Prep Baseball Report

Inside The Rankings: Looking At The Top 10



By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

The Iowa Updated 2017 Rankings were released Monday and we delve deeper inside the rankings. With four-plus months of baseball being played since the last rankings update, plenty of prospects improved their stock and have risen in the rankings, along with a strong group of 40+ players appearing in the rankings for the first time.

The high school season, end of the summer showcases, tournaments and out-of-state events all played major roles in prospects rising in the rankings.

SS/RHP John Swanda (Des Moines Roosevelt) made one of the biggest moves in the updated rankings, climbing 13 spots to the top of the rankings at #1. Swanda, who committed to Nebraska early in the summer, has continued to elevate his game and offers intriguing 2-way potential on the field.

Holding their spots at the top of the rankings; OF Trey Leonard, LHP Jack Dreyer (Johnston) , and LHP/OF Cam Baumann (Fairfield) all had strong summer campaigns cementing their place as top prospects in the state.

Council Bluffs Lewis Central, C, Joel Thompson made a move from #9 to #5 in the rankings. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher continues to show premium arm strength from behind the dish; along with a bat that has continued to develop.

Iowa basketball commit Connor McCaffery who splits time between first base and outfield. McCaffery made a jump from #13 up to #6 in the rankings; has shown above average athleticism along with a strong left-handed bat; just scratching his ceiling while juggling basketball commitments along with playing baseball.

LHP Trenton Wallace (Davenport Assumption), 3B Izaya Ono-Fullard (Iowa City West), and SS/OF Gregory Bennett (Western Dubuque) have held firm in the Top 10. C Jordan Wendel (Alta-Aurelia) stood out at the IA Top Prospect Games in August jumping from #16 to #9 in the updated rankings. With his strong build, left-handed bat, and superior arm strength- Wendel has continued to make strides and improvements in his game over the past two years.

Rank


Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 John Swanda IA Des Moines Roosevelt 2017 SS Nebraska
2 Trey Leonard IA Cedar Rapids Washington 2017 OF Louisville
3 Jack Dreyer IA Johnston 2017 LHP Iowa
4 Cam Baumann IA Fairfield 2017 OF Iowa
5 Joel Thompson IA Council Bluffs Lewis Central 2017 C Iowa
6 Connor McCaffery IA Iowa City West 2017 1B Iowa
7 Trenton Wallace IA Davenport Assumption 2017 1B Iowa
8 Izaya Ono-Fullard IA Iowa City West 2017 3B
9 Jordan Wendel IA Alta-Aurelia 2017 C
10 Gregory Bennett IA Western Dubuque 2017 SS


CLICK HERE
for the complete Top 110 in the IA 2017 Rankings.

 

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