The stuff here doesn't jump off the page, but there’s the makings of starter here. He’s long, athletic, and a good mover with plus extension, and has 2 secondaries with above-average or better shapes. His best pitch is a change-up with 13” of arm-side at 85 mph that he threw in a small sample, with sweeper getting 13” of horizontal at 80 mph. The fastball averages at just 90 mph now, but plus extension allows it to play up. All the ingredients, the key is if Wake Forest can kickstart his maturation process.

Houston has elite shortstop actions and is a plus athlete who figures to stick at the position for decades to come. Offensively it's an extreme hit over power (think Jacob Wilson), with his whiff rates at 14% and 7.4% in-zone. There’s not much chase to speak of here, with the approach skewing slightly towards passivity. There was no power to speak of in 2024, with a <105 mph max EV and <85 mph average EV. Additionally there was a ton of variance in his batted ball spray, which is concerning for projecting BABIP on an already limited power producer. Guys like Wilson and Isaac Paredes have found success in selling out to get to the pull-side, producing power beyond their EVs , which is the next frontier for Houston pending 35-grade or better raw power. The defense is good enough to be a carrying tool for me.

The MAAC, where he played in 2024, power rates as the weakest D1 conference, making his numbers less impressive when adjusted to be competition-neutral. The launch angles in themselves were unimpressive, 6-degree average and 11 on his hard hits, but the distribution was above-average which displays barrel feel. There’s power here with more to come, which is apparent in his exit velocity profile (110.6 max EV, 90 mph average EV). His whiff numbers were stable in themselves, with 10.5% whiffs in-zone and 18.4% overall. My questions start with why exactly he’s chasing at near-30% at such a low level of competition, and move to his track record when facing LHPs and spin, the prior of which was a major red flag. I’m in on the performance this summer, though. Hitting .385 on the Cape is no easy feat, and he should be rewarded for it, but it can’t be the only factor you consider. Pending a great spring there’s first round traits in here.

Blake Morningstar, a 6'4" 225-pound right-hander from Wake Forest University, enters 2026 as one of college baseball's most polished pitching prospects after earning All-ACC honors as a starter in 2025 and representing the U.S. Collegiate National Team over the summer. The junior features one of the most complete and pro-ready arsenals in the country with six distinct pitch shapes: a 92-95 T97 mph fastball that he commands with both two-seam and four-seam variants, an upper-80s cutter as his primary secondary offering, a mid-80s slider with added sweep that generates his most whiffs, a low-80s curveball he can land for strikes, and a firmer mid-to-upper-80s changeup. Morningstar's 64.0% first-pitch strike rate and 10.59 K/9 demonstrate his ability to attack hitters with his entire repertoire, while his 27.8% chase rate shows he can get hitters to expand the zone at times. While none of his individual pitches grade as plus-plus, the combination of six usable offerings with pro-ready shapes, solid command and control (3.65 BB/9), and a durable frame makes him a high-floor pitching prospect. Morningstar's polished approach, advanced feel for pitching, and ability to throw strikes with all six pitches project him as a potential backend starter who can eat innings and provide consistency at the back of a professional rotation, with the possibility of another velocity jump after showing improved stuff in fall practice potentially raising his ceiling further.

Kade Lewis, a 6'3" 220-pound third baseman from Wake Forest University, has proven he can hit at every level after capturing the Big East batting title (.377) in 2024, then maintaining that production against ACC competition in 2025 before earning Cape Cod League All-Star recognition. The left-handed hitter employs a simple setup with a swing path built around consistent barrel contact, posting an impressive 22.6% chase rate and 16.0% walk rate. Lewis slugged .714 against fastballs in 2025, demonstrating his ability to be on time despite mid-tier exit velos. The primary question surrounding Lewis is whether his offensive profile fits his likely defensive home, as Wake Forest plans to shift him to first base in 2026 where his average arm strength and actions are average despite good athleticism. If Lewis settles at first base long-term, his lack of premium power becomes more problematic as his hit-over-power approach may not provide enough offensive impact for a corner position. However, his elite contact skills and ability to get on base at a high clip could allow him to carve out a role as a high-average hitter who maximizes his average raw power through exceptional bat-to-ball ability.

Winnay was eligible as a sophomore in 2024 but elected to return to Wake Forest for his junior season. The draw here is the swing decisions and batted ball profiles, which are both above-average. He’s a 1B type with average power, which will hurt him, but I expect him to be a producer this season.