2028 Prospects Who Could Anchor A D1 Rotation

Having unique, special talent is hard to come by, but once you see it, it's impossible to miss. The prospects below have seen limited time at the varisty level and are still three years away from joining the collegiate ranks. Their incredible statistics throughout travel ball and the high school season have put them head and shoulders above the rest, setting them up for a busy time when recruiting rolls around.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five pitchers in the class of 2028 who we believe can one day anchor a Division I rotation.    Sophia Schlader was so good she joined Waukee Northwest's varsity team as an eighth grader, and she didn't just play, she dominated. In her first season, she brought home First-Team All-Conference, All-District and All-State honors while winning the 5A Offensive Pitcher of the Year award. She followed that star-studded year up by collecting 168 strikeouts and posting a 1.34 ERA through 109.1 innings in the circle. She even struck out Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean at his celebrity softball game. Sophia knows what it's like to perform in the big moments, and has the arsenal to compete anywhere.     Audrey Seiler exploded onto the high school softball scene this year, but her success was no surprise to travel ball teams across the Midwest. She's been dominating well above her age group, playing this summer with the 18U Lady Dukes as one of their key rotational pieces. As a freshman, she anchored Tecumseh's rotation on the road to a state championship. In the title game, she worked a complete-game, one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts. That was her 10th shutout of the season in a year when she also pitched a no-hitter and a perfect game, all while compiling an impressive 0.76 ERA with 240 strikeouts in 128 innings. Audrey is already the anchor of her varsity team's rotation, and we believe she'll soon do the same at the collegiate level soon.     McKenzie Jackson has showcased measurables that colleges absolutely want to see. In the circle, she can consistently hit near 70 mph and has one of the best screwballs in the country. McKenzie also boasts an arsenal of a plus riseball and curveball to couple with her speedy fastball. She finished her first year at the varsity level with an incredible six no-hitters and a perfect game. In 129 innings, McKenzie had 214 strikeouts with a 0.87 ERA, while also holding opposing hitters to a .140 average. She's shown everything she needs in just one year and is already attending camps at colleges like Florida and Auburn to set herself up for a very active recruiting process.     Anna Kate Barber is the type of prospect every college coach looks for. She's a dual-sport athlete who earned a varsity letter in both swimming and softball during her freshman year. She consistently showed strong command in the circle, knocking down Big Bend Player of the Week honors three times this year and a nomination for Sports Illustrated's Player of the Year award. Anna Kate won 18 of her 22 starts, posting a 1.89 ERA with 142 strikeouts through 108 innings. As the season progressed, Anna Kate continued to improve, fine-tuning her arsenal of pitches to constantly stay ahead of batters. Her attention to detail, coupled with incredible production in the circle, has made Anna Kate a can't-miss pitching prospect.     [player_tooltip player_id='106139' first='Ivee' last='Rastatter'] may be as good a hitter as she is a pitcher. Not only did she post an incredible .548 average with 12 doubles and seven homers, but she also anchored Kenton Ridge's rotation, making 30 appearances this year. Her 0.74 ERA was one of the best marks in Ohio, along with her 210 strikeouts and six shutouts. She uses all of her 5-foot-10 frame to blow by hitters and has a strong offspeed arsenal to keep them guessing in the batter's box. Ivee is an incredible softball player who is also a talented volleyball player, and her athletic prowess will be something scouts jump on in the coming years as she continues to dominate.

Having unique, special talent is hard to come by, but once you see it, it's impossible to miss. The prospects below have seen limited time at the varisty level and are still three years away from joining the collegiate ranks. Their incredible statistics throughout travel ball and the high school season have put them head and shoulders above the rest, setting them up for a busy time when recruiting rolls around.