NC Insider: Updated Class of 2017 Rankings

By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC

Follow us on Twitter: @PrepBaseballNC

The beginning of the high school season is here and it is time to re-organize and adjust player rankings within North Carolina.  There is not a lot of movement as the winter months are a time for players to work on their games and begin to get ready for the long season.  For the 2017 class, the culmination of this stretch will be their first fall in college baseball.

While there is not a lot of movement, two big decisions did have an effect on the rankings.  LHP Cole Maye and INF Ashton McGee took opportunities to enroll early in college at Florida and North Carolina respectively.  Both players were inside the Top 20 in our last release and under consideration for the MLB Draft.  Now both have made their college debuts. 

There were some players that made significant jumps as a result of their performance at the PBR Preseason All-State event in January.  Elijah Bowers (C, Weddington HS) committed to South Carolina after attending a camp in Columbia and continued to show well at the PBR event.  Premium arm strength and accuracy were apparent quickly.  A strong build, with athleticism and quickness, vaulted Bowers into the Top 30. 

Newcomers to the rankings are Eric Robinson (SS, Asheville HS) and Spencer Haroldson (RHP, Cary HS).  Robinson is a smooth fielding shortstop, still uncommitted, that has solid actions and quickness.  He should stick on the left side of the infield at the next level.  Haroldson is returning from a injury that kept him out of the lineup last year.  As he has healed, he has shown good arm strength off the bump, committing to Charlotte shortly after attending a camp there in January.

Not unexpected, MacKenzie Gore (LHP, Whiteville HS) remains the No. 1 player in the updated ranking.  As PBR is out this spring, you will be able to follow our scouting blogs (NC HS Scout Blog & 2017 Draft Blog) for news and notes on their springs.  PBR was in attendance at a recent Gore outing and his notes will be updated in the Draft Blog.  Austin Beck (OF, North Davidson HS) moves back to the No 2 slot as he has returned to full action after his knee injury in the state playoffs in 2016. 

Below is a quick look at the Top 10.  To view the full list, Sign In to PBR or Subscribe.  Subscriptions will allow you access to all of the rankings info, scouting blogs, and much more…

2017 Class