By Chris Fuller and Matt Byrd
PBR Tennessee Staff

Over the course of the last six months which included the high school season, showcase events, and summer season, many juniors have taken significant leaps forward, which in turn have created shakeups in Tennessee’s Class of 2017 rankings. Our staff was also afforded the opportunity to see many of the top prospects in the class on an up-close-and-personal basis as members of Team Tennessee that we selected to participate in the PBR Future Games in early August. Thus, we release our updated and expanded Class of 2017 rankings. These rankings will continue to evolve and expand as we see more players from the class over the coming months and others continue to make significant strides in their game.

The top of this class is loaded with premier arms. In fact, pitchers occupy the top six spots, and there is no question the No. 1 spot in the rankings is hotly contested with that group of arms.

6-foot-3 lefties with low-90’s fastballs are a rare commodity, thus giving Brandon Garland (LHP, Science Hill HS) the nod for the top spot. Garland’s arm works freely and easily, and he uses a high-70’s slider and solid changeup to round out his arsenal. An ankle injury sidelined him most of last spring, but he returned this summer at our Top Prospect Games event in June, and although he struggled with command in shaking off some rust, he showed the same lively fastball we had seen in the past, topping at 91 mph. The Kentucky commit has transferred to Science Hill High School for his junior year.

Mason Hickman (RHP, Pope John Paul II) checks in at No. 2. Hickman was lights out when we saw him pitch in the State Tournament against Christian Brothers, the eventual D2-AA champions. Though the 6-foot-6 Vanderbilt commit lost 1-0 on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh, he was dominant in allowing just two hits while striking out 14. On that night, Hickman featured an 87-89 mph fastball while generating consistent swings-and-misses with his 74-76 mph power curveball. Hickman reportedly ran his fastball up to 92 mph as a member of Team Tennessee at the Sunbelt Classic in June.

Corbin Brooksbank (RHP/OF, McCallie) occupies the No. 3 spot. At 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, Brooksbank could be considered undersized, but don’t let that fool you. Possessing an extremely quick arm, Brooksbank runs his fastball up to 92 mph, and his 78-80 mph slider has the potential to be a difference-making pitch at the next level. On the same night we saw Hickman in the State Tournament, Brooksbank came in to close out a 4-2 win over Briarcrest Christian with consecutive bases-loaded strikeouts, the latter coming on a 91 mph fastball to Ole Miss commit Thomas Dillard. Like Hickman, Brooksbank issued his verbal commitment to Vanderbilt during the summer.

A pair of Vanderbilt commits round out the top five in Weston Bizzle (RHP, Christian Brothers) and Hugh Fisher (LHP, Briarcrest Christian). Bizzle has been highly-ranked since transferring to Rossville Christian Academy from Florida. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound righty runs his fastball up to the low-90’s and transferred to Christian Brothers this fall. Fisher, a 6-foot-5 lefty features a high-80’s fastball and was instrumental in Team USA’s run to the 15U silver medal in 2014.

CLICK HERE to view the entire top 50

Here is a look at the top 10:

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Brandon Garland	TN	Science Hill	2017	LHP	Kentucky
2	Mason Hickman	TN	Pope John Paul II	2017	RHP	Vanderbilt
3	Corbin Brooksbank	TN	McCallie	2017	RHP	Vanderbilt
4	Weston Bizzle	TN	Christian Brothers	2017	RHP	Vanderbilt
5	Hugh Fisher	TN	Briarcrest Christian	2017	LHP	Vanderbilt
6	Bryce Jarvis	TN	Brentwood Academy	2017	RHP	Duke
7	Philip Clarke	TN	Christ Presbyterian Academy	2017	C	Vanderbilt
8	Spencer Strider	TN	Christian Academy of Knoxville	2017	RHP	Ohio
9	Steven Jennings	TN	DeKalb County	2017	SS	Mississippi
10	David Bates	TN	Christ Presbyterian Academy	2017	RHP	Vanderbilt