Prep Baseball Report

Indiana Recruiting Notebook





By Phil Wade

Director, PBR Indiana

Over the past month we've seen many players choose their schools.  Below we recap who is going where.

Class of 2015

Nolan Watson, RHP/3B, Lawrence North HS, 2015
: The 2013 Midwest Future Games MVP has committed to Vanderbilt.  Watson is ranked No. 4 in Indiana’s 2015 class and 14th overall in the PBR rankings.  The 6-foot-2 RHP sits upper 80’s and has been up to 90 mph with the fastball.  Click here to read more about Watson’s commitment to Vandy.

Evan Giles, RHP/3B, Franklin Community HS, 2015: Giles recently committed to Indiana State.  The No. 12 ranked prospect in Indiana’s 2015 class was a member of Team Indiana at this year’s Midwest Future Games where he was up to 88 mph with his fastball.  Read more about Giles commitment here

Class of 2014

Kevin Hammond, RHP, Franklin Central HS, 2014: The 6-foot-3 RHP from Franklin Central recently committed to Marian University in Indianapolis.  Hammond was a Top Prospect Games participant where he was up to 82 mph.  He helped lead Franklin Central to a Marion County title last spring. He’s currently ranked No. 96 in Indiana. 

Zack Whitehead, LHP, Franklin Central HS, 2014:  The No. 59 ranked player in the 2014 class has signed with Kentucky Wesleyan.  Whitehead was a participant in this year’s Top Prospect Games.  This past spring we saw him up to 85 mph from the left side. 

Ben Sprinkle, RHP, Franklin Central HS, 2014:  The 6-foot-1 senior RHP recently attended the Unsigned Senior Showcase in Indy. He recently signed with Kentucky Wesleyan.   We’ve seen him up to 82 mph with the fastball.  Read about Sprinkle’s commitment here.

Jake Sprinkle, RHP, Franklin Central HS, 2014:  Ranked No. 42 in Indiana, Sprinkle signed with the University of Indianapolis. Sprinkle was a participant at the Top Prospect Games this past summer where he was up to 88 with his fastball. Read more about Sprinkle’s commitment to UINDY here

Jimmy Yates, RHP, Franklin Central HS, 2014: The 6-foot-2 senior is ranked No. 75 in Indiana and signed to play at Kentucky Wesleyan. Yates attended last month’s Unsigned Senior Showcase in Indy.  Click here to read more about Yates’ commitment. 

Cody Turpen, OF, Ben Davis HS, 2014: The senior OF showcased well at a PBR Indiana event this past summer where he ran a 6.9 60 and displayed some projectable power at the plate.  He recently gave his commitment to Marian University.  Click here to read more about Turpen’s commitment. 

Gabe Burkhardt, 1B/RHP, Plainfield HS, 2014: Burkhardt is a big, physical athlete with projectable power at the plate.  The No. 81 ranked Burkhardt has committed to Western Illinois.

Nathaniel Rhodes, RHP, Fishers HS, 2014: The 6-foot-1 RHP from Fishers HS committed to Marshall. At the Top Prospect Games, the No. 38 ranked Rhodes was up to 87 mph with his fastball. 

Elijah Weartz, RHP/OF, Center Grove HS, 2014:  The 6-foot-3 Weartz committed to Lincoln Trail.  Weartz is ranked No. 85 in Indiana.  He attended the Preseason All State Showcase last winter where he showcased well on the mound with an 85 mph fastball. Click here to read more about Weartz’s commitment.

Caleb Milner, SS/3B, Martinsville HS, 2014:  Milner is ranked No. 118 in Indiana and has picked Olney Central.  Milner attended last year’s Preseason All State Showcase. Read more about Milner’s commitment here.

Connor Kuiper, OF, Penn HS, 2014:  Kuiper is ranked No. 67 in Indiana’s 2014 class and recently committed to Parkland.  Kuiper has attended multiple PBR events throughout his HS career, including last month’s Unsigned Senior showcase.  Kuiper possesses high level bat speed with some projectable power.

Nick Chambers, MIF, Brebeuf HS, 2014:  The 5-foot-10 MIF recently committed to Emory. 

Larry Crisler, OF, Bishop Noll HS, 2014: The No. 18 ranked player in Indiana, Crisler committed to Indiana University.  He is a raw right handed hitter that runs a 6.6 60 and is a big time athlete.

Tyler Zimske, C/OF, Homestead HS, 2014:  The multi-positional Zimske is headed Parkland.  He’s an athletic C/OF that runs well with good arm strength. The No. 86 ranked player in Indiana has attended multiple PBR events throughout his career

Jake Fleming, MIF, Evansville Mater Dei HS, 2014The senior MIF recently committed to the University of Southern Indiana.

Ryan Gulledge, RHP/OF, Evansville North HS, 2014: The 2012 Preseason All State participant has committed to the University of Southern Indiana.

Rhett Baumeister, RHP, Tell City Junior-Senior HS, 2014: Baumeister recently committed to Vincennes University and Head Coach Chris Barney.

Alec Caprarella, SS, Plainfield HS, 2014:  The senior SS recently signed with the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.