Slammers Top 2026 Performers from the Summer
It's open season for the best of what Colorado has to offer for the 2026 class...
We are now comfortably into the fall and with a number of big tournaments - including the Arizona Junior Fall Classic - on the horizon, now is a good time to familiarize yourselves with some of the most exciting prospects who performed all summer long.
For Arizona Junior Fall Classic attendees… Mark your calendars for Friday, September 20. Our top two 2026 teams, Slammers Anderson and Slammers Duman will be squaring off at 3pm local time on Mariner 5. Learn more about 14 players on these teams below!
Some of the guys below have already started getting phones call to play at the next level. If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog and follow @SlammersAD on Twitter (X) for the latest on Slammers players. There’s a lot of talent - keep reading to get the rundown.
Note: anything that is underlined is a link to additional info / video / etc.
Slammers Anderson 2026
Maddox Burnett: Right-Handed Pitcher / Outfielder – Erie HS - [BYU - (11/24/24)]
At 5-11, 180 lbs., Burnett was one of the best two-way performers on any Slammers high school team all summer. At the plate, he hit .434 in 74 plate appearances from the right-side – getting on-base at a .581 clip and logged 3 doubles and a triple. He also punched 40 in 30 innings on the bump while posting a 3.50 ERA and holding opponents to a .212 batting average against. He posted a scoreless 1.1 innings at the Underclass Area Code Games in August. Burnett mixes 4 pitches led by a four-seam fastball with ride that has been up to 91. His .76 Engine Score on his athletic evaluation puts him well ahead of the age average of .51.
What coach says: “Maddox is competitive, wins big games, and his arm works easy with more in the tank. Good feel for the changeup. Also, high academic and the youngest player on our team.”
What the data says: Good athlete with high-level performance at the plate and on the mound.
Tyce Smith: Outfielder – Cherry Creek HS
This is a physical outfielder who spent his summer finding the barrel with his buttery smooth left-handed swing. Measuring in at 6-1, 195 lbs., Smith hit .398 in 115 plate appearances this summer and led Slammers Anderson with 9 extra-base hits (5 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run). He got on base in over half of his trips to the plate (.539 OBP) and walked more than he struck out (22:13).
What coach says: “High IQ and keeps making jumps as a hitter. Plays with confidence. Advanced hit tool. State Champion starting outfielder at Cherry Creek this past spring.”
What the data says: Advanced left-handed bat with some thump.
Tommy Humphrey: Outfielder – Chaparral HS - [Air Force Academy - (10/28/24)]
Standing in at 6-2, 185 lbs., the right-handed hitting Tommy Humphrey isn’t going to sneak up on anyone. He’s an above-average runner with more coming: he recently posted a 3.87s, 30-yd sprint during an in-house fall evaluation – a significant jump from his previous best 4.05 in May. When all is said and done, he should have plenty of athleticism for centerfield and plus thump for the position as he’s already flirting with upper-90’s exits with wood. Humphrey swung it well all summer on his way to posting .329 at the dish with an OBP of .467. He homered during the PBR Future Games in Atlanta back in July.
What coach says: “High IQ centerfielder with ability to play all 3 outfield positions and advancing each season as a hitter. Ability to drive the ball for extra-base hits and play with speed. High academic.”
What the data says: Above-average athlete with size and a bat that will play at all three outfield spots.
Britain Fox: Outfielder – Holy Family HS
This is currently one of the top athletes in the Slammers 2026 class. Britain Fox is an outfielder who stands in at 6-2, 170 lbs. He is one of three Slammers athletes to post both a sub-3.9s on their 30-yd sprint (3.88s) and 28+ inches on their rebound jumps (28.2”) during the fall evaluation window (300+ high school athletes tested) – the others: Sean Goldy (West Virginia, 2025) and Owen Elser (Colorado School of Mines, 2025). He hit .342 this summer with 7 doubles in 84 plate appearances while going a perfect 16-for-16 on stolen base attempts. He’ll grow into more power as he physically matures.
What coach says: “Fox is a left-handed hitting, OBP-type. He plays fast and puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. He’s rangy in the outfield and started in centerfield for the 4A State Champion, Holy Family Tigers this past spring. High academic.”
What the data says: Premium athlete who hit all summer.
Luc Gaca Thiele: Third Baseman – Fossil Ridge HS
This is another guy on Slammers Anderson who opened some eyes at the 2024 PBR Future Games with a bomb. In 84 plate appearances this summer, the 6-0, 190 lb. Gaca Thiele hit .283 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 home run while posting a .464 OBP – he also walked more than he struck out (18:15). The sweet-swinging lefty defended capably all summer and made just 3 errors in 47 chances on the dirt. His .97 Engine Score – a Slammers in-house metric for baseball specific athletic performance (factors in lower-half and rotational power) – puts him in elite territory and situates him alongside a handful of current professional players.
What coach says: “Luc is a left-handed hitter who hits for extra-bases to all fields and plays a solid third base. High academic.”
What the data says: Physical left-handed hitter who is going to bang.
Wyatt Gustafson: Right-Handed Pitcher – Windsor HS - [Southern Miss - (11/4/24)]
Back in June, while reviewing data collected during our summer high school evaluations, we noticed there was a 2026 arm whose pure-stuff graded out better than any of the 9, D1-committed arms in our loaded 2025 class. We use a pitch-grader that factors in spin, vertical and horizontal movement, and velocity; and Wyatt Gustafson’s pitch grades were looking like a pro mix at the age of 16. At 6-5, 177 lbs., Gustafson has a long-wiry frame with more physicality coming as he gets stronger. He has the frame and he has the pure stuff. He features a mid-to-upper 80’s fastball with ride, a low-80’s changeup with sink, and two, distinct breaking pitches that spin at 2400+ rpm – including a low-80’s sweeper that is quickly becoming his best secondary. He punched 38 in 28 innings this summer while walking just 9 and registering a 3.00 ERA. When he’s ready to make his decision, he won’t be uncommitted long.
What coach says: “Outlier stuff. Deceptive fastball. Sweeper and fastball generate a lot of swing-and-miss. Has shown feel for the changeup. Projectable frame and easy mover.”
What the data says: The combination of frame and stuff might make him the most interesting pitching prospect in the state of Colorado – regardless of class.
Aaron Jaquez: Right-Handed Pitcher – Falcon HS - [UNC Chapel Hill - (9/16/24)]
Jaquez looks the part and is one of the more physically-imposing players in the 2026 Slammers class. At 6-4, 205 lbs., Jaquez’s fastball sits in the high-80’s and sneaks into the low-90’s, he also mixes a low-80’s slider and a developing, mid-80’s changeup. In 12 innings this summer with Slammers Anderson, he pitched to a 2.33 ERA, punched out 20, and walked just 4. He was a participant at the 2024 PBR Futures Games (earned a Player of the Game nod after striking out 7 in 3 innings) and the Underclass Area Code Games. At the age of 15 (last fall), the .83 Engine Score he posted from his athletic evaluation put him miles ahead of the age average of .33. This is another player who will have plenty of options of where he wants to play college baseball.
What coach says: “Big presence and a calm competitor. Big time stuff and projection. Feel for 3 pitches for strikes with a plus slider that he can throw to both sides of the plate. High academic.”
What the data says: Division 1 size and athleticism with tons of strikes.
Slammers Duman 2026
Austin Sickler: Middle-Infielder / Catcher – Brighton HS
Sickler is a barrel-finder. The 6-0, 160 lb., left-handed hitting, middle-infielder raked all summer in route to a .451 batting average in 150 plate appearances. His 19 extra-base hits (14 doubles, 5 triples) were the most by any Slammers 2026 high school player. He walked more than he struck out (26:15) and stole 14 bags. During our in-house evaluation in May, Sickler tied for the highest batting practice session Swing Score (6.7) across the whole program and posted a 25% barrel-rate against the high-speed pitching machine. Sickler is a plus runner for his age and posted a 3.92s, 30-yd sprint at the end of August during an in-house evaluation. Behind the plate, he threw out 41% (11-of-27) of would-be base-stealers.
What coach says: “A true shortstop that can do more than just flash the leather. His swing is smooth as butter – high-contact swing and advanced barrel control to all fields. Plus runner whose game will translate quickly at the next level.”
What the data says: One of, if not the best, pure hitter in the state of Colorado. Highly-skilled.
Bode Shoen: Catcher – Heritage HS
Shoen is a 6-2, 160 lb. catcher with more physicality coming as he gets stronger. In 126 plate appearances, he hit .362 with 12 doubles and a home run while punching out just 10% of the time. Behind the plate, he gunned down 34% (20-of-59) of would-be base-stealers this summer. He has the look of an offensive catcher with above-average size and solid athleticism.
What coach says: “Took a huge jump this summer. Has made a name for himself as a premium catch and throw guy. Not only saw his average excel, but his power numbers took a huge jump.”
What the data says: Highly-skilled hitter at a premium position.
Ari Rothman: Outfielder – Cherry Creek HS
This guy can flat out fly. Only Owen Elser (3.67s), Trevor Gottsegen (3.75s), and Caleb Giampietro (3.72s) have ever posted a faster 30-yd sprint time than what Rothman showed (3.78s) in August during an in-house evaluation. The 5-9, 160 lb., left-handed hitting outfielder hit .292 average this summer with a .420 OBP across 124 plate appearances. Defensively, he cleanly handled all 43 of his opportunities in the outfield.
What coach says: “The epitome of a ‘spark plug’ with plus bat speed and barrel control from the left side. This 6.6 runner is a game changer at the plate and on the bases.”
What the data says: Outlier runner.
Alex King: Middle-Infielder / Right-Handed Pitcher – Mountain Vista HS
At 6-1, 165 lbs., King did a little of everything this summer. He hit .256 in 112 plate appearances with 7 doubles and a triple while posting a .402 OBP and playing a solid shortstop. On the mound, he mixed a mid-to-high 80’s fastball with a high-70’s breaking ball that spins at 2400+ rpm and a high-70’s changeup. This mix yielded 44 punch outs in 29.1 innings with just 13 walks. Over 67% of his pitches went for strikes – one of just two Slammers 2026 pitchers to eclipse 67% strikes. King has a good frame and with more physicality to come, expect the tools to continue to get better.
What coach says: “Flashes all 5 tools. His long, athletic build, raw athleticism, and increasing strength makes him a top prospect. One of the fastest rising prospects who added 8-10 mph to his fastball on the mound over the last year. Recently 88-91 mph on the bump.”
What the data says: Really good breaking ball and a ton of strikes.
Sam Eldredge: Right-Handed Pitcher / First Baseman – Summit HS - [Cal Poly - (2/8/25)]
At almost 6-3, 215 lbs., this is one of the more physically imposing players in the Duman 2026 dugout. Already on-par with the average rising-Junior in terms of his raw athleticism (Loden Score: 6), Eldredge posted an Engine Score of .93 during his May in-house athletic evaluation – putting him right in the thick of our pro and Division 1 athletes. Eldredge flashed the fruits of his impressive tools both in the left-handed batter’s box – where he hit .273 with 7 doubles and a home run – and on the mound – where he punched 38 in 34.2 innings. Eldredge complements his high-80’s fastball with a mid-70’s breaking pitch that spins at 2400+ rpm.
What coach says: “A physical unicorn found in Frisco, Colorado who has adapted to national competition and arrived on the scene at the PBR Future Games. Plus power from the left-side at the plate and features a heavy arsenal of pitches on the bump. One of the first two players from Slammers Duman 2026 to receive a D1 offer.”
What the data says: He has all the raw tools to be an impact Division 1 player.
Beckett Bacon: Left-Handed Pitcher / First Baseman – Chaparral HS
This is a 5-11, 150 lb. lefty who handled 36 innings this summer for Duman 2026. The southpaw pitched to a 4.00 ERA while punching out 39 and walking just 11. His 65% strike rate puts him just a notch below the aforementioned Wyatt Gustafson (Anderson 2026) and Alex King (Duman 2026) as the most reliable strike-throwers in the Slammers 2026 class. Bacon uses a low-80’s fastball and a big breaking ball to keep hitters at bay.
What coach says: “The epitome of ‘craft lefty’ who finds the zone with a 70% strike percentage. He features a deceptive, high-tailing fastball that is complemented by one of the best changeups at this level and a curveball that is best described as ‘disgusting.’ This kid can flat out pitch.”
What the data says: Reliable, strike-throwing lefty.
Carson Munroe: Middle-Infielder / Right-Handed Pitcher – Chaparral HS
Munroe is one of the better athletes to take the mound for a Slammers 2026 team. At 5-11, 160 lbs., Munroe ripped a 3.81s, 30-yard sprint during his fall in-house athletic evaluation – an elite runner for his age and a plus runner compared to current high-level D1 baseball players (Loden Speed Score: 8). With room to add physicality as he matures and fills out, expect Munroe’s high-80’s fastball to jump into and sit in the low-90’s. He also mixes a mid-70’s slider and a low-spin, high-70’s changeup with sink and fade – his best secondary and maybe his best pitch overall. He struck out 41 in 30.1 innings this summer with a 2.97 ERA and a .220 batting average against. He also had 5 doubles and a triple in 91 plate appearances and was a perfect 7-for-7 on stolen bases.
What coach says: “Incredible athlete with quick twitch for days. Stands out on the mound with electric stuff. Smooth, athletic mechanics with incredible arm speed and hip-shoulder separation. Fastball is consistently 88-91 mph and features a hard slider in the upper-70’s. Has recently developed a heavy changeup – giving him a full complementary arsenal. One of the first two players from Slammers Duman 2026 to receive a D1 offer.”
What the data says: Elite runner with a live arm and a nasty changeup.
Slammers Grammerstorf 2026
Noah Reickert: Outfielder – Cheyenne Mountain HS
At 6-0, 180 lbs., this right-right outfielder is one of the best athletes in the Slammers 2026 class. He’s one of just 3 Slammers 2026’s to post both a sub-3.90s, 30-yd sprint (3.88s) and an average rebound jumps height of 27”+ (27.1”) during our in-house athletic evaluation back in May. This summer, that athleticism translated on the field as he hit .303 with 7 doubles, a triple, and a home run while getting on base more than half of the time. In 101 plate appearances, he walked 28 times and struck out just 13. This is one to keep an eye on as he has the size and high-level athleticism to impact the game in a number of ways and it’s starting to translate.
What coach says: “Noah is an outfielder who is a great athlete with speed and power. When he squares up a baseball, it sounds different.”
What the data says: Plus athlete and did it with the bat this summer.
James Kellogg: Outfielder / Third Baseman – Heritage HS
This cat is a powder-keg of dynamite. At 5-10, 190 lbs., this left-handed hitting outfielder posted a .83 Engine Score during our in-house athletic evaluations in May and to put it succinctly – he’s powerful. That translated on-field this summer as he absolutely mashed on his way to hitting .402 with 7 doubles, 8 triples, and 2 home runs. Only the aforementioned-Austin Sickler (Duman 2026) posted a higher OPS for the summer (Kellogg produced a 1.178 OPS in 143 plate appearances). He also walked 25 times and struck out just 14 times.
What coach says: “He is a run-through-a-brick-wall type of player who can pitch and play outfield. He is the ultimate team player who has a ton of power from the left side.”
What the data says: Big lower-half and rotational power outputs. Exceptional hit tool. Real impact.
Matthew Hegerle: Middle-Infielder – Bear Creek HS
Hegerle is a 5-10, 150 lb. middle-infielder who hit .376 in 158 plate appearances this summer. On top of the ability to hit, he showed impact (7 doubles and 4 triples) and posted a .535 OBP. Hegerle can really run (3.93s, 30-yd sprint) and used that speed to swipe 15-of-16 bags. Defensively, he made just 5 errors in 131 chances this summer on the dirt.
What coach says: “Super smart player who is a leader in every sense of the word. Prototypical lead-off hitter who works to hit the ball the other way. Great foot and glove-work in the infield.”
What the data says: Future plus-runner with a hit-tool.
Slammers Stewart 2026
Malaki Dalpra: Corner-Infielder – Eaton HS
Dalpra is a big, physical athlete. He measures in at 6-4, 230 lbs. and even with that size, he’s an average runner (4.15s, 30-yd sprint). His .99 Engine Score is elite and helps explain the big tools he shows on the field. To put it mildly, he compresses baseballs. His max exit velocity with wood is 101.1 mph. The tools played all summer long as he hit .303 in 115 plate appearances while tallying 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs. He also walked more than struck out (17:12). As he continues to harness his physical gifts, don’t be surprised when he has some of the best raw power in the entire state.
What coach says: “Continues to show a way above-average power profile, plays super hard, has an incredible love for the game, and great teammate. Malaki is a true diamond in the rough with a very high ceiling. He should be on everyone’s watch list. This is a player you want on your college roster!”
What the data says: Double-plus power potential with a developing hit tool.
Ben Sehnert: Catcher – Centaurus HS
Ben is a 5-10, 153 lb. catcher who can really hit. This summer he posted a .373 batting average in 99 plate appearances while getting on base at a .525 clip. He also impacted the baseball consistently on his way to 9 doubles, 2 triples, and a home run. As if that wasn’t enough, he walked more than struck out (21:15). Behind the plate, he threw out 15 would-be base-stealers. He’s a solid athlete and he used that athleticism to go a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts. There’s more coming here as he gets stronger.
What coach says: “Ben is a very, very solid 2026 catcher and player. I’ve had 3 catchers in recent history go on to play college baseball and he may be the best of em.”
What the data says: Offensive catcher with impact.
Slammers Kenebrew 2026
Carter Adams: Third Baseman / Right-Handed Pitcher – Chaparral HS
Adams notched a .269 average in 131 plate appearances and stroked 8 doubles, 2 triples, and a home run to go with 12 stolen bases. His impact wasn’t limited to the offensive side of the baseball as he punched 58 in 47.1 innings while posting a 3.40 ERA. The righty features a high-carry fastball that gets into the low-80’s, a changeup, and a slider. At 5-11, 183 lbs., Adams is an above-average athlete for his age and it plays all over the field.
What coach says: “Carter is a 2-sport athlete that is always on ‘go.’ He’s currently playing football and still comes to play baseball whenever he can. He’s a hard worker and is continuously trying to perfect his craft. He’s got a huge baseball IQ and his body is going to fill out well as he gets older. Carter can mash baseballs and plays a mean third base.”
What the data says: Two-way player with above-average athleticism.