The Iowa outfield was a veteran-led group last season, and that is poised to change next season.
With seniors Miles Risley and Joey Nerat on the way out, that opens up at least two spots in the Iowa outfield. Brett White, Jaylen Ziegler, and Kellen Strohmeyer contributed in a deep outfield last season and are projected to return. The Hawkeyes also picked up Kirkwood Community College transfer Wrigley Matthys and slugging 1B/OF Sawyer Stein from Iowa Central Community College.
It will be interesting to see how the outfield group shakes out next season, and sophomore Ben Toft is making it even more interesting.
OF Ben Toft is torching the Propsect League ahead of next college baseball season
Wilmette, Illinois native Ben Toft was a highly touted high school prospect before signing with the Hawkeyes, and he is making up for not playing much as a freshman by torching the Prospect League with the Clinton Lumberkings.
Ben Toft is your Skyline Center Week 4 Player of the Week!
— Clinton LumberKings (@LumberKings) June 21, 2026
The Iowa freshman earned the honors for the second straight time. He finished the week with the most hits and RBI of anybody on the team. In three starts, he hit .462 with a .533 on-base percentage. pic.twitter.com/jcrTAyOJ96
The Lumberkings named Toft the Player of the Week after batting .462 with a .533 on-base percentage, including six hits and a team-leading eight runs batted in (RBI) during his three starts. His numbers were propped up by a massive six RBi game against Springfield, and he was an easy choice for Player of the Week.
In 17 games (56 at-bats) so far this summer for the Lumberkings, Toft is batting .375 with four doubles and 18 RBI. He also has 13 walks and 13 stolen bases. Toft's numbers are no surprise because during his senior season before joining the Iowa program, he batted .457 in conference play and .411 overall, guiding his club to a third-place finish.
With a few openings in the outfield, Toft is taking full advantage of his time with the Lumberkings in Clinton, Iowa, forcing his way into the conversation. He is an elite contact hitter and has great speed on the bases, making him a potential top-of-the-order hitter and base stealer. If Toft continues his solid summer with the Lumberkings, he will give Heller a lot to think about before next baseball season.
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