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As we await the updated 2023 rankings, lets take a closer look at five of the many players that impressed our PBR staff during the abbreviated high school season. First off, its impressive alone to be competing on varsity teams as a freshman, to add to that point these players stood out, in premium positions up the middle of the field, in some of the many games that our PBR scouting staff was able to see.

Kicking off our preview in the 2023 rankings with a look at 3 backstops. Caden Mitchell (Celina) stood out behind the dish as well as in the box in the game. C. Mitchell has a prototypical catchers body right now with a stout lower half but moves athletically and bounces around on the field. C. Mitchell shows soft hands receiving and a strong accurate arm in game. At the plate was able to show some natural power and feel for the barrel driving balls to the gap. There is plenty more to come as C. Mitchell continues to grow and mature as a ball player. Blake Mitchell (Sinton) was able to stand out behind the dish and catch a talented arm on the day we were able to see him down in Corpus Christi this spring. B. Mitchell showed great progress and growth as a player from the last time we saw him in the fall. Defensively he stands out with loose hips and presents a good low target with soft hands, also showed off his strong, loose arm in game. Brydan Hernandez (Corsicana) rounds out this group of catchers showing athleticism and quickness behind the plate. Hernandez receives the ball with soft hands and works well with pitchers. His best tool behind the dish is his release and arm strength. He definitely has the ability to control the running game. In the box he has a quiet, balanced, athletic setup with some natural rhythm in his hands. Shows a compact, flat stroke with the ability to handle the barrel and creates loud contact with minimal moving parts.

* Caden Mitchell (Celina) 

* Blake Mitchell (Sinton) 

*Brydan Hernandez (Corsicana) 

Not to leave Nikolas Sanders (University High) out of the catching crop but we wanted to be able to highlight his bat and athletic ability to play OF and C. Sanders is a physical right handed hitter that has raw strength in the swing with present pull side power. He moves well for his size and has a high athletic ceiling. Sanders’ bat is his calling card right now.

Last and certainly not least, we will stay in the middle of the field with a shortstop in Tanner Seaver (Coppell). Seaver shows a well rounded game in the box as well as in the field and shows a high ceiling in both. In the field has quiet calm actions. He comes in on the ball, and plays through it well for such a young player. In the box he shows a tall quiet setup, with natural rhythm in his hands. He shows a compact swing with quick hands and gets good extension through the ball, showing the ability to drive it to all fields. Seaver has a high ceiling as a guy that can stay in the middle of the field.

*Nikolas Sanders (University) 

There were many more 2023’s that stood out over the entire state, we just wanted to be able to highlight a few in some premium positions that caught our eye. We look forward to our full release of the 2023 class later this week.

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