Rankings Update: Class of 2024
August 24, 2022
With the summer coming to a close the Prep Baseball Report Arizona 2024 Class Rankings have been fully updated. The 2024’s continue to add depth to an already talented class with some players who have seen major development along with some new players making the list. Check out the top ranked players and fully expanded rankings, below.
All players on this Top-100 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-100, the players are merely interchangeable, including some of those that have been left out.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TOP 100
top 25
RANK | NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS | COMMITMENT |
1 | Austin Charles | AZ | Liberty | 2024 | SS | |
2 | Chris Newstrom | AZ | Chaparral | 2024 | SS | Tennessee |
3 | Mason Russell | AZ | Casteel | 2024 | LHP | Arizona |
4 | Smith Bailey | AZ | Mountain Ridge | 2024 | RHP | |
5 | Jackson Forbes | AZ | Mountain Ridge | 2024 | SS | Arizona |
6 | Gunner Geile | AZ | Salpointe | 2024 | OF | Arizona |
7 | Hustyn Wheeler | AZ | Sandra Day O' Connor | 2024 | OF | Oregon State |
8 | AJ Diaz | AZ | Hamilton | 2024 | SS | Arizona |
9 | Gerardo Gonzalez | AZ | Liberty | 2024 | 3B | |
10 | Ky McGary | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor | 2024 | OF | |
11 | Sal Valenzuela | AZ | Nogales | 2024 | OF | Arizona |
12 | Landon Hairston | AZ | Casteel | 2024 | OF | Arizona State |
13 | Jimmy Diaz | AZ | Cienega | 2024 | SS | |
14 | Jake Sanko | AZ | Sandra Day O'Connor | 2024 | SS | |
15 | Reece Van Devander | AZ | Chaparral | 2024 | 1B | |
16 | Kyle Pettigrew | AZ | Desert Mountain | 2024 | 3B | |
17 | Landon Zaborowski | AZ | Basha | 2024 | 3B | |
18 | Chase Whitley | AZ | Shadow Ridge | 2024 | CF | |
19 | Ian Haines | AZ | Millennium | 2024 | C | |
20 | Kade Thompson | AZ | Casteel | 2024 | C | Arizona |
21 | Cole Rogers | AZ | Mountain Pointe | 2024 | SS | |
22 | Brandon Ornelas | AZ | N/A | 2024 | SS | |
23 | Willie Cornejo-Farmer | AZ | Brophy College Prep | 2024 | 1B | |
24 | Cade Shumard | AZ | Saguaro | 2024 | LHP | |
25 | Shane Miller | AZ | Higley | 2024 | SS |
top 10 headliners
Austin Charles SS / OF / Liberty, AZ / 2024Rankings OverallRank: 101 / POS: 23
Austin “Max” Charles takes over the #1 spot after continuously showing he’s just a different type of prospect. Charles is coming off a very successful summer playing on the national circuit, facing the top competition around the country, and taking care of his business. The switch hitting/ambidextrous thrower has shown power potential from both sides of the plate, and arm strength with the right and left arm. Charles is going to produce power/slugging numbers to all fields, from both sides. This is one of the most versatile prospects we’ve seen come through our state, with defensive ability all around the diamond, and showing he can play on the left side of the infield at a high level over the last year. Having success on the mound with both arms, and a potential power fastball, this is a definite intriguing two-way prospect; however, the bat seems as if it is starting to take over as his top tool, and as his career moves forward, we may see less of him on the mound. With his recent decommitment from SDSU, it will be very interesting to see where Max Charles decides to continue his playing career.
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Smith Bailey RHP / Mountain Ridge, AZ / 2024One of the new additions to the PBR Arizona top 10, coming in at #4 is RHP Smith Bailey. Bailey has had a blow out summer and showed his ability at this year’s Future Games, where he quieted a strong Alabama offense, putting in 2 innings of work. In those 2 innings he struck out 2, walked none and allowed 3 hits. Bailey showed 3-pitch mix strike ability and a FB that topped out at 88 mph. Bailey stands at 6-foot-4 with a great build and length, with room to add strength. He showed a clean and easy delivery from the right side that projects to be a high level weeknd arm at the next level. Bailey is the top uncommitted prospect in the 2024 class in the state of Arizona.
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Ky McGary OF / SS / Sandra Day O'Connor, AZ / 2024One of the new additions to the PBR Arizona top 10, coming in at #10 is OF Ky McGary. McGary has been a borderline top 10 player over the years, and proved himself throughout the summer and at the Future Games. At Futures Games McGary showed his athleticism on the day 1 workout with a 37 in vert and 6.75 60. On the field McGary had a 93 mph arm from the outfield and a max exit velocity of 98 mph in BP. McGary has an above average feel for the barrel with a high level contact tool and has shown that he is going to put together a quality at bat each time he steps in the box. In the outfield McGary has advanced tracking ability to the gaps with speed that translates to the bases. McGary has been a high follow for the Arizona staff over the years, and will be a great addition at the next level.
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watch list movers
Chase Whitley CF / Shadow Ridge, AZ / 2024Chase Whitley is one of the big movers in the new set of rankings moving up to #18 in the state of Arizona. Whitley has had a monster summer that showed at this year's Future Games, competing against the top uncommitted prospects in the 2024-2025 classes across the country. Posting a 6.61 60 and 31 in vert on Friday’s workout. On the field Whitley showed his strengths with a 90 mph arm in the defensive portion and a bat path at the plate that will play at the next level. Whitley has shown to produce true flight to the gaps, while being a doubles and singles type hitter, but with added strength will become much more than that. Whitley will be a key contributor to a good Shadow Ridge offense this spring and a high follow for the PBR Arizona staff.
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Landon Zaborowski 3B / 1B / Basha, AZ / 2024Landon Zaborowski is your prototype prospect on the corners. His 6-foot-3 185 pound frame no doubt passes the eye test, and with each day comes more athleticism. His simple set up and size at the plate puts him in a great spot to do damage, and as strength and maturity continues to be added, this could be a full field type power bat. Soft hands on the corners with an above average arm that clearly plays from the left side. Foot speed and lateral movement is limited, development on that front will be followed to determine if he will remain on the left side through his career, but for now that seems to be the only question mark. Size, natural power, soft hands, and arm strength are all in Zaborowski’s bag of tools, and are all continuing to grow. He plays the game at a controlled pace, and never seems to get too sped up in the box/defensively. Zaborowski is coming off a big summer where he opened some eyes, and as he moves into his junior season, expect him to play a big role in the middle of a skilled Basha lineup.
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Gavin Smith SS / 2B / Valley Christian , AZ / 2024Perhaps the most intriguing player on the move for the Arizona staff is SS Gavin Smith. Smith is a 6-foot 165 pound SS out of Valley Christian who has had a big summer playing with his club team the Canyon Thunder. Gavin has shown to be one of the top uncommitted shortstops in the 2024 class with a clean glove and accurate arm. At the plate Smith has shown to produce consistent quality at bats with a middle of the field approach. Smith has shown to be a vocal leader up the middle with a high level baseball IQ. With added strength Smith will continue to climb in the rankings as he is one of the most projectable prospects in the 2024 class.
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Connor Crossland 3B / 1B / Mountain Pointe, AZ / 20246-foot-2 205 pound Connor Crossland out of Mountain Pointe HS made huge strides this summer. Crossland has a strong and balanced set with high hands and toe tap load. Crossland showed his physicality at this year's Future Games recording a 100 mph EV on a double to deep LCF in game action against team Alabama. With the hit tool being Crossland’s most projectable tool. Crossland’s defensive position is still in question. While his position will be on one of the corners we see Crossland being a power bat as a corner infielder/outfielder. As Crossland moves into his Junior season at Mountain Pointe HS, he will be a high follow for the Arizona staff.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Tucson Open | AZ | 08/27 | University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ |