The Class of 2022 Rankings were most recently released on Tuesday, October 6th. On May 1st, the previous Top 50 rankings were updated, and since then, there has been plenty of movement throughout the list.  The October 6th list has now been expanded to 100 players, with a handful of early commits heading to schools throughout the country.

CLICK HERE for the full PBR MN Class of 2022 Rankings.

The PBR Minnesota staff has seen notable performances throughout the summer months at the numerous events hosted. With the high school season lost due to CoVid-19, many players continued to develop and take time continuing to build upon their skills since March and the early spring PBR Preseason Events. The 2022 class is considered to be heavy on the mound with 12 of the Top 20 being pitchers.  With more integration into South Dakota, we have also seen players from The Mount Rushmore State hit the rankings.

Let’s take a dive into both committed and uncommitted risers in the 2022 Rankings.

The biggest name of them all as the #1 ranked player in the class is Logan Olson (Academy of Holy Angels).  Olson went from unranked this past spring to the top spot in our rankings.  Olson burst onto the scene while pitching in a PBR Tournament at Lakepoint this past summer.  Shortly after that, he attended the Prospect ID- Minnetonka Event and by the time he walked off the mound from his bullpen, he was invited to the 2020 PBR Future Games.  The lanky lefty who stands in at 6-foot-3 and 165lbs; committed to Oregon shortly after the Future Games.  The frame, clean arm action and projection are easy to fall in love with.  Olson’s fastball sits 85-87 mph with quality run to go along with it.  He also has a plus breaking ball at 70-73 mph and shows solid feel for a change-up at 73-75 mph.  We know we will hear more about Olson down the road who made our biggest splash in the rankings.

Another lefty and 2-way talent from St. Louis Park is Kristofer Hokenson.  Hokenson who is a left-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting outfielder rose in the rankings to #9 after being previously ranked at #33.  The Minnesota commit was outstanding at the Underclass Prospect Games in June.  We saw a jump in the fastball that now sits 83-86 mph, an above average breaking ball at 68-69 mph and a 76-78 mph changeup with fade action.  Added strength through the winter helped Hokenson’s all around game.  A smooth swing and quick hands helps generate pop in the barrel.  Athletic movements in the outfield with an arm that plays well with carry at 89 mph.  An early commit in the 2022 class who looks forward to staying home and playing for the Gophers.

 

Uncommitted Jeremy Bingesser, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed pitcher made an impact jumping into the Top 25, going from unranked to #23.  A 2020 Future Games participant out of Pierz Healy in Northern Minnesota gained helium like Hokenson at June’s Underclass Prospect Games. Passing the eye test on the mound with his athletic frame, Bingesser’s fastball sat 84-87 mph that jumped on hitters.  Combo that up with two secondary pitches that show to develop into above average pitches in the future. The righty works mainly from the stretch with a clean and loose arm action out of a ¾ slot.  Bingesser is another arm that shows the depth in pitchers of the 2022 class. 

 

Joining our Minnesota native players are a couple of South Dakota neighbors, Aspen Dahl (Madison Central) and Chase Houselog (Sioux Falls Lincoln).  Both of these young men can be found in the Top 50 rankings.  This summer, Dahl and Houselog were high performers at the first ever PBR Top Prospect Showcase-Great Plains in Brandon, SD.  

Dahl (UR to #38), a 5-foot-11, 160-pound utility player, has made vast improvements since March 9th of 2019 when he attended the Rochester Open as his first ever PBR event.  The athletic frame right-handed hitter runs a 7.07-60, 90 mph from the OF, 85 mph from the IF, and 87 mph exit velocity.  In the box, a controlled load that triggers average bat speed and a gap to gap approach.  Plays the field with athleticism and the arm plays well with accuracy in both the infield and outfield.  

 

Houselog (UR to #46) is similar to Dahl who is also able to play both infield and outfield.  The right-handed hitter has an athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds and runs a 7.08-60. Houselog showed off his arm with an 87 mph from the OF, 84 mph from the IF and a 87 mph exit velocity.  An open stance, starts with a small load and leg lift that generates efficient bat speed, and gap to gap approach.  He moves athletically in both the infield and outfield that pairs well with clean hands.  A compact arm action with good accuracy from a ¾ arm slot.

 

CLICK HERE for the full PBR MN Class of 2022 Rankings.