Tue September 13, 2016
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.
