We’ve published countless videos, conducted several interviews, completed a lengthy podcast with a full breakdown and now we’re completing the final part of our comprehensive coverage of Area Code Games. Beginning with the underclass event, we’re going to provide a breakdown and scouting notes for each of the eight teams that participated in the event. Let’s continue with a team that featured the best fastball bullet in the event and the biggest prospect name – the White Sox.   

(All prospects are in the 2025 class unless otherwise noted.)

WHITE SOX
When the underclass event ended, it felt like we were robbed of a mammoth moon shot off the bat of Ethan Holliday because he was so close to making the building beyond the right field fence look small. Although he hit just .167/.444/.167, Holliday’s left-handed swing and future hitting profile were undoubtedly tops among position players in the event. Not only is it a good swing with natural bat-to-ball ability and barrel accuracy, but it’s also a swing that features attention-grabbing bat speed; when Holliday lets it rip in a plus count, he really lets it rip. And he didn’t let it rip a ton because he saw a lot of balls off the plate early in the event and is blessed with good plate skills and swing/take decisions. During an interview with Five Tool, Holliday described himself as the power hitter of the family compared to his brother, who is the current No. 1 overall prospect in professional baseball. As crazy as that might sound because Jackson Holliday is hitting for extremely impressive power in AA was a 19-year-old, Ethan is already 6-4, 200 pounds and looks like he’s not done growing and will certainly add a lot of muscle as he matures. 

On the dirt, Holliday, who unsurprisingly attends Stillwater High School (Oklahoma) and is committed to Oklahoma State, made playing shortstop look especially easy considering his size and age. He made a play from deep in the hole that some pros can’t make. It wasn’t an extended look, but it was an easy one – he glides around, bends well, has the arm and certainly has the smooth actions and excellent feel to play the position. Sure, there will be long-term questions about sticking there because of his size, but I’m betting on all-star upside at shortstop. His talent was different, making him a fairly easy pick as the top prospect in the 2025 class. Keeping with the ‘smooth’ theme in the middle of the infield, Fayetteville (Arkansas) shortstop Landon Schaefer checked that box. Another obvious projection candidate, Schaefer, a longtime Arkansas commitment, is listed at 6-3, 175 pounds with a frame that is going to add and carry more muscle without sacrificing any speed/athleticism. His all-around tools were very impressive and there’s a lot to like about his movements/actions on the dirt as well as his bat speed and loose, quick hands in the batter’s box from the right side. 

Carson Brumbaugh had some bright moments on the dirt and also led the event in rotational acceleration in the batter’s box, according to data obtained from Blast Motion sensors. But he stole the show on the mound with perhaps the most electric inning of the tournament. Up to 96 MPH, which was tops in the event, during his one-inning appearance, Brumbaugh struck out the side and gave up just one hit. The righty mixed in a swing-and-miss slider at 82 MPH and even showed a firm, promising 86-87 MPH changeup, too. He also did what I thought would be close to impossible – he blew a heater by Dean Moss and made him look overmatched. Knowing he had an inning to let it loose, Brumbaugh (Edmond Sante Fe; Oklahoma) toed the rubber with an aggressively confident energy and presence. As a hitter, he struck out more than I anticipated because I’m a big believer in his bat-to-ball ability, but I think part of the five strikeouts was unleashing impact bat speed and aiming to use his ‘A’ swing against the best stuff he’s ever seen. A true two-way prospect, Brumbaugh said, when asked to pick, he prefers hitting to pitching and his career could go either way. However, the look he showed on the mound, which featured a sidearm slot and what looked like a lower release height to create some unique fastballs, is going to be etched in everyone’s minds for a long while. Brumbaugh is uncommitted and likely has every program in the country blowing up his phone and programs are recruiting him to do both - pitch and hit.

Behind the plate, the White Sox featured the event’s best catcher and perhaps the events best collective group led by Louisville commitment Jaden Fauske (Nazareth Academy; Illinois). Fauske hit .429/.444/1.000 with a homer (just missed another, which resulted in a sacrifice fly), double, five RBI, four runs and two strikeouts in nine plate appearances. Fauske didn’t just hit or power. He could truly hit. In one at-bat, he spoiled a two-strike breaking ball and smacked it the opposite way for a double and as pitchers threw the kitchen sink at him, he processed what he was seeing well. Fauske easily created rhythm with his hands to create good bat paths, with a short swing, for extra-base damage and did a good job of staying balanced while transferring his energy and tracking pitches.

Fauske had a 1.98 in-game pop time behind the dish, handled himself well defensively and even did little things on the bases like making quality dirt ball reads. Oklahoma commitment Max Bushyhead made some headlines after the event when he announced he’ll be reclassifying and joining the 2024 class. A Mannford (Oklahoma) product, Bushyhead’s skill is ready for the jump. He caught a runner stealing with a 1.86 pop time thanks in part to a perfectly placed rocket that sizzled from home to Holliday’s glove on a straight line. As a hitter from the right side, Bushyhead was unafraid to unleash his bat speed (some of the best rotational acceleration in the event) and as his barrel becomes more accurate with more reps, there is more extra-base pop in his future. 

Bushyhead wasn’t the only Oklahoma catching commitment on the White Sox roster. Enzo Infelise, a 6-2, 215-pound prospect from Illinois, was one of the best hitters on the roster. He didn’t struck out once in eight plate appearances and tracked pitches well from a slightly open stance with relaxed, upright hands. There is some depth to Infelise’s swing, but against really good stuff and velocity, he had no issues making contact and using the whole field. He has a bat-first outlook long-term, but his arm strength could be a difference-maker. 

Among the most intriguing prospects to watch was Lincoln East (Nebraska) standout Jeter Worthley. I’m assuming by the name and the Michigan commitment, Worthley is a fan of the former Yankee captain. And Jeter himself would have been impressed with some of the range and athleticism Worthley showed at second base, but he’s also a very talented catcher prospect, especially when you add 4.2 speed down the line from the right side to that athletic profile. An impressive prospect physically who returned to his role as QB1 after Area Code, Worthley showed strong hands/wrists in the batter’s box and came through in the clutch with a two-RBI walk-off single. 

Mason Braun (New Prairie; Indiana) was an imposing force in the batter’s box with a short, compact, physical frame that he leveraged to hammer baseballs (103 MPH exit velocity) from the left side with a promising swing. Braun, committed to Virginia Tech, played mostly first base but also received a look in the corner outfield and moved well enough to make that an option, which would boost his already impressive prospect profile. In addition to hitting for impact, Braun also covered the plate and was able to get to pitches for quality contact even when he didn’t use his best swing. 

In the outfield, undersized, twitchy athlete Ezra Essex, an Oklahoma State commitment, made a really nice grab in center field when he read a slicing liner well off the bat and took an efficient route boosted by his foot speed (4.26 down the line from the right side on a turn). And he also showed range from left field to making a full-extension, diving catch in foul territory. His defensive tools, along with at least plus peed, stood out and when he didn’t try to do too much at the plate, he smacked a few base hits. Tyler Wood, a promising, 6-3 athlete, also played some center field and moved well. On the mound, Wood was up to 93 MPH with a delivery that featured notable effort that impacted his control. It’s possible Fauske, who played in the outfield some, too, might profile best long-term as a corner outfielder. I’d stick with him at catch as long as possible, but he moved around a corner outfield spot well enough to keep that door open because of his bat. 

On the mound, a trio of lefties was excellent. Jack Bauer (Lincoln-Way East; Nebraska) tortured hitters with his two-plane, 76-78 MPH curveball with spin around 2800 RPM and thwarted offensive attacks with his 90-93 MPH heater and 83 MPH changeup. The ball seemingly jumped out of his hand, which moved through the zone with speed to complete an easy delivery. I pretty much liked everything about his delivery – the movements, the rotation, the positioning at foot plant, the steady head… and he even has some physical projection, too. In 2.0 innings, the Virginia commitment gave up one run on one hit, one walk and struck out three. Jack Schwab (Blue Valley; Kansas) filled up the zone with his 87-90 MPH fastball and punched out four across 2.0 shutout innings with just two hits. An uncommitted prospect, Schwab was able to get his short slider (up to 84 MPH with 2700 RPM) to the backfoot against righties and his firm, 83 MPH changeup was thrown with conviction. Schwab gathered and transferred energy well in his delivery and stayed within himself. If he didn’t have a ton of recruiting attention before, he certainly did after Area Code. In 2.2 shutout innings, Caden Crowell gave up just one hit, walked one and struck out five. From a low three-quarters slot, Crowell, committed to Louisville, showed some athleticism by opening up on the mound to get his sinking fastball to his glove side. His spin feel was a bit inconsistent, but the makings of a slider were present. As for the changeup, it was the secondary pitch of choice at 73-76 MPH with bat-missing ability versus right-handers. 

College coaches must have been dialed in when the White Sox were on defense because it featured several uncommitted arms who stood out. Right-hander Sawyer Deering (Kimberly; Wisconsin) had one of my favorite deliveries in the event. Working quickly and easily, Deering, who kept a very steady head through release and moved easily, attacked with a very promising three-pitch mix: 89-92 MPH fastball routinely thrown for strikes; future plus 78-81 MPH slider (up to 2900 RPM) with a short, true look; 86 MPH changeup that should be a future average third pitch. He’s a good bet to throw strikes and hold his stuff at the next level. 

Righty Cody Freitas, an Illinois State commit, was up to 92 MPH with good feel for his changeup. Uncommitted right-hander Richie Swain touched 94 MPH with four walks and two hits in 2.0 innings. His lower arm slot and delivery led to a lot of arm side misses, but there’s a lot of talent and, clearly, some arm strength to work with along with a projectable frame; the slider feel was inconsistent, but has the makings of being a swing-and-miss offering with spin in the 2700 RPM range and his changeup has the right type of shape to work with. Arkansas commitment Mark Brissey took the mound with a sturdy, strong frame and big chest. Over 2.0 innings, his fastball sat 87-88 MPH with what looked like a splitter and also interesting feel of two distinct breaking balls. 

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor