Winter workouts have begun for most players and teams as they prepare for the spring of 2019.  With that said, it is time to review our rankings and next up is the class of 2021.  The initial class release for North Carolina came out at the end of this past summer.  The fall sees the list expanding to the Top 75 players from across the Tarheel state.

The fall and winter rankings will see some slight adjustments as players are able to workout and play in front of PBR scouts.  This rankings release is not different with only two new name inside the Top 10.  As we move deeper into the rankings though we see six new names in Top 30 and five of those are making their first appearance in the North Carolina 2021 Class rankings.

Two left handers top the class with Josh Hartle (LHP, Reagan HS) and Philip Abner (LHP, Covenant Day).  Hartle is coming off another good summer representing the country as a member of Team USA’s 15U club.  Hartle is committed to Wake Forest.  Abner shot up the rankings with a solid summer prior to committing to Florida.

The new-comer to the Top 10 is Payton Green (SS, Green Hope HS, 2021).  An East Carolina commit, Green has matured physically and was impressive at an early fall event with PBR in attendance.   Athletic on defense with enough arm to project easily to the left side, the right handed hitter really impressed with the whip in his bat.  There is some swing and miss present as he is working to create a little more loft through contact, but when he is on the barrel the power potential is real.

(Payton Green)

 

There are three catchers inside the top 20 with Chris Katz (C, Heritage HS), Ryan McCrystal (C/RHP, Fuquay-Varina HS), and Bryan Arendt (C/RHP, Holly Springs HS).  Each has attended a PBR event since August adding a statistics and a video to their profile.  Arendt shot up the rankings with an impressive performance at The Performance Academy Open ID at Campbell in November.  A physical build, Arendt has quickness and premium arm strength, with accuracy, from behind the dish.  Katz is a Wake Forest commit and McCrystal has committed to East Carolina.  Arendt is still uncommitted, but there is plenty of interest with his tool set.

(Bryan Arendt)

 

 

NC Class of 2021 Rankings – By The Numbers

• Class expands from the Top 50 to the Top 75
• 26 Players make their rankings debut
• 15 Players in the 2021 Rankings have committed
• 7 of the Top 10 are committed
• 10 of the Top 20 are committed
• 4 commits each to ECU, NC State, and Wake Forest
• 1 commit to Florida, the lone out of state commit
• 20 Pitchers are listed in the Top 75
• 15 Catchers appear in the list

 

NC Class of 2021 – Top 10

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Josh Hartle	NC	Reagan	2021	LHP	Wake Forest
2	Philip Abner	NC	Covenant Day School	2021	LHP	Florida
3	Chris Katz	NC	Heritage	2021	C	Wake Forest
4	Andrew Grande	NC	Christ School	2021	3B
5	Merritt Beeker	NC	North Davidson	2021	LHP	East Carolina
6	Cyle Phelan	NC	Fuquay Varina	2021	LHP
7	Payton Green	NC	Green Hope	2021	SS	East Carolina
8	Troy McGirt	NC	Purnell Swett	2021	1B	Wake Forest
9	Stewart Evans	NC	Scotland	2021	OF
10	Carson Kelly	NC	Lee County	2021	RHP	North Carolina State

 

TO VIEW THE ENTIRE CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS – CLICK HERE