As the leaders in baseball player development and college baseball recruiting, Baseball Factory instructs and scouts more than 20,000 players every year. In partnership with Under Armour, we go through a rigorous process of identifying top prospects and constructing the top 100 high school baseball rankings.
Ethan seems to be playing catch on the mound, yet his fastball lives in the mid-90s - touching 97 mph. He throws from a 3/4 arm slot with the ball exploding out of his hand, making it particularly difficult on right-handed hitters. He also mixes in a change and throws all pitches from a clean, quick arm stroke. Add it all together, and you have one of the top prospects in the entire 2018 class. He is committed to Vanderbilt and fits the mold of the high-level pitchers that they continue to recruit.
Nolan is one of the top hitters in the entire 2018 class with a hit and power combination that is extremely rare, but the most unique aspect of his offensive ability may be his aptitude to carry it into games. He hits when it counts! As an infielder Nolan shows good hands and outstanding, easy arm strength across the diamond. He profiles best at third base at the next level where his tools and instincts fit very well. Nolan was very impressive launching balls out of Wrigley Field to win the UA AA HR Derby, and is a legitimate run producing bat in the future. Committed to the University of Arizona.
Matthew is an outstanding LHP prospect with excellent stuff. Good downhill plane to his fastball and there is certainly more in the tank, but the pitch is plenty effective as it is now. He pitches to both sides of the plate and is not afraid to throw inside to right-handed hitters. Matthew complements his live fastball with a curve that has tight rotation and late depth, and a changeup. His curve acts as his out-pitch, while his change is an effective weapon against right-handed hitters. Committed to the University of Arizona.
The switch-hitting De Sedas is one of the most well-rounded prospects in the country. He has quality tools across the board, showing an excellent feel to hit with flashes of power from both sides of the plate. Defensively, Nander has efficient feet, very sure hands and easy arm strength across the diamond. He has an advanced internal clock allowing him to play the game at the proper pace, something fairly difficult for many young players. Committed to FSU, De Sedas is a premium infield prospect.
Triston, a 2-time Under Armour All-American may have the best hit/power combination in the entire draft class. The 6 foot 4 Casas has a mature, advanced approach at the plate with a sweet left-handed swing that generates big power to all fields. He has great feel for the barrel and is unfazed by velocity or off-speed stuff. He truly is a complete hitter. Add in that he can play either corner IF spot, jump into a corner OF spot as needed and even throw strikes in the low 90s off the mound, and you have a special player. Currently committed to the University of Miami.
Physical and athletic, Cole is an imposing presence on the mound with a 6'5", 225-pound frame, and the stuff to match. He has an electric arm and the look of a front-of-the-rotation starter at the next level. Cole's repeatable delivery and extremely quick arm allow him to run his fastball into the mid-90s with very little effort. The fastball explodes at the plate with some running action, and he is comfortable throwing it to both sides of the plate. Add in a 3/4 tilt breaking ball with tight rotation and a sinking change and the pieces are in place for a special pitching prospect. Cole is committed to the University of Georgia.
Will possesses tools across the board while playing a premium position. He is physical and athletic behind the plate with soft, strong hands, outstanding flexibility and big arm strength. His times to second base are consistently in the 1.8 second range. At the plate he shows a clean, efficient right-handed stroke with the ability to drive balls out of the ballpark. Banfield is committed to Vanderbilt.
Jarred's calling card is his ability to hit. He has outstanding barrel awareness, seemingly making solid, hard contact in every at bat. His present strength allows him to drive balls all over the field with flashes of home run power, mainly to the pull side. Jarred is unfazed by quality pitching, as demonstrated during his stint with the USA 18U National Team. He hit .404, led the team in extra base hits, and was named MVP as the USA team captured the gold medal in the Pan Am Games. Jarred's instincts, closing speed and arm strength allow him to play multiple outfield spots. Committed to Louisville.
With a workhorse body and an electric arm, it is easy to envision Kumar as a front-of-the-rotation pitcher at the highest level down the road. In the meantime, he uses his mid-90s fastball with tailing life along with his three-quarter tilt breaking ball and change to dominate high school hitters. His athletic delivery is balanced and repeatable and his clean, quick arm works through with limited effort. Was a starting pitcher for the National squad in 2017 UA All-America Game. Kumar plans to take his electric stuff to Vanderbilt.
With advanced command of his three-pitch arsenal, Ryan is one of the top pitchers in the 2018 class. He repeats his left-handed delivery well and pounds the strike zone with a low 90s fastball, downer curve and effective change. He is an excellent all-around athlete and has dominated on the mound all spring and summer. Ryan looks to follow in the footsteps of his father, David, who had a 19-year MLB career. Committed to Vanderbilt.
Brice has extremely natural baseball actions in all that he does. His hands and feet work very well in the infield, seemingly putting in the right position to make plays all the time. He plays with a combination of energy and baseball savvy that match nicely with his high-level skill set. At the plate, this LHH has a rhythmic swing with excellent feel for the barrel. He uses the whole field very well and has good strike zone judgement. An accomplished amateur player for years, Brice has good bloodlines and should garner a lot of attention this spring.
Cole is a polished right-handed pitcher with advanced feel to pitch and an impressive 3-pitch arsenal. He has a fluid, natural delivery that results in lots of strikes without much effort. He sits comfortably in the low 90s with a fastball that he commands well. In addition, Cole has confidence in his breaking ball and change and lands them in any count. Winn was the Gatorade Colorado Baseball Player of the Year in 2016-17 and is now pitching in California at Orange Lutheran for his senior season. Committed to Mississippi State.
JT has electric stuff, starting with a mid-90s fastball that has late life. He's able to throw it to both sides of the plate. He complements his big fastball with an slider that has late two-plane break and can also act as an out-pitch. Finishing off his 3-pitch mix, Ginn has surprising feel for a change that is another effective offering. He is a good athlete on the mound with an extremely quick arm. Committed to Mississippi State.
Connor has a long, lean frame and everything on the baseball field appears to come easy to him. He is a natural left-handed hitter with a unique set-up, and he squares up pitch after pitch on the barrel. The ball comes off his bat with authority often leading to majestic fly balls to all parts of the park - and often out of the park. His advanced, mature approach in the box plays well against velocity and off-speed stuff. Connor profiles best in the corner outfield spots where he shows instincts as well an above average arm that even results in him sometimes jumping on the mound and pitching in the low 90s. Connor is committed to the University of Florida.
Joe is natural and quick-twitch in all that he does on the field. He has rhythm in his right-handed swing and he generates serious bat speed with very little effort. The ball comes off the bat hard and he has advanced eye/hand coordination that allows him to square up balls with regularity. Versatile enough to play nearly anywhere on the field, Joe fits best in center where his combination of speed and instincts give him excellent range, and his strong arm adds to his defensive profile. Committed to the University of Mississippi.
A polished all-around game is the hallmark of Jordan Groshans. The 6 foot 4 infielder has the necessary range, hands and arm to stay on the left side of the infield, and has an impact bat that will do damage at higher levels. His approach at the plate is quiet and efficient with a simple hand trigger to get him ready to hit. With little head movement, and few moving parts overall, Jordan uses his quick hands to deliver the barrel with consistency. Not only does he find the barrel, but he does it with authority. He is also is a "baseball rat" with great makeup. Jordan is a University of Kansas commit.
Standing at 6 foot 5 on the mound with long arms and legs, Braxton seems to release each pitch from right on top of the hitter. Combine that with his low 90s fastball with life and it helps to explain why hitters have such a difficult time against him. Add in a sharp two-plane breaking ball and a developing change, and you have the ingredients for a quality starter at higher levels. Braxton is also a record-setting wide receiver on the football field, hauling in 104 catches for 2,090 yards and 37 TD's last season alone. This premium athlete is committed to Baylor.
A true centerfielder, Mike is a plus defender with great instincts, range and closing speed in the outfield. He adds a plus arm to his high-level profile, making him a very complete prospect in center. In addition, Mike swings the bat with authority from the left side showing bat speed and present strength. He even jumped on the mound at the UA All-America Game and displayed excellent stuff as a LHP. Siani played for USA Baseball's Gold Medal winning 18U Team last year. He is committed to the University of Virginia.
With an outstanding mix of tools and athleticism, Mason is a unique prospect. As a 6'3" RHP, he has a quick, loose arm that delivers heavy, tailing fastballs in the low 90s from a three-quarter arm slot. The ball jumps out of his hand and gets on hitters in a hurry. He also throws a breaking ball that has good tilt and depth, inducing lots of swing and misses. Mason is truly a high-level athlete as he can play multiple positions on both the baseball field and football field. In fact, he may play both sports at the University of Florida, where he is committed.
Slade delivers a fastball with mid-90s velocity with ease. His delivery is sound and repeatable with a quick arm that gets excellent plane to his stuff from a high 3/4 slot. His breaking ball has 2-plane break with late action. This combination on an athletic 6'4"/195-pound frame is a recipe for a high-level pitching prospect.
Alek is an ultra-athletic outfielder with an outstanding left-handed swing and the speed to stay in centerfield. He generates excellent bat speed in a compact stroke that results in surprising power and lots of hard contact. The 3-sport standout shows his athleticism, high baseball IQ and natural instincts both on the bases and defensively. Thomas is committed to TCU.
Jeremiah is a dynamic player with the ability to impact the game in many ways. What immediately stands out is his loose, quick right-handed stroke that leads to hard contact to all fields. He is confident in the box and piles up lots of quality at bats. Defensively, he has quick-actions with good feet and dependable hands. An above-average runner, Jeremiah can also pressure the defense with his legs and aggressive base running. He is committed to Mississippi State.
Bo is a left-handed hitting catcher with one of the best pure swings in the entire 2018 class. He has rhythm, feel for the barrel and the ability to drive the ball to either gap. As a defender, he is solid behind the plate with good hands and quick release. While the profile of a left-handed hitting catcher is the most appealing, Naylor is versatile enough to play either corner infield spot as well. Bo follows in the footsteps of his older brother, and former Under Armour All-American and 1st round draft pick, Josh Naylor.
Blaze is an athletic infielder with quick feet, soft hands and the best arm strength in the class. His plus arm allows him to make all the throws necessary to stay at shortstop at higher levels. At the plate he has a coordinated right-handed stroke with some hand speed that can lead to flashes of power to the pull side. Also a 6.60 runner with instincts on the bases, Blaze has a complete all-around game. Committed to South Carolina.
David has a tall, lean frame with long levers that lead to low 90s fastball velocity from an effortless delivery. He has an advanced feel to pitch, moving his fastball in and out while it seems to explode on the hitter. David also lands his curveball, that has crisp 11-5 shape, with regularity. It is easy to envision him as a true power arm in the future. He is committed to the University of Florida.
Austin is a physical catcher with the type of frame that can withstand the rigors of the position. He is flexible and shows advanced receiving ability along with good quickness on balls in the dirt. His throws have online carry and his exchange is clean and efficient. Austin's mature approach at the plate includes excellent strike zone awareness and a powerful left-handed stroke that does damage to any mistakes. He has a very complete all-around game at a premium position. Committed to the University of Arizona.
One of the hardest throwers in the class, Luke is a physical presence on the mound with a quiet confidence. His delivery includes an inward turn at the top, helping to hide the ball from hitters, and making it even more difficult to catch up to his premium velocity, which has hit 97 mph at Baseball Factory events. His three pitch mix also includes a low 80s slider and a mid 80s change. Everything is thrown with relative ease allowing him to carry his stuff deeper into games. Committed to Georgia Tech.
Also a high-level QB on the football field, Jaden uses that arm strength on the mound to attack hitters. He is aggressive with a low-to-mid-90s fastball that he often throws right by opposing hitters. As expected, his delivery is athletic and balanced. He generates easy arm speed and flashes a plus breaking ball. Jaden has an extremely high ceiling. He is committed to LSU.
Mike attacks hitters with a lively fastball that can run into the mid-90s and gets on hitters in a hurry. He has a simple delivery with few moving parts and generates very good arm speed through release. His main secondary offering is a curve that has 3/4 tilt.
Chandler pitches from a high three-quarter arm slot giving outstanding downhill plane to his fastball that sits comfortably in the low 90s, and shows occasional cut. As would be expected, his curve has good downer action as well and acts as a quality swing-and-miss pitch. Chandler's repertoire also includes a change that has some deception giving him three quality pitches. He throws strikes with all three, making Chandler one of the many high upside arms in the 2018 class. He is committed to USC.
At 6'6", and possessing a fastball in the mid-90s, Austin is an intimidating presence on the mound. He has long arms and legs, and throws from a 3/4 slot with some effort to his delivery. He adds in a slurve and change that show some promise.
An instinctual defender with excellent hands and a strong arm across the infield, Kevin fits that rare profile of a high school prospect who looks capable of staying at shortstop long term. He takes good natural angles to ground balls and plays defense with confidence. At the plate, his right-handed stroke produces hard line drives with occasional pull side power showing through. Committed to Florida International.
Garrett is an athletic LHP with a repeatable delivery and a clean, quick arm. His fastball has good tailing action to it and sat in the upper 80s at the Under Armour All-America Game with more in the tank. His out-pitch is a 2-plane breaking ball thrown up to 81 mph with late bite. He has a lot of confidence in this pitch and lands it consistently for strikes.
Switch-hitter with excellent bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, finding the barrel with consistency. His stroke has natural rhythm with flashes of power. One of the purest hitters in the entire 2018 class. As a defender, Raynel is fluid and confident with dependable hands and the instincts to play nearly anywhere on the field. Committed to Florida International.
Kendall is a very gifted athlete with big tools and the ability to use them in games. He has a strong, solid frame and generates outstanding bat speed with very good eye/hand coordination - a combination that leads to consistent loud contact. He can catch up to velocity, reacts well to off-speed stuff and can drive balls out of the park. As a defender, Kendall reacts well to balls off the bat, is sure-handed and has a plus arm across the diamond (94 mph raw arm strength). He plays low and can throw from different arm angles and make plays on the run. Overall, this is a special prospect with an extremely high ceiling.
Committed to play both baseball and football at the University of North Carolina, Jordyn is a dynamic athlete with a high ceiling. He possesses the plus speed you would expect from an outfielder who is also a high-level wide receiver on the football field, and has the instincts to use that speed in centerfield. He is quick-twitch throughout including in his hands at the plate, where he generates bat speed leading to plenty of loud contact.
Elijah is a strong, physical young player with some of the easiest bat speed, and subsequent power, in the class. His right-handed stroke produces loud contact with natural lift. The overall tool package is also among the best in the country and he runs well and flashes arm strength from the outfield. The game seems to come easy to Elijah, who is a legitimate run producer. He profiles best as a corner outfielder. Committed to LSU.
Matt has an athletic, proportioned frame and throws from a 3/4 slot, making for some very uncomfortable at bats for right-handed hitters. His heavy fastball sits from 90-94 mph and has bat-breaking tailing life. That pitch alone could go through most high school lineups, but he complements it with a two-plane breaking ball and a solid change. Matt throws all his offerings for strikes and is aggressive with his fastball. The arsenal is solid and the ceiling is high for this talented prospect. Committed to TCU.
Jack has a quality 3-pitch with a solid, durable frame. He has a quick arm leading to a fastball that sits comfortably in the low 90s. His breaking ball is his #2 pitch with bite to it, and he also mixes in a change with good arm speed. This midwest arm will attract a lot of attention this spring.
Brandon has a long, loose arm stroke that produces a fastball up to 94 mph with very little effort. The ease with which he generates the velocity allows the ball to jump on hitters. He uses a power curve as his out-pitch with 1-7 shape and late depth. A "fresh" northeast arm, Brandon has much more in the tank and should be a premium arm in this class with more experience. Committed to the University of Virginia.
Carter is an extremely impressive young pitching prospect. He has a balanced, fluid delivery with an easy arm action that produces fastballs in the low 90s. His fastball is heavy and has occasional cutting action that makes it even tougher on hitters. At 6'5"/198, Carter has presence on the mound to match his outstanding arm. In addition to his fastball, Carter throws a curveball with outstanding rotation and late bite. It is a true swing-and-miss pitch that is an out-pitch now and in the future. On top of the quality stuff, Carter seems to have some deception in his delivery as hitters don't react well to his stuff. Add all of this together and you have a very high-level pitching prospect with big upside.
A polished all-around catcher, Kameron is an advanced receiver with strong, sure hands and flexibility. He also has the high baseball IQ and leadership skills that you look for in a backstop. Add in a quick release and accurate arm to make for a very polished defender. Kameron has a fluid, natural swing from the left side with good bat-to-ball skills and the ability to shoot balls in both gaps. He is committed to Cal State Fullerton.
CJ is a special athlete with a potent left-handed bat and a chance to play a premium position. Pop times showed in the 1.94 range with accuracy / on line carry (90 mph velocity) on his throws. At the plate, he continues to shine. He has fluid rhythm while getting good hand separation. Barrel is whipped (95 mph exit velocity) through the zone as he connects with strength. The ball jumps off the barrel from his natural, easy stroke. There is high-ceiling potential here.
At 6'4", 215 pounds, Childress possesses a nearly ideal pitcher's frame. There is some deception to his delivery that allows his high 80s/low 90s fastball to play up. His best pitch is a curve that has bite and depth and acts as his out-pitch to both right and left-handed hitters.
Anthony is a pure catch and throw backstop who also will make an impact with the bat. Behind the dish, he presents a soft/sure mitt showing great pocket awareness sticking pitches. Quick lateral movements allow him to center/deaden pitches in the dirt off of a soft chest. Runners will not want to test his cannon for an arm with impressive pop times in the low 1.8. Offensively, Connor continues to shine with pro level hitting / power potential. Athletic/smooth actions with fluid rhythm to load. He gets good hand separation and delivers the barrel with leverage - resulting in a barrel explosion with the ball screaming off of his barrel. Anthony has the makings of a special type player and will be a solid 2018 draft guy.
One of the most intriguing players in the 2018 class is Canada's Denzel Clarke. His long, lean frame stands out on the field and oozes athleticism - perhaps passed down from his mother, a former Olympic heptathlete. He runs well, especially in-game when closing on a ball in the outfield or taking an extra base, and he possesses some of the best hand speed of any hitter in the class. He generates outstanding bat speed and it leads to some loud contact. As he becomes more physical, Denzel should begin to realize some of his enormous potential.
Strong and aggressive are two of the first words that come to mind to describe Nick. He has a left-handed swing that has leverage and generates loft power, especially to the pull side. He is a potential run-producer at the next level who will fit nicely into a corner OF spot.
A very talented two-way player, Ben excels on the mound, in the outfield and at the plate. On the mound, the LHP has a repeatable delivery and a low 90s fastball that seems to jump on hitters late. He also mixes in a curve and change for an effective arsenal. At the plate, he is a natural hitter with excellent hands and a knack for the barrel. He can drive balls to all parts of the park with flashes of home run power. Ben is committed to the University of Virginia.
Nic is a corner infielder who can swing it. At the plate - he has strong/centered balance with fluid rhythm to load. He takes an absolute hack - crushing the ball to the deep parts of the park with great exit velocity. At third, he has plus lateral range for a big guy, working from the ground-up with smooth actions. Transfer is quick as he fires strong throws across the diamond. A projectable third baseman - Nic will play at a very high level, making an immediate impact, and should be a solid 2018 draft pick.
Cole is a RHP with a track record of success. He could be a player to rise up draft boards this spring as he puts his 3-pitch mix on display. Cole throws a high volume of strikes, goes right after hitters, and competes on the mound - a good combination.
While Simeon's talents allow him to be an attractive prospect both on the mound and as a position player, it appears that his highest ceiling is as a RHP. He has the athletic delivery you would expect and runs his fastball into the mid 90s. With some refinements it is easy to envision him in a rotation at higher levels.
A long, wiry athlete, Nick has a loose, natural left-handed swing that screams hitter. He has barrel awareness, uses the entire field, and shows flashes of power. As he matures and gains strength, this could be a special player to watch.
Landon is a competitor who is in the conversation for the pitcher in this class that you would put on the mound to win a game today. He commands his stuff very well, pitches to both sides of the plate and will throw any pitch at any time. There is a lot to like in this RHP.
Seth is an athletic RHP with big upside. His delivery is sound/repeatable as he shows good tempo through a strong balance point, allowing his arm action to work quick and free to the plate. Arm strength is at a pro level as indicated by his top velocity of 93 mph. Fastball shows a range of 90-93 mph with arm side run/sink on a downhill plane. Breaking ball displays 10/4 shape with late break. He maintains arm speed on his changeup, displaying a feel for the pitch with sinking action. Command/control are well above average as he locates well to both sides of the plate. Seth will get looks from pro scouts with his baseball abilities.
Alex is an outstanding young prospect with an intriguing mix of tools and the ability to use them in games. He has a strong frame (6'2"/200) with athleticism. Offensively, he is a run producer who hits from the left side with a very quiet and simple approach that results in extremely loud contact. The ball really jumps off his bat thanks to quick, strong hands. He's a solid defender at either infield corner spot where he moves well laterally and has sure hands. Left-handed impact bats are not easy to find, making this Louisville commit a 2018 prospect to follow closely.
Parker has the makings of a special type player. This athletic OF can cover a ton of ground. He takes a quick first step and moves lightly on the balls of his feet. Transfer is smooth with strong throws through his cut off, displaying outstanding arm strength. As a hitter - this righty maintains centered balance with a strong base. Swing is short/quick and works on a direct path as he drives the ball to all fields with HR pop. An all-around solid prospect, Parker is an interesting player to watch this season.
Adam attacks hitters, throws a lot of strikes and works to get ahead of hitters through a quick tempo. Arm strength has improved and his fastball shows a range of 88-92 mph on a downhill plane. Breaking ball displays 11/5 shape with late break. He maintains arm speed on his changeup with solid sinking action. Off speed stuff show as quality pitches that will get outs at the next level. Adam has a tremendous upside on the diamond and will get looks from the pro scouts and top collegiate coaches with his baseball abilities.
Brett is an extremely impressive left-hander. Throws from a high 3/4 (nearly overhand) slot that generates excellent downhill plane to his low 90s fastball. That pitch normally has tail to it, though he keeps it true when going inside to RH hitters. He shows lots of confidence in his curve with good rotation, consistently landing it for strikes. Brett recently added in a change that has sink and some deception. Overall, this LHP has excellent feel to pitch, mixes his stuff well and throws a high volume of strikes - the recipe for a starting pitcher at the next level.
This athletic LHH infielder has a high ceiling on the diamond. A future middle-of-the-order bat, JT's hands are quick and he squares the ball up consistently, showing loft power to the pull side. Defensively, he takes quick first steps and has plus lateral range. He creates good angles and his throws have solid carry across the diamond. As his big 6'4" frame continues to fill out, JT will be a prospect to follow closely.
Aaron is a strong, physical prospect with some of the best raw power in the entire class. His RH swing generates tremendous bat speed and he combines it with other high level tools (91 mph arm strength / 6.90 in the 60) to make an intriguing prospect package. Aaron can play multiple defensive positions and his ability to hit and his power both show up in games.
Carter is an extremely impressive pitching prospect who is a real presence on the mound with his large frame (6'5"/215) and a quiet confidence. His fastball gets into the low 90s and is heavy. He commands it well, throwing it to both sides of the plate and showing the ability to climb the ladder with it to get a swing-and-miss. He complements his big fastball with a 2-plane breaking ball with 3/4 tilt and a solid change thrown with good arm speed. With a durable body, a big fastball, and a legitimate 3-pitch mix, Raffield is a bonafide prospect as a starting pitcher.
Cabera is a unique athlete with an incredibly high ceiling. He is a plus runner (6.44 in the 60), is quick twitch in all that he does, and his thin 6'3"/175 pound frame has room to add strength. His right handed swing is loose and clean with surprising leverage giving him some current pull power. He stands in well against good pitching and doubled in game play. In the outfield, his outstanding speed allows him to close on balls in a hurry and he has good instincts to the ball off the bat allowing him to stay in CF. His arm is accurate and consistent, playing better than the raw velocity would indicate. Overall, Cabera offers a combination of tools and athleticism that are hard to find and usually lead to long careers in this game.
Ethan is a lean RHP with a full, clean arm stroke and quality stuff. He has a simple, repeatable delivery and gets good downhill plane to his low 90s fastball. His out-pitch is a slower curve with big downward break.
Matt is a dynamic athlete with some of the loudest tools in the 2018 class. He has plus arm strength (96 mph) and is a plus runner (6.58 in the 60), and both are useable. His quick first step leads to excellent range and he can finish plays from any part of the infield with his arm. He presents the glove early and moves through balls well. As you would expect he plays low and athletic at all times. As a hitter, Matt has an aggressive approach with a simple, short stroke. His present strength leads to lots of hard contact - the ball comes off with authority. He doubled at the event and is constantly putting pressure on the defense. Overall, this is the type of player that can impact the game in numerous ways and is a prospect to follow closely.
Stinson continues to show as a top prospect on the diamond. He attacks hitters, throwing a lot of strikes as he works to get ahead of hitters through a quick tempo. Arm strength has improved as he threw his top velocity to date at 93 mph. Fastball showed range of 88-93 mph with arm side run and sink. Breaking ball displays 10/4 shape with late break. Split finger is a tremendous pitch as he maintains arm speed with plus sinking action and will get outs at all levels. Cooper has a tremendous upside on the mound and is a Duke commit.
Mack's calling card is a left-handed bat that is quick and can do damage. He is a physical, mature young prospect who plays multiple defensive positions. As a hitter, Charles starts with low hands and stalks the pitch well, attacking it in the zone. He finds the barrel a lot and drive the ball to either gap.
His actions, feet, hands and arm all play very well at SS. Smooth defender with quick twitch actions and a quiet confidence about him. Impressive measurables added to the mix after he ran a 6.66 in the 60 and broad jumped 9'6". Xavier is an exciting 2018 infielder to continue to follow closely.
Joseph is a very talented (6'1"/210) LHP who can fill it up. Tempo/rhythm is fluid as he gets he stays tall and works to drive his strong lower 1/2 downhill toward the dish. Separation is smooth with good tailing action on his FB (88-91 mph). He works the ball in and out and changes speeds well. Breaking ball displays 1/7 shape with good action. Changeup is very deceptive and drops off of the table, showing to be a solid swing and miss pitch.
Connor is a pure catch and throw backstop who also will make an impact with the bat. Behind the dish, he presents a soft/sure mitt showing great pocket awareness sticking pitches. Quick lateral movements allow him to center/deaden pitches in the dirt off of a soft chest. Runners will not want to test his cannon for an arm (90 mph) with impressive pop times of 1.81. Offensively, Connor continues to shine with pro level hitting / power potential. He has athletic/smooth actions with fluid rhythm to load. He gets good hand separation and delivers the barrel with leverage - resulting in a barrel explosion (87 mph exit velocity) with the ball screaming off of his barrel. Connor has the makings of a special type player and will be a solid 2018 draft guy.
Ryder is an athletic OF/RHP who has a promising future on the diamond. In the OF not many balls get down that are hit his way. Transfer exchange is smooth as he zips throws (93 mph velocity) on a line through his target. He has the versatility to play all 3 OF spots effectively. At the plate, he continues to shine. He stands in with a solid/strong base and has fluid rhythm to load. Barrel delivery is short/quick with aggression (100 mph exit velocity) as he connects with power driving to all parts of the field. On the mound, delivery is sound/repeatable as he shows good tempo through a strong balance point, allowing his arm action to work quick and free to the plate. Fastball shows a range of 90-91 mph with arm side run. Breaking ball displays 11/5 shape with late break and is an outstanding pitch that will get outs. Command/control is tremendous as he locates well to both sides of the plate. Ryder has tremendous upside and with the makings of a solid 2018 draft pick.
Andrew is a physical young infielder with an appealing set of tools. There is power to his game as present strength leads to some loft power, and he has arm strength across the diamond as well. All of this on a 6'3"/195-pound athletic frame, makes Benefield a prospect to watch closely.
Former SS who now spends most of his time on the mound. Lenny has an extremely quick arm, running his fastball into the mid 90s at times, and he complements it with a hard breaking ball. He is athletic and aggressive on the mound with lots of upside.
JP is a 2-way player who can swing the bat well, but whose highest ceiling appears to be on the mound. The LHP has a nice repertoire with a low 90s FB, downer CB and tailing CH. He competes on the mound aggressively attacks hitters.
Tosti is a quick-twitch athlete who can impact the game in a number of ways. He ran a 6.58 in the 60 yard dash, showed 88 mph raw arm strength and flashed power both in the batting practice round and in game action. Shows excellent bat speed and strong hands leading to line drives that just seem to continue to carry. He creates good backspin and shows advanced barrel to ball skills. As a defender, Vinny has a quick first step which combines with his closing speed to give him plus range. He reads and reacts well and moves through balls into his throws. Overall this is a premium athlete who is a high ceiling prospect on the baseball field.
Grayson uses his powerful 6'5"/225 pound frame well for leverage on the mound and at the plate. As a pitcher, Grayson pounded the strike zone with a heavy, tailing fastball that comes out of a 3/4 slot with life. Most hitters were slow to react not just because of the velocity (touched 93), but due to the way the ball jumps out of his hand after his easy delivery. Grayson complements his fastball with a solid slider that lived in the mid to upper 70s with two plane break, and a split that acts as his change. Power was also on display in BP as the big LHH drove multiple balls well over the RF wall including a stretch of four in a row. Overall, this an exciting 2-way prospect with the sought after tools of a power arm and a LH power bat.
Milton is a solidly-built right-handed hitter with a fluid, natural swing and leverage power. He can hit balls out to all parts of the park and shows the ability to both handle velocity and react well to off-speed offerings. He is a versatile defender who can play either corner infield spot with dependable hands and an accurate arm. Kody's father Eric (who is also his high school coach) had a long MLB career on the mound. Kody is committed to the University of Maryland.
LHP with a quick arm who ran his fastball up to 90 mph at the Under Armour Futures West event. He has natural tail to his fastball that he throws from a 3/4 arm slot. His breaking ball is thrown in the upper 60s with 2-plane break, and his change has good arm speed and some late fade. There is some deception in the delivery and he has confidence in all three of his pitches. Patrick struck out 3 of the 8 hitters he faced and did not allow much solid contact during his outing. The 6'2" Wicklander is confident and in control on the mound at present and has a bright future as a pitching prospect.
A complete all-around player who can run (6.78 in the 60), throw (89 mph arm strength) and swing the bat with authority (94 mph exit velo). He is a dependable infielder with sure hands and the ability to play multiple spots. At the plate, he recognizes pitches well and has a knack for the barrel.
Christian is a lean RHP who throws a high volume of strikes with all of his offerings. His fastball gets good tailing action from a 3/4 slot, and he complements it with a curve and change. The arrow is pointing up on this young right-hander.
Dieter is a two-way prospect who is a true baseball player and a winner. Competes on the mound, throwing three pitches for strikes with a fastball that will touch 90 mph. Smooth defender at SS with sure hands and a quick release. Brandon is a tough out at the plate with a short, quick right handed stroke that results in lots of hard barrel contact.
Franco is a tall, athletic RHP with a high ceiling on the mound. Delivery is sound and repeatable as he shows good tempo through a strong balance point, allowing his arm action to work quick and free to the plate. Fastball shows a range of 88-91 mph with tailing action on a downhill plane. Breaking ball displays 11/5 shape with late break. Command/control is outstanding as he locates well to both sides of the plate. Franco has a tremendous upside on the mound.
Bryce is an outstanding witch-hitting IF prospect who is very advanced for a player his age. He uses his great athleticism and quick, nimble feet in the infield to gobble up everything hit his way. He has a quick release and accurate arm across the diamond to get his man. He has natural, fluid hitting instincts and is a force from both sides of the plate. He has a level swing path, quick hands and good bat speed that allow him to be dangerous hitter no matter who's on the mound. This is a player who has plenty of room to fill out as he matures, which will let his tools play up even more and make him a prospect ready to make an impact at the next level.
Preston showcases one of the most sought-after tools available - left-handed power. In batting practice, he showed rhythm in his bat waggle load and the ability to find the barrel. His stroke had leverage pull power and he lofted several balls off the net high above the right field wall. He has the rare type of power that he can slightly mis-hit a ball and it can still carry out of the park. As a defender, Preston reacts well and takes solid angles to the ball. His 6.86 speed in the 60 and 85 mph arm strength came into play allowing him to close on balls and throw to all bases with carry. Overall, this USC commit has the type of LH power that can change games with one swing of the bat.
With an athletic 6'2” frame and a well-coordinated swing, Paul has the look of a future impact bat at the next level. He accelerates the barrel through the zone and has intent in the box. There are flashes of present pull power with more to come as he matures physically. As a defender, Paul reacts and moves well at third showing the ability to read the speed of the ball and use his sure hands to secure the ball. He goes well to both sides and slings it across the diamond with some authority. Overall, this University of Tennessee commit is a prospect to follow closely over the next few years.
Henry is one of the top defensive catchers in the country with the kind of arm strength that is a true "wow" factor. The feet worked well to throw while the exchange and release were very quick. The plus arm strength played in workouts and live game action with on line carry and consistent accuracy. Times were as low as 1.78 and stayed in the low 1.8s. Henry also showed a good feel for the game, received well and was more than willing to use his body to block balls in the dirt. Offensively, Henry generated good bat speed with an aggressive hack triggered by a leg kick. He showed barrel accuracy in BP with a mature approach that drove backspin line drives from gap-to-gap. Despite the outstanding physical tools what stood out most was Henry's energy on the field, passion for the game and leadership skills. This young prospect is a "baseball rat" with excellent make-up for the catching position. He has a bright future ahead of him in the game.
Cory is a corner infielder who can swing it. At the plate, he has strong/centered balance with fluid rhythm to load. He takes an aggressive hack- driving the ball to the deep parts of the park (exit velocity of 88 mph). At third, he moves well laterally (6.93 in the 60) working from the ground-up with smooth actions. Transfer is quick as he fires strong throws (91 mph velocity) across the diamond. A projectable 3B - Cory is also one of the more polished hitters in the class.
Physical 6'2"/220 2-way player as a RHP and 1B. On the mound, he has an under control delivery with a slight coil at the top that helps him hide the ball well. His fastball is very heavy with late running action. It is a very tough pitch to square up and results in lots of weak ground ball contact. His breaking ball complements the FB well with late 11-5 shape, and he throws it for strikes. As a position player, Angel has big leverage power from a simple stroke that was on display when he hit a HR at the Orioles complex in Sarasota that staff said was one of the longest they had ever seen. He also is very capable at 1B with sure hands and a good feel around the bag. It will be interesting to see Angel's ultimate spot.
Brandon has present strength that helps to define him as a player. His right-handed swing generates loud contact with loft power. He hits with intent and drives the ball with relative ease. He is solid at 3B, making routine plays and having enough arm to stay on the left side of diamond. Brandon looks to be an impact bat at the next level.
Max is an athletic prospect who can play multiple spots on the field. Appears that range and instincts fit best in CF, while his bat can make an impact anywhere in the lineup. LHH who put on an impressive display at last summer's UASW Championships showing the ability to hit to all fields and the power to hit a HR to CF.
Strong and athletic at 6'2"/225, Hackenberg has a unique set of skills to go with his big frame. He plays the premium position of catcher and possesses one of the strongest arms in the class (recorded raw arm strength of 105 mph). Times to 2B are as low as 1.78 and he has a powerful RH stroke with power. Playing for HS Coach and former MLer Billy Wagner will help accelerate his development.
Committed to Vanderbilt, Malcom is an exciting 1B prospect with a high-level left-handed bat. He is imposing in his uniform with a 6'4", 217 pound frame and strength throughout. He stands in at the plate with confidence and looks to do damage. With rhythm and a loose stroke with pull-side pop, he is a middle-of-the-order type. While his offense is his calling card, John is an advanced defender as well, showing sure hands and sound feet at 1B. His athleticism and feel for the game show through in the field. Overall, he is an advanced LH hitter to follow for the next few years, and how hard he runs balls out - and plays the game in general - will make scouts like him even more.
It is so refreshing to see a player that loves to compete, wants to challenge himself against high level players, and continues to improve as a result. Dillon is that player. We have been fortunate to see him develop over the last several years and he has made himself into an outstanding prospect with high level tools and the ability to use them when it counts - in games. He is a confident player who can run (6.75 in the 60), swing the bat with authority and has a mature, patient approach at the plate. He has strike zone awareness with rhythm and power at the plate. In the outfield he reads and reacts well and has the speed to close on balls along with the arm strength to play RF. Overall, this is a young player who can impact the game in a lot of ways.
Sean is a solidly-built prospect with a coordinated, quick right-handed swing. Has power, especially to the pull side, and has advanced feel for the barrel. A versatile defender, Sean has sure hands and an accurate arm that allow him to play anywhere in the infield. He even shows some promise behind the plate which could make for an interesting evaluation this spring.
Owen is a high-ceiling pitching prospect with a lanky frame and long limbs. He has good arm speed that leads to a fastball with some sink and more velocity still in the tank. He also gets good rotation on his breaking ball and will be an interesting prospect to follow this spring.
Hunter has a strong, proportioned frame and big left-handed power at the plate. He has uphill plane to his swing that generates long, lofted fly balls to all parts of the park. His athleticism allows him to play the corners, but driving in runs is where he'll have the biggest impact at the next level. Hit an impressive HR to deep LCF off of a LHP at the Baseball Factory Under Armour National Texas event last summer.
Devin is an impressive physical specimen (6'2"/205) with tools to match. A switch-hitter, he generates excellent bat speed from both sides with a short, quick stroke. He really impacts the ball, making loud contact both right and left-handed with a bit more loft power from the left side. As a defender, Devin is confident and polished. He takes good routes, uses his feet well and finishes plays with accurate throws across the diamond. He reads hops well and is aggressive. Overall, this is a unique prospect with high level ability across the board.
Billy is an imposing presence on the mound at 6'6", 200 pounds. He has a coordinated, athletic delivery that allows him to repeat well despite the large frame. He throws a high volume of strikes and has an advanced feel for his curve and change that are both excellent offerings. He should receive some major attention as he gets a slight uptick in fastball velocity.
Beddow is an intriguing RHP prospect from the northeast. Sits in the 90-92 range from a high 3/4 slot getting good plane to his fastball. Throws 2 breaking balls - a downer curve that is a quality out-pitch, and a slider with shorter lateral break. Lots of upside to this young arm.
This athletic RHP has a 3-pitch arsenal in which he will keep hitters guessing. Arm works free & clean as he drives downhill toward the dish. FB jumps out of his hand and has life, cracking the mitt at 92 mph. Breaking ball has good depth with 11/5 shape. He commands it well and can throw it for strikes in any count. He works the ball in and out and keeps it down in the zone. Connor still has more in the tank which bodes well for this RHP who already sits in the low 90's.
Luke is an exciting young prospect with an extremely high ceiling as a RHP. He is athletic on the mound with a coordinated delivery - collecting at the top with a slight inward turn, and accelerating through release into a good finish. He has big arm strength, topping out at 92 mph (and showing 98 mph raw velo into a net) with good plane to his fastball. He pounds the strike zone and goes at hitters with a refreshing aggressive approach.
