Prep Baseball Report

Top Newcomers in MD 2017 Rankings



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By Jerry Shank
Maryland Scouting Director

The State Rankings were updated on Wednesday, November 11. There was a fair amount of shuffling in the Top 50 of the rankings and 15 prospects made their way into the rankings for the first time.

Since the last rankings update PBR Maryland hosted five events in total. The Fall Review, covered the North, South, East and West, and the Fall Underclass Invitational, featuring 40 of the top Underclass prospects in the area of coverage. All these events brought numerous new names and faces from the 2017 class, and some of those participants found their way into the updated rankings.

Two newcomers came into the Top Ten of the Maryland rankings in RHP/OF Ryan Bywaters (pictured) of Smithsburg HS and C Colin Adams of Caravel Academy (DE). Bywaters has a lanky frame at 6-foot-4 and got up to 88 mph on the mound at the Fall Review West, showing plenty of potential on the mound. The following week at the Fall Invite, Bywaters once again pitched in the mid 80???s and also got up to 95 mph in his exit velocity along with a solid round of batting practice making him a viable two-way prospect in the 2017 class and earning his rank at No. 6.

Adams had a strong showing at the Fall Invite, throwing a sub 2.0 pop time along with an exit velocity of 92 mph. He showed power potential at the plate and gap-to-gap ability during his impressive batting practice session earning his way to the No. 8 spot.

Athletic outfielder Josh Netterville impressed at the Fall Invite with his top-end speed (6.44 60-yard dash). Settling in at No. 16, the switch-hitter shows potential at the plate from both sides and is another newcomer that should be on plenty of radars heading into the 2016 season.

RHP Ronnie Orie (Good Counsel), SS Austin Chavis (Calvert Hall), and 1B Ryan Downes (St. Maria Goretti) made their way into the Top 60 of the rankings after their performances in October. Orie has a projectable, athletic frame with command and pitch ability. Chavis has room to fill out in his 5-foot-8 frame and showed nice actions in the field and has a nice foundation at the plate. Downes (pictured) could eventually be one of the top power threats in the ???17 class showing pull side power at the plate and getting up to 95 in his exit velocity.

CLICK HERE to read the Top Newcomers to the 2016 rankings article.

CLICK HERE to see the PBR Maryland 2017 rankings

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