2026 Hurricane Classic Preview

Prospect Wire opens its High School Spring schedule with the Hurricane Classic in Bradenton, Florida. The event features 12 teams traveling in from the east and west coasts of Florida as well as Tennessee, creating a competitive field filled with high-end talent and teams capable of making a championship run. With several programs bringing experienced rosters, college commits, and standout underclassmen, the Hurricane Classic is shaping up to be one of the early-season events to  watch on the high school circuit. Many of these teams are already off to strong starts this spring and will look to build momentum as the face quality competition throughout the week. Here are a few teams and players to keep an eye on as the week progresses.

Davidson Academy (Nashville, TN): The Davidson Academy Bears out of Nashville are off to a strong start this season, opening the year with an impressive 3-0 record. The Bears are a program with a history of competing at a high level in Tennessee’s private school ranks and have consistently developed players capable of playing at the next level. This year’s squad is led by a deep group of experienced upperclassmen including Colton Sanders (Dyersburg State commit), Boston Graham (Dyersburg State commit), Tate Harold (Transylvania Commit), Zach Madar (United States Naval Academy commit), Ayden Bradley (Lincoln Memorial commit), Braxton Johnson (Carson-Newman commit), and Cooper Rogers (Alabama Huntsville commit). With a 3-0 start and a deep roster the Bear’s look to make some noise this week in the Hurricane Classic.

Inspiration Academy (Bradenton, FL): The Inspiration Academy Lions out of Bradenton, FL enter the Hurricane Classic with a 3-5 record, a mark that doesn’t fully reflect how competitive this group has been early in the season. Several late inning losses have kept the Lions from adding a few more wins. Inspiration Academy will be without one of their biggest pieces this weekend as star center fielder Max Prejda, a Yale commit, is currently competing in the World Baseball Classic for the Czech Republic. Even without Prejda in the lineup, the Lions still bring plenty of talent and depth on both sides of the ball. Leading the way is 2027 Max Bradley, a 6’0”, 190-pound right-hander who has established himself as the ace of the pitching staff. Bradley has been electric on the mound, sitting 88-90 mph and touching 92, while posting a 1.83 ERA with 19 strikeouts. He’s also a legitimate two-way threat hitting 0.458 with an OPS of 1.081. Another standout arm is Rylan Autman, a 6’4” 185-pound right hander who sits 86-90 mph on the mound. Autman also contributes offensively hitting 0.560 through 19 plate appearances. The rotation is further strengthened by 2026 Kolten Harris, who is in his second year as a starter for the Lions. Defensively, the Lions are anchored up the middle by 2026 Sean Dromgool, the starting short stop has been lockdown on defense and also contributes on the mound. Out of the bullpen, 2027 Alex Smith has been a dependable option posting a 2.25 ERA with 9 strikeouts. Behind the plate, 2027 Jack Araujo has handled the majority of the catching duties, providing strong receiving skills and leadership for the pitching staff. One of the younger players making an impact is 2028 Sawyer Bannon, who has recently forced his way into the lineup and swinging a hot bat early in the season. The Lions are also led by a pair of committed seniors, including Oakley Shirk, a catcher committed to Tennessee Wesleyan, and Carter Okuhara, an outfielder committed to Lyon College, both of whom provide valuable leadership and experience.  

Lakeway Christian School (White Pine, TN): The Lakeway Christian School Lions out of White Pine, Tennessee are off to a solid start this season with a 3-1 record and appear to be a strong contender in the TSSAA 2-1A classification. With a balanced roster that blends experienced upperclassmen with talented young players, Lakeway Christian has the pieces to make a serious push toward a state title run this spring. The Lions’ roster features several key contributors who will play a major role in their success this season. 2028 Chase Gockenbach (3B/P) is an exciting young talent who can impact the game in multiple ways. 2027 Daniel Rodriguez (P) adds depth to the pitching staff and gives the Lions another reliable arm. Behind the plate, 2026 Cainan Crowe (C) provides leadership and stability for the pitching staff. 2026 Luke Burnett (INF/P) brings versatility to the lineup, giving the Lions another two-way option. Up the middle, Diego Pinilla (SS/P) anchors the defense and provides another arm on the mound. The middle of the lineup is strengthened by 2026 Hudson Ford and 2026 Jack Hamilton both of whom provide offensive production for the Lions. With a 3-1 start and a roster filled with versatile talent the Lions look to make a statement at the Hurricane Classic.

Manatee High School (Bradenton, FL): The Manatee High School Hurricanes out of Bradenton, FL are off to a strong start this season, opening the year with an 8-4 record and establishing themselves as a team to watch in the competitive Florida high school baseball landscape. Manatee once again features a roster loaded with experience and next-level talent. Leading the way for the Hurricanes is Ashton Hovda (SS), a University of West Florida commit, who anchors the infield and brings a strong combination of athleticism and leadership to the lineup. In the outfield, Jordan Roberts (OF) and Bryan Rodriguez (2B), both committed to Essex Count College, provide offensive production and versatility. Behing the plate, Xander Arias, a Camp Community College commit, plays a role managing the pitching staff while contributing offensively. Cooper Richardson (1B/P) gives a valuable two-way presence. The Hurricanes also feature standout talent in Peyton Hovda and Bam Gartman, both Prospect Wire All-Americans, who bring high-level ability and big-game experience to the roster. Matt Fonseca rounds out the group adding depth to the pitching staff. With a hot start the Canes look to defend their home field in the Hurricane Classic. 

Parrish Community High School (Parrish, FL): The Parrish Community Bulls out of Parrish, FL are off to a solid start this season with a 6-4 record and continue to establish themselves as a competitive program in the always tough Florida High School landscape. With a roster filled with talented upperclassman and promising young players, the Bulls have the depth and versatility to make a strong push as the season progresses. Leading the pitching staff is Prospect Wire All-American Wesley Anderson, a State College of Florida commit, who provides a strong front-end arm. Fellow 2026 Vincent Barry, committed to Lake-Sumter State College, adds another key piece to the rotation and helps anchor the pitching staff that has the ability to keep the Bulls in games against strong competition. The roster also features several versatile athletes capable of contributing in multiple ways. 2026 Tyler Brown (OF/P) and 2026 Mason Plese (P/INF) both provide valuable two-way depth. 2026 Caleb Hoch, a Jefferson Community College commit, is another important piece on the infield, while 2026 Frankie Giustino (P) adds additional depth on the mound. Defensively, 2026 Gehrig Skole (INF) helps strengthen the infield, while younger contributors such as 2027 Denver McDonald (OF) and 2028 Landon Straub (1B/P) give the Bulls exciting future pieces that already make an impact. With a 6-4 start and a roster loaded with talented arms and versatile athletes the Bulls look to separate themselves in the Hurricane Classic.