Prep Baseball Report

Updated 2018 Overall Rankings Released



By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Over the three-plus months since the last overall Class of 2018 rankings update, much has changed. Many new names have emerged as high-level prospects and scores of players have taken significant leaps forward - or back, in some cases - all of which is to be expected at this time of year.

Through the jam-packed fall season, which has become increasingly more relevant in recruiting and evaluating prospects, our boots-on-the-ground scouting staff has seen a dizzying amount of baseball since the last update.

While there have been seismic changes in the updated overall Top 400 Class of 2018 rankings, the top two prospects remain intact: Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West HS, WI) and Michael Siani (William Penn Charter HS, PA). Both Kelenic and Siani are left-handed hitting outfielders with high-end tools across the board who helped the USA 18U National Team win a gold medal.

It is important to note that the PBR overall rankings only include the states that we intimately know from our scouting staff. The updated Top 400 Class of 2018 rankings is comprised of our current 33-state coverage area, which now includes recently added Texas and Oklahoma. As expected, Texas prospects made a big splash in the overall rankings.

After Kelenic and Siani, the top 10 is completely reshuffled. C/RHP Mason Denaburg (Merritt Island HS, FL) jumps to No. 3, as the 6-foot-3 Florida recruit has proven to be a high-end right-handed arm and an offensive force behind the plate. Florida’s 2018 class is especially strong, with OF Elijah Cabell (Winter Park HS, FL), RHP Slade Cecconi (Trinity Prep HS, FL) and 3B Brandon Howlett (George W. Jenkins HS, FL) all in the top 10, and SS Nander De Sedas (Montverde Academy HS, FL), LHP Jonathan Gates (Nature Coast Technical HS, FL), RHP Kristofer Armstrong (The Benjamin School HS, FL) and RHP Lyon Richardson (Jensen Beach HS, FL) trailing closely behind.

Four new players catapulted into the top 10, led by RHP Owen White (Jesse C. Carson HS), who jumps eight spots to No. 4. The athletic 6-foot-3, 185-pound White, who has been up to 94 with a sharp breaking ball, is the only uncommitted prospect in the top 10. RHP Cole Winn (Silver Creek HS, CO) is one of the fastest rising prospects in the country after enjoying a big fall campaign, and RHP Austin Becker (Big Walnut HS, OH), an athletic 6-foot-6 Vanderbilt recruit, has showed improved command to go along with premium velocity. RHP/1B Grayson Rodriguez (Nacogdoches Central HS, TX), a 6-foot-5, 210-pound Texas A&M recruit, rounds out the top 10.

There were many big risers outside the top 10. Some of the most significant risers include: RHP Carter Stewart (Eau Gallie HS, FL), RHP/SS Colby Gomes (Millard West HS, NE), 3B/OF Alex Binelas (Oak Creek HS, WI), RHP Chance Huff (Niceville HS, FL), 3B Bryce Reagan (Souhegan HS, MA), RHP Cole Ayers (Loveland HS, OH), RHP Wade Beasley (Forman HS, AR), INF/OF Gavin Dugas (Houma Christian HS, LA), and Ian Bedell (Davenport Central HS, IA), to name a few.

A look at the Top 20:

RANK NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Jarred Kelenic WI Waukesha West 2018 OF Louisville
2 Mike Siani PA William Penn Charter 2018 OF Virginia
3 Mason Denaburg FL Merritt Island 2018 C Florida
4 Owen White NC Jesse C Carson 2018 RHP  
5 Slade Cecconi FL Trinity Prep 2018 RHP Miami
6 Elijah Cabell FL Winter Park 2018 OF Louisiana State
7 Austin Becker OH Big Walnut High School 2018 RHP Vanderbilt
8 Cole Winn CO Silver Creek 2018 RHP Notre Dame
9 Grayson Rodriguez TX Central Heights 2018 RHP Texas A&M
10 Brandon Howlett FL George W. Jenkins 2018 3B Florida State
11 Nander De Sedas FL Montverde Academy 2018 SS Florida State
12 Noah Naylor ON St.Joan of Arc 2018 C Texas A&M
13 Jonathan Gates FL Nature Coast Technical 2018 LHP Miami
14 Mason Englert TX Forney 2018 RHP Texas A&M
15 Kristofer Armstrong FL The Benjamin School 2018 RHP Florida
16 Lyon Richardson FL Jensen Beach 2018 RHP Florida
17 Jack Perkins IN Kokomo 2018 RHP Louisville
18 Landon Marceaux LA Destrehan 2018 RHP Louisiana State
19 Alek Thomas IL Mount Carmel 2018 OF  
20 Spencer Schwellenbach MI Saginaw Heritage 2018 SS Nebraska


>> CLICK HERE to view complete Top 400 Overall 2018 Rankings 

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