Browsing: Prospects

Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna is one of 27 players to get an A rating from NHL Central Scouting in the preliminary players to watch list for next year’s draft.

The list, released Monday, gives an A rating to players considered first-round candidates.

McKenna, who moved to the NCAA from the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers this season after a rule change by the U.S. college sports governing body, has one goal and five assists in six games for Penn State to start the season.

The Whitehorse native is playing against older competition than in the CHL, where he led the Tigers to the Memorial Cup final last season and was named the top player in the country.

Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino had McKenna ranked No. 1 in his October rankings for the draft.

All players in Cosentino’s top five also got A ratings — Frolunda winger Ivar Stenberg, North Dakota defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, Windsor Spitfires winger Ethan Belchetz and Niagara IceDogs centre Ryan Roobroeck.

Other notable players to get A grades include WHL scoring leader JP Hurlbert of the Kamloops Blazers, QMJHL defence scoring leader Xavier Villeneuve of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armanda and WHL defence scoring leader Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants.

The OHL leads the way with eight A prospects.

Here’s a list of all players to receive an A grade:

LW Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)
D Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars, WHL)
C Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting, OHL)
D Malte Gustafsson (HV71 Jr., Sweden)
LW Oscar Hemming (Espoo, Finland)
RW Elton Hermansson (Modo, Sweden)
LW JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)
RW Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
C Tynan Lawrence (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)
D Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants, WHL)
C Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)
LW Gavin McKenna (Penn State, NCAA)
LW Marcus Nordmark (Djurgarden, Sweden)
LW Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes, OHL)
D Juho Piiparinen (Tappara, Finland)
RW Mathis Preston (Spokane Chiefs, WHL)
D Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)
C Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals, OHL)
LW Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)
D Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
D Luke Schairer (U.S. national development team, USHL)
C Egor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)
D Alberts Smits (Jukurit, Finland)
LW Ivar Stenberg (Frolunda, Sweden)
C Oliver Suvanto (Tappara, Finland)
D Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota, NCAA)
D Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL)

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The Mets may already be in offseason mode, but two of their young talents have been able to carry their strong minor league seasons into the early days of the Arizona Fall League.

Nick Morabito and Chris Suero have been two of the top performers thus far for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Morabito slotted right back into the leadoff spot for the squad on Sunday night and he made an immediate impact, starting the bottom of the first with a second pitch single up the middle.

The speedster would steal both second and third, and scored the games opening run on a throwing error.

He would reach base twice during the 12-run bottom of the second, drawing a walk and scoring on an RBI double, then lining his second single of the game right back up the middle when his turn came back around.

The game was called early after the ballpark was evacuated for a fire alarm going off, so Morabito finished the night 2-for-4 to bring his average to a stellar .391 through six AFL games.

He also has a double, triple, six stolen bases (in seven attempts), and a 1.039 OPS to this point.

The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the up-and-coming outfield prospects in the system, hitting .273 with an incredible 49 stolen bases (60 attempts) and a .348 on-base percentage in Binghamton this year.

Suero received the night off on Sunday, but he’s been swinging a good bat early in the Fall League, as well.

The Bronx-native has kept his power-stroke going, hitting a double and two homers over his first five games. He also has two steals and continues to show his versatility, seeing time at all three of his positions (C, 1B, LF).

Like Morabito, Suero enjoyed a bit of a breakout campaign this year, reaching Double-A at just 21 years old.

He finished with 16 homers, 35 stolen bases, 68 RBI, and a .379 OBP between Binghamton and Brooklyn.

The two are ranked back-to-back (15th and 16th) on Joe DeMayo’s midseason Top-30 list.

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The Perfect Game WWBA World Championship is one of the best—if not the best—high school baseball showcases on the circuit each year. The annual event gives scouts one last look at a plethora of top prospects all under the same roof, so to speak, before winter and the heart of the offseason.

As with our previous two pieces, please note that our list is alphabetized and not a ranking. Also, not every player listed is draft eligible this July.

Griffin Boesen, 1B

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

From a sheer statistical standpoint, itâ€s hard to argue against Boesen being one of the top performers in the entire event. Across Canes Midwest Nationalâ€s run to the semifinals, Boesen went a video game-like 13-for-18 (.722) with a double, 10 RBIs and five walks against a pair of strikeouts.

A 6-foot-4, 190-pound lefthanded hitter, Boesen has a potential middle-of-the-order frame. He can impact the baseball now, but itâ€s not hard to envision Boesen adding more strength.

For someone of his size, Boesen does a nice job of staying synced up throughout his swing. Heâ€s shown the ability to create leverage by dropping his back knee, and this summer he flashed above-average bat-to-ball skills. Boesenâ€s power is geared more towards extra-base hits than home runs at this point, but look for him to start to put more balls over the fence as he continues to mature physically.

Connor Comeau, INF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Texas A&M

A member of the loaded USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, Comeau collected four hits—including a double and three-run home run in consecutive games—and drove in eight runs. He has a long, lanky frame—with particular length in his lower half—and plenty of physical projection remaining.

Comeau stands fairly tall in the box with a slightly-open front side and shoulder-high handset. He has a simple operation without a whole lot of moving parts, and he deploys a small leg lift that gives way to a normal stride. Though he’s a bit lacking in the physicality department, he still has solid bat speed and is able to generate quality contact on a regular basis.

Comeau put good swings on the ball all week. As I alluded to earlier, he hammered a backside double in one of my looks and belted a home run a game later. He has present power, but itâ€s not all that difficult to envision him growing into above-average or plus game power down the line.

While his power upside is tantalizing, Comeau also has a feel to hit. He flashed a good feel for the strike zone with polished swing decisions. The swing that perhaps stood out to me the most was a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Comeau let the ball travel, got his barrel to it and shot a hard-hit ground ball through a vacated six hole.

Comeauâ€s defensive profile is somewhat murky. He played both corner infield spots last week and got some run at shortstop over the summer, but I think his overall defensive skill set will profile best in a corner outfield spot when all is said and done. His movement profile and level of athleticism likely fit better on the grass than it does on the dirt.

Comeau will still be 17 years old at the draft, and he has an exciting blend of a body to dream on, “now†tools and plenty of upside.

Trevor Condon, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

Condon was one of my favorite position players I saw last week in Jupiter. A sparkplug in every sense of the word, he scattered seven hits—including a double—and four RBIs across five games.

At 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Condon has an athletic frame with strength and impact, particularly to the pull side. A prototypical top-of-the-order tablesetter with an explosive and twitchy operation in the box, he shows no-doubt plus bat speed to go along with a feel for the barrel and high-level bat-to-ball skills. Condon controlled the zone well and demonstrated advanced swing decisions in my looks last week.

While he tends to hit the ball on the ground—Iâ€d like to see him turn some of his ground balls into line drives—Condon gets out of the box unbelievably quick and regularly turned in double-plus run times. He projects as a hit-over-power profile whose vast majority of home run power will likely come to the pull side.

Defensively, Condonâ€s tantalizing combination of speed and athleticism translates well to center field. He has plenty of gap-to-gap range and can really go and get the baseball. If he can shore up his routes by taking a more efficient and crisp path to the baseball, he has a chance to become an impact defender.

As a nice cherry on top, Condonâ€s on-field makeup is outstanding. His baseball sense is advanced, and he plays the game with his hair on fire. A prime example of this last week came when he stole second on a great dirt ball read and later swiped third on a well-executed shuffle lead. He has an unbelievably high motor and does not take a single pitch off. It feels like heâ€s always involved in some capacity and, like the Energizer bunny, is always ready to go, go, go. Condonâ€s love for the game is evident, and itâ€s a quality that rubs off on those with whom he shares a dugout.

If youâ€re looking for a couple of players with a similar archetype as Condon, think along the lines of Sal Frelick and Slater de Brun. De Brun was a better defender at this stage with more of a physical, barrel-chested look, but there are still some similarities.

RJ Cope, 1B/LHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Cope enjoyed one of the best performances of any player in the tournament, going 12-for-20 (.600) with a pair of doubles, a home run, five RBIs and seven walks to three strikeouts. He was a key reason why his East Cobb/San Diego Padres Scout Team club made a run to the championship game, and Cope took his play to another level in bracket play.

A 6-foot-8, 250-pound mountain of a human being, itâ€s hard to miss Cope on the diamond. He has an extra-large, high-waisted frame with plenty of physicality throughout. Cope used to devote most of his time to pitching—and will still toe the rubber—so heâ€s still learning how to hit. You can see it in his swing, as itâ€s not the most rhythmic or aesthetically pleasing operation in the world, but it clearly worked last week. Cope gets a little bar-armed at times and his bat will lag, but last week he was an auto-barrel.

Copeâ€s power upside is immense. He flashes big-time juice already, but there’s a chance he grows into double-plus power if he can clean up his operation and get more into his legs. In what is the case for most players of similar size, it will be important for Cope to keep his long levers connected and in-sync throughout his swing. Defensively, Cope is relegated to first base. Undoubtedly a power-over-hit profile, you are betting on Copeâ€s power upside.Â

All week, Cope brought the juice. He was a vocal leader both on the field and in the dugout, and after every big play you could set your watch to Cope being fired up for his teammates. This is a cold take, but without him, there is zero chance East Cobb would have been playing on Championship Monday.

Sean Dunlap, C

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

Of Dunlapâ€s six hits last week, five went for extra bases. Across five games, the 6-foot-3 backstop tallied a pair of doubles, a pair of triples and one home run.

Thereâ€s plenty to like with Dunlap. He has a lean, athletic frame with some length in his lower half to go along with present strength and physical projection remaining. Dunlap moves well in the batterâ€s box and has a minimal load with big-time bat and hand speed. His swing can get long at times, which leaves him susceptible to swing-and-miss, so making enough contact to tap into his power on a regular basis will be key. Dunlap steps in the box with the intent to do damage and does not get cheated.

Though heâ€s slightly tall for the position, Dunlap has a solid defensive skill set behind the dish thatâ€s headlined by his athleticism and arm strength.

Dylan Fairchild, SS

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Cincinnati

Fairchild was the best hitter on the SmarTense/ZT National Prospects team, and he parlayed his solid showing at East Coast Pro into a strong week in Jupiter.

The “how he does it†with Fairchild is unorthodox. He drops his hands a considerable amount in his load and sits a bit deeper in his base, but he was able to make it work and collected a trio of extra-base hits with five RBIs. Fairchild moves well both in the box and on the dirt, and heâ€s a Midwest name on which to keep tabs this spring.Â

Matthew Mansbery, SS

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Michigan

Mansbery was on the barrel all week for Canes Midwest and laced three doubles, a pair of triples and drove in six runs.

A name to follow closely throughout this yearâ€s draft cycle, Mansbery has an athletic frame with room to fill out further. He has a simple setup in the batterâ€s box and an easy, almost effortless, operation featuring minimal load, a small stride and a level head throughout his swing. Mansbery has quickness in his hands with budding power he flashed last week in Jupiter.

Mansbery isnâ€t the twitchiest or most explosive player in the world, but heâ€s shown sound actions on the dirt with arm strength on the left side of the infield. Mansbery is very much an unfinished product physically, and itâ€s exciting to think about what his ceiling might be. He is a potential top five-round pick this July.

Winston Pennant, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Ole Miss

Pennant fits the mold of someone who is more likely to end up on a college campus than not, but Iâ€d be remiss if I didnâ€t highlight his performance in Jupiter. Pennantâ€s 10 RBIs were tied for the most in the tournament, and he also blasted a pair of long balls and tripled.

At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Pennant is plenty physical with strength throughout his frame. He flashed all-fields impact last week and was consistently on the barrel. He has a bit of a noisy load and there are some hit tool questions, but thereâ€s no questioning his raw power.Â

Noah Wilson, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Wilson impressed all week and was one of the more productive hitters in the event. Across four games, he amassed six hits with a triple, a home run and eight RBIs.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Wilson has a pro body with present strength and some projection remaining. He possesses an enticing tool set that was on full display in Jupiter. He has a simple, yet explosive operation in the box, showing plenty of bat speed and taking a direct path to the baseball.

Wilson has an all-fields approach and has shown the ability to drive the baseball to either gap, as evidenced last week by his home run going out to left-center field. On top of the quality contact he was able to generate, Wilson demonstrated a feel for the barrel. While he stayed within the strike zone for the most part, Wilson this summer struggled with swing-and-miss—especially as it pertained to picking up secondaries out of the hand—which is something to monitor.

A plus runner, Wilsonâ€s speed translates well, both on the basepaths and on the grass. His arm is a little light, but his legs and athleticism will give him a chance to prove himself in center field professionally.

An intriguing blend of tools and upside, Wilson has a chance to be a top-three round pick this summer.

Sebastian “Sushi†Wilson, OF

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Tennessee

With no relation to Noah, “Sushi†was one of the better underclass hitters in the event. He served as the straw that stirred the drink for Wow Factorâ€s 17U National Team and notched 10 hits with a pair of doubles and four RBIs.

Wilson has strength baked into his 6-foot, 190-pound frame. He has a hitterish look in the box with a fairly upright stance, a slightly-open front side and a medium-high handset. There’s a slight barrel tip in his load and quickness in his hands

Wilson was a high-level performer throughout the summer circuit. According to Synergy Sports, this summer he hit .340/.444/.420 across all major events.

Wilson runs well and has also flashed an above-average arm in center field. With a smattering of tools, Wilson is a high-priority follow in the 2027 class.Â

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Image credit:
Enddy Azocar (Tracy Proffitt/Four Seam Images)

Each year here at Baseball America, we examine which prospects have made skill gains year over year. We look at improvements in plate skills (contact and approach), fastball velocity, pitch movement and, perhaps most importantly, exit velocity.

While skill improvements will make a significant difference in production—just ask the Cardinals’ Joshua Baez—there’s not much more important for a hitter to improve than power, as hitting the ball harder creates better results.

While exit velocity gains in the major leagues are typically minimal, there are prospects at all levels of the minor leagues who make considerable power jumps each season. Being able to identify these improvements and explain them with data is paramount. With this in mind, today we’ll be highlighting 25 players who saw substantial gains in 90th percentile exit velocity in 2025.

It’s important to note the majority of these players competed in the complex leagues and lower levels this season. That’s not surprising considering these levels are typically where we see the greatest period of growth for young hitters. Looking back at last year’s version of this story, we also see that targeting these velocity-gainers can be useful in identifying players in the process of making developmental leaps, as names like Roman Anthony, Joe Mack, Colby Thomas, Alan Roden and more populated the 2024 list.

Below, Baseball America subscribers can find the complete 2025 list followed by takeaways for some of the more intriguing names. To qualify, players needed to have a minimum of 80 batted-ball events in each of the last two seasons.

Top 25 EV Gainers For 2025

playerorgage2024
90% EV2025
90% EVYOY GainEnddy AzocarBOS18.398105.47.4Eliesbert AlejosAZ19.191.999.27.3Jorge QuintanaSD18.297.7104.16.4Richard MaticNYY17.997.6103.86.2Brandon ButterworthBAL22.896.4102.86.4Deward TovarTEX19.2100.8106.96.1John CruzMIA19.896.5102.56Cristofer LebronSTL18.396.6102.35.7Jurdrick ProfarCWS18.296101.95.9Engel PaulinoMIL18.697.3102.95.6Frederi MonteroMIL18.598.1103.55.4Andrés NolayaBAL20.399.1104.55.4Phillip SikesBOS26.2101106.35.3Paulino SantanaTEX18.698.4103.75.3Brock RoddenSEA25.199.3104.55.2Jeremy RivasSTL22.397.8102.95.1Hector SalasHOU21.397102.15.1Zach ColeHOU24.9105.2109.94.7Drew GilbertSF24.8100.7105.64.9Brady HouseWSH22.1104.3108.84.5Luis PeñaMIL18.699.9104.24.3Mikey RomeroBOS21.5102.4106.74.3Luis De La CruzCLE18.898.5103.34.8Carlos ConcepcionSF19.5101105.64.6Moises BolivarLAD1899.5104.34.8

EV Gainer Takeaways

• The first thing that jumps out looking at the data is the organizations that saw the most EV gainers. The Red Sox and Brewers each boast three, followed by the Rangers, Astros and Cardinals with two apiece. The Giants also have two, but Drew Gilbert was a trade deadline acquisition, so itâ€s hard to count him as a Giant and not a Met. In the same vein, Jorge Quintana was acquired by the Padres at the deadline from the Brewers. This means the Brewers technically had four prospects on this list. As much credit as they get for pitching development, Milwaukee also has something brewing on the hitting side.Â

• Enddy Azocarâ€s gains this season were noted throughout the year, and his production followed. While Azocar struggled with the move to Salem—a notoriously difficult run environment—he still managed to raise his isolated slugging threefold between his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2024 and his 71-game sample in Low-A this year. A 7+ mph EV gain in one season for any hitter is impressive, and Azocarâ€s small sample in the Florida Complex League hints at the validity of those gains when facing age-appropriate competition.Â

• Success did not follow Diamondbacks shortstop Eliesbert Alejos this season, as he hit .241/.315/.302 in his stateside debut. He was a DSL repeater in 2024, so an improved stat line in his second season was expected. While Alejos†gains were notable, his power went from 20-grade raw to 40-grade raw for his age and level. That simply isnâ€t enough to improve your BABIP substantially.Â

• Speaking of players who upped their power into above-average territory, Padres trade deadline acquisition Jorge Quintana made a serious EV jump, and it was noticeable in his stateside debut. Quintana hit .264/.349/.403 with three home runs over 50 Arizona Complex League games. Heâ€s still hitting a lot of ground balls, so improved bat path and angles could lead to more airborne contact in the coming seasons. Quintana is a name to keep an eye on in 2026 despite only so-so results in 2025.Â

• Signed for $800,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January 2024, the Yankees’ Richard Matic disappointed in his professional debut and repeated the DSL this season. Matic saw a substantial gain in exit velocity in 2025 and, as a result, his production, as he hit .336/.487/.566. Itâ€s tough to fully buy into this breakout, however, as the 18-year-old was repeating the lowest level of the minor league ladder. That said, Maticâ€s season certainly helped to revitalize his prospect status and makes him a player to watch heading into 2026.Â

• Rangers outfielder Deward Tovar spent all of 2023 and 2024 in the Dominican Summer League before making the jump stateside in 2025. He saw a tremendous improvement in power and production this year, as he gained over 6 mph in 90th percentile EV and hit .312/.412/.496 across 40 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A. He posted a significant jump in game power, as his slugging from the DSL in 2024 and ACL in 2025 went up over 100 points. Tovar is the perfect example of what improved power can produce.

• We saw a little of Zach Cole in the major leagues at the end of the season. The Astros’ 2025 Minor League Player of the Year has always shown plus power, but in 2025, his contact quality went to another level. His 109.9 mph 90th percentile exit velocity is among the best in baseball, and he shows true 80-grade raw power. Despite heavy swing-and miss in his profile, the added power helped Cole to make more out of the contact he does make. Â

• The Brewers’ Luis Peña was one of the top breakout prospects in 2025. While heâ€s long had plate skills, the added power in his second professional season saw him skyrocket up prospect lists to be considered one of the best bat-first players currently in the minor leagues. Adding over 4 mph of exit velocity helped the 18-year-old shortstop to make that leap.

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The Perfect Game WWBA World Championship is one of the best—if not the best—high school baseball showcases on the circuit each year. The annual event gives scouts one last look at a plethora of top prospects all under the same roof, so to speak, before winter and the heart of the offseason.

After highlighting some lesser-known prospects at this year’s wood bat tournament, over the next two days, we’ll be taking a look at 10 pitchers and 10 hitters who caught our eye down in Jupiter, Fla.

Before we dig in, please note that our list is alphabetized and not a ranking. Also, not every player listed is draft eligible this July. In fact, the single loudest outing of the tournament came courtesy of a 16-year-old sophomore.

Brody Crane, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Arkansas

Crane turned in one of the best starts of the tournament and collected eight strikeouts across three shutout, hitless innings.

A stocky righthander, Crane has plenty of strength and physicality packed into his 6-foot, 215-pound frame. He works exclusively out of the stretch and features a short, somewhat stabby arm stroke whiling attacking out of a high three-quarters slot.

Crane pounded the strike zone for the entirety of his outing and ran his fastball up to 96 mph to go along with a low-80s slider and mid-80s splitter. Craneâ€s fastball flashed both run and ride through the zone, and he relied on it heavily. His slider and splitter each profile as effective secondaries. His slider was shorter in shape with some gloveside life and late depth, and the one splitter he threw was sub-1,000 rpm. Crane stayed off the barrel of opposing hitters all night and displayed an impressive feel to pitch.

Hudson DeVaughan, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Alabama

DeVaughan spun a quality start for his Canes Midwest National club in which he didnâ€t allow an earned run, gave up one hit and struck out seven across four innings.

DeVaughan is old for the class, but the 6-foot-4 righthander has a slender, high-waisted frame with physical projection remaining. He operated exclusively out of the stretch and featured an easy, under-control operation in which he attacked hitters out of a high three-quarters slot. His fastball reached 96 mph and was most effective up in the zone. He paired his heater with an upper-70s-to-low-80s curveball that he spun reasonably well.

DeVaughanâ€s fastball-curveball combination makes for an intriguing north-south profile, though heâ€ll need to continue to work on adding a viable third pitch. Perhaps most encouraging was that DeVaughan was consistently in and around the strike zone.Â

Sean Duncan, LHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Before the rain came on Thursday, I enjoyed my look at Duncan. Across three innings, the southpaw amassed seven strikeouts, walked one and surrendered three hits (one of which was a bunt).

At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Duncan has a lean, high-waisted frame with plenty of projection remaining. He features a loose, repeatable delivery and attacks out of a three-quarters slot with an appealing ease to his operation. In my look, Duncanâ€s fastball sat in the 90-93 mph range and got up to 95. Itâ€s a high-spin pitch that played particularly well in the top half of the zone thanks to its riding life, and he collected seven swings and misses with it over the course of his outing.

Check out recent @VandyBoys commit Sean Duncan on the mound 👀

The Canadian lefthander recorded seven strikeouts and one walk over three innings and generated 12 whiffs on the day. pic.twitter.com/yEG77kGH0P

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 10, 2025

The best pitch in Duncanâ€s arsenal at this point is his low-80s slider. The lefthander showed the ability to manipulate its shape, and at times it flashed ample, sharp lateral life—especially against lefthanded hitters. At other times, it took on more of a two-plane look with a similar degree of sharpness. Either way, it has no-doubt plus potential and looks the part of a true putaway pitch. In addition to the seven whiffs with his heater, Duncan notched five with his slider to make an even dozen on the day.

Duncan also flipped in a couple of curveballs in the low 80s and tried to turn over a changeup or two, but he relied heavily on his fastball-slider combination. His command became more scattershot in the third inning, and his front side began to fly open on a more frequent basis, which led to misses up and/or out.

Not only is there a lot to like now with Duncan, but thereâ€s just as much to dream on. As he continues to mature physically, I expect his entire arsenal—both in terms of velocity and dynamism—to tick up. He looks the part of a starter professionally and fits in the third-to-fifth round bucket for me.

James Jorgensen, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Texas

Jorgensen was another arm who turned heads in Jupiter last week. An undersized righthander with physicality packed into his frame, he has a rather compact arm stroke and attacks out of a near-over-the-top slot with present arm speed and a degree of explosiveness in his delivery.

While he threw just one inning, Jorgensen was able to punch two tickets. His fastball was up to 96 mph with natural ride through the zone to go along with a hammer upper-70s curveball that flashed both depth and plenty of sharpness. Jorgensenâ€s command was a bit inconsistent, but his combination of pure stuff and athleticism is exciting.

Dexter McCleon Jr., RHP

• Draft Class: 2028
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

Striker Pence (more on him below) wasnâ€t the only class of 2028 arm who turned heads last week.

Primarily a position player and one of the top players in his class, McCleon impressed in his outing in Jupiter. He was first out of the bullpen for a stacked USA Prime 17U National team and flashed big-time stuff in his two innings of work. A “toolshed†in every sense of the word, McCleon’s premium athleticism is evident in his delivery. He moves exceptionally well on the mound and attacks out of a high three-quarters slot with blistering arm speed.

McCleon’s fastball was up to 98 mph and sat in the mid 90s in his first inning of work, but his velocity tapered off a bit by the second. Nonetheless, itâ€s a lively pitch that routinely displays carry through the zone. He also mixed in a low-80s slider that flashed two-plane tilt.

McCleon is more thrower than pitcher right now, and his command was scattered, but there is an intriguing foundation in place.

Samir Mohammed, RHP

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: LSU

Mohammed got the ball in the first game for USA Prime 17U National and punched out six batters across five innings.

An ultra-physical workhorse, Mohammed is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound righthander who features a long, deep arm stroke and attacks out of a low three-quarters slot. He lands with his front side slightly open—which is something to watch—but his pure stuff is tantalizing. Thereâ€s an appealing ease to Mohammedâ€s delivery, and he commanded the baseball well in Jupiter.

95 mph from RHP Samir Mohammed (16) with a changeup thatâ€s about as good as you will see from any 2027 pitcher in the country. 6-5, 245 lbs. Baseball Americaâ€s No. 19 player in the class. pic.twitter.com/rVBypt2xuC

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) July 2, 2025

Mohammedâ€s fastball was up to 97 mph with carry and natural armside life, but his calling card is his low-to-mid-80s changeup. Itâ€s arguably a plus pitch right now, and it routinely flashes both ample armside fade and depth. Mohammed ties together his arsenal with a low-to-mid-80s slider that flashes sharp two-plane tilt.

Striker Pence, RHP

• Draft Class: 2028
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

As I alluded to in the introduction, Penceâ€s outing was the loudest of the tournament, and the newly-minted sophomore last week had everyone flocking to the Marlins’ side of the complex. Against a quality Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team, the 16-year-old fired a pair of shutout innings in which he notched a trio of strikeouts, walked one and allowed one hit (a slow roller through the right side).Â

The nephew of four-time MLB all-star Hunter Pence, Striker has an extra-long frame with budding strength throughout—there’s particular physicality in his lower half. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound righthander works exclusively out of the stretch and attacks out of a three-quarters slot with a whippy arm stroke and tremendous arm speed.

The calling card of Penceâ€s arsenal is his fastball, and for good reason. It sat in the 96-99 mph range, and he touched 101—a new personal and Jupiter record—four times. The heater explodes out of his hand and flashed thunderous life through the zone with no shortage of carry.

Mind-numbing stuff from 2028 righty Striker Pence. The 16-year-oldâ€s (!!!) first three pitches were 100, 100, 101.1, per Trackman. Thereâ€s a very large crowd gathered for this outing. Not exactly hard to imagine why. pic.twitter.com/FKfQTDTTSg

— Jacob Rudner (@JacobRudner) October 9, 2025

Pence pairs his heater with a hellacious mid-to-upper-80s power slider. It routinely flashes tons of sharp, lateral life with some depth, and it presents an incredibly difficult look for righthanded hitters. Pence was also able to backdoor the pitch for a called third strike against a lefthanded hitter to conclude his outing.

This feels like the part of the infomercial where the person pitching the product exclaims “But wait, thereâ€s more!†That’s because Pence rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s split-change with which he does a nice job killing spin. He turned over a really good one in his outing last week that flashed late tumble, and it looks the part of a future above-average or plus third pitch.Â

While thereâ€s some low-hanging fruit to clean up in the delivery, and heâ€s a bit of a spray gun command-wise, Pence possesses premium stuff across the board. One of the biggest keys going forward will be consistently competing in and around the strike zone. But itâ€s important to remember that Pence is still just 16. It is flat-out ridiculous to think about what he might look like in a couple of years.

Connor Salerno, LHP

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Mississippi State

One of the top 2027 arms in the country, Salerno dazzled in his outing for Wow Factor and struck out eight across three shutout innings. With an ideal pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Salerno features an up-tempo delivery with a deep arm stroke and attacks out of a lowered three-quarters slot. He lands closed off, so thereâ€s also a degree of crossfire in his operation.

Salernoâ€s fastball settled into the low 90s as his outing progressed, but he ran it up to 96 mph in the first with natural—and effective—armside life. In addition to his lively fastball, Salernoâ€s low-80s slider flashed above-average with more length than depth, and he also showed a mid-80s changeup. He was in attack mode all night and needed just 41 pitches to breeze through three innings.

Salerno is not eligible for the draft until 2027, but he already profiles as one of the premier prep arms in the class.

Donovan Thiery, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Florida State

Thiery didnâ€t light up the box score, but he stands out for his immense upside.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Thiery has a long, high-waisted frame with ample projection remaining. He shows present arm speed and attacks from a near-over-the-top slot (though, heâ€ll lower it slightly when delivering his slider). His fastball was up to 96 mph with particular life in the top half of the zone, and it plays up thanks to above-average extension. Thieryâ€s slider flashed some lateral life, and his changeup acted as more of a “show†pitch. Heâ€ll need to continue to refine both of his secondaries going forward.

Another key for Thiery will be keeping his long limbs synced up throughout his delivery. He was disconnected at times, which led to inconsistent command. While there are things to clean up, Thiery has a handful of exciting building blocks in place.

Colin White, LHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Georgia Tech

While his start was cut short due to rain, White turned heads across his two shutout, hitless innings of work. He punched out three, walked none and the lone baserunner he allowed was courtesy of an error. He only needed 23 pitches to cruise through his pair of innings.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, White is a strapping, high-waisted lefthander with upside remaining. Heâ€s gotten more physical over the course of the last year but still has room to fill out. He features an explosive, drop-and-drive delivery and attacks out of a high three-quarters slot with no shortage of arm speed.Â

White’s fastball sat in the 93-96 mph range and jumped out of his hand with plenty of carry through the zone. His heater is a high-spin offering and profiles as a real bat-misser. Given Whiteâ€s present arm speed and projection remaining, itâ€s not difficult to envision further velocity gains.

White supplemented his heater with a low-80s slider that flashed plus. Itâ€s a pitch thrown with conviction, and it has an enticing degree of sharpness to it. White also has a changeup, but he didnâ€t need to use it.

One of the biggest focal points for White going forward will be continuing to keep his long levers in-sync throughout his delivery. Though he threw less than two dozen pitches, White left Jupiter with an up arrow next to his name.Â

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Jason He had to pinch himself.

Sitting in a packed Bell Centre last month, He gazed down and saw his son, Kevin, playing for the Winnipeg Jets in a prospects-tournament game against the Montreal Canadiens.

About 13 years ago, the accountant and his family (wife Queenie, Kevin and younger son Eric) moved to Montreal from Beijing for a career and life change. It offered Jason the chance to expose his sons more to a sport he fell in love with while mastering French as an international university student in Moncton, N.B.

“Very proud. The game was sold out, and it was just unbelievable feelings,” Jason recalled over the phone from his home in King City, Ont., recently. “I took them 10, 12 years ago to watch the Habs play. We were playing minor hockey, and somehow they had tickets for around $10. Now, they’re big men playing in the Bell Centre at the national level. It’s amazing.”

Kevin He, 19, is doing everything in his power to ensure there are more special moments ahead.

A fourth-round pick of the Jets in 2024 after Winnipeg traded up to grab the Buffalo Sabres’ selection, the Niagara IceDogs winger became the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract last December, months after making his pre-season debut in Edmonton.

He got into another pre-season game this year, notching an assist at home against the Minnesota Wild, and has maintained his momentum in the OHL. The six-foot team captain has four goals and nine assists in seven games for the Central Division-leading IceDogs.

“It was a huge confidence boost, going to camp for a second time (with the Jets),” He said. “You watch those guys growing up, to be out there training with them, practising with them, just trying to learn as much as I can.”

Last week in a showcase game against the loaded Brantford Bulldogs, He had a goal and two assists on an impressive line with Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Ethan Czata and talented 2025 OHL first-round pick Ryerson Edgar.

On his goal, He caused a Bulldogs turnover in the defensive zone and raced down the wing before beating Sabres prospect goalie Ryerson Leenders from the faceoff circle.

“He’s played well. Straight ahead, stops and starts, playing on the D side of the puck but with that he’s got explosive speed,” first-year IceDogs coach Krys Barch said after the team’s 7-4 loss to the Bulldogs in St. Catharines, Ont. “He can really turn a game around or separate it for us. He’s been a huge element coming back and a great example for all the young guys.”

When He returned from Jets camp, he asked Barch if he could play on a line with Edgar. In the coach’s mind, that was a wonderful sign of leadership. For He, it simply was the right thing to do.

“I can relate to one of the only 16-year-olds. I was the only 16-year-old year my first year,” He said. “I understand he may be a little shy at the start, but I really like his game right now. I can see he has a really good compete level. Just want to be able to help him out and do what I can to help someone find his game. I think he’s on the right track.”

While Edgar grew up in Holland Landing, Ont. (not far from where Connor McDavid learned the game), He didn’t have a traditional hockey upbringing.

Kevin and Eric first took strides on rollerblades, with ice limited in Beijing. Jason eventually found them some ice, but it was hard to come by.

The move to Montreal, where Jason was celebrating on the streets while working a summer job when the Habs last won the Stanley Cup in 1993, changed that.

The family moved to the Toronto area when Kevin was 12 before the IceDogs picked him in the second round (25th overall) of the 2022 OHL Draft.

“I think his passion, that’s the No. 1 thing,” Jason said. “Passion makes you work harder, compete better, and go to the next level. Passion is everything, it comes from the heart. … I think skill is the second (most important aspect to hockey), passion is the first.”

After a summer spent working with trainer-to-the-stars Matt Nichol — “He’s been great. Not just a gym coach, but a mentor as well,” — He has devoted himself to improving his play at both ends of the ice.

While we know plus-minus may not be a tell-all stat, He’s rating is a plus-8 this season after being a combined minus-34 in his first three years in the OHL.

The main message from the Jets has been to work on his 200-foot game.

“I think that’s where my head’s at right now,” He said. “I think I have a good foundation, my speed and strength and what not. Obviously, get a little bigger, fill out a little bit more. Really kind of just lock down the defence and fit the system.”

After four seasons without any playoff success and several off-ice organizational controversies, the IceDogs are hoping to turn the corner this year under Barch and new GM Frank Evola. He wants to play a big role in that turnaround before hopefully making a full-time jump to the pros next season.

As Kevin takes each step, his dad will be watching with pride.

“It’s a big dream come true,” Jason He said. “I’ve been a big hockey fan for years. I’ve been watching Hockey Night in Canada for years. I never imagined or dreamed my son would play at that high a level.”

Friday, Oct. 17: Michigan State Spartans (1-1) at Boston Terriers (2-0-1), 7 p.m. ET

Opener of a back-to-back between the NCAA’s top-ranked Terriers and No. 3 Spartans. New York Islanders first-round pick Cole Eiserman is off to a hot start with Boston, scoring five goals in three games.

Friday, Oct. 17: Ottawa 67’s (6-1-0-0) at Kingston Frontenacs (5-2-0-1), 7:05 p.m. ET

It’s rivalry week in the OHL, with geographical rivals playing home-and-home series. Both these Eastern Ontario clubs are off to strong starts. Coach/GM Dave Cameron’s 67’s were the last unbeaten club in the OHL before falling to Brantford last weekend. The 67’s and Frontenacs meet again Sunday in Ottawa.

Sunday, Oct. 19: Edmonton Oil Kings (8-2-0-0) at Saskatoon Blades (7-2-0-0), 6 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. ST

Two top WHL Eastern Conference clubs square off. Each team has a European-born Canadian team NHL prospect playing well. Saskatoon’s David Lewandowski (Edmonton Oilers, Germany) has 12 points in seven games, while Edmonton’s Miroslav Holinka (Toronto Maple Leafs, Czechia) has 11 points in six games.

Tuesday, Oct. 21: QMJHL Prospects Game, 7:30 p.m. ET at Sherbrooke, Que.

A new event showcasing 40 of the QMJHL’s top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defenceman Xavier Villeneuve, who had five assists in a win over Newfoundland last week, and Russian-born, Victoriaville Tigres forward Egor Shilov (14 points in seven games) will be two of the featured players.

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The WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. once again lived up to its reputation as the ultimate proving ground for prep talent. While the weekend featured plenty of familiar, headline draft names, it also served as a launching pad for a group of under-the-radar players who either showed off exciting tools or delivered true breakout performances.

This list focuses on that second group—the prospects who may not yet be household names in the draft community but left lasting impressions with evaluators.

All but one player on our list is already committed to a college program, and most project as legitimate candidates to reach campus. Together, they represent the next wave of impact talent—players whose performances in Jupiter hinted at much bigger things ahead, be it in college or as a young pro starting next summer.

Cody Boshell, 1B/OF, Florida

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

A physically imposing 6-foot-3, 220-pound lefthanded hitter, Boshell looked every bit the part of a power bat thanks to real strength through his frame and a barrel chest that suggested durability. Though primarily a first baseman, he moved well enough to project as a viable corner outfielder if needed.

At the plate, Boshell worked from a simple load with above-average hand speed and plenty of bat strength. His swing could get a touch long at times, but the bat path stayed direct enough to allow his natural power to play. The ball jumped off his barrel with carry to all fields, and he showed the ability to drive it out of the park, as evidenced by a home run he launched during a 4-for-12 showing in Jupiter.

Boshellâ€s hands worked fast through the zone, and his overall approach was aggressive. Continued emphasis on staying compact will be key as he faces better velocity, but the ingredients for middle-of-the-order power were already clear. He also pitched, though his future almost certainly lies with the bat, where his combination of physicality, athleticism and strength gives him impact potential.

Jorhan Castro, C, Puerto Rico

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Western Kentucky

Though undersized at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Castro impressed as arguably the most polished defensive catcher at the showcase. Multiple evaluators singled him out as the premier receiver in Jupiter, citing his advanced feel, quiet movements and leadership behind the plate against opposing lineups loaded with high-end players.

Castro showed a natural ability to present and steal strikes, particularly at the bottom of the zone, where his fluid hands and soft glove action consistently worked in his pitchers†favor. He blocked with ease, anticipated well and displayed a calm command of the game that stood out for his age. His throwing mechanics were compact and efficient, producing accurate throws with carry and pop times in the low 1.9s. The arm strength and quick release both played, and his overall defensive polish was ahead of his peers.

While the bat remains a work in progress and may be light long term, Castroâ€s defensive profile gives him a significant carrying tool. With plus upside behind the dish and an advanced understanding of the position, he projected as a high-floor catching prospect capable of anchoring a staff at the next level. He should make it to campus at Western Kentucky this fall.

Wyatt Clatur, RHP, Tennessee

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Virginia

Clatur delivered one of the weekendâ€s most dominant outings, striking out nine over four shutout innings while generating 18 total whiffs—12 on his fastball and six on his slider. The performance underscored both his stuff and competitive demeanor, as he worked quickly, attacked hitters and never appeared fazed by the stage.

An athletic righthander with evident arm speed, Clatur operated from a slightly-crossfire delivery that added deception and angle to his arsenal. His fastball sat 91-93 mph, touched 94 and showed lively finish through the top of the zone. The pitch consistently missed bats, playing up thanks to his tempo and ability to locate it with intent.

His slider, thrown in the low 80s, featured sweep and late movement across the plate. He showed confidence landing it for strikes and used it effectively to finish at-bats against both lefties and righties.

Claturâ€s combination of athleticism, pitchability and competitive edge stood out as much as his raw stuff. With a lively fastball-slider mix, clean arm action and mound presence beyond his years, Clatur looked like a rising name to follow closely moving forward.

Colin Driffill, RHP, Nebraska

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Kansas State

A lean, athletic 6-foot-1, 200-pound righthander, Driffill emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout arms at WWBA. Flashing loud arm strength and an operation built on athleticism, he struck out two across two innings without allowing an earned run.

Driffill sat 92-94 mph and reached 97 twice in his first inning, generating five whiffs on 26 fastballs that showed late life and explosive carry at the top of the zone. His primary secondary was a curveball in the low-to-mid 70s with solid depth. Its shape varied at times, however, hinting at a still-developing feel for spin.

Working from a delivery with some drop-and-drive elements, Driffill showed evident power and arm speed through a deep arm path. His movement patterns were athletic, his lower half strong and his overall projection enticing. With refinement, he had the raw ingredients to make significant strides as he matures.

Driffill entered the event largely under the radar, but that changed quickly. Multiple evaluators told Baseball America he wasnâ€t someone they had heavily followed—or, in some cases, had on their lists at all—before Jupiter. By the time he left, he was firmly among the names who made a strong impression.

Soren Etheridge, RHP, Arizona

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

The lone uncommitted prospect on this list, Etheridgeâ€s performance in Jupiter was simply too loud to overlook. The young righthander struck out eight across 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while generating an eye-popping 16 total whiffs, 13 of which came on his fastball.

Etheridgeâ€s heater sat 90-92 mph and touched 94 with late carry, overpowering hitters at the letters. Though his velocity dipped slightly as the outing went on, the pitchâ€s shape and effectiveness held steady throughout. His best secondary was a low-80s changeup with late tumble and fading action—a pitch one evaluator projected could develop into a future plus offering.

Etheridge also mixed a curveball and slider—both in the mid-to-high 70s—that occasionally bled together. He appeared to call for two distinct breaking balls in warmups but threw more of a hybrid shape during game action. A handful of firmer sliders stood out, hinting at the potential to better differentiate a fourth pitch as he matures.

An athletic, projectable arm with a lean frame and multi-sport background—heâ€s also a competitive swimmer—Etheridge showed raw but exciting ingredients. His delivery contained plenty of low-hanging fruit to refine, but with physical growth and mechanical polish, he looked like a highly moldable, high-upside talent whose recruitment should accelerate in short order.

Julian Garcia, RHP, California

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Long Beach State

A physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander, Garcia possessed one of the cleaner arm strokes at the event. He worked from a high three-quarters slot with above-average arm speed and a fastball that sat in the low 90s, touched 93 mph and showed carry through the zone. The pitch got on hitters quickly and played best at the letters. There was some effort when he reached back for more, but it never disrupted his tempo. Further velocity gains appeared well within reach as he continues to mature physically.

Garciaâ€s best offspeed offering was a sharp, high-spin breaking ball in the low-to-mid 70s that eclipsed 2,800 rpm. It came out of his hand clean with pronounced depth and late, biting action when he stayed on top of it. The pitch already induced swings and misses and figures to become a legitimate out pitch with added power. He also mixed a developing changeup that he threw just once in Jupiter.

Over two hitless, scoreless innings with four strikeouts, Garcia displayed two pitches with above-average upside, consistent strike-throwing feel and the type of size and arm speed that suggested more to come.

Will Holden, C, North Carolina

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Wake Forest

A physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound catcher from North Carolina, Holden showed the kind of strength, athleticism and versatility that make him a valuable piece at multiple positions. He moved well for his size and showed the ability to handle both catching and corner infield duties.

Behind the plate, Holden worked from a one-knee setup with decent lower-half quickness and a compact arm action. His throws carried with accuracy, and he showed above-average arm strength. He occasionally struggled with glove-to-hand transfers, but that’s an area that should smooth out with continued reps.

At the plate, Holden hit from a wide stance and generated leverage and loft through the zone. His swing could get steep at times, but the barrel was heavy and produced above-average raw power. Two of his three hits in Jupiter left the yard, and his loose hands and developing approach hinted at more consistency ahead.

Committed to Wake Forest, Holden profiled as a strong, righthanded power bat with defensive versatility and plenty of physical maturity still to come.

Bryant James, SS, Virginia

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Virginia

A lean, wiry 6-foot-1, 175-pound shortstop, James stood out as one of the best athletes in the tournament. His frame offered ample room to add strength, and with natural twitch already present, there was clear upside remaining as he continues to fill out physically.

A double-plus runner with verified 60-yard times in the 6.2-6.3 range, James used his speed as both a weapon and tone-setter. He consistently pressured defenses by getting out of the box quickly to turn routine contact into close plays and extra-base opportunities. His speed was on full display when he coasted in for a triple on a ball to the gap.

At the plate, James hit from a shoulder-high handset with a fairly narrow, upright stance. In lieu of a leg kick, he instead used a controlled stride to get into his swing. His hands worked fast, and his barrel stayed through the hitting zone for a long stretch, giving him a strong contact foundation. Right now, he profiles as a table-setter with gap-to-gap line drive ability, though added strength could unlock more lift and carry in his profile over time.

Defensively, James showed the actions and arm strength to stick at shortstop. His quick first step, lateral range and overall athleticism helped him make plays to both sides. Should he eventually need to move off the position, his elite speed and twitch would translate naturally to the grass.

Taden Krogsgaard, RHP, California

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Cal State Fullerton

A lean and athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound righthander, Krogsgaard impressed in Jupiter with his projection, polish and feel for spin. Though he also plays third base, his future clearly lies on the mound, where his athleticism and arm speed stand out.

Krogsgaard worked with a low three-quarters release and a bit of crossfire in his delivery, creating natural deception and angle on his pitches. His fastball sat 90-92 mph and touched 93, showing late life through the zone. The heater played up thanks to his ability to locate to both sides, and evaluators noted thereâ€s still velocity left in the tank as his frame continues to fill out.

His best secondary offering was a high-70s sweeper with late horizontal break that he consistently landed for strikes. Several evaluators already viewed the pitch as a fringe-plus weapon that should only improve as he adds strength and velocity.

Across two Jupiter outings, Krogsgaard allowed just one run over six innings, showing advanced pitchability and confidence. With a fastball-slider foundation, physical projection and an athletic delivery, he profiles as a high-upside arm.

Trent Lutz, RHP, Pennsylvania

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Penn State

A long-limbed 6-foot-4, 170-pound righthander, Lutz combined present stuff with significant physical projection. His high-waisted, lean frame left plenty of room for added strength, and the delivery already hinted at future power once he grows into it. He worked with a deep, high three-quarters arm stroke and occasionally landed open in his stride, leading to some inconsistency in his release point.

Lutzâ€s fastball sat 90-93 mph and touched 94, showing solid life through the zone. His best velocity and shape came early in the outing, but the pitch still held enough life to miss bats late. He paired it with both a curveball and slider that sometimes bled together. When he stayed on top, the curveball showed depth, but he occasionally got around it and lost finish. He also mixed in a few changeups that flashed promise with late fade.

Still early in his development, Lutzâ€s projection stood out most. His wiry frame, loose arm action and flashes of a true three-pitch mix made him a highly intriguing long-term follow in the 2027 class.

Jace Mataczynski, SS, Wisconsin

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Auburn

One of the most toolsy players in Jupiter, Mataczynski drew a sizable scouting crowd each time he took the field and quickly became one of the weekendâ€s buzziest names. Several evaluators told Baseball America they were zeroing in on the Auburn commit after his standout showing, and his stock appeared to be rising fast.

At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Mataczynski combines promising size, twitch and fluidity. He moved easily at shortstop, showing light feet and impressive body control with an above-average arm that carried across the diamond. His wide, effortless gait translated into plus running ability, allowing him to cover ground both in the field and on the bases.

Offensively, Mataczynski remains raw but dangerous. His two-handed swing occasionally lagged behind better velocity, though his physical strength and bat speed still showed through as he collected six hits, including a home run and two doubles. With added mechanical polish and physical maturity, his offensive game could take a major leap.

Mataczynskiâ€s blend of athleticism, tools and projection has him positioned as a potential early-round follow if his upward trajectory continues.

Lukas McDowell, RHP, Canada

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: North Florida

A towering 6-foot-8, 245-pound righthander and native of Canada, McDowell looked every bit the part of a workhorse starter thanks to his broad shoulders and powerful lower half. His size alone turned heads, but it was the combination of athleticism and stuff that made his outing one of the more memorable performances among the unheralded prospects in Jupiter. Over three scoreless innings, he struck out three without issuing a walk while showing poise and command.

McDowell attacked from a long, whippy low three-quarters slot that created difficult angles and deception. His fastball sat 91-93 mph and touched 95 with carry through the zone and late life that helped it miss five bats. He paired it with a low-80s sweeping slider and a high-70s curveball that featured two-plane depth—both capable of missing barrels when executed. A developing changeup rounded out his four-pitch mix.

At 18, few pitchers combine this kind of physicality, arm speed and athletic operation. McDowellâ€s blend of size and raw stuff gives him a rare ceiling, and continued refinement could make him one of the more fascinating Canadian arms in the 2026 class.

Ethan Offing, OF, South Carolina

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Clemson

An ultra-athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pound center fielder, Offing turned in one of the more complete performances in Jupiter and drew legitimate scouting attention. His combination of speed, defense and emerging impact at the plate made him one of the eventâ€s more intriguing all-around position players.

Offing covered ground easily in center field, showing smooth actions, confident reads and the type of closing speed that allowed him to make more difficult plays look routine. His running ability also translated offensively, where his quickness out of the box and aggressive baserunning kept pressure on defenses.

At the plate, Offingâ€s short, fast swing and advanced bat control stood out. He went 7-for-13 with a double, triple and home run, consistently finding the barrel and flashing surprising strength for his lean frame. The bat speed was real, and his swing path suggested room to grow into more power without sacrificing contact.

With plus speed, reliable defense in center and the potential to both set the table and impact the baseball with authority, Offing looked like a high-upside athlete who would fit perfectly in Clemsonâ€s up-tempo, offensive-minded program if he reaches campus.

Chandler Taylor, OF, Ohio

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Alabama

The younger brother of former Indiana All-American Devin Taylor, Taylor impressed as a lean, athletic 6-foot-3, 185-pound outfielder with real center field potential. He moved with above-average speed, read the ball off the bat well and showed the instincts and reaction time to hold down the middle of the diamond.

At the plate, he shared traits similar to his brother, as his swing stayed on plane and his hands were quick. That ability already allows him to drive the ball all over the field, but as he adds strength, heâ€ll need to learn to lift the ball more consistently to unlock additional power.

Taylorâ€s biggest area for growth is in plate discipline. He needs to sharpen his approach against spin and remain engaged in two-strike counts, rather than expanding too early.

Though still relatively young, Taylor is already committed to Alabama and appears likely to land on campus. His tools, pedigree, and athletic profile make him an interesting name to follow going forward.

Ty Van Valkenburg, RHP, New York

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Miami

Built with a strong, durable 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, Van Valkenburg looked every bit the part of a physical righthander with starter traits. His delivery was compact and repeatable while his arm worked with looseness and whip from a three-quarters release. He occasionally dropped the slot a bit when throwing his slider but maintained a consistent tempo and direction throughout.

Van Valkenburgâ€s fastball sat in the low 90s and reached 94 mph while showing both run and ride that allowed it to miss bats. He commanded the pitch well, especially to his arm side, and collected four whiffs on it in this outing. Over two innings, he punched out four, didnâ€t issue a walk and allowed two hits—one an infield single—without surrendering an earned run.

His primary secondary was an upper-70s slider that flashed above-average potential. The pitch varied in shape, showing tighter, two-plane bite against lefthanded hitters and a sweepier look with more lateral movement to righties. It already profiled as his best swing-and-miss weapon and was responsible for two of his six total whiffs on the day. He also flashed a changeup in warmups but didnâ€t use it in-game.

With physical strength, repeatability and a fastball-slider combination that both played, Van Valkenburg fit the mold of a strike-throwing starter to watch closely this spring.

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Tune into the Arizona Fall League and the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) to watch some of baseball’s brightest young stars. You can see MLB’s top prospects in action, with AFL matchups streaming for free on both MLB.com (here and on the AFL site) and MLB.TV. LIDOM games are included as part of MLB.TV’s Postseason Package, which is available for $29.99.

Surprise @ Mesa, 9:30 p.m. ET
One feel-good story of the Fall League’s first week was Mesa backup Owen Ayers (CHC), who hit .455 during the opening week of play. He boosts a Solar Sox lineup that also features speedster Starlyn Caba (MIA No. 5) against Surprise, a lineup anchored by Blake Mitchell (MLB No. 62/KC No. 2).

Glendale @ Peoria, 4:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Alex Amalfi (TOR) vs. Carson Montgomery (SD)

Salt River @ Scottsdale, 4:30 p.m. ET
It’s a battle of bat-first prospects as Kevin McGonigle (DET No. 1) — the game’s No. 2 overall prospect and the highest-ranked prospect to play in the AFL since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — leads the Scorpions against slugger Charlie Condon (COL No. 2/MLB No. 61) and the Rafters. Starting pitchers Brandon Neely (BOS, Salt River) and Sean Paul Liñan (WSH No. 14) will try to keep the ball from flying between these two lineups.

Mesa @ Surprise, 9:30 p.m. ET
Probables: TBD vs. Daniel Espino (CLE No. 29)

Peoria @ Mesa, 4:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Luis De León (BAL No. 21) vs. TBD

Surprise @ Salt River, 9:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Trenton Denholm (CLE) vs. Jack Mahoney (COL)

Glendale @ Scottsdale, 9:30 p.m ET
The Fall League’s top-ranked lefty — White Sox prospect Hagen Smith (MLB No. 88/CWS No. 5) — takes the hill for Glendale, which has two sidelined Top 100 prospects Josue De Paula (No. 13/LAD No. 1) and Braden Montgomery (No. 35/CWS No. 1) on its roster. Smith faces a Scottsdale team featuring Walker Janek (HOU No. 4) and Seaver King (WSH No. 7), both of whom enjoyed a big opening week at the dish.

Peoria @ Salt River, 4:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Maikel Miralles (SD) vs. David Hagaman (AZ No. 15)

Glendale @ Surprise, 4:30 p.m. ET
Desert Dogs left-hander Chen-Wei Lin (STL No. 16) logged two scoreless innings in his Fall League debut, though he’ll look to tighten up his command while displaying the stuff that allowed him to rack up four strikeouts in his first outing. Surprise counters with Top 100 prospect Blake Mitchell (MLB No. 62/KC No. 2).

Scottsdale @ Mesa, 9:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Anderson Brito (HOU No. 7) vs. TBD

Mesa @ Glendale, 3:30 p.m. ETTBD vs. TBD

Salt River @ Peoria, 6:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Brandon Dufault (LAA) vs. Rhett Lowder (CIN No. 1/MLB No. 80)
Trying to put an injury-plagued 2025 campaign behind him, Lowder will look to build off his strong AFL last week in a rematch with the Rafters. The right-hander threw 21 of his 23 pitches for strikes, struck out two and did not allow a run during two scoreless frames for the Javelinas. Salt River will look for an offensive spark from Charlie Condon (COL No. 2/MLB No. 61).

Surprise @ Scottsdale, 9:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Eiberson Castellano (PHI No. 24) vs. James Hicks (HOU No. 26)

Salt River @ Glendale, 4:30 p.m. ET
Probables: Luis Perales (BOS No. 9) vs. TBD

Mesa @ Peoria, 4:30 p.m. ET
Probables: TBD vs. Ryan Hawks (SEA)

Surprise @ Scottsdale, 8:00 p.m. ET
Probables: Jose Corniell (TEX No. 3) vs. Jake Bennett (WSH No. 10)

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With the Arizona Fall League underway, we’ll be continuing our usual Hot Sheet installments by ranking the hottest prospects in the AFL each week. Contributing this week were BA staffers Josh Norris and Jesús Cano.

Just as with our regular in-season Hot Sheet, our weekly AFL list simply recognizes how the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—itâ€s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.

We host our weekly Hot Sheet Show on YouTube at 3:30 p.m. ET on Mondays. Weâ€ll also be answering prospect questions in our weekly Hot Sheet chat on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. ET.

1. Luis De Leon, LHP, Orioles

• Team: Peoria Javelinas
• Age: 22
• Why Heâ€s Here: 0-0, 2.25, 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop:Through the first few games of the AFL season, De Leon has easily been the circuitâ€s most impressive arm. The tall southpaw dominated in his first outing, using a high-octane arsenal fronted by a heavy, mid-90s sinker and backed by a breaking ball and changeup capable of getting plenty of swings and misses. His seven strikeouts were tied for the most in the league. (JN)

2. Max Anderson, 2B, Tigers

• Team: Scottsdale Scorpions
• Age: 23
• Why Heâ€s Here: .571/.700/1.000 (4-for-7), 3 R, 3 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop:While much of the spotlight in Scottsdale shines on Kevin McGonigle, Anderson should draw plenty of excitement, too. Despite limited action over the week, Anderson delivered an eye-catching performance in just his second game, going 3-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs. His ability to drive the ball with authority and produce runs adds another layer of excitement to an already-talented Scorpions lineup. The 23-year-old slashed .296/.350/.478 with 19 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A this season. (JC)

3. Corey Avant, RHP, Athletics

• Team: Mesa Solar Sox
• Age: 23
• Why Heâ€s Here: 0-0, 3.00, 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop:Avant’s AFL debut served as something of a breakout for the righthander, who punched out seven Salt River hitters over three innings. A ninth-round pick out of Wingate in 2023, he ran his fastball into the upper 90s and got eight whiffs over the course of his outing. Avant’s breaking pitches were especially effective, drawing four misses on 11 swings. (JN)

4. Wuilfredo Antuñez, OF, Guardians

• Team: Surprise Saguaros
• Age: 23
• Why Heâ€s Here: .500/.571/1.500 (3-for-6), 3 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop:Antuñez was a low-dollar signee for Cleveland who broke out in 2022 and has been a steady producer throughout the course of his minor league career. His AFL campaign has gotten off to a scorching start, including long balls for two of his three hits in the seasonâ€s opening week. His second home run left the bat at 103.6 mph, and his single from the same game produced an exit velocity of 107 mph. (JN)

5. Seaver King, 2B, Nationals

• Team: Scottsdale Scorpions
• Age: 22
• Why Heâ€s Here: .385/.467/.692 (5-for-13) 5 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: King put on a show on Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a double and his first home run of the fall. His biggest swing came against Angels righthander Najer Victor, against whom he drove a sinking fastball the other way for a 364-foot laser over the right field wall for a three-run homer that showcased both his power and plate coverage. Itâ€s an encouraging sign for Washingtonâ€s 2024 first-round pick, who started strong in High-A but faced growing pains after a midseason promotion to Double-A, where he slashed just .233/.287/.313. (JC)

6. Juan Flores, C, Angels

• Team: Salt River Rafters
• Age: 19
• Why Heâ€s Here: .333/.400/.889 (3-for-9) 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop:At just 19 years old, Flores is one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League, so extra reps are exactly what he needs at this stage in his development. The power-hitting catcher is coming off an up-and-down season with High-A Tri-City, where he slashed .207/.283/.341 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles and 40 RBIs over 89 games. Known for his aggressive approach at the plate and natural raw power, Flores wasted no time making an impression in his AFL debut, launching a no-doubt, 420-foot home run that served as a reminder of his high offensive ceiling. (JC)

7. David Hagaman, RHP, Diamondbacks

• Team: Salt River Rafters
• Age: 22
• Why Heâ€s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop:Hagaman made his pro debut this season in the Arizona Complex League after completing rehab from Tommy John surgery he had while still an amateur. Quickly, he showed enough stuff to merit inclusion in the deal that brought Merrill Kelly to Texas. Hagaman showed the same swing-and-miss stuff in his first AFL outing this past week, racking up five strikeouts in three shutout innings. (JC)

8. Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox

• Team: Glendale Desert Dogs
• Age: 22
• Why Heâ€s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop:In his first AFL start, Smith showed the same whiff-worthy stuff that made him famous at Arkansas and wooed the White Sox into selecting him in the first round in 2024. He showed both sides of his profile in his first AFL start—scattered strikes but filthiness when everything is in sync. The result was four strikeouts over three shutout frames with three hits and two walks in the middle of it all. (JN)

9. Cutter Coffey, 3B, Blue Jays

• Team: Glendale Desert Dogs
• Age: 21
• Why Heâ€s Here: .462/.500/.538 (6-for-13) 3 R, 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 SO

The Scoop:Coffey made the most of a rain-shortened week, showcasing steady production rather than power. While he didnâ€t have a breakout performance or go deep, Coffey impressed with his consistency at the plate, collecting six hits over the week to highlight his contact skills and disciplined approach. Coffey had a solid 2025, hitting .273/.359/.427 with 11 home runs in 99 games, marking the second time heâ€s played that many games..(JC)

10. Esmerlyn Valdez, OF, Pirates

• Team: Salt River Rafters
• Age: 21
• Why Heâ€s Here: .286/.615/1.143 (2-for-7) 3 R, 0 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBIs, 6 BB, 1 SO

The Scoop:Power. That is what Valdez is known for, and he wasted no time putting it on display in his first two Arizona Fall League games. Making his debut Tuesday, Valdez unloaded on the third pitch he saw—a hanging slider from Blue Jays righthander Alex Amalfi—and crushed it 425 feet to straightaway center. He followed it up with another powerful display against Scottsdale, turning around yet another slider and launching it deep. This time, the ball left his bat at a scorching 114.4 mph and traveled an estimated 414 feet. (JC)

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On October 9, Vancouver Canucks first-round draft pick, Braeden Cootes, made his NHL debut less than half a year after being selected by the team. The 18-year-old carved out a path for himself on Vancouverâ€s roster after a strong showing during training camp and his pre-season games. Which other Canucks prospects could follow Cootes†steps and make their NHL debuts this season?

Tom Willander

Willander is arguably the prospect Canucks fans are most excited to watch this season. The defenceman will be starting the season with the Abbotsford Canucks, as he was one of the final players cut from Vancouverâ€s main roster at the end of the pre-season. With Vancouverâ€s D-core set for the time being, itâ€s unlikely that Willander makes his NHL debut any time within the first few weeks of the season. However, in the event that Vancouver faces injury issues or an early end to their season, Willander would be a favourite to earn his first call-up and play in his first ever NHL game.

Danila Klimovich

Klimovich, a 2021 second-round draft pick, is entering his fifth season in the Canucks organization but has yet to make his NHL debut. A few factors have resulted in the forward not quite making the cut, such as injury-riddled seasons and struggles with consistency. To his credit, Klimovich has been able to round things out a little more in the past season or so, though the goal-scorer still has a little more work to do. It will probably take quite a bit for the forward to make his NHL debut this season, but a hypothetical early end to the Canucks†season could help that.

Vilmer Alriksson

One of the most intriguing names in the Canucks organization is Alriksson, who is known for his skills as a hulking forward who can effectively move the puck. 2025–26 is his first pro season, as he previously spent two years in the OHL. Whether he can make the push for an NHL debut will depend on how his game transitions to AHL play, though based on his performance during the prospects showcase, fans have lots to look forward to from him.

Chase Stillman

The key piece that came back to Vancouver in the ArtÅ«rs Å ilovs trade back in July, Stillman is preparing to start his third professional season in the AHL. As a 22-year-old, the forward has yet to make his NHL debut, but is looking to change that this season. Heâ€ll be a prime candidate to fill in as a depth bottom-six forward if injuries chip away at the Canucks†forward core.

Make sure you bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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