Missouri Class of 2023 Rankings Update
September 6, 2022
The conclusion of our ‘Rankings Week’ series begins today, as we’ve already updated the state’s 2024 and 2025 boards over the past few weeks. You can find those stories by clicking HERE and HERE, respectively.
We’re wrapping things up today with an up-to-date look at the 2023 class - a group that we’ve become everso familiar with since they first stepped onto their respective high school campuses. We’ve gathered an abundance of information on all of these prospects over the years, including data driven analysis, in-game looks, and many other components.
You’ll learn more about the top 10 names in this class below, and we’ve also highlighted a handful of other names-to-know in the class, some of which are uncommitted. We’ll spotlight more players in this class as the week rolls on, but continue reading below for now to learn about the top prospects on our Missouri 2023 rankings.
THE TOP 10
+ Maintaining his spot atop the state’s 2023 board is LHP Adam Hachman (Timberland, 2023; Arkansas commit), who’s one of the nation’s top left-handed arms. Hachman’s physical 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame catches your attention at first glance, yet the southpaw still has plenty of room to fill out and add strength as he continues to mature. You’ll be hard pressed to find many arms in the nation with more life than Hachman, as we’ve seen his fastball reach upwards of 97-98 mph from a tight, deceptive slot. Hachman will mix in a firm low-80s breaking ball with sharp downer spin to play off that heater and it’s a pitch that, when he’s right, will miss bats at a high rate moving forward. A high octane performer on this year’s summer circuit, Hachman is currently representing Team USA at the WBSC 18U World Cup. Expect him to generate plenty of MLB Draft buzz from now until next July’s event.
+ One of the top uncommitted 2023 graduates in the entire country, INF Nazzan Zanetello (Christian Brothers College) stays put at second overall. At 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, Zanetello is a high level athlete that’s capable of impacting the game in multiple ways as a result. He’s one of the fastest runners in the Midwest and savvy on the infield, all while working with wiry, whippy arm strength that’s reached as high as 91 mph at our events. Zanetello maintains such a calm and collected presence at the plate, generating easy bat speed from the right side with a loose, level path to contact. With all sorts of upside to all areas of his game, Zanetello’s status as a premier prospect in this class remains unchanged.
+ Holding on to the third spot on these updated rankings, LHP Wil Libbert (Blair Oaks, 2023; Missouri commit) used a productive 2022 campaign to solidify his status as an elite left-handed arm in the Midwest. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound southpaw dominated this spring for Blair Oaks and parlayed that massive momentum into a highly successful summer. Libbert’s velocity maintained a steady pace throughout, pitching at 90-93 mph with his fastball at PDP in July, and doing so again at the Area Code Games last month. It’s a pitch that plays up from his velocity band due to an innate ability to create backspin up in the zone and the short, deceptive arm slot that he works from. He’s plenty polished on the bump to pair with that low-90s heat, featuring a mid-70s breaking ball with sharp, lateral action at times and a fading mid-80s changeup as well. A brief nugget on Libbert from the Area Code Games:
“…allowed two hits and struck out four in two innings against a tough Brewers lineup. His fastball sat 88-92, touching 93, and his best secondary pitch was an above average changeup at 84-86 with run. He killed spin on it, as it was around 1700 rpm, compared to his fastball getting up to 2400. He also mixed in a curveball with 1/7 shape.”
+ One of the trendier names in the nation early on this summer, INF Addison Smith (Liberty, 2023; Oklahoma State commit) checks in at fourth overall. Smith became a popular name on the 2022 circuit after a breakout showing at the National Program Invitational, where he was one of the event’s top performers amongst a loaded crop of prospects. He followed that up with a few impressive showings at Creekside and continued to ride that momentum to the prestigious Area Code Games. Shooter Hunt, our Vice President of Scouting, recently had this to say about the Oklahoma State recruit’s performance in San Diego:
“...polished off a stellar summer with a strong performance in San Diego. Utilizing a larger leg hang to gain ground through impact from both sides, he was consistently on-time throughout with a flat path that delivered gap-to-gap strength with some pull side power potential . The wiry-thin, 6-foot-1, 175-pound shortstop has plenty of room to continue adding strength, and while he is not dynamic on the infield, he is as consistent as they come with the glove, and has a quick release with adequate arm strength that is likely a future average tool.”
+ Holding onto the fifth spot on this board, RHP Tate McGuire (Liberty North, 2023; Arkansas commit) played a pivotal role in the Eagles 6A state championship run, earning all-state honors in the process. At 6-foot-3, 185-pound, McGuire offers a blend of present strength and future physical projectability, and there’s no doubt he’ll add at least 20 pounds of quality mass to his frame over the next few years. We caught a brief glimpse of what high school hitters had to deal with all year long when McGuire toed the rubber at Creekside during the Kansas City Program Invitational. Here’s what our scouts wrote about his performance at that event:
“...McGuire proved his prominence as an upper-tier prospect in our region on Sunday, punching out six batters in a brief three inning stint. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Arkansas’ commit reached a 92 mph high with his fastball, holding 87-91 mph from a short, quick arm slot. He faded his changeup in the mid-70s primarily to left-handed hitters and manipulated spin on a sharper, more firm upper-70s slider for whiffs out of the zone. McGuire’s present stuff and future physical projection suggest a relatively high ceiling for the future Razorback.”
+ Rising one spot after a productive spring with one of the state’s top high school programs is LHP Dane Bjorn (Lindbergh, 2023; Tennessee commit). The 6-foot-2, 190-pound southpaw anchored the Flyers’ staff en route to a state playoff appearance, punching out 104 batters over 61 ⅔ innings with a 1.70 ERA. He’ll pump his fastball into the upper-80s and spin a sharp slurvey-type breaking ball as a compliment, mixing in a changeup as well to round out a sound three-pitch mix. Bjorn consistently performed in clutch situations this spring and was one of Missouri’s most dominant arms as a result.
+ At seventh overall in this update, there’s an immense amount of upside on the mound with LHP Camron Poe (Christian Brothers College, 2023; Duke commit). The 6-foot-3, 200-pound southpaw exploded onto the scene at the 2021 PBR Future Games, emerging from the event as one of its’ top prospects and committing to Duke shortly afterward. Poe’s stuff is special when he’s synced up, pitching in the upper-80s with his fastball and climbing up into the 91-92 mph range on occasion, reaching as high as 93.5 mph in our looks. His bread-and-butter secondary is a firm upper-70s slider with swing-and-miss spin, and he’ll mix in a low-80s changeup occasionally, too. When he’s synced up and on time, Poe has some of the most impressive arsenals in this class.
+ The state’s eighth ranked prospect, 1B/TE Brett Norfleet (2023; Missouri commit) went on one of the more impressive power surges we’ve seen in recent memory this spring and played a huge role in Francis Howell’s run to the state championship. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound dual-sport star slashed .451/.544/.885 across 122 at-bats this season, belting nine home runs and bringing home 54 runs on his own account. The power that Norfleet wields from the right side is obvious and his upside attached to that ultra-physical frame certainly stands out. Not only is Norfleet an exceptional talent on the diamond, but his skills translate to the gridiron as well, where he caught 26 passes for 416 yards and five touchdowns. Norfleet is headed to Missouri for both sports, and we’re looking forward to seeing him star in the SEC.
+ Climbing into the top-10 in this update is OF Kaden Peer (Christian Brothers College, 2023; Missouri commit), slotting at ninth overall. Built at a strong, physical 6-foot-2, 178-pounds, Peer exploded offensively for the Cadets this spring, slashing .376/.491/.720 with 18 extra-base hits, including five home runs, and 38 RBIs. We saw that level of impact up close at Creekside this summer, where Peer thoroughly impressed our staff at the plate and performed throughout the event. Peer’s tools outside of his sheer feel to hit are noteworthy, as he ran a 6.88 60-yard dash and was up to 95 mph from the outfield at the Missouri Preseason All-State this winter. Headed to the Tigers next fall, Peer’s upside is that of an impact left-handed bat in the SEC.
+ Rounding out the top of this board, RHP Seth Benes (Liberty-Wentzville, 2023; Indiana commit) stays put at 10th overall. A member of Team Missouri at the 2021 PBR Future Games, Benes has done nothing but impress since his outings at LakePoint, and we’ve seen the 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander jump up in stuff as well. He pitched at 91-92 mph in his ‘pen at the Preseason All-State in February while showing feel for both his secondaries around the zone. Benes translated that velocity to an in-game look on April 19th, where he sat 88-92 mph and punched out 16 batters over six innings. He toed the rubber at Creekside during the Midwest Premier Super 17, where our staff had this to say about one of the Midwest’s top right-handed arms:
“...Benes showed his usually impressive stuff in a brief outing for the St. Louis Prospects last weekend. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander pitched at 86-90 mph with his fastball and showed polish for his secondaries, something we’ve become accustomed to seeing from him at this point. Benes, who’s physical stature and family pedigree on the diamond make for a relatively high future on the hill, is one of the top arms in Missouri’s 2023 group”
OTHER NAMES TO KNOW
+ LHP Kaiden Wilson (Raymore-Peculiar, 2023) has one of the highest ceilings in the class attached to a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Wilson’s arm talent and high-octane stuff is undeniable, working his fastball into the upper-80s on the regular and reaching as high as 92 mph in our looks. He’ll flash sharp swing-and-miss action on a low-70s breaking ball, forming a quality two-pitch mix from the left side. Wilson recently caught Shooter Hunt’s attention at the Area Code Games, where our Vice President of Scouting had this to say:
“After striking out the first batter he faced, Wilson ran into some trouble, allowing two runs on on two hits, a walk and two hit batters, but he bounced back by racking up swings and misses and striking out the side in his second inning. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Louisiana State recruit ranged from 87-91 with his fastball out of a 3/4 slot. He showed solid feel for spin, flashing an average breaking ball with sharpness in the low 70s.”
+ A winner across multiple showings at Creekside this summer, OF Colton Wemhoff (Rockhurst, 2023; Kansas commit) swings one of the state’s most physical right-handed bats. At 6-foot-2, 185-pounds with athleticism and strength, Wemhoff ambushed baseballs on repeat for the Royals Scout Team. Our scouts had this to say about the Jayhawks’ commits performance at the Kansas City Program Invitational:
“…few have impacted the ball with as much authority as Wemhoff has at Creekside this summer, as the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Jayhawk recruit thumps balls off his barrel at a different impact than most. Hitting primarily out of the cleanup spot for the Royals Scout Team, Wemhoff’s hardest hit ball was a screaming no-doubt home run on Saturday afternoon that tied the game late in an eventual victory for the tournament runner-ups. Wemhoff’s tools translate to the outfield, where he’s an above-average athlete that comfortably roams the outfield grass with equally impressive arm strength to pair.”
+ Perhaps the most impactful piece to Liberty North’s state championship team was INF Ty Wisdom (2023; Kansas commit). The left-handed hitting middle infielder batted .398 this spring with 20 extra-base hits, 35 RBIs, and eight more walks than strikeouts. Wisdom contributed on the mound for the Eagles as well, pitching to a 0.85 ERA over 24 ⅔ innings while punching out 32 batters with a 5-0 record. He did nothing but hit at Creekside as well, working consistently from the middle of the Royals Scout Team lineup and peppering hard contact to all fields with little swing-and-miss. A quick note on Wisdom from the Kansas City Program Invitational:
“…a catalyst for Missouri’s top high school program and eventual state champion, Wisdom stood out earlier this summer at the Creekside Summer Championships and did so again this past weekend for the Royals Scout Team. At 5-foot-11, 185-pounds, Wisdom checks several boxes on the diamond. He consistently puts together quality at-bats and has a knack for contact, utilizing the whole field from the left side of the plate. Defensively, Wisdom brings a steady, sure-handed glove to the keystone and he’ll always be counted on as a reliable option at that spot on the infield. He’ll even hop on the mound if needed, pumping mid-to-upper-80s fastballs for strikes on the regular. A former PBR Future Gamer, Wisdom is set to be a Jayhawk around this time next year.”
+ Two physical right-handed arms that are slotted right next to each other in this update: RHP Tommy Lapour (Blue Springs South, 2023; Cincinnati commit) and RHP Ben Smith (Springfield Catholic, 2023; Missouri commit). At 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, Lapour certainly doesn’t lack starter’s size or strength, and his ability to hold upper-80s-to-low-90s velocity stems from his stature. He features one of the nastiest secondary offerings in this entire class - a true swing-and-miss splitter with downward tumble from a near identical arm slot to his fastball. Smith is cut from a similar cloth to his counterpart, standing at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds with clear strength attached throughout. He was a major winner from the Missouri Preseason All-State this winter, pumping his fastball at 92-93 mph and spinning both a curveball and slider at 2,300+ RPM, while killing spin and lift on a firm 84-85 mph changeup.
+ There is no doubt that OF Caden Bogenpohl (Jackson, 2023) has some of the loudest tools in the entire state, regardless of class. At 6-foot-5, 235-pounds, Bogenpohl ran a 6.95 60-yard dash at the A’s Scout Day this winter and complimented that with a 101 mph max exit velocity in BP. His effortless ability to generate bat speed from the left side and flick balls gap-to-gap is certainly impressive, even more so given how he’s able to control his levers at that size. Bogenpohl’s strength worked its way up to his arm, where he was up to 92 mph from the outfield and reached the same high with his fastball on the mound, sitting 90-91 mph throughout his ‘pen.
+ Two of the state’s top uncommitted prospects sit back-to-back on our updated list: RHP Garrett Shearer (Saint Louis University HS, 2023) and OF/LHP Brysen Nepute (Francis Howell, 2023). Shearer looks the part on the mound, standing at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, and he uses that size to hold mid-to-upper-80s with his fastball while working two above-average secondaries around the zone for strikes. As for Nepute, his talents on both sides of the ball proved integral to the success of Francis Howell this spring and largely propelled the Vikings deep into the MSHSAA playoffs. He’s a high level athlete at the plate with a silky smooth right-handed stroke and an innate feel to hit, slashing .356/.441/.470 this spring with 14 stolen bases and more walks than strikeouts. He anchored the Vikings on the mound as well, pumping a mid-to-high-80s fastball and spinning a 2,200+ RPM breaking ball around the zone. He hurled a team-high 65 ⅔ innings with a 1.50 ERA and 78 strikeouts over that span as well.
+ OF Ryker Edwards (Smithville, 2023) certainly doesn’t lack tools or athleticism, and he’s the state’s top uncommitted position player as a result. Muscles up at 6-foot, 190-pounds, Edwards ran a 6.55 60-yard dash at the MOKAN Top Prospect Games this summer and generated some of the highest average bat speed we saw at our events this year. He reached a max exit velocity of 100.8 mph and a peak batted distance of 391 feet in BP, averaging 92.7 mph and 296 feet per batted ball. We saw that natural right-handed strength translate to gameplay at Creekside as the summer progressed, and Edwards truly started to make impact contact to all fields at the Kansas City Program Invitational. Edwards’ tools are undeniable and his ceiling continues to increase as he starts to tap into them more consistently.
+ The highest ranked newcomer in this update is INF Cy Darnell (Webb City, 2023), who recently committed to Missouri Southern. Darnell popped up as a winner from the MOKAN Top Prospect Games this June, showcasing upside tools attached to a 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame. There, Darnell ran a 6.99 60-yard dash and peaked at 87 mph across the infield, all while showcasing a short, quick right-handed stroke.