Sports
5 MLB Prospects Pitching Their Way Onto The Top 100

In order to provide the best and most accurate prospect rankings possible, it’s essential to constantly review player performance and trends. By watching tape, combing through data and doing some good, old-fashioned reporting, Baseball America is able to be on the lookout for rising players who have yet to crack our Top 100 Prospects list.
With that in mind, today we’ll be looking at five pitchers on the outside looking in who are boasting both the performance and attributes needed for potential Top 100 status.
Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets
The Mets righthander may well be the next name to jump onto the Top 100 list thanks his strong performance to begin the season.
Tong has implemented several changes with his pitch mix that have resulted in excellent numbers to date. Over the offseason, Tong improved his changeup by changing his grip to add more drop. The offering subsequently became Tong’s primary secondary and is backed by excellent results, including a 54% in-zone whiff rate.
It’s not just his changeup that has seen a revamped look in 2025, as his fastball velocity is up nearly two mph, now sitting 94-95 mph and touching 97 at peak. Tong’s fastball has excellent shape with nearly 19 inches of ride on average and heavy cut.
Development of Tong’s slider will be paramount, as he mixes two breaking ball shapes in a downer curveball and slurvy slider. His plus fastball and above-average changeup give the Canadian product a baseline of skills for success in the major leagues.
Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics
Jump has been a favorite of analytically-minded evaluators since his days at JSerra HS in California.
And undersized lefthander at six feet tall, Jump’s lower release height of just 5-foot-5 allows his four-seam fastball plane to play up. So far as a professional, he has dominated with the pitch, using it around 60% of the time between his starts in High-A and Double-A in 2025. The fastball sits 94-95 mph, touching 97 at peak, and he typically generates between 16-18 inches of induced vertical break—an above-average number for his release height. Jump has displayed plus command of the pitch, with a fastball zone rate in the mid 60s and a whiff rate over 30%.
Jump also mixes three secondaries, the primary ones being a low-80s curveball with two-plane break and a mid-80s slider with baby sweeper-type shape. His changeup is thrown less than five percent of the time and is not a major part of his arsenal. Jump’s fastball movement and command provide a foundation to build upon, and so far, his first taste of professional ball has been dominant.
Carlos Lagrange, RHP, Yankees
The Yankees have been notoriously-strong evaluators on the international front for years, and Lagrange is one of the latest products of the organization’s historical success.
Standing 6-foot-7, Lagrange is blessed with outlier power in his right arm. He sits 98-99 mph on his fastball as a starter and touches 101 mph at peak, meaning few pitchers in the world throw harder than he does.
Over seven starts this season, he owns a 4.63 ERA, but a majority of those runs were scored in just a pair of outings. For most of the season, Lagrange has displayed the best command of his career and is sporting a 7.6% walk rate at present. That newfound command could push Lagrange to another level of prospect status, as his combination of plus stuff and the ability to command it portends well for future success.
Lagrange’s slider is a low-to-mid-80s offering with around 10 inches of sweep on average. He also mixes a changeup in the high 80s as his best swing-and-miss secondary, but he’s still learning to consistently command the pitch.
With a powerful arsenal, improving secondaries and growing command, Lagrange is trending upward.
George Klassen, RHP, Angels
Unfortunately, Klassen is currently on the injured list thanks to a hard liner he took to the head on May 11. Prior to the injury, however, he was trending toward Top 100 consideration, as his strike-throwing has taken another step forward this season and improved command has been a major development since he was drafted.
Over seven starts, Klassen has pitched to just a 4.97 ERA, but it’s backed by a 3.08 FIP and 2.58 xFIP. His stuff remains jaw-dropping, as he sits 96-97 mph on his fastball and touches 99 at peak. While the heater doesn’t feature tremendous ride, Klassen’s 14 inches of average armside run make up for the lack of traditional four-seam movement.
His primary secondary is a low-90s gyro slider that has generated whiffs at rate of 45% in 2025. He also mixes a curveball in the mid 80s featuring slurvy shape that he deploys as his primary weapon against lefthanded batters.
All in all, it’s a mix of premium stuff and improving execution, making Klassen one of the more exciting names outside the Top 100 list.
Bishop Letson, RHP, Brewers
The Brewers are starting to hit “embarrassment of riches” status, as every level of Milwaukee’s minor league system is littered with exciting prospects. While the Low-A Carolina Mudcats team boasts some of the best positional prospects in the game, the High-A Wisconsin team has a stellar rotation led by Letson.
The righty mixes four pitches: two fastball shapes, a sweeper and changeup. The sweeper is Letson’s primary pitch, thrown 38% of the time and boasting 16 inches of sweep on average. He shows the ability to command the pitch, using it to generate the highest in-zone whiff rate in his arsenal.
Letson’s two fastball shapes have definitively different looks. His primary fastball is a four-seam variant sitting 92-94 mph with average ride and around 10-11 inches of armside run. He mixes a two-seam fastball in the same velocity range with single-digit vertical break and 17 inches of armside run. He also blends in a changeup, but it’s a rarely-used pitch without much vertical separation off the fastball.
Letson has pitched to strong results over six appearances this season, as he owns a 1.33 ERA over 27 innings. After a few shorter outings early in the season, he’s gone five-plus innings in each of his last three starts.
Sports
Indy volleyball coach in viral video charged after allegedly sexting a minor
INDIANAPOLIS — A viral video has led to criminal charges against an Indianapolis volleyball coach accused of sending sexually explicit images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced that Levi Garrett, 34, of Danville, faces attempted dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony, following an independent investigation by the prosecutor’s office.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the charges stem from allegations that on March 2, 2025, Garrett engaged in explicit conversations and sent sexually graphic photos on the dating app Grindr to someone he believed was a minor.
A member of a private online investigative organization used a fake Grindr profile titled “tryna have fun” with a photo portraying themselves as a 14-year-old male named “Josh.” The decoy allegedly engaged with Garrett’s profile, “Hmu & find out.”
During the conversation, court documents show the minor texted Garrett, “U mind if I’m young,” and Garrett replied, “No I don’t mind.” When the decoy told Garrett, “I’m 14 but I down for whatever,” Garrett allegedly “liked” the message and proceeded to send three sexually explicit images, including photos of male genitalia and sexual activity.
The messages also allegedly included language about meeting for sex, with Garrett asking whether the encounter would be “safe or bareback.”
Court records show Garrett initially agreed to meet at a location in Greencastle but later blocked the account.
The case gained widespread attention in August when YouTuber JiDion, who is affiliated with the private investigative group, posted a 26-minute video titled “Volleyball Coach Gets EXPOSED” that has been viewed over 1.2 million times.
In the video, JiDion confronts Garrett at The Academy Volleyball Club located on East 30th Street, showing him screenshots of the alleged text exchanges and explicit photos.
Notably, the video showed several Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers at the scene during the confrontation. When JiDion urged them to arrest the coach, one officer stated, “I have run into this before. Our prosecutor will not touch this,” a response that was controversial to many of JiDion’s followers.
IMPD later responded to the backlash and clarified that the video lacked important context, noting that a police report was filed at the scene, Garrett was trespassed from the property, and detectives were informed about the allegations.
Following the viral incident, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office opened a formal investigation into the allegations.
“There are no shortcuts in the investigative process,” Mears said in a statement Monday. “When it comes to crimes against children, justice demands that an independent investigation occur and evidence be properly obtained, so that a case is built that will hold offenders accountable in a court of law.”
According to the affidavit, body camera footage from the incident shows Garrett identifying himself by name and providing his date of birth and phone number to officers, information that matched the Grindr profile under investigation.
Garrett is scheduled to appear for a change of plea hearing on January 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Marion County Superior Court.
Sports
Volleyball Lands Four on CSC Academic All-District Team
To qualify, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50, across both undergraduate and graduate courses, if applicable. Athletically, volleyball student-athletes must have either competed in 90% of their team’s contests for the season or started at least 66% of contests.
The list of honorees is below:
Senior Alina Anderson (Rockford, Mich. / Rockford / Ferris State)
Senior Abby Olin (Coopersville, Mich. / Coopersville / Michigan State)
Sophomore Izzy Swiercz (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville)
Sophomore Grace Thomas (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman)
Both Anderson and Olin earned the honor for the 2024 season.
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
Sports
Affidavit reveals AI-generated plan in alleged grooming case against Mesquite pastor’s son and volleyball coach
An arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News Texas reveals more details about what led up to the arrest of a teacher and volleyball coach accused of grooming a teenage girl to have a sexual relationship with her, including the discovery of an AI-generated document outlining manipulation tactics.
Matthan Lough, 32, was arrested on Dec. 10 on a charge of child grooming, a third-degree felony. His father, Kevin Lough, was the senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite, where some of the alleged grooming took place.
The victim and her mother filed a report with Mesquite police about Lough on Oct. 2. According to police, the victim’s mother found out about the relationship earlier that week.
Mesquite police: Grooming began more than two years ago
The affidavit outlines how the case began with an interaction at a party in the spring of 2023.
According to the affidavit, the victim met Lough at her cousin’s graduation party when he approached her while she was playing volleyball. The victim recognized Lough from church, as his wife was the worship leader for their youth group. Lough asked her if she would be interested in joining a club volleyball team he wanted to start at the church.
It was not until the fall of 2024 that Lough held tryouts for the team, and the victim was given a spot, the affidavit said. The victim reported a series of unusual interactions with Lough over the following months in which he shared overly personal details about his life and marriage, then began to make flirty and inappropriate jokes, according to the report.
Lough’s inappropriate behavior escalated further over the summer of 2025, when he started sending the victim explicit messages and discussed committing murders, the affidavit said. Lough also repeatedly made sure the victim knew he was carrying a gun, making her fear for her safety.
In September, the affidavit describes the relationship turning physical. Lough allegedly kissed the victim at a church event. Later that month, he sexually assaulted her twice, the victim told police.
The relationship ended after the victim’s mother discovered the inappropriate messages on the victim’s devices. Her mother then contacted Lough’s wife.
Police said that after the victim filed the report, detectives obtained a search warrant and found an AI-generated document on Lough’s iPad titled “Hypothetical Counter-Influence Plan.” The document outlined phases such as “rebuild her autonomy” and “shift the power dynamic,” and provided guidance on how to achieve success.
Fallout from child grooming case
After the relationship was uncovered, police said Lough’s wife left Texas. Court records show she filed for divorce in October.
Lough’s father also resigned as senior pastor of the Christian Center of Mesquite. In a post on the church’s website, its board said the church would work to seek justice for the victim. It also said the church has “initiated an immediate internal review of all child protection policies, volunteer screening processes, and facility access logs to ensure the absolute safety of every child and youth within our care.”
Sports
2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship: How to watch, schedule
Texas A&M shook up the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament when the No. 3 Aggies upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Nebraska in their regional final. Now, the Aggies are headed to their first Final Four in program history.
No. 3 Wisconsin, which ousted Texas, another No. 1 seed, on its home court, and No. 1 seeds Kentucky and Pittsburgh join Texas A&M in the national semifinals, which take place Thursday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Aggies will take on Pitt in one semifinal, while Wisconsin and Kentucky will face off in the other. Neither Texas A&M nor the Panthers have won a national championship, though Pitt will play in its fifth straight Final Four. Both Wisconsin (2021) and Kentucky (2020) have won one national title.
Here are key facts about the 2025 NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament:
What is the remaining schedule?
*All times Eastern
Thursday, Dec. 18
Semifinal: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh – 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Studio Show” – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Semifinal: No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 1 Kentucky – 9 p.m. on ESPN
Sunday, Dec. 21
“NCAA Women’s Volleyball Preview Show” – 3 p.m. on ABC
Championship – 3:30 p.m. on ABC
How can fans watch?
Fans can catch all of the action in the ESPN App and in the NCAA women’s volleyball streaming hub.
How can fans access more college sports coverage from ESPN?
Check out the ESPN college sports hub page for the latest news, scores, rankings and more.
Sports
Three Clarkson Volleyball Players Named to CSC Academic All-District List
The 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible, student-athletes need to be of sophomore standing both athletically and academically, hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or better, and have participated in 90% of sets or have started at least two-thirds of their respective team’s matches.
Baxter, a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering, was a Liberty League Second-Team All-Star thanks to her excellence in the back row. Baxter ranked 22nd nationally in digs per set (5.40 dps) and was 57th nationally in aces per set (0.63 aps).
Currier, a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering, continued to be relied upon in a variety of roles for the Knights, averaging 7.09 assists, 0.95 kills, 2.50 digs, and 0.61 blocks per set. In a match against University of Rochester she nearly posted an incredibly rare feat, coming up just one kill short of a quadruple double (31 assists, 16 digs, 10 blocks, and 9 kills).
Hangliter, a senior majoring in Environmental Engineering, finished the season averaging 2.62 kills per set, which ranked second on the team. She also was second in the Liberty League in aces per set with 0.64, which placed her 49th nationally in that category.
Sports
Three Tennessee Volleyball Players Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors
This marks the first time in program history that three Lady Vols have been named to the Academic All-District Team. In Eve Rackham Watt‘s eight years as head coach, eight total players have earned Academic All-District honors. Tennessee has had two or more players selected to the All-District team now in three seasons, all coming under Rackham Watt.
CSC’s Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Both Kerr and Kubik earned spots on the CSC Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on January 13, 2026.
Compiling a 3.87 GPA in the Sport Management program, Kerr garnered First Team All-SEC honors after leading the team with 945 assists. Kerr was a key force for a Tennessee attack that finished the season top 15 in both hitting percentage and kills per set. Kerr had 20 matches with 30 or more assists, including tying her career high with 57 against Florida on Oct. 15.
One of the top setters in Tennessee history, Kerr currently ranks sixth all-time in both assists (3,259) and assists per set (10.65). The two-time All-American setter has led the team in assists in each of the last three seasons, eclipsing the 1,000-assist mark in both 2023 & 2024.
Earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, Kubik had her best offensive season of her career in her final collegiate season. Kubik led the team in kills (390), kills per set (4.19), points (431.0), and points per set (4.63) this season. She had double-digit kills in 24 matches, reaching 20 or more on four occasions.
Kubik also ranked top ten in the conference in both kills per set and points per set in 2025. A stellar defender in the back row, Kubik finished third on the team with 209 digs. The First Team All-SEC selection had seven double-doubles on the campaign, all of which came against conference opponents.
Boasting a 4.00 GPA in Communication Studies, Güçtekin became an important piece to Tennessee’s defensive success. The senior libero led the team in 2025 with 408 digs. Güçtekin finished the season ranking top five in the SEC in both digs and digs per set. She recorded double figure digs in 23 matches, including having 20 or more in six. She set a career-high of 30 digs at Kentucky on Nov. 9, becoming the first Tennessee player to reach 30 or more digs since Yelianoz Torres had 30 against Arkansas on Oct. 20, 2023.
Güçtekin eclipsed 1,000 digs in her career this season, and finishes her collegiate career with 1,293 digs. An all-around player in college, Güçtekin also finished with 423 assists and 117 aces.
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