2027 Top 10 Rankings (Winter Update)

The 2027 high school baseball recruiting class is presenting a unique landscape for aspiring collegiate athletes, especially with the recent NCAA Division I, 34 man roster limitations. Of note, over 1,842 players will potentially be cut from rosters, in combination with recruits in the 2025 class, to make sure that that number is met. 

High School players face increased competition for limited spots. This trend incentivizes young athletes to consider alternative routes such as junior colleges (JUCOs) or NCAA Division II/NAIA programs, where they can showcase their skills, play regularly, and ultimately make the jump to the higher levels through the transfer portal. The new 34 man roster established by the NCAA for Division 1, on Dec 10th, 2024, had mandated that rosters be set at 34 by December 1st, so that means if you are signing with a school, that has recruited beyond the 34 and substantially more than 34, you face being cut 2 weeks before fall semester finals of your freshman year, and most likely will need to find a home at a JUCO on January 1st, and likely for NO MONEY!

The success rate of the various events are as follows:

* The Preseason All-State (3rd Saturday of February) has seen 187 of 280+ players (close to 50+ repeated the event) that were invited and attended over the past 4 years, have gone on to play college baseball. 

* The Top Prospect Games (mid-July) has seen 60% move onto the next level. 

* The Future Games and West Coast Games have seen 90% move on to the next level. 

Players need to be participating in events organized by Prep Baseball Utah, specifically “Open ID” events and various showcases, which are crucial for players aiming to get noticed. The statistics and data provided about the success rates of the Preseason All-State, Top Prospect Games, Future Games, and West Coast Games reinforce the effectiveness of these platforms in helping players gain exposure and achieve their goals.

Once a player has performed well enough to gain a ranking and showcase their tools and skills, warranting high caliber attention, players will be in a position to be evaluated for the prestigious “Future Games” at LakePoint Sports in Atlanta, GA at the Mecca of Prep Baseball venues across the country. Future Games invites come in a variety of ways.

1) Attending the Preseason ID (January) and securing a spot at the Preseason All-State (February)

2) Now that the player is “on the radar,” we then follow the players closely through the upcoming HS spring season and invites will come at various times during the spring and early and into the summer.

3) There are usually spots open at various positions heading into the summer and then…

4) Invites will come to the summer's top in-state Utah event, with the Top Prospect Games, held this coming summer on July 14-15 (20+ college recruiters in attendance) at a yet to be determined college venue in the state. There the remaining spots will be filled and discussed with certain players to attend the Future Games a week later in Georgia. 

This year's graduating class of 2027 are the players being considered for the Future Games on July 22-26. The class of 2026 are being evaluated for our signature west region event, the West Coast Games in Southern California (40+ colleges attending) on Oct 2-4. 

It's clear that the path to success is multifaceted—talent alone isn't enough!

Players must not only assess their skills but also actively seek out opportunities to get evaluated and ranked, this is where Prep Baseball comes into play. High School coaches play a pivotal role in recommending players for these showcases and emphasizes the importance of building relationships and performing well during the high school season. 

Moreover, highlighting the advantage that northern Utah players have in terms of availability to travel for exposure is a given, as 3 D1 and 3 JC programs are within a 20 minute to 2 hour radius, It encourages southern Utah athletes to be proactive and willing to travel if they seek broader recognition, with opportunities locally to be seen by only Utah Tech. It’s a fact, that in the last 4 years, only 3 Region 9 players have played locally and 2 of those players transferred out. Here are the facts, 20 D1 players have come from Washington County, post-CoVid and only 3 have stayed local. That’s a discussion for another day…

Ultimately, it comes down to effort in showing up, being visible and showcasing not only your statistics but also the physical attributes that are significant in the decision-making processes of college recruiters. Players must "look the part" and be aware that their performance at these events directly impacts their future opportunities and the eye test of players physical stature, do play a massive role in catching a recruiter or scout's eye. 

In summary, players from Utah—especially from the southern regions of the state—need to be intentional about their engagement with the baseball community, Prep Baseball and seize every opportunity for exposure, and recognize that collegiate baseball is a highly competitive arena. It's a call to action for Region 9 players to demonstrate their commitment to the sport and their development as athletes by participating actively in the right events, building a strong network of people in the know, that can be an aid in their development and can consistently hone their skills.

Lastly if you are from the “Southern Utah” area high schools and have not attended an Open ID event, as two of our three state wide invite events are at area St. George schools, if you are only interested in attending those events, because they are local, unless you are putting up All-State numbers, the request may not transpire. It’s not a good idea to only attend local events and skip ahead of the line to other events, if you want to be evaluated for more signature style events, where the real meat on the bone for recruiters lies. You most likely will find your baseball career ending at the high school level!

Last word on that topic is, Northern Utah players coming from the bigger regions of the state as far as population goes, have shown they will travel anywhere they need to in seeking attention, and will be gaining more momentum on the Southern Utah players for looks from myself and college recruiters. So the moral of the story is: get in your car and start driving if playing at the next level is what you want to do? And as far as it comes to putting up numbers, numbers are just one aspect of the evaluation…If you are 5’7” 145 and putting up numbers, the eye test comes into play and the players at the next level are bigger, faster and stronger and it’s a physical game. YOU NEED TO LOOK THE PART and get in the Gym NOW!

Last last word: If you are from Southern Utah and have attended invite events in the past, but have an invite event that is LOCAL and you do not attend, that's not a good plan of action if you want to play at the next level. 80-90% of the time, college recruiters first point of contact in Utah, when vetting a player, is a phone call, text to MYSELF, before your HS coach! College coaches do ask me how a player did at the last invite event. Don’t be the player who I have to say, you didn’t attend. College coaches especially regionally or statewide recruiters know the lay of the land and where you are from, and most often is the case, they say “he didn’t register and it was 10-15 minutes from his house”?! 

Expanded List of 2027 Player Rankings...Click Here

2025 Upcoming Spring Showcase Events...Click Here

Morley Video: Future Games

Warren Report:

The 15U USA National Team alum, was a impact bat for Spanish Fork HS in his freshman year, as he led the "Dons" in hitting at a .417 clip in 108 PA's with 6 extra base hits and 20 RBI's. Of note, it's impressive that a 15 year old jumps into varsity action, and provides 18 BB's, to only 7 K's! twitchy and lean with an athletic build, and shows an elongated gate out of the box and takes solid turns at the bag and looks for extra base hits. The bat path is flat and clean through the zone and looks to use the middle and back side of the field with gap power now, and projects for avg raw in the future. A contact based approach, that has an understanding of the K zone and can recognize spin for a young player. A solid mover in CF, with proper routes and reads off the bat. A fringe runner now, but project avg to solid avg times moving forward as he contiunes to fill out with added lower body strength. The arm plays with one hop online throws and will only continue play up as he fills out. A candidate for the Future Games with all that he needs to do is show up and be present. 

Dart Report:

8/07/24

The bloodline brother to two former D1 commits in the family (Zac - BYU and Will - Utah Tech) has the younger brother surely excited about his development and place in the game moving forward. Zac started game 3 for Team Utah and gave up 2 runs in the first and then settled in a fire two scoreless frames thereafter. A well proportioned athletic frame at 5-11 160, looks to continue to fill out and the crystal ball sees 6-0 180 in his future with a 3 pitch mix with moxy and feel to pitch. The FB 80-84 has a ceiling to jump to 87-90 with pitchability and feel as his strong suit. The CB takes on TQ sweeping depth and can really come into RHH’s and have that back foot finishing effect. The CH fades with a pull the string effect with late sinking depth. Can field his position and gets off the mound quick to cover 1B, while showing a solid mound presence for a young kid. Will return to LakePoint as a two-way player at 1B next summer again.

Dart Video: 

Committed: Texas Christian U

Goff Report:

6/12/24

The younger brother of BYU catcher and former Riverton star, Parker Goff, Cooper has bloodlines, as I also coached against his father Mike Goff, when Mike was at Utah in the mid-90’s. Cooper is a projection type athletic OF’er with a lean long and lanky frame. Still immature physically and needing to fill out and add size and strength, the younger Goff has the type of hitting stroke that you can dream on and see playing at the next level. A TCU commit right before the deadline in April of 2023, when the recruiting rules changed on being contacted by schools. Goff played his freshman year at state power Mountain Ridge, where he was one of five, yes 5 D1 commits on the roster, so playing time would be limited as the entire class except 3 next level hopefuls were all underclassmen. Goff worked his way into the lineup, thanks to a next level type OF who sustained an arm injury, that limited his play to DH only and this Goff was able to now get playing home 5-6 games into the season and more than held his own! In 22 games, the young 15 year old hit .317 over 72 PA’s with 19 RBI and 7 2B’s for good measure. The type of production usually seen in his age category that at next level talents as freshman. It will be exciting to see where his growth and maturation takes him next spring as he is playing for the highly nationally competitive Wow Factor Nation, overseen nationally by a former asst director in GA for Prep Baseball.

Campbell Report:

12/1/24

Campbell got off to a torrid start to the '24 season as he was one of the top 2-3 main bats in the varsity lineup as a freshman. Against strong competition and facing upperclass arms in the St. George area, Campbell was going up against mid to upper 80's arms and 3-4 low 90's arms in region play. All Campbell did was hit .405 in 101 PA's with 13 2B's and 3 3B's, to go along with 26 RBI's, with 15 BB to 16 K's. Campbell led the team in hitting and placed in the top 10 in the region in hitting, while leading all freshman in the state in extra base hits. A small lean athletic frame, that needs to grow and fill to reach his potential, but the bat is of quality for a young kid, that produced the way he did as a freshman. The defense is reliable and will only improve with the rest of his game as he continues to get his AB's and matures physically.  

7/02/23

Campbell had a terrific summer for CBA Summit and played for newly minted Pine View head coach Kyler Walker and has a good chance of finding his way into the everyday varsity lineup as a freshman. With an advanced swing pattern and strong hands to for the barrel inside and through the baseball, Campbell squares balls up consistently on a line with backspin. The rare RHH who throws LH’ed, Campbell shows advanced movement patterns on approach to field the baseball from the OF with a clean arm stroke and looks to project arm strength with online carry moving forward. A 7.26/60 yard dash should also see improvements to potential sub 7.0 times as he continues to mature and fill out with added lower half leg strength. With the deepest college talent pool in the state with Region 9 in southern Utah, it will be a test as a freshman in facing the kind of pitching coming Campbell’s way, but Coach Walker has nothing but confidence in this up and coming name on the Utah baseball scene!

Campbell Video: Top Prospect Games

Richards Tweet:

𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑰𝑫~𝑺𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑰

𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘨 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘖𝘍/𝘓𝘏𝘗, 5-10 165, 𝘓-𝘓 (𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘏𝘚/𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘢𝘷𝘺 '27)

Intriguing bat for a freshman with bat speed and thump!

Will be attending the Preseason All-State (Invite) Feb… pic.twitter.com/Rr6YuucU3W

— Prep Baseball Utah (@PrepBaseballUT) February 6, 2024

Richards Video: Top Prospect Games

Holmes Report: 

6/12/24

A smaller collar pound for pound type athlete with quality movement patterns and shows an advanced style of play with energy and overall bounce to his game. A standout at the Preseason ID and scheduled to attend the invite only Top Prospect Games coming up in July. A 95 mph EV as a freshman is impressive in how he can square up the baseball and drive it on a line with backspin. A short compact powerful young stroke to hit, allows for his hand and bat speed to play at a young age. Saw limited time as a freshman at Salem Hills, but should step right in as a sophomore in ‘25 and be a mainstay over the next 3 years. Soft hands and quick educated feet on defense allow for his twitchiness to play and catch your eye. A 7.05/60 should only get better as he continues to add leg strength, while his 72 mph arm also should jump as his quick short arm stroke and active lower ½ get him into a quick transfer to throw K’s across the diamond. Looking forward to seeing where Ledger’s game is when he takes the field on July 8-9 at the Top Prospect Games!

Holmes Video: Top Prospect Games

Lambson Report: Rising Stars ID 

6/20/23

Tall high waisted look w/long arms and legs. The type to continue to grow and fill out with age and natural maturity. Intriguing drop and drive high flexible kick to his delivery. Features a low set to his hands in his address and maintains the set and glove/hand break. Creates a shorter low to med arm stroke out of the glove. With a higher set and break, this will create a more full circle arm stroke. Yet does have arm speed and natural arm strength, created with solid use of his legs and good ext out front at release. The wrist/forearms and fingers have whip and strength to power the ball out of the hand w/a FB that touched 81.4, which is slightly abv avg for his class. The FB is firm w/sone carry at times from a downhill plane of attack. His best pitch is a hard TQ tilted downer CB 65-66 that can be thrown harder, yet has solid shape and definition and can create spin (2352) to feature depth and late controlled bottom in the zone. The spin for his age and class is abv to slightly abv avg and with the feel to land the breaking ball for K’s, gives promise for added spin and velo over the next couple of years. The CH 72 fades with late mild sink and arm side life. With added use and development, this pitch will complement a slightly abv avg FB/CB combo, to give him 3 pitches in a lead HS starters role and the sky's the limit from here. 

Lambson Video:

Rowley Report:

12/1/24

Rowley has a chance to be my sleeper pick for the fastest riser up the rankings come spring! With recent verified tweets of touching 86 with the FB, Beckham has a fast whippy arm with momentum towards the plate and works quick and dwonhill. The 3 pitch arsenal was lethal at the JV level in the first half of his freshman season, and was subsequently moved to the rotation at the varsity level soon after with solid success for a young 15 yr lefty with advnced pitchability for his youth. 

6/20/23

Rising Stars ID  

Rowley was one of the better revelations, with his loose long arm action, and how the baseball comes out of his hand. The FB 75 can be thrown harder and with more conviction, due to his ability to throw K's and control the K zone. The CB though low in overall velocity at 60-61, was the event leader in spin rate at 2536, which is above MLB avg and something to hang his hat on, and give promise for bigger things to come in relation to velocity and even greater spin, as he continues to grow, fill out and develop. With the added velocity over time, and the ability and feel to create spin with its accompanying depth in the zone, gives added promise of a plus CB in time. One to definitely keep and eye on! 

Rowley Video: Preseason All-State

Rowley Tweet:

New PR - 86 mph #90byMarch #workhard pic.twitter.com/G3VS1OnK3b

— Beckham Rowley (@BeckhamRowley) December 9, 2024

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SCOUTING DIRECTOR (BIO)

Scholzen comes to Prep Baseball after serving 9 years as the "Four Corners" Scouting Supervisor with the Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2020). Prior to his run with the Brewers, Scholzen worked for the Los Angeles Angels for 11 years (1999-2010), serving in the same capacity as the "Four Corners" Scouting Supervisor (UT, WY, So-ID, Las Vegas, AZ, CO, NM and El Paso). Scholzen received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout with the Angels. 

With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the following MLB players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole, Andy Burns and Paul Sewald to name a few.

During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen also served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate in the Pioneer League, the Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles, which earned Jeff two more championship rings.

In Scholzen's 20 year scouting career, he was credited with the signing of 6 MLB players starting with:

Brandon Wood, SS, Angels 2003, 1st Rd ~ Efren Navarro, 1B, Angels 2007, 50th Rd ~ Donn Roach, RHP, Angels 2010, 3rd Rd ~ Tyler Wagner, RHP, Brewers 2012, 4th Rd ~ Payton Henry, C, Brewers 2016, 6th Rd ~ Ryan Aguilar, 1B/OF - Brewers 2017, 31st Rd ~ Scholzen also had an additional 3 players added to various clubs 40 man MLB rosters over the years.

2019 (14th Rd) draft pick, RHP-Paxton Schultz from Utah Valley U, is currently in AAA (Buffalo Bisons) with the Toronto Blue Jays, and former 40 man Brewers rostered RHP (Utah Tech) just recently returned from Korea and signed with the NL Champion Arizona Diamondbacks and is in AAA with the Reno Aces.

Prior to becoming a professional scout, Scholzen served as the head coach at Southern Utah University between 1993-1997. At the time, Scholzen was the youngest Division I head coach in the country, when he was first hired at 24 years old. The Southern Utah baseball program was dropped after the 2012 season. While coaching at Southern Utah, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Alaska Goldpanners in 1995, as they won the Alaska League Championship. Scholzen also recruited and coached World Series RHP-Ryan Jensen of the San Francisco Giants, who would earn a top 5 finish for NL Rookie of the Year in 2022. Scholzen and Jensen had the unique opportunity, to be on opposing sides of the ledger, when Scholzen's Angels and Jensen's Giants squared off in the 2002 MLB Fall Classic.

Scholzen also had the pleasure of coaching Jensen's roommate and back up catcher, Kyle Turner who has worked in professional/major league baseball for 24 years. Kyle currently is in his 14th season with the big league Kansas City Royals and serves as the clubs Head Athletic Trainer. Turner was instramental, while a young player for Scholzen at Southern Utah, in introducing Scholzen to his first wife, the late Heidi Dalton Scholzen, who passed away in December of 2014. A native of Utah, Scholzen played at Hurricane HS and was twice named 1st team All-State and an AAU HM All-American, before moving on to Utah Valley CC and Eastern Oregon University, earning All-Conference honors on three separate occasions. Scholzen played in the Angels’ organization in 1991.

Scholzen was married to his late wife Heidi for 20 years and their union produced four children - McKyla 28, Miranda 25, McKenzie 23 and the couples only son, Grant Scholzen 19, played 2B/3B at D1 WCC school, the U of the Pacific (Pacific Tigers) on scholarship, in 2024 and transferred to Salt Lake CC.

After Heidi's passing in 2014, Scholzen married Cami Macias Scholzen, a widow herself and the same age as Heidi and the couple now have been married 9 years. Between both families, Jeff has 3 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren (8 total). The Scholzen's reside in Hurricane, UT in the bottom left SW corner of the state, near the most iconic and scenic national parks in the country.