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2026 Rankings Update: Spring Edition

March 27, 2024
Scott Hood
Oklahoma State Director

As the 2026 class wrapped up preseason events and start their sophomore campaigns, we take an updated look at the overall class rankings.  The biggest takeaways from this class so far is the high-end infield talent and projectable power arms that are beginning to develop.  This class has depth big depth in both categories and the class is starting to show its overall depth deeper down the list.  The 2026 class is the first one in a long time that has to wait for the recruiting period to open up later this year.  So far there are already 6 prospects that made their commitments before the rule change last year.  With the added time for evaluation before making offers and the overall landscape of the recruiting cycle changing, the sophomore spring and summer has now become one of the more important times for players to showcase their skills as well as give them a little more time to develop to help them make the best decision for their futures.  When putting together the rankings, we look at all aspects of the player whether it be frame and strength, in-game production, measurements on their metrics, and small levels of projectability to put it together.  A lot of prospects on this list are already making impacts at the Varsity level with a few that are still having to wait their turns behind talented upperclassmen.  We will continue to be out throughout the spring to gather as much information on the 2026 class as players begin to make jumps and seperate themselves from their peers.

As we continue the spring season and head into the summer, we will be looking for prospects to represent Team OK at the Future Games.  The Future Games features the top uncommitted talent from around the country from the 2026 class.  Past performance and our looks in-game will help us put together the roster this summer as well as getting looks at prospects at our Top Prospect Upperclass Games at UCO on June 18th.

More information for that event can be found by clicking HERE

For the full 125 player rankings click HERE

THE TOP 10

RANK  NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Eli Willits OK Fort-Cobb Broxton 2026 SS Oklahoma
2 Savion Sims OK Edmond Santa Fe 2026 RHP Oklahoma
3 Easton Webb OK Charles Page 2026 RHP Oklahoma State
4 HUNTER WATSON OK Tuttle 2026 C Oklahoma
5 Hudson Morgan OK Marlow 2026 SS Oklahoma State
6 Cooper Kardokus OK Edmond Memorial 2026 SS
7 Kooper Ranallo OK Owasso 2026 LHP
8 Ritson Meyer OK Elgin 2026 OF
9 EASTON ROBY OK Okarche 2026 SS
10 Parker Hayes OK Mount St. Mary 2026 LHP

Savion Sims from Edmond Santa Fe sees a big rise in the update to number two after breaking out early in his sophomore campaign.  The tall and lanky right-hander has worked the fastball up to 96 mph and is by far the most projectable prospect in the class.  While he is still a work in progress as is almost every prospect in the 2026 class, Sims has shown much more pitchability over where he was in a year ago and as he continues to develop he has a chance to be one of the most sough-after prospects in the country.

Parker Hayes from Mount St. Mary sees his stock rise into the top 10 as another projectable arm that is starting to make his jump on the mound.  Hayes has always shown a knack for missing barrels and recording outs but is starting to see the velocity and stuff jump in his sophomore season.  We caught Hayes early on in the season where the fastball worked up to 87 mph with strong riding life and showing feel for both a mid 70's breaking ball and fading change giving him a potential starter's profile.  At 6-foot-6 and 175 pounds, Hayes still has plenty of room to keep adding strength and should be a highly recruited arm when the recruiting period opens up later this year.

RANKINGS RISERS AND NEWCOMERS

Laird Williams RHP / 1B / Edmond Memorial, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 3

Williams continues to see his stock rise as one of the more imposing right-handers in the 2026 class standing at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds.  Williams sees a rise 18 spots to number 12 after a strong showing at the Preseason All-State and parlaying that into even more impressive stints on the mound this spring for the Bulldogs.  Williams has seen the fastball jump into the upper 80's with strong command and the breaking ball is starting to make jumps to go along with a potential plus changeup in the 77-80 mph range.  Williams has a very high ceiling thanks to his athleticism even at a larger size and should be an intriguing follow when the recruiting period opens up.

 

 

Jase Winchester SS / 2B / Edmond Memorial, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 6

Winchester has seen his stock rise pretty steadily at each update and moves up 6 spots to number 15 in this update.  Winchester continues to show each time we see him as one of the top defenders in the middle of the diamond regardless of class with advanced range and enough arm strength to stay on the left side of the infield in the future.  Where Winchester has seen his biggest jump is with the bat with added physicality and getting very competitive in the box in game.  The defensive abilities alone justify the ranking and with the bat showing improvement over the past year should make Winchester one of the top infield prospects in the class.

 

 

Avery Lonberg OF / 3B / Edmond North, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 17 / POS: 2

Not many prospects in the 2026 class saw their stock rise quite like Lonberg's in this update moving up from number 59 in the last update to number 17 today.  Lonberg showed a well-built swing from the left side that generated exit velocities up to 92 mph at the Preseason All-State and has carried that over to an already strong sophomore campaign this season.  Lonberg has shown a knack for picking up extra base hits throughout the year and is one of the more productive bats so far in 2024 for the '26 class.

 

 

Jackson Harris SS / RHP / Dale, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 19 / POS: 8

Harris sees his stock rise 8 spots in this update after showing a much improved swing at the Preseason All-State and bringing more production at the plate this spring from where we've seen from him the past.  Harris swings with a strong connection between the lower half and hands to generate exit velos into the low 90's and showing a strong average of 85.8 mph from across his round.  Defensively, Harris moves freely with strong footwork and advanced glove action to go along with an 85 mph arm across the diamond with strong carry and accuracy to the bag.  Harris has gotten off to a strong start at the plate this spring and will be an intriguing follow as the spring progresses and into the summer.

 

 

Cooper Leggett RHP / RHP / Bixby, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 20 / POS: 4

Leggett enters the rankings for the first time at number 20 in this update after we've caught him twice this spring with strong performances on the mound.  The tall and lanky right-hander has a loose and quick arm that works the fastball up to 87 mph with strong command.  Leggett will at times flash a heavy sweeping slider in the low to mid 70's as well as a changeup that he feels comfortable working to both left and right handed hitters.  Leggett clearly has a ton of upside on the mound as he has already grown significantly in the last year and should continue to develop with more strength and experience.

 

 

Blake Whittington OF / 2B / Jenks, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 29 / POS: 6

Whittington sees his stock rise 15 spots after he put his advanced athleticism on display at the Preseason All-State.  The 6-foot-1 and 190 pound outfielder turned in an impressive 6.68 60 and a short and compact stroke to generate exit velos into the upper 80's with plenty more in the tank as he continues to add strength.  The frame and athleticism makes for him to be an intriguing follow and he's already gotten off to a strong start in his sophomore campaign leading off for the Trojans.

Keagen Marshall RHP / OF / Deer Creek, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 40 / POS: 6

Marshall enters the rankings at number 41 on the list as a projectable right-hander that currently stands at 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds.  Marshall showed his potential on the mound at the Preseason All-State where the fastball is currently working in the low 80's and shows feel for a well-shaped curveball and spin.  As with most prospects his size this young in their career, Marshall still has a few tweaks to the delivery that will need to be made, but the hand speed is there for much more velocity in the future and should be an intriguing follow as he gains more experience and strength.

Maverick Gardner SS / RHP / Moore, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 50 / POS: 14

Gardner sees a big jump in the rankings moving from 119 in the last update all the way to number 50 in this update after a strong start to his sophomore season as well as an impressive showing at the Preseason All-State.  Gardner stands at a lean 6-foot-1 and 168 pounds and has shown some sneaky pop in game thanks to a strong linear swing with hands moving freely through the zone.  Gardner has active footwork in the infield with above average arm strength.  While the exit velocity number might not wow you at the moment, Gardner has a swing that is built to hit in game and should continue to be a big producer in the middle of the Moore lineup.

Justin Penland 2B / SS / Westmoore, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 51 / POS: 2

Penland enters the rankings for the first time at number 51 in this update after a strong performance at the Preseason All-State.  Penland shows a strong rotational swing from the left side with strong barrel whip through the zone.  He added a sub 7 second 60 at 6.94 and smooth defensive actions with strong body control and soft hands.  Penland still has plenty of room to add strength and the left-handed swing should play up at a higher level as he continues to gain more experience.

 

Cruz Gillespie SS / RHP / Oklahoma Christian Academy, OK / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 52 / POS: 15

Gillespie checks into the rankings for the first time at number 52 after getting off to a hot start in his sophomore campaign as well as a strong showing at the Preseason All-State.  Gillespie has a loose swingfrom the left side with a rhythmic lower half to generate more pop than his lean 6-foot-1 and 146 pound frame would suggest.  Gillespie has already shown a strong feel for the barrel and is putting up strong numbers making him an intriguing follow in the future.

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