SS Jacob Kendall (Bartram Trail HS, FL) could very well be the top player in the country before this class graduates, and he checks in at No. 5 overall. There’s an ease in which the game comes to him, and the natural lift his left-handed stroke effortlessly produces, should only help provide even bigger advancements in the coming years.

Kendall, a Florida recruit, was nothing short of extraordinary at the NPI, and went 6-for-11 on the week with five extra base hits including two home runs. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound wiry-athletic shortstop is hardly a finished product, still exhibiting plenty of physical maturation to come, but leaves no doubt as to his status as one of the top players in the 2025 class. Though the frame is not yet imposing, Kendall’s bat most definitely is, and he already showcases an innate ability to slow the game down in the box, and lay a heavy barrel with most swings. There is quickness to the hands with a relaxed rhythm to the load, and he creates quickness in a short window, remaining well-connected throughout the pursuit while getting quality rotational acceleration. Seeming to elevate his play in big spots, Kendall took some of the best at-bats of any player at the event, working deep into counts while still getting off swings with controlled aggression and covering the plate with ease. There is already an easy ability to lift the ball from the left side, and the present power that he displayed was nothing short of eye-opening given the fact that the frame is still clearly developing. At a tournament that featured the top position players in each class, it was impossible to leave Lakepoint without knowing who Kendall was.

Kendall caught our attention during the showcase workout where he hammered balls in the gap consistently from the left side. During games, Kendall had 4 hits and played very well defensively. He showed versatility playing second, short, and third base.