Prep Baseball KC Labor Day Classic Primer

September 3, 2026
Jimmy Fackelman
Tournaments Scouting Director of Kansas City

This is the week of the Prep Baseball KC Labor Day Classic, taking place 9/4 to 9/6 in Kansas City, featuring players from the grad classes of 2031 through 2027. Over 250 players are headed to Kansas City this weekend, with more than 30 currently ranked in their home state's Prep Baseball rankings.

Inside this article, we're previewing the talent making its way to Kansas City by analyzing Prep Baseball showcase data since the start of 2025 to find the most impressive statistical outliers and under-the-radar athletes on this weekend's rosters.

Find more information by visiting tournaments.prepbaseballreport.com or from the pages linked below:

Top Position Players to Watch

These players stood out across multiple measurables at Prep Baseball showcases and are among the most intriguing athletes in the field this weekend.

Teddy Lubin

C/OF • Class of 2029 • #264 National • #2 KS

5-10/189.2 • Right/Right • PRAIRIE VILLAGE PROSPECTS • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
96.7	89.2	71.9	7.23

No. 3-ranked avg. bat speed among all players this weekend; No. 2 max EV among catchers (18 total).

Blake Bartlett

C/RHP • Class of 2029 • #6 IA

6-1/200 • Right/Right • Iowa Sticks Red • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
100.2	88.8	70.7	7.26

Top-5 max EV among 85 hitters this weekend; Top-5 avg. bat speed in the field.

Bo Rypma

OF/LHP • Class of 2029 • #12 IA

5-8/155 • Left/Left • Iowa Sticks Red • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
99.4	91.7	69.8	6.65

Top-5 max EV among 85 hitters this weekend; 3rd-fastest 60-yd. dash this weekend.

Tripp Rypma

SS/2B • Class of 2029 • #13 IA

5-8/155 • Right/Right • Iowa Sticks Red • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
101.6	93.5	69.5	6.40

The only player with a sub-6.80 sixty and a max EV of 100+ mph; No. 3 avg. EV among all players in the field.

Dominic Pope

OF/RHP • Class of 2029 • #22 IA

5-11/175 • Right/Right • Iowa Sticks Red • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
93.9	84.6	65.6	6.60

2nd-fastest 60-yd. dash this weekend.

Bennett Phillips

OF/2B • Class of 2028 • #36 NE

5-10/157.6 • Right/Right • NE Prospects Grey • Uncommitted

Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS	60-Yd.
92.3	84.2	63.6	6.83

Stat Leaders: Position Players

All metrics from official Prep Baseball showcases attended since the start of 2025 (minimum thresholds applied).

Exit Velocity Leaders 🔴

Top-12 Overall, Sorted by Highest Max EVs

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Max EV	Avg. EV	Avg. BS
1	Frankie Pagano (#5 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	LHP	2029	102.0	88.3	68.7
2	Tripp Rypma (#13 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	SS	2029	101.6	93.5	69.5
3	Hayden Fritter (#234 MO) BPC - Tortugas	OF	2027	100.9	93.7	68.2
4	Blake Bartlett (#6 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	C	2029	100.2	88.8	70.7
5	Bo Rypma (#12 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2029	99.4	91.7	69.8
6	Ryan Taylor (#41 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	OF	2027	97.9	73.3	—
7	Jude Neil (#75 ) Iowa Sticks Red	SS	2028	97.5	94.6	—
8	Wyatt Appuhn (#47 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	SS	2028	97.3	86.3	78.2
9	Teddy Lubin (#2 KS) PRAIRIE VILLAGE PROSPECTS	C	2029	96.7	89.2	71.9
10	Jack Todd Iowa Sticks	1B	2031	96.2	77.8	—
11	Luke Coughennower (#66 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2028	95.9	87.8	—
12	Colton Scheer (#63 NE) NE Prospects Grey	C	2028	95.8	87.9	—

Bat Speed Leaders ⚡

Top-12 Overall, Sorted by Highest Avg. Bat Speeds

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Avg. BS	Avg. RA	Max EV
1	Wyatt Appuhn (#47 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	SS	2028	78.2	13.1	97.3
2	Blake McAndrews (#23 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	74.8	14.6	94.3
3	Teddy Lubin (#2 KS) PRAIRIE VILLAGE PROSPECTS	C	2029	71.9	13.9	96.7
4	Blake Bartlett (#6 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	C	2029	70.7	6.0	100.2
5	Grant Roberg Iowa Sticks Red	1B	2028	70.4	14.0	92.4
6	Carter Woodson (#88 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	69.8	13.2	88.7
7	Bo Rypma (#12 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2029	69.8	11.2	99.4
8	Tripp Rypma (#13 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	SS	2029	69.5	12.5	101.6
9	Frankie Pagano (#5 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	LHP	2029	68.7	24.9	102.0
10	Hayden Fritter (#234 MO) BPC - Tortugas	OF	2027	68.2	19.4	100.9
11	Chase Neneman (#24 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	67.8	12.6	88.1
12	Colton Kuhl (#85 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	SS	2027	67.3	13.1	89.6

Athletic Testing Leaders 💨

Top-12 Overall, Sorted by Fastest 60-Yard Dash Times

#	Player	Pos.	Class	60-Yd.	Pos. Velo
1	Tripp Rypma (#13 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	SS	2029	6.40	87 mph (IF)
2	Dominic Pope (#22 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2029	6.60	92 mph (OF)
3	Bo Rypma (#12 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2029	6.65	88 mph (OF)
4	Luke Coughennower (#66 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2028	6.77	85 mph (OF)
5	Jude Neil (#75 ) Iowa Sticks Red	SS	2028	6.79	80 mph (IF)
6	Bennett Phillips (#36 NE) NE Prospects Grey	OF	2028	6.83	84 mph (OF)
7	Blake McAndrews (#23 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	6.84	86 mph (IF)
8	Carter Woodson (#88 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	6.88	83 mph (OF)
9	Hayden Porter (#24 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	C	2029	6.93	89 mph (OF)
10	Brayden Elder NE Prospects White	OF	2028	6.96	76 mph (OF)
11	Frankie Pagano (#5 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	LHP	2029	6.97	80 mph (IF)
12	Brasen Phalen (#38 NE) NE Prospects Grey	SS	2028	6.99	84 mph (IF)

Top Arms to Watch 🔥

These are the pitchers our system has flagged in the lead-up to this week's tournament across multiple categories like velo, spin, movement profiles, etc., based off past Prep Baseball showcase performances.

Frankie Pagano

LHP/1B • Class of 2029 • #5 IA

5-11/191.6 • Left/Left • Iowa Sticks Red • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	CB	CB Avg. Spin	SL
86.2	82-86	2,315	72-73	2,766	71-73

Top-5 FB velo in the field; Highest avg. breaking ball spin rate in the field (2,824 rpm).

Alex Hernandez

RHP/3B • Class of 2027 • #12 AR

5-11/165 • Right/Right • Arkansas Select • Central Arkansas commit

Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	CB	CB Avg. Spin	CH
89.0	86-89	2,377	74-75	2,376	78-80

Hardest-throwing arm this weekend; No. 2-ranked avg. FB spin rate in the field (2,377 rpm).

Blake McAndrews

RHP/SS • Class of 2027 • #23 NE

5-11/187 • Right/Right • Jaw Bats Omaha • Nebraska-Omaha commit

Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	FB IVB Avg.	SL	SL Avg. Spin
88.5	86-88	2,260	16.3 in.	73-74	2,273

No. 2-ranked FB velo among all arms this weekend; 2nd-hardest throwing 2027 arm in the field.

Chase Neneman

RHP/SS • Class of 2027 • #24

6-0/157.6 • Right/Right • Jaw Bats Omaha • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	CB	CB Avg. Spin	SL
88.5	86-88	2,149	68-72	1,057	73-75

No. 2-ranked FB velo among all arms this weekend; Top-ranked FB velo among all uncommitted '27s.

Ryan Taylor

OF/RHP • Class of 2027 • #41

6-2/190 • Right/Right • Jaw Bats Omaha • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	CB	CB Avg. Spin	SL	SL Avg. Spin
86.2	81-85	72-74	2,283	73-75	2,228

Top-5 FB velo in the field; 3rd-ranked FB velo among uncommitted '27s.

Carter Woodson

RHP/OF • Class of 2027 • #88

5-11/159 • Right/Right • Jaw Bats Omaha • Uncommitted

Max FB	FB Range	FB HM Avg.	SL	CH
87.3	87-87	16.9 in.	76-79	77-78

Top-5 FB velo in the field; 2nd-ranked FB velo among uncommitted '27s.

Stat Leaders: Pitchers

All metrics from official Prep Baseball showcases attended since the start of 2025.

Fastball Velocity Leaders 🔥

Top-12 Overall, Sorted by Max Fastball Velocity

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Max FB	FB Range	FB Avg. Spin	FB Avg. IVB	FB Avg. HM
1	Alex Hernandez (#12 AR) Arkansas Select	RHP	2027	89.0	86-89	2,377	12.6	4.4
2	Chase Neneman (#24 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	88.5	86-88	2,149	13.7	5.2
3	Blake McAndrews (#23 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	88.5	86-88	2,260	16.3	13.2
4	Carter Woodson (#88 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	87.3	87-87	1,829	13.5	16.9
5	Frankie Pagano (#5 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	LHP	2029	86.2	82-86	2,315	12.9	-6.2
6	Ryan Taylor (#41 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	OF	2027	86.2	81-85	1,961	12.1	8.4
7	Colton Kuhl (#85 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	SS	2027	86.0	83-85	2,092	15.8	15.2
8	Peter Blount PRAIRIE VILLAGE PROSPECTS	SS	2029	86.0	81-84	1,911	9.2	11.2
9	Charlie Harding (#54 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2028	85.0	83-84	1,989	12.4	4.1
10	Bo Rypma (#12 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2029	84.1	83-84	2,425	9.6	-10.5
11	Pierce Wagstaff (#75 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	OF	2027	84.0	83-84	2,217	9.6	1.2
12	Jackson Corey (#46 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	84.0	79-82	2,059	12.3	10.7

Breaking Ball Spin Leaders 🌀

Top-12 Overall, Sorted by Highest Avg. Breaking Ball Spin Rate (CB/SL)

#	Player	Pos.	Class	Type	Avg. Spin	Velo Range	Avg. IVB	Avg. HM
1	Frankie Pagano (#5 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	LHP	2029	SL	2,824	71-73	-7.9	14.8
2	Bo Rypma (#12 IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF	2029	SL	2,624	76-76	-1.4	10.4
3	Chase Neneman (#24 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	SL	2,549	73-75	-4.5	-18.8
4	Alex Hernandez (#12 AR) Arkansas Select	RHP	2027	CB	2,376	74-75	-5.4	-5.4
5	Brody Marble NE Prospects White	LHP	2028	CB	2,365	65-67	4.3	16.7
6	Kason Bentley East Coast Sox Franchise	3B	2031	SL	2,356	68-70	-5.9	-18.5
7	Aiden Simonich NE Prospects White	OF	2028	CB	2,349	73-74	-10.5	-11.4
8	Ryan Taylor (#41 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	OF	2027	CB	2,283	72-74	0.5	-8.3
9	Blake McAndrews (#23 NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	SL	2,273	73-74	-3.0	-12.1
10	Luke Berge (#89 ) NE Prospects Grey	SS	2028	CB	2,223	66-68	4.7	-15.2
11	Riley Lincoln NE Prospects Grey	SS	2028	CB	2,201	64-64	-4.8	-17.6
12	Carter Woodson (#88 ) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2027	SL	2,161	76-79	-0.7	-6.7

Top Uncommitted Prospects 🎯

These are the top-ranked uncommitted players on rosters headed to our tournament this week.

State Rank	Player	Pos.	Class	Ht/Wt
#24	Chase Neneman Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP/SS	2027	6-0 / 157.6 lbs.
#36	Bennett Phillips (NE) NE Prospects Grey	OF/2B	2028	5-10 / 157.6 lbs.
#38	Brasen Phalen (NE) NE Prospects Grey	SS/2B	2028	5-10 / 159 lbs.
#41	Ryan Taylor Jaw Bats Omaha	OF/RHP	2027	6-2 / 190 lbs.
#47	Wyatt Appuhn (NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	SS/3B	2028	5-10 / 184.1 lbs.
#54	Charlie Harding (NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP	2028	6-4 / 220 lbs.
#58	Austin Hitzeman NE Prospects Grey	C/2B	2028	6-2 / 185 lbs.
#63	Colton Scheer (NE) NE Prospects Grey	C/OF	2028	5-11 / 175 lbs.
#66	Luke Coughennower (IA) Iowa Sticks Red	OF/3B	2028	6-1 / 170 lbs.
#75	Pierce Wagstaff (NE) Jaw Bats Omaha	OF/RHP	2027	6-1 / 155 lbs.
#75	Jude Neil Iowa Sticks Red	SS/2B	2028	5-6 / 160 lbs.
#85	Colton Kuhl Jaw Bats Omaha	SS/RHP	2027	5-10 / 157.2 lbs.
#85	Colton Slifka (IA) Iowa Sticks Red	C/RHP	2028	6-0 / 155 lbs.
#88	Carter Woodson Jaw Bats Omaha	RHP/OF	2027	5-11 / 159 lbs.
#89	Luke Berge NE Prospects Grey	SS/RHP	2028	6-0 / 160 lbs.
#91	Brady Meier (NE) NE Prospects White	OF/RHP	2028	5-11 / 170 lbs.
#95	Nicholas Durabla (IA) Iowa Sticks Red	1B/LHP	2028	5-11 / 190 lbs.
#234	Hayden Fritter (MO) BPC - Tortugas	OF/SS	2027	5-8 / 161 lbs.

All showcase metrics from Prep Baseball events attended since the start of 2025. Leaderboards compiled from officially submitted tournament rosters. Players who have not attended a recent Prep Baseball showcase will not appear. Find an upcoming showcase near you.