This past summer was the most significant summer so far for the 2025 prep class. It served as one of their last chances to play against elite competition, get in front of scouts, and raise their draft stock as the focus shifts to the 2025 draft that’ll take place next summer. Some late risers always rush on the scene during the spring high school seasons, but at this point, we do generally have a solid understanding of this prep class as a whole. Here, we’ll be looking at some prep hitters that caught my attention and cemented themselves as top-of-the-class players this past summer.
Carson Brumbaugh, MIF/RHP, Uncommitted
Brumbaugh played in minimal events this summer due to an injury, but he took full advantage of his time on the diamond. He has a strong 6’2” 190lb frame with noticeable strength already present in the lower half. There’s a lot going on with the swing with a medium leg kick and active hands, but this doesn’t stop him from consistently getting the barrel to the ball. He shows an excellent feel at the plate with impressive barrel dexterity that allows him to cover all parts of the zone and impact the baseball with authority to all parts of the field. He comfortably possesses an above-average hit tool with present average raw power that could blossom into an above-average tool. In the field, he showed rhythmic feet and soft hands, indicating that he could handle the six spot at the highest level. In the one event that he did play, he was recovering from an arm injury and only played second base, but there is very real arm strength present here as well, as he was running it up into the mid-90s on the mound prior to this injury. Brumbaugh is an absolute toolshed with present, innate feel for the barrel who should continue to rise up boards as the 2025 draft creeps closer.
Eric Hines, OF/3B, Alabama recruit
Hines burst onto the scene this summer, most notably when he hit a ball 114mph during batting practice (!!) at the Perfect Game National Showcase. Standing at a physically imposing 6’3” 210lbs, Hines possesses top-of-the-scale raw power that can go toe to toe with anyone in this 2025 prep class. In the box, he sets up with a fairly neutral stance and a minimal, repeatable load. He presents his back foot to be slightly open and keeps most of his weight over his backside throughout the swing. This shifts the spine angle as he rotates through to ball strike and allows for a bat path geared to loft the baseball consistently. On top of this, he has impressive hand strength that he uses to create some electric bat speed. He can run into a bit of trouble in the box when he stays on his back leg too long, as this causes the barrel and bat path to come through the hitting zone at an approach angle that is too steep. This can cause pop-ups, rollovers, and swing and miss which Hines showed issues with at times throughout the summer. But, the physical tools are simply too much to ignore here, and when his swing is on and “balanced”, very few players can impact the baseball in the fashion that Hines can. In the field, Hines profiles as a corner outfielder as he’s shown average speed and a decent arm that should continue to progress. There’s certainly a chance that he ends up at first base due to the frame, but if he can stick in the outfield, his value will only be that much higher for organizations next summer.
Omar Serna, C/CIF, LSU recruit
Next up in a long line of high-level catching prospects to commit to Jay Johnson’s Tigers, Serna offers an elite set of tools on both sides of the ball. He put on an excellent performance at the Area Code games towards the end of the summer, going 4-9 with two home runs, a double, and a triple in gameplay. Serna utilizes his lower half well in the box, sinking into it as he begins his forward move. He uses a medium leg kick as a timing mechanism, and when everything is synched up, the swing is a thing of beauty. However, he can occasionally run into timing issues, especially against spin, when he gets his front foot down too early. This impacts the fluidity of the swing at times, but he has strong enough hands and enough bat speed to get off a competitive swing still when he is not on time. The bat path is geared for loft, and he has no issue getting the ball in the air with authority and consistency. Behind the plate, Serna has outlier athleticism and arm strength which give him, potentially, the best catch and throw skills in the 25 class of catchers. He’s shown the ability to handle high-level arms with solid receiving and blocking throughout the summer circuit. For me, this is a power over hit catcher that will provide plenty of value behind the plate defensively.
Ty Peeples, OF, UGA Recruit
In my opinion, Peeples is the best left-handed swing in the class. It’s a similar swing to that of Xavier Neyens, but much more controlled throughout. This summer, he showed an excellent ability to control the strike zone and not expand. Couple that with his propensity for getting his best swing off, and you have an extremely dangerous hitter with a high ceiling. He sets up in a reasonably neutral, taller stance before going into a medium leg kick as he begins his load. Peeples does a great job of controlling his forward move throughout the swing, which allows him to consistently get his best swing off and put the ball in play in the air. He showed above-average bat speed on the summer circuit with advanced hit and power tools to boot. It’s a enticing offensive skillset that should continue to get scouts’ attention as we work through the fall and spring. In the outfield, Peeples has solid speed and average arm strength. It’s a prototypical corner outfield profile, and as he continues to fill out his slim 6’2” 185lb frame, the arm strength and power outputs should keep improving.