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Team Indiana : 16u Recap - Winners & Revelations

August 1, 2023
Cooper Trinkle
Lead Scout

The PBR Futures Games wrapped up this weekend and we saw plenty of players from Team Indiana showcase their skills and impressed the 375 college coaches that were in attendance. It will be interesting to see the attention that the 2025s from this group receive on August 1st, when coaches can officially contact 2025 grads. Today - I am highlighting the biggest winners and performers from Team Indiana. 

Athleticism Wins

Despite being a part of a select group of 2026 graduates at the Futures Games, SS Dylan Bowen (Hanover Central HS) was one of the top overall prospects at LakePoint, regardless of state, and in my opinion was the best player on the field during a talent-filled matchup between Indiana & Texas. The 5-foot-11, 180 pound athlete performed well in the showcase portion of the event, running a 6.73 60 yard dash, taking the most professional round of batting practice of any Indiana prospect, and overall showing a very well-rounded toolset. His mature approach in the box translated to gameplay - where he went 3 for 3 against Texas with two firm singles through the middle of the diamond & a triple down the RF line. Bowen hits with an anchored back leg that allows for a controlled forward move and his ultra-quick hands help him create more power than you would expect from the to-be-sophomore. Bowen established himself this week as a slam-dunk, national-level prospect and his off-the-charts athleticism will undoubtedly garner interest from college coaches across the country next August. 

‘25 CF Maalik Perkins (Whiteland HS) was a consensus favorite amongst the Indiana staff as we walked away from the event. The undersized CF is as dynamic of an athlete as it gets - a 6.33 runner that can legitimately change the game in CF. Perkins tracked balls in the gap with ease and ran underneath a couple different balls that appeared to be surefire extra-base hits off the bat. Perkins used his speed on the basepaths by stealing multiple bases and he undoubtedly could be a base stealing threat at the division one level right now. At the plate, Perkins showed off a short, level swing and found a couple barrels against big-time arms. The quick-twitch Maalik possesses is special and it allows for him to catch up with premier velocity despite his undersized frame. Perkins is a dynamic player that will surely have a busy August 1st.

Carrera x 2

‘25 RHP Xavier Carrera (Boone Grove HS) walked away as the biggest winner on the team as far as 2025 arms are concerned. The 6-foot-3, 190 pound right-hander tossed two electric frames against Team Texas with a fastball at 88-91 mph with ASR and a 77-80 mph slider that spins at 2400 and has continuously improved since we saw him at the Preseason All-State in March. A converted shortstop with outstanding natural athleticism - Xavier attacks hitters with a quick arm from a ¾ slot and still has loads of untapped potential as a pitcher. 

‘25 1B/OF Davian Carrera (Boone Grove HS) also impressed for Team Indiana. The physical left-handed hitter showed some opposite field power in the workout portion, along with arm strength (88 from the OF) and good athleticism for a 6-foot-3, 195 pounder (7.04 60). Carrera hits from a lower handset that creates an uphill swing plane with above-average bat-speed. Davian picked up multiple RBIs in the middle of the Team Indiana lineup and was one of the top overall hitters amongst the position player group. 

Loaded 2026 Class

Team Indiana featured six players from the 2026 class and if the performances of those six are telling - Indiana will be a must-see team at the Futures Games in 2024. ‘26 RHP/SS Gannon Grant & ‘26 RHP Jaxon Lueken both flashed major potential and will surely garner power five attention at this event next year. 

I loved the ‘26 arms on this roster, but ‘26 RHP Aiden Smith (Shelbyville HS) was my favorite amongst the loaded group. The athletic, 6-foot-3, 160 pounder shutout Team Texas for two innings of work, landing a three-pitch mix virtually at will. Smith worked his running fastball up to 87 mph and spun a quality, two-plane slider at 74-77 mph that spun at rates upwards of 2500. Along with an advanced slider, Smith flashed a future-plus changeup at 77-78 mph. An elite mover that moves down the slope in a drop-and-drive fashion, expect this ‘26 arm to stay near the top of Indiana’s 2026 class for years to come.

‘26 Southpaw Beckett Doane (Noblesville HS) teased coaches with a premier frame to dream on. The 6-foot-5, 175 pounder also worked two scoreless innings against Texas, filling the zone with four pitches. The projectable left-hander is a no-doubt “pick-to-click” arm considering the frame, his clean and uninterrupted arm action, and his deceptive low ¾ slot. Doane ran his fastball up to 85 mph and showed feel for both a sweeping, mid-70s slider and future S/M splitter at 73-75 mph. 

‘26 RHP Kobe Cherry (Center Grove HS) got the start against New Jersey in Game 3 and posted two scoreless innings of work. A standout on the gridiron - Cherry has a calm, collected presence on the mound and intimidates hitters with his 6-foot-4, 230 pound frame. Cherry showcased a powerful fastball, up to 89 mph, and an 11/5 shaped curveball that spun at 2500+ at 72-73 mph. The curveball has future-plus potential and Kobe also flashed an above-average changeup. With starter upside - expect Cherry to be one of the most sought after arms in the '26 class moving forward.

Revelations

‘25 SS Joe Washburn (South Bend Saint Joseph HS) had a solid week on the offensive side of the ball and profiles as a speedy top-of-the-order type hitter. The undersized MIF was on-base & on the barrel often due to a short, quick left-handed swing. A high-contact type with bat-to-ball skills, Washburn ran a 6.75 60.

‘25 1B/OF/LHP Jaxon Sparks (Fort Wayne Carroll HS) had one of the better weeks of any player on the Team Indiana roster. There is a lot to like within Sparks’ game - a physical left-handed hitter with power that can play multiple positions with impressive foot-speed 6.75. Sparks had an impressive round of batting practice, hitting a couple towering pull-side homeruns with his level swing and continued to impress during gameplay with 3 hits, including a triple. The 6-foot-1, 200 pounder creates bat-speed due to an intriguing mix of strength & athleticism. Sparks also tossed two innings on the mound and showed the ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes with a fastball up to 86 mph. 

‘25 OF Andrew Krupa (Center Grove HS) showcased a profile that will make him a must-follow prospect in the 2025 class. A 6-foot-4, 180 pound left-handed hitter that runs a 6.77 - Krupa has the potential to blossom into a major prospect. There is some rawness to his overall game, however the swing works uphill and when that is combined with his levers and athleticism, it is likely that Krupa will hit for power as he continues to add strength. 

'25 RHP Kellen English (Evansville North HS) provided an upside look as he continues to show incredible growth each time we see him. The 6-foot-9, 205 pound right-hander worked 83-86 mph on his fastball with little-to-no perceived effort. English flashed a low-to-mid sliders with bite, a drastically improved pitch compared to just 6-8 months ago. It is clear that English is beginning to learn how to control his incredibly long-levered frame and the sky's the limit for this projectable right-hander out of Evansville.