NC Rankings: Updated Class of 2023

Walker Jenkins CF / SS / South Brunswick, NC / 2023

The UNC commit has continued to perform at a high level on the highest stages.  Jenkins will be in consideration for the 1:1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft with his skill set, build and projection.  At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Jenkins is one of the top hitters in the ‘23 draft class and his frame suggests there will be added power coming as he continues to mature into his early 20s.  

A 1:1 candidate for thr. 2023 #MLBDraft, CF Walker Jenkins (NC) is about as physical as they come.

Commands the box & delivers heavy barrels thanks to strong forearms.

Laces this one to CF & hustles up for a 2B.

Must watch ? || @DiamondHeels #NPI2022 || @PrepBaseballNC pic.twitter.com/T8nOkNMbzY

— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) June 10, 2022

Chance Mako RHP / 3B / East Rowan, NC / 2023

NC State commit.  Long and lean with an athletic delivery and arm, Mako has a ton of upside.  While “projection” can be dangerous because we are not always sure when the payoff could come, Mako has weapons in his current arsenal to get outs at a high level now.  He will be an interesting follow with the MLB Draft this spring as pro clubs, and Mako, have to make a decision on the best route for his development to reach his very high ceiling.

NC ProCase@ChanceMako2 /@_ERowanbaseball @NCStateBaseball commit

FB- 90-92
BB- 77-79 (2600 spin)
CH- 80-84#NCProCase pic.twitter.com/thwJjcejzo

— PBR North Carolina (@PrepBaseballNC) February 16, 2022

Tucker Holland LHP / 1B / The Burlington School, NC / 2023

Physical lefty has arm strength and power working down the mound.  An Arkansas commit Holland led The Burlington School to their 1st State Championship this past spring and followed it up with a solid summer on tour.  Up to 92, Holland pairs his heavy, riding fastball with hard, late breaking slider at 78-82.

Haiden Leffew LHP / 1B / South Rowan, NC / 2023

MARCH 2022 RANK -- NO. 26

Wake Forest commit.  Leffew is an athletic LHP with broad shoulders who led South Rowan to the 2A State Championship series.  A Wake Forest commit, the stuff continued to tick up, with a high level of feel and pitch-ability throughout the spring and summer.  Leffew has worked up to 93 with a breaking ball at 76-78.

Peyton Young SS / RHP / Saint Stephens, NC / 2023

MARCH 2022 RANK - NO. 100

Young was a big winner in the spring and early summer.  A left handed hitter, he showed excellent rhythm with his hands and feet on defense.  We would expect him to compete to stay on the infield as he arrives at NC State in the fall.  The overall skill set is fundamentally sound and we should see continued growth in his game as he continues to add strength.

Jarred Lindholm RHP / OF / Oak Grove , NC / 2023

MARCH 2022 RANK -- NO. 123

Lindholm committed to UNC Pembroke shortly after shoving for 2 innings at the PBR Top Prospect Games in August.  The lean right-hander showed arm strength and a fastball that was able to miss bats, but it was the slider, exploding across the zone as it entered the swing path of hitters, The split between the slider and fastball make him an intriguing follow through this fall and spring where we could see another jump in his fastball, and another bump in his overall rating.

Thomas Whelan RHP / OF / Parkwood , NC / 2023

Whelan showed up and showed out at the PBR Scout Day with the On Deck O’s.  A high academic student as well, Whelan committed to Davidson.  At the scout day, Whelan peaked at 89 with his fastball spinning above 2400rpm.

Joshua Herbert OF / East Forsyth , NC / 2023

Herbert earned his way into the PBR Top Prospect Games with a big performance at the Team Carolina Trials Charlotte.  He followed up that performance by throwing up big numbers again at Campbell, running a 6.47 sixty with a 93mph exit velocity off the bat in BP.  The skill set is raw but there is a big ceiling for the school that lands Herbert to work with moving forward.

Coleman McGinnis C / 3B / Eastern Alamance , NC / 2023

UNC Asheville commit after his performance at the NC/sC Border Battle. Another player that took advantage of a Team Carolina Trial, earning his way into the 2022 NC/SC Border Battle.  A strong arms backstop McGinnis has seen pop times range in workouts at 1.95 - 2.04 with a positional velocity of 78mph out of the crouch.  McGinnis showed barrel feel in game situations with a line drive swing, as well as some talent on the bump, flooding the zone with a fastball up to 85mph, 2373rpm.