After a flurry of fall and winter events, including a Preseason All-State Showcase that included many of the top sophomores in the state, a significant update to the 2023 rankings was necessary.

Overall, this is a talented class, and we saw many players make offseason gains that have vaulted them up the rankings. As always, when you are talking about ranking young players, expect there to be many changes as we continue to watch players from this class develop over the next few years. We will tweak the rankings as necessary as our staff sees players this spring heading into our summer events.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE 2023 Rankings

Here are a few things to highlight:

The Top Five

The top five remain the same, with the only uncommitted player at No. 4 in catcher Jonathan Fitz. Fitz features big power at the plate to go along with arm strength and good catch and throw ability.

RHP Thomas Howard, a Louisville commit, remains entrenched in the No. 1 spot with his fastball approaching 90 mph.

Kentucky commit Evan Hart stays in the No. 2 spot. The lefty has run his fastball into the high 80’s with plenty more to come.

RHP and Louisville commit Luca Sandrella, another projectable Louisville commit, stays in the No. 3 spot.

Louisville commit Alex Galan-Camejo, an athletic, switch-hitting SS, remains at No. 5.

New To The Top 10

RHP Cadwell Turner slides into the No. 7 spot as his velocity continues to climb. His fastball was up to 86 with high spin rates in the preseason and he shows an ability to use an effective curveball and changeup in his arsenal.

RHP Oliver Kerns moves up a few spots to No. 9. His velocity continues to climb, reaching 86 mph, and he commands a sharp low to mid 70’s slider that has swing and miss potential.

3B/RHP Eli James rounds out the top 10. James has plenty of bat speed and power at the plate, and he’s also good on the mound with a mid-80’s fastball and low-70’s slider.

Significant Risers

RHP Chase Keen jumps 15 spots to No. 13. Keen attacks the zone with an 84-86 mph fastball and compliments it with a solid low-70’s curveball and mid-70’s changeup.

RHP/3B Gavyn Childers rises from No. 45 to No. 22 with a fastball approaching 85 and a sharp, big breaking curveball with spin rates in the 2500’s.

Highest Ranked Newcomers

SS Hunter Cook jumps into the rankings at No. 19, He has plenty of pop the bat to go along with one of the best infield arms in the class to stay on the left side of the infield at the next level. He will have to improve his speed to stay at SS, but even if he doesn’t he can easily slide over to third base as a power hitting corner guy.

OF Stephen Hayden finds himself at No. 20 . The athletic OF has a speed/power combo, and was second at the Underclass Preseason All-State event with a 6.87 60-yard dash.

OF Jacob Jones checks in at No. 25. He’s an athletic 6-foot-2, 188 pounds and led the Underclass Preseason All-State event with a 6.84 60-yard dash. With his bat speed, Jones should see the power side of his offensive game continue to develop.