Utah Class of 2026 Rankings Update: Top-10 Breakdown

September 5, 2023
Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

This post-summer rankings update of the Class of 2026 will primarily focus on the top-10 prospects in the state's senior class, giving pro scouts and college recruiters an in-depth sightline of the players to continue to follow. This class is still developing and adding depth, as many will be making their varsity debuts in 2024 and dozens more will jump on the scene at the 5 remaining showcase events to cap off the 2023 event season. With a total class of 25 ranked players overall, I expect this class to grow to 40 and beyond, before the calendar flips to 2024.

+ Click here to view Utah's updated Class of 2026 rankings.

THE TOP-10 PROSPECTS

Cache Poulson C / OF / American Fork, UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 1 / POS: 1 Overall Rank: 266 / POS: 22

1 steal attempt 1 caught stealing against Westlake HS.@AmFork_Baseball @TroskyTeams @CoachRuiz_TN @TommyCardiel @Vartradamus @NateTrosky @PBR_Utah @PBR_Uncommitted @ShooterHunt @TheCatchingGuy @GradumGswing @Wendi_Irlbeck @ACBaseballGames @DanCummins_ pic.twitter.com/vMf9RRum6T
— Cache Poulson (@cache_poulson5) April 27, 2023

2B against Lone Peak HS.@AmFork_Baseball @TroskyTeams @CoachRuiz_TN @TommyCardiel @Vartradamus @NateTrosky @PBR_Utah @PBR_Uncommitted @ShooterHunt @TheCatchingGuy @GradumGswing @ACBaseballGames @DanCummins_ @Wendi_Irlbeck pic.twitter.com/0i52qEgjWf
— Cache Poulson (@cache_poulson5) April 22, 2023

Mason Henry RHP / 1B / Pleasant Grove, UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 2 / POS: 1

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗣𝗕𝗥 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀@MasonHawkHenry | 2026 Mason Henry, RHP, 6-7 210 (Pleasant Grove HS/CBA USA) #PBRFG23

After earning POTG honors in game 2 w/his bat, Henry the younger brother of @paytonhenry15 - pitches two scoreless innings to close it out for #TeamUtah… pic.twitter.com/XBN2dE0f6c
— PBR Utah (@PBR_Utah) July 30, 2023

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗣𝗕𝗥 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀@MasonHawkHenry | 2026 Mason Henry, 1B 6-7 210 (Pleasant Grove HS/CBA USA)@DICKS 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚

Congrats to Mason Henry as he propels #TeamUtah to the 6-1 win vs Kentucky, going 2-2 w/a 2B, run and an RBI! #PBRFG23… pic.twitter.com/jXXwU3UBME
— PBR Utah (@PBR_Utah) July 28, 2023

Beckham Stanger RHP / 1B / Woods Cross, UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 3 / POS: 2

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗣𝗕𝗥 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀@beckham_stanger | 2026 Beckham Stanger, RHP, 6-4 185 (Woods Cross HS/NorCal Valley UT)

Stanger shows intriguing upside and athleticism to find the mitt w/a flexible high kick to delivery!

FB 83-86 | FB 85-88 at The Top Prospect Games,… pic.twitter.com/LJCDoiBMDV
— PBR Utah (@PBR_Utah) July 29, 2023

Royal Matthews C / RHP / Park City, UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 4 / POS: 2

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 🔦

College coaches keep this name at the fore front of your lists! Will be a name you’ll be seeing me promote over the next year as he heads towards his contact period for recruiters next summer at the PBR Future Games!… https://t.co/0Z2BOpDy0C
— PBR Utah (@PBR_Utah) August 22, 2023

Kaleb Weaver 3B / SS / Davis , UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 5 / POS: 1

One of two line drive singles on the game yesterday, 2-3 day. Excited to be swinging wood again. @MTNWESTBsebll @PBR_Utah @prepbaseball @utahscout1219 @FlatgroundBats @California_PG #uncommitted pic.twitter.com/X9KLOxGZlF
— Kaleb Weaver (@KalebWbsbl) June 20, 2023

3-2 curve for a ground rule double. 2-4 day on the win against syracuse. @PBR_Utah @FlatgroundBats @PBR_Uncommitted @MTNWESTBsebll #uncommitted pic.twitter.com/MDVDQKTvT5
— Kaleb Weaver (@KalebWbsbl) May 12, 2023

Bode Gaggero 2B / SS / American Fork, UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 6 / POS: 1

𝙏𝙤𝙥 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 🥇@PBR_Uncommitted | 2026 Bode Gaggero, 2B/SS (American Fork HS/Mtn West)

One of the next in line names to remember moving forward for the state powerhouse @AmFork_Baseball

Sweet swinging LHH put up an EV max of 92.7 w/barreled LD’s to the… pic.twitter.com/4TAb5AG5Rl
— PBR Utah (@PBR_Utah) July 14, 2023

Cooper Clark OF / RHP / Ridgeline , UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 7 / POS: 1

@Cooper_Clark149 2 doubles and a triple today. pic.twitter.com/EC3WERgnq8
— Ryan Clark (@RyanCla34118368) June 10, 2023

Thankful for the opportunity to attend BYU baseball camp this past week.

60 yard dash camp champ

Nice to meet you @tp_pratt @PBR_Utah @PBR_Uncommitted @BYUBaseball @RidgelineRiver1 pic.twitter.com/SCJ72rT4NL
— Cooper Clark (@Cooper_Clark149) June 30, 2023

Garrett Downing OF / 2B / Corner Canyon, UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 8 / POS: 2

Found a lot of barrels in the last tournament of the summer in the @pbrtscouting championships in California. #BeehiveState @prepbaseball @PBR_Utah @PBR_Uncommitted @utahscout1219 @TroskyTeams @NathanRode @ShooterHunt @FlatgroundBats @CoachRuiz_TN @TommyCardiel pic.twitter.com/fbwefNrvPd
— Garrett Downing (@gdowning2026) July 26, 2023

Thanks Jeff for the continued support. ⚾️ https://t.co/pPHaWajwCP
— Garrett Downing (@gdowning2026) June 23, 2023

Sammy Smith OF / Roy , UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 9 / POS: 3

❄️𝓤𝓽𝓪𝓱 𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓤𝓹𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓮❄️@PBR_Uncommitted | @Sammysosa110, | 2026 Sam Smith, CF/RHP, 6-1 185 (Roy HS)

Athletic & what they look like w/a fast bat! | Hand Spd 26.3, Bat Spd 79.5 | Projs EV 90.6 | FB T84, CB 68, CH 73 | Fun Surprise!@prepbaseball @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/8ihl71ldJE
— PBR Utah (@PBR_Utah) December 12, 2022

Cayman Sanchez SS / RHP / Olympus, UT / 2026

Rankings State Rank: 10 / POS: 1

Had a good tournament with @TroskyTeams and made it to the semifinals @lukelttaylor4 @PBR_Utah @PBR_Uncommitted @ShooterHunt @olympustitansbb @TommyCardiel https://t.co/7hhnE2SS6v
— Cayman Sanchez (@Cayman_Sanch1) July 26, 2023

Decent day Helping my @Troskyteams get the W in Game 1 of the PBR 15u California Summer Championships vs. The California Bucs. Fastball was locating well and had great bite on my curveball.
3.0 inn,
5K's
1 BB
0 Earned Runs@PBR_Utah @olympustitansbb @TommyCardiel https://t.co/iDM0tNIEqy
— Cayman Sanchez (@Cayman_Sanch1) July 21, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Northern Utah Open	UT	09/16	Ridgeline High School
2023 PBR Scout Day: GBG Utah	UT	09/30	The Hive - Juab High School Fieldhouse
2023 PBR Scout Day: RA Baseball Academy	UT	10/07	Juan Diego Catholic HS
Utah State Games (Invite-Only)	UT	10/29	Snow Canyon High School
2023 Utah Winter Update	UT	12/02	The Hive - Juab High School Fieldhouse

RECENT NEWS

JEFF SCHOLZEN (BIO)

Scholzen was brought on as the Utah Scouting Director for Prep Baseball Report 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 a similar capacity as the Four Corners Scouting Supervisor. In all, Scholzen served as a full-time scout for 20 years. Scholzen also received a 2002 World Series ring for his contributions as a scout.

With the Angels, Scholzen created an Angels Scout Team, in which he coached the likes of current and former major league players: Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman, Greg Bird, Tyler Wagner, Aaron Blair, Joey Rickard, Donn Roach, Johnny Field, Taylor Cole and Paul Sewald to name a few. During his run with the the Angels, Scholzen served as the hitting coach for the Angels rookie ball affiliate with the Pioneer League Orem Owlz, helping guide the Owlz to the 2005 and 2007 Pioneer League titles.

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 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.

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 from 1991-1992.