Now that the state’s 2024 and 2025 rankings have been revised and updated we take a look at the 2026 class. There have been numerous showcases, camps and events since the last update and many new sophomores have come to the forefront. All of these events, as well as the start of the MSHSAA season, have come into play when updating the 2026 class.

We’ve expanded our list of names after an extensive winter circuit that introduced us to a multitude of prospects we were unaware of before, as well as gave our staff an up-to-date look at players we were already familiar with. 

Below you’ll learn a little more about the top, including some prospects that are on the rise, as well as a few prospects trending upward that slot just outside of our top-10. Later on in the week we’ll detail more risers on our updated board, as well as a few names that debuted for the first time, so be on the lookout for that. 

AT THE TOP…

+ Rising up from fourth to now No. 3 overall, RHP Dylan Curtis (Francis Howell) has one of the highest floors, yet also one of the more intriguing ceilings, in the class. Built at a long, lean-limbed 6-foot-5, 170-pounds, Curtis’ fastball has touched 89 mph in our live looks this spring, pitching anywhere in the mid-to-upper-80s. He’s one of the more polished arms in Missouri, living in the zone often with his fastball, while also showing advanced zone feel for both his curveball and changeup. Curtis’ present pitchability in itself makes him a high level prospect, but his physical upside and room for an uptick in stuff unlocks an entirely different ceiling for the lanky right-hander. 

Dylan Curtis

+ INF/OF GT Taylor (CBC; Mizzou commit) was one of the biggest winners from this past winter circuit, vaulting into the top-10 to now sit at No. 4 on these updated rankings. An explosive 6-foot-2, 185-pound athlete in every sense of the word, Taylor’s talents were on full display at the Preseason All-State this February. He repeatedly got off intentful hacks from a fast, uphill right-handed swing that produced outputs in the upper-90s consistently, peaking at 100.1 mph. Taylor’s bat speed, raw power, and physical projection offer true middle-of-the-order upside down the road, and he’s already homered three times in 22 at-bats this spring. Positionally, Taylor will find himself on the infield or from the outfield and his arm has life (T85 mph INF, T88 mph OF) at either position. 

GT Taylor

+ RHP Jake Brettschneider (Francis Howell) is another arm to rise in this update, climbing a few spots to the fifth overall slot on our latest board. He packed on muscle mass over the winter, now taking the rubber at a more physical 6-foot-4, 195-pounds, though there’s still room for more. We saw Brettschneider on a cold day earlier this spring and he ran his fastball up to 90 mph, pitching in the upper-80s from a loose ¾ slot. The separator for him, however, is his breaking ball; a sharp, laterally spun slider at 74-78 mph that offers real swing-and-miss upside at the next level. Brettschneider has some of the best pure stuff in the class and figures to be a premier arm in the state for the remainder of his high school career. 

+ Another name that vaults up more than 10 spots and into the top-10, now at No. 6, is INF/RHP CJ Lake (Oakville). The 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore has loud tools in all aspects of his game, starting with a fast, powerful right-handed swing that reached a peak exit velocity of 103.4 mph this winter. In two different looks, Lake produced max exit velocities over 100 mph, two different peak batted distances above 370 feet, and he regularly barreled balls up at 95+ mph. Additionally, Lake was 89 mph across the infield at the Preseason All-State and 92 mph from the outfield at the Midland Bandits Scout Day. That arm strength proved on the mound, where Lake touched 90 mph in two different bullpens, sitting in the upper-80s with some spin feel to pair. Though he’s still fully learning how to harness the inherent strength he has on each side of the ball, Lake’s upside given his physicality is undeniable. 

CJ Lake

OUTSIDE THE TOP-10

+ We didn’t see RHP Tyler Putnam (Battle) this winter, as he was throwing down dunks for Battle’s basketball team on the hardwood, but the 6-foot-5, 180-pound right-hander holds one of the highest ceilings in the state. We’ve seen pitch in the mid-to-upper-80s from a loose, low-effort operation, though he’s reportedly started to tick up even more so this winter. On top of that, Putnam’s also a formidable position player, swinging a fast, leveraged right-handed swing that’s performed in game to our staff. He’s a must-follow prospect in the class that’s capable of only continuing to climb up our board from here on out. 

Tyler Putnam

+ OF/LHP Micah Patterson (Lee’s Summit) is another athlete to follow with talents that pop on both sides of the ball. At 5-foot-8, 160-pounds, Patterson ran a 6.97 60-yard dash this winter and his in-game speed matches that time, if not exceeds it. He swings a loose, fluid left-handed bat that’s added notable bat strength over the last year or so (98.1 mph max EV). He has above-average arm strength from the outfield (T89 mph) and will also run his fastball into the mid-to-upper-80s with advanced feel to spin a quality breaking ball (T2642 RPM) at 72-74 mph. 

Micah Patterson

+ C Kendall Hagedorn (Smith-Cotton, 2026) jumps up a few spots in this update and is the top backstop in the state’s sophomore class. Plenty physical at 6-foot, 185-pounds, Hagedorn had a standout showing at the MOKAN Preseason All-State, turning heads in all aspects of his workout. He swings a fast, aggressive right-handed barrel that holds inherent bat strength, averaging 94.5 mph in BP with a max mark at 100.6 mph. He’s producing at the plate early for his 10-win high school squad, slashing .316/.354/.526 in 57 at-bats with seven extra-base hits, 15 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. His arm plays true from the chute with easy carry to the bag, topping at 80 mph in a showcase setting. Athletically speaking, Hagedorn tested at a high level, especially for his position, running a 3.81 30-yard dash with a 1.61 10-yard split and jumping 30.9” in the vertical.

**CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 RANKINGS**

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