Prep Baseball Report

Updated Class of 2022 Player Rankings (September)


Jordan Chiero and PBR Ohio Staff
PBR Ohio Director of Scouting

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Updated Class of 2022 Player Rankings (September)

2021 has given us a little bit more normalcy in life, and the high school baseball scene is no different. We crowned four state champions during the spring and enjoyed a full summer of summer ball with tournaments and showcases throughout the state. We have searched far and wide throughout the state to find the best prospects we can, to help them get to college and to help colleges find prospects that fit their culture.

Many names came off the board to some of the top programs around the nation, many new names came to the forefront of the recruiting scene, and many prospects improved their game.

That being said, we have had the pleasure of seeing a number of solid players this past year. Prospects are popping up left and right, making velocity jumps, improving 60-yard dash times and showing more power with the bat.

Below we will take a look at “What's New At The Top", The Risers”, "The Newcomers", "Some of the top tools still available", and some of the top uncommitted prospects by position.

To view the Positional Breakdowns, please click below:

To view the Uncommitted Class of Positional Breakdowns, click below:

To view the 2021 Summer Showcase Statistical Breakdowns, click below:

To view the entire Class of 2022 rankings, please click here.

What's New At The Top

Noah Samol LHP / 1B / Mason, OH / 2022

Report: One of the top stories in the state is the emergence of LHP Noah Samol (Mason HS) as a legitimate draft prospect in the state of Ohio. The upside has always been there, as a matter of fact he was a top 5 rated lefty in the class after his performance in a bullpen in the winter of 2020. However he remained somewhat “under the radar” as he was sidelined due to injuries until recently. When he came back he not only proved he was healthy but he came back a monster. The 6-foot-6 lefty made the prestigious East Coast Pro after multiple showings of a fastball that was 90+ with reports of topping 95mph. If 6-foot-6 and sitting 90+ isn’t enough for ya, he also has a quality changeup and a playable breaking ball. After receiving offers across the country he recently committed to Georgia Tech.

Landon Beidelschies LHP / 1B / Canfield, OH / 2022

Report: A guy we’ve got to see several times this spring/summer who is skyrocketing his stock is Army commit Landon Beidelschies (Canfield HS). Looks the part walking on the bump at 6-foot-3, and a put together 215-pounds. We saw him throw in some big time moments while playing for the one of the state’s premier high school programs and he was always confident and composed out there. Beidelschies was far from an unknown as he participated in the PBR Future Games, where he made the team in a large part for his ridiculous breaking ball. One of the state’s top secondary offerings with heavy action spun up to 2500 rpms. Not only has the pitch continued to improve but the mid 80s fastball has climbed into the upper 80s consistently while peaking at 91mph. The combination of physical profile, present stuff, mound presence, and potential to remain a starter at the next level put him into the top 15 overall.

Video from 2020 NE Future Games

Maxwell Klare OF / 3B / St. Xavier, OH / 2022

Report: A position player that has pro scouts talking is Max Klare (St. Xavier HS). The fact that he had almost 20 offers and committed to Duke for Football shouldn’t surprise you as he looks like a created video game player on the baseball field. A beast of a human being that is 6-foot-4, 225-pounds and athletic enough to play centerfield for one of the state’s top high school programs. At the plate he ranks near or at the top of the class when it comes to raw power and it comes from the left side. RIght now it looks like football is the route but from a baseball standpoint he is a name pro scouts have on their list.

The Risers

Joseph Dzierwa LHP / Otsego, OH / 2022

Report: When it comes to upside few prospects have as much as LHP Joseph Dzierwa out of Otsego HS. A 6-foot-6 southpaw with athleticism considering he’s also a quality quarterback recruit. Mid to upper 80s fastball with the ability to work in the zone with his entire arsenal. The lanky southpaw has recently committed to Michigan State... The Spartans are getting a good one here!

Brenden Garula LHP / OF / Mason, OH / 2022

Report: ‘22 LHP Brenden Garula (Mason) showed some of the sharpest stuff we saw at the Top Prospect Games, which is saying something. Had a start on that Friday, came back on short rest still showing a mid-80s fastball, a hammer of a breaking ball and analytically one of the top changeups we saw at the event. Flat out nasty stuff from Garula who on full rest you could easily see in the upper 80s, which we have seen up to 88 mph. The Cincinnati commit has risen up the rankings.

Jayden Jerger RHP / 1B / Defiance, OH / 2022

Report: The 6-foot-1, 180-pound righty is athletic on the mound, showing quick arm speed with a loose arm action through a high ¾ arm angle. Drop-and-drive type pitcher. His final stats for the spring/summer combined were eye-popping, 119 IP, 18-0, 1.17 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 138 K. Here is an uncommitted story from July, click here. One of the top arms available, if looking for an arm, here you go.

Kaden Arn RHP / 3B / Benjamin Logan, OH / 2022

Report: 6-foot-3, 190-pound projectable righty on the mound, showing some arm speed through a ¾ arm angle with a loose arm action. Feel type pitcher who shows easy effort. Has an athletic balance point with in line shoulders. Has recently committed to Bowling Green State University and will look to help the Falcons after what should be an outstanding senior campaign this spring.

Newcomers

Warren Hartzell RHP / Greenville, OH / 2022

Report: In the tail end of our Miami Prospect Games you could noticeably hear a loud crack every 30 seconds or so. It took a bit to realize that it was the crack of a catcher's glove as ‘22 RHP Warren Hartzel (Greenville HS) was warming up. The 6-foot, physical right-hander then stepped on the mound and tossed his first warmup pitch at 89mph. It was far from just one bullet as he carried the velocity into game action where he consistently sat around that, while popping a 91. An intent driven delivery with an approach to attack hitters with the fastball. When he showed secondary he had a power breaking ball that has potential to be an out pitch with a playable secondary. Shortly after his outing his recruitment started to heat up before finding a home in his backyard at Wright State University.

Tanner Ware LHP / 1B / North Canton Hoover, OH / 2022

Report: Earlier this spring we made the trip down to Jackson HS to see a loaded schedule of games, littered with some of the state’s top talent. One of the games featured North Canton Hoover who had several prospects who were either already highly rated or raised their stock. One of the guys who popped on the radar was LHP Tanner Ware. The southpaw came into close a competitive game and before he threw a pitch the upside was obvious as he walked on the mound. 6-foot-4, long-limbed with endless projection left on his frame. Stuff wise, he showed a quality combination of a low 80s fastball and a sharp, high 70s breaker. The performance was more than enough to earn an invitation to Top Prospect Games where he once again showed well and later committed to Oakland University. He’s a guy you could easily see taking big jumps as he continues to develop.

Patrick Dinnen RHP / OF / Mayfield, OH / 2022

Report: An arm that stole the show at our Northern Ohio Unsigned Senior was RHP Patrick Dinnen (Mayfield HS). The combination of present stuff and upside was impressive, so much so that he earned an invite to the most prestigious event in the Northeast for uncommitted ‘22s, the Northeast Senior Games. A live, loose-armed prospect whose stuff is headlined by a mid 80s fastball that will top at 89mph. Also showed a slider that was above average and a nice wrinkle changeup. That alone would be enough to get him on this list but also factoring in he’s 6-foot-1 with an almost untouched frame and has some athleticism you could easily see him continuing to trend upwards.

Some Of The Top Tools Still Available

The state is still littered with uncommitted talent. Here are a few prospects that we believe have tools that will carry to the next level.

Pitchability

Austin Sizemore 3B / RHP / Olentangy, OH / 2022

Report: Several names come to mind here but a guy that dices every time we see him is RHP Austin Sizemore out of Olentangy HS. Sizemore has a starter profile with an impressive feel for a legit three-pitch mix. Fastball in the upper 80s that he can carry throughout a start, sharp breaking ball and quality fading changeup. Also worth noting he could be listed as a two-way guy for his well above average hit tool and ball skills over at third base.

Mound Upside

Braden Gebhardt LHP / 1B / Howland, OH / 2022

Report: 6-2, 220-pound southpaw Braden Gebhardt was an upside arm for Team Ohio a month ago, showing a heavy, mid-80s fastball, which he attacked hitters with. Also shows a much improved breaking ball. Shows good arm speed through a ¾ arm angle with a compact arm action. Feel type pitcher with easy effort. Shows an athletic balance point, landing square with an upright finish.

Two-Way Talent

DJ Newman OF / RHP / Archbold, OH / 2022

Report: DJ Newman (Archbold HS) already has earned a few D1 offers after a monster 2021. DJ is a guy who oozes uncoachable traits. 6.6 runner with upper 90s jump off the bat and an upper 80s fastball that can touch 91mph. Untapped baseball potential as he’s a three-sport guy who is also the QB1 for his high school.

Offensive Tools

Brayden Fraasman C / OF / Ross, OH / 2022

Report: We get to see/measure thousands of athletes a year and a guy who measures off the charts in his swing profile is C Brayden Fraasman (Ross HS). He’s in the top 1% tile of bat speed, rotational acceleration, and hand speed across all PBR state’s. These tools help generate near triple digit exit velocities for Fraasman. He’s also been a guy who consistently produces in game. There are some things to clean up path wise but he’s a guy who could blossom/take off after being coached in a college program.

Speed

Zade Fusselman OF / RHP / Canal Winchester, OH / 2022

Report: Name your position player category here and we could have put OF Zade Fusselman under it. We’ve called him “electric” in several uncommitted articles and would like to change it up but that’s the word that comes to mind each time we examine the young outfielder. 6.5 runner, 90 mph outfield arm, 80+mph bat speed, and triple digit exit velocity. In game he showed the ability to find barrels and run down balls in the outfield at the Northeast Senior Games.

Gold Glove

Samuel Battles C / 3B / Norwalk, OH / 2022

Report: You’d be hard pressed to come by a more talented defender left on the board, regardless of position, then the skill set C Sam Battles (Norwalk) has to offer. Advanced receive guy with athleticism to get to balls laterally while blocking that most can’t. He also can post workout pop times consistently in the low 1.9s with an above average arm. Offensively, the bat to ball skills are there and as he continues to add physicality stock will rise in that department.

Raw Power

Caden Crawford 1B / OF / Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, OH / 2022

Report: Take a look at the offensive profile for 1B Caden Crawford (CHCA). 6-foot-3, uber physical, athletic (6.8 runner), with exit velocities up to 104mph. Not only are the tools there we’ve seen him deposit several moonshots over the fence in game. One of the most productive bats for Team Ohio at the Northeast Senior Games.

Arm Strength

Jake Tschida OF / LHP / Roger Bacon, OH / 2022

Report: Similar to Fusselman, OF Jake Tschida (Roger Bacon) is a guy who has advanced tools across the board and could have been highlighted under almost any category. A left-handed bat capable of generating 80+mph batspeed, 26mph hand speed and 100+ exit velocities, runs a 6.6 and has shown near 90+mph arm strength from the outfield. The reason we put him under arm strength is he’s also a southpaw on the mound who offers a mid 80s fastball with more in the tank.

Hit Tool

Pierce Bauerle 3B / 1B / Franklin, OH / 2022

Report: Pierce Bauerle (Franklin HS) could easily have been the choice for raw power but the combination of physicality and the ability to consistently find barrels in game landed him under hit tool. We’ve seen several at bats from Pierce over the past few seasons and he’s been productive regularly. He’s physical at 6-foot-2, with triple digit exit velocity capabilities and an extra base hit threat every time he steps in the box. Showed the ability to handle velocity at the Northeast Senior Games where you could make an argument he was the offensive MVP.

TOP UNCOMMITTED PROSPECTS BY POSITION

Below we look to name the top 5 prospects in specific categories based on primary position in profile for the 2022 class. Beyond this group, there are numerous prospects that can help a collegiate program in some capacity.

+ Top Right-Handed Arms: Jackson Campbell | DJ Newman | Colin Skolaris | Patrick Dinnen | Jayden Jerger

+ Top Left-Handed Arms: Luke Schlimm | Braeden Goulet | Nicholas Vardavas | Braden Gebhardt | Sam Boardwine

+ Top Outfield Prospects: Zade Fusselman | Keelan Daniel | Michael Molnar | Collin Sweeney | Connor Gromen

+ Top First Basemen Prospects: Caden Crawford | Dylan Thatcher | Peyton Weiss | Mitchell Roether | Daniel Gladden

+ Top Second Basemen Prospects: Mason Kurtz | Oliver Cush | Cody Schneider | Jack Metzger | Shane Rothlisberger

+ Top Shortstop Prospects: DJ Newman | Matthew Thompson | Josh Dezenzo | Blake Bradford (Video) | Trey Lake

+ Top Third Basemen Prospects: Austin Sizemore | Pierce Bauerle | Sam Patriarco | Gavin McCoy | Alex Diehl

+ Top Catching Prospects: Brayden Fraasman | Ryan Jackson | Samuel Battles | Theo Winings | Kasey Kish

PBR Ohio Class of 2022 Top 10

Rank   Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1   Jacob Miller OH Liberty Union 2022 RHP Louisville
2 Noah Samol OH Mason 2022 LHP Georgia Tech
3   Devin Taylor OH LaSalle 2022 OF Indiana
4   Matthew Wolfe OH Olentangy Orange 2022 SS Vanderbilt
5   Evan Whiteaker OH Lakota East 2022 RHP Indiana
6   Gavin Jones OH North Royalton 2022 RHP Alabama
7   Andrew Hendrickx OH Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 2022 RHP Kent State
8 Gabriel Nard OH St. Ignatius 2022 SS Duke
9 Brady Shannon OH Youngstown Ursuline 2022 OF Central Florida
10   Andrew Jones OH Brush 2022 SS Ohio State

***** To view the entire rankings, please click here.

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