Prep Baseball Report

Texas Class of 2021 Rankings Update


Phil Haig
Texas Scouting Director

Click to edit entry

TEXAS - As we wrap up another ranking of the 2021 class, we take a deeper dive into the plethora of talent our great state of Texas has to offer. The class features high end bats, premium arms with power stuff as well as your everyday "dirtbag" type ball ball player. The 2021 class is starting to take its shape and beginning to show its depth at all positions. We look forward to seeing them get back out there this summer. 

We kick off the class in similar fashion with Jordan Lawlar (Vanderbilt) and Isaac Pacheco (Texas A&M) atop the list. Lawlar is one of the rare combinations of big right handed bat and premium defender up the middle of the field. Was off to a great start to the season before it came to an abrubt hault. Isaac Pacheco comes in at number two in the rankings again. Pacheco is a physically imposing, 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, left handed hitting 3rd baseman. His power left handed bat is definitely his carrying tool right now.

* Jordan Lawlar

We round out the top 5 with three of the top pitchers in the country in, Rawley Hector (Texas A&M), Ryan Johnson (DBU), and Hagen Smith (Arkansas). Hector and Johnson bring you a different look from the right side as far as arm slot and body frame but they both posses one of the better fastball/breaking ball combinations in the class. Smith was on the shelf in the early spring with an arm injury but look for him to get back out there and regain his form as he continues to work his way back. 

*Izaac Pacheco 

Now let's take a deeper look into a great 2021 class. 

RISERS 

Hunter Caldwell RHP / 3B / Hardin, TX / 2021

Uncommitted. A guy that continues to get better each time we see him. At 6-foot-2, 215-pounds, this sophomore is built like a brickhouse. The right-handed hitter has serious juice at the plate. He also has premium arm strength at third base, throws across the infield at 91 mph. On the mound and sits 88 mph with his fastball, and the changeup is a quality pitch at 80-82, spins a curveball at 70-75 mph.

Edward Mendoza RHP / 1B / Eagle Pass, TX / 2021

Really impressed our staff at the All-State Games last fall. One of the more intriguing arms in the class, throws lots of quality strikes at 85-88 mph with tilt on the ball down in the zone and he hides the ball well with a little bit of funk on his front side in his delivery. Was also able to throw strikes with the curveball at 73 mph as well as show a changeup at 76-77 mph with great arm speed and good late fading action.

Kevin Bazzell SS / C / Rockwall-Heath , TX / 2021

Dallas Baptist Recruit. A high-motor and ultra competitive player. Athletic body at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, and does everything well. He has a simple swing from the right side with quick hands that do damage on contact with a 92 exit velo. Quick footwork and easy exchange allow the arm to work with a top velocity from the crouch of 80 mph and pop times of 1.94-2.07.

Christian Okerholm RHP / OF / Vandegrift, TX / 2021

Highly athletic body, 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, two-sport athlete (basketball). The righty works in a very linear manner on the mound, short arm action, tight 90-degree angel at top, quick arm through release, can create steep downhill plane, ball seems to jump, lot of cutting action. Fastball worked 83-85 mph. Spins 12/6 breaking ball at 70-71 mph. Changeup is a good offering with fade and sink, clocking 79 mph.  

Caedmon Parker SS / RHP / The Woodlands Christian, TX / 2021

A highly coveted uncommitted prospect in the class. Long loose athletic arm, showed really well at the Hunter Pence scout day. Sat 88-90 mph up to 91 mph, while also snapping off a breaking ball with tight spin and sharp power curveball action. Was a nice improvement from a velocity and stuff standpoint from the last time we saw Parker at the Futures Games. Look for Parker to continue to develop and make even more jumps with velocity.  

Coleson Abel LHP / OF / Kerrville Tivy, TX / 2021

Has really made a strong impression the spring. 5-foot-11, broad shoulders, long arms, strong body. Deep arm swing, High ¾ to over the top slot. Fastball 82-86 for the game, up to 90 early in game. Arm-side run and occasional sink, still commanded it well to both sides of the plate. CB was 73-77 with sharp with depth, getting swings and misses on the pitch. Tough look against LHH. Throws CH at 76-77, with arm side fade. 

Fernando Garza RHP / 1B / Katy, TX / 2021

Uncommited. Really like what we saw from Garzas at the All-State Games last fall. Standing 6-foot-6, 240-pounds, was up to 90 and sitting mostly 87-89 with some tilt on the fastball when down in the zone creating a tough angle on hitters. Pairs his fastball with a 76-80 mph breaking ball with slurve type shape. Overall showed a repeatable delivery with some effort getting down the mound, but was able to flash signs of promise and a bright future on the mound. 

NEWCOMERS

Ryan Prager, LHP, Hillcrest. 2021
Uncommitted. Comes into the state rankings at No. 16 and the No. 2 ranked LHP in the class. Prager jumped onto the scene after an impressive early spring performance. At 6-foot-4 has a wiry athletic frame. Works from a over-the-top arm slot. Tilted FB with occasional cut. Competes in the zone. Has feel for CH. North/south CB that will continue to improve. High ceiling arm. FB: 88-90 T91. CB: 73-75. CH: 78-80
* Ryan Prager (Hillcrest) 
West Texas outfielders in Sawyer Robertson (Lubbock Coronado) and Teo Banks (Permian) jumped into rankings after a strong performances this spring. Robertson, an uncommitted outfielder who is also one of the state’s premier quarterback recruits, stands out on the diamond for his highly-projectable, 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame that has plenty of room to tack on significant strength. Banks a Tulane Recruit has an athletic 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, with a lot to project on. Has legit two-way potential. Showed some relatively raw tools, but should be a lot of fun to watch as he continues to refine his game. 
* Teo Banks (Permian) 
 Ryan Beaird, RHP, Reagan, 2021 
The UTSA Recruit comes into the rankings at No. 45 and the No. 15 ranked RHP in the class. Beaird put on impressive display at the San Antonio Preseason I.D. earlier this year. Has wiry, athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. The arm really works with more velocity likely to come in the future. Topped out at 88 mph with his fastball, and had a hammer of a breaking ball with 11/5 shape at 76-77. 
John Spikerman, SS, Lake Creek, 2021
Oklahoma Recruit. An overdue addition to the rankings coming in at No. 49 and the No. 10 ranked SS in the class. A switch hitting shortstop that ran a 6.5 60-yard dash. Makes a lot of one handed glove plays on the infield but the exchange is quick and clean, and there is plenty of arm strength as he threw 90 across the diamond. A flat ballplayer. 
Trenton Chenard, RHP, Weimar, 2021 
Uncommitted. A PBR Future Games participant comes into the rankings at No. 86 and the No. 27 ranked RHP in the class. Really like what we saw from Chenard in the fall at 6-foot-3, 160-pounds, has a long loose arm, throwing from a low ¾ slot that works with him striding slightly across his body and creating some deception with the glove side as well. Fastball works at 86-87 mph with some sink and arm side run when it is right. Throws a change up with good arm speed at 77 mph as well as a cutter at 83 that is more side to side and small action. Chenard has enough funk in the delivery with a quality sinker to pitch at the next level. 

TOP 10 

RANK   NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Jordan Lawlar TX Dallas Jesuit 2021 SS Vanderbilt
2 Izaac Pacheco TX Friendswood 2021 3B Texas A&M
3 Rawley Hector TX Anna 2021 RHP Texas A&M
4 Ryan Johnson TX Home School 2021 RHP Dallas Baptist
5 Hagen Smith TX Bullard 2021 LHP Arkansas
6 Austin Stracener TX Canyon 2021 SS Texas A&M
7 Tyler Lee TX Hallsville 2021 3B Texas A&M
8 Hudson White TX Byron Nelson 2021 C Texas Tech
9 Ty Hodge TX A&M Consolidated 2021 SS Texas A&M
10 John Rizzo TX St. Thomas 2021 RHP Texas A&M

TEXAS CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS