By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Sure, the Class of 2018 is loaded with power arms, pitchers who flash dominant present stuff well beyond their years, along with a host of projectable left-handers and right-handers just beginning to scratch the surface of their high-ceiling potential.

With that said, the 2018 class is shaping up to have arguably the most talented crop of high-level outfielders in recent memory. So talented, in fact, the top four ranked prospects – and five of the top 10 –  in the updated and expanded overall 2018 rankings are outfielders, an unprecedented feat in the Prep Baseball Report rankings.

The five outfielders in the top 10 can all make legitimate cases for holding the top spot in the expanded Top 300 rankings. By the narrowest of margins, however, OF/LHP Connor Scott (Plant HS, FL) reclaims the No. 1 spot. The highly projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound Florida recruit starred at Plant HS as a freshman, a program that featured two first-rounders, including OF Kyle Tucker, the No. 5 overall pick whom Scott resembles. Scott is an athletic left-handed hitter with power potential and a strong arm. Although his future is most likely as a position player, Scott also features an easy upper-80s fastball with a solid three-pitch mix.

Like Scott, Alek Thomas (Mount Carmel HS, IL) is a high-ceiling left-handed hitting outfielder. A three-sport standout, Thomas is a premium athlete with easy power that belies his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West HS, WI) is another high-level left-handed hitter with explosive tools. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Louisville recruit is a 6.7 runner, was 94 from the outfield, generates easy 97 mph exit velocity and, above all, consistently barrels all levels of pitching. And for good measure, he’s recently been up to 90 mph on the mound from the left side.

Similar to Kelenic, Michael Siani (William Penn Charter HS, PA) is a left-handed hitter who features plus tools. The 6-foot, 180-pound Virginia recruit has big power potential, is a 6.7 runner and was clocked at 96 from the outfield this winter. He, too, has been up to 90 on the mound. Siani is one of the biggest risers in the overall rankings. Elijah Cabell (Winter Park HS, FL) is the only right-handed hitting outfielder of the group.  The athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound Cabell exploded onto the scene in the fall flashing high-level tools across the board. Cabell is an offensive force, as he has strength in the swing and premium bat speed.

It is important to note that the PBR overall rankings only reflect the states that we intimately cover from our boots-on-the-ground scouting staff. The updated Top 300 Class of 2018 rankings is comprised of our current 30-state coverage area.

RHP Kristofer Armstrong (Benjamin HS, FL) is the top-ranked pitcher on the list, checking in at No. 5. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Florida recruit is a high-ceiling right-hander with now-stuff, which includes an easy 89-91 mph fastball and a swing-and-miss curveball. In all, five Florida has five prospects in the top 10 with LHP Jonathan Gates (Nature Coast Technical HS, FL), RHP Levi Kelly (IMG Academy, FL) and RHP/INF Lyon Richardson (Jensen Beach HS, FL).

Outside the top 10, some of the biggest risers in the updated rankings include C Hayden Jones (Carroll HS, IN), OF Jack Herman (Eastern Regional HS, NJ), LHP Oliver McCarthy (Poly Prep Country Day HS, NY), C Chase Stanke (Marmion HS, IL), 3B Paul Komistek (Knoxville Christian HS, TN), RHP John Langworthy (Sigel HS, TN), 3B Drew Baughman (Cumberland Valley HS, PA) and RHP Max Alba (Franklin HS, WI), to name a few.

A look at the Top 10: 

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Connor Scott	FL	Plant	2018	OF	Florida
2	Alek Thomas	IL	Mount Carmel	2018	OF
3	Jarred Kelenic	WI	Waukesha West	2018	OF	Louisville
4	Elijah Cabell	FL	Winter Park	2018	OF
5	Kristofer Armstrong	FL	Benjamin	2018	RHP	Florida
6	Michael Siani	PA	William Penn Charter	2018	OF	Virginia
7	Jonathan Gates	FL	Nature Coast Technical	2018	LHP	Miami
8	Levi Kelly	FL	IMG Academy	2018	RHP	Louisiana State
9	Jacob Sweeney	IN	Andrean	2018	LHP
10	Lyon Richardson	FL	Jensen Beach	2018	RHP

 >> CLICK HERE to View Complete Top 300 Overall 2018 Rankings