Updated Class of 2014 Rankings for Ohio

By Chris Valentine and the PBR Ohio Staff

With the summer season complete, Ohio's Class of 2014 rankings have been updated.

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy RHP Cameron Varga, a North Carolina recruit, continues to hold down the top spot. The talented senior, who moved to Ohio from Florida just a year ago, is ranked as the top player in his class for the PBR coverage area and is expected to be a top round pick next June.

The second spot is maintained by RHP/1B Zack Shannon, who transferred from Moeller HS to Anderson HS for his senior season. Shannon, who was unable to play last season due to academic reasons, issued an early verbal pledge to The Ohio State University, but his ability to qualify for admissions is still up in the air. With big time power at the plate and a fastball that sits in the low 90's, Shannon figures to be another Ohio prospect that will hear his name called on draft day in June.

The third and fourth spots are occupied by the state's top ranked position players, who both happen to be future Kentucky Wildcats. Riley Mahan, a left-handed hitting short stop from Moeller HS, sits at No. 3 while future teammate Evan White, a talented first baseman from Gahanna Lincoln HS, follows behind at No. 4.

Not to be outdone, Louisville holds verbal pledges from the fifth and sixth ranked players in the class of 2014. Mentor RHP Kade McClure, a 6-foot-6 prospect with a projectable frame and upper 80's fastball, comes in at No. 5 while West Holmes LHP Butch Baird climbs to No. 6. Baird, who is an undersized southpaw, finished the summer strong as he sat 89-91 mph at a recent event.

Lake HS RHP Jayce Vancenna keeps getting better with time. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound prospect should pitch out of the bullpen right away for Coach Bakich at Michigan. He comes in at No. 7 while future rival Jake Niggemeyer, a right-handed pitcher headed to The Ohio State University, follows at No. 8. Niggemeyer, who attends Olentangy Liberty High School, sat in the mid to upper 80's while showing command of multiple off-speed pitches. 

St. Xavier catcher Jordan McDonough, another future Buckeye, follows in line at No. 9. McDonough, who missed the spring and summer season after undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's Disease, is healthy and back on the diamond. The state's top catching prospect earned a trip to the East Coast Pro Workouts as a sophomore. Assuming he returns back to form, the future Buckeye backstop figures to push for playing time upon arrival in Columbus.

The top ten is rounded out by another prospect from the Queen City, Zach Logue. The southpaw from Moeller HS will be joining Mahan and White as future Kentucky Wildcats. Logue, who has shown an easy mid to upper 80's fastball and command of both his curveball and changeup, returns as the ace of the two-time defending Division I state champions.

To view the complete rankings for the top 250 players in the State of Ohio, please click here.