Top 2030 Prospects To Watch In Kentucky

While many people have their minds tuned in on the holidays and how many presents they may get, others are busy in the weight room or the batting cage, or are even braving the cold temperatures and going through fielding drills. Spring softball is just around the corner, and in the Bluegrass State there are plenty of players to keep an eye on.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five of the top prospects from Kentucky in the high school graduating class of 2030.    [player_tooltip player_id='151911' first='Jaylen' last='Cooper'] has already racked up quite a few firsts in her high school varsity career, beginning as a 7th grader earlier this year. In March, she had her first start in the circle for the Greenup County Musketeers, and threw three scoreless innings, only walking one batter and striking out six. The very next day, she picked up her first high school home run, and then in April, hit a walk-off three-run home run. The penultimate moment then came in May, when she went back-to-back with her sister, Laiken Cooper, in a district playoff game. The Musketeers went 24-7 on the season, and Cooper's bat, as well as her pitching skills, played a definite role in their success. In August, she took part in the 14U USA All-American games in OKC, which is a testament to her talent on the field. She is an athlete full of confidence, and rightly so. There is a lot to be excited about for her.     Softball is far from an easy game, but some of the numbers that Izzie Stull put up this fall for her Fusion squad sure make it seem that way. At a showcase in August, she led her team with a .600 batting average, along with six hits and five RBIs. To top it off, in the circle, she collected four strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched. She also put up phenomenal numbers at the River City Showcase in October, including a .500 batting average and a perfect fielding percentage. She has good movement and velocity on her rise ball, and also has a fastball in her arsenal. She works hard to improve in all facets of the game, and should be a fun player to watch in this coming year.     Hayden Knipp already has a no-hitter under her belt for the year, which is one of many accomplishments for the left-hander from just south of Louisville. At a tournament in June, she pitched three innings with five strikeouts, shutting down some tough competition. Earlier in the year, she finished her 7th grade season with a solid 2.57 ERA, including 18 strikeouts and only three earned runs allowed. At the plate, she had a fantastic .528 batting average with 10 hits in 19 at-bats, and an on-base percentage of .667. In the circle, she has great control, and works in the strike zone. She can pile up the strikeouts, while also providing some pop with her bat. Another attribute of her game is her hustle, which earned her a Hustle Award from her Fusion team in April of last year.     You could make a good argument that Addley Becker has the perfect first name because she simply keeps on adding to her softball resume, especially on the offensive side. The Louisville product had a monster fall season at the plate for the Fusion, with a .383 batting average, 18 RBIs, 17 runs scored, three doubles, two home runs, two triples, and a 1.124 OPS. Consistency is the name of the game for Becker, considering she also put up a .375 batting average this past summer, and in total has almost 50 RBIs for the year in travel ball alone. She is a threat on the base paths with her speed and has a serious amount of power to all fields. Perhaps the best part of her offense is she has a simple swing. She doesn't try to do too much because she doesn't have to; when she makes contact, the ball flies.     Similar to her teammate Addley Becker, Ashlynn Carman was lighting it up offensively for her squad this year. At her team's final tournament of the fall season, Scenic City in Tennessee, she was among the leaders with a .400 batting average, including a double. During the summer, she launched a grand slam in May, and then followed that performance up with another long ball in June. On defense, however, is where she really shines. She can play anywhere on the field, from the outfield to third base, and has a strong arm, good throwing accuracy, great range and solid defensive instincts. It is vital for a team to have an athlete who can hold down the hot corner and provide a strong relay throw from the outfield. Carman checks both of those boxes.

While many people have their minds tuned in on the holidays and how many presents they may get, others are busy in the weight room or the batting cage, or are even braving the cold temperatures and going through fielding drills. Spring softball is just around the corner, and in the Bluegrass State there are plenty of players to keep an eye on.