With the conclusion of the high school season for most teams and the summer circuit set to get underway in a few weeks, our staff has updated the state's 2025 Rankings for the second time in 2023. Our staff has been out covering games and scouting prospects throughout the entire state during past few months of the high school season, and there are many prospects who boosted their stock with their play. 

Below you'll learn more about these updated rankings for the state's current sophomore class that has been expanded to 100 players, including more information on prospects that climbed and those who debuted for the first time.

 

THE TOP-5

 

TOP RISERS & NOTABLE DEBUTS INSIDE THE TOP-50

+ C Zackary Johnson (Bob Jones, 2025) made a significant impact this spring assuming the starting catching duties and hitting in a talented Patriots' order in Class 7A. Johnson, now one of the top backstops in the sophomore class, rises up to the No. 10 spot in this update. See his report from earlier this spring below:

Johnson is the lone underclassmen that is featured in one of the state’s top offensive lineups that is filled with experienced juniors and seniors and has already proven to be a key piece for the Patriots both offensively and handling their talented pitching staff behind the plate defensively. Standing 5-foot-11, 180-pounds with some lean strength throughout his frame, Johnson is already showing the ability of driving in runs at a premium with some gap-to-gap power with room for more as he continues to fill out his younger frame. Although the Patriots played a doubleheader during this weekend’s event and Johnson caught just the first game coming off a long spring break trip and fighting through a hand injury, he showed that it hasn’t slowed him down both at the dish and behind the plate. With a hockey background, the sophomore is a tough player and the type of catcher you want behind the plate handling your pitching staff. From the right side of the plate offensively, Johnson has some fluid rhythm to his setup using a controlled leg kick for timing, and creates some separation with his hands before firing a strong barrel through the zone that is already producing some power hitting in the middle of the Patriots’ lineup. The sophomore is definitely one to follow this spring and continues to cement himself as one of the top hitters in the class throughout the state.

+ RHP Brady Wilson (Decatur Heritage, 2025) certainly passes the eye test standing 6-foot-6, 215-pounds with stuff to match on the mound. Wilson was one of the top arms in a young, but talented pitching rotation for the Eagles this spring. He makes his debut on this list at No. 18. See his report from earlier this spring below:

Wilson got the start on Tuesday for the Eagles and had the difficult task of keeping a Lipscomb Academy lineup that is littered with Division 1 commitments and signees at bay. Wilson more than held his own in the matchup, as he worked three quality innings and only allowed three hits. He did allow three earned runs while walking two and striking out five Mustangs. An imposing figure at 6-foot-6, 215-pounds, Wilson’s frame has plenty of potential for added strength and size, which should lead to even more velocity in the future. Showing a longer arm stroke from a high 3/4 slot, the sophomore works from a quick tempo while varying his timing to try and disrupt the running game out of the stretch. The fastball showed some occasional cut as he sat 85-87 mph and topped 88 mph early in his outing. The breaking ball worked well off of the fastball at 73-74 mph with sharp, late action. He showed some confidence in throwing the pitch in different counts. A must follow in the sophomore class in AL over the next few years. 

+ 3B Ty Marsh (James Clemens, 2025) really cemented himself as one of the top left-handed hitters in the sophomore class in AL after providing significant offensive production for a talented Jets' lineup in Class 7A. Marsh, one of the top infielders in the sophomore class in AL, rises from outside the Top-50 to the No. 22 spot in this update. See his report from earlier this spring below:

Marsh was as impressive as anyone with the bat on Monday while only being credited for one hit. Marsh seemed to almost always get off good swings and showed a keen eye at the plate as he did not seem to chase out of the zone. The uncommitted sophomore doesn’t seem to try and do too much and simply uses the whole field in his approach. Marsh has made significant physical strides and that shows as the ball really carries to the backside as he hammered a double to the fence in the back-side gap. Earlier in the game, he hit another liner that kept carrying and was misplayed and ruled an error. That did not change the quality of swing. Keep an eye on this sophomore, he could become a very recognizable name with a strong 2023 spring. 

+ OF Nick Richardson (Oxford, 2025) has helped lead one of the top teams in the state to a Class 6A State Championship appearance this spring hitting at the top of the order for the Yellow Jackets. A true leadoff hitter with elite bat-to-ball skills, Richardson rises from outside the Top-75 to the No. 26 spot in this update. See his report from earlier this spring below:

"Richardson really fits the mold of a leadoff hitter and does an excellent job setting the table and working quality at-bats for a deep Oxford lineup. With a leaner frame standing 5-foot-11, 145-pounds, the sophomore has an above average hit and run tool for a player of his age and allows him to affect the game in a variety of ways hitting from the left side. A mature approach, Richardson possesses excellent zone awareness and allows him to lay off pitches outside of the zone and work long at-bats, which is what he did in an extended look over the last few days. When he wasn’t walking, the sophomore seemed to make firm contact with nearly each pass mostly to the opposite field. The sophomore delivers an accurate barrel through the zone using a simple and direct path with some bat speed, and is one of the best defensive center fielders around, as well."

+ LHP Tyler Woodham (Stanhope Elmore, 2025) is one of the more projectable southpaws in the sophomore class standing 6-foot-5, 200-pounds with true pitch-ability. Throwing some meaningful innings this spring for the Mustangs, Woodham is a strong follow moving into the summer and rises up to the No. 28 spot in this update. See his report form earlier this spring below:

"Woodham is another talented arm on the Mustangs’ deep pitching staff that has plenty of upside on the mound. Pitching against one of the top teams in Class 5A, Woodham was about as efficient as you could possibly be while tossing a complete-game shutout needing just 59 pitches, 45 of which were strikes. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder, who has already grown two or three inches over the past year, put on a clinic on how to mix and sequence pitches throughout his outing and was comfortable throwing any pitch in any count. His fastball worked up to 83 mph while living 80-82 mph and featured a late-breaking slider and diving changeup with both being in the low-70’s as his primary secondary offerings. The southpaw has plus command for all three offerings and has an easy operation with a free and easy arm action. A must-follow in the sophomore class heading into the summer."

+ OF Will Clark (Briarwood Christian, 2025) is another prospect making his debut on this list after hitting in the heart of an upperclassmen-led lineup this spring and driving in runs at a premium with intriguing power from the right side of the plate. He debuts at the No. 30 spot in this update after enjoying a really strong sophomore campaign on the offensive side. See his report from earlier this spring below:

"Clark is a prospect that we have heard good things about this spring and certainly made his impact on the offensive side in both games during their first round series in the Class 6A playoffs. Listed at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds with some lean strength and more mass coming, the sophomore wasted no time getting things started offensively in the first inning of Game 1 with a deep fly to right field that kept carrying for an early two-run home run. He’s belted multiple home runs during his sophomore season this spring, and showed he can drive the ball to all fields in his approach with the opposite-field home run and some deep fly outs in his other at-bats. He also collected a pull-side double and a single in Game 2, and finished going 3-for-8 with a 2B, HR, & 2 RBIs in their doubleheader action. The right-hander hitter works on an uphill plane with his bat path through the zone with some bat speed, and should continue to see high volumes of power output over the course of the next few years once he continues to gain more strength and development. There’s plenty to like as a power-hitting right-hander while also playing quarterback on the gridiron in the fall. Clark will be a really good follow in the sophomore class in AL moving forward over the summer."  

+ RHP Jack Doyle (Madison Academy, 2025) tossed significant innings for the Mustangs this spring on a pitching staff that was led by numerous upperclassmen. Doyle, who jumps inside the Top-50, showed a fastball that can reach the upper-80's and is a good follow moving forward throughout the summer in the sophomore class in AL. See his report from earlier this spring below:

"Doyle got the start in the nightcap for the Mustangs as they faced the Piedmont Bulldogs and the sophomore was brilliant over his 5.2 innings on the mound as he only allowed one hit, which was a bunt single, and did not allow a run. Working from an up-tempo delivery and using a strong lower-half, Doyle showed a longer arm stroke from a higher slot as he created some downward tilt on the fastball. The fastball opened up 85-87 mph through the first two innings as he settled into the 83-84 mph range in the later innings. The fastball showed late arm-side action while also showing some natural sink, inducing a number of weak groundouts. The breaking ball showed big 11-5 shape at 71-72 mph as he was able to throw it for strikes and as a swing-and-miss pitch as well. The sophomore struck out ten hitters and only walked three on the night."

+ OF Jaden Charles (Hazel Green, 2025) is one of the premier athletes in the sophomore class in AL as a sub-6.70 runner, but flashed glimpses of some potential power this spring hitting near the top of the Trojans order. Charles, an outfielder who rises inside the Top-40, has present tools across the board with tons of physical development still to come. See his report from earlier this spring below:

"Charles is a young player that has an intriguing set of skills on the baseball field, including being a 6.63 runner. Speed is not the only solid skill the sophomore shows as he also shows solid bat-to-ball skills at the plate. His current frame is a leaner one with plenty of room for added size and strength while not losing any of his athleticism. Charles is obviously a threat on the bases and patrols gap to gap with ease as the Trojan’s center fielder but he also shows some carry on his throws with developing arm strength. He has a very simple approach in the box with not a ton of movement but creates some carry off the bat while showing the ability to drive balls to both gaps. Charles has the chance to be a high profile prospect in the sophomore class in AL."