The IHSAA spring season is now in full swing, with most teams around the state having double-digit games under their belt. Read along to find notes on prospects that stood out to our staff during our Week #4 coverage of Indiana High School Baseball.

Find all Scout Blog content from the 2024 season, here. 

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By : Cooper Trinkle

Dylan Bowen, SS, 2026, Hanover Central

Bowen turned in a productive day in my look, catching two barrels along with walking twice. The highly-touted uncommitted shortstop showed off athletic actions in pre-game I/O with standout body control. At the dish, the 5-foot-11, 185 pounder starts in an open, athletic stance and uses a hover-type stride as his hands load up. The path works short and direct, and his hand speed is at the top of the class. Bowen added lean muscle to his frame over the offseason and he is showing more impact in his sophomore season. Bowen saw a ton of spin in my look, getting pitched around in 2 of his first 3 at-bats, before lining a 2-strike breaking ball into RF in his fourth trip and turning around a fastball for a firm liner in his final trip. The natural athleticism that Bowen possesses makes him one of the top uncommitted shortstops in the country for the 2026 class.

Josh Flores, RHP, 2025, Lake Central

My second look at Flores during the 2024 spring was even better than the first, and the Cincinnati recruit has gained traction as a potential prep-draft prospect for 2025. Built with lean strength in an athletic, 6-foot, 195 pound frame - Flores sat 92-93 mph on his fastball early, settling at 89-92 for his six innings of work. The fastball jumps out of the hand and flashes arm-side life, while the true separator for Flores is his ability to spin. He shows two distinct shapes on the breaking ball - a tightly-spun, late-breaking slider that he generates chase with in the mid-80s, along with a hammer curveball that works with sharp depth in the low-80s. Both are plus pitches and tunnel well with the fastball. He showed a change in the mid-80s as a usable fourth pitch, but it is behind the other three at this time. Flores is an athletic mover that uses his frontside as a lever to create electric arm-speed, and he pitches with a competitive moxie. His overall feel for command is average to slightly above, and he continues to make positive improvements in that department. 

Parker Robinson, SS/3B, 2027, Lake Central

I was able to lock-in on the state's top-ranked freshman prospect this weekend. An upside athlete that holds a projectable, 6-foot-3, 185 pound frame, Robinson batted in the Lake Central 3-hole in this look and played both SS and 3B between the two games. The projectable freshman infielder shows smooth actions in the infield, playing to his right with a confident back hand, and he fires the ball across with present above-average arm strength. Offensively, Robinson holds future-power potential in his right-handed stroke. He gets the front-foot down early before a slight reload, and he is able to generate very solid bat speed for the age within a tight window. Robinson had two firm singles in my look against upperclass arms that are college recruits. He shows a patient approach and is willing to work deep in-counts. Robinson showed his age by passing on some hitable fastballs and chasing breaking balls late in-counts, however there is high-level, raw talent in the operation with present tools and athleticism.  

Dawson French, RHP, 2025, Penn

French got the ball for Penn in game 1 versus Lake Central and turned in a quality start. A lean, projectable, 6-foot-3, 180 pound right-hander, French attacked hitters from a high, over-the-top slot with a low-effort delivery. He shows strong feel for command and worked his fastball, with some carry, at 82-86 mph. The fastball was located to all quadrants of the zone, and he mixed with feel for a sinking, mid-70s changeup and a big, 69-73 mph breaking ball that he was able to land. We have seen French up to 88 mph, and there is ample room for him to add strength & mass to his projectable, athletic frame. 

Matthew Cook, RHP, 2026, Hanover Central

Cook got the start for Hanover Central in their win over 2A #1 Illiana Christian and exited in the fourth with a 6-2 lead. Cook is an interesting uncommitted sophomore with some things to like. He owns a projectable, 6-foot-3, 190 pound frame an pitches from a unique slot (3'9" release height). His fastball touched 85 mph, sitting at 82-84 mph, and he is able to create tons of run to his arm-side. Cook mixed with a softer sweeper that worked at 72-75 mph, and flashed an upper-70s change. Cook didn't have his best stuff in this look, but he competed to give his team a chance. He moves down the mound with a slow, controlled move, and his arm works with a loose whip to a low 3/4 release point. 

Caiden Verrett, C, 2025, Hanover Central

Verrett is an intriguing prospect that our staff has known about for the past couple of seasons. The 6-foot, 210 pound backstop has received college football interest as a runningback, but holds upside on the baseball diamond, as well. Verrett owns an interesting profile as a left-handed hitting catcher with arm strength and a plus run tool. I had Verrett at a 4.3 on the turn on a double to LCF, and he also turned into multiple sub-2.0 pops between innings. At the plate, the physical left-handed hitter has a simple approach, a short, handsy swing with strength, and he showed the ability to work deep into counts during this look. Verrett is arguably the most athletic uncommitted junior catcher in the state.

By : Conner Madding

Jake Winger, 3B, 2026, McCutcheon

I got my second look at Winger this spring vs Harrison - he had a pull-side single in this look. The uncommitted corner-infielder played first-base in this game, he played third-base in a previous look - showing fundamental actions and carrying the ball across the diamond. A projectable, 6-foot-3, 210 pounder with loads of power potential at the dish, Winger starts in a taller, open stance before a controlled toe-tap stride. The barrel turns tight behind the back shoulder and works uphill through the hitting zone. The McCutcheon product shows easy bat speed to go along with improving barrel control as the sophomore has only one strikeout in ten games so far this spring. Winger is beginning to impact the baseball on a consistent basis this spring as offseason strength gains and mechanical tweaks are paying real dividends. 

Will Coleman, LHP, 2025, Castle

Coleman got the start for Castle in a conference game and I was able to get my first look at the Missouri recruit in a game setting. A lanky, 6-foot-1, 175 pounder, Coleman ticked up in velocity in this look - touching 89 mph once in the first inning as he reached back for more with two strikes. The strike-throwing southpaw settled in at 85-88 mph on his fastball throughout the rest of the outing. The junior induced numerous whiffs to both right-handed and left-handed hitters on a 74-75 mph changeup - a plus pitch that falls off the table with late fade. Coleman also featured two distinct breaking balls to round out his four pitch mix, a bigger, get-me-over curveball at 70-72 mph and a 76-79 mph slider. The lefty showed real feel for four as he fanned nine batters in six innings pitched. 

Jace Watson, C/OF, 2026, Castle

I was able to see Watson twice this past week and he collected a couple firm barrels in both games - singling through the middle of the field in game one and a doubling off the right center field fence in game two. Watson has a strong frame, standing at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. At the dish, Watson starts in a wide, balanced stance and he uses a simple, toe-tap stride. The swing works level through the zone with big strength in the barrel. The uncommitted sophomore played left-field in both games, showing some athleticism and arm strength. The physicality of Watson and the ability to impact the baseball from the left-side stood out throughout the two looks.

Logan Drake, INF, 2027, Castle

Drake offered a very intriguing look, hitting in the middle of the Castle lineup in both games as a freshman. A lanky, athletic, 5-foot-11, 165 pounder, Drake was not overmatched versus older competition as he went 2-for-3 with a pull-side home run, sac fly to the warning track, and a backside double in game two. The freshman showed advanced hand speed in a left-handed swing that works level through the hitting zone. Drake starts in a wider, balanced stance and he utilizes a controlled stride with a small load of the hands. The freshman infielder shows above average barrel control in a swing that still can be refined mechanically as he continues to develop. Drake played second base in both games, showing fundamental actions throughout. 

MJ Gaines, OF, 2025, Park Tudor

Gaines hit out of the Park Tudor leadoff spot and he went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in in this look. An athletic, 6-foot-0, 185 pound left-handed hitter, he sets up in a tall, athletic stance and turns the barrel on a slightly uphill plane. A solid runner (4.3 on an E6), Gaines showed above average foot-speed on the base paths and in CF. The uncommitted junior also showed off an above average arm in pre-game IO, the arm works long and uninterrupted. Gaines has added strength to his athletic frame and that should allow for more continued bat strength at the dish. The athleticism and frame stood out for me in this look. 

Desmond Francis, SS/CF, 2026, Park Tudor

Francis had a big day at the dish in my look, collecting three hits including an RBI double while walking once. The uncommitted sophomore showed off real foot-speed (6.40 60) throughout the day, effortlessly gliding around the diamond. At the dish, the 5-foot-9, 160 pounder starts in a taller, relaxed setup and uses a hover type stride as he makes a smaller load of the hands. The path works short to contact, with plenty of twitch throughout. Francis had a firm barrel to right center field, a barrel to the pull-side, and an infield hit to the shortstop in this look. The Park Tudor product played shortstop in this look, showing off quick feet and an above average arm across. Francis strength gains this offseason, which has allowed for more impact in the right-handed batter's box. The middle of the diamond defender is one of the top athletes in the class and will be a must know name heading into the summer. 

Cal Schembra, 1B/OF, 2025, Center Grove

Schembra took some of my favorite swings of the week, standing at an athletic, 6-foot-0, 185 pounds with some strength. The left-handed hitter starts in a taller, slightly open stance and he uses leg kick stride. Schembra turns the barrel on a slightly uphill path with bat speed - the swing works on-plane deep in the zone. Schembra went 2-for-3 with a double down the RF line and a double to deep CF.  The uncommitted junior played first-base in this look, he has shown the ability to play the corner outfield as well. The hit-tool really stood out for me in this look. Schembra is a junior follow for colleges in need of a left-handed hitter with some defensive flexibility. 

Gannon Grant, SS/RHP, 2026, Center Grove

Grant was outstanding on both sides of the ball in a look this past week. A two-way standing at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Grant went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three runs batted in at the dish. The swing works uphill with some improving gap-to-gap power as he has added strength to his athletic frame. Grant got the start at 2B in this look, showing fluid actions with advanced body control. The athletic right-hander hopped on the bump for Center Grove and picked up the win, throwing two scoreless frames. An above-average strike-thrower - Gannon worked the fastball at 86-89 mph with some arm-side run. He also featured two above-average secondary offerings - a fading 74-77 mph changeup to left-handed hitters and a 74-75 mph breaking ball that flashed sharp movement. Grant fanned three batters in two clean innings of work. Athleticism stands out in all in facets, the sophomore shows real two-way upside.