the lineup card: vol 7
For young ballplayers all over, the summer travel season represents more than just a game. It means spending countless hours with their best friends at hotels while away at tournaments. It is the sacrifice parents make to let them play, car-pooling across state borders with multiple teammates in the backseat. Most of all, it is the opportunity for kids to showcase themselves to scouts, both college and pro, while envisioning a brighter future.
Much like any other summer since they were little, 17-year-olds Brayton Thomas and Hogan Denny could not wait to begin their travel season. Unlike previous years, this particular summer circuit has a slightly different feel in the air.
It is their last one.
“I’ve definitely thought about it,” Denny said, reflecting on a journey that began when he was just 7 years old. “Even though it’s coming to an end and it’s a big year, I’m just having fun and taking in all the moments I get.”
Those moments on and off the field create memories that last a lifetime. For Denny, one of his best experiences was winning the tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park with Jayce Lee and RJ Cromartie, who were profiled by The Lineup Card in April. For Thomas, he will remember all the downtime with his teammates — playing Spikeball, hopping in the pool on a scorching hot day or wandering around in the mall together.
While other soon-to-be high school seniors still work toward securing offers from collegiate teams, Denny and Thomas are a step ahead. Both Indiana natives have already committed to stay home and play Division I baseball for the Hoosiers. Still, that has not stopped them from lining up to participate in multiple showcases this summer. Why? Because there are even bigger opportunities up for grabs.
“My main motivation is just to show everyone else that I am worthy of playing baseball at the major league level,” Thomas confidently explained. “There’s not just college scouts here anymore. It’s more MLB scouts and MLB area scouts. So now it’s how far can you get?”
Meet the hard-throwing lefty from “Turtle Town”
Roughly a year ago, Brayton Thomas and his family packed their bags and moved from their Fort Wayne home to be closer to family in Churubusco, a place famously nicknamed “Turtle Town” for reasons the southpaw could not yet explain. According to the University of Michigan, the nickname dates back to 1949 when the town made national headlines as a result of a reported gigantic turtle sighting.
While Thomas did not describe anything that looks like Bowser from Mario Kart in his backyard, he did mention enjoying riding his four-wheeler around the farmland and fishing with his cousins during his free time. His new home is just close enough that he did not have to switch schools, although it does come with a half hour commute every morning.
Thomas has moved around quite a bit since entering Bishop Dwenger High School – not as much in a literal sense, but instead in the state rankings as a left-handed pitcher. Before he became the top-ranked player in the entire state of Indiana or a projected first-round pick in 2024, Thomas was nowhere to be found on any list.
“There was a point a couple years ago where I was all arm…I couldn’t really throw a baseball hard,” Thomas said. “Learning how to use your body to throw hard, throw properly and throw strikes is very important.”
Very gradually, Thomas began growing into his tall frame. After making the varsity team as a freshman, four senior teammates — Sam Pesa, Xavier Nolan, Callan Stauffer and Brenden Lytle took the promising left-hander under their wing and introduced him to the weight room.
“They would pick me up in the morning before school, we would go to their weight room and we would just bang out weights,” Thomas said. All four seniors, who continued to play together at the University of Saint Francis, taught the lone freshman on the team how to lift properly so he would avoid hurting himself. “They’ve honestly been one of the biggest keys to my success. You can’t just get by going to practice with the team, you have to do the extra work.”
Working out is now included in Thomas’ favorite hobbies. He lifts two days before his start and then the day after he throws to regain his strength and get the body moving. When the gym is not playing his favorite country artists Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen or HARDY, he just tunes out the lyrics and listens to the beats to pump him up instead.
In addition to his progression physically, Thomas has made tremendous strides on the mound in the past couple years. Before he even committed to Indiana University, their pitching coach Dustin Glant would hop on Zoom calls with him for hours at a time and show him how he can pitch more effectively. Glant utilized technology he learned during his time coaching with the Yankees organization in Triple-A, pulling videos of Thomas from Prep Baseball Report and inserting them into his database. Thomas learned how each of his pitches move in addition to where and when he should throw them.
The dedication from Indiana coaching staff paired with their recent success rate of getting pitchers to the big leagues drew Thomas to the Hoosiers. Even after securing his commitment, their player/coach relationship has continued to grow. Thomas has noticed improvement in his fastball command and his ability to land off-speed pitches on both sides of the plate since working with Glant. His heater currently gets up to 93 mph, while the rest of his pitch mix includes a changeup, curveball and a plus slider.
“Catching him came pretty easy to me,” Denny said. The two recruits played together with the Indiana Bulls Black team when they were younger. Even after Denny moved on to the Midwest Canes, he was able to catch Thomas again at an event this past year. “Every single one of his pitches have improved tremendously. I think that Indiana got two of the best players in the state.”
Thomas still knows he is a work in progress. Every time he throws, whether it is a bullpen, flat ground session or a simple game of catch, he targets his partner’s left shoulder so he can simulate throwing inside to righty batters. Thomas also practices his pickoff move often, which is a crucial skill for lefty hurlers to have at the next level.
During the cold winter months, Thomas can still stay sharp thanks to his late grandfather, who built a barn with a basketball court, volleyball court and a batting cage for him and his cousins shortly before he passed away two years ago. There, Thomas repeats drills he learned from longtime baseball coach Tom Held at a camp he attended in Defiance, Ohio. He often sends videos to Held so he can be critiqued and even goes back to Defiance during the winter to help run camps for younger kids.
Carrying the family legacy
One might say Hogan Denny was born to be a catcher.
His late grandfather, Dick Denny, caught for Duke University and had the walk-off walk that sent them to the 1952 College World Series. He inspired Hogan’s father, Tim, to become a college catcher and naturally, Hogan followed suit.
From the time he turned 7, Hogan began playing baseball in the age group ahead of his own. He and his father agreed that competing with older kids would ultimately make him a better player in the long run. A year later, the third-generation backstop began his travel ball journey.
“Ever since I was little, I felt pretty much like the only plan I’ve ever really had was to be a professional baseball player,” Denny said over the phone after playing a tournament game in Atlanta.
Early on, Denny separated himself from the rest of his class as one of the top-ranked players in the state. That has continued to be the case as he is currently listed as the fifth-best player in Indiana and number one overall at his position. This season at Mooresville High School, Denny hit .462 with nine home runs, seven doubles, three triples and 40 RBI in 28 games played.
“I honestly don’t know if there’s a better catcher in the class than Hogan Denny,” Thomas said. “He’s got the hit tools. He’s got the arm. He’s got the quickness. He is an all-around stud and he’s been my best friend ever since that 14U season.”
The two Indiana recruits competed on opposite sides for the first time this season. Denny went 2-for-3 during their first high school matchup and then recently flew out on a first pitch curveball during a travel game. Thomas explained that it is extremely difficult to attack a hitter like Denny due to his ability to turn on the inside heater, take outside pitches the opposite way and not get fooled by breaking pitches.
Denny was a longtime member of the Indiana Bulls before leaving to play with the Midwest Canes for his 15U season. He felt most comfortable sticking with his coach, Rick Stiner, who decided to switch travel programs. Just like the Bulls, pretty much everyone on the team is committed to or currently being recruited by college baseball programs. Two days before Thomas announced his commitment to IU on Aug. 30, 2021, Denny made his decision official.
“Compared to other schools and coaching staffs, Coach Mercer and Simmons just connected to me more,” Denny said. “I feel like they cared about me as an individual away from baseball as well.”
Having the opportunity to play college baseball just 30 minutes from where he grew up and represent his home state is not something Denny takes lightly. He feels blessed to have a strong support system in his parents, family and girlfriend close by.
Moving into his senior year of high school, the versatile catcher is preparing for the responsibilities of being the starting quarterback on the football field during the fall. Once that season ends, he plans on resting for a bit and then getting in shape for the spring baseball season. Mooresville High School offers a strength and conditioning class in addition to recently renovating their weight room, which Denny believes gives their programs a competitive advantage against others in the same conference. This type of access only fuels his motivation to chase his aspirations.
“In the most humble way possible, I’m definitely confident in my abilities that God has given me,” Denny said. “I think that I can compete with anybody, especially the people ranked ahead of me.”
The steps ahead
A year from now, both Denny and Thomas hope to hear their name called at the MLB Draft, whether or not they decide to sign or instead choose to play college ball and be the next battery for the Hoosiers.
Denny is signed up for the Perfect Game National Event that will take place in July. Additionally, he plans on participating in the East Coast Pro Showcase, which is run by MLB scouts.
Thomas and his Indiana Bulls teammates recently traveled to North Carolina to compete with the rest of the Top 16 teams in the country at the USA Baseball National Team Championships, where they came up just short against the Canes in the Final Four. Individually, Thomas will participate in USA PDP, Perfect Game National, Area Code and the PBR All-American Game.
Once that final gauntlet comes to an end, all that is left will be the senior high school season. No more team carpools, no more killing time for hours in hotels with friends and parents — just baseball. Knowing that either catching for Indiana or potentially getting drafted is in the cards, Denny is at peace with this chapter closing.
“I feel like my time has come,” Denny said. “All these years have been fun playing with my friends but I definitely am excited for what the future holds in the next step.”
Before the page flips over, Denny is very excited for another chance to play alongside his younger brother, Tyler, who made the varsity baseball team as a freshman and hit .299 with two home runs in 28 games this past spring. Hogan believes that Tyler’s college recruitment will start picking up very soon, aligning with the family tradition.
Thomas has seen the rankings and draft boards. He recognizes that there will be scouts with eyes on his every move at his high school games. Even in the cold up north, the Indiana commit knows that he will not be given much leeway. The 6-foot-4 fireballer welcomes the challenge. In fact, it makes him even more competitive.
“The rankings, they’re not there forever,” Thomas said. PBR’s No. 10 player in the nation knows firsthand how quickly players can climb and drop, especially after being unranked just a few years ago. “They’re fun to look at, but none of it matters. If I go out and perform each and every day, then I have a chance at being a high-level draft pick. And that’s exactly what I want to be.”