By Phil Wade
Director, PBR Indiana

Team Indiana has shown high level talent in the first two years of the invitation only Midwest Future Games Powered by Under Armour event.  Three players off of the 2011 squad were drafted in last June’s MLB draft; Danny Ayers (LHP, Columbus North HS), Zack Brown (RHP, Seymour HS), and Alex Krupa (OF, Greenwood HS). 

Last year’s team featured RHP Jonah Patten from Norwell HS, committed to Arkansas, who set the record for the event’s high recorded velocity by touching 92 mph on the radar gun (the record is shared with Illinois’ Jake Latz).

The 2013 roster, like the past two years, has high end talent, but this is by far the most talented squad Indiana has entered into the Midwest Future Games.

This year’s roster will feature 18 players currently ranked in the Top 25 in the 2015 class, with six of those players ranked in the Top 10.  The roster also features the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked prospects in the 2016 class.

A quick look at Team Indiana’s roster:

Pitchers

The pitching staff is loaded with high end arms.  Six have been as high as 89 mph, with three hitting 90 mph.  2015’s No. 3 Noah Burkholder, No. 4 Nolan Watson, No. 6 Brady Cherry, No. 7 Grant Sloan, and No. 10 Grant Inman are all 6-foot-1 or taller RHP’s that should be some of the most coveted arms at the event, while the No. 2 prospect in the 2016 class, Reid Schaller, will open the eyes of scouts standing at 6-foot-2 with a high 80’s arm that can get up to the low 90’s.

Other right-handers include; No. 13 Chris Ayers, and No. 14 Tyler Ward, No. 16 Evan Giles and No. 22 Matt Kent (6-foot-5).

From the left-side, Indiana features No. 11 Jordan Poore and No. 15 Zach Spears.

Infielders

No. 9 ranked prospect Devin Mann will lead the way at up the middle at shortstop. Nick Podkul, ranked No. 13, Grant Inman and Tyler Ward will also contribute up the middle for Team Indiana.

Third base will feature Brady Cherry, Nolan Watson, and Evan Giles when they’re not on the mound.

At first base No. 8 ranked Dillin Diehm will lead the way.  Diehm has one of the best left-handed swings in the state of any class.  No. 22 ranked Owen Young will also see time at first base.  The 6-foot-3 inch prospect is the son of former Major Leaguer Dimitri Young, and possesses a projectable bat from the right side.

Outfielders

The outfield will be led by Jordan Poore, No. 12 Luke Miller, Chris Ayers and No. 20 Braden Giroux. Poore, Ayers and Giroux all possess solid bats from the left side of the plate, while Miller has one of the better swings in the state from the right side.  Team Indiana’s outfield possesses tons of athleticism, arm strength, and projectable bats from both sides of the plate.

Catchers

Leading the way behind the plate is the No. 1 prospect in the 2016 class, T. J. Collett.  Collett is an absolute force from the left side of the plate with projectable power and arguably owns the most projectable swing of any player in the 2016 class throughout the Midwest.  

No. 25 Jesse Wilkening out of Hanover Central will also be a key contributor behind the plate.  

Roster:

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Chris Ayers	IN	Westfield	2015	OF
Noah Burkholder	IN	Crown Point	2015	RHP
Brady Cherry	IN	Lapel	2015	RHP
T.J. Collett	IN	Terre Haute North Vigo	2016	C
Dillin Diehm	IN	Garrett	2015	1B
Evan Giles	IN	Franklin	2015	RHP
Braden Giroux	IN	McCutcheon	2015	OF
Grant Inman	IN	FW Carroll	2015	RHP
Matt Kent	IN	FW Canterbury	2015	RHP
Devin Mann	IN	Columbus North	2015	SS
Luke Miller	IN	Cowan	2015	OF
Nick Podkul	IN	Andrean	2015	SS
Jordan Poore	IN	Muncie Central	2015	LHP
Reid Schaller	IN	Lebanon	2016	RHP
Grant Sloan	IN	Zionsville	2015	3B
Zach Spears	IN	Mt. Vernon	2015	LHP
Tyler Ward	IN	Hertiage Hills	2015	RHP
Nolan Watson	IN	Lawrence North	2015	RHP
Jesse Wilkening	IN	Hanover Central	2015	C
Owen Young	IN	Alexandria-Monroe	2015	1B