Prep Baseball Report

Updated Class Of 2021 Rankings


Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

It’s been a busy summer across the state of Louisiana, and it has been awhile since the last update to the Class of 2021 rankings. As we have worked our way through the last few months, with PBR events, summer select ball, and tournaments, both on the state and national levels, more light has been shed on this talented and deep class. There has been plenty of shakeup throughout the list, which has now been expanded to 100 players. Here are a few highlights in the update...

+ Louisiana State recruit, SS Connor Simon (St. Paul’s HS, LA) remains atop the updated class of 2021 rankings. An athletic 6-foot  middle infielder, Simon has established himself as a premium defender at a premium position. Since entering high school, he’s shown advanced feel and instincts to defend at shortstop with soft hands, actions, and arm strength across.

+ Checking in at No. 2 in the updated list is Mississippi State recruit, RHP Jack Walker (Barbe HS, LA).

Jack Walker RHP / 1B / Barbe, LA / 2021

Strong 6-foot, 180-pound frame, athletic, durable build. The top arm in Louisiana's 2021 class, was dominant during the 2019 spring season. Strike thrower with quality stuff, advanced feel to pitch. Long, clean arm action into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed, and easy effort. Athletic delivery with fluid rhythm, level shoulders, in-line direction, lands square and finishes athletically. Pitches 88-92 mph with his fastball, premium command to both sides of plate, flashes heavy sinker at times. Two different breaking balls. Slider has flashed premium out-pitch potential with explosive late, sharp break at 83-86 mph, swing-and-miss pitch. Curveball shows 11/5-shape with tight spin, quality depth, deception and fastball arm speed at 76-79 mph, manipulates it well, throws for strikes, creates soft contact. Also flashes quality feel for changeup with fastball arm speed, deception, and fade action at 80-81 mph.

+ Checking in at No. 4 in the updated list is 2021 SS Peyton Stovall (Haughton HS, LA), after a wildly successful 2019 PBR Future Games, in which he established himself as one of the premier left-handed hitters in the 2021 class.

Peyton Stovall SS / 2B / Haughton, LA / 2021

Physical 6-foot, 175-pound frame. One of the top offensive performers at the Future Games overall, premium hit tool. Productive at-bats all weekend, consistent hard contact, impact bat. Left-handed hitter hits from a taller, upright stance, simple load with a minimal, small stride, short compact path with balance and strength throughout, uses a gap-to-gap approach with good rhythm and timing, creates good extension with advanced bat speed yielding an exit velocity of 94 mph. Solid defender, hands and feet work well together, solid actions with clean exchanges. Short arm action into ¾ release with accuracy and carry on throws that produced an 84 mph positional velocity. Likely projects as an offensive second baseman going forward. Solid athleticism, posted a 6.90 60-yard dash.

+ Another Future Games participant, SS Brennan Holt (Parkview Baptist HS, LA) checks in at No. 6 in the updated rankings, after the quick-twitch left-handed hitting middle infielder put together one of the best overall weekends at the 2019 PBR Future Games.

Brennan Holt SS / OF / Parkview Baptist, LA / 2021

Smaller, athletic 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame. Super athletic middle infielder, posted a blazing 6.50 60-yard dash at July's Underclass Games. Left-handed hitter hits from a taller, upright stance, simple load with a minimal, small stride, short compact path with balance and strength throughout, uses a line-drive approach with good rhythm and solid timing, creates good extension and bat speed yielding an exit velocity of 88 mph. Put together outstanding weekend in-game, barreled balls consistently, handled velo and secondary stuff. Showed bat speed and strength to the pull side. Impacts the game on the bases with his quickness and feel to steal bags. Quality defender, with soft hands, active feet, works through balls athletically. Clean, quick exchanges into a short arm action and high-¾ release with accuracy and carry on throws that produced an 88 mph positional velocity. Showed range with quick first step and instincts, getting to balls either way with enough arm strength to finish the play.

+ Rounding out the top ten is OF Ian Montz (Acadiana HS, LA), who turned heads at July’s Underclass Games, and finds himself at No. 10 in the updated rankings.

Ian Montz OF / LHP / Acadiana, LA / 2021

Long, rangy 6-foot-2 170-pound frame with room to add strength. Loose body, advanced athlete turned in a 6.69 60-yard dash. Showed athleticism, loose actions, easy body control and advanced arm strength with easy carry on throws during defensive workouts posting an 87 mph position velocity. The left-handed hitter hits from a tall, balanced set up, hands around back shoulder, small leg lift loading onto backside creating forward momentum, front leg braces well creating advanced bat speed and delivering a short compact stroke. Uses a line-drive approach, and sprays it around to all fields with advanced bat speed producing an exit velocity of 83 mph.

Below is a look at the top 20, click HERE for the entire Class of 2021 rankings.

Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Connor Simon LA St. Paul's 2021 SS Louisiana State
2 Jack Walker LA Barbe 2021 RHP Mississippi State
3 Josh Pearson LA West Monroe 2021 OF Louisiana State
4 Peyton Stovall LA Haughton 2021 SS
5 Joshua Stevenson LA St. Thomas More 2021 OF Louisiana State
6 Brennan Holt LA Parkview Baptist 2021 SS
7 Brant Smith LA Live Oak 2021 1B Louisiana State
8 Benjamin Tate LA Teurlings Catholic 2021 LHP Tulane
9 Seaver Sheets LA Sterlington 2021 SS Auburn
10 Ian Montz LA Acadiana 2021 OF
11 Baylor Cobb LA Franklin Parish 2021 C Tulane
12 Blake McGehee LA Tioga 2021 RHP
13 Mason Zambo LA Catholic(BR) 2021 OF Louisiana-Lafayette
14 Matthew Russo LA St. Paul's 2021 3B Southern Miss
15 Gavin Schulz LA Holy Cross 2021 SS Louisiana-Lafayette
16 Casey Artigues LA St. Thomas Aquinas 2021 OF
17 Kyle DeBarge LA Barbe 2021 SS Louisiana-Lafayette
18 Clint Lasiter LA Benton 2021 SS Louisiana-Lafayette
19 Hunter Herring LA Ouachita Christian 2021 OF
20 Patrick Vienne LA St. Mary's 2021 RHP

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