The growth and advancements of the 2023 class were seen all throughout the off-season, and still more now in the early spring, and with that, an update to the Overall Rankings is here to kick off the spring. High school baseball is underway all across the country, and many of these young sophomores are already making major impacts at the varsity level. From ace pitchers to middle-of-the-order bats, to stalwart up the middle defenders, this group of players is stocked with elite talent all over.

 

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SOUTHPAWS GALORE
An uncommon number of left-handed pitchers have emerged in this young class, and many show immense upside and potential. College coaches and scouts alike obsess over left-handed arms, and from coast-to-coast, this group is well-stocked with premium talent. Leading the way since day one is uncommitted LHP Thomas White (Phillips Andover HS, MA) whose fresh, loose arm continues to dazzle up to 93 mph with effortless velocity, and the most projectable frame in the class at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds. But he is not alone in the top 10 as three other southpaws join him. Kade Anderson (St. Paul’s HS, LA), an LSU recruit, uncommitted Adam Hachman (Timberland HS, MO), and Toby Twist (Garces Memorial HS, CA), an Oregon recruit, sit at 5-6-7 respectively. Each brings impressive athleticism to the mound with strong arms, and even better secondary offerings. Below are other left-handed pitchers who made jumps on the list:

Tyler Smith LHP / Mt. Lebanon, PA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 107 / POS: 16 Smith, a former Junior Future Games standout and Auburn recruit, has made giant leaps physically since first coming into high school, and now sports a more muscular 6-foot, 195-pound frame. Even with the added durable strength, the movement patterns remain highly athletic and the arm works freely with quickness out front. The fastball continues ticking up, and was up to 89 mph (2262 RPM), with ease, in a winter bullpen setting along with aptitude for both a curveball and slider. As a potential two-way player with some juice at the plate, Smith holds obvious athleticism and has a strong chance to continue trending up in coming years.

Cooper Consiglio LHP / East Lake, FL / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 25 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 159 / POS: 22 Consiglio, a Hawaii recruit, has seen significant velocity gains over the past year which has only served to help boost his advanced pitchability and overall arsenal. Lean and wiry-athletic, the fastball has been up to 89 mph this spring as with some arm side life, and he exhibits intent to work it to all quadrants. The breaking ball takes 1/7 shape with depth and multi-tier break, and the changeup profiles well off the fastball giving him a true three-pitch mix.

Nathan Rogalski LHP / Deer Creek, OK / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 288 / POS: 43 Rogalski, an Oklahoma State recruit, puts together an athletic delivery that includes strong drive off the back side before getting extension out front. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder was up to 88 mph in a preseason bullpen for PBR Oklahoma including bigger spin metrics (up to 2341 RPM) with some ride and run through the zone on the fastball. Moving efficiently down the mound with a whippy-quick arm, Rogalski should continue to see velocity gains in the future, and should his breaking ball continue to tick up, he has the potential to develop some swing and miss stuff.

Justin Chambers LHP / Higley, AZ / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 303 / POS: 45 Chambers, a Washington State recruit, shows signs of blossoming into a frontline starter at the next level with long limbs on a 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame and full arsenal of pitches. Pumping strikes with four pitches, the fastball has climbed into the upper 80s, and seems to play up thanks to a deceptive delivery and quick arm stroke that delivers out of a high ¾ slot. There is considerable arm side life to the fastball and the changeup shows the same late life. Both the slider and curveball are landed for strikes, and show signs of developing even further in the future. Chambers is off to a solid start this spring collecting swings-and-misses while pounding the zone.

 

Midwest Stockpile
There is no denying the talent in the Midwest. Year after year there are first round picks, and even more making major impacts at elite programs at the collegiate level. To call this a “resurgence” would not be doing justice to what the region continually produces, but the overwhelming depth of high-end prospects has had college recruiters glued to this class, and even more eyes on the way in coming years.

Max Clark OF / LHP / Franklin, IN / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 2 / POS: 1 CF Max Clark (Franklin HS, IN), a Vanderbilt recruit, holds steady as the number two player in the class, and the top position player. He is an elite presence on the diamond, and continues to soar to new heights. The now 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has made significant jumps, physically, which has quickly helped him approach the sneaky power potential that his bat holds (103 mph exit velocities in winter workouts). Adding to his consideration as the top athlete in the class, Clark also has run his fastball up to 93 mph on the mound, and continues to be one of the fiercest competitors in the country.

Zander Mueth RHP / 3B / Belleville East, IL / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 21 / POS: 3 Exploding up the list to the top spot in Illinois, RHP Zander Mueth (Belleville East HS, IL), an Ole Miss recruit, boasts an electric arm with a highly projectable frame. With one of the most polished deliveries in the class, and a silky-smooth arm stroke that whips out fastballs from a ¾ slot up to 92 mph, it is easy to envision the young right-hander continuing to rise even higher. He counters the fastball with a potential plus slider (76-79) and changeup (82-85), and already looks the part of a future ace.

Trey Swiderski OF / 1B / Joliet Catholic , IL / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 169 / POS: 26 OF Trey Swiderski (Joliet Catholic HS, IL) fits the mold of many of the talented midwest Louisville commits elite athleticism and the combination of speed and power. At 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, the frame is impressive and the movement patterns that it produces are both smooth and efficient. The right-handed hitter flows through a natural, fluid load that allows him to gain ground through impact while letting quick hands guide the barrel through the zone. He has present pull side power (104 mph exit velocity) that should only continue to increase in coming years, along with 6.8-speed and a 93 mph arm from the outfield. Swiderski is a dynamic athlete with one of the highest ceilings in the class.

Jarren Purify 3B / SS / University Liggett, MI / 2023 Rankings  OverallRank: 114 / POS: 11 Util. Jaren Purify (University Liggett HS, MI), a Michigan recruit, takes over the top spot in what is another very talented class coming out of the state of Michigan. A 6.65-runner in the 60-yard dash with equally impressive bat speed and power potential (96 mph exit velocity), Purify continues to trend upwards. There is twitch in the hands, and he gets quality rotational acceleration thanks to more aggressive use of the hits. A northern hitter, look for Purify to continue making jumps as he gains more in-game at-bats.

 

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