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New Jersey 2025 Rankings: Update

August 28, 2024
Dan Valerio & TJ Hunt
Prep Baseball NJ Staff

With the conclusion of the summer circuit and the 2024 draft behind us it is time for an update in the 2025 rankings. New Jersey had a successful draft with 3 prep names and 10 college guys chosen in '24, with prep hitter Luke Dickerson going Pick 44 to Washington and receiving first round money. 

With this rankings update, we turn toward players we see as the highest potential draft guys. It's important to note that although the names below are marquee names as we conclude 2024, things can certainly change as we head into 2025. Most notably with the emergence of Luke Dickerson from this past spring, the importance of tools and performance during the high school season reign true.


Updated Top 10

Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Nicky Becker NJ Don Bosco Prep 2025 SS Virginia
2 Matthew Ferrara NJ Toms River East 2025 SS Pittsburgh
3 Marcelo Harsch NJ Seton Hall Prep 2025 RHP Wake Forest
4 Logan Dawson NJ Eastern Regional 2025 SS Boston College
5 Julius Rosado NJ South River 2025 3B Rutgers
6 William Mahala NJ Seton Hall Prep 2025 OF Virginia
7 Chase Kroberger NJ Moorestown 2025 OF Alabama
8 Evan Taylor NJ Ocean City 2025 RHP Alabama
9 Frank Cairone NJ Delsea 2025 LHP
10 Ryan Prior NJ Red Bank Catholic 2025 RHP Virginia

CLICK HERE to view the rest of the 2025 NJ State Rankings

At The Top

SS Nicky Becker (Don Bosco Prep) was a standout on the summer circuit. He is a sure-handed defender with a projection to stay at SS. Strong arm. Syncs up well with his feet. In the box he has a crouch setup, with preset weight on the backside. Barrel works under the shoulders well and has good lag. Strong hands with present bat speed. Hit well over .400 this spring, as well as leading the team in RBI’s. After a really strong summer circuit he jumps into the No.1 spot based on his 5 tool potential.


DJ Svihlik (Senior Advisor of Draft HQ) on Becker:
At 6'3 190lb, New Jersey Prep SS Nick Becker is armed with the body, athleticism & tools of a MLB player. His game presence, offensive consistency and defense ranks him among the best SS's in the country. The game was never too fast for Nick throughout the summer circuit highlighted by his at-bat vs #1 Prep RHP Seth Hernandez. After fouling off numerous pitches above 96 mph, including a HR foul, Nick square up 98 mph for a 2B down the LFL. Truly a memorable moment for a player that is just scratching the surface of his potential.

Jumping up to No. 2 after a strong showing this summer is Pittsburgh recruit SS Matthew Ferrara (Toms River East). Ferrara jumped onto the scene right before the 2023 Future Games. At the time he was still growing into his frame but showed some solid tools. Since the Future Games last year, it looks he has added 20-25 pounds to his frame. Swing has maintained efficient patterns. Really simple hip hinge into the forward move. Bat to ball is off the charts. Finds barrels in all quadrants. Actions to stay at SS. This is the first time we have seen the Pitt recruit in the No. 2 spot. 


Wake Forest recruit RHP Marcelo Harsch was on the shelf most of the summer, but it was good to see him back on the mound in good health at the Area Code Games. It is the most projectable arm on the mound in this 2025 class from NJ. Long levered with a good variety of breaking balls - a hard, late breaking slider and developing bigger shaped curveball. The fastball was 91-94 at ACG with late life. Going to be observing closely over the next 10 months what Harsch evolves into. Pick to click come July 2025. 


Coming in at No. 4 is Boston College recruit SS Logan Dawson. A star 3-sport athlete, Dawson rose to elite prominence this spring with a strong showing for Eastern Regional, leading the Vikings to the Group 4 state final with contributes at the plate and on the mound. Ultra competitor, athletic, and wiry-strong, Dawson has arguably the highest ceiling out of the bunch and will only continue to refine his baseball skills as he devotes more time to baseball-only activities.  He has been fast rising in our ‘25 rankings. The swing is connected throughout with fast, elastic hips. Versatile on defense, actions to stay on the left side of the infield, but also can run around in the OF. We saw Dawson tap into his power this spring but I think that is a glimpse of what is to come. 


No. 5 is Rutgers recruit INF Julius Rosado. Rosado has maintained his power and elite bat-to-ball skills throughout his high school career, and showcased it well on the national circuit this summer.  It's a simple operation. Stacks the weight on the back leg and makes good swing decisions. He hit some impressive shots this summer against quality arms. The Rutgers commit has real upside to be a double digit homer guy at the next level. What I also like about Rosado’s game is to find the barrel when timing is off - adjustability and feel in the box.



No. 6 is Virignia commit OF WIlliam Mahala. Plus run tool with bat to ball present. The speed is translatable that shows up on the bases and in the OF. He has versatility to play all three OF positions. Range to the gaps with a strong arm. Mahala has loose wrists in his swing with a whip finish through the zone. It's a tight, compact turn. He finds a way to be on time and on barrel. Name to follow. 

No. 7 is Alabama commit, OF Chase Kroberger. The recent Alabama commit has made a name for himself. Clubbed 9 homers this spring. It's an aesthetically pleasing swing, simple but explosive. One word to describe Kroberger would be athletic. Plus arm in OF. Plus runner. Aggressive approach in the box. Slightly uphill path. 



No. 8 is another Alabama commit in INF/RHP Evan Taylor (Ocean City). The two-way can make a case for making an impact on both sides of the ball. Unorthodox approach but throws and hits the ball hard. Pre-coiled setup in the box. Comes out of the turn with bat speed and explosiveness. Showcased pullside power this spring. Saw the fastball up to 93 some effort present. Curious to see what the FB ticks up to as we head towards the fall. 


No. 9 is current uncomitted LHP Frank Cairone. Cairone surged onto the scene this spring, punching out 100 guys in 60 IP. Physical build at 6 foot 2 around 195 lbs. He was Delsea’s front line arm, and has been since his Sophomore campaign. Nursed some soreness in his arm after throwing a lot of innings in the spring, it will be interesting to see where Cairone decides to further his career in the college space. The velo will also be something to closely monitor, too. His fastball is usually 86-89 with ticks into the low 90s. The separator is his feel for spin; it has a late break with a 1/7 shape. True out pitch. Lands it on both sides of the plate.



Rounding out the Top 10 is Virginia recruit, RHP Ryan Prior (Red Bank Catholic). The durable framed right hander was throwing alot this spring for RBC and has showed increased polish to his game. His fastball velo was consistent this spring mostly 88-91 with 92s mixed in.


Other Names to Watch:

Jaime Zee Jr. - Notre Dame recruit. Athletic build. Zee plays the game with a high IQ. Clean catch and throw. Swing has loose attributes. Small stride. Look for him to have a solid senior year. 

AJ Terry - North Carolina recruit. Athletic in the dirt. Makes the routine play. Actions to stay at SS. Hit .440 with 3 HR his junior year.

Dylan Passo - One of the best hit tools in this class. Question of where Passo will end up on the defensive side of the ball. Really good get for the Fighting Irish. Gamer with ability to score runners. 

Zach Fronio - A name to keep a close eye on for draft purposes. Big framed lefty with some feel for spin. Later in the spring Fronio was still holding his velo. Left handed that throws high 80s. Projectable frame. 

Jake Lodgek - Miami recruit. Athletic arm that has some arm speed. Curious to see what kind of jump Lodgek makes into his senior year. Spin is present.

Dylan Fitzsimmons - Breakout junior season for the Johnnies commit. RBI machine with serious pull side juice. Bat speed, quick runner, strong arm. Name to follow. 

Tyler Wiltsey - Compact swing. Plus runner in everything he does. Rutgers commit 

Jackson Smallets - Really interesting one right here. Probably the most unknown player on this list. FB has solid armside sink/run. Velo: 88-92 (93). Sweeper breaking ball and a firm CH. Gloucester Catholic will be counting on Smallets to step up this spring. Currently Uncommitted. Injured halfway through the spring. Late bloomer type.

Jason Kuhn - Seton Hall commit. Strike machine. Emerged as Don Bosco’s #1 this spring. Filled the zone up with 3 pitches. Mr. Reliable should do much of the same this spring. 

Joey Erace - The Future Games alum is a twitchy player. Solid with the glove. Toe tap trigger in the swing. Level path. Finds ways on base. Spark plug for St. Augs. 
Sean Budis - Boston College commit. Big bodied lefty with ability to spin the ball and strike guys out. Dark horse draft guy.
Dylan Henshaw - Iowa commit. Coming off Tommy John surgery. Future Games alum.

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