Since the end of last season, Prep Baseball Report Missouri has been floored by the quality of prospects that have emerged from our showcases and personal scouting.  So, with opening day only a few weeks away, we have thoroughly revamped our Class of 2012 player rankings, a class that currently features 37 Division-I commits.

Here is a quick glance at the Prep Baseball Report’s Top 10 players in the Class of 2012:

 1)    Bralin Jackson, Raytown South, OF:  The 6-foot-1, 185-pound outfielder stood out at the Area Code Games last summer as a member of the White Sox scout team.  He has a highly projectable bat with plenty of raw power, although all of his tools stand out on the baseball field. (Missouri)

2)    Matt Fultz, Lee’s Summit West, C: Fultz is a left-handed hitting catcher with power (15 HR in 2011) and an advanced approach at the plate.  His compact swing yields power to all fields while still allowing him to make consistent contact and hit for a high average. (Kansas State) 

3)    Blake McFadden, Savannah, RHP: The top right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2012, McFadden has already displayed an ability to command three pitches.  His fastball sits at a heavy 88-89 mph (it has been as high as 91) with late run.  His slider is a legitimate out pitch with excellent depth – it looked especially sharp at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in early February – and he also features an above-average change up. (Kansas State)

4)    William DuPont, Lafayette, SS:  The first infielder to appear in the 2012 rankings, DuPont opened everyone’s eyes last season by hitting .528 with 17 extra-base hits (six home runs) and 25 stolen bases.  Over the summer, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound middle infielder ran a 6.57 60-yard dash – the best at any 2011 event.  A left-handed hitter, DuPont’s bat has more pop than his size suggests and his speed makes him a constant extra-base threat at the plate. (Mississippi State)

5)    Spencer Johnson, Parkview, OF/1B:  Over the past year, Johnson has emerged as a top-notch outfield prospect.  After playing primarily first base for most of his prep career, the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder transitioned to the outfield where his speed (6.74 60) plays well.  But for the past several years, it has been his bat that separates him from the rest. (Missouri State)

6)    Tate Matheny, Westminster, OF:  Son of St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny, the 6-foot, 180-pound outfielder is one of the more toolsy players in the state.  Last season he batted .505 with 28 extra-base hits (10 HR), 54 RBI, and 22 stolen bases while guiding Westminster to a Class 3A title.  He possesses game-changing speed and is aggressive in everything he does on the baseball field.  With another strong season, Matheny’s draft stock should steadily rise by June. (Missouri State)

7)    Braxton Martinez, Francis Howell North, 3B:  Martinez has a strong, 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame that projects well at third base.  He has the athleticism and arm strength (85 mph) to stick at the position – he plays shortstop for Howell North – even though his bat plays at every corner position.  Martinez displayed the third-best bat speed (95 mph exit velo) at the Super 60. (St. Louis University)

8)    Jonathan Harris, Hazelwood Central, RHP:  No player made a more significant jump in the rankings than Harris, a 6-foot-4, 160-pound right-hander.  His arm is long on the backside and his athleticism allows for repeatable mechanics.  Harris’ fastball sits in the upper-80s with arm-side run, and he also features a quality curve and change up. (Missouri State)

9)    Ryan Phillips, Rock Bridge, RHP/SS:  The top two-way player in Missouri, Phillips is an elite middle infielder and right-handed pitcher.  He has true instincts in the field that allow him to handle any infield position.  At the plate, the 5-foot-10 right-handed hitter is a tough out who makes hard contact to all fields.  He possesses a mid-80s fastball on the mound with a hard slider and a change up with good arm speed – he has excellent command of all three pitches. (Missouri)

10)  Danny Holst, Parkway South, SS: A left-handed hitting shortstop with tremendous speed, Holst batted .488 last season with a .611 on-base percentage and 20 stolen bases.  Thanks to an advanced approach at the plate, the 6-foot, 195-pounder drew 24 walks compared to only three strikeouts. (Texas A&M)

Other notable players that made a jump in the Class of 2012 rankings:

• No. 14 Matt Dezort, Hazelwood Central, OF (Missouri State)
• No. 15 Griffin Goodrich, Kirkwood, RHP (Missouri)
• No. 25 Jake Henson, Francis Howell Central, C (SLU)
• No. 29 Jeremy Mansur, Raymore-Peculiar, LHP (Neosho County CC)
• No. 32 Josh Moore, Pacific, LHP (SLU)

Click here to view the new Class of 2012 player rankings...