After a flurry of summer events, the time has come to update the Kentucky Class of 2025 rankings. This class has already proven to be deep and talented with two players who have been committed to Louisville since standing out at last year’s Junior Future Games, and three other players who were selected to participate in this year’s Future Games on Team Kentucky that was comprised of mostly 2024 graduates.

CLICK HERE to view the entire Class of 2025 rankings.

With this class just starting their sophomore year in high school, these rankings will continue to change and expand as we see more players from the class and players continue to make strides in their respective games.

For now, we take an in-depth look at the top five.

Catcher Owen Jenkins remains entrenched in the top spot. The physical backstop, who has started at Lafayette since eighth grade, continues to see power production and arm strength on the rise. The Louisville commit has middle-of-the-order bat written all over him, and he is already a defensive presence behind the dish. Jenkins led a solid Lafayette club in nearly every offensive statistical category this past spring, wracking up 18 extra-base hits, including six home runs.

 

 

Right behind Jenkins sits SS Kade Elam, another Louisville commit. Elam combines power at the plate to go along with the ability to make every play look easy at the SS position. Elam put up video-game numbers as a freshman in the middle of the Corbin lineup with a whopping 18 doubles to go along with 9 home runs. He’s a player who continues to rise and is going to continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the foreseeable future.

RHP Reed Sherrard, and his big 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame, occupies the No. 3 spot. Sherrard, fresh off an impressive Future Games performance where he fired two scoreless innings with a fastball up to 87 mph, has made a sizeable velocity jump over the past year. He uses leverage in his frame and attacks hitters with a downhill fastball while also showing feel for a mid-70’s curveball. Sherrard’s arm works fluidly and it would be no surprise to see him working 90+ with the fastball in the very near future.

 

 

SS/RHP Ethan Reynolds, another member of Team KY for this year’s Future Games, sits in the No. 4 spot. Reynolds, a physical 6-foot, 205-pounds, packs bat speed and power in his swing while also flashing good arm strength that plays well on the left side of the infield. He likely projects as a power hitting third baseman, and he flashed that ability when he narrowly missed a home run in the Future Games, settling for a long double off the left field wall. He’s also intriguing on the mound with a higher spin fastball that has been up to 85 mph.

 

 

OF Charles Slabaugh rounds out the top five, and it’s the hit tool that puts him there. Slabaugh is the top left-handed bat in the class, and he handled himself well against premium arms in this year’s Future Games. Simply put, the kid can flat hit, and he continues to make improvements as a runner and in arm strength. He projects as a power-hitting corner outfielder and has flashed the ability to drive the ball to all fields.