Arizona Spring Rankings Update: Class of 2026
May 25, 2023
As the Spring of 2023 is coming to a close it is time to revisit our player rankings for the 2026 class. After multiple events in January, and being able to see live game play this High School season, the Arizona staff was able to make subtle changes while adding some new additions to the list.
As always the ranking process is a fluid and ongoing process, in which players are evaluated on multiple occasions, whether it be at an event or on the playing field at a local tournament. All players on this Top-20 list are well deserving and have a bright future ahead. The players at the top of the list have separated themselves from the rest, and proven they belong where they will be heading. Most of these prospects are very tough to compare, and through the entire Top-20, the players are merely interchangeable, including some of those that have been left out.
FULL TOP 20
RANK | NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS | COMMITMENT |
1 | Ryan Harwood | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | OF | |
2 | Tait Reynolds | AZ | Queen Creek | 2026 | OF | Arizona State |
3 | Ethan Trahan | AZ | Horizon | 2026 | OF/LHP | Arizona State |
4 | Devin Long | AZ | Chaparral | 2026 | RHP | |
5 | Benjamin Ball | AZ | Hamilton | 2026 | OF | Arizona |
6 | Carter Macanas | AZ | Desert Ridge | 2026 | SS | Arizona State |
7 | Connor Russell | AZ | Casteel | 2026 | OF | Arizona State |
8 | Brody James | AZ | Desert Mountain | 2026 | RHP | Arizona State |
9 | Luis Mejia | AZ | St. Mary’s | 2026 | SS | |
10 | Zander Bratspis | AZ | Saguaro | 2026 | SS |
TOP 10 SPOTLIGHT
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Ryan Harwood 1B / RHP / Casteel, AZ / 2026Staying in the #1 spot in the 2026 class is OF/1B Ryan Harwood. Harwood was primarily in the DH role for the 5A State Champion Casteel Colts. On the season Harwood batted an impressive .426 with 6 doubles and 1 home run. Harwood has a strong athletic build at 6-foot-2 210 pounds with tons of strength to come in the bat.
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Ethan Trahan OF / LHP / Horizon, AZ / 2026Ethan Trahan showed an impressive ability at the plate in the games that I took in this season. In Horizon’s third game against Catalina Foothills the freshman outfielder reached base 4 times, going 2-2 with a pair of singles and 2 walks. The ASU commit showed the ability to hit to all fields as well as a patient approach at the plate. It was an extremely impactful debut season for the young outfielder. On the year for the Huskies, he hit .465 with 13 doubles and 2 homeruns. It will be exciting to see what Trahan does at the plate over his next 3 seasons.
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Luis Mejia SS / 2B / St. Mary's Catholic, AZ / 2026New to the 2026 ranking class and coming in at #9 is shortstop Luis Mejia. The left handed hitting Mejia lead his team in multiple categories this season with a .391 avg, 7 doubles and 3 triples. Defensively Mejia is a true shortstop with range to both sides, a strong arm across the infield and the ball always seems to find the pocket.
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NEWCOMERS SPOTLIGHT
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Raul Escobar C / Chaparral, AZ / 2026Coming in at #13 is catcher and right handed hitter Raul Escobar. Escobar was a starter behind the plate as a true freshman for the Firebirds in 12 games this season hitting an impressive .394 with 2 doubles. Behind the plate Escobar shows an above average skill set with the glove with a high ceiling for improvement. We look forward to following Escobar this summer and into the fall.
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Will Carpenter SS / RHP / Flagstaff, AZ / 2026Coming in at #20 in the 2026 update is middle infielder and Flagstaff resident Will Carpenter. Carpenter showed a high level skill set up the middle in the PBR Pre Season All State event in January and continued to impress throughout the Spring season. On the year Carpenter was an every day starter for the Eagles, hitting an impressive .351 with 23 RBI’s, 2 doubles, 3 triples and 3 home runs. While Carpenter still has room to grow physically he shows athleticism up the middle with a clean glove. |
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
2023 PBR CA-NV-AZ-UT ProCase (Invite Only) | AZ | 06/04 | University of Southern California - Dedeaux Field |
Top Prospect Games: Class of 2026 & 2027 | AZ | 06/06 | Legacy Sports Complex |
Top Prospect Games: Class of 2025 | AZ | 06/12 | Brewers Spring Training Fields - Phoenix, AZ |
Top Prospect Games: Class of 2024 | AZ | 06/13 | Brewers Spring Training Fields - Phoenix, AZ |
Scottsdale Open | AZ | 07/11 | Scottsdale Stadium - Scottsdale, AZ |
PBR Junior Future Games | NATIONAL | 07/25 | LakePoint |
2023 PBR Future Games (Arizona Invite) | AZ | 07/26 | LakePoint Sports - Cartersville, GA |
Tempe Open | AZ | 08/27 | Arizona State University - Phoenix Municipal Stadium |
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