Carroll's Owen earns top spot in MINK Top 30 Player Ranking
Just ahead of an action-packed MINK League postseason, the second round of Top 30 Player Rankings is hot off the presses.
The rankings are compiled by LJ Hatch, a former professional baseball player with experience as a scouting director and currently a skills coach out of the Kansas City area, with assistance from league officials to promote top talent in the MINK and set up major matchups.
The initial Top 30 relied heavily on production from the spring collegiate season. This round includes the impression made by individual players in one of the nation's top wood bat summer college baseball leagues.
The Joplin Jailbirds and Clarinda A's, after both had just two in the first top 30 that was published in mid-June, paced all teams with eight selections apiece. Joplin dominated the top half of the rankings with seven of the top 15 selections. The St. Joseph Mustangs placed seven on the list. The Carroll Merchants added four to the Top 30, including OF/LHP Drew Owen in the No. 1 spot. Nevada finished with two in the rankings and North Missouri with one.
Hatch included his comments on the compilation of the MINK League's Top 30: These rankings reflect where things stand at the midway point of the summer, a snapshot of who's putting up winning performances through the first half, not a projection of where the season ends up. Every number cited below is current through each player's most recent start, so workload matters just as much as the raw totals: a player logging heavy innings or a high volume of starts while still producing at a high level carries real weight in how we stack these names.
On the position-player side, we weighed the full offensive picture. Batting average and OPS as the baseline measures of production, paired with runs scored, RBIs, and stolen bases to capture the guys who are actually manufacturing runs and creating chaos on the bases. For pitchers, we leaned on ERA and WHIP as the core indicators of run prevention and control, with strikeout numbers factored in to separate pure innings-eaters from the true bat-missers. The goal across the board is simple: identify the players who've done the most, in the ways that matter most, to put their teams in position to win over the first half of the summer.
#1 Drew Owen, Carroll
There's no argument at the top of this board that Drew Owen is the best player in the league right now. He arrives off a standout freshman year at Des Moines Area Community College, where the Alleman, Iowa native picked up NJCAA All-American honors, All-Region recognition, and an ICCAC Athlete of the Week nod, and he's simply carried that momentum into the summer. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Owen is a true two-way weapon, and through 24 starts he leads the entire league in volume while posting numbers that jump off the page: a .418 average, 1.201 OPS, 38 hits, 32 runs, 24 RBIs, 5 home runs, and 15 stolen bases. Whether he's driving the ball from the left side, terrorizing pitchers on the bases, or taking the mound as a left-handed arm, Owen does damage in every phase of the game. He's the clear top performer of the summer so far.
#2 Brayden Luikart, St. Joe
Luikart, climbing all the way from #16 in the pre-season rankings to #2 at the midpoint. The local product out of Missouri Southern an NCAA Division II Gold Glove winner and All-MIAA First Teamer this past sprig, brings a polished approach and a bat that rarely misses a mistake. Through 23 starts, he's slashing an eye-popping .420 with a 1.203 OPS, 34 hits, 24 runs, 23 RBIs, and 4 home runs. Pair that kind of consistency with legitimate extra-base pop, and Luikart looks like one of the most complete hitters in the MINK League this summer.
#3 Jordan Tucker, Joplin
Tucker has been a nightmare at the top of Joplin's order and a true table-setter who also punishes mistakes. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed center fielder out of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, built his game at Bismarck State and Hutchinson Community College, and it's translated seamlessly to the summer. Across a heavy 23-start workload, he's hitting .416 with a 1.145 OPS and 37 hits to go with 26 runs scored. Add in 21 stolen bases and you've got a rare combination: high-volume hitting paired with the kind of speed that turns routine plays into chaos.
#4 Jayden Little, St. Joe Mustangs
Little has been the engine of the St. Joe lineup all summer. The 6-foot-2 senior infielder out of Lincoln University, a St. Joseph native, leads the team with 27 starts and has been remarkably steady in the heart of the order the whole way. He's hitting .384 with a 1.094 OPS, tied for the team lead with 38 hits, plus 23 RBIs and 19 runs scored. Between the volume, the hometown ties, and the run production, Little has become a cornerstone of what St. Joe is building this summer.
#5 Andrew Young, Clarinda
Young has been a spark plug for Clarinda from day one, carrying over the momentum of a strong freshman season at Missouri Southern State. The 6-foot, 190-pound left-handed outfielder out of Webb City, Missouri, has started 24 games and has been remarkably productive throughout, slashing .397 with a 1.068 OPS. His dynamic blend of speed and instincts on the bases has produced 15 stolen bases, and he's scored 29 runs to go with 22 RBIs. He's as durable and dangerous a run producer as there is in the league.
#6 Theodore Anderson, Clarinda
Anderson has been must-see at the plate, leading the entire league with a .471 average and an outrageous 1.206 OPS. At an imposing 6-foot-8, the Saint Mary's College freshman out of Santa Barbara has been a wrecking ball in the middle of Clarinda's lineup, piling up 33 hits, 10 doubles, and 22 RBIs through 18 starts. He's got fewer starts than the names above him, which is the only thing keeping him out of the top five, but pound for pound, his bat control and raw power make him arguably the most dangerous pure hitter in the MINK League right now and one of the highest ceilings.
#7 Timothy "TK" Madera, Nevada
Madera has been the definition of steady for Nevada. A big, physical presence who does a little bit of everything. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound left-handed-hitting outfielder out of Palomar College and Lakeside, California, has anchored the lineup through a heavy 24-start workload, hitting .370 with a 1.022 OPS, 34 hits, and 25 runs scored. Add in 14 stolen bases and you've got a genuinely complete offensive weapon in the middle of Nevada's order.
#8 Landin Midgett, Joplin
Midgett has provided serious thump in the middle of Joplin's lineup. The 6-foot, 205-pound junior corner infielder out of Pittsburg State by way of Coffeyville Community College has been a force through 22 starts, hitting .361 with a 1.090 OPS. He's driven in a league-best 28 RBIs and co-leads Joplin with 5 home runs. Strength, plate discipline, and a knack for coming through in big spots make him one of the more feared bats in the summer league.
#9 Gabe Perry, Joplin
The #1-ranked pitcher in the MINK League this summer. Perry has been an absolute horse on the mound for Joplin. The imposing 6-foot-7, 225-pound right-hander out of Missouri Southern State and Liberty, Missouri, has taken over the top of the rotation, leading all starters with 31.1 innings across just six starts while running a microscopic 2.30 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts. Durability and command in equal measure, Joplin gets a legitimate ace every time he takes the ball.
#10 Sean Bazmore, Clarinda A's
Bazmore has been a constant headache for opposing pitchers all summer. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior out of Sam Houston State and Crosby, Texas, brings the same athleticism that made him a fixture with the Bearkats. Through a heavy 24-start workload, he's hitting .316 with an .867 OPS, but it's his legs that make him dangerous. 20 stolen bases and 31 runs scored make him one of the most disruptive table-setters in the MINK League. Plus, his raw athleticism allows him to change games in the outfield.
#11 Eric Williams Jr., Joplin
Williams has quietly been one of the more consistent bats in the league. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound third baseman out of Mississippi Valley State, a St. Louis native, brings excellent barrel control to the middle of Joplin's order. Through 22 starts, he's cleared the 1.000 OPS mark (1.014) to go with a .365 average, 31 hits, 23 runs scored, and 21 RBIs as reliable a corner infielder as you'll find in the MINK League this summer.
#12 Drew Vonder Haar, Joplin
Vonder Haar has provided real thump for a Joplin club that's had no shortage of it. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt freshman out of Missouri Southern State and Webb City, Missouri, has made his 19 starts count, co-leading Joplin with 5 home runs while hitting .324 with a strong 1.016 OPS and 13 RBIs. A guy who can change a game with one swing. That's a dangerous piece to have in the middle of any lineup.
#13 Brecken Green, Joplin
Our #2-ranked pitcher overall. Green has been dominant on the mound since day one. The 6-foot-2 right-hander, a Class 6 First Team All-State honoree out of Joplin High School headed to Pittsburg State has carried his prep-level polish straight into collegiate summer ball. Through five outings and 16.0 innings, he's posted a 1.69 ERA, a league-best 0.69 WHIP, and a sharp 10.69 K/9. Hitters simply haven't had an answer for him yet.
#14 Clay Hedges, Clarinda
Hedges has been lights-out every time he's taken the mound for Clarinda. Our #3-ranked pitcher overall. The imposing 6-foot-4, 230-pound right-hander out of Angelo State and Fremont, Nebraska, has worked multiple innings deep all summer, logging 21 strikeouts over 19.1 innings across four appearances, with a 2.33 ERA and a stingy 0.88 WHIP. Command and swing-and-miss stuff make him one of the most trustworthy arms in the league.
#15 Austin Marsh, Joplin
Marsh has been pure production at the plate, leading his own team with a 1.219 OPS. The 5-foot-10 left fielder out of Northwest Missouri State and Lee's Summit West brings real pop whenever he's in the lineup. Through 16 starts, he's hit .327 with 4 home runs, 16 RBIs, and 19 runs scored. A lighter workload keeps him just outside the top ten, but the power and the OPS number both say he belongs in that conversation.
#16 Evan Rainey, North Missouri
Rainey has been the big bat in the middle of the NOMO lineup. The 6-foot, 230-pound redshirt sophomore infielder out of William Woods University and Lafayette, Indiana, has posted a 1.147 OPS and a .339 average through 18 starts while driving in 21 runs. He leads the league with 7 home runs and is capable of flipping a game with a single at-bat.
#17 Martin Smith, Carroll
Smith has been the definition of dependable for Carroll all summer. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore outfielder out of DMACC, a local Boone, Iowa product, has been a steady run producer in the heart of the order. Through 21 starts, he's hitting .362 with a 1.008 OPS, 23 RBIs, 3 home runs, and 22 runs scored. An everyday player Carroll can count on.
#18 Sam Weller, Carroll
Weller has taken his game up a level this summer. The 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore infielder out of Crowder College and Webb City, Missouri, bats left and throws right, and after logging 11 appearances with the Roughriders this spring, he's been a legitimate offensive threat for Carroll. Through 17 starts, he's hitting .381 with a monster 1.128 OPS, 20 RBIs, 3 home runs, and 24 runs scored. Sharp barrel control and a high floor make him a genuine threat every time he's in the box.
#19 Hayden Oliver, Carroll
Oliver has been a hit machine for Carroll. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound freshman outfielder out of Fort Scott Community College and Bentonville, Arkansas, has carried over the form that had him hitting .379 across 31 games with the Greyhounds this spring. Through 17 starts, he's hitting .391, paired with a 1.119 OPS, 18 RBIs, 2 home runs, and 23 runs scored. He simply doesn't miss the barrel.
#20 Tristan McMeen, Clarinda
Our #4-ranked pitcher overall. McMeen has been a model of efficiency on the mound for Clarinda. The 6-foot, 220-pound right-hander out of Greenville University and Edwardsville, Illinois, has racked up 20 strikeouts over 20.0 innings across six outings, with a 1.80 ERA and a tight 1.05 WHIP. He pounds the zone, keeps runners off base, and gives Clarinda a legitimate front-line arm.
#21 Tyler Gundelfinger, St. Joe
Gundelfinger has been an iron man for St. Joe, making a team-high 25 starts through the midpoint. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore infielder out of Hillsborough Community College and Shawnee Mission Northwest has held up well under that workload, hitting .342 with a .908 OPS, 27 hits, and 19 RBIs. A steady, everyday piece for St. Joe's offense.
#22 Lucas Vanlanduit, Joplin
Our #5-ranked pitcher overall. Vanlanduit has been dominant whether starting or coming out of the bullpen for Joplin. The 6-foot-1 right-hander out of Pittsburg State, a local Carl Junction High School product, has racked up 19 strikeouts over 16.2 innings across five appearances, with a 1.62 ERA and a crisp 1.02 WHIP. He misses bats and limits damage, a real weapon in Joplin's staff.
#23 Lane Chapman, St. Joe
Chapman has given St. Joe electric strikeout stuff out of the rotation. Our #6-ranked pitcher overall. The 6-foot sophomore left-hander out of Missouri Southern State and Lawson, Missouri, has made four starts across five outings, working 21.0 innings with a sharp 0.90 WHIP and a 3.43 ERA while piling up 30 strikeouts, a 12.86 K/9 rate. He's a legitimate difference-maker every time he's on the bump.
#24 John Petrie, Clarinda
Petrie has been a steady, everyday presence for Clarinda. The 6-foot-3 utility player out of Saint Mary's College and Huntington Beach, California, brings a championship pedigree from the high school ranks into his summer game. Through 22 starts, he's hit .345 with a .965 OPS, 19 hits, and 10 RBIs. A high-floor contributor Clarinda leans on for quality at-bats.
#25 Sebastian Coleman, St. Joe
Our #7-ranked pitcher overall. Coleman has been a strikeout machine for St. Joe. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound redshirt freshman right-hander out of Missouri Southern State and Lee's Summit West has bridged the gap between starter and long reliever across nine appearances (four starts). Over a heavy 25.1 innings, he's racked up a team-high 35 strikeouts, a 12.43 K/9 rate, with a 3.20 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. A workhorse who racks up punchouts in bulk.
#26 Haru Takekawa, St. Joe
Takekawa has brought a genuine swing-and-miss edge to the St. Joe staff. The 5-foot-9 left-hander out of Nihon University in Japan has become an essential, high-leverage arm for the Mustangs. Across six appearances (three starts) and 21.2 innings, he's posted a 1.20 WHIP, a 4.15 ERA, and 27 strikeouts, highlighted by an eight-strikeout performance against Carroll. His poise on the mound makes him a key piece of St. Joe's rotation plan.
#27 Luke Beverlin, Clarinda
Beverlin has stepped into a reliable rotation role for Clarinda. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound freshman left-hander out of Missouri Southern State and local Webb City High School bats right and throws left. Across seven appearances (four starts) and 18.0 innings, he's struck out 21 while keeping his ERA in check at 3.50. A dependable, sub 4.00 southpaw every time he takes the ball.
#28 Landon Jaynes, St. Joe
Jaynes has given St. Joe stability at the back of the rotation. The imposing 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander out of Central Missouri and Grain Valley, Missouri, has started all five of his outings, working 18.0 innings with 23 strikeouts and a 4.00 ERA. Size, consistency, and swing-and-miss ability make him a core rotation piece for the Mustangs and someone to keep an eye on.
#29 Brady Laubscher, Clarinda
Laubscher has brought pure swing-and-miss energy to Clarinda's staff. The 6-foot-3 freshman right-hander out of Saint Mary's College and Petaluma, California, arrives with a high school résumé that includes 225 strikeouts and First-Team All-State honors. Working back from injury, he's unloaded his stuff on the MINK League this summer. 33 strikeouts across 18.1 innings and seven appearances, a 16.20 K/9 rate, with a 4.42 ERA. Few arms in the league can simply overpower hitters the way he does.
#30 McGwire "Mac" West, Nevada
West has given Nevada heavy innings and a steady stream of swings and misses. The 6-foot-1 left-handed two-way athlete out of Verdigris High School (OK) brings a wiry frame, a high-spin breaking ball, and real two-way utility. Through six appearances (four starts), he's logged a team-high 31.0 innings and 36 strikeouts, with a 1.61 WHIP and a 6.10 ERA. His durability makes him a foundational piece of Nevada's pitching staff.