IHSBCA 2027 Hall of Fame Press Release The Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association has selected the 2027 inductees for the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. This year’s class includes 2 coaches and 3 players. Kyle Kraemer of Terre Haute South and Robert (Bob) Jones of Edgewood are the coaching inductees; Tucker Barnhart (Brownsburg), Eric Bruntlett (WL Harrison), and Wallace Johnson (Veterans’ Committee) are the player inductees. The 2027 class will be honored on January 22 at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet which is a part of the 3-day IHSBCA State Clinic. The banquet will be held at the Sheraton Keystone Crossing Indianapolis and will start at 7:00 PM. The banquet is preceded by a social hour at 6:00 PM and a Red-Carpet show at 5:00 PM. All events for the Hall of Fame will be held at the Sheraton. The Hall of Fame Banquet is a celebration of baseball as we recognize our state champion coaches, district coaches of the year, and victory club, along with our Hall of Fame inductees. Tickets are available for the banquet through the IHSBCA website (www.ihsbca.org) or by using this LINK. Tickets must be purchased by January 19 and will be picked up at the door on the evening of the event. Questions can be directed to Hall of Fame Chairman Jeff McKeon at 317-445-9899 or jmckeon@plainfield.k12.in.us Congratulations again to the 2027 inductees to the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame! Hall of Fame Members: Kyle Kraemer is a 1986 graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School. He was an IHSBCA First Team All-State Selection after his senior year and played in the 1986 IHSBCA North-South All-Star Series. Kyle then played collegiately for four years at Purdue University under legendary IHSBCA Hall of Famer, Dave Alexander. Kraemer was named Team Captain and led the Boilers with 10 home runs his senior season. Coach Kraemer was the head coach at his alma-mater for 29 years. He accumulated a 550-266-2 career record. Coach K was also an assistant varsity coach at West Lafayette Harrison High School in 1992 as well as an assistant varsity coach at Terre Haute South in 1993 and 1994, prior to taking over as head coach in 1995. Kraemer has sent 76 former players on to the next level - primarily in baseball - 8 of his former players have played professionally - 66 of his players have been All Conference selections (42 Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference and 24 Conference Indiana) - 8 players have been named to the IHSBCA Academic All-State Team - 12 players have participated in the IHSBCA North-South All-Star Series - and 5 players recognized as IHSBCA First Team All-State. Kyle was a member of the first two Terre Haute South baseball teams to ever win Sectional and Regional Championships in 1985 and 1986. He coached the Braves to 8 Conference Championships (6 in the MIC - 2 in CI), 10 Sectional Championships, 4 Regional Championships and 2 Final Four appearances. He was also selected as the MIC Coach of the Year 6 times and the CI Coach of the Year 2 times. Coach K is an active member of the IHSBCA. He served as the District M Representative for over 20 years - acted as the host for the 2006 IHSBCA North-South All-Star Series - was an assistant coach for the South All- Stars in the 2008 IHSBCA All-Star Series - has served as a member of the South All-Star Selection Committee on numerous occasions - as well as a member of the 4A Poll Panel. Kraemer is currently a dean of students at West Vigo High School. He lives in Riley, IN with his wife - Valerie - who is a 4th grade teacher in Vigo County as well. They share three children together - Koby Kraemer and his wife Seyma - Ali Gonzalez and her husband Rigo - Jacob Givens - as well as 7 grandchildren: Kali and Khalil Kraemer - Mila and Maddie Gonzalez - Liam, Leia and Olivia Givens. Robert (Bob) Jones graduated from Central Catholic High School (now Vincennes Rivet) in 1970 before continuing his education at Vincennes University and Indiana State University. He began his teaching career in 1975 and joined Edgewood’s baseball program in 1980 as an assistant and junior varsity coach under Kent DeFord and Ron Beatty. In 1985, Jones took over as head coach of the Mustangs, beginning a remarkable 40-year run of leadership. Over four decades at the helm, Jones compiled a career record of 582-420, guiding Edgewood to 11 sectional titles, 3 regional championships, and a semi-state title, highlighted by a 3A State Runner-Up finish in 2019. His teams also claimed 11 conference championships across the West Central and Western Indiana Conferences. Under his guidance, more than 40 Mustang players advanced to compete at the collegiate level, including two MLB Draft selections: Greg Granger (1993) and Luke Hayden (2024). Coach Jones’ impact was recognized by both peers and media throughout his career. He was honored as Conference Coach of the Year 10 times, Herald-Times Coach of the Year 4 times, and IHSBCA District M Coach of the Year twice. In 2007, he represented the program as an assistant coach in the IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series. He also served the association through his work on the 3A Coaches Poll panel and the North/South All-Star Selection Committee. In 2022, Jones’ legacy of leadership and service was further cemented with his induction into the Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame, joining the same class as his longtime friend, IHSBCA Hall of Famer Grier Werner of Bloomington South. Although he retired from teaching business after 44 years in 2019, Jones has remained a fixture in Edgewood athletics. He continues to serve the school community by working the scorer’s table for football, volleyball, and basketball, assisting with sports banquets, and helping host state tournament events. Still living in Ellettsville, Bob can often be found at the baseball diamond or in the stands, supporting his athletes in their endeavors both on and off the field. Bob has two sons, Sam (38) who is the Assistant Athletic Director at Edgewood and Jade (35) who is the Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at Indiana University. Bob's brother John coached cross country at Mitchell High School for 40 years, giving the siblings 80 years of high school coaching in the Hoosier state. Tucker Barnhart is a highly accomplished professional baseball catcher who built a standout career on a foundation of elite defensive play. Born and raised in Indiana, he attended Brownsburg High School, graduating in the class of 2009. Barnhart bypassed collegiate baseball entirely when he was drafted directly out of high school by the Cincinnati Reds in the 10th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, embarking straight into a lengthy professional career. During his tenure at Brownsburg High School, Barnhart established himself as one of the premier young prospects in the nation through an array of prestigious accolades. As a sophomore in 2007 and a junior in 2008, he earned Honorable Mention 4A All-State honors, which he followed with a selection to the 2008 Louisville Slugger High School All-American Team. He capped off his brilliant prep career in 2009 by capturing first-team 4A All-State honors and earning the coveted title of Hoosier Diamond Mr. Baseball. Barnhart's signature defensive prowess became evident early in his professional career, highlighted by winning the All-Single-A Gold Glove Award in 2011 while playing for the Dayton Dragons. This minor league success set the stage for an impressive 10-year Major League Baseball career spent with the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Texas Rangers. His defensive excellence at the sport's highest level was solidified by winning two MLB Gold Glove Awards in 2017 and 2020. Over his major league career, he played in 2,749 professional games, accumulating 662 hits, 53 home runs, 254 runs, 292 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases, all while maintaining a .241 batting average and ranking in the top ten for fielding percentage among catchers six times, including two seasons at number one. Eric Bruntlett is a 1996 graduate of Harrison High School, participating in football, basketball, and baseball. He played shortstop for their final four team in 1993 and state championship team in 1995 (34 W 2L). He was all-conference 4 straight years, all-state in 1995 and 1996, and a North All-Star in 1996. Eric was a part of an incredible collection of baseball talent from Harrison that included numerous future collegiate, professional, and major league players. Eric played collegiately at Stanford University, earning three trips to the College World Series including a championship appearance in 2000. After being drafted in the 9th round by the Houston Astros, he made his major league debut in 2003. Becoming a versatile utility player at the major league level, he played with the Astros from 2003-2007, earning a trip to his first World Series in 2005. Eric then played with the back-to-back National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in 2008-09, scoring the clinching run for the 2008 World Series champions. Notably, Eric turned the 15th and most recent unassisted triple play in major league history in 2009. Eric retired from baseball after the 2010 season and currently resides in Northern California with his wife Eden and their three children. Wallace Johnson is a 1975 graduate of Gary Roosevelt HS and played for legendary coach Benny Dorsey. He is also a 1979 graduate of Indiana State University playing for Hall of Fame coach Bob Warn. He was co-captain of ISU’s first MVC championship team and their first appearance in NCAA postseason play. Wallace led the nation in hitting (.502 in regular season) during that season and holds a .422 career average. He was elected to the ISU Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Gary Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. Wallace was drafted in the 6th round of the 1979 draft by the Montreal Expos. He was MVP of the Florida State League; a member of the 1981 (Denver) and 1986 (Indianapolis) AAA championship teams; and played for Leones de Escogido in 1981 who were champions of the Dominican Republic Winter League. He made his major league debut in 1981 with the Expos and was their all-time pinch hitter leader with 86 hits. His MLB totals were .255 BA, 5 HR, and 59 RBI in 428 games. Upon retiring as a player, he was the 3rd base coach for 5 seasons with the Chicago White Sox.