Early Risers: 2029s Already On College Coaches' Radars

Most college coaches are currently focusing on finalizing their 2026 recruiting classes, preparing to reach out to 2027 prospects and getting an early look at the class of 2028. But several 2029 recruits are already making waves for their travel teams, and some have even made their marks at the high school varsity level before starting ninth grade this fall.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five players from the class of 2029 who are already on college coaches' radars.    A two-way player teeming with potential, Sofia Reyes is poised to become one of the top recruits in her class from the Northeast. She has already played up a division for her club's 16U team and held her own, with a powerful, compact swing that produces impressive pop for her age. In the circle, she throws a drop curve and a changeup that have batters swinging way out in front. Reyes also has above-average speed, and after batting .480 between the 12U and 14U levels in the summer of 2024, she worked on improving her swing path over the winter as she readies for high school. She recognizes pitches well and hits to all fields, and advanced through the first round of cuts for selection to the Puerto Rico 15U national team.     Playing for one of the most consistently successful travel ball organizations in talent-rich Southern California, Grace Kumpel is regularly tested against the best and is a rising star. Over 11 events during the current season, she has pitched to a 1.47 ERA in 76 1/3 innings, striking out 93 batters while walking just 21. In 2024, she batted .351 and slugged .577, legging out seven triples. Kumpel has good velocity and uses horizontal movement to both sides of the plate, catching batters swinging under her rise ball and in front of her changeup, and fooling right-handers with a screwball. She also fields her position well and has an excellent feel for the game. While many pitchers struggle throwing to bases other than first, Kumpel displays calmness and confidence throwing overhand for force plays. Kumpel has home run power to center field and complements her pitching and defense with a strong all-around offensive game.     Kaiya Devereux brings the power from the left side of the plate with a nice, easy swing, and her aim is to drive the ball to the middle of the diamond. She is also an outstanding baserunner with the ability to leg out triples into the left field corner, where the defense does not have to make as long of a throw. Her instincts are frequently on display, and she will not hesitate to take an extra base any time a ball gets away. At a tournament early in the summer, Devereux was a perfect 5-for-5 in three games with five stolen bases. She is a plus defender in center field with good range and a rocket arm that can cut down runners at home plate.     Kyla Zembrycki earned a bit of varsity experience as an eighth grader last spring, and she does a little bit of everything defensively, playing catcher, both corner infield positions and all three outfield spots. Her arm from behind the plate is her best tool, as many baserunners who try to steal on her end up trotting back to the dugout. Her long, explosive swing generates power from gap to gap. Zembrycki has especially strong chemistry with her younger sister, Brynlee, a pitcher in the class of 2030. She is just as strong in the classroom, as her 4.0 GPA will surely make her an attractive player with academically-minded college programs.     Natalie Recker played a full varsity season in eighth grade, batting .431 with a 1.161 OPS, nine doubles and four triples in 23 games while walking more than she struck out. She played near-perfect defense with just one error, and although her pitching numbers don't jump off the page, she still struck out more than one batter per inning and held opponents to a .224 average. The right-hander uses both sides of the plate effectively and mixes speeds and eye levels well to generate whiffs and called strikes. She does not hit for much power, but sprays the ball all over the field and has plenty of time to build up her strength before her formal recruitment begins.

Most college coaches are currently focusing on finalizing their 2026 recruiting classes, preparing to reach out to 2027 prospects and getting an early look at the class of 2028. But several 2029 recruits are already making waves for their travel teams, and some have even made their marks at the high school varsity level before starting ninth grade this fall.