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Leagues | Story | 3/26/2025

Iowa Spring League Preview

Tyler Kotila

Photo: Tucker Long (Perfect Game)

It’s time to get outdoors once again here in Iowa. Spring League is upon us and returns for its 30th year in the making. We’ve got plenty of baseball ahead of us, with five weeks of competition ahead. The league is full of talent from all over Iowa.

Since the league's inception, all but one of the players from Iowa drafted in MLB's First-Year Player Draft has played in the Perfect Game Iowa spring league, with hundreds more committing to play at the collegiate level.

There’s a lot of talent that comes out to Spring League each year, and once again, there’s plenty to see out at Prospect Meadows this spring. With ranked players, some usual top performers, and under-the-radar names, there’s a lot to keep an eye out for this spring.

Not to mention, there’s a new twist on Spring League, with some friends up north of the border traveling down to compete against Iowa’s best.

Ranked Players Inside the T500

These players are those who are ranked within the Top 500 of their respective class and will be out at Spring League, showing why they are ranked as high as they are.

Tucker Long | RHP | 2026 | National Rank: 76
Ottumwa, Iowa | Gamers Academy Select

Long has been a longstanding face on the circuit in Iowa. He’s a PG Select Festival Alum who’s committed to Ole Miss. He’s got high-level stuff, working into the low-90s on his fastball, with a quality sweeper to pair as well, not to mention having a quality changeup in the mix as well. He will be a can't-miss arm when he’s on the bump for his Gamers Academy squad this spring.

Xavier Perez | C/IF | 2027 | National Rank: 102
Urbana, Iowa | Iowa Select 2026 Scout

Perez has been one of my favorite bats in the ‘27 class, always playing up with the ‘26 Scout group and finding ways to get it done. He’s a switch-hitting backstop with incredible bat-to-ball and a smooth stroke from both sides of the plate. He’s got quality impact and will be someone to keep eyes on every time he’s in the box this spring.

JP Elbert | C/RHP | 2027 | National Rank: 275
Dubuque, Iowa | Iowa Select Besler

Elbert has been a consistent performer on the circuit, and this winter, he proved plenty at the Iowa Indoor Showcase. Elbert posted a 1.88 pop with throws at 80 mph out of the crouch. He swings it well from the right side with a smooth stroke. He’s also been up to 83 mph on the fastball and has plenty to like on the mound as well. He’ll be someone to keep eyes on this Spring with his Iowa Select squad.

Tom Norton | 3B/OF | 2027 | National Rank: 333
Muscatine, Iowa | Iowa Select Gavin

Norton is another player who has shown plenty to like on the circuit. He’s a massively physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame with a ton of present strength. He swings it from the right side with some serious ability to impact. He’s produced some of the harder-hit balls in the ‘27 class here in Iowa on the circuit, and I’d expect more of the same from Norton this spring.

Jayden Stumpff | IF/RHP | 2028 | National Rank: 135
Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa Select Mueller 18U

Stumpff may just be scratching the surface as a 2028, but he’s shown a lot on the circuit. He’s been up to 80 mph on the fastball with a loose arm action and athleticism that shows throughout. He’s also shown a really collected and smooth left-handed stroke that has yielded results often. Last year, he posted a .472 average, with a .549 on-base percentage and 21 extra-base hits on the year.

The “Usual Suspects” to Watch
This next grouping is the players who are the “usual suspects” to be performers. Whether it's multi-hit games, big-time hits, or loud performances on the mound, these players tend to find a way to stand out repeatedly.

Fletcher Yates | RHP | 2025 | State Rank: 11
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Iowa Select Shortway

Yates had a bit of a breakout last summer, and he’s really come a long way on the mound. He holds the upper-80s, working up into the 90-91 mph range, with a slider and curveball in the mix, flashing a changeup as well. Yates commands the zone with a massive frame and projectable build. He’s got a lot to like and plenty of projection moving forward. The Kirkwood commit is a must-see arm to watch this spring.

Foti Rigopoulos | MIF/RHP | 2025 | State Rank: 8
Dubuque, Iowa | Iowa Select Besler 18U

Rigopoulos is another name who really impressed in ‘24, performing all year long on both sides of the ball. He committed to Illinois last fall and has certainly backed things up over the last calendar year as a mid-80s arm on the mound, being a right-hander with a shorter and compact stroke at the plate. He’s got great bat-to-ball and found ways to do damage for his Iowa Select Hummel squad last year.

Will Specht |OF | 2025 | State Rank: 16
Dubuque, Iowa | Iowa Select

Specht has consistently gotten it done for his Iowa Select team on the circuit. He’s a left-handed hitting outfielder who has found ways to barrel up balls with ease. It’s a smooth left-handed stroke with an incredible pull-side approach and a good jump off of the barrel. He’s an Iowa Central CC commit who’s going to be one of the bats to keep an eye on during Spring League in 2025.

Maddux Mueller | SS/RHP | 2026 | State Rank: 14
Amana, Iowa | Iowa Select Mueller 18U

Mueller has really taken strides over the last calendar year and has started to come into his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. He’s got a really smooth left-handed stroke and knows how to work an at-bat. There’s some impact here, and he really caught fire in ‘24. He is someone I expect to produce once again in 2025. He’s someone who’s still uncommitted and offers a ton of upside with projection remaining and a toolshed that continues to strides in development. He’s also seemingly had a productive winter, showing major strides on the mound as well.

Anthony Harrington | 3B/RHP | 2026 | State Rank: 18
Lost Nation, Iowa | Iowa Select Schiel 17U

Harrington has always been a performer – on both sides of the ball. Whether it's loud impacts at the plate, showing a strong and physical right-handed stroke, or good outings on the mound, he finds ways to get it done. Harrington’s got a middle-of-the-order thump that I expect to show up once again this spring. Not to mention, he’s working into the mid-80s on the heater as well, with a feel for a breaker in the mix as well.

Tait Tierney | RHP/OF | 2026 | State Rank: 33
Fairfax, Iowa | Iowa Select Mueller 18U

Tierney has long been one of my favorite players on the circuit, and he really took some strides in 2024. He proved that he can be a top-of-the-order bat and set the tone, working at-bats well with good bat-to-ball. He’s got exceptional range in the outfield, running down balls with ease. On the mound, he works the mid-70s, with three pitches for strikes, filling the zone time and time again. He’s a competitor on the mound and has much to like on both sides of the ball.

Under-the-Radar Names

Grady Frese | RHP/SS | 2026 | State Rank: 23
Norway, Iowa | Iowa Select Schulte 18U

Frese has really taken some strides, showing a ton of strength in the 5-foot-10, 176-pound frame. He’s got a ton of physicality as well. He worked up to 87 mph during the Iowa Indoor Showcase with a quality breaking ball in the mix. He’s also got a right-handed stroke with plenty of impact. He’s taken real strides on both sides of the radar, and this spring could be a great start toward a big 2025 season for Frese.

Matthew Blomme | RHP/IF | 2027 | State Rank: 36
Batavia, Iowa | Gamers Select Academy 16U

Blomme has always been on the radar for me here on the circuit, but the long-levered right-handed pitcher has plenty to like moving forward with good projection remaining. Blomme has an uber-projectable 6-foot-4, 181-pound frame with a live arm and plenty of traits to like. He was recently up to 84 mph during the North Indoor Showcase and is someone who could seriously show some strides and steps forward in his development this spring.

Jaydon Leonard | SS | 2027 | State Rank: 18
Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa Select Gavin 16U

Leonard is a left-handed bat who just has a knack for hitting. He’s got a really good feel for the barrel and can launch balls, especially working pull-side. He has exceptional bat-to-ball and is someone who I think is really going to garner some attention this spring, with a .348 average last year on the circuit. He’s been a performer at times, and this spring is just another chance for him to keep getting it done at the plate.

Nick Schryver | C/OF | 2027 | State Rank: 45
Eldridge, Iowa | Iowa Select Perez 16U

Schryver is a right-handed hitting catcher who has some feel to impact. There’s some strength in a compact frame, and he’s been someone who I’ve seen put some good swings on the ball. There’s a feel to impact and produce hard-hit line drives to all fields, and this spring could be another chance for him to take a step forward and have a breakout performance.

Lance Ludens | SS/RHP | 2025 | State Rank: 61
Mediapolis, Iowa | Iowa Select Southeast Bees

Ludens has been a performer on both sides of the ball and is someone who could make a difference for his Iowa Select squad this spring. He’s a shortstop by trade who has a short and compact stroke with fast hands and the ability to impact all over the field. He’s also been up into the low-80s on the mound, with good pitchability. He’s someone to keep an eye on this spring.

Scout’s Pick To Click

Drake Obermueller | RHP/IF | 2025 | State Rank: 22
Iowa City, Iowa | Iowa Select City High

Obermueller has the obvious bloodlines here and has always been one of the more intriguing profiles out on the circuit. He’s really taken strides on the mound and has really shown growth. He’s got a mid-80s fastball in the mix, and the slider has really started to come around and show healthy shape and good sweeper traits to it. He can swing it a bit, too, and is someone who I think could really put it all together this spring. Obermueller’s a DMACC commit.

Caleb Paulson | C/UT | 2026 | State Rank: 43
Asbury, Iowa | Iowa Select Schiel 17U

Paulson was someone who caught my attention last year with a couple of loud performances on the circuit. He’s a right-handed hitter with a short stroke and some strength in a compact frame. He holds angles well and can do damage to all fields with hard-hit line drives. I think that this spring could be big for Paulson, showing his talent once again on the circuit for his Iowa Select squad.

Cal Bonifas | RHP/CIF | 2026 | State Rank: 29
Bellevue, Iowa | Iowa Select Schulte 18U

Bonifas is another player who’s been a consistent face on the circuit, but this spring, he could show some strides in his development. He’s got a lot to like on the mound, He works the low-80s on the fastball with a good slider to pair. It’s a lean and slender frame with long levers that he uses well. I’m expecting big things from the uncommitted right-hander this spring.

Dawson Weller | 1B/RHP | 2027 | State Rank: 32
Ottumwa, Iowa | Gamers Select 16U

Weller has been someone who’s always been around the circuit, and there's plenty of strength and physicality in the frame. This spring could be a chance for him to really break out and show some prowess at the dish. He’s a right-handed hitter with good impact and strength off the barrel, who’s flashed this at times out at Prospect Meadows & on the summer circuit.

Boden Hancock | RHP/3B | 2028 | State Rank: 13
Marion, Iowa | Linn-Mar

Hancock has been someone who’s had an intriguing profile since his 13u-14u days, showing plenty to like on both sides of the ball. He has a projectable frame with good strength presently and traits to like on both sides of the ball. I’d expect him to make some noise in Spring League this year, both as an arm and as a bat. Hancock has a smooth stroke from the right side and has worked into the mid-70s on his fastball. Keep an eye on Hancock this spring.

Cade Hannen | RHP/1B | 2028 | State Rank: 14
Robins, Iowa | Linn-Mar

Hannen is someone who also has been around and on our radar since his 13u-14u days with the Cedar Rapids Reds, and there’s plenty to like here. He’s got a projectable frame and good delivery on the mound, working into the mid-70s. There’s also some power in the swing, showing good impact from the right side of the dish. It could be a big spring from the two-way standout.

Note: Canadian Invasion in Iowa

There’s a new twist coming to Spring League this year. To my knowledge, this is the first time that Spring League will feature some of our friends from north of the border. For several of the weekends this spring, the Team Ontario Baseball Club is going to be sending some of their teams out to Prospect Meadows to compete against the best that Iowa has to offer. The Ontario Astros will bring their 2025s, 2026s, and 2027s out to Iowa and are known for having talent across the board. I’ve seen the Astros in a couple of trips to Canada to scout their Canadian Premier Baseball League (CPBL) up in Ontario, and they certainly will bring some exciting competition to the table. Rosters are still being finalized for this group, but there’s no doubt they will have some of their best in-town for Spring League this year!

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