Class of 2024 Rankings Update
August 23, 2023
After a busy summer of scouting prospects across the Hoosier State, it is time once again to begin updating our class rankings. First up - the senior class, the class of 2024. We’ve been well documented in saying that this class is extremely deep & talented, which is evident by the 51 division one recruits that this class already has. The talent level goes well beyond those who are already committed, as there are tons of college-level prospects still looking for their home at the next level. At the top of the class, we have a handful of prospects that have begun to garner the attention of professional scouts after having big summers, as well as big performances at national-level events.
Top 3 Remains Unchanged
The top three players in the class remain the same from our last update, with all establishing themselves as professional prospects heading into their senior years. LHP Brayton Thomas (Bishop Dwenger HS) stays atop the list. The 6-foot-4, 225 pound southpaw, who has been up to 93 mph, looks the part of a prep draft prospect and has the stuff to match. RHP Jack Brown (Fishers HS) remains at number two after a big junior season and a standout performance at the Area Code Games, where the muscular, 6-foot-1, 205 pound righty ran his fastball up to 95 mph. OF Jayce Lee (South Bend St. Joseph HS) stays as the top ranked position player in the class. The Notre Dame recruit flashes five-tool potential and the athleticism in which he possesses, combined with his 6-foot-4, 185 pound frame, will surely draw professional scouts to South Bend next spring.
Biggest Riser in the Top 10
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Cameron Sullivan RHP / Mt Vernon, IN / 2024Sullivan climbs to #4 after an outstanding summer on the circuit. The athletic, quick-armed right-hander ran his fastball up to 94 mph this summer, consistently sitting in the low-90s with quality feel for an electric three-pitch mix. The Notre Dame recruit possesses one of the top sliders in the class - a sharp, 82-86 mph pitch with late-break & advanced spin metrics (2800). Sullivan shows confidence in his sinking, 83-86 mph changeup, throwing it to both RH & LH hitters alike. Sullivan is a bit undersized at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, but he makes up for it with his advanced stuff, off-the-charts intelligence, athleticism, and his competitive demeanor.
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New Face in the Top 10
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Isaac VanderWoude SS / 3B / Illiana Christian, IN / 2024The Virginia recruit had a massive year at the dish, both in the spring & summer, and his stock has risen significantly with not only the PBR Indiana staff, but with professional scouts, as well. Isaac's hit-tool has received major praise and has drawn comparisons to 2023 15th Rounder Josh Adamczewski. The 6-foot, 180 pound left-handed hitter uses an early stride mechanism to get his front foot down early, creating consistency in timing, however he is able to maintain rhythm in the barrel in order to still create quality bat speed. The ability to repeat his swing on a consistent basis, while still being able to damage, stands out and has separated him as one of the top hitters in the class.
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10 Uncommitted Players in the Top 50
Christian Klug, OF/2B, Bishop Chatard HS
A player who has seen his stock significantly rise after a breakout junior campaign - Klug offers a versatile profile with multiple tools that will help him excel at the college level. The speedy, 5-foot-11, 178 pounder's feet impact the game and he consistently turned in 4.2 - 4.25 H - 1st times from the right-handed batter's box throughout the summer. Klug has an athletic build with lean strength that helps him generate bat speed and is leading to developing gap-to-gap power as he continues to mature, especially when combined with his impressive bat-to-ball skills. Klug uses a controlled gather to the top of a leg kick stride and controls his forward move with a quiet head throughout the operation, which allows him to stay behind the baseball and create true spin to all parts of the field. A versatile defender - Klug's foot-speed & athleticism allows him to range in the outfield and he also has the ability to play second base with above-average infield actions.
Aiden Schwartz, RHP, Lafayette Harrison HS
Schwartz’s powerful right-arm helped to create lots of buzz on the summer circuit. A physical, 6-foot-3, 210 pounder - Schwartz had a big performance at the Grand Park Summer Championships, running his fastball up to 90 mph (87-90) while flashing two sharp breaking balls. Schwartz showed a sharp, 11/5 CB (2650 RPM per Trackman) along with a tight, late breaking slider at 80-82 mph that he was able to get to the back-foot of LHHs. The powerful right-hander will also flash an above-average changeup to left-handed hitters at 80-82 mph. Schwartz moves with a purpose and attacks hitters with intent, showing back-end of the bullpen type stuff that should be able to get outs at the college level right away.
Michael Fliss, RHP, North Central HS
Fliss has an immense ceiling and has just begun to scratch the surface of his potential. A projectable, 6-foot-6, 200 pound right-hander - Fliss has continuously trended upwards and had a couple big showings on the circuit this summer. As he has begun to move down the mound with more pace and been able to sync up his long-levered frame, his velocity has started to tick up, touching 90 mph this summer while mostly sitting in the mid-to-upper 80s. This adjustment also has improved his overall command, which still has room for improvement, but has shown growth over the past few seasons. Fliss also showed a much-improved breaking ball this summer, developing his slider into an above-average pitch at 73-77 mph.
Caiden White, RHP, Jeffersonville HS
A wiry, 6-foot, 165 pounder - White offers promising athleticism and fast arm speed to go along with a fastball that we've seen up to 89 mph on multiple occasions. The athletic right-hander is a good mover that lands slightly crossfired in his delivery and is able to create arm-side run & sink on his fastball that comes from a 3/4 arm slot. White shows feel to spin a mid 70s breaking ball in any count, showing the ability to land it for a strike in disadvantageous counts, along with using it as a strikeout pitch late in counts.
Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, OF, North Central HS
Rienstra-Kiracofe offers college-ready athleticism with plenty of untapped potential in his overall game. An athletic, 6-foot-1, 175 pounder - Micah’s premier foot-speed & arm strength are both plus tools and he would not look out of place in a college outfield today. Offensively, Rienstra-Kiracofe shows off twitchy hand speed that allows him to impact the baseball with strength, clubbing double-digit home runs in the spring along with multiple home runs on the summer circuit. The overall bat-to-ball skills are inconsistent at this point, but whoever lands this uncommitted OF could get a potential star with continued refinement & development.
A long-limbed infielder with some physicality standing at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds - Schuler had a big summer in 2023 that catapulted him inside of our top 50. Schuler has a couple standout tools that make him an interesting overall prospect & those tools project to continue to improve due to his frame and mix of strength and athleticism. The Borden product creates stretch within a rhythmic load that allows him to produce very good bat speed and his long-levered frame combined with 95+ exit velocities suggest his power output will continue to improve as he matures into more strength. Schuler has advanced arm strength (89 INF Velo) and his quality glove actions on the dirt allow him to play multiple infield positions with prowess.
Chase Bays, INF, Mishawaka Marian HS
Bays can flat out hit - and he did just that throughout multiple looks in 2023. The stocky, 6-foot, 190 pounder turns the barrel with authority, producing outstanding bat speed (83 mph per Blast Motion) that allows for impactful contact. A cage-rat that plays with a quiet confidence, Bays uses a simple load & stride combination to create stretch and he consistently get his "A-Swing" off. Bays showed comfortability facing velocity this summer, a trait that will help him provide immediate offensive impact to whatever school lands him. Bays is a sure-handed defender in the dirt with advanced arm strength (88 INF Velo) that also translates to some two-way prowess, as he has run his fastball up to 90 mph on the bump. The Mishawaka Marian product also offers above-average foot-speed, turning in a 60-time of 6.93.
Ryker Hughes, RHP, Bedford North Lawrence HS
An uber-athletic, 6-foot-3, 185 pound right-hander, Hughes offers immense projection when considering his athleticism (6.64 runner), clean arm swing, and a frame that is far from a finished product. Hughes works from a stretch-only delivery and moves down the slope with athleticism. The arm action is longer and uninterrupted with quality arm speed & the ball comes out from a 3/4 slot. We have seen Ryker up to 89 mph on his fastball on multiple occasions, sitting in the mid-to-upper 80s. His slider is short, tight, & firm at 77-79 mph & his arm slot allows for arm-side fade on his 81-84 mph changeup.
Christian Forniss, LHP, Brebeuf Jesuit HS
After a standout spring for Brebeuf, Forniss was very impressive at the 17U ABC. An athletic, 6-foot-1, 185 pound southpaw with some physical strength - Forniss showed off a quick left-arm from a ¾ slot that produced a fastball up to 89 mph, sitting 84-88 mph. The fastball showed some life, along with run to the arm-side of the plate, and paired well with a sweeping, 71-74 mph slider. Forniss is a strike-thrower that has steadily improved his stock over the past 12 months.
Mason Weaver, RHP, Homestead HS
After a huge spring season for Homestead, Weaver was a hot name on the summer circuit - praised for his durable build and strike-throwing capabilities. The 6-foot-2, 190 pound right-hander offers a repeatable delivery and clean, compact arm action from a H ¾ arm slot. Weaver can really command his fastball, up to 88 mph (84-87), and also offers a sharp, 72-75 mph slider that shows swing-and-miss potential at times. A true three-pitch mix, Weaver can also command a 78-82 mph changeup and showed the ability to induce soft contact on the CH to both RH & LH hitters alike.