On Thursday, July 23rd, the ScoutConnect staff traveled to Kansas City, MO, to take in the Midwest Scouts Association Games. Every year, this event features a multitude of the top MLB Draft prospects in the Midwest in one central location, allowing professional scouts from all teams to watch them workout, and participate in a game afterwards on a Major League field. 

 

Missouri Scouting Director Evan Furfaro was in attendance for both the workout portion, as well as the actual in-game performances. Continue reading below for his notes, and video, from this year’s Midwest Scouts Association Games. 

 

POSITION PLAYERS

+ SS Jacsen Tucker (Oswego East, 2027) looked the part of a top SS in the ‘27 class. Tucker had one of the more professionally projectable frames of the event, standing at lean, long-levered 6-foot-5, 185-pounds. He showed a strong, right-handed swing with feel to lift the ball to the larger parts of the field. Tucker was a performer in-game with a triple to left-center field that reached the outfield wall. Also showed clean, athletic actions on the infield that could stick at the next level. The Oklahoma State commit continues to make noise as a top prospect for the state of Illinois with more to come.

 

Jacsen Tucker

 

+ SS Parker Robinson (Lake Central, 2027) was another up-the-middle prospect that intrigued in this year’s Midwest Scouts Association Game. Highly projectable frame standing at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds with lean strength and room to keep adding.. The physical shortstop showed an athletic swing with feel for both sides of the field during his batting practice rounds and in-game. Singled on a line to right-center field as a result of his ability to stay back and through the ball. The Oklahoma commit looks the part of what could be an immediate-impact player at the next level with more to come in an already athletically advanced frame.

 

Parker Robinson

 

+ OF Warren Robertson (Rockhurst, 2027) was easily one of the more exciting bats to note from this year’s event. Started his day showcasing his raw strength with a loud batting practice session registering multiple 100+ MPH exit velocities and staying in the air. He then followed this up with a single through the left side of the infield during the in-game portion. Robertson showed a long, 6-foot-3 frame with room to add even more strength to what is already established. At the plate, he utilized a toe tap movement with quiet hands that allowed him to shoot straight to the ball. The Notre Dame commit is already a top prospect in the Midwest, but could bring more to the table come next spring. 

 

Warren Robertson

 

+ SS Brayden Shannon (Blue Valley SW, 2027) was an up the middle prospect that showed well at the plate in this year’s event. A lean, athletic frame that created separation in the swing. He showed a small leg kick that got down on time with an ability to handle higher velocities. Clean, athletic actions on the infield with a chance to stick up the middle at the next level. Shannon is a Nebraska commit that looks the part of a prospect to follow for next year’s draft class. 

 

Braydon Shannon

 

+ One of the top performers of the event was C Logan Hagman (Hudson, 2027). Hagman featured a physical, 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame with athleticism in the swing. Displayed an ability to rotate with bat speed, and feel to lift the ball to further parts of the field with ease. The backstop recorded a loud day at the plate starting with his display of raw power while leaving the field to the pull side in batting practice. He would then go on to record two hits in-game; a single, and a no-doubt homerun to left-center field. The power tool looks to be present in the Minnesota commit and could be a large contributor to Hagman’s draft stock come summer of 2027.

 

Logan Hagman

 

+ C Ty Holt (Greenwood, 2027) was one of the few uncommitted bats of this year’s Midwest Scouts Association Game, but won’t be on the board for long. Twitchy, athletic swing from a physical, more compact frame at 5-foot-11, 189-pounds. Showed well in-game with a 100 mph single through the left side of the infield and displaying present bat speed. A high-follow uncommitted prospect from Arkansas. 

 

Ty Holt

 

+ C Jax Van Valkenburg (Claremore, 2027; Arizona State) was another highly intriguing backstop in this year’s Midwest Scouts Association Game. Valkenburg showed a strong, loose swing from both sides of the plate, and he went backside single in-game from the right side. 

 

Jax Van Valkenburg

PITCHERS

+ A no-doubt top performer from this year’s Midwest Scouts Association Game was uncommitted RHP Liam Nash (Huntley, 2027), who’s seemingly been on a meteoric rise throughout the summer, and struck out six over two innings of work at this event. Broad and physical with room for even more at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, Nash works with pace and tempo on the mound. His fastball has a chance to be a premium heater; 93-94 mph in this look with 19-21” of vertical break, bullying hitters at times. From an offspeed standpoint, Nash went to a tight slider in the low-80s, and a change up in the low/mid-80s with an ability to land both for strikes. It was arguably the most impressive showing of the entire event from an arm that won’t be on the market much longer. 

 

Liam Nash

 

+ RHP Cole Dunlap (Edmond Memorial, 2027) had one of the louder outings of the event this year. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound RHP featured a physical, more compact frame that worked longer in the back while getting to a 3/4 slot. He showed present arm speed out front and repeated an in-line delivery toward home. Dunlap showcased multiple pitches with power traits in his outing starting with his fastball that sat 92-95 mph. He then went to a slider in the mid- 80s that generated swing and miss, both in and out of the zone. Dunlap also showed a feel for a change up/cutter mix in the upper-80s. The TCU commit has a power arm with multiple pitches that have a chance to play at the next level. 

 

Cole Dunlap

 

+ There’s plenty to like in LHP Hayden Anderson (Waukee, 2027). The 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect showed a physical, long levered frame that worked with all sorts of athleticism on the mound. It’s a long, loose, and whippy arm swing that worked across his body from a low ¾ slot, creating a tough look on opposing hitters. The fastball sat in the zone at 90-93 MPH, paired with a sweeping slider in the upper-70s, creeping into the low-80s at times. The Texas commit looks the part of a top pitching prospect in the ‘27 class and will be an arm to watch throughout the winter, as well as into the spring/summer cycles. 

 

Hayden Anderson

 

+ Another arm that intrigued in this look was RHP Cole Ruggeri (Waubonsie Valley, 2027). Ruggeri is a long-levered 6-foot-2, 182-pound athlete with so much room to keep filling out and adding strength.His fastball played in the zone at 88-93 mph and he utilized a sharp slider in the low/mid-80s for swing/miss. Ruggeri worked long in the back and got to a 3/4 slot with a slightly closed off lead leg. The Missouri commit is a top prospect in the state of Illinois and showed us exactly why with his appearance in this year’s event. 

 

Cole Ruggeri

 

+ LHP Jase Wilkinson (Miller, 2027) is another in-state prospect to keep an eye on in the coming year. Coming off a historically dominant high school season, the southpaw worked downhill at 88-90 mph with his fastball, spinning it upwards of 2400+ RPM while also averaging 19+ inches of vertical break. With these traits, Wilkinson was easily capable of creating swing and miss at the top of the zone. The Mizzou commit also went to a slider with 2/8 action in the upper-70s to keep hitters off balance. Wilkinson featured a lean, athletic frame that worked slightly closed in the lead leg. Works from a higher 3/4 slot with arm speed. Given the traits his fastball has, and the potential improvements to the slider, as well as his left-handedness, Wilkinson should be an arm that pro clubs will follow closely heading into next spring.

 

Jase Wilkinson

 

+ RHP Kowen Rader (Adams Central, 2027) was another upside name that gave a highly intriguing look at this year’s Midwest Scouts Association Game. The Nebraska commit is a lanky, long-levered 6-foot-3, 170-pounds with athleticism and obvious room to keep getting stronger. His fastball played up in the zone sitting 90-92 mph with carry at times, and it’s easy to picture him ticking up relatively soon. He also spun a breaking ball with two-plane break that sat in the upper-70s, though crept into the low-80s at times. Rader repeated an in-line delivery and showed some serious arm speed while firing from a 3/4 slot with looseness. 

 

Kowen Rader

 

+ RHP Keon Young (Enid, 2027) showed the makings of what could be an immediate impact arm for Oklahoma State in his outing. The physical, 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed pitcher worked from a more up-tempo, athletic delivery that fired from a higher slot with the fastball, and dropped down to a lower 3/4 slot for offspeed. Young’s go-to was his fastball that sat 92-94 mph with carry and cut at times (2300+ RPM, 19 IVB). Off that, he showed a low-to-mid-80s slider that flashed sharp, two-plane break. 

 

Keon Young

 

+ Another tough look from the left side was 6-foot-8, 230-pound LHP Jimmy Benson (St. Laurence, 2027). The TCU commit worked across his body from a low ¾ slot, creating deception from both the angle and his frame. Benson’s fastball worked easy out the hand, sitting in the mid-to-upper-80s, and will only trend upward as he continues to add functional strength to his frame. Off that, he spun a big sweeping breaking ball in the mid-70s that will play up from his operation. 

 

Jimmy Benson

 

+ RHP Ryan Dobratz (Liberty, 2027) was an arm that showed a clean inning of work in this year’s event. The Ole Miss commit stands at a highly physical 6-foot-4, 220-pounds. He pumped his fastball in the upper-80s, touching 90 mph, and carrying it through the zone at times (2300+ RPM, 19+ VB). He also went to a slider/change up mix in the upper-70s for strikes. 

 

Ryan Dobratz

 

+ An intriguing arm out of Minnesota was RHP Alexander Kakach (Wayzata, 2027). The Creighton commit repeated an in-line delivery that worked from over the top with arm speed out front. His fastball sat 88-92 mph and showed the potential to be a swing-and-miss pitch at the next level, spinning at 2500+ RPM, while also reaching 20+ inches of vertical break. Kakach also went to a slider in the low/mid-80s spinning at 2700+ RPM. 

 

Alexander Kakach

 

+ RHP Axton Brewer (Seaman, 2027) had one of the livelier arms in attendance. A lean, athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pound incoming senior, Brewer worked from a short ¾ slot with arm speed. His fastball grabbed whiffs when he was in the zone, pumping it in at 90-94 mph. The Auburn commit also spun a short, tight slider in the upper-70s, and he turned over a diving changeup in the low/mid-80s as well. 

 

Axton Brewer

 

+ RHP Landon Foster (Omaha Burke, 2027) was an athletic arm that showed well in this year’s event. The Central Arkansas commit showed a lean frame with projectability at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds. Foster worked longer in the back while getting to a 3/4 slot with looseness. His fastball sat in the upper-80s and paired with a sharp slider in the mid 70s (2500+ RPM). With room to add on his frame, there’s definitely a chance we could see Foster tick up in the coming year. 

 

Landon Foster

 

+ LHP/1B Beckett Shimpa (Maple Grove, 2027) was an intriguing two-way prospect that showed well on the mound in the Midwest Scouts Association Game this year. Shimpa worked downhill with long levers and fired from a slightly cross-body slot. His fastball sat in the upper 80s, reaching 90 MPH and paired with a slurvy breaking ball in the upper-70s. The Stanford commit has room to add on a 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame and could see a jump as he continues to get more physical. 

 

Beckett Shimpa

 

+ LHP/1B Hudson Hardesty (Lawrence, 2027) was an uncommitted two-way prospect coming into this year’s event, but as of recently has announced his commitment to Nebraska. The left-handed arm showed a long, lanky frame with plenty of room to add on. Standing at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, Hardesty showed a loose, quick arm that got to a 3/4 slot and fired from slightly across the body. His fastball sat 88-89 mph with swing and miss at the top. He spun a bigger sweeper in the low-70s and flashed a changeup to right-handed bats that played in the low-80s. 

 

Hudson Hardesty