Prep Baseball Report

Updated 2017 State Rankings Released



ESS 2016

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By Jerry Shank
Maryland Scouting Director

Summer is closing in on the halfway point as we begin to see the fall coming towards us on the horizon. PBR Maryland has been busy covering the state in our never ending search to discover talent. That commitment has once again given us the opportunity to expand our 2017 rankings to our largest rankings to date with the MD/DE class of 2017 rankings being expanded to the top 165 in the area.

Still at the top of the rankings is Old Mill HS star Jeremy Arocho.  Arocho has spent the summer playing with the Evoshield Canes and has also made some national events playing at USA Baseballs Tournament of Stars to go along with the Met Classic. Arocho’s defensive prowess has put himself into the conversation as one of the top defensive shortstops in the country. A premium defender at a premium position, Arocho could see his value increase as he develops on the offensive end.

Right behind Arocho again is Landon school OF/LHP Randy Bednar. Bednard is one of the more unique combinations in baseball as he throws left-handed and hits right-handed. Bednar has 6.7 speed, strong arm, fast bat speed, gap-to-gap ability, and power potential at plate. Bednar also does show ability to pitch being in the mid-to-upper 80’s.

In the No. 3 spot again is RHP Kieran Garner. Garner is a raw pitching prospect with a durable frame and fastball that has been up to 92mph this past winter at the Maryland Preseason ID. Garner is spending his summer playing with his Laurel Post 60 legion team. Garner shows great ability on the mound and will continue to grow as he betters his off-speed command in game.

Rounding out the top 5 are Parkside LHP Grant Burleson at No. 4 and rising to No. 5 is new University of Delaware commit, RHP Joey Haass at Polytech HS. Burleson has an athletic delivery and arm action now throwing from an almost over-the-top arm angle and was up to 88 this past weekend at the Big 26. Haass has climbed up the rankings after an impressive outing at the Top Prospect Games less than a month ago. Haass pitched 86-88 in his outing with fast arm speed that should translate to more as he grows and adds to his 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame. Haass continues to show potential with his slider up to 78 mph and shows feel for a change-up.

Top newcomers to the rankings include Riverdale Baptist RHP/OF Harold Cortijo, Middletown HS (DE), recent Kentucky commit Spencer Harbert, and OF Gerald Buchanan of Magruder HS (LaSalle commit). Cortijo moved to Maryland last fall from Puerto Rico and was 87-89 mph on the mound at the MSABC Futures with a projectable frame and athletic arm action. Harbert shows an interesting offensive ability with a level swing path, quick hands and power potential at the plate. Buchanan is a recent LaSalle commit who impressed with his performance at the MoCo Trials as well as at the Top Prospect Games.

Here is a quick look at the top ten. 

RANK NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Jeremy Arocho MD Old Mill 2017 SS Maryland
2 Randy Bednar MD Landon 2017 OF Maryland
3 Kieran Garner MD River Hill 2017 RHP Maryland
4 Grant Burleson MD Parkside 2017 LHP Maryland
5 Joey Haass MD Polytech (DE) 2017 RHP
6 Harold Cortijo MD Riverdale Baptist 2017 RHP
7 Ryan Bywaters MD Smithsburg 2017 RHP
8 Brandon Dorsey MD Calvert Hall 2017 3B North Carolina
9 Colin Adams MD Caravel Academy (DE) 2017 C
10 Jack Schroeder MD Mount Hebron 2017 OF Virginia Commonwealth

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STATE RANKINGS

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