Follow on Twitter: @PBRTennessee
Follow on Instagram: @pbrtennessee
Follow on Tik Tok: @pbrtennessee
Follow on Facebook: Prep Baseball Report Tennessee
 

Interested in attending a PBR Tennessee event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

It won't be long before we're hearing the ringing of high school bats and popping of leather mitts as the 2022 high school season will kick off on March 14th. We've been rolling out preseason coverage with team previews and team/class rankings will be presented in the near future.

At the conclusion of last season, we posted our inaugural PBR TN All-State teams featuring three rosters and 75 total players. Those teams were selected based on a blend of high school stats and also prospect profile as it was a great way to recognize some incredible individual performances from the 2021 season. For this upcoming season, we've decided to put together a PBR TN All-State watchlist in the form of the PBR TN Top 100. To be clear, this is not a top 100 prospect rankings. This list is formed based on a combination of factors: 1. projected production in hitting/pitching 2. player will play an integral role in their school's success 3. simply these are the players that opposing coaches do not want to see on the mound or at bat in big game moments. As we release the list you'll see: Mr. baseball winners/finalist, limited players per high school, some power 5 commits will not included, some D2/Juco commits will be included, and uncommitted players will be included. This list is centered around production and the ability to impact games every single night of the season. 

We can look at it a few ways, so first let's think of it as a 2022 TN high school fantasy baseball rankings. If you were constructing a team, you're gonna want guys who suit up every night and are gonna log a lot of at bats and innings on the mound to maximize stat output. This list features a lot of team's aces and meat of the order hitters, who may play a key position defensively or produce as a two-way. Fantasy sports websites always put out a preseason rankings to help consumers draft and help maximize their season success. The second way to to observe the list, is consider crossing sport lines in comparison to the annual NFL Top 100. For those not familiar, the NFL Top 100 is a preseason publication that honors the top 100 players voted on by the players. They usually roll it out and players give insight on other players abilities, but often fans are fully engaged in dissecting and criticizing the surprises and "snubs." For an example, I think it would be hard pressed to convince anyone that Tom Brady is NOT the best player to suit it up in the NFL, entirely based on his stats, records, awards, championships, etc. However, Brady has only been voted no. 1 three times in the past decade with his last being before the 2018 season. Also, Cooper Kupp was arguably the best wide receiver this past season, racking up nearly 2,000 receiving yards and a Super Bowl MVP, but he wasn't featured on the preseason list. Soooo with that being said sit back and enjoy the list, its purpose is a fun way for players and parents to follow numerous skilled high school kids this season. 

*One more time for the people in the back: This is not a Top 100 prospects list*

Top 100

No. 91-100

 

No. 81-90

Eli Lamb RHP / 3B / Centennial, TN / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 33 / POS: 9 No. 90: The big right hander missed significant time last Spring, then popped early in the summer after running the FB up to 92 at Lakepoint. He's shown some big upside and this Spring he'll be a crucial arm for the Cougars to compete in district 11. He's got a limited body of work thus far, but if he can string together some quality starts, then he could continue to climb.

Kenneth McKinley OF / 3B / Ensworth , TN / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 38 / POS: 5 No. 89: Ensworth lost two big pieces from last season with Devin Obee and Andrew Yu (Both at Duke). However, McKinley is back for his senior campaign and will fill the void offensively as run producer. He's got a strong blend of power/speed toolset and will have to cover more ground in the OF (likely moving to CF with Obee departure). The Tigers have some quality pieces in place to compete in a tough D2-AA.

Bridger Hamilton RHP / C / Sevier County, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 215 / POS: 59 No. 88: I don't think anyone will be more involved in every game than Bridger Hamilton. He started behind the dish as a Freshman for the Smoky Bears and he's already been up to 90 on the bump. He doesn't wow with over the top power, but he can handle the stick from both sides of the dish and expect a bigger lineup role in year two.

Caleb Hampton OF / OF / Baylor School, TN / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 13 / POS: 1 No. 87: Hampton is a physical, freakish athlete, who posted some serious numbers on the gridiron this fall. He was kinda log jammed in the OF for an absolutely loaded Baylor club last season. However, good chunk of last years lineups is playing power five baseball right now, so it will be Hampton's role (along with Amari Jefferson) to fill more of an everyday impact player. The South Carolina commit has shown big time pop and can go get it in the OF with looks of having a breakout season with more at bats.

Ty Denton C / 1B / Hardin Valley, TN / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 30 / POS: 3 No. 86: Denton was a crucial bat in a Hardin Valley lineup that just seemed to put up runs in bunches every night last year. He was a unit behind the dish handling the pitching staff and middle of the order bat. They lose some pieces (including brother Brycen Denton), but Hardin Valley expects to be very competitive in district four. Denton and the lineup will be a key part of that.

Jacob Conquest RHP / OF / Greenbrier , TN / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 27 / POS: 6 No. 85: Previously mentioned with Trent Miller, but the other half of 1a/1b arms for the Greenbrier Bobcats. Conquest was a electric at the PBR Future Games running the FB up to 92 and feel for a breaking ball. He's got a much more compact frame than Miller, so district foes will see two very different looks in a series. The uncommitted junior has great mound presence and pitches with an edge that will make for some exciting games this Spring.

Christian Taylor SS / 2B / Green Hill, TN / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 25 / POS: 6 No. 84: If there was a true shortstop prototype, it would be Christian Taylor. High level speed, smooth as butter fielding actions, and table setter bat wrapped into one. The Air Force commit will look to help elevate Green Hill in year two of the program. He'll lock down the middle and be a key for them to compete in a challenging new look district.

Cole Nycz RHP / 2B / Hendersonville, TN / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 43 / POS: 13 No. 83: Previous ace Jordan Zuger is now at Belmont, and Hendersonville will have Ryan Oden and Nycz to fill that void, who are more than two capable arms. Nycz is a lower slot guy, who's been up to 87, and can snap the SL for strikes and swing n miss. He did a little of everything last year, but expects to be in a more consistent throwing plan. Hendersonville has an older team that should really push to win the district and Nycz will be a key inning fill this Spring.

Jack Porter OF / 2B / Father Ryan , TN / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 35 / POS: 4 No. 82: The Central Florida commit handled duties at SS and even pitched it for the Irish. He'll continue to hit towards the top of the lineup and be a run producer role. He's very solid on the mound because he can mix and throw strikes to keep them in games. It's an even deeper district with state champ CPA moving up classifications, and Irish will need Porter on his A game every night to be in the mix.

Maxwell Fell LHP / 1B / Summit, TN / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 66 / POS: 8 No. 81: The MTSU commit split ace role duties with LHP Garrett Sims (Austin Peay) for the Spartans. He's a big, physical kid with great presence and competes on the mound. We haven't seen him in some time, but has some lively stuff and can match it up with the big arms from 4A district 12. He'll have to continue to improve on commanding the zone, but he's been throwing in one of the tougher districts, so that experience will play a factor.

 

Check out our website for more information on prep baseball in the Volunteer State. 

Click HERE to purchase a subscription which gives you access to additional information on the site, including 10,000+ Player Prospect Videos, State and National Rankings, Advanced Data Metrics and much more.

Click HERE to create a free profile.

 

More Content

 

 

code