Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2024 NJ Player Rankings Update

November 15, 2023
Dan Valerio & TJ Hunt
PBR NJ Staff

With the completion of the 2023 Fall season it is time for an update in the 2024 class player rankings. This class features a variety of talent. The new updated top 10 features 3 SEC commits, 6 ACC commits, 1 B1G commit. 3 of the 6 ACC commits in Kirk, Dickerson and Meccage will all be teammates at Virginia. Ryan Costello committed to LSU late in the summer, rounding out their top tier nationally ranked recruiting class. The Tigers are getting a strong profiled player with plus power potential. Griggs and Young Jr. will take their talents to Alabama. James Kleiven a recent decommit will head to Miami. His top-of-the-class fastball with high spin is a great get for the Canes. Levonas will head to national runners-up in Wake Forest. His projectable profile should only just be refined when he gets to campus. Lynch is committed to North Carolina has been the biggest riser in this class all year long, the big framed right hander has jumped back into the 2 spot. 

Click Here for a full list of the new updated rankings. Below is a list of the top 10 followed by a breakdown of each player and features of players outside the top 10. 

TOP 5 BREAKDOWN:

No. 1 - LHP William Kirk Spotlight (Ramsey HS, NJ / Virginia)

The 6-foot-2-170 pound Kirk captures the No.1 overall spot once again. Once we dive into the numbers and metrics you will understand why. All spring and summer Kirk collected K's and limited BB's, his ability to control a game and more importantly control the strike zone is very impressive. Let's dive into his performances:
High school season-39 IP. 87 K. 3 BB. 0.72 ERA
East Coast Pro- 3 IP. 0 H. 0 BB. 6 K
Area Code- 3 IP. 0 H. 1 BB. 7 K
The HS stats are very impressive in which he proved he can dominate over the course of a season. However, what he did on the summer circuit against the best of the best in the country is why you find the left hander at the top of our list. Kirk lands strikes with all pitches, works in all four quandrants with the fastball. Creates whiffs with the fastball especially up in the zone. The release point paired with advanced command help his stuff play up.
Fastball up to date has seen a high of 92 and a low of 87. The normal day for Kirk is 88-90. His SL is 77-78 but have seen it up to 81 on 5/13/23. Kirk's Changeup is 79-82. His whole repertoire is deceptive but this changeup is heavy armside fade. With the low effort delievery, the track record of success, and his projectability look out for Kirk's name headed into the 2024 draft considerations. 



No. 2 - RHP Ryan Lynch (Moorestown HS, NJ / North Carolina)

6-foot-3-215 pound strong durable frame. North Carolina commit. He jumps to the No.2 spot after showing some impressive projectability.  The Moorestown native has a strong build with a long torso. High leg kick paired with a long stride. Gets straight down the mound with ease. Whippy clean arm action. The breaking ball is the most intriguing pitch. Sharp and doesn't hold back when he throws it, late hard break. Go to strikeout pitch. 
High School season: 43 IP. 69 K. 20 BB. 
Area Code: 2 IP. 3 K. 
Metro Scout Day: 1 IP. 2 K. 
Fastball has been up to 93 with a low of 88. Avg is 88-92. H 3/4 slot. Slider sharp break at 77-80. Curveball 11/5 73-74. Changeup 82 mph. 4 pitch mix and with another strong off season, look for Lynch to tick up in velo. 



No. 3 -  SS Luke Dickerson (Morris Knolls HS, NJ / Virginia)

6-foot-185 pound athletic build. The UVA commit plays SS for Morris Knolls but has the verstaility to play multiple positions including CF.  Dickerson has hitterish attributes. Wide crouch base, small hover, hands stay close to body with minimal seperation. Hand pump with a vertical bat angle. Connected turn after foot strike, quick hands and a strong barrel. Power to the opposite gap for XBH's. Has a calm, poised and confident approach. Plus runner turning in sub 6.7 times in the 60. 
High School season: .483 avg. 8 HR. 12 DB. 4 Triples. 28 rbi. 18 SB.

No. 4 - RHP Bryce Meccage (Pennington School / Virginia)

6-foot-4-190 pound Athletic frame. Medium leg lift. Seperates with ease, tucks front side. Gets over his front leg. Clean quick arm, Has seen mid 90's this summer. Sits in the 89-92 range with spin (2500+). Meccage pairs the FB with a sharp SL 78-82 with spin into the 2900+ ranges. Also has a heavy CH at 85-86 mph. 
High School Season: 29 IP. 66 K. 7 BB. 0.24 era. 

No. 5 - 1B Ryan Costello (Ranney / LSU)

The strong LHH stands 6-foot-2-215 pounds. After having a huge summer and a consistent fall, he has locked himself in as a pure hitter. Above average bat to ball skills. Costello is a late summer commitment to powerhouse and '23 National Champs LSU. He makes quality swing decisions paired with a strength profile. Costello has a big strong presence, with feel for finding barrel late in counts. At East coast pro Costello went 5 for 10, 4 of his 5 hits were with 2 strikes on him. Very impressive approach against top arms in the country. He also led that event in QAB's. 
High School season: 44 AB. .409 avg. 4 hr. 18 rbi. 


Rounding out the Top 10:

No. 6 - RHP Chris Levonas (Christian Brothers Academy / Wake Forest) 


Lean athletic build at 6-foot-1-170 pounds. Levonas has long legs with a high wasit, small torso. High leg kick, comes out of his windup with a long front side. Balance and control present. His T fastball to date has been 93 mph, avg 89-92. Sharp Slider 11/5 break at 76-79 mph with rpm 3104+. Levonas has a quick explosive arm. Velo has been trending upward. 
High School Season: 42 IP. 72 K. 12 BB. 0.98 era. 

No. 7 - RHP James Kleiven (Randolph HS, NJ / Miami U)

The broad shouldered dual athlete stands 6-foot-2-200 pounds. Posseses a heavy fastball at 94 mph with high spin (2700-2800+). Late summer Kleiven committed to the University of Miami. 

No. 8 - 3B Sean Griggs (Red Bank Catholic HS, NJ / Alabama) 

Lean build at 6-foot-2-190 pound third baseman. Griggs has a tall setup, control on the forward, barrel works uphill, line drive production, power potential. The build is very intriquing, as Griggs will fill out nicely. Has sure hands in the infield, also has versatility to play elsewhere. Headed to the Alabama Univeristy in the SEC. 
High School Season: .397 avg. 4 db. 1 hr. 

No. 9 - SS Yomar Carreras (North Brunswick HS, NJ / Rutgers)

Stands 6-foot-185 pounds. Polished attributes, switch hitting line drive hitter. Was a catalyst for his high school team at the top of the order. Has fluid clean actions at SS, able to throw from all angles. Carreras is staying home and going to Rutgers university; they are getting a talent with a very poised/confident deamenor. 
High School Season: .411 avg. 9 db. 6 triples. 2 hr. 18 rbi. 

No. 10 - SS Jon Young Jr. (Cherry Hill West HS, NJ / Alabama) 

6-foot-1-190 pound frame. Athletic build. Wide base setup. High hand preset. Roll hands/bat wiggle for timing. Small hover. On defense Young has quick feet, timing is fluid, makes accurate throws. Recent commit to SEC Alabama University. Made this decision this fall. Young is a future game alum. 

RISERS:

No. 12 - OF Colin Richter (Roxbury HS, NJ / JMU) 

The '22 future gamer has made a jump from 17 to 12 overall. Richter stands 5-foot-11-170 pounds. Speed and power mix. LHH Simple setup, shouder width stance, backshift with a coil, present quick hands. Fast runner-6.7 runner. This high school season Richter hit .451 avg. 8 hr. 17 rbi. 1.157 slg. 

No. 17 - RHP Brandon Falco (Matawan HS, NJ / NJIT) 

The 6-foot-1-190 pound broad shouldered right hander. Has surged onto the scene. Checking in at No.17 overall.  We has a staff have seen him multiple times in '23. Power stuff with a tough deceptive angle. Quick leg lift, gets on the side of a right hander, true 3/4 slot, short quick arm. 3 pitch mix with a fastball T of 92 avg is 88-91 arm side run. Slider 76-78 sharp late break 11/5 shape. CH 80-82 (83) fading. Tunnels the CH off the fastball. Picks up alot of whiffs. 58 IP. 83 K. 1.67 era. through the high school season. 

No. 20 - LHP Jake Marciano (Donovan Catholic HS, NJ / Virginia Tech) 

The Hokies commit surged onto the scene mid year of his junior season. Over 31 IP he struck out 57. 16 strikeout performance in the Ocean county tourney in which he was named player of the game. The slender 6-foot-1-170 pound southpaw defines the word effortless. Easy repeatable delievery. Gets on the side and hides the ball well. Quick tempo with a balanced landing. Velo wise Marciano's fastball is 85-87 (88). Slider 1/7 71-73. CH 76-78 fade + depth. 

No. 26 - RHP Ben Hudson (Shawnee HS, NJ / West Virginia) 

Athletic framed Hudson stands 6-foot-1-170 pounds. Clean quick mover. Short leg kick, lands on the left side of the mound, H 3/4 slot. fastball is 85-86 (87) ride. Curveball 71-73 (74) gradual break. This high school season Hudson struck out 63 and had an era of 1.64. 

No. 28 - RHP Bryson Kirby (Point Pleasant Boro HS, NJ / Monmouth) 

Long/wiry frame 6-foot-4-180 pounds. Long wingspan on separation, gets down the mound with ease, high energy tempo. Fastball is 89-91. CB has sharp break at 74-75. Picked up swings and misses all high school season long. In 38 IP he picked up 72 K's. 

No. 29 - Brodie Freker (Morris Knolls HS, NJ / George Washington)

6-foot-2-190 pound athletic strong frame. Quick attributes, bat speed and arm speed. 89 mph velo from OF. 7.1 60 time. 97.4 Exit velo max. All metrics were updated at the Fall North ID event. Freker has above average blast metrics especially in the bat speed category a max bat speed of 77.2 and avg 74.9. Rotational acceleration avg of 16.3g. Made a huge jump in the rankings landing in the No.29 spot. High school season he hit .358 with 10 doubles. 

Just Outside the Top 10:

No. 11- 3B Jack Harley (Delbarton HS, NJ / Virginia Tech) 

H/W: 6'1 / 185lbs 

High school stats: .468 avg. 2 hr. 28 rbi. 27 r. 

Metrics: 98 EV. 90 IF velo. 6.9 runner 

No. 13 - RHP Ryder Garino (Cherry Hill West HS, NJ / South Carolina)

H/W: 6'5 / 175lb 

Velo: FB- 85-87 (88), SL 73-74 sweep 11/5 

High school stats: 1.49 era. 91 K. 56 IP.

No. 14 - OF Jack Sweeney (Allentown HS, NJ / Rutgers) 

H/W: 6'0 / 170lb

High school stats: .486 avg. 9 hr. 10 db. 31 rbi. 

Strong framed athlete. Room to fill out. PS power. 

No. 15 - RHP Harrison Lollin (Monroe HS, NJ / Penn State) 

H/W: 6'0 / 210lbs
Velos: FB 87-91 (92), SL 77-78, CH 80-83 Fade
High school stats: 1.77 era. 83 k. 59 IP.

Top Uncommitteds: 

+ OF Matthew Brunner (Red Bank Catholic HS)

+ C Payne Teel (Ramapo HS) 

+ RHP Jeffery Germosen (St. Joesph's Montvale HS)

+ C Gabe Cushner (Don Bosco Prep HS) 

+ IF Matthew Weiner (Millburn HS)