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New Jersey 2025 Rankings Update

May 1, 2024
Dan Valerio & TJ Hunt
PBR NJ Staff

With the 2024 spring off to a strong start, it is time for a ranking update in the Junior class. The bulk of the top 10 features some really intriguing hitters. The arms have projectable frames but with the ‘25 draft a year away they have plenty of time to make the jumps they need. This will be a late blooming class but for the meantime let's deep dive into the fresh update of the 2025 group. Three names to key in on are our newcomers at No. 3 Logan Dawson, No. 4 Matthew Ferrara, and No. 9 Chase Kroberger. 


Top 5


No. 1 RHP Marcelo Harsch (Seton Hall Prep)

Wake Forest recruit. The long levered 6-foot-4-170 pound frame. Harsch is such an intriguing arm for this class. The biggest attraction is how young he is for the class (16 yr 10 mo). Second is the arm talent, easy arm swing with a fastball that is in the high 80s and grabs low 9’s. In the near future we should be seeing Harsch tick up. His CB and SL variation is elite as well. The curve has 12/6 action and the SL is more of a sharp horz. Feel at 82-83. 


No. 2 INF/RHP Evan Taylor (Ocean City) 

Alabama recruit. 6-foot-165 pounds. Athletic build; wiry levers. Plays 3B and pitches. On the mound Taylor has been up to 94. Aggressive mover. FB is firm with late life. At the plate he has a down and back load.  Loose/whippy hands through contact. Taylor finds the barrel especially on middle-in pitches. Hammers the ball through the gaps. The Alabama recruit slides up into the No. 2 spot for the first time in our polls. Early this spring he has shown how he can impact the game on both sides of the ball. 

No. 3 IF Logan Dawson (Eastern)

Wiry, athletic 6-foot-3- 175 pounds. Multi-sport athlete. The uncommitted utility player is off to a good start this spring. Hitting .417 with an improved swing path since we last saw him. LHH has an athletic base, connected upper half. When the frame fills out it should add to his power production. Currently is a high bat to ball profile. Works quality at bats for the Vikings. Has an accurate arm which both plays in the infield and corner outfield. Athleticism in the box is the most intriguing thing about Dawson. Future Games alum. 

No. 4 SS Matthew Ferrara (Toms River East) 

6-foot-190 pounds. The uncommitted infielder burst onto the scene last spring. He hit .397 as a sophomore and is off to a scorching hot start in 2024. The approach and swing at the plate really translate in game. Maintains posture and has an athletic hinge. Added significant strength this off season. Especially in his lower half. The ‘23 Future Gamer enters the top 10 for the first time. The actions at SS are smooth. He plays with the glove and has the ability to read hops and move side to side. Uncommitted name to follow.

No. 5 LHP Frank Cairone (Delsea)

Seton Hall recruit. 6-foot-3-195 pounds. We identified Cairone last spring when he came in relief against Bordentown early. K'd a bunch and showed upside, but the frame still needed strength. It seems like early this spring he is tapping into that upside. The fastball has made a jump into the high 80's touching 90. Spin has the potential to be a plus pitch. Saw a high of 75 with late, downer 1/7 bite. This season in 29 innigs of work he has punched out 53 with only 11 BB's. The era is 1.68. Starter Profile with a record of 6-0.

The Rest of the Top 10


No. 6 OF/1B Dylan Passo (Red Bank Catholic)

Notre Dame recruit. 6-foot-1-195 pound frame. The some of the most hitterish actiions in this class. ATH frame. Wide base in his stance, has a 60/40 weight distribution. Loads the hips well, maintaining it into his forward move. The best attribute that Passo showcases time in and time out is his extension through the ball. He has great post contact extension, no sign of rolling over, barrel lag through the zone. This season Passo has been punishing doubles into the gaps, with addition of strength and size can confidently say this bat has power upside.

No. 7 SS Jaime Zee (Bergen Catholic) 

Notre Dame recruit. 5-foot-10-180 pounds. Zee possesses some really impressive tools but the makeup is just as impressive. In terms of his IQ and leadership skills make him a top of the class candidate. Early this spring against Ramsey he launched a big home run to tie the ballgame. Has a crouched setup with strong posture. Hands have fluidity, meaning he keeps them moving creating adjustability. Makes the routine plays, active feet and reliable arm. Hampered by injury so far this year, look for Zee to be a guy to watch as playoff baseball rolls around. 

No. 8 3B Julius Rosado (South River)

Rutgers recruit. Brute 5-foot-11-200 pounds. The corner infielder has some of the most intriguing raw power out of the class. In BP it's loud and lights up the trackman/blast metrics. His highest recorded EV to date from  batting practice is 100.9 and (77.8 bat speed avg) from 6/15/23. He runs well for his build to date his best time is 6.8. This spring Rosado is off to a hot start .417 avg with 6 HR’s. He is one away from tying his total from last season (7). He has a strong built lower half, uses it well in his swing. It's a simple operation with a connected swing. Uphill path. 

No. 9 SS AJ Terry (Randolph)

North Carolina recruit. 6-foot-180 pounds. Terry was at our ProCase in the winter in which he posted some projectable metrics and showcased twitch in the infield, too. The future Tar Heel ran a 6.8. Was 87 mph across the diamond and hit 92.4 exit velo. Having a nice offensive spring hitting currently .472. 

No. 10 OF Chase Kroberger (Moorestown)

6-foot-180 pounds. ATH OF'er with twitch and speed. Krobergers has a very tight turn in his swing, keeps his hands close to his body. Creates a whip effect with the barrel. This high school season he is currently hitting .423/6 HR/15 RBI. Kroberger showed XBH potential last season with 7 triples but this season in 26 at bats he is showing the ability to drive the ball over the fence. 6 HR in just 26 AB's. He can really go get the ball in CF with his 6.5 speed. Uncommitted name to know. 

RISERS

No. 11 RHP Eamon Mcdermott (Bishop Eustace)

6-foot-1-190 pounds. The recent Boston College commit in 7.2 innings of work this spring has K’d 16 and walked only 3. The right hander has an outlier pitch. His Slider is sharp at 76-82 with spin above 2800 rpms. The fastball sits in the 86-91 range. He is an athletic mover. Throws the breaker with conviction, upside. 

No. 14 RHP Jackson Smallets (Gloucester Catholic) - Uncommitted 

Lean Projectable 6'4 framed right hander. Runs it up into the low 90s. Sharp breaking ball to go with it. Gloucester Catholic already has a loaded staff but with the emergence of Smallets it is going to take them over the top come playoff time. Uncommitted name to follow.

No. 17 OF Dylan Fitzsimmons (Morris Knolls) - St. Johns 

St. John's commit. 6-foot-195 pounds. Physical left handed hitter. Fitzsimmons stood out at the Fall Top Prospect Games. Loud barrel. This fall he committed to St. Johns University. He is in the heart of the order for a very impressive lineup. He is hitting .524/3 HR/5 2B/16 RBI. Its a wide base, strong lower half, aggressive load but the barrel whip and bat speed are plus. Intriquing name to follow headed into the summer circuit. 

No. 22 RHP Matthew Diskin (Gov. Livingston) 

No. 23 RHP Justin Hascup (Old Bridge) 


 

No. 25 1B Carter Cumiskey (Spotswood)

No. 26 INF Jack Mustaro (Gloucester Catholic) 

No. 30 RHP Jason Kuhn (Don Bosco Prep) - Seton Hall 

No. 37 OF Curt Chropuvka (Ranney)