Prep Baseball Report

Rising Stars Spring Games: Standouts


PBR Florida
PBR Florida Staff

The Rising Stars Spring Games took place Saturday, April 23rd at Lake Bonny Park in Lakeland, FL. The event featured players from the 2026-2028 classes participating in a pro-style workout followed by multiple games in front of the PBR Florida Scouting Staff.

To view all the stats from the event, check out our Stats Story. Today we will go over the standouts from the event. A lot of young talent was on display, but a few players stood out amongst the group. Take a look.

Standouts

Matt Altman RHP / 3B / Undecided, FL / 2026

Stocky frame at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds with some present strength. Hands are quick and loose at the plate showing pull side power potential. Altman showed upside on the mound. Topped 78 with the fastball but has more in the tank. Showed advanced feel for a changeup that he threw for strikes and got swings and misses with. 

 

Aiden Arnett SS / OF / Stoughton, WI / 2026

5-foot-11, 170 lbs. A physical frame on the ‘26 up to 88 mph from OF. At the plate, balanced lower half allowing to be on time and on the barrel with consistent rhythm producing an easy stroke with juice at 95 mph exit velocity. Arnett showed power to all fields with HR’s to both gaps during batting practice. Arnett is a high follow. 

 

Lucas Cannady 3B / RHP / Lincoln, FL / 2026

Athletic player with physicality already showing. One of the biggest standouts all around showing an above average arm up to 88 from the outfield. In the infield, works under control with soft hands and a quick arm. Offensively, there is a lot to like. Pull side power potential as he launched two doubles off the fence during gameplay. Physicality plays in the box and he has the ability to drive the ball with intent. Up to 82 mph on the mound as well. 

 

Tyler Ellis LHP / 1B / Camden County, GA / 2026

5-foot-10, 170 lbs. Ellis had a very impressive showing this past weekend. During defensive drills, Ellis flashed the arm strength with 89 mph throws from first base and let it loose in the outfield at 90 mph to home plate. The strength carried during batting practice, hitting a handful of baseballs out pullside at 90 mph exit velocity. In game the two way showed quick work of the hands staying on plane with an elevated fastball, smacking a hard line drive to RF for an extra base hit. Very high follow in ‘26 Class.

 

Brady Harris OF / SS / Bartram Trail, FL / 2026

6-foot-1, 155 lbs. Lean frame with long limbs projects well for Harris. Showed a natural feel for the game, athletic actions all around, 84 mph across the diamond. At the plate, hands stay quiet working directly to the baseball with a heavy barrel through the zone that stays level with an athletic finish and did some damage offensively to both gaps. All around hitter and high follow.

 

Brayden Harris RHP / OF / Trinity Christian Academy, FL / 2026

Another big time name in the ‘26 class is Brayden Harris who is 6-foot-1, 175 lbs and committed to Florida State University. Earlier in the week Harris was up to 91 mph with his Fastball. During the event Harris had a quick outing, Fastball got up to 88 mph paired with a big breaking Curveball at 2888 rpm spin rate via Trackman.  During batting practice, Harris works level to the baseball creating some leverage attacking the pull side keeping hands inside.

 

Eric Knowles RHP / OF / Jesuit, FL / 2026

Tall, lanky frame showing above average arm strength throughout the day. Up to 80 mph from the outfield as well as on the mound. Struggled with some command on the mound but showed upside as a pitcher. Knew how to attack hitters and get outs.

 

Brody Kraft OF / LHP / Undecided, FL / 2026

Kraft showed a loose athletic arm from the left side all day. Started the day up to 80 mph from the OF and finished up to 77 mph on the mound. Stayed timed up during bp using the whole field with a loose, level swing.

 

Cannon Murtagh OF / SS / Jesuit, FL / 2026

Athletic player for Hit Factory with some physicality already showing in his frame. Aggressive at the plate with ability to let his hands work to the ball. Above average bat speed with a gap to gap approach. Above average actions all around in the field with an above average arm up to 85 mph from the OF.

 

Aiden Nguyen LHP / OF / Wesley Chapel, FL / 2026

Nguyen impressed with easy athletic actions from the left side. The arm worked loose and showed upside on the mound at 72 mph. Consistently on barrel during bp and showed a pull-side gap approach.

 

Bryce Niebrugge RHP / OF / Lyman, FL / 2026

Tall athletic frame. Impressed on the mound with the fastball up to 79 mph. Mature actions on the mound with a loose arm. Not much effort with much more to come as he gets stronger. Struck out 5 in 2 innings of work.

 

Tanner Owens RHP / SS / Pace , FL / 2026

Owens impressed athletically throughout the event. Moved well during the defensive workout. Showed a compact, level swing throughout bp and in the game. Really impressed on the mound where he ran his fastball up to 82 mph.

 

Jaden Pena RHP / SS / Undecided, FL / 2028

Pena, only a 6th grader, showed maturity and impressed on a field full of older players. Showed advanced actions defensively with a quick glove and easy lateral movements. Worked the middle of the field in bp. Strength will come as he matures and continues to grow but the present tools are promising.

 

Christopher Reali 3B / RHP / Fleming Island, FL / 2026

Reali showed overall solid actions throughout the event. Athletic frame at 6-foot, 170. 85 from the outfield, 84 from the infield. Arm strength plays on the mound as well up to 81 mph. Offensively, has a gap to gap approach with some ability to lift on contact.

 

Brian Schultz LHP / OF / Jesuit , FL / 2026

Long lean frame. Showed a level swing from the left side with some pop off the bat and ability to create leverage. Present bat speed with gap to gap power potential. Showed upside on the mound up to 73 mph from the left side.

 

Christian Serralles SS / 2B / Tampa Catholic, FL / 2026

Long high waisted frame. Looks the part of a true shortstop. Moves well with advanced hands and a quick arm. Offensively, worked middle/pull-side with quick hands and a loose, line drive swing.

 

Jose Taveras C / 3B / Lake Minneola, FL / 2026

Strong bodied catcher. Had one of the best pop times of the event at 2.20. Showed flexibility behind the plate and ability to block well. Hands are loose at the plate with an uphill swing path. Showed power potential that will continue to develop as he matures.

 

Ethan Wheeler RHP / 2B / Trinity Christian Academy , FL / 2026

A big name in the ‘26 class is Ethan Wheeler who is already 6-foot-4, 175 lbs and committed to the University of Florida. Two-way right now but the long and lean frame projects well on the mound. Arm action is clean and showed some late ride through the zone on his Fastball in the game at 2400 spin rate paired with an above average Slider up to 2832 spin rate. Wheeler showed his feel and maturity for the game in the defensive portion of the event from the outfield with a clean arm action up to 88 mph. At the plate created some leverage with bat speed at 94 mph exit velocity.

 

Jacob Wolf SS / 2B / TBD, FL / 2026

Wolf impressed on both sides of the ball. Defensively works under control with soft hands. Offensively is short to the ball with present bat speed. Worked the whole field with some juice off the bat. 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
PBR/B3 Better Analytics Combine FL 05/21 Bolles School
Summer Kickoff - USF FL 05/26 USF Baseball Stadium
Summer Kickoff - UCF FL 05/27 John Euliano Park at UCF
2022 Sunshine State Classic (Invite Only) FL 06/01 Ed Smith Stadium
Team Florida ID Games - FIU FL 06/14 FIU Baseball Stadium
FL Unsigned Senior Games FL 06/28 John Euliano Park at UCF
Team Florida ID Games - UCF FL 07/03 John Euliano Park at UCF
Team Florida ID Games - Northwest Florida FL 07/06 Northwest Florida State College
Team Florida ID Games - Jacksonville FL 07/12 John Sessions Stadium at Jacksonville U
PBR Junior Future Games NATIONAL 07/26 LakePoint