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Class of 2023 Rankings Update

March 3, 2023
By: Kevin Moulder & Diego Solares
PBR Missouri Staff

Right before the start of the high school season, our staff will be updating each individual class rankings, starting with the 2023s and working our way down.

With their high school careers set to conclude, this 2023 class has certainly left their mark on Missouri’s baseball landscape, and there’s plenty of high-end talent scattered on our board. The top has multiple MLB Draft prospects that’ll certainly be followed throughout the spring, and there’s an abundance of impact-type talent from top to bottom - something that’ll certainly show over the spring season.

We’ve expanded the board, adding a few names after the winter, and there’s also been some significant shuffling at the top following the off-season circuit. We’re excited to see these players in action in the coming weeks, but learn more about our up-to-date 2023 rankings below.

THE TOP 10

The top three on our board remains the same, and it’s becoming increasingly likely that each member of this trio hears their name called come July’s MLB Draft:

+ LHP Adam Hachman (Timberland, 2023; Arkansas) maintains the top spot in the state, an honor he’s held for quite some time now. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound southpaw is No. 12 overall on our national high school rankings, and he holds the No. 24th spot on our Preseason Draft Board that includes both prep and college talents. Hachman’s explosive fastball rivals that of any high school arm in the country, and improving his secondaries over the winter only boosts his all-around impact on the mound. There’s no doubt he’ll draw plenty of high-end evaluators to games this spring, and Hachman has a chance to hear his name called pretty early on draft day, perhaps even in the first round.


+ INF Nazzan Zanetello (Christian Brothers College, 2023; Arkansas) is also trending upward after the winter, staying put at second overall on our state ranking, though he’s set to rise on our national rankings update in mid-March. A standout at the Super 60 in early February, Zanetello’s effortless athleticism is obvious, and he even earned high praise from our Director of College Scouting, David Seifert, following the event:

“...if Wolters was a big “winner” on the pitching side, ‘Z’ was that guy on the position player side. His batting practice was eye-opening with a loose approach and lightning-quick hands through the zone. Athletically built at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, the right-handed hitter barreled ball after ball with an average EV of 94.7 and top of 100.6 mph, while hitting the sweet spot at a 71 percent clip. The Arkansas commit is an explosive athlete that burned a 6.62 in the 60-yard dash, then showcased a sizzler of an arm, 90 mph across the infield and 95 from the outfield. It’s a current 60-plus on the pro scale with a solid 70-grade to likely come not too far in the future. As with all hitters during a showcase, it’s great to see their swing mechanics, EVs and other measurables during batting practice. However, on the field during game action against live pitching is where a prospect really gets paid in the draft. With a strong showing at the plate this spring, Zanetello will likely position himself into top three round consideration. For now, he's not yet on our Draft Board, but he remains of high interest this spring.”

Nazzan Zanetello


+ Rounding out this trifecta is LHP Wil Libbert (Blair Oaks, 2023; Missouri commit), who truly “wow’d” our staff in a bullpen setting last month. Libbert’s always known how to pitch, his dominance in game is something we’ve grown accustomed to during his prep career, but the 6-foot-1, 205-pound southpaw has added a few ticks of velocity to his entire arsenal this off-season. What he lacks in prototypical starter’s size Libbert makes up for with pitchability, and his ability to throw all three pitches in any counts to any given hitter separates him from his peers. Should he hold velocity and continue to shove, Libbert’s certainly going to catch the attention of professional teams.


+ Climbing one spot in this update is RHP Tate McGuire (Liberty North, 2023; Arkansas), who now sits at No. 4 overall. McGuire, who’s set to take over the reins as staff ace on the reigning 6A state champions and our preseason top Missouri program, has always known how to pitch, throwing all three of his pitches for strikes. Where he’s improved, however, is in the velocity department, as we’ve heard reports McGuire’s fastball has jumped up a few ticks from the low-90s range we saw last summer. At 6-foot-3, McGuire has present size with room to fill out further, and he’s another name that could get plucked in the draft should he hold this into the spring.

+ The biggest name-to-know in this update is OF/RHP Caden Bogenpohl (Jackson, 2023), as the Missouri State signee jumps up 12 spots, now sitting at fifth overall. Built at a massive 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, Bogenpohl has significantly increased an already impactful skill-set this winter, and he’s starting to harness the inherent power nestled within his stature. We recently saw him sit 94-95 mph at the A’s Scout day, and he complimented that fastball with a firm low-80s slider that peaked at 2500+ with 16+ inches of horizontal action. Moving away from his obvious arm talent, Bogenpohl also wields Missouri’s loudest left-handed bat, as he ambushed balls on repeat during BP, recording a 108.7 mph max exit velocity in the process. Several of his barrels registered at 104+ mph, and his average batted distance (348 ft.) is higher than most hitters' peak, while his peak in particular (405 ft.) is one of the highest marks we’ve ever seen. Simply put, Bogenpohl does things others can’t do, and his tools on both sides of the ball should draw scouts to the southeastern part of the state regularly throughout the spring.


+ Finally, the last name to highlight within our top-10 is a fresh face, as RHP Tommy Lapour (Blue Springs South, 2023; Cincinnati commit) jumps to No. 7 overall, up nine spots from the 16th spot prior. A multi-sport athlete for the Jaguars, Lapour has plenty of strength within a 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame, and he’s always shown our staff advanced feel to pitch. Lapour’s fastball has typically played in the low-90s with a steep angle, though reports this winter indicate he’s made a jump. That, coupled with a true swing-and-miss splitter that may be one of the state’s premier offerings, has Lapour as an arrow-up name on these rankings.

OTHER NOTABLE RISERS

+ RHP Ben Smith (Springfield Catholic, 2023; Missouri) is a power arm that rises in these up-to-date rankings, now sitting at 12th overall. A physical 6-foot-2, 195-pound athlete, Smith has regularly pumped his fastball at 92-94 mph, and he compliments it with a power breaking ball that’ll generate whiffs now, and at the next level. Smith’s arm speed is undeniable, and we’ve seen him translate this high-octane stuff in game previously, too, with the potential for even louder stuff to come down the road.

+ Another high riser, vaulting over 20 spots and into the top-20 for the first time: RHP Jackson Yarberry (Timberland, 2023; St. Louis commit). Yarberry’s trimmed down and added significant muscle mass this off-season, now boasting a well-proportioned 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame with clear strength. He’s seen direct progress on the mound as a result, pumping his fastball in the low-90s with little effort, touching 94 mph in a ‘pen last month. Yarberry’s always been a high pitchability arm, and his tight slider as well as fading changeup round out a complete arsenal that’s going to live around the zone at the next level. Matching up with Hachman, Yarberry gives Timberland another ace quality arm on their staff, and he’s headed into the spring with plenty of momentum from the off-season.

+ RHP Bowen Brantingham (John Burroughs, 2023; Air Force) burst onto the scene at the A’s Scout Day, thoroughly impressing our staff during one of the event’s more impressive ‘pens. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior debuts at No. 46 overall, and he regularly pounded the zone with his fastball, a pitch that sat in the upper-80s, and peaked at 91 mph. Brantingham regularly landed an upper-70s slider at 2400+ RPM around the zone, turned over an 82-84 mph changeup with 18+ inches of horizontal movement on average, and even showed an 83-84 mph cutter with late action at times. He’s a strike thrower that really looks the part on the mound, has polish, and doesn’t throw with much effort, all of which bode well for his success at the next level.


+ Though a minor jump, INF Maloy Heaghney (Eureka, 2023; Missouri State) climbs a few spots after showing enhanced tools at the A’s Scout Day this past weekend. Heaghney produced effortless upper-90s exit velocities, topping at 100.7 mph, and his furthest ball traveled 372 feet, a mark well advanced for his age, per TrackMan. He stayed short-to-long through the zone, and the rhythm that he maintained while hammering balls off his barrel is a plus, too. Heaghney’s also a 6.71 runner in the 60 and a silky smooth defender on the infield, peaking at 91 mph across the diamond. Headed to Missouri State, Heaghney’s capable of contributing early on, and his skill-set provides a high floor with a relatively noteworthy ceiling, too.


+ RHP Peter Underwood (Christian Brothers College, 2023; Jefferson JC) rises after a productive winter, pitching in the upper-80s, peaking at 90 mph. He’s polished with feel for both his secondaries, and should be an impact arm on the mound for a CBC squad that’ll compete for a state championship this spring.

+ Other names that rose after productive showings this winter are RHP Parker Lambeth (Kickapoo, 2023; State Fair CC), OF Luke Peterson (Oran, 2023), INF Grant Dotson (Jackson, 2023; Three Rivers CC), INF Henry Zenor (St. Louis University HS, 2023; Queens University), and OF Aidan Walter (Park Hill, 2023).

Luke Peterson

**CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 RANKINGS**

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