Ohio, the time is now.

With the launch of Prep Baseball Report Ohio, the Buckeye State finally has a brand worthy of covering all bases of prep baseball in the state. No longer will one of America?s finest prep baseball states be a hidden gem; with PBR-Ohio, the spotlight will be on the top players, coaches, and programs from Cleveland, Columbus, to Cincinnati, and all areas in between, without missing a beat.

While the casual baseball fan around the country may not fully grasp, nor appreciate, what is in Ohio prep baseball, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California garner the bulk of the national attention, the facts provide a picture that there is elite baseball here. And PBR-Ohio will publicize it.

For proof of these sentiments, we can take a look at last June?s MLB Amateur Draft. While it is our job to spotlight and showcase these athletes, these views are shared throughout the baseball and scouting community.

?It doesn't get nearly the hype that California, Florida and Texas do,? said Baseball America Draft Expert Jim Callis. ?But despite the disadvantages of a colder climate, Ohio continues to churn out talent. Last year the state had two first-rounders in Ohio-native Kolbrin Vitek and Ohio State's Alex Wimmers, plus two other seven-figure bonus recipients in high school teammates Stetson Allie and Alex Lavisky.?

The 2010 draft was not an anomaly. Year after year, the state?s elite can compare with those around the nation.

?In the last five years, the state has produced Emmanuel Burriss, Chris Carpenter, Derek Dietrich, John Ely, Marc Krauss, Cory Luebke, Andy Oliver and Joe Smith, among others,? continued Callis. ?And Kent State's Andrew Chafin looks like a top-50 pick this year."

Using the draft as evidence of the state?s top-end elite talent does its job, but we know not every baseball player will have their named called in one of the 50 drafts. What Prep Baseball Report Ohio strives to do is showcase the player to provide them with the ability to play at the next level from Junior College, to NAIA, all levels of NCAA play, and professional baseball.

That strive and desire fit perfectly into what is already in place in Ohio with the near 50 collegiate schools and universities.

Though the state?s two professional teams may reach into their home state for talent, none more than the collegiate coaches rely on the Ohio prep scene. As PBR Ohio launches, currently NCAA Division I Kent State is currently ranked by two publications whereas NCAA Division III school Marietta is ranked No. 1 in the country. Both have rosters near completely filled with nothing but Ohio products and both are showing they can compete with the best.

And so we begin.

No time is better than now for PBR Ohio to begin its endeavor to hitting every aspect, to give the deserved spotlight, and to cover all the bases of Ohio prep baseball.