addison continues to show off a smoothness and precision in the field as one way past his years, while showing off a plus arm already at 88 across the diamond. Clean hips with an air of fluidity to his movements. Great instincts with quick jumps to his spots at precise angles, Banks should stick at the position for a long time with real range to get to balls that otherwise would get through the infield. ”

(7/24/24)

+ Gunner Skelton, 3B (Columbia Academy HS, 2026) | Vanderbilt:

“Probably the most confident glove in the 2026 class, Skelton plays with a freeness to his game with quick reactions to both sides of his body. Made numerous diving plays this summer at NPI, while also having well above average arm strength across the diamond. Stays low in his center of gravity, while also not being afraid to use his body as a shield in front of the baseball. High level player and someone to bank on at the hot corner.”

– Hunter Martin, State Director

Texas

+ Mitchell Morton , C (Plano West HS, 2025) | Xavier:

“Always known as an elite defender, Morton won the Defensive MVP at the 2023 Future Games and continues to be one of the best catch and throw guys around. Easy mover behind the plate, Morton never panics and eliminates any thought of a running game. And pitchers love throwing to him. ”

– Brandon Gowins, Texas Director

Wisconsin

+ Jack Lutz, SS (Whitnall HS, 2025) | South Florida:

“Slick fielding shortstop with athletic actions and range to both sides, arm plays accurate with just enough strength to stay on the left-side. The defense has ticked up over the course of the year leaving little to doubt his status as a true shortstop at the next level.”

(7/30/24)

+ Preston Yaucher, SS (Edgewood HS, 2025) | Penn State:

“Smooth fielding, athletic actions with range capable of making flashy plays in game with ease. Quick release, ball jumps out of the hand with accuracy from all slots and on the move.”

– Josh Fields, Area Scout

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