The busy summer season has officially come to an end for high school baseball prospects across the country, which means it's time for an update to our state rankings.  We spent the summer evaluating prospects at our events, and we also kept close tabs on their performances for their respective summer teams.  Today starts a three-week rankings release stretch, and it begins with the 2024 class.  In this update, we have a new player at the #1 spot, two new players in the Top 10, and we've also expanded the list from 150 players to 180 players in total.  The 2024 class in Louisiana has turned out to be a really quality group at all of the key positions on the diamond.  Below, we give a snapshot of the Top 10, dive into the Top 5 players, and we also highlight a few players who really increased their stock over the summer.

 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS

 

TOP 10

 

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	William Schmidt	LA	Catholic	2024	RHP
2	Landon Victorian	LA	Barbe	2024	RHP	Louisiana State
3	Michael Ryan	LA	Archbishop Rummel	2024	SS	Louisiana State
4	Hayden Federico	LA	West Monroe	2024	SS	Mississippi
5	John Pearson	LA	West Monroe	2024	CF	Louisiana State
6	Corey Cousin	LA	Slidell	2024	OF	Oklahoma
7	Grayden Harris	LA	Central	2024	LHP	Southern Miss
8	Trey Hawsey	LA	West Monroe	2024	1B	Louisiana Tech
9	Trip Dobson III	LA	Catholic	2024	3B	Houston
10	Camden Sunstrom	LA	University lab	2024	RHP	Southern Miss

 

Top 5

 

#1: 2024 RHP William Schmidt (Catholic BR HS)

Uber-projectable 6'4" 180 lbs. frame with long limbs and plenty of room to continue to add physicality.  We've followed the Catholic BR HS product closely since we first saw him in June 2021 at one of our Open ID Summer Events, and he's been on a steady rise since that day.  This summer, Schmidt has certainly increased his draft stock, as he's performed well at every major event on the summer circuit.  His FB has reached 96 mph, consistently sitting in the 90-95 mph range, and Schmidt has learned that his heater plays best up in the zone, as most hitters swing underneath the pitch with their barrel.  Locating his FB up in the zone also allows him to tunnel his plus CB, with spin rates in excess of 3,000 RPM's, extremely well.  Schmidt's has one more hill to climb and that is to make Team USA, as he made the Top 40 cut, and will be competing in California this week to wear the red, white, and blue this fall.  For his performance over the summer, Schmidt is now our top ranked player in the state's 2024 class.

 

 

#2: 2024 RHP Landon Victorian (Barbe HS)

There hasn't been a more consistent and reliable option on the mound, across high school baseball in Louisiana, than Victorian.  The LSU commit enjoyed a memorable junior campaign, on route to leading the Bucs to their 12th state title in school history.  Victorian finished the year with a perfect 8-0 record, to go along with a 0.83 ERA and 80 K's with only 4 BB's across 50 1/3 IP.  He carried that momentum over to the summer circuit, at all of the major events, especially East Coast Pro.  Victorian worked his FB up to 96 at ECP and settled in the 92-94 mph range, while also flashing a low-80's SL.  There should be a lot of eyes on the Barbe HS product this coming spring, before the MLB First-Year Player Draft in July of 2024.

 

 

#3 2024 SS Michael Ryan (Rummel HS)

If you've followed our content over the last couple of years, then you'd know that we've been high on Ryan, ever since we first laid eyes on him at our Southeast Louisiana Preseason ID, back in January of 2022.  Ever since then, at every stop along the way, Ryan has shown why he's one of the top middle-infielders in the country.  The LSU recruit had a really good junior season for the Raiders, leading them all the way to the Select DI State Title game, where they fell to district-rival Jesuit.  Ryan finished the year hitting at a .420 clip with 7 HR, 10 2B, and 3 3B, while scoring 49 runs and driving in another 31.  He had a fantastic summer on the circuit as well, especially at East Coast Pro, where he seemed to hit everything on the barrel, while showing the athleticism and speed to stick at SS, as he recorded a 6.46 hand-timed 60 yard dash.  Along with Schmidt and Victorian, we expect there to be plenty of MLB scouts at Rummel HS this coming spring.

 

 

#4 2024 SS Hayden Federico (West Monroe HS)

The 5'10" 180 lbs. QB1/SS for the Rebels might just be the best all-around baseball player in the state's class.  Federico has long been known as a guy whose "baseball skills" play above his overall tool-set.  The Ole Miss recruit earned a spot on our PBR All-State Team this past spring as a junior, after finishing the year hitting .420 with 3 HR, 8 2B, and 3 3B, while also tallying 38 R and 40 RBI.  Federico's positional versatility and bat-to-ball skills helped earn him an opportunity to make Team USA this fall, after he collected five hits at the PDP League this summer.  He will be an important and integral piece of the Rebels lineup and success this coming year, as they look to make a fourth straight trip to the Non-Select D1 State Title game.

 

 

#5 2024 OF John Pearson (West Monroe HS)

When baseball fans in Louisiana hear the last name "Pearson", one thing always comes to mind..."Those Pearson boys can HIT", and John has successfully carried on the family name to this point in his career.  He was a run-producing machine in the middle of the Rebels order this past spring as a Junior.  The LSU recruit finished the year with a .424 AVG, while hitting 7 HR, 15 2B, and 7 3B, to go along with 56 R and 35 RBI.  High school pitchers across the state will have to deal with Pearson for one more season, as he and the Rebels look to avenge their 2023 State Championship Game loss to Barbe.  

.@LSUbaseball recruit 2024 John Pearson (West Monroe HS) launches 13 HR in his final round to win the @knightknation4L HR derby for the ‘23 | ‘24 class. Some of the best raw power in the class. #BeSeen@prepbaseball || @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/IzcKs3QLUo

— PBR Louisiana (@PBR_Louisiana) May 28, 2023

RISERS

 

+ 2024 OF Corey Cousin (Slidell HS)

Athletic 5'11" 180 lbs. frame with a strong lower-half.  The Slidell HS product first popped onto our radar at our Hammond Preseason ID, back in January of 2023, where he showed off several tools that offered intrigue and upside.  Cousin posted a 6.69 laser-timed 60 at the event and also showed a big arm (91 mph) from the OF.  He then hopped on the mound and showed upside there as well, as he ran his FB up to 89 mph, while also showing aptitude and feel for spin.  This summer, Cousin really blossomed playing for the NOLA Baseball Club out of New Orleans, LA, and his in-game production started to catch up to his impressive tool-set, which led to his commitment to the University of Oklahoma.  Cousin is also young for his grade, which is always a plus to MLB scouts, so we wouldn't be shocked if he were to catch some "helium" this coming spring.  He's moved up nineteen spots in this rankings update to #6.   

2024 OF/RHP Corey Cousin (Slidell HS)

Athletic 5’11” 170 lbs.

Lot of tools to like from the @PBR_Uncommitted prospect. Posted a 6.69 in the 60, threw 91 mph from the OF, then hopped on the mound and worked his FB 87-89 mph with a sharp CB. #BeSeen@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/53v56WZnBq

— PBR Louisiana (@PBR_Louisiana) January 23, 2023

+ 2024 LHP Landon Fontenot (Calvary Baptist HS)

The Calvary Baptist HS product had a jam-up junior year for the Cavaliers, as he finished with 78 K's across 60 2/3 IP, while recording a 1.16 ERA.  We saw the athletic southpaw at our Top Prospect Games in June, and he came away one of the biggest winners of the day.  Fontenot sat in the 85-87 mph range with his FB, running it up to 88 mph, and his FB command was impeccable.  He was able to drive his heater in to RHH's and was also able to sink it away to his arm-side, and he paired it well with both his hard-biting SL and his bigger CB that he was able to land for strikes.  Fontenot was also able to kill spin with a late-fading CH.  His success this summer ultimately led him to being offered and committing to Louisiana Tech University, and he moves up six spots to #23 in this rankings update.

 

 

+ 2024 RHP Cole Corbello (Iowa HS)

The two-sport product out of Iowa HS was another big winner coming out of our Top Prospect Games in June.  After a morning football workout, Corbello drove an hour east to Lafayette, LA for our Top Prospect Games, where he showed a lot of upside, even after a full-blown morning football workout.  He's got a durable and physical 6'3" 205 lbs. frame, but is an extremely athletic mover down the slope with a quick arm.  He worked his FB in the 86-88 mph range and although his control was spotty, it was hard to deny the arm talent.  Corbello also flashed a sharp and tight late-breaking SL at 71-75 mph with really good spin that averaged 2,474 RPM's per Trackman Baseball.  He committed to LSU-Eunice shortly after the Top Prospect Games and moves up nearly twenty spots to #43 in this rankings update. 

 

 

+ 2024 LHP Bennett Stakes (Southside HS)

An honorable mention All-District selection for the Sharks this past spring as a Junior; Stakes was a guy that we were excited to see this summer and he didn't disappoint.  The uncommitted southpaw stands in at a physical 6'4" 220 lbs. and he releases the ball from a near over-the-top slot, which creates a tough angle for hitters.  At our Top Prospect Games, he sat 86-88 mph with his FB, showing good life through the zone, while averaging 2,260 RPM's.  He also showed decent feel for a mid-70's SL and mid-70's CH with arm-side sink and run.  Stakes in one of the better uncommitted arms in the state's '24 class and he's also a high academic guy, which should only make him more attractive to college recruiters.  He's moved into the Top 50 in this rankings update at #47 overall.