Prep Baseball Report

Initial Class of 2018 Player Rankings Released



By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

Our summer events afforded the PBR Kentucky staff the opportunity to evaluate some prospects in the 2018 class, and the time has come to release our initial player rankings.

With three years of high school baseball left for prospects that just began their sophomore year, one thing is certain. These rankings will change and expand significantly as players continue to develop and we continue to go through the process of scouting, evaluating, and gathering information on prospects around the state.  With two fall events on the schedule, the rankings will be revisited again in late October for possible updates and expansion. For now, we have compiled our top 20 players in the 2018 class.

Trae Harmon (Somerset HS) sits at the top after emerging at the Eastern KY Prospect Showcase last month. At 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, Harmon’s secondary pitches still need some development, but his 86-87 mph fastball has late sinking action, and he saved his best velocity for last, popping the glove at 89 mph on his final pitch. Harmon’s frame doesn’t offer a picture of projection, but there is certainly room for him to add functional strength through his high school career. His arm works loosely through a ¾ slot, and there is still upside in terms of additional velocity and improvement of secondary pitches.

Blaine Gillim (Ohio County HS) checks in at No. 2 after an impressive summer that included a dominant outing for Team PBR at the WKU Invitational 16U tournament and solid outing as the only Class of 2018 member of Team Kentucky at the PBR Future Games. Gillim has shown a fastball up to 84 mph with good feel for his 69-71 mph curveball. He tends to land open, a product of opening his hips early at times, but there is undoubtedly more velocity to come for the lefty with some mechanical fixes to stay closed longer through his delivery.

Rook Ellington (McCracken County HS), occupies the No. 3 spot after impressing at both the Top Prospect Games in June and earning All-Tournament honors at the PBR Western Kentucky Invitational Tournament as a member of Team PBR. The 6-foot, 160-pound prospect is a quick-twitch athlete with blazing speed on the bases and good arm strength from the outfield. The right-handed hitter was clocked getting down the line in 4.12-seconds at the tournament and was an offensive catalyst for Team PBR in going 6-for-12 from the lead off spot. His speed puts constant pressure on opposing defenses, and his 84 mph arm strength plays well from the outfield.

Tyler Grigalis (Lexington Catholic HS) checks in at No. 4. Left-handed hitting catchers are always a premium, and Grigalis has the combination of offense and defense that will make him a coveted prospect. He showed a jump in arm strength at the Underclass Games event in June with 76 mph velocity and pop times that ranged from 1.91-1.95 with a very quick transfer and release and quick footwork. Grigalis showed flashes of power for as a part time starter for the Lexington Catholic varsity squad as a freshman, and the power side of his game will only continue to develop.

Braxton Kelly (Johnson Central HS) rounds out the top five. At 6-foot-3, 190-pounds, Kelly’s upside is obvious. His arm is loose, and his 84-85 mph fastball requires little effort, leading you to believe there is much more to come for the projectable right-hander.

Enough reading about it. Here is a look at the top 10.

CLICK HERE to view the entire 2018 rankings.

Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Trae Harmon KY Somerset 2018 RHP
2 Blaine Gillim KY Ohio County 2018 LHP
3 Rook Ellington KY McCracken County 2018 OF
4 Tyler Grigalis KY Lexington Catholic 2018 C
5 Braxton Kelly KY Johnson Central 2018 RHP
6 Eric Sottile KY Lexongton Catholic 2018 RHP
7 Jack Capobianco KY North Laurel 2018 2B
8 Matthew Ellis KY Shelby county 2018 C
9 Kross Grundy KY Somerset 2018 OF
10 Seth Bacon KY North Oldham 2018 2B