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2025 Overall Rankings Update

December 13, 2022
Shooter Hunt
Vice President, Scouting

A modest update to the 2025 Overall Rankings caps off a monster year for this sophomore class as it sets sights on an offseason that is sure to be filled with growth and advancements. Fall tournaments, events, and workouts all provided ample looks for PBR’s boots-on-the-ground staff as it continued to evaluate and look for new talent across the country. As the winter settles in, PBR remains committed to providing the most credible and up-to-date information on amateur baseball, and looks forward to seeing the new heights that this group can push to.


+ Click for Top 400



A Look at the Top 25:

RANK   NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Ethan Holliday OK Stillwater 2025 SS Oklahoma State
2 Cameron Caminiti AZ Saguaro 2025 OF Louisiana State
3 Billy Carlson CA Corona 2025 SS Vanderbilt
4 Noah Franco FL IMG Academy 2025 LHP Mississippi State
5 Brady Ebel CA Etiwanda 2025 3B -
6 Xavier Neyens WA Mount Vernon 2025 3B Oregon State
7 Jacob Kendall FL Bartram Trail 2025 SS Florida
8 Sean Gamble FL IMG Academy 2025 SS -
9 Briggs McKenzie NC Corinth Holders 2025 LHP Louisiana State
10 Samuel Cozart NC Wesleyan Christian Academy 2025 RHP Mississippi State
11 Dean Moss FL IMG Academy 2025 OF Vanderbilt
12 Trey Morris CA Washington Union 2025 LHP -
13 Zach Strickland CA Maranatha 2025 RHP UCLA
14 Coy James NC Davie 2025 SS Mississippi
15 Kayson Cunningham TX SA Johnson 2025 SS Texas Tech
16 Tyler Baird NC William A Hough 2025 RHP -
17 Carter Smith FL Bishop Verot 2025 RHP -
18 Seth Hernandez CA Elite Charter Academy 2025 RHP Vanderbilt
19 Vaughn Neckar CA Vista Murrieta 2025 3B Louisiana State
20 Matthew Boughton TX Covenant Christian academy 2025 SS Texas A&M
21 Brett Crossland AZ Mountain Pointe 2025 RHP -
22 Landon Schaefer AR Fayetteville 2025 SS Arkansas
23 Luke Billings TX Prosper 2025 OF Tennessee
24 Taylor Tracey TX Dripping Springs 2025 LHP Tennessee
25 Jayden Stroman NY The Stony Brook School 2025 SS Duke

States of Note:

CALIFORNIA

While it is still far too early to be thinking about the summer of 2025, California’s group of sophomores is already showing some striking similarities to the groups that came out of the state in 2017 and 2020, in regards to its talent and upside. At Nos. 3 and 5 respectively, SS/P Billy Carlson (Corona HS, CA), a Vanderbilt recruit, and SS Brady Ebel (Etiwanda HS, CA) were (and are) strongly in consideration for the top spot in the class. Carlson exploded on the national scene with a stellar showing at the PBR Future Games and continued to showcase his dynamic tools and upside at the prestigious PBR Cup at LakePoint in September where he helped lead an exciting BPA squad to the title. Ebel, meanwhile, helped Team USA snag a gold medal where his left-handed stick stood out for its present prowess and future power potential.

But there is so much more talent to be found in this budding group of stars. A total of 46 players from the state are featured in the Top 400, 18 of which can be found in the Top 100. Players like LHP Trey Morris (Washington Union HS, CA), RHP Zach Strickland (Maranatha HS, CA), RHP Seth Hernandez (Rancho Cucamonga HS, CA), and RHP Vaughn Neckar (Vista Murrieta HS) all look the part as future contenders to not only the top spot in the state, but also the top spot in the country.
Still more, there are 12 players in the Top 50, and given the pedigree of the state to produce some of the most talented players in the country, it is a good bet that more will rise over the next two-plus years. RHP/1B Grayson Boles (Saint Augustine HS, CA) is one such candidate. Boles was another standout at the PBR Future Games in July where the 6-foot-4, 200-pound, uber-athletic and projectable two-way player demonstrated a dynamic skill set with eye-opening potential on the mound. Up to 90 mph with a smooth delivery and loose arm, his polish and mound presence stand out almost as much as his high ceiling.
Rolling on, exciting infielders like SS Rashad Hayes (Bishop O’Dowd HS, CA) and SS Gavin Fien (Great Oak HS, CA) provided depth at a premium position from a state that is well-known to produce some of the best when looking at draft talent. Both players can really pick it on the dirt, and possess top-of-the-order potential.
Jaxon Baker

While scanning this stellar class even more, a significant number of circled names arose as must-follows this spring due to the intrigue that their upside presents along with an “uncommitted” moniker next to their names. LHP Jaxon Baker (Vista Murrieta HS) might be this class’ “pick to click” thanks to a long-limbed frame and loose left arm that is likely to see 90-plus mph fastballs working downhill in the spring. Look for the ultra-projectable southpaw to generate considerable buzz as the spring goes on for a program that routinely produces talented players. Coming out of NorCal, OF/LHP Brock Ketelsen (Valley Christian HS, CA) comes out of another talented high school program and showcases some intriguing athleticism with loud outputs from a smooth left-handed stroke while exhibiting plenty of upside for a 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame. Finally, RHP Joshua Woodworth (Ventura HS, CA) is another arm that college coaches will likely be flocking out to see early and often in the spring thanks to a durable, 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame that is matched by a power arm that produces power stuff including a low-90s fastball. He, too, was a member of a Team USA squad that won gold.

ARKANSAS

Landon Schaefer

The Razorbacks have more than protected state lines with this group which might end up being the finest that the state has ever produced. Of the eight players featured in the Top 400, each is committed to Arkansas and four of them can be found inside the Top 100. Leading the way is SS Landon Schaefer (Fayetteville HS, AR) who possesses some of the highest upside in the country thanks to a wiry-athletic frame that produces considerable twitch on both sides of the ball. His high school teammate, Util. Jaison DeLamar (Fayetteville HS, AR) is equally as dynamic with eye-opening athleticism that provides jaw-dropping outputs in all phases of the game including 100-plus mph exit velocities and a low-90s fastball on the bump. While those two position players lead the way, the state’s depth is most noticeable on the mound. RHP Grant Wren (Melbourne HS, AR) and RHP McLane Moody (Northside HS, AR) explode into the Top 100 and show no signs of slowing down. Their dynamic ability to work down the mound with whippy arms have generated plenty of whiff. Still more, a power arm like RHP Mark Brissey (Batesville HS, AR) sits just outside the Top 100, but has more than enough arm talent on a physically imposing 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame to soon make his way up. In all, this group is as good as it gets in the country.

TENNESSEE

Ryan Mitchell

If you are looking for a state that might see the biggest rise in future renditions of the overall rankings, Tennessee is the spot. Five of the state’s Top 10 are featured in the overall Top 100, and with risers like RHP/Util. Malachai Halterman (McGavock HS, TN) eyeing breakout spring seasons, there might be even more on the way. Talented SS Ryan Mitchell (Houston HS, TN), a Georgia Tech recruit, moves into the top spot in the state thanks to the excitement that his upside presents including some advanced athleticism and a strong left-handed stroke. A pair of Mississippi State recruits, SS Cole Pippenger (Coffee County Central HS, TN) and SS Gabe Boyd (Christian Brothers HS, TN) are back-to-back at Nos. 2 and 3.

SS/P Alexander Peck (University School of Nashville, TN), a recent Arkansas recruit, might be the most intriguing of the bunch. A breakout performer at the PBR Future Games in July, he continued an upward trend at the PBR Cup in September before committing to the Hogs. A silky smooth defender who can impact the game defensively, the bat looked even better throughout the fall, and his 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame promises much more strength on the way. Finally, RHP Grayson Burleson (Summertown HS, TN), a Vanderbilt recruit, makes a big jump into the Top 100. The imposing, 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-hander delivers power stuff with an athletic delivery, and still shows signs of making bigger jumps in coming years.

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