Missouri Class of 2026 Rankings Update: Fall Edition
December 4, 2024
With the year coming to a close and as we head into the offseason, the Prep Baseball Missouri staff has once again updated the state’s 2026 rankings as the junior class prepares for their high school campaign after a summer and fall packed full of action.
For a full look at the updated 2026 class rankings, click HERE.
Below we’ve detailed this update at a more in-depth level, shining some light on the top of the board, as well as a more overarching look at the class as a whole, which you can find by reading below.
THE TOP 10
The top 10 sees no movement among the first nine positions, but does welcome a fresh face into the mix at No. 10. A trio of high-upside right-handed pitchers kick off our rankings with Tyler Putnam (Battle; Tennessee commit), Dylan Curtis (Francis Howell; Missouri), and Cooper Shrum (Belton; Tennessee) occupying spots 1-3 respectively. A pair of middle infielders in Nolan Sissom (Fort Zumwalt West; Missouri) and GT Taylor (CBC; Kansas) fall in at No. 4 and 5 followed by a pair of righties with Jake Brettschneider (Francis Howell; Missouri) and CJ Lake (Oakville) at No. 6 and 7. LHP Johnny Carver (Raymore-Peculiar; Arkansas) and INF Seaton Thompson (Ladue; Missouri) hold steady at No. 8 and 9.
Our final slot sees the only change of the update with RHP Brody Crane (Neosho; Arkansas) rising 3 spots from No. 13 to break into the top 10 for the first time. Packed with strength throughout a 6-foot, 205-pound frame, Crane was a recent standout on the mound at the 2024 Prep Baseball Future Games featuring a fastball up to 93 mph with carry through the zone paired with a slider in the upper-70s.
ON THE RISE...
+ C Carter Jeffries (Summit Christian; Xavier) sees himself jump up 8 spots in this update to No. 35. Coming off a breakout summer with several strong performances at both the Missouri State Games and Building Champions Scout Day, Jeffries possesses effortless power from the right side of the plate with easy arm strength from behind the plate and 1.84-1.89 pop times to pair.
+ Up 19 spots to No. 36, INF/RHP Luke Baer (Ozark) continues to be a name-to-know two-way in the state’s junior class. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound righty saw big jumps in his metrics across the board at our U&C Scout Day this fall, running his fastball up to 89 mph on the mound while also posting a 95.7 mph exit velocity at the plate to go alongside a 85 mph bullet on the infield.
+ A trio of new names make their way into our rankings after strong performances across several of our showcases this fall. RHP/C John Haberkorn (Eureka) slides in at No. 58 after a strong showing on the mound at the Legacy Scout Day. Strength throughout his 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame, Haberkorn ran his fastball up to 88 mph while spinning a curveball with depth for strikes. At No. 63, INF/RHP Hunter Fryman (Marshfield) is an intriguing two-way name to keep an eye on, showcasing easy, athletic actions on both sides of the ball with more to come at our St. Louis Fall ID in early October. RHP Bryson Augustyn (Park Hill) joins the rankings at No. 75 after a strong performance on the mound at our MO Fall Games where he featured a fastball in the mid-to-upper-80s with a slider/curveball mix to pair.
+ A recent two-way standout at the MO Fall Games in September, INF/RHP Carson Howard (Francis Howell North) showed upside on both sides of the ball in a 5-foot-10, 208-pound frame, pitching in the low-to-mid-80s with his fastball and posting upper 90s exit velocities at the plate. The righty is up 8 spots in this update.
+ INF Caelin Bradford (Park Hill; Wichita State) and RHP James Kline (Troy Buchanan) are two of the biggest risers in this update. Bradford, a recent Wichita State commit, is up 37 spots to No. 87 while Kline is up 88 spots to No. 100 after showing upside on the mound at the 5 Star - The Lou Scout Day.
+ INF Drew Wyss (Francis Howell Central), C Nate Lask (Springfield Catholic), and OF/RHP Brooks Hall (Platte County) are all notable names that enter the rankings for the first time this fall.
UNCOMMITTED NAMES TO KNOW
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CJ Lake RHP / 1B / Oakville, MO / 2026 |
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Craig Ringe SS / 3B / Eureka, MO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 24 / POS: 4
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Brady Tanner 2B / OF / Francis Howell, MO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 25 / POS: 2
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Brennan McLaughlin SS / RHP / Platte County, MO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 26 / POS: 5
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Anden Hyde 3B / RHP / Fort Zumwalt West, MO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 27 / POS: 2
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Casen Willenborg RHP / 1B / Staley, MO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 29 / POS: 11
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Cooper Callahan SS / 2B / Blue Springs South, MO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 30 / POS: 6
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Jathan Spain RHP / 1B / Cape Central, MO / 2026Rankings StateRank: 31 / POS: 12
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