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Yesterday we released our first 2027 rankings for Maryland and Delaware with a Top 20 release.

Today, we highlight twenty players that are in strong consideration for rankings and our staff believes that most, if not all of these players will hit the ranks in some capacity in our future updates. Throughout the winter months, these twenty players are certain to gain a ton of attention.

The Junior Future Games featured a plethora of talent in 2023, and we want to kick off this story by providing some in depth notes on four players that stood out immensely at the games. Davis Champion, Hunter Dunst, Luke Gamble and Declan Pare are four names to know in this class and we as a staff have no doubt their names will be featured in the rankings in the very near future. 

Davis Champion (Loyola Blakefield) is a two-way player that our staff has gotten to see numerous times over the past year or so and continues to get better and better each time out. It's an uphill path at the dish with controlled intent and present ability to create backspin to the pull side. It's a slow build-up operation on the bump with feel for the zone and a consistent ability to spin for strikes. The fastball sits in the low 80's and we anticipate an uptick in velo when we get to see him at our winter events. The ceiling may be in the arm, but the bat certainly has some intrigue to it.

‘27 Davis Champion (Loyola Blakefield)

Champion has been strong early on commanding the fastball. Likes to attack hitters with the breaker late in counts.

FB: 79-80 T81 (X2)
SL: 68-69
CH: 70@USElitebase #VAFallOpen pic.twitter.com/SjTWjIbysD

— PBR Virginia/DC (@PBRVirginiaDC) September 30, 2023

‘27 Davis Champion (@BaseballDons)

3B/P with body pre-set back and keeps hands back through the zone on this 88 MPH line out to RF.@LakePointSports @PBRVirginiaDC #PBRJFG23 pic.twitter.com/9KBLJCxnYj

— PBR Maryland (@PBRMaryland) July 26, 2023

Hunter Dunst (Calvert Hall) is another player our staff has gotten a ton of looks at, and the body transformation over the past few months has been eye-opening in itself. Strength continues to be added and the hit tool is steadily making strides with added barrel awareness and gap-to-gap strength. The hands are loose and fluid, creating loft to the pull side while maintaining a whole field line drive approach and added bat speed only increases the ability to create whip. On the bump, the right-hander fills up the zone with feel for the low 80's fastball to the arm side, showcasing a consistent ability to spin and induce whiffs both in and out of the zone. As strength continues to be added, look for the velo to tick up and the arsenal become more and more consistent. 

A ‘27 quickly on the rise in 2way Hunter Dunst (@CHCBaseball_)

Rhythm in the hands/backload w/ some quiet explosion, unloading on this one for a deep FO to LF.

Strength continues to be added to frame. One to circle @PBRMaryland #MidAtlStateGames pic.twitter.com/84pDisDvAI

— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) November 5, 2023

One of my personal favotites to watch compete, Luke Gamble (Arundel) has a high motor and work ethic that is tough to come by at such a young age. It's a high intent operation at the dish with a strong middle of the field approach, creating plenty of hand speed through contact. The ability to spray to all fields is consistent, and our staff sees the hit tool taking a big jump as size and strength is added to the frame. The athleticism and occasional twitch bodes well for the ability to impact the game in multiple facets. 

‘27 Luke Gamble (@AHSCatsBaseball)

High set hands that stay inside this pitch for an 85.5 mph RBI single to extend the Mid-Atlantic lead in the B3 of the 1st round of the #PBRJFG23. Advanced to second on the throw with heads up base running.@LakePointSports @PBRVirginiaDC pic.twitter.com/1rTYtm7NOf

— PBR Maryland (@PBRMaryland) July 29, 2023

Yet another standout at the Junior Future Games, Declan Pare (Archbishop Spalding) has some of the more raw projection in the class, standing at a long 6-foot-2, 180 pound frame. Plenty to dream on at the dish, Pare hit two homeruns as a part of Team Mid-Atlantic at the Junior Future Games and has shown the raw strength each time we see him. It's a balanced, rhythmic operation with evident strength to the pull side gap and the ability to consistently create loft. As strength is added and the frame really fills out, this should be a bat that opens eyes throughout his high school career. 

‘28 1B Declan Pare (@ASCavsBaseball) continues his ? start at the #PBRJFG23

91.3 mph ⚡️ into LCF for an RBI double to extend the #TeamMidAtlantic lead to 2-0 early

Had ✌️ loud barrels yesterday and continues w/ another bullet here@LakePointSports @PBRMaryland @prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/jXDNVLFKcE

— Jamie Naill Jr (@JNaill8) July 27, 2023

2028 Declan Pare (@ASCavsBaseball)

2nd ? of #PBRJFG23 with this one clearing the LF fence, 352 ft. at 96.1 MPH@PBRVirginiaDC @JNaill8 @LakePointSports pic.twitter.com/mPKrCClebn

— PBR Maryland (@PBRMaryland) July 29, 2023

The Fall Scout Days brought a plethora of highly talented 2027's to light across the state, as Jake Lindsey and Jackson Wineke were two notable players that certainly made an impression on our staff.

First, Jake Lindsey (Calvert Hall) is one of the more high octane and energetic players that I was able to get my eyes on this fall, and the ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball was evident from the beginning. It's a high intent operation on the bump with some quick arm speed through release, showcasing feel for the three pitch arsenal. The fastball works both sides of the plate with some ride through the zone, mixing a tight 11/5 breaking ball and late fading changeup down in the zone. At the dish, it's a quiet load with some explosion through the zone with the ability to showcase some projectable strength to the pull side gap. As much intrigue there is in the hit tool, we see the ability on the bump to really take that next step this winter heading into the spring and summer months. 

Jackson Wineke (South Carroll) was a player that impressed at the Carroll County Scout Day in October. It's a balanced, low intent approach at the dish with a strong middle of the field line drive approach. There's some length and bat speed through the zone that will only increase as the frame fills out, making for this to be a highly intriguing bat to get eyes on this winter. The hands and actions up the middle are smooth and fluid and should see Wineke stay up the middle at the next level. 

MD/DE Class of 2027 20 To Follow

Name	High School	Position
Andy Blanck	Severn	SS
Owen Caraballo	North Caroline	MIF/RHP
Davis Champion	Loyola Blakefield	CIF/RHP
Hunter Dunst	Calvert Hall	3B/RHP
Yaniel Escalera	Mount St. Joseph	SS
Luke Gamble	Arundel	OF
Luke Grimsley	La Plata	SS
Aaden Johnson	Cape Henlopen	C
Parker Kim	Walter Johnson	MIF
Ryan Lewis	Parkside	C
Jake Lindsey	Calvert Hall	3B/RHP
Dom Mangini	Cape Henlopen	1B/RHP
Declan Pare	Archbishop Spalding	1B
Ben Sclafani	Georgetown Prep	LHP
Judah Shirlen	Archbishop Spalding	SS
Chandler Smith	Red Lion	OF
Ryder Sowa	Calvert Hall	3B/RHP
Mark Spoor	Conrad	C
Hunter Strauss	Smyrna	CIF/RHP
Jackson Wineke	South Carroll	MIF

MD/DE 2027 Top 20 Rankings