Halfway through the junior college season and it’s time for an update to our top prospect rankings.

Although limited to just three innings due to an arm injury that did not require surgery, LHP Conner Ware (Pearl River, MS) remains as our No. 1 prospect. The LSU commit is a superior athlete who is long, loose and full of projection. When healthy he fills the zone with three pitches while sitting 90-93 and touching 95 with his fastball.

Directly behind Ware is another southpaw who has impressed throughout this spring. Oklahoma commit Cade Crossland (Weatherford, TX) projects as a starter with a smooth delivery, easy arm action and a fastball that currently touches 94. The lefthander has struck out 54 in 37.2 innings while posting a 1.91 ERA to date this season.

His Coyotes’ teammate Tanner Wiggins will touch 98 with his electric heater and ranks third. The 6-foot-6 righthander and Tennessee commit has struck out 31 in 19.2 innings to go along with his miniscule 1.37 ERA.

Jumping up from No. 46 in our preseason rankings, Arkansas commit Brent Iredale is in the middle of a monster season for New Mexico JC. Slashing .427/.543/.974 with 17 home runs and 14 stolen bases, Iredale is also an above average defender at the hot corner.

Dropping just one spot from the preseason, RHP Drew Pestka (John A Logan, IL) is having a solid spring, but has yet to show the upper-90s juice that he flashed in front of a large crowd of scouts in the fall at the Puma Classic at Grand Park in Westfield, IN. An unsigned 18th-round pick of the Reds last summer, Pestka, like Wiggins, has committed to Tennessee.

Overall, the 2024 JUCO class lacks a sure-fire Day One draft talent, but it's a talented group that is deep in Day Two draft prospects. With three of the top ten prospects, the state of Texas once again looks to be a hotbed of JUCO talent. Florida is second with two in the top ten and four in the top 15.

THE TOP REST OF THE TOP-10

6. Caden Powell, 3B, Seminole State (OK)- Oklahoma bounceback is in the middle of a ridiculous season with a .511/.564/1.045 slash to go along with 16 pumps and 65 RBI. He is currently uncommitted.

7. Brandon Clarke, LHP, State College of Florida- A standout at the 2021 Super 60, Clarke attended Alabama as a freshman and was red-shirted. Transferring to SCF, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound lefty is now healthy and sits comfortably 93-95 and will touch a tick or two higher with his fastball. He will also mix in a 77-81 mph breaking ball. Clarke has committed to attend South Carolina.

8. Colin Linder, RHP, Northwest Florida- A 6-foot-4, 235-pound power pitcher who struck out 73 in 48.2 innings last spring, Linder works in the 92-94 mph range with his high-spin heater. He compliments that swing/miss offering with another in his low-80s curveball that spins over 3000+ rpm, while adding an upper-80s cutter. Linder has committed to Arizona State.

9. Mathis Meurant, SS, Cochise (AZ)- Six-foot-3, 185-pound switch-hitting shortstop from France. Plus actions at shortstop, smooth/easy fielder with a plus arm and excellent arm action. A true shortstop who can stay there in pro ball. Quick bat both sides of the plate with an all-fields/line drive approach. Possesses the size, tools and athleticism that scouts love. An Arizona recruit who is also a potential Day Two draft prospect.

10. Tanner Reaves, INF, Blinn (TX)- An LSU commit, Reaves stands 6-foot, 170 pounds. The left-handed hitter is not overly physical but takes the bat to the ball and has some pop to all fields. Reaves is also a 6.5 runner in the sixty and a good defender at second base. He may also see some action in center field down the road, adding to his defensive versatility.

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JUCO WIRE, MIDSEASON TOP-100

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