Updated Class of 2020 Rankings (3/19)
March 28, 2019
With the spring season well underway we’ve had ample opportunity to see players in the junior class to add to the foundation of views we had coming off a busy summer and fall season. With that it was time to update our player rankings for the Class of 2020 which we present here.
Our team of scouts have covered over 500 high school games since January alone giving them ample opportunity to get multiple views on these players. The evaluation process is ongoing, we understand that, but after scouting and evaluating these players closely for over a year we believe this represents the most comprehensive and accurate set of player rankings for the 2020 class in the State of California.
In addition to the evaluations of players, uur scouts have also had multiple discussions to review their lists and make necessary adjustments based on what they’ve seen. The overall has been presented, torn down, picked apart, recreated, torn down, and picked apart again before our scouts concluded on what we present here.
So without further ado, we present the updated and expanded Class of 2020 player rankings.
THE TOP FIVE
The overall top three spots remain unchanged from our initial rankings as the players filling those spots continued their stellar play through summer, fall and now well into the spring. In the end, our scouts were able to agree on our updated and expanded 2020 Top 150 Player Rankings for the state of California which we present below.
Remaining at No. 1 overall is RHP/OF Jared Jones (La Mirada HS), a Southern California recruit, whose stuff, frame, and electric arm that touched 97 repeatedly this fall/winter position him not only as a frontline pitcher in the future, but a high pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. His secondary pitches are equally as good as he spins a breaking ball up to 80 and has a wipeout slider that has seen an uptick in velocity 83-85 mph. Jones also shows some power at the plate giving him a legitimate hit tool that will undoubtedly get run should he choose the college route. Jones is also an excellent center fielder who covers a lot of ground and controls runners on the basepaths with his arm. In the end it’s pretty evident his future is on the mound.
Many believe that if Pete Crow-Armstrong (Harvard Westlake HS), a Vanderbilt commit whose pure athleticism alone makes him one of the top players in the class, would have been a high draft pick this year if he were eligible for the MLB Draft. It’s not only that Crow-Armstrong is an elite defender that covers a lot of ground in center field where his instincts, graceful movements, and big arm make him the top defender in the class, or that Crow-Armstrong is also one of the best pure hitters in the class nationally and has projectable power, it’s the combination of that in one player that has demonstrated over several years that there is staying power.
After a busy summer/fall that saw him win a Gold Medal, RHP/3B Max Rajcic (Orange Lutheran HS), has continued to impress this spring particularly on the mound where his power curve/slider has become virtually unhittable. When you pair that with his low-90’s fastball and his feel for the changeup, Rajcic has the look of frontline college starter in the future. Rajcic also shows very good feel for hitting batting third in a loaded lineup that features five Division I hitters. He’s an excellent two-way player at the high school level who may get that shot in college should he get there.
Moving up a spot to No. 4 is Milan Tolentino (Santa Margarita HS), a UCLA commit who shows elite level defense at his shortstop position to go with some power in his left-handed bat. His speed and intelligence on the basepaths continues to be a separating tool to his game. Tolentino has served as the closer for the Eagles this year where he shows an electric arm that’s been 90 plus at time and lives with a potential wipeout slider at 77-80 mph.
In the No. 5 spot is a big time talent, Chase Davis (Franklin HS), an Arizona commit. Davis is one of the more physically gifted and toolsy players in California and frankly the nation. Profiles as a corner outfielder long term with the raw power and plus arm. Comp of Carlos Gonzalez holds up in many ways, body, tools, set-up, swing, approach.
INSIDE THE RANKINGS
A LOOK AT NUMBERS 6- 10:
No. 6 RHP - Christian Rodriguez (Uncommitted)
The best available pitcher in the class works consistently in the low 90’s with the fastball and shows the type of competitive fire you want from a frontline starter.
No. 7 RHP/C - Emilio Morales (Southern Cal.)
When fully healthy he is a legitimate two-way threat. On the mound he’s an upper-80’s/low 90’s command pitcher with way more in there.
No. 8 LHP - Kyle Harrison (UCLA)
The southpaw has looked fantastic in our viewing working 88-90 while occasionally higher. Breaking ball is above average now. Physically in great shape.
No. 9 1B - Michael Brown (Uncommitted)
At 6-foot-4 225-pounds, Brown has big raw power that plays now and will into the future. The ceiling on the hit tool is incredibly high.
No. 10 SS Drew Bowser (Stanford)
No questions on the defensive prowess and athleticism on Bowser who is beginning to show more consistency with the bat.
BIGGEST RISERS
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UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| South Bay Junior Future Games Trials | CA | 04/14 | Archbishop Mitty HS |
| North Bay Junior Future Games Trials | CA | 04/28 | Clyde P. Smith Field - Cardinal Newman HS |
| Northern California Future Games Trials | CA | 05/26 | Islanders Field |
| Inland Empire Futures Games Trials | CA | 06/01 | Norco High School |
| SoCal ProCase | CA | 06/08 | Hart Park |
| Northern California ProCase | CA | 06/09 | Delta College - Nick Cecchetti Field |
| Bay Area Open Showcase | CA | 06/26 | Laney College |
| Inland Empire Top Prospect ID | CA | 07/23 | Santiago High School |
| Norcal Top Prospect ID | CA | 07/24 | St. Mary's College |
| Junior Future Games | NATIONAL | 07/30 | LakePoint |
| Rising Stars Showcase | CA | 09/21 | Santiago High School |