Best High School Baseball Player in Every State

These high school baseball standouts represent the future of the game.

Baseball is often referred to as America’s pastime, and the game has played an important role for generations of young players. But baseball doesn’t have quite the same clout as other sports when it comes to scouting talent.

Over the past 20 years, powerful recruiting websites have been letting us know who the best high school football and basketball players are in the country by the time they’re barely in their teens. We don’t get the same luxury with baseball. That doesn’t mean future major league stars aren’t out there perfecting their craft every day,

Here’s a look at the best high school baseball player in every state, minus the states where there is no high school baseball — Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Alabama: Maddux Bruns, Left-Handed Pitcher

Maddux Bruns has a fastball approaching 100 miles per hour. BenThomasPreps / Twitter

High school: UMS-Wright Preparatory School (Mobile, Alabama)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game No. 12 overall (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020), USA U17 National Development Team (2019)

Bottom Line: Maddux Bruns

Maddux Bruns is committed to play for Mississippi State. @UMS_W_Athletics / Twitter

Maddux Bruns committed to play for Mississippi State in 2018 and has the look of a future major league pitcher.

Bruns started to top out at 97 mph consistently on his fastball in the summer of 2020, an increase from 88 mph the previous summer. And the left-hander already is considered a “four pitch” player with a fastball, curveball, steadily improving slider and changeup.

Before the 2020 high school baseball season got shut down, Bruns was 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA, nine hits, one save and 39 strikeouts in 19 innings.

Alaska: Clayton Boyett, Right-Handed Pitcher/Utility

Clayton Boyett is committed to play for the University of Oregon. claytonboyett1 / Twitter

High school: Wasilla High School (Wasilla, Alaska)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Career highlights: Class 4A state champion (2019), Perfect Game Alaska No. 1 overall (2021)

Bottom Line: Clayton Boyett

Clayton Boyett led Wasilla High to a state championship in 2019. Wasilla Post 35 / Facebook

There’s not a lot of Division I baseball talent that comes out of Alaska high schools, even though the state does have a thriving summer wooden-bat league that has filled its rosters with Division I talent for decades.

Clayton Boyett is the rare exception to the rule. The Wasilla High star is committed to play for the University of Oregon.

Boyett helped lead Wasilla High to its first state championship in 2019.

Arizona: Brock Selvidge, Left-Handed Pitcher

Brock Selvidge was Arizona’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020. @Ignite_Perf / Twitter

High school: Hamilton High School (Chandler, Arizona)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds

Career highlights: Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year (2020), Perfect Game All-American (2020), Baseball America No. 21 overall (2021), Class 6A state champion (2019)

Bottom Line: Brock Selvidge

Brock Selvidge has the talent to be a two-way player at LSU. BaseballAmerica / Twitter

Brock Selvidge is no stranger to pressure. Or success. He hit the game-winning home run for Hamilton High in the 2019 Class 6A state championship game.

Selvidge might pitch and play outfield at the next level. He’s too talented to not try and pull off double duty permanently in college, at least.

Committed to play for LSU, Selvidge looks like a big-time college player and MLB prospect at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and could be a star for the Tigers sooner than later.

Arkansas: Braylon Bishop, Outfielder

Braylon Bishop was named a Perfect Game All-American in 2020. braylonbishop2 / Instagram

High school: Arkansas High School (Texarkana, Arkansas)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 196 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game All-American (2020), Under Armour Showcase (2020)

Bottom Line: Braylon Bishop

The University of Arkansas may have found its next star in Braylon Bishop. Baseball America / YouTube

Braylon Bishop batted .431 with 13 RBI and five doubles as a sophomore in 2019 and established himself as one of the more athletic players in the Class of 2021.

At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he seems like he could develop into an elite center fielder and a top draft pick. Bishop is committed to play for in-state University of Arkansas, and scouts have praised how much his arm strength seems to have improved on throws from the outfield.

He’s not a power hitter (yet) and will be great at the top of any team’s batting order.

California: Tyree Reed, Outfielder

Tyree Reed could follow in the footsteps of players like Michael Conforto at Oregon State. California_PG / Twitter

High school: American Canyon High School (Vallejo, California)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game All-American (2020), Prep Baseball Report No. 9 overall (2020)

Bottom Line: Tyree Reed

Tyree Reed is projected as a first-round pick in the 2021 MLB draft. filam707 / Twitter

Outfielder Tyree Reed is projected as the No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft by MLB.com, which is pretty amazing considering his entire junior season and summer before his senior year was wiped out because of the pandemic.

The biggest question about Reed seems to be around his ability to develop power as he gets older, which is interesting because it makes you think baseball scouts might not be that bright.

If he’s projected as a top of the order hitter when he’s 17 years old, 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds — and showing more and more velocity on throws from the outfield — do scouts think he’s not gonna put on any muscle?

Colorado: Cale Lansville, Right-Handed Pitcher

Cale Lansville is the top-rated baseball recruit in Colorado. davidfolse / Twitter

High school: ThunderRidge High School (Highlands Ranch, Colorado)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot, 210 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 58 overall (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020)

Bottom Line: Cale Lansville

Cale Lansville has been committed to play for LSU since 2018. TheCanesBB / Twitter

Like the majority of the players on this list, Cale Lansville picked a college with years left in his high school career, committing to LSU in 2018.

Lansville has certainly developed into the player LSU thought he would become. His fastball is consistently in the mid-90s while his curveball, slider and changeup are all in the low-to-mid 80s.

Lansville also has put on a lot of muscle in the last few years and is now a solid 6-foot and 210 pounds.

Connecticut: Gavin Greger, Left-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder

Gavin Greger is headed to play for UConn. CTsportsDeputy / Twitter

High school: Bristol Central High School (Bristol, Connecticut)

Graduation year: 2022

Height/weight: 6-foot, 175 pounds

Career highlights: All-Central Connecticut Conference South Region (2019)

Bottom Line: Gavin Greger

Gavin Greger turns 17 years old in 2021. CTsportsDeputy / Twitter

We could see UConn commit Gavin Greger start to leap up the recruiting rankings over the next year, and he could end up among the elite recruits in the Class of 2022.

Greger, who doesn’t turn 17 until 2021, had 46 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings as a freshman for Bristol Central and helped lead his team to the state tournament.

He’s also showing he can be a star at the plate and is so young it’s tough to determine where his future is. He had a .364 batting average with 16 RBI, 21 runs and 16 walks.

Delaware: Lorenzo Carrier, Shortstop

Lorenzo Carrier was the Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020. lorenzocarrier / Instagram

High school: Appoquinimink High School (Bear, Delaware)

Graduation year: 2022

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 185 pounds

Career highlights: Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year (2020), Perfect Game No. 37 overall (2021), Prep Baseball Report Maryland/Delaware No. 1 outfielder (2021), Area Code Games (2020), DIAA State Champion (2019), DIAA All-State (2019)

Bottom Line: Lorenzo Carrier

Lorenzo Carrier might head straight to the pros instead of playing for the University of Miami. ProspectWire / Twitter

Lorenzo Carrier is committed to play for the University of Miami, but he could very well be taken high in the MLB draft.

Carrier has his bona fides on the high school level. He was the star player for Appo High, which went 22-0 and won a state championship in 2019. Carrier did a little bit of everything during that run with a .423 batting average, 22 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

Carrier has great range for a shortstop, and at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, expect him to pack on more muscle.

Florida: Elijah Green, Outfielder

Elijah Green is the top baseball prospect in the United States, college or high school and regardless of age. TimRock86524690 / Twitter

High school: IMG Academy (Montverde, Florida)

Graduation year: 2022

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 1 overall (2022), Perfect Game No. 1 overall (2022), Area Code Games (2020)

Bottom Line: Elijah Green

Elijah Green could break the MLB signing bonus record for a high school player in 2022. PG_Scouting / Twitter

Even in the stacked Class of 2022, Elijah Green stands above the rest. While Green is committed to Miami, it’s unlikely he’ll ever step foot on the field for a college baseball program.

Green is projected as a surefire No. 1 overall pick in 2022. None of Green’s tools don’t grade out as plus or better — blazing speed, great exit velocity off the bat and an unbelievable arm. He’s one of the best draft prospects to come along in some time and would be the No. 1 overall pick in 2021 if he could reclassify.

Watch for Green to break Bobby Witt Jr.’s signing bonus record of $7.78 million for a high schooler.

Georgia: Brady House, Third Base/Shortstop/Right-Handed Pitcher

Brady House has scouts thinking he’ll be an everyday third baseman in the majors. brady_house7 / Twitter

High school: Winder-Barrow High School (Winder, Georgia)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game No. 4 overall (2021), MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), MLB.com No. 4 overall (2021)

Bottom Line: Brady House

Brady House has drawn plenty of comparisons to major league star Kris Bryant. PatrickEbert44 / Twitter

Thought by many to be the top prospect in the Class of 2021, Brady House has drawn a lot of comparisons to current big league star Kris Bryant for his size, athleticism and hitting ability.

The Tennessee commit likely will move to third base from shortstop at the next level, but the real appeal for House comes from the sheer amount of power he displays at the plate.

As a sophomore, House hit .445 with 21 RBI and five home runs. In just 15 games in 2020, he was hitting .653 with four home runs and 20 RBI.

Hawaii: Caleb Lomavita, Third Base/Catcher

Caleb Lomavita was the only Hawaiian on the Area Code Games roster for the California/Hawaii team. braddahcaleb / Instagram

High school: Saint Louis School (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds

Career highlights: Two-time Area Code Games California/Hawaii (2019, 2020), Team USA 16U National Development Team (2019)

Bottom Line: Caleb Lomavita

Cal hopes 2021 recruit Caleb Lomavita can develop into a star in the Pac-12. braddahcaleb / Instagram

In 2019, Caleb Lomavita was one of many Hawaiians on the Area Code Games roster for California/Hawaii, but in 2020, he was the lone player from Hawaii on the roster.

The Cal commit can play a variety of positions at first base, third base, outfield, catcher and pitcher, but seems to really enjoy playing catcher the most. In his first inning catching at the Area Code Games, he threw out two baserunners.

Lomavita may have done enough in a shortened 2020 summer to be drafted in 2021.

Idaho: James Bodily, Utility

James Bodily led Marsh Valley High to a state title in 2019. AndrewH202 / Twitter

High school: Marsh Valley High School (Arimo, Idaho)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Career highlights: Class 3A state champion (2019), Class 3A State Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2019), Idaho State Journal All-Area (2019)

Bottom Line: James Bodily

James Bodily has a smooth swing. Baseball Northwest / YouTube

James Bodily proved he was one of Idaho’s best high school baseball players as a sophomore, leading Marsh Valley to the Class 3A state championship game. In the state title game, Bodily was the winning pitcher and went 3-for-4 batting with four RBIs.

Bodily was also named the Most Outstanding Player for the state tournament. He was great all year, playing great on defense at shortstop and hitting .500 for the season.

With a big senior season, he could move into the recruiting rankings.

Illinois: Noah Smith, Shortstop

Noah Smith, right, is one of the best second baseman and shortstop prospects in the country. NoahSsmith12 / Twitter

High school: Marist High School (Chicago, Illinois)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds

Career highlights: MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), Prospect Select No. 25 overall (2021), Area Code Games Illinois (2020)

Bottom Line: Noah Smith

Noah Smith could be an All-American level player at Louisville right off the bat, but he may jump straight to the pros. NoahSsmith12 / Twitter

Louisville commit Noah Smith can play shortstop or second base at a very high level.

He’s also incredibly focused and patient in his approach to hitting, which makes up for his lack of power. But that’s not really what you want him on the team for, and he can spray doubles and triples all day.

At such a young age, Smith has a really high baseball IQ. If he makes it to Louisville and doesn’t go straight to the minors, he could be an All-American right off the bat.

Indiana: Andrew Dutkanych, Right-Handed Pitcher

Andrew Dutkanych is one of the top MLB prospects in the Class of 2022. ALLINDYBALLCLUB / Twitter

High school: Brebeuf Jesuit Prep (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Graduation year: 2022

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 20 overall (2022), All-Marion County (2019), Baseball America Top 50 MLB Prospects (2022)

Bottom Line: Andrew Dutkanych

Andrew Dutkanych, center, had his fastball consistently clocked at 93 miles per hour in September 2020. andrewdutkanych / Twitter

Andrew Dutkanych showed he was one of the best players in Indiana as a freshman, when he made All-Marion County by going 6-2 with a 1.60 ERA and 95 strikeouts.

What’s scary about Dutkanych is the Vanderbilt commit is just starting to come into his own physically, and the results have been startling.

Getting back into competition in the fall of 2020, he showed he’s added some speed to his fastball. He was throwing consistently in the 93-mph range and can make the ball rise.

Iowa: Ian Moller, Catcher

Ian Moller is one of the top high school catcher prospects in the nation, regardless of class. Perfect Game Baseball / YouTube

High school: Wahlert High School (Wahlert, Iowa)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game No. 3 overall (2021), MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), MLB.com No. 14 overall (2021)

Bottom Line: Ian Moller

Ian Moller has the look of a future major league catcher. Perfect Game Baseball / YouTube

One of several players on this list committed to LSU, Ian Moller is definitely the best pure catcher in the country and will likely never make it to Baton Rouge because he’s headed straight to the pros.

Moller can hit for power and has shown as much against the best arms in the nation that are in his age range. Defensively, he’s shown how adept he is at handling elite pitching behind the plate.

Our guess? He’s a full-time catcher in the majors by the time he’s 20.

Kansas: Ben Bybee, Right-Handed Pitcher/First Base

Ben Bybee, second from left, is a tantalizing pitching prospect. _benbybee / Twitter

High school: Blue Valley Southwest High School (Overland Park, Kansas)

Graduation year: 2022

Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 215 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 18 overall (2022), 14U National Showcase Top Prospect List (2018)

Bottom Line: Ben Bybee

Ben Bybee continues to add velocity to his pitching repertoire. _benbybee / Twitter

Ben Bybee is committed to play for Arkansas and has developed into one of the nation’s top pitching prospects in 2020. Lots of that is based on potential, because Bybee is already 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, but plenty of it is based on the talent Bybee has displayed.

Bybee has three pitches he can rely on pretty heavily, and coming downhill at batters, he can be pretty intimidating — mainly with his curveball and changeup.

His fastball is only being clocked in the low-to-mid 80s right now, but we figure he’ll add velocity as he gets older.

Kentucky: Kade Grundy, Right-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder/Shortstop

Kade Grundy is a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball. kade_grundy / Twitter

High school: Somerset High School (Somerset, Kentucky)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Career highlights: MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020), Class 2A football state champion (2019)

Bottom Line: Kade Grundy

Kade Grundy committed to play baseball for Louisville when he was still in middle school. kade_grundy / Twitter

Kade Grundy is a throwback to another era — a dominant player in three sports in high school and one of the best all-around athletes in the nation.

Grundy could easily be a Division I wide receiver after racking up 1,441 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on the way to a Class 2A state title for Somerset, but his future lies on the baseball diamond.

Grundy has been committed to play baseball for in-state Louisville since eighth grade. And in his sophomore season in 2019, he hit .456 with 51 RBI and seven home runs.

Louisiana: Josh Pearsonm Outfielder/Infielder

Josh Pearson made his name playing well at several national events. LouisianaKnight / Twitter

High school: West Monroe High School (West Monroe, Louisiana)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 195 pounds

Career highlights: MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), All-Northeast Louisiana (2019)

Bottom Line: Josh Pearson

Josh Pearson, center, is committed to play for in-state LSU. LouisianaKnight / Twitter

Josh Pearson showed he can compete against the very best players with his play at several national events for Perfect Game — always a great preview for how a high school prospect might fare on the next level.

Pearson, hit .421 with 10 doubles, 37 RBI and eight home runs to prove he’s really great at hitting for power. He’s also essentially a plug-and-play prospect for LSU once he gets there.

Older brother Jacob was a third-round pick in 2017 and is in the Twins organization.

Maine: Brady Afthim-Handed Pitcher

Brady Afthim is committed to play for UConn. PBRNewEngland / Twitter

High school: Windham High School (Windham, Maine)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds

Career highlights: Maine Summer Sandlot champion (2020), All-SMAA (2020)

Bottom Line: Brady Afthim

Brady Afthim played for a team out of Portland, Maine, in summer 2020. MikeDAndrea10 / Twitter

One of several UConn recruits to make this list, Brady Afthim committed to the Huskies in June 2020.

While Afthim’s 2020 baseball season was wiped out like almost all of the high school players in the country, he was an All-Southwest Maine Activities Association pick in 2019.

Maryland/District of Columbia: Peter Heubeck, Right-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder

Peter Heubeck is a top 50 national recruit. pheubeck9 / Twitter

High school: Gilman School (Baltimore, Maryland)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 175 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 25 overall (2021), Area Code Games (2020)

Bottom Line: Peter Heubeck

Peter Heubeck jumped on the national scene as a sophomore. Perfect Game

Peter Heubeck’s legend got a great first chapter when he pitched against major league prospect Matt Wyatt as a sophomore and outdueled Wyatt, who now plays for Virginia, in front of scouts from a half-dozen MLB teams.

Heubeck’s fastball is already topping out at 92-93 mph, and he can throw his change-up and curveball around 80 mph consistently.

Heubeck is committed to play for Wake Forest and could be in the Demon Deacons’ rotation the moment he steps on campus.

Massachusetts: Jonathan Santucci, Outfielder/Left-Handed Pitcher

Jonathan Santucci is a top 10 prospect overall for the 2021 MLB draft. 2080 Baseball / YouTube

High school: Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Career highlights: Prospect Select No. 47 overall (2021), Prep Baseball Report No. 8 New England (2021), MLB.com No. 7 overall prospect (2021)

Bottom Line: Jonathan Santucci

Jonathan Santucci could be a dominant two-way player in the ACC. _PAbaseball / Twitter

The Duke commit is one of the best players in the Northeast and already well-known for being a two-way player — a force on defense and a force at the plate.

Santucci is so athletic and fun to watch that it will be a delight to see what he can do on the college level. The Blue Devils won a heated recruiting battle to land him.

Santucci has the size and talent to be picked high enough in the 2021 MLB draft to consider skipping college altogether.

Michigan: Luke Leto, Shortstop/Right-Handed Pitcher

Luke Leto is a top 10 prospect in the 2021 MLB draft. Letofamily9 / Twitter

High school: Portage Central High School (Portage, Michigan)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Career highlights: MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), MLB.com No. 7 overall prospect (2021)

Bottom Line: Luke Leto

Luke Leto, left, with fellow top prospect Josh Hartle. JoshHartle24 / Twitter

No player in the Class of 2021 has been as thoroughly looked over as LSU commit Luke Leto, a likely first-round pick who scouts think will probably be a corner outfielder on the next level.

What does Leto do so well? He can really hit — for average and for power. Scouts were pretty critical of Leto over the 2020 summer for some changes made to his swing, but if they pulled their heads out of their parents’ basements for air every now and then, they’d realize your high school swing ain’t gonna work in the pros.

So you have to change it.

Minnesota: Alex Ritzer, Shortstop

Alex Ritzer is a top 10 prospect in the Class of 2021. PBRMinnesota / Twitter

High school: Stillwater High School (Stillwater, Minnesota)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 4 overall (2021)

Bottom Line: Alex Ritzer

Alex Ritzer can hit leadoff, hit for power and is a proven leader at a young age. PBRMinnesota / Twitter

The one thing that continues to stick out about Alex Ritzer when he plays in front of scouts and other talent evaluators is the confidence he has on the baseball diamond. Which is what you want from a shortstop.

The North Carolina commit can hit leadoff and hit for power and, more importantly, has shown signs he’ll be a great leader on whatever team he’s on as his career progresses.

For so many players on this list, it’s up in the air about what their position will be at the next level. Not for Ritzer.

Mississippi: Aaron Downs, Third Base/Outfielder

Aaron Downs was the Future Games Most Valuable Player in 2018. AaronDowns12 / Twitter

High school: Heritage Academy (Columbus, Mississippi)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 205 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game No. 38 overall (2021), Future Games MVP (2020)

Bottom Line: Aaron Downs

Aaron Downs is committed to play for in-state Mississippi State. PBR_Alabama / Twitter

It was a huge recruiting win for Mississippi State when they landed in-state star Aaron Downs, an explosive, fast infielder/outfielder out of Columbus’ Heritage Academy.

Downs, the MVP of the Future Games in 2020, has earned praise for his discipline and patience at the plate and can be a terror on the basepaths.

He’s also built to play at the next level at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds. Don’t expect him to be on the bench for very long when he joins the Bulldogs for the 2022 season.

Missouri: Christian Little, Right-Handed Pitcher

Christian Little is the top high school pitching prospect in the Class of 2021. PatrickEbert44 / Twitter

High school: Christian Brothers College High School (St. Louis, MIssouri)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds

Career highlights: Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year (2020), MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), Perfect Game No. 10 overall (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020)

Bottom Line: Christian Little

Christian Little is committed to Vanderbilt but could jump straight to the pros. chrisxavier40 / Twitter

Christian Little is the No. 1 pitching prospect in the Class of 2021. In 2019, he went 6-1 with 58 strikeouts and has said he’ll go play for Vanderbilt instead of trying to go straight to the pros.

But Little has MLB starter written all over him. He’s 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds with a fastball in the mid-90s without even having much work on his technique yet.

Even more impressive with Little are his off-speed pitches — a slider and a curveball that are both pretty much unhittable for players his age.

Nebraska: Kyler Randazzo, Third Base/Outfielder

Kyler Randazzo, left, is committed to play for in-state Nebraska. Antlers_Basebll / Twitter

High school: Elkhorn High School (Elkhorn, Nebraska)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 6 Nebraska (2021)

Bottom Line: Kyler Randazzo

Kyler Randazzo racked up 13 extra-base hits in 2019. JRandazzo402 / Twitter

Kyler Randazzo had a great spring in 2019, when he hit .423 with 21 RBI and 13 extra-base hits, but fractured two of his lumbar vertebrae during a district playoff game.

Randazzo dedicated himself to rehabbing his injury, came back stronger than ever and earned a scholarship offer from former University of Nebraska head coach and former MLB star Darin Erstad. Randazzo committed on the spot.

Randazzo isn’t the only Elkhorn High player headed to Lincoln. Pitcher Drew Christo also committed to play for the Huskers.

Nevada: Thomas DiLandri, Outfielder

Thomas DiLandri played on the U16 National Development Team in 2019. Perfect Game USA / Facebook

High school: Palo Verde High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds

Career highlights: Team USA U16 National Development Team (2019)

Bottom Line: Thomas DiLandri

Thomas DiLandri has committed to play in the Big 12 for TCU. The Prospect Pipeline / YouTube

Thomas DiLandri might be one of the more unheralded, underrated recruits in the Class of 2021. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has the size and athleticism to be an impact player at the next level and has a great arm for mowing down baserunners from the outfield.

DiLandri is athletic enough that most scouting reports tag him as being able to play all three outfield spots. If you’re a Big 12 baseball fan, DiLandri could be the next big star to come out of the conference. He’s been committed to TCU since 2018.

New Hampshire: Ryan Minckler, Right-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder

Ryan Minckler is a two-time All-State pick. NE_Baseball / Twitter

High school: Portsmouth High School (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Career highlights: NEIBL champion (2020), two-time Division I All-State (2018, 2019)

Bottom Line: Ryan Minckler

Ryan Minckler left his native Thailand to pursue baseball dreams in America. seacoastunitedbaseball / Instagram

Ryan Minckler’s journey to Division I baseball is pretty unique. Born and raised in Thailand, his family moved to Greenland, then to New Hampshire, where he’s become a baseball star and committed to play for NCAA power Virginia.

Minckler was dominant in his first two seasons for Portsmouth High and threw a no-hitter in his second start in 2019.

Minckler also is one of three players from that 2019 Portsmouth roster who will play Division I baseball along with shortstop Myles Sargent (Maine) and outfielder Ryan Hewett (Vanderbilt), who first met Minckler growing up in Thailand.

New Jersey: Chase Petty, Right-Handed Pitcher

You don’t want to step in the box against Chase Petty. ACPressHuba / Twitter

High school: Mainland High School (Linwood, New Jersey)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Career highlights: MLB.com No. 5 overall (2021), Perfect Game No. 8 overall (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020)

Bottom Line: Chase Petty

Chase Petty has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler. ChasePetty11 / Twitter

Chase Petty looks like a future major league pitcher and has drawn comparisons to Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Walker Buehler.

The University of Florida commit has an almost unhittable fastball that stays in the upper 90s, with MLB.com’s scouting report saying the pitch looks like it “explodes out of his hand.” He’s also gaining better control over his slider, which reaches the upper 80s.

Do yourself a favor and cue up some of Petty’s highlights. He is a delight to watch.

New Mexico: Jacob Kmatz, Right-Handed Pitcher

Jacob Kmatz was selected to play in the Area Code Games in 2020. SandiaBaseball / Twitter

High school: Sandia High School (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game Preseason All-American (2020), Area Code Games (2020), Prep Baseball Report No. 1 overall New Mexico (2021)

Bottom Line: Jacob Kmatz

Jacob Kmatz was a preseason Perfect Game All-American in 2020. SandiaBaseball / Twitter

It’s no secret why Oregon State continues to be a national power when they can seek out and land players like Jacob Kmatz, a big-time pitcher out of Sandia High School. Kmatz has great control of a fastball in the low 90s and a breaking ball in the high 70s.

Kmatz’s size at such a young age — he’s 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds — makes it easy to see why scouts and coaches think there’s plenty of room for Kmatz to continue gaining velocity.

New York: Christian Moore, Shortstop

Christian Moore is the No. 1 high school player in New York. NE Baseball Journal / New Englad Baseball Journal

High school: Suffield Academy (Brooklyn, New York)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds

Career highlights: Perfect Game World Series (2020)

Bottom Line: Christian Moore

Christian Moore was on scouts’ radars by the time he was 12 years old. Perfect Game USA

Christian Moore was arguably the best defensive infielder at the Perfect Game National Showcase in 2020, impressing scouts with how graceful he was in the field and his baseball IQ.

Moore, a Tennessee commit, seems like a future MLB shortstop on the surface who could hit with some power.

Moore is also an example of how baseball scouting has evolved and become more in-depth. You can find reports detailing his potential as a big-time shortstop and his defensive prowess dating back to 2015, when Moore was barely 12 years old.

North Carolina: Josh Harttle, Left-Handed Pitcher

Josh Hartle is the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in the Class of 2021. @PatrickFerlise / Twitter

High school: Ronald W. Reagan High School (King, North Carolina)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 200 pounds

Career highlights: MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), Class 4A state semifinals (2019), Perfect Game All-American (2020), Prep Baseball Report No. 1 LHP (2021)

Bottom Line: Josh Hartle

Josh Hartle, right, led Ronald Reagan High School to the 2019 Class 4A semifinals in North Carolina. JoshHartle25 / Twitter

Wake Forest has several recruits on this list, with none more valued than in-state recruit Josh Hartle, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound pitching phenom who went 7-2 in 2019 and led Ronald Reagan High School to the Class 4A state semifinals.

Hartle is widely regarded as the top left-handed pitching prospect in his class and has a variety of pitches he can scare the life out of you with — a fastball in the low 90s, a slider in the low 80s and a changeup in the mid-80s.

He could still play his way into a first-round pick with a big senior season.

North Dakota: Alex Urlaub, Shortstop/Right-Handed Pitcher

Alex Urlaub is committed to play for juco powerhouse Neosho County Community College. AUrlaub / Twitter

High school: West Fargo Sheyenne High School (West Fargo, North Dakota)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 1 North Dakota (2021), Perfect Game Spring Showcase (2019)

Bottom Line: Alex Urlaub

Alex Urlaub is also a star defensive back for West Fargo Sheyenne High School. cjwiggin / Twitter

North Dakota isn’t exactly a baseball hotbed, but it’s worth noting that they produce their fair share of great college players, and Alex Urlaub could be the next in that line.

Urlaub is committed to play for juco powerhouse Neosho County Community College and head coach Steve Murry, who also recruited future major leaguers Matt Strahm and Andy Young out of West Fargo.

Urlaub batted .382 with seven doubles and 20 home runs as a sophomore in 2019, and for another example of how great of an athlete Urlaub is, watch him return this interception 103 yards for a touchdown against Bismarck High.

Ohio: Colt Emerson, Catcher/Shortstop

Colt Emerson is the only player from the Class of 2023 to make the list. Prep Baseball Report

High school: John Glenn High School

Graduation year: 2023

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 170 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 1 overall (2023), 14U Select Festival (2020), Team USA 14U National Development Team (2019)

Bottom Line: Colt Emerson

Colt Emerson, right, committed to Auburn after his freshman season. ehrhardt_matt / Twitter

The only player from the Class of 2023 to make this list, Colt Emerson committed to play for Auburn after his freshman season at John Glenn High School.

Scouts were attracted to Emerson from the jump because of his innate ability to play either shortstop or catcher at such a high level.

Emerson is also incredibly skilled with his bat — a left-handed hitter who can spray the ball all over the field and will no doubt continue to develop power as he gets older.

Oklahoma: Jackson Jobe, Right-Handed Pitcher/Shortstop

Jackson Jobe, right, plays for famed Heritage Hall High in Oklahoma City. PerfectGameUSA / Twitter

High school: Heritage Hall High School (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Career highlights: MLB.com No. 13 overall prospect (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020)

Bottom Line: Jackson Jobe

Jackson Jobe dominated at the Perfect Game World Series in 2020. MLBPipeline / Twitter

Ole Miss commit Jackson Jobe was projected as a shortstop on the next level, but his performance in the 2020 summer showed he most likely has a future on the mound.

Jobe delivered fastballs around 96 mph consistently throughout the summer and with a high spin rate that you don’t see a lot in prep prospects. In a stacked field at the Perfect Game World Series, Jobe was the pitcher everyone was talking about after it was over.

There are some control issues, but those should get better over time.

Oregon: Mason Guerra, Shortstop

Mason Guerra already owns a state championship at Westview High School. Baseball Northwest / YouTube

High school: Westview High School (Portland, Oregon)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds

Career highlights: Class 6A state champion (2018), Prep Baseball Report Oregon No. 1 (2021), Area Code Games All-Tournament Team (2020), All-Metro Conference (2019)

Bottom Line: Mason Guerra

Mason Guerra is committed to play for Oregon State. masonguerra09 / Twitter

Yet another Oregon State recruit who made the list, Mason Guerra has the size and athleticism to be a star for the Beavers.

Guerra has been the top baseball recruit in Oregon since his freshman year, when he led Westview High to the 2018 Class 6A state title.

Guerra is a great power hitter at his age, with elite velocity speed off the bat — an attribute you can bet will only continue to develop as he gets older and adds more muscle.

Pennsylvania: Benny Montgomery, Outfielder

Benny Montgomery could be a millionaire by the end of 2021. PennLive / Twitter

High school: Red Land High School (Lewisberry, Pennsylvania)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 200 pounds

Career highlights: MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), MLB.com No. 11 overall prospect (2021), Class 5A state champion (2019), Perfect Game All-American (2020)

Bottom Line: Benny Montgomery

Benny Montgomery ran a blazing 6.42-second 60-yard dash. EdwardSutelan / Twitter

Few prospects on this list garner the type of hallelujah praise heaped on outfielder Benny Montgomery, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder who deserves all of it.

Montgomery is such a unique blend of speed and power that it would be a surprise if he ever actually ends up playing for the University of Virginia.

At the Perfect Game All-American Classic in 2020, Montgomery won the Home Run Derby and ran a blazing 6.42 60-yard dash as well as showed off some stunning arm strength from center field.

Rhode Island: Jayden Voelker, Right-Handed Pitcher

Jayden Voelker is a two-time All-State pick. Jayd.Voelker24 / Instagram

High school: Coventry High School (Coventry, Rhode Island)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds

Career highlights: NHBCA All-State (2019), Division I state champion (2018), two-time Providence Journal All-State (2018, 2019)

Bottom Line: Jayden Voelker

Jayden Voelker is committed to Old Dominion. OakerBoysBball / Twitter

Jayden Voelker, the only Old Dominion recruit on this list, has a fastball that is already topping out in the low-to-mid 90s and at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, already looks like a pitcher ready for the next level.

Voelker led Coventry High to a state title as the program’s ace pitcher as a freshman in 2018. Through two full high school seasons, Voelker has 121 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings pitched with a 1.85 ERA. Control might be a bit of an issue as well with 42 walks in that same stretch.

South Carolina: Tristan Smith, Left-Handed Pitcher

Tristan Smith, right, was the Perfect Game World Series MVP in 2020. IPClassic / Twitter

High school: Boiling Springs High School (Boiling Springs, South Carolina)

Graduation year: 2022

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 4 overall (2022), Perfect Game No. 11 overall (2022), Perfect Game World Series MVP (2020)

Bottom Line: Tristan Smith

Tristan Smith and his twin brother, Ashton, are both top pitching prospects. coachcorywelch / Twitter

There’s something to be said about capturing the moment — the affinity for delivering in big games. Class of 2022 pitcher Tristan Smith showed he had that certain type of makeup when he won MVP honors at the 2020 Perfect Game World Series.

Smith is one of the few uncommitted players on this list, even though he still has two high school seasons left to play. Something kind of crazy about Smith is that he’s not the only elite pitcher in his family. Twin brother Ashton Smith is also being recruited heavily.

Want to know something else strange? Tristan and Ashton were one of 10 sets of twins in the ninth-grade class at Boiling Springs High School in 2018-19.

Tennessee: Chase Burns, Right-Handed Pitcher

Chase Burns is the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2021 MLB draft class, according to MLB.com. @TheCanesBB / Twitter

High school: Station Camp High School (Gallatin, Tennessee)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 215 pounds

Career highlights: MLB.com No. 7 overall prospect (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020)

Bottom Line: Chase Burns

Chase Burns can already throw his fastball in the upper 90s consistently and has touched 100 miles per hour several times. TheCanesBB / Twitter

Chase Burns might have the best arm of any pitcher in the Class of 2021, and he proved as much at the Tennessee Top Prospects Games in July 2020, when he put on a show for all of the scouts and fans who came out to see him.

Burns hit 100 mph on the radar gun in the first inning and touched either 98 or 99 mph in the next three innings. That was nothing new for Burns, who routinely hits the upper 90s on his fastball. But the Tennessee commit also throws breaking balls and has a dangerous slider.

Once he adds a consistent curveball, watch out.

Texas: Jordan Lawlar, Shortstop

Jordan Lawlar is the top high school prospect from the Class of 2021. bigedmachine1 / Twitter

High school: Jesuit College Prep (Irving, Texas)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds

Career highlights: MLB.com No. 1 overall (2021), Perfect Game No. 1 overall (2021), Perfect Game All-American (2020), Perfect Game Jackie Robinson Player of the Year (2020)

Bottom Line: Jordan Lawlar

Joran Lawlar has drawn comparisons to former No. 2 overall pick Bobby Witt Jr. DanZielinski3 / Twitter

Jordan Lawlar’s standout summer in 2020 bumped him to the head of the Class of 2021 rankings for both MLB.com and Perfect Game, and he’s being looked at as a legitimate, everyday MLB shortstop.

Lawlar is a Vanderbilt commit who has drawn strong comparisons to 2019 No. 2 overall pick Bobby Witt Jr., who set the high school signing bonus record with $7.78 million.

What do you think the odds are that the Vanderbilt commit ever steps foot in Nashville as a college player? We’re thinking slim.

Utah: Colton Sundloff, Right-Handed/Third Base

Colton Sundloff is committed to play for Cal State Fullerton. @coltonsunny / Twitter

High school: Stansbury High School (Erda, Utah)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 195 pounds

Career highlights: Area Code Games (2020)

Bottom Line: Colton Sundloff

Colton Sundloff saw his pitch speed jump up to the low 90s for his fastball in the summer of 2020. Prospects Live / YouTube

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Colton Sundloff has a great frame to develop into a legitimate pro pitching prospect with a few years of college seasoning at — wait for it — Cal State Fullerton.

Fullerton has been a low-key powerhouse program since the 1970s, so we’re just excited to see someone on this list headed to play there. They won a national championship in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Sundloff has big upside. In the last year, his fastball has jumped up to the low 90s, and his slider is in the low 80s.

Vermont: Owen Kellington, Right-Handed Pitcher/Third Base/Outfielder

Owen Kellington, left, was named the Times-Argus Player of the Year in 2019. KellingtonOwen / Twitter

High school: U-32 High School (East Montpelier, Vermont)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Career highlights: Times-Argus Player of the Year (2019)

Bottom Line: Owen Kellington

Owen Kellington is one of several Northeast recruits headed to UConn. 603Bandits / Twitter

Owen Kellington was the Vermont Player of the Year as a sophomore, when he batted .451 along with 66 strikeouts and a 0.47 ERA in 30 innings.

Kellington is a huge recruit to land for UConn head coach Jim Penders, who has managed to build a perennial NCAA tournament team with a roster mostly made up of players from the Northeast and had to beat out Duke and Boston College.

Kellington is stunningly accurate for a pitcher his age. In a high school game in 2019, he struck out six batters in a row on 18 pitches.

Virginia: Jay Woolfolk, Right-Handed Pitcher

Jay Woolfolk was the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020. BCPBaseball / Twitter

High school: Benedictine College Prep (Richmond, Virginia)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds

Career highlights: Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year (2020), MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021), WWBA 16U National Championship All-Tournament (2019), Division I baseball state champion (2019), Division I football state champion (2019)

Bottom Line: Jay Woolfolk

Jay Woolfolk will play football and baseball for the University of Virginia. BCPBaseball / Twitter

Jay Woolfolk is a unicorn — a legitimate two-sport star committed to play football and baseball at the University of Virginia.

The dual-threat quarterback and Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball could follow in the footsteps of the last great two-sport player out of the ACC, Florida State’s Jameis Winston.

Woolfolk pulled off the rare double-title feat by leading Benedictine Prep to a Virginia state title in baseball in the spring of 2019, then following that up with a football state title in the fall.

Washington: JR Ritchie, Right-Handed Pitcher

JR Ritchie, on the mound, is the No. 1 high school baseball player in Washington. Perfect Game / YouTube

High school: Bainbridge High School (Bainbridge Island, Washington)

Graduation year: 2022

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report No. 1 Washington (2022), Prep Baseball Report Nol 14 overall (2022), Area Code Games (2020)

Bottom Line: JR Ritchie

JR Ritchie is from a unique place called Bainbridge Island, Washington. Perfect Game USA

One of the best players in the Class of 2022, JR Ritchie is a UCLA recruit who hails from Bainbridge Island — probably the most unique hometown you’ll find for any recruit on this list.

The more Ritchie is able to compete against elite competition, the more he seems to improve. He’s already throwing his fastball in the low 90s and has a curveball that is really starting to speed up and move.

Hit fastball can “explode” on hitters with a major jump in velocity. Don’t be surprised if Ritchie throws consistently in the mid-90s in the near future.

West Virginia: Joel Gardner, Right-Handed Pitcher/Third Base

Joel Gardner plays for Hurricane High School in Hurricane, West Virginia. gardnerjoel2 / Twitter

High school: Hurricane High School (Hurricane, West Virginia)

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 6-foot, 200 pounds

Career highlights: Prep Baseball Report West Virginia No. 4 overall (2021), Class AAA All-State (2019), Class AAA state champion (2018), Class AAA state runner-up (2019)

Bottom Line: Joel Gardner

Joel Gardner led Hurricane High to a state title in 2019. gardnerjoel2 / Twitter

It was a big deal for West Virginia University to land a top in-state recruit in Hurricane High third baseman Joel Gardner.

Gardner earned his scholarship offer from WVU after a breakout sophomore season in which he hit .467 with 50 RBI, 13 doubles and six home runs. He was also dominant on the mound, going 8-1 with 67 strikeouts in 51 innings and a 1.48 ERA.

Gardner led Hurricane High to the state finals in 2019 after he was a bench player on the way to Hurricane’s state title in 2018.

Wisconsin: Quin Phillips, Infielder/Outfielder

Quin Phillips is the best high school baseball player in Wisconsin. Prospects Live / YouTube

High school: Brookfield East High School

Graduation year: 2021

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Career highlights: All-Greater Metro Conference (2019), MaxPreps Top 50 overall (2021)

Bottom Line: Quin Phillips

Quin Phillips could be a high pick in the 2021 MLB draft. PBRIllinois / Twitter

Quin Phillips is a talented infielder and Michigan recruit who saw his entire junior season wiped out after an All-Conference year in 2019 as a sophomore.

Listed just as an “athlete” by most scouting services, Phillips has elite speed that makes him most projectable as a center fielder on the next level and a game-changer on the basepaths with his ability to get extra bases.

Phillips is another player who is on the verge of putting himself into a great position for the 2021 MLB draft with a great senior season.