Ohio Insider: Updated Class of 2019 Player Rankings (August)
August 30, 2017
By Jordan Chiero and Dylan Hefflinger
Ohio Director of Scouting / Editor in Chief/Scout
Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.
Ohio Insider: Updated Class of 2019 Player Rankings (August)
This 2019 class is arguably the deepest classes we have seen. With the expansion of summer coverage we were able to see over 500 players at events as well as over 40 summer organizations in this 2019 class. This spring/summer have proved valuable for many 2019 prospects, with many names coming off the board to some of the top programs around the nation. Below we will take a look at “What’s New At The Top”, “Rising Prospects”, "The Newcomers" and some of the top uncommitted prospects.
For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2017 spring/summer season visit the 2017 Ohio Spring Scout Blog by clicking here and the Summer Scout Blog by clicking here.
Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.
What's New At The Top
This summer we at PBR have been scouring all across the state looking to see who the best of the best are in Ohio. In the end, there has been some shuffling in our list of top players in the 2019 class
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Joey Velazquez OF / LHP / Desales, OH / 2019Rankings State Rank:1 POS:1 Overall Rank:55 POS:8
We have a new number one as Joey Velazquez (Columbus DeSales) takes over the top spot. Velazquez has proven through the spring and summer that he is the top in game bat in the state. The physical tools are obvious but equally as impressive is his baseball IQ and competitive nature. |
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Jonathan Machamer LHP / 1B / Massillon Washington, OH / 2019Rankings State Rank:2 POS:1 Overall Rank:57 POS:5
The prospect whose stock has risen the most over the summer is Jonathan Machamer (Massillon Washington). The southpaw was a standout performer at the Top Prospect Games and as member of Team Ohio at the PBR Future Games. Machamer garnered interest from some of the top programs in the country before deciding on South Carolina. Not only has he positioned himself as the No. 2 player, Macahmer is just outside the top 50 nationally. |
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Kyle Westfall OF / 2B / Moeller, OH / 2019Rounding out the top 10 is another big riser, Kyle Westfall (Moeller). The speedy outfielder was a Top Performer at Top Prospect games and had a standout summer in general. Westfall became only the 6th player in Midland’s history to be brought up from the 16u to the 18u Redskins for the Connie Mack World Series. Pretty impressive considering two other names on that list are Ken Griffey Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. |
The Risers
As is always the case, a number of players have made big impressions in taking their game to the next level. These prospects below have taken their game to the next level and are now being looked at by some big name universities.
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Owen Recker RHP / 1B / Kalida, OH / 2019RHP Owen Recker (Kalida) headlines the group of 2019 risers. Recker came back in a big way from a small injury at the end of the spring season. The 6-foot-4 hurler earned a spot on Team Ohio where he sat 88-90 mph with his fastball (We have seen him up to 92 mph). Recker has started to receive attention from D1 schools across the Midwest and moves up to the No. 12 spot in the class. |
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Kasey Centeno OF / RHP / Perry, OH / 2019At No. 15 comes in one of the best athletes in the state, two-way prospect Kasey Centeno (Perry). Centeno’s measurables jump off the page as he has ran as low as a 6.49 60-yard dash, up to 98 mph exit velocity, and 85 mph arm strength from the outfield. On top of his tools as a position player, he also has an upper 80s fastball. It will be interesting what position he ends up at in college but he has a ton of tools for whichever program lands him. |
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Leighton Banjoff OF / SS / Elyria Catholic, OH / 2019Rankings State Rank:23 POS:7
OF Leighton Banjoff (Elyria Catholic) has put himself in the conversation for having one of the top hit tools in the state. Each time we have seen him he rakes. Banjoff has an impressive combination of feel and natural tools at the plate. His barrel also gets in the zone very early, creating a large margin for error. Swings with natural loft, giving him easy backspin to all fields. In each game he played at both our Top Prospect Games and PBR Future Games he recorded at least one extra base hit. Banjoff lands at the No. 23 spot. |
THE NEWCOMERS
This summer was our most extensive coverage to date. Over 500 prospects in the 2019 class attended an event and we were able to see over 30 summer programs in that age group. This meant an addition of 80 prospects to the rankings. Below, we have some prospects who came onto the scene in a big way this summer.
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Spencer Stanton LHP / 1B / Massillon Jackson, OH / 2019Rankings State Rank:33 POS:4
No. 33 Spencer Stanton (Jackson). An OF/1B that came on to the scene with a huge performance at our Northern Ohio Underclass Prospect Games. After seeing him again for Coach Beam and the Ohio Elite, Stanton earned an invitation to come play for Team Ohio. The 6-foot-3, LHH did more than hold his own amongst the country’s best uncommitted talent. |
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Lawson Blackmore RHP / SS / Van Wert , OH / 2019Rankings State Rank:36 POS:11
At No. 36 we have another Team Ohio member with RHP Lawson Blackmore (Van Wert). A 6-foot-4, long-limbed prospect that made waves by running his fastball up to 87 mph at Top Prospect Games. Still has some room to refine his secondary offerings but he has the frame and arm make him very attractive to college programs. |
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Fredrick Sisco RHP / OF / Gibsonburg, OH / 2019Rankings State Rank:40 POS:12
Rounding out the top 40 is newcomer Fred Sisco (Gibsonburg). A RHP that came onto the scene late in the summer, running his fastball up to 89 mph when we saw him throw for Titans Baseball Club at the Buckeye Elite Tournament. At the Future Games he was solid for Team Ohio, showing a heavy fastball and feel for his secondary offerings. |
TOP UNCOMMITTED PROSPECTS BY POSITION
Below we look to name the top prospects in specific categories for the 2018 class. Beyond this group, there are numerous prospects that can help a collegiate program in some capacity.
+ Top Right-Handed Arms: Yianni Skeriotis, Owen Recker, Lawson Blackmore, Fredrick Sisco, Kwauve Booker
+ Top Left-Handed Arms: Jack Pacetti, Dylan Gill, Christian Lothes, Jay Luikart, Kenny Misik
+ Top Two-Way Prospects: Kasey Centeno, Grayson Hamilton, Ethan Hammerberg, Spencer Stanton, Nick Campagna, Sam Seeker
+ Top Catching Prospects: Joseph Powell, Garret Gray, Emma Lopez, Mike Williams, Trey Wright
+ Top Corner Infield Prospects: Jack Laird, Jacob Lezon, Gavin Thompson
+ Top Middle Infield Prospects: Avery Fisher, Ryan Galanie, Payton Pennington, Mason Montgomery, Andy Miller
+ Top Outfield Prospects: Kyle Westfall, Leighton Banjoff, Rontrell Greer, Hunter Jessee, Jack Spellacy
+ Sleeper Prospects: Rontrell Greer (Athletic/Swing), Kwauve Booker (Big/Strong Two-Way), Chance Lomas (Quick Arm), A.J. Gaich (Switch-Hitting MIF), Michael Lawniczak (Athletic Catcher)
PBR OHIO CLASS OF 2019 TOP 200
| Rank | Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Commitment |
| 1 | Joey Velazquez | OH | Desales | 2019 | OF | Ohio State |
| 2 | Jonathan Machamer | OH | Massillon Washington | 2019 | LHP | South Carolina |
| 3 | Jack Frank | OH | Strongsville | 2019 | OF | Michigan State |
| 4 | Mack Anglin | OH | Sparta Highland | 2019 | RHP | Clemson |
| 5 | Caden Kaiser | OH | Olentangy | 2019 | OF | Ohio State |
| 6 | Yianni Skeriotis | OH | Jackson | 2019 | RHP | |
| 7 | Blayne Robinson | OH | Defiance | 2019 | 1B | Louisville |
| 8 | Duncan Hall | OH | Miamisburg | 2019 | RHP | Louisville |
| 9 | Jase Bowen | OH | Central Catholic | 2019 | SS | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Kyle Westfall | OH | Moeller | 2019 | OF |
***** To view the entire top 200, please click here.