After the 2020 spring season was abruptly canceled, players found themselves looking for ways not just to stay in shape, but also to get stronger and hone their skills for when they eventually got back on the field. The summer did look and feel a little different, but it took place nonetheless and the Prep Baseball Report staff was out in full force to see who could reap the benefits of the time off. With that, the 2021 Overall Rankings have been updated and there has been plenty of movement.

Taking over the top spot is SS Jordan Lawlar (Dallas Jesuit College Prep, TX), a Vanderbilt recruit who has long been in the mix for No. 1. That was evident on National Crosschecker Shooter Hunt’s trip to Texas in March, just before everything shut down. As he wrote for the last update, “Stoic on the field, nothing appears to faze Lawlar when he competes. Whether working side to side defensively or battling from behind in the count, the athletic shortstop is unflappable, and already sports a maturity to his game that is rarely seen at his young age. There is currently some lean, defined strength throughout his 6-foot-2, 183-pound frame that will assuredly add even more over the next 12-plus months, which will only add to his already considerable power potential. What gives Lawlar the biggest boost as a prospect is his ability to stick at shortstop. He is instinctual with a quick first step in the field with clean glove-to-hand ability that is enhanced by what will likely grade out as a plus arm across the diamond.”

Joining the top five are RHP Andy Painter (Calvary Christian Academy, FL) and C Joe Mack (Williamsville East HS, NY). Painter is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound Florida recruit with an easy delivery and fastball that reaches the mid 90s, while Mack showed a strong left-handed stick throughout the summer to go with solid defensive ability.

SS Kahlil Watson (Wake Forest HS, NC) and OF Daylen Lile (Trinity HS, KY) both made big jumps into the top 15 after swinging hot bats all summer. LHP Drew Gray (IMG Academy, FL) checks in at No. 14. An athletic Arkansas recruit, he could play both ways in college, but his low-90s fastball and hammer curveball make him extremely attractive on the mound to major league organizations.

As for strong regions, it’s a good year for states outside of the Big Four (California, Florida, Georgia and Texas). Michigan has a pair of position players—Alex Mooney (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep, MI) and Luke Leto (Portage Northern HS, MI)—in the top 35, plus a few more in the top 500 who could make jumps before next June. Tennessee has two power arms in the top 25. The Northeast—New England, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, will have scouts running around like crazy to chase down arms, plus plenty of bats to boot, with 11 players in the top 100. Many of those scouts have Eastern Canada too, so add three more arms to that list.

Here's a look at the top 10...

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Jordan Lawlar	TX	Dallas Jesuit	2021	SS	Vanderbilt
2	Tyree Reed	CA	American Canyon	2021	OF	Oregon State
3	Andy Painter	FL	Calvary Christian Academy	2021	RHP	Florida
4	Christian Little	MO	CBC	2021	RHP	Vanderbilt
5	Joe Mack	NY	Williamsville East	2021	C	Clemson
6	Brady House	GA	Winder-Barrow	2021	SS	Tennessee
7	Josh Hartle	NC	Reagan	2021	LHP	Wake Forest
8	Braylon Bishop	AR	Texarkana Arkansas	2021	OF	Arkansas
9	Izaac Pacheco	TX	Friendswood	2021	3B	Texas A&M
10	Marcelo Mayer	CA	Eastlake	2021	SS	Southern California

 

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