Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

New Jersey 2027 Rankings Update

September 12, 2024
Dan Valerio & TJ Hunt
Prep Baseball NJ Staff

We round out this rankings season with New Jersey's class of 2027, the rising sophomores. These are some of the names that stood out from the spring and summer circuits, but there will certainly be more volume added as 2025 nears. One attribute that stands out with this bunch is the physicality. The more physically gifted athletes at this age are typically some of the best players early on -- but that's not to say that some late bloomers won't emerge by this time next year.

For now, let's take a look at the top 10:

CLICK HERE to view the recent class of 2025 rankings update

CLICK EHRE to view the recent class of 2026 rankings update

The Top 10


Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Finnian O'Loughlin NJ Delbarton 2027 OF
2 Joey DiMeo NJ Toms River East 2027 SS
3 Cooper Burti NJ Cherokee 2027 LHP
4 Nikash Patel NJ St. Thomas Aquinas 2027 SS
5 Michael Fekete NJ Cherry Hill East 2027 RHP
6 Ted Masino NJ Delbarton 2027 RHP
7 Hunter Beattie NJ Red Bank Catholic 2027 RHP
8 Ricky Lopez NJ Ranney 2027 SS Louisiana State
9 Curt Friedrich NJ Delbarton 2027 OF
10 Brayden Morrison NJ Union Catholic 2027 C


OF/RHP Finnian O'Loughlin (Delbarton) maintains his top ranked spot. He has been a staple at the top since we have started ranking this class. With that being said he continues to raise the bar of his skillset. He was very impressive at the Super Sophomore Games last month - showcasing the ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball. To date the projection is everyday CF with plus impact at the plate. Has arm strength and range. He has long levers with a connected swing. Additionally, you cannot forget about the raw arm talent on the mound. It upper 80s with a clean arm swing and a slider with slurvy action. Physical 6-foot-2 180-pound frame.

No. 2 is SS Joey DiMeo (Toms River East). The physical infielder jumped onto the map this spring and was a big piece of Toms River East's success. Hits the ball hard consistently. Plays 3rd and can see him staying on the left side of the infield with future projection of the power on the offensive side. 

Rising in to the top 10 at No. 3 is LHP Cooper Burti (Cherokee). Easy, repeatable mechanics and loose, whippy arm. Have seen the fastball up to 88. Lands a breaking ball for strikes. Also plays QB. Ultra competitor. 



At No. 4 is RHP/INF Nikash Patel (St. Thomas Aquinas). There's certainly some two-way projection for Patel at this point in his high school career. Patel plays the game with confidence. Has a loose swing, when he gets the ball out in front can hit for pullside power. On the mound he throws strikes and sits mid 80s. Breaking ball is still developing but there's no denying the projection on the mound.

No. 5 is RHP Michael Fekete (Cherry Hill East). Physical 6-foot-2 190-pounds.  Pitches with moxie and still has a lot left in the tank. Threw meaningful innings for Cherry Hill East this spring. Fekete has long levers with present strength in the frame. Starter profile who lands 3 pitches for strikes. 

No. 6 is RHP Ted Masino (Delbarton). Athletic mover with more to come in the velo department. Had a really impressive summer from the first time seeing him at our Summer Championships at Montclair State to the Super Sophomore Games at Wake Forest. It's command and potential of 2 plus off speed pitches. The changeup has armside fade and picks up whiffs. Masino will be a nice addition to the Delbarton staff this spring. 

Coming in at No. 7 is RHP Hunter Beattie (Red Bank Catholic). A staple in the Red Bank Catholic rotation this spring. Beattie is a fastball dominant arm that ran it up to 88. His breaking stuff is developing. He's an athletic mover with strength in his L1/2. 

No. 8 is SS Ricky Lopez (Ranney). The LSU recruit is a recent transfer into the Garden State for Ranney. A slick fielding shortstop with some pop at the plate. The New York native brings some flair to the Panthers in Tinton Falls. Over the past few years Ranney has produced top talent in AJ Gracia and Ryan Costello. Ricky could be the next guy to follow in those converstations. 


No. 9 is OF/LHP Curt Friedrich (Delbarton). There's no denying the talent that Delbarton will have over the next few years, and Friedrich will be no stranger to the lineup in 2025. Consistently on time at the plate, drives the ball into the gaps and high IQ ballplayer that is willing to take the extra base. Stood out as one of Team NJ's top performers at the Super Sophomore Games both at the plate and on the mound. On the bump it's a mid-80s arm with two distinct breakers - a bigger breaking 1/7 curveball and a true slider that he used for out pitches when needed. Tough.


Rounding out the top 10 is C Brayden Morrison (Union Catholic). Morrison looks the part at 5-foot-11 178-pounds. Brings a presense behind the plate and fills out the box. Good catch and throw ability for his age already. Expect Morrison to continue to make a jump with more AB's in 2025.

Just Outside the Top 10

No. 11 OF Dante Matarese (Bishop Eustace) has one of the sweetest left handed strokes in this class. Physical 5-foot-11 180-pounds will certainly contend to be a heart-of-the-order bat for Eustace this spring. Hit .328 with 6 2B's as a freshman in 2024.

No. 12 RHP Kyle McBride (Delbarton) is a guy to keep a very close eye on. Don't be surprised if he emerges as a horse for Delbarton in the spring. Arguably the most projectable arm in this class. Pitches in the low to mid 80s with his fastball with strong feel for spin. Wiry, athletic frame at 6-foot-1 165-pounds. McBride pounds the bottom half of the strikezone and can drop a breaker in for strike at any point. Expect the velo to continue to climb. Prototypical starter profile.

Top Riser

Gavin Franchetti (Gloucester Catholic) can play the outfield and catch. Physical 5-foot-11 200-pounds with elite catch and throw ability for his age. At the plate, right handed hitter possesses some raw power ability.

Other Names of Note

+ SS Yordany Herrera (Passaic Tech)

+ OF Brayden Longo (Mount Olive)

+ RHP Steven Pannullo (Delbarton)

+ RHP/OF Justin Kauffman (Ranney)

+ SS/RHP Brendan Stokoe (Randolph)

Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
2024 NJ Unsigned Senior Games NJ 09/29 FDU Florham Park
2024 NJ Fall Top Prospect Games (2026-2028s) NJ 10/20 Centenary University - Hackettstown, NJ
2024 NJ Fall Last Chance Open NJ 11/02 TBA