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AZ- Class of 2021 Rankings Updated

December 3, 2020
Brett Thorney
State Scouting Director

As of today, The PBR Arizona- Class of 2021 Player Rankings has had its end of the Fall update. Obviously, there have been many question marks over the last 8 months as to what kind of affect covid19 would have not only on baseball but specifically to college recruiting in the future. It seems that there have been many unknowns has to how different situations would impact the 2021 class and future grad classes going forward. In many cases, current college players were given another year of eligibility. This has caused some more returning players on rosters that normally might have moved on previously. With that said, it seems like the opportunities to play at the next level are still out there and some new doors have opened up across the nation. 

Since the beginning, PBR has put some of its main focus in the Class of 2021, highlighting & covering as many prospects as possible in some instances in whatever ways possible. Our goal has been to give some these  players exposure to coaches that have had hard time getting on the recruiting trail. PBR Arizona has had a chance to spend countless hours covering outside game & tournament action in addition to holding some of their own events over the last several months. We have had the chance to see many quality prospects during this time including players that been on the radar for sometime now as well as players that have progressed more recently. As we get into the offseason season, we want to continue to highlight these prospects even more as there are still many needs for players at all of the different levels of college baseball.

As always, the evaluation process is a fluid and ongoing process with multiple viewings in order to get the best feel for players abilities. It’s important to note that individual players will continue developing at their own pace, and surly this list will have more updates in the future.  As we transition into offseason & then spring, PBR will once again be out in full force to see the progress players have made. 

Not on the list or feel that you may have been overlooked? Look out for our Preseason events that will be held in January & February. In addition to covering HS games & tournaments, these events are huge identifiers for prospects around the state of Arizona.

Landon Boyd makes a move to arizona

+ 2021 C Landon Boyd (Sandra Day O'Connor)- Oklahoma commit, Boyd recently made a move from Colorado to Arizona before the fall where he will be competing at Sandra Day O'Connor High School. Boyd was already a well known name before making the move as he was a member of the Reds team at the Area Code Games in 2020. He also attended the PBR Future Games in the past and has accepted his invite to attend the prestigious Super 60 in February. As a switch-hitting catcher, he jumps into the Top-10 in Arizona. Boyd has a short swing with slightly uphill path from both sides of the plate, generating some power from his 5-11/190-pound frame. Behind the plate, his feet & arm action are quick with above average athleticism, running below a 7.0 60 yard dash in the past. He has tools that professional scouts will be paying attention to come spring.

 

Herrera climbing up the board

+ 2021 SS Patrick Herrera (Skyline)- Northwestern Commit, Herrera has been climbing up our board since he first attended a PBR event back in mid June. He was recently highlighted on our "Hotlist" of players on the rise in the 2021 class. Herrera is a multi-sport athlete who continues to improve as he plays more baseball and gets more at bats. At 6-2/165-pounds, Herrera sports a lean frame with long limbs and present athleticism. Shows room to add plenty of strength down the road. He hits from an athletic base with subtle movements, using a pull approach. His bat speed while adding more strength should make for some more power potential in the future. Defensively, he isn't as flashy as some shortstops out there but he has sound actions with quick hands and turns. Herrera's high ceiling makes him an interesting follow going into the spring. 


Strong fall on the hill for jackson thomas

+ 2021 RHP Jackson Thomas (Mountain View)- Yavapai College commit, Thomas sports a large, physical frame at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. We have had a chance to see Thomas throw on several occasions since the spring shutdown several months ago. At the JM23 Classic, Thomas threw a shutout in a dominant performance, striking out 15 and walking just two batters in the process. He uses a simple delivery, throwing from an over-the-top slot, and can sit 88-91 early. He pounds the strike zone with occasional arm-side run. His off-speed pitches have improved significantly since he attended our 2021 Top Prospect Games in the summer. He threw a changeup with late sinking action at 82-83 and mixed in a curveball with 11/5 shape at 72-73. With Thomas' strong physical body & natural arm strength, we wouldn't be surprised to see his velocity continue to improve in the near future. 

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS

RANK   NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Brock Selvidge AZ Hamilton 2021 LHP Louisiana State
2 Wes Kath AZ Desert Mountain 2021 3B Arizona State
3 Ryan Schiefer AZ Campo Verde 2021 RHP Grand Canyon
4 Tanner Smith AZ Basha 2021 C Oregon State
5 Ryan Campos AZ Red Mountain 2021 C Arizona
6 Chase Valentine AZ Sandra Day O'Connor 2021 SS Texas A&M
7 Landon Boyd AZ Sandra Day O'Connor 2021 C Oklahoma
8 Daniel Avitia AZ Alhambra 2021 RHP Grand Canyon
9 Cade McGee AZ Salpointe Catholic 2021 3B Gonzaga
10 Justin Still AZ Perry 2021 LHP New Mexico