Inside the 2024 Rankings: Risers & Newcomers

November 16, 2023
Brandon Gowins
Texas Scouting Director

TEXAS - As we wind down the 2023 campaign, it is time to look one more time at our 2024 rankings now that the season is over. The top of the 2024 class is full of up the middle position players, projectable lefties, and hard throwing righties. Today, We take a look at some of the new faces in this update as well as some of the players that moved up.

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20. Berkeley Roddy - RHP - Boswell HS - Oklahoma - Up 91 Spots

The 6 '2 RHP from Saginaw had a big summer and fall that saw his velo take a big jump, and he continues to improve the fastball command. This fall he saw his fastball tick up to 95 mph that really played up at the top of the zone. Not only does Roddy have the velo, but he shows good metrics on his fastball with a IVB that routinely is 20+ in. The future Oklahoma Sooner also shows the potential for a swing and miss breaking ball.

29. Michael Catalano - RHP - Frisco HS - Oklahoma - Up 27 Spots

Another future Sooner, Catalano had a big 2023. He had some big outings this fall in big moments where he was absolutely dominant. He also saw an uptick in his fastball velo. He is an athlete on the mound who repeats his delivery well and pounds the strike zone. Another big offseason and Catalano could gain some helium in the spring.

55. Hayden Crites - C - Paradise HS - Texas A&M - Newcomer

I never really got to see Crites until this fall, where he caught for the Rangers Scout Team. The athletic backstop showed well against good competition and showed the ability to handle some electric arms. Crites, who committed to Texas A&M this fall, showed the ability to really handle a staff. I thought he received well and handled the velo with ease. At the plate, Crites shows the ability to handle the barrel from both sides of the plate with some juice.

71. Carson Bailey - LHP - JJ Pearce HS - Baylor - Newcomer

Bailey is part of a really talented pitching staff at JJ Pearce. The future Baylor Bear has worked his way back from Tommy John surgery and this fall saw his fastball top out at 93 mph from the left side. It is an athletic delivery and there is more velo coming. He flashed a quality breaking ball as well. I am excited to see him in longer outings this spring.

72. Cayden Boyd - OF/LHP - Burleson HS - Weatherford College - Newcomer

Byrd is another one that I hadn’t seen a lot of, that really had some big moments this fall. The LHH outfielder from Burleson shows the ability to really impact the baseball at the plate. He has plus bat speed and showed some real power with wood this fall. Every swing Byrd takes has intent behind it. The future Coyote really opened some eyes this fall.

77. Zeke Seoane - C - Timber Creek HS - Louisiana Monroe - Up 53 Spots

I have always loved Seone’s game, but this fall I felt like he took it to another level. The switch hitting catcher has all of the intangibles you look for as an everyday catcher. He is tough, smart, and can really catch and throw. But Seone continues to show more pop in the bat, and offers a lot of value from both sides of the plate. He handles the bat well and can play complimentary baseball at the plate, or he can drive the ball to the gap if needed. The future Warhawk continues to elevate his game.

80. Donovan Jordan - OF - Summer Creek HS - Texas - Newcomer

Jordan is another one that had some really big moments this summer and fall that led to his commitment to the Univ. of Texas. Jordan has a lot of physicality already, standing 6 ‘1 210, to go along with plus bat speed. It translated into a lot of loud contact and easy to dream on the power he can produce. The impressive thing about him though is that he doesn’t sell out for his pop. He has a direct path and stays short to the ball. Jordan is one I am excited to see at the beginning of the spring.

89. Landon Karrh - RHP - Frisco Liberty HS - Baylor - Newcomer

I got my first really up close look at Karrh at this year's State Games, and he really impressed. The Baylor Bear recruit showed good pitch ability with a frame that projects for some big jumps. He has a clean delivery, and an easy upper 80’s fastball that is going to keep going up. He also showed a breaking ball that he could land for strikes and bury for swing and miss. Karrh and Catalano is going to be one of the better 1, 2’s in the DFW area this year.

97. Trent Collier - LHP - Walnut Grove HS - Weatherford College - Up 84 Spots

Collier continued where he left off at the end of the summer. The southpaw from Prosper looked sharp in his outing with a fastball that topped out at 90. There is more to come with the heater, and he compliments it well with his slider. He got a lot of bad swings with that pitch, and can throw it to righties or lefties with a lot of success. The future Coyote has really made some big jumps the last 6 months, and I am excited to see him this spring for Walnut Grove.