On Saturday, Lyman Hall’s opening day starter, sophomore Liam Laffin, struck out six and allowed just three hits in six innings against one of the top lineups in the state, helping the Trojans to a statement 10-4 victory over Fairfield-Warde, our preseason No. 1 team.
Laffin did not make our preseason Players to Watch list. There’s that much talent in Connecticut right now.
Which is why we’re following that list with this one, which features a group of 10 players who either weren’t included but deserved to be — because of their existing body of work in the CIAC, like Laffin — or didn’t make it because they’ve yet to prove it at the high school level but have the potential to be among the most impactful players in the state. It includes a couple of exciting freshmen, three juniors, and a sophomore with big-time talent who have yet to commit, three seniors who couldn’t find room on our original list, and, of course, Laffin.
Here are 10 under-the-radar players to watch in Connecticut in 2026:
