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Updated Class of 2021 Rankings

August 14, 2020
Chris Fuller
Kentucky Director of Scouting

After a summer packed full of events (and players), a significant update was needed for the Class of 2021 rankings. As our staff sifted through players, one thing was apparent – this class is loaded with arms. In fact, it’s the deepest class of arms I can remember in my 8 years of running PBR Kentucky. How deep? A total of 21 of the top 25 ranked players are pitchers, and all but three of them have committed to Division I schools. It doesn’t stop there.

There are six more arms ranked from No. 30-40. At No. 30 lefty Sam Thompson became the latest pitcher to commit to a Division I school when he announced his commitment to Marshall yesterday. And then there are pitchers ranked in the 30’s like lefty Carson Myers, and right handers Joshua Tucker, Jake Gulley (injury), and Jake Faherty. Myers is just growing into his body, and he was lights out this summer with a fastball up to 85 and a big-time curveball. He has gained a whopping 10+ mph on his fastball since last summer. Tucker has been up to 89 and was flat dominant at our Top Prospect Games Event in June. And then there’s low-90’s righty’s in Gulley (injury) and Faherty (command issues) who could very well see their stock on the rise again soon. Oh, and checking in at the No. 40 spot is RHP Grant Stone, who although is what you would consider underized, has an extremely quick arm and made a jump into the high-80’s this summer while maintaining the pitchability that made him a key factor in Tates Creek’s 2019 state championship. I’ve never had a high-80’s arm ranked No. 40 before that I can remember, but that just speaks to the depth of this 2021 pitching class. With several of these players uncommitted, there is a very significant amount of talent still left on the recruiting board.

CLICK HERE to view the entire Class of 2021 rankings

As for the top 5, it’s no secret who the top player in the class is after a summer in which he hit top arm after top arm in the country on the big stages of East Coast Pro and Area Code Games. In fact, PBR National Supervisor Nathan Rode had this to say about Daylen Lile (Louisville commit) at the Area Code Games.


The rest of the top 5 is rounded out with premium arms. Will Koger (Louisville commit) is a super-athletic 6-foot-2 RHP with a fastball up to 93.


Travis Smith (Kentucky commit) is a 6-foot-4 RHP who has been up to 92 with a big breaking ball


Kade Grundy (Louisville commit) is a bulldog on the mound and also pitches in the low 90’s. This tweet was from June 2019.

 

Kruise Newman (Tennessee commit) is a 6-foot-3 RHP/OF who has a legitimate shot to be a two-way guy at Tennessee with a fastball that tops at 93 and big power from the left side.


Here is a look at the top 10

1 Daylen Lile KY Trinity 2021 OF Louisville
2 Will Koger KY Bardstown 2021 RHP Louisville
3 Travis Smith KY Walton Verona 2021 RHP Kentucky
4 Kade Grundy KY Somerset 2021 RHP Louisville
5 Kruise Newman KY Madison Southern 2021 RHP Tennessee
6 Ethan Wood KY Danville 2021 RHP Louisville
7 Mason Moore KY Rowan County 2021 RHP Kentucky
8 Jaxson Davis KY Lexington Christian Academy 2021 RHP Louisville
9 Christian Howe KY Danville 2021 RHP Kentucky
10 Isaac Milburn KY Lexington Catholic 2021 LHP Kentucky