Vanderbilt's Recruiting Class Ranks No. 1, Again
Top 25 Recruiting Classes
See also: Recruiting notebook with notes on 64 more recruiting classes
See also: Re-ranking the 2008 recruiting classes four years later
Baseball America's recruiting class rankings are based on many conversations with college coaches and pro scouts across the country this fall, as well as countless more calls during our Draft Preview preparation this spring. The Rk. (rank) column in the charts below indicates players who ranked among the BA 500 (which included college players) for the 2012 draft. Draft references are for 2012 unless otherwise noted. The rankings do not consider transfers from four-year schools, except graduate transfers who are immediately eligible.
Recruiting Coordinator: Travis Jewett. Total Recruits: 11 (11 freshmen).
Former recruiting coordinator Josh Holliday, head coach Tim Corbin, pitching coach Derek Johnson and volunteer assistant Larry Day put together a balanced group that looks even better than last year's top-ranked class. For the second straight year, Vandy reeled in a power-armed righty who ranks as the nation's top recruit; like Tyler Beede before him, Buehler can reach the mid-90s with his fastball and has good command of his secondary pitches—a devastating power curveball and a sinking changeup. Fulmer gives this class a second marquee arm with a 92-95 mph fastball and a slider that flashes plus. Stephenson and Ferguson offer projection and electric arm strength, as both have reached 94 mph and have flashed promising breaking balls, though their secondary stuff isn't as consistent yet. Delano has a heavy fastball and hard breaking ball, while the sidewinding Raasch helps give this class superb pitching depth. In Swanson, Vandy has a quick-twitch, instinctive shortstop with smooth infield actions and a fundamentally sound swing. Wiseman and Turner offer serious athleticism, bat speed and power potential. Projectable corner infielder/outfielder Kyle Smith is the sleeper thanks to his power bat and power arm.
Recruiting Coordinator: T.J. Bruce. Total Recruits: 12 (12 freshmen).
UCLA's class rivals Vandy's for best collection of incoming arms, headlined by Virant and Kaprielian, two of the top eight players in the BA 500 to attend school this fall. Loose and athletic, Virant has good feel for an above-average, deceptive changeup and an improving slider, and his 87-93 mph fastball plays up because of its downward angle and his ability to locate it. A former football linebacker, Kaprielian attacks hitters with a sinking 88-92 mph fastball, a 12-to-6 curve that projects as a plus pitch and a sinking, fading changeup that could be another plus offering. The slightly built Poteet has flashed 93-94 mph heat in the past and has the makings of a plus power curveball, but his command is less refined. Radan flew under the radar a bit at powerhouse Mater Dei, but his wiry frame hints at projection, and his fastball-curveball mix is promising. His more famous Mater Dei teammate, Moore, is an ultra-competitive performer in the Allen Craig mold with an impact power bat. Porter, who doubles as a linebacker for UCLA's football team, is a physical specimen with power and speed who reminds the Bruins of former Stanford two-sport threat Toby Gerhart. Turley, who also has a football background, has good feel to hit, while Chatterton offers defensive versatility. Miller needs work behind the plate but has arm strength and a solid line-drive stroke.
Recruiting Coordinator: Allen Osborne. Total Recruits: 19 (17 freshmen, 2 JC transfers).
The Bulldogs built one of the nation's deepest classes in part by targeting slightly undersized prospects with big tools, like two-way duo Kyle Carter and Sean McLaughlin. The hard-nosed Carter was a Little League World Series hero and centerpiece of three state title teams in high school, though scouts' concerns about his makeup were accentuated after he was arrested and charged with simple assault in August. Still, he'll be an impact college player thanks to a fastball that reaches 92 from the left side, a solid-average to plus breaking ball and a smooth lefthanded swing. McLaughlin has a similar offensive game, enough speed for center field and a fastball that reaches the mid-90s from the right side. The physically mature Gonzalez lacks projection but has good present stuff, working in the 88-92 range and showing feel for both a curveball and a slider. Wallace has a similar build and similar velocity, and though his slider isn't quite as good as Gonzalez's, his feel for pitching is more advanced. The lanky Betts has a quick arm and a fastball that bumps 93, though his delivery has more violence. Peel might be the most projectable arm in the bunch, though he has a bit less current velocity, sitting in the high 80s. Bowers has two plus tools—arm strength behind the plate and raw power from the right side, though he lacks fluidity at the plate and behind it. Phillips has a prettier swing and could grow into some power as well, to go along with easy infield actions and a well above-average arm. Nichols, whose brother Thomas played for Georgia Tech, has some length in his swing but plenty of pop, while Bunting brings a handsy lefthanded swing and good defense at first base.
Recruiting Coordinator: Dax Norris. Total Recruits: 11 (10 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The Crimson Tide's banner class is anchored by one of the nation's top incoming shortstops in White, whose moxie and intensity made him a star for USA Baseball's 18-and-under national team. An advanced hitter with sterling instincts on the basepaths and at shortstop, average speed and solid-average arm strength, White reminds the Tide of former 'Bama star Josh Rutledge. Scouts regarded Wass as a top-five-rounds talent this spring because of his bat and his righthanded power to right-center, and his defense behind the plate is improving. Salem is a plus-plus runner with a table-setter tool set that evokes his cousin, former Tide star Emeel Salem. Goodson brings the most power on the team, and Cucjen is versatile enough to play all over the diamond. Overstreet lacks speed but should be able to handle second base, and he offers some pop at the plate as well as the mental toughness to work the late innings off the mound. Fellow two-way talents Freeman and Greer also figure to bolster the bullpen right away; Freeman can reach 93 from the left side and owns a solid-average slider, while Greer features a heavy low-90s fastball and a swing-and-miss breaking ball. Yet another two-way player, third baseman/righty Chance Vincent, reminds the coaches of former Alabama star Jake Smith. Castillo is a dogged competitor with command of three pitches and a chance to step right into a weekend starter spot. Haack works downhill with a fastball that reaches the low 90s, a good changeup and slider, and his 6-foot-6 frame offers more projection.
Recruiting Coordinator: Scott Jackson. Total Recruits: 16 (15 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The Tar Heels believe this might be their best class in the last five years, thanks to a trio of potential up-the-middle mainstays and a couple of power arms with huge upside (though they come with risk as well). The switch-hitting Bolt has dynamic tools: plus speed, intriguing power potential from both sides, superb defensive skills in center field and a rocket arm. His hit tool was a question mark in the spring, but it is maturing fast. The scrappy Lassiter is a tough out who could step into the everyday shortstop job thanks to his advanced instincts. Dunbar is similarly polished, with quality catch-and-throw skills and good power in his righthanded swing. Porter and Cherry have tantalizing size and arm strength, with fastballs that have bumped the mid-90s in the past, but both need to develop their secondary stuff and command. Porter also provides big-time righthanded power potential at the plate, though his approach remains raw. Raburn and Rubino provide valuable defensive versatility and good feel for their barrels, while Daly's lefthanded pop and arm strength evoke former Tar Heel Seth Baldwin—though his plate discipline is more advanced. Hovis is an athletic strike-thrower with good feel for his fastball and slider, like cousin Jonathan Hovis, the 2006 NCAA ERA champion for UNC.
Recruiting Coordinator: Dean Stotz. Total Recruits: 12 (12 freshmen).
The crown jewel of Stanford's class is Avis, one of the premier incoming arms in the nation thanks to a fastball that reaches the mid-90s, a sharp power curveball and a promising changeup. He also has a fluid lefthanded swing with serious juice. Starwalt gives this class a second potential frontline righty if he can regain the form he displayed before suffering a stress fracture in his back; in 2011 he ran his fastball into the mid-90s and showed a plus power curve. The group's other headliner, Barr, is a physical catcher who can really throw and offers good righthanded power potential. Stotz calls Brakeman a 'feisty little devil' with a polished three-pitch mix, including a fastball that touches 91, a solid curve and a changeup with plus potential. James (a loose-armed lefty in the mold of California's Kyle Porter) and McCormick (an athletic, projectable righty with the makings of a slightly above-average slider) provide valuable pitching depth. The aggressive, versatile Zarubin can play all over the diamond; he and the speedy Locher also have a chance to contribute on the mound during their careers. Jackson, the younger brother of former Cal star and current Cubs outfielder Brett Jackson, is a standout athlete with plus speed and some power potential, though he needs refinement at the plate and in the infield. Hoffpauir, a defensive back for the Cardinal football team, offers electric athleticism.
Recruiting Coordinator: Tommy Nicholson. Total Recruits: 14 (9 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
Texas lost seven marquee recruits to the draft—a first-rounder, two sandwich picks, three second-rounders and a fourth-rounder—and fired longtime recruiting coordinator Tommy Harmon, yet still managed to land a top-12 class for the 11th time in the 13-year history of these rankings. Hinojosa was supposed to be part of last year's class, but his plan to enroll early fell through, and an injury to his non-throwing shoulder hampered him last spring. At full strength, he drives the ball to all fields and adds solid speed, arm strength and instincts at short. Pitching coach Skip Johnson calls Hollingsworth 'just a tough, country kid' who pounds the zone with a heavy 89-94 sinker and a solid breaking ball. Helmink offers more projection; Johnson likens him to a righthanded Sam Stafford, with the makings of a plus fastball and downer curve. The competitive Culbreth really commands his curveball; he and Duke should be valuable pitchability lefties with mid-to-upper-80s fastballs. McElroy came out of nowhere to impress scouts this spring with his intriguing righthanded power potential, solid speed and arm strength. He leads a decent group of juco transfers that also includes the speedy, defense-oriented trio of Hall, Carter and Matt Moynihan. Johnson also stands out for his plus speed, though he'll need to shorten up his swing. Montalbano has an accurate arm behind the plate and a gap-to-gap approach.
Recruiting Coordinator: Ken Knutson. Total Recruits: 16 (16 freshmen).
Like Texas, the Sun Devils were hit hard by the draft, losing six of their seven signees who ranked among BA's Top 100 high school prospects last fall. The one who showed up on campus—Burr—regressed in the spring, struggling to repeat his delivery and throw strikes with his power three-pitch repertoire. Still, this class is deep in quality pitching and athletic position players. Kellogg is a polished veteran of the Canadian junior national team with an average fastball, feel for a curveball and changeup, and projection left in his big frame. Lilek showed 90-92 mph heat from the left side and flashed a promising breaking ball before tweaking his biceps in the spring, helping turn him from a potential early-round pick into a Sun Devil. Graybill gives this class a fourth power arm who stands 6-foot-4 or better; he should be a factor in the bullpen as well as at the plate, where he offers raw power from the right side. Kamachi, the top Hawaiian prep prospect this spring, has an average fastball and flashes an above-average curve with good depth. The speedy Sewald had a strong summer in the California Collegiate League and could provide a spark near the top of ASU's lineup. O'Dwyer can handle the bat from both sides, and Beal provides some extra lefthanded offensive upside, if he can put his rough senior year of high school behind him. The offense-oriented Ybarra reminds the Devils of former ASU catcher Carlos Ramirez. The undersized Aboites is a defensive standout at short but must add strength.
Recruiting Coordinator: Scott Foxhall. Total Recruits: 15 (9 freshmen, 6 JC transfers).
Auburn's balanced class is its strongest since this coaching staff arrived in 2008. Gillikin, a star football player in high school, is a premium athlete with plus speed and plus raw power, and he figures to take off now that he's focusing on baseball full-time. He'll need to refine his offensive approach, however. Tomscha might be one of the nation's most impactful juco transfers thanks to his power bat and his power arm at third base, where he is a sound defender. Ebert should also play right away, likely either at second base or in the outfield, because he is a natural born hitter with surprising pop and plenty of athleticism. The physical Smith brings plus raw power from the right side and average speed, making him a potential middle-of-the-order bat in time. Dedrick is aggressive in the outfield and on the mound, which should help him earn a late-innings role this spring. Fellow two-way talent Rucker has bigger raw tools, with plus raw power at the plate and a fastball that has bumped 94, but he'll need to answer questions about his maturity and toughness. The ultra-projectable Wingenter figures to add power to his 88-92 fastball and promising curve as he fills out his skinny 6-foot-7 frame; the Tigers say he has already been up to 95 mph this fall. He has the look of a front-line SEC pitcher, though he might start out as a midweek starter. Kendrick should contribute immediately thanks to a quality three-pitch mix and good deception, while Schultz and Lipscomb are quick-armed righties with three-quarters slots and the makings of quality breaking balls. Schultz is more advanced and has been more consistent with his fastball velocity this fall, working consistently at 90-94. The sleeper is Michael O'Neal, a deceptive low-slot lefthander with excellent fastball command.
Recruiting coordinators: Gino DiMare/J.D. Arteaga. Total Recruits: 13 (12 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
Miami focused on building a core of impact position players and wound up with its first top-10 class since 2006. Lopez's fluid, balanced swing generates plus bat speed, and he has the plus arm and good actions to thrive on the left side of the infield. Hernandez, though, might be Miami's shortstop of the future thanks to his advanced feel for the game, sure hands and strong arm. He also has a No. 2 hitter's offensive skill set. Heyman, the No. 2 prospect in the NYCBL this summer, has a balanced offensive approach, above-average speed and plus raw power, giving him a chance to become a first-rounder in three years. Thompson, who doubles as a quarterback for the Miami football team, owns the career and single-season home run records for high school baseball in Florida, illustrating his big-time power. Barr has a quality gap-to-gap approach from the left side and excellent hands at first base. Neitzel offers athleticism and righthanded pop, while Eusebio brings some speed and table-setting skills. Gonzalez is a high-energy, offensive catcher with bat speed from both sides of the plate. Herrera and Woodrey add pitching depth, but this class is all about the stellar position players.
Recruiting Coordinator: Tony Vitello. Total Recruits: 16 (11 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
TCU believes the pitching in this class stacks up well with any group of incoming arms in the Jim Schlossnagle era, and that argument has merit. With a huge frame, a 92-94 mph power sinker, hard curveball and solid changeup, Traver generated first-round buzz before thoracic outlet syndrome derailed his spring, and he'll miss all of 2013 after having Tommy John Surgery. Young, the top prospect in Illinois this spring, is a projectable, athletic lefty who has touched 93 mph and shown feel for a changeup and curveball. If Ferrell can smooth out his delivery, his stuff should become more consistent; at his best, he can reach 93-94 and flashes a wipeout power slider. Seidenberger could make the biggest immediate impact, as his ability to throw strikes with three solid pitches could earn him a rotation spot. Antone is a physical three-quarters righty with boring life on his 87-92 fastball and the makings of a decent slider/cutter, though he needs refinement. Trieglaff has some funk in his delivery that can lead to spotty command, but he has touched 94 in the past. The Frogs complemented those power arms with solid juco position players like Hendrix (a doubles machine with athleticism and arm strength in the middle infield), Jones (a plus-plus runner who reminds TCU a bit of former Frog Kyle Von Tungeln) and Bacak (a defense-first cacher with a strong, accurate arm). White is an undersized, high-energy grinder with a flat stroke.
Recruiting Coordinator: Eddie Cornejo. Total Recruits: 23 (19 freshmen, 4 JC transfers).
Cornejo and second-year head coach Andrew Checketts wasted no time making their mark at UCSB, landing the Gauchos in the recruiting rankings for the first time. The crown jewel of the class is Calica, an energetic, quick-twitch player with a knack for making hard contact to all fields and playing aggressive defense in center. Gradford should be another key lineup building block thanks to his good rhythm at the plate and quick hands. At his best, the physical Baits has flashed 94 mph heat and a pair of promising secondary pitches, but he'll need Checketts (a respected pitching guru) to help straighten out his delivery. Scouts were intrigued by Tate's quick arm, wiry frame and easy delivery in the spring; he bumped 94 this summer and has significant upside if he can develop his offspeed stuff. High school teammate Chapman is a strike-thrower with an 88-91 mph fastball and good feel for a sharp breaking ball. The undersized Vidrio tops out in the mid-80s, but he is a proven winner with a good cutter and feel for pitching. Jacome and Nesovic are big-bodied, projectable arms whose repertoires need refinement. Nesovic works from a low three-quarters slot and has very good life on his 87-90 fastball. Jacome works in the mid-80s, and his promising curve needs more power. Hecht has less upside but better present stuff, with a power fastball/slider mix that could be a good fit in the late innings. Duffin needs to find a defensive home and cut down on his swing-and-misses, but his righthanded power is intriguing.
Recruiting Coordinator: Bradley LeCroy. Total Recruits: 17 (15 freshmen, 2 JC transfers).
Clemson's balanced class features exciting arms from the right and left sides, and a solid group of athletic position players. Schmidt needs to add some muscle to improve his durability, but he has electric stuff, with a fastball that reaches 96 and the makings of a plus breaking ball. Schmidt's athleticism also could play in the field, in the infield or in center. The projectable Toney sat at 88-92 in the spring but has been working easily at 93-94 this fall, along with a dramatically improved slider. Crownover generated top-three-rounds draft buzz before having Tommy John Surgery in March; at his best, he can reach 93 from the left side and features a good changeup and promising but inconsistent curveball. Koerner relies more on feel for pitching and a swing-and-miss power curveball in the 78-80 range than on pure velocity, but he could add a few ticks to his 87-91 fastball as he matures. Erwin is less advanced but very projectable at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds; he works in the mid- to upper 80s and has the makings of a very good changeup. The top position player in the class is Duggar, who has three plus tools in his arm, power and speed, reminding some evaluators of Tyler Colvin. Like a young Colvin, he'll need to add strength and improve his contact rate. Krieger's lanky frame and athleticism remind Clemson coach Jack Leggett of former Tiger Brad Miller. He brings plus speed and a short swing from both sides of the plate. Bradley, the son of former big leaguer and current Princeton coach Scott Bradley, has the savvy of a coach's son as well as good power from the left side and a strong arm. The Tigers say Kennedy has the best raw power on the team along with slightly above-average speed, while Gibson's premium speed and skill set evokes former Clemson star Brad Chalk.
Recruiting Coordinator: Javi Sanchez. Total Recruits: 16 (12 freshmen, 4 JC transfers).
LSU focused on bolstering its athleticism and pitching with this class, but two of its key recruits are bat-first, up-the-middle players. Scouts and rival recruiters are united in their praise for Bregman, who earns comparisons to former California All-American Tony Renda for his superb feel for his barrel, his baseball acumen and his small stature—though he also has surprising pop. Stout and strong, Chinea has very good righthanded power, and his bat could get him in the lineup early on (though he won't displace Ty Ross behind the plate). The physical LaMarche has a mid-90s fastball, hard breaking ball and feel for a changeup, but he'll need to show better control than he did in junior college in order to hold down a weekend rotation spot. Newman, Reynolds and Sewald are loose, athletic and projectable righties who could be weekend starters down the road. Reynolds flashes 89-93 mph heat and an above-average slider, while Newman locates an 89-91 fastball. Sewald's fastball can be inconsistent, but he has touched 93 in the past and shown a promising 12-to-6 curveball. The undersized McMullen has the arm strength and instincts to play any outfield position, while Laird and Stevenson are speedy, lefthanded slap-and-go types. Jackson is another fine athlete with quick hands at the plate, along with good range and actions at the hot corner.
Recruiting Coordinator: Justin Seely. Total Recruits: 17 (16 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The Aggies have had great success mining the junior-college ranks under coach Rob Childress, but this freshman-laden class is designed to build a strong long-term foundation. Raley's premium athleticism will surely remind Aggie fans of his brother, former A&M two-way star Brooks Raley. Cory's plus-plus speed gives him a chance to be a dynamic player with some offensive refinement, and his strong arm and good actions should keep him at shortstop. Tommy John surgery helped the loose, projectable Hill make it to campus; before his injury he pitched at 88-92 and touched 94, and showed the makings of a quality changeup. The late-blooming Minter, a physical lefty in the Mike Stanton mold, will make a bigger impact in the short term thanks to an 88-94 mph fastball and a nasty 85-88 cutter. Long has touched 92-93 with a plus changeup in the past, though his velocity and his secondary stuff were inconsistent in the spring. A smallish bulldog with good feel for pitching, Vinson has a four-pitch mix highlighted by an 86-90 fastball, a polished curveball and changeup. Melton, like Minter and Vinson, has two-way ability; he has big power potential at the plate and a big arm on the mound, but he has a long way to go in all facets, making him something of a wild card. Maisto currently works in the 85-88 range but has bumped 91, and his smooth arm action suggests more velocity could come. Michon, the lone juco player in this class, was a successful closer for powerhouse LSU-Eunice thanks to a funky delivery, low-90s fastball and a split-finger. Moss' best tool is his plus-plus speed; he also has surprising strength in his righthanded swing, but he needs refinement. Taylor brings righthanded power potential but needs to find a defensive home. Danny Holst, Ryan Rand and Drew Featherston all have chances to hit as well and bring added athleticism, making this a very deep group as the Aggies move into the Southeastern Conference.
Recruiting Coordinator: Sammy Esposito. Total Recruits: 15 (11 freshmen, 4 JC transfers).
The Gamecocks landed two immediate impact players in Wynkoop and Schrock, buttressed by a nice blend of complementary players and down-the-road building blocks. South Carolina recruited Wynkoop as a pitchability lefty in the Jordan Montgomery mold, but his velocity has jumped from the mid-80s into the 90-92 range, and his changeup is outstanding like Montgomery's. Schrock is short but very strong, with an advanced lefthanded bat that could land him in the No. 3 hole as a freshman. He also has double-digit home run power, plus speed and good enough hands to hold down second base—a total package that reminds coach Chad Holbrook of former North Carolina star Kyle Seager, but with more speed. Britt's heavy 90-93 mph fastball, good changeup and improving breaking balls (a slider and a curve) figure to make him a valuable late-innings contributor early on. Saiko looks like a nice role player for 2013 thanks to his defensive versatility, solid speed and compact swing. Arendas is another polished defender who can handle either middle infield spot but needs to add strength at the plate. Iskendarian has always performed well in workouts thanks to his raw righthanded power and athleticism, but he needs refinement in all phases. The lanky Jackson is a classic projection righty who is still learning to pitch but can already bump 90 and has plenty of upside. Ripken, the son of Hall of Famer Cal, inherited some of his father's moxie and work ethic but needs to get stronger physically, though he does have a knack for squaring balls up. The powerful Zach Smith has a chance to DH against righthanded pitching this year. The X-factor is Kwinton Smith, a wide receiver on the South Carolina football team with significant upside on the baseball field.
Recruiting Coordinator: Shaun Larkin. Total Recruits: 13 (11 freshmen, 2 JC transfers).
The Bulldogs landed a legitimate ace in Velazquez, a sophomore transfer who could anchor the rotation for the next two years. The nation's top juco recruit, Velazquez commands a heavy 89-92 mph sinker and shows the makings of a plus changeup and a plus curveball. Russell is a gamer who can play all over the infield and outfield. He has a plus arm, solid speed, quick hands and a gap-to-gap approach with occasional pull power. Ward's best tool is his plus arm strength, and he has a chance to be a solid receiver and blocker with some refinement. His righthanded swing has some fluidity, making him another potential doubles machine. Viers is a good athlete with some power potential and a pretty lefthanded stroke. The physical Villar is another potential middle-of-the-order bat with raw pop from the right side. Quinn and Weichec have good frames, quick arms and athleticism. Both flash plus fastball velocity and have good feel for their breaking balls.
Recruiting Coordinator: Brad Bohanon. Total Recruits: 11 (11 freshmen).
Kentucky's class is all about pitching and catching. In Cody, Pope and Mullins, the Wildcats have three enormous pitchers with serious upside, though the best of the lot might be the 6-foot Combs, a very advanced three-pitch lefty in the mold of former Wildcat Chris Rusin. Combs commands an 87-91 fastball, a good 79-80 slider and a changeup that also has a chance to be better than average. The ultra-projectable Cody pitches off a fastball in the 87-92 range and mixes in a slurvy mid-70s breaking ball that needs refinement and a developing changeup. The biggest body in this collection of behemoths belongs to Mullins, who showed 87-92 mph velocity and a plus curveball before having Tommy John surgery that will sideline him in 2013. Pope is the most raw of the group but has tantalizing potential, with a 94-95 mph fastball and a power 12-to-6 hammer at 80 mph. Dwyer is a thinner version of Combs, but with less feel for his changeup, more inconsistent fastball velocity, and a traditional 12-to-6 curve rather than a slider. The two catchers in this class complement each other well, as Arnold is a polished defender with a light bat, while Schroeder has more work to do behind the plate but a more advanced bat. Arnold can really catch and throw, and his swing works, but he needs to add strength. Schroeder is a switch-hitter with some pop, and he has the athleticism and solid arm to succeed behind the plate in time.
Recruiting Coordinator: Dan Hubbs. Total Recruits: 18 (16 freshmen, 1 JC transfer, 1 graduate transfer).
Twomey, one of the top prospects to attend college this fall, highlights Dan Hubbs' first class at USC. Twomey stands out most for his ability to locate an 87-91 fastball that plays up because of its life and deception, and for his loose, projectable frame and smooth arm action. His secondary stuff is a work in progress, but his changeup should be a quality No. 2 pitch. The muscular Robinson has plus raw power from the right side and solid speed for his size, but his game has some stiffness. Bozoian is another corner outfielder with less speed but a plus arm; he is another potential slugger, but he swings and misses too much and has a long way to go to unlock his plus raw power. In the short term, the Trojans will get more out of Zebrack, a graduate transfer who began his career at USC before hitting 14 homers over the last two years at Penn. Lacey is a defensive whiz who earned an Adam Everett comparison from one scout, and Southall is another athletic shortstop with good actions. Both of them need to add strength, but they bring energy. Davis, Gonzales, Wheatley and Kriske all work in the upper 80s and bump 90. Gonzales has shown the most velocity of the group, hitting 92 and showing excellent feel for his changeup and a 12-to-6 curveball. Davis has good command of his four-pitch repertoire, highlighted by a quality slider and changeup, and also brings good receiving skills behind the plate. Wheatley and Kriske are strike-throwers who are still developing their secondary stuff.
Recruiting Coordinator: Bill Mosiello. Total Recruits: 25 (20 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
Second-year coach Dave Serrano and his staff wasted no time overhauling Tennessee's roster, bringing in a large class loaded with quality lefthanded hitting, though it is short on impact arms. The top player in the group is the righthanded-hitting Simcox, a rangy, well-rounded shortstop with very good defensive skills and a knack for barreling up hard line drives. The son of former UT assistant Larry Simcox, A.J. served as a bat boy on the Vols' 2001 and '05 Omaha teams, and his baseball acumen is advanced. The long, lean Jackson has huge lefthanded power projection at the plate and good hand-eye coordination that gives him a chance to eventually hit for some average as well. Off the mound, he throws strikes with an 84-88 fastball. The compact Stewart is another corner outfielder with juice in his lefthanded swing. The switch-hitting Houser is similarly physical and powerful, and he has a strong arm behind the plate, though he'll need to clean up his receiving. Another switch-hitter, Vizcaino, could grow into some lefthanded power and is an athletic defender on the left side. Price is a polished juco bat who could step into the middle of the lineup this spring, while the aptly named Smart has the baseball savvy to step into the everyday second base job and hit in the No. 2 hole. The top pitcher in this class is Owenby, a thick-bodied lefty who hides his 85-90 mph fastball well and spins a very good curveball. Lee has shown 90-92 mph heat in the past, but he won't pitch in 2013 after having Tommy John surgery. He could win the starting first base job, however, as his long-levered lefthanded swing has intriguing power potential.
Recruiting Coordinator: Todd Butler. Total Recruits: 15 (10 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
Arkansas sustained its share of losses to the draft and the junior-college ranks, but its haul still features a nice mix of power bats and projectable arms. Killian ranked as the top prep pitching prospect in the state of Arkansas this spring thanks to four pitches that have all flashed average on the 20-80 scale, led by an 88-91 fastball that bumps 92-93. He lacks a knockout pitch at this stage, however. Schwanke has a quick lefthanded bat and a mature approach at the plate, along with an 88-92 mph fastball and a good hard breaking ball off the mound. The athletic Poche was drafted in the fifth round based on the projection in his 6-foot-3 frame and his promising curveball and change, but he pitches mostly in the 86-88 range currently, occasionally touching 91. Barnett, a late pickup who had originally signed with Georgia Tech, has a big, durable frame and flashes plus fastball velocity. The smaller Beeks has a nice fastball-slider combo from the left side. Baxendale, the younger brother of former Hogs ace D.J., stands out most for his significant righthanded power potential and his strong arm, though scouts have questioned his agility behind the plate. McAfee is a quick-twitch athlete with good speed and infield actions. Hellbusch's senior year was hampered by a broken hamate bone, but he has shown good righthanded pop when healthy.
Recruiting Coordinator: Craig Bell. Total Recruits: 12 (12 freshmen).
Florida's class was decimated by the draft, leaving it bereft of BA 500 players—but Martin and Hanhold could leave Gainesville as top 50 draft picks in three years. Martin does everything necessary to help his team win: He works counts, hits behind runners, plays hard and practices just as hard. He's also an excellent athlete with plus speed, good arm strength and sure hands at shortstop. The tall, projectable Hanhold flashes 90-93 mph heat, a hard upper-70s breaking ball and good feel for a changeup, giving him a shot at the Sunday starter job as a freshman. Simpson does not have as much projection in his physically mature frame, but he also figures to see significant innings early on thanks to his ability to command a quality three-pitch mix, highlighted by an 88-92 fastball. Carmichael, an athletic sinker/slider righty with a three-quarters slot, works at 87-90 and has room to add velocity. Vinson is similarly rangy and projectable but is more of a long-term project. The physical Stypulkowski is an aggressive hitter with pop from both sides of the plate and has a feel for catching. His fringy arm plays up because of its accuracy. Dicks is less advanced but has a nice lefthanded swing with some pop and average speed on the basepaths. Roberson and Bader are the sleepers. Roberson is a strong, stocky righthanded hitter who drives the ball to all fields, reminding coach Kevin O'Sullivan somewhat of former Gator Josh Adams. The live-bodied Bader, who was previously committed to Pittsburgh and then Maryland, was a late sign with plus-plus speed and a solid gap-to-gap approach.
Recruiting Coordinator: Mike Kirby. Total Recruits: 13 (13 freshmen).
The Titans wanted to strengthen the pitching foundation they laid a year earlier, add a few lefthanded bats and a quality defensive catcher, and they met those goals. Undersized but electric, Garza should be an instant star. He attacks hitters with a 90-94 mph fastball, a slightly above-average curveball and an average changeup. Eshelman is a converted catcher who evokes former Pepperdine ace Barry Enright in body and style. He ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the West Coast League this summer thanks to an 87-92 fastball, a nasty mid-80s cutter with late action and a promising change. The stocky Navilhon also reaches the low 90s, while the polished Conant works around 87-88 from the left side and has good feel for a changeup. The submariner Stillwagon presents a different look. Kennedy could step into the everyday catcher job as a freshman thanks to his quality catch-and-throw skills, but his bat is light at this stage. The offense-oriented Jefferies is a switch-hitter who handles the bat well from both sides, like his father—former big leaguer Gregg Jefferies. The wiry Olmedo-Barrera has some feel to hit from the left side and a mature offensive approach, but his infield defense needs work. Pinkston brings more physicality and lefthanded pop, and the raw Darras has some athleticism.
Recruiting Coordinator: Kerrick Jackson. Total Recruits: 19 (12 freshmen, 7 JC transfers).
Missouri's large class has a marquee headliner in Rash, the highest-drafted high schooler (No. 95 overall) to attend a four-year school this fall. Long and lean, Rash works downhill with a 91-95 mph fastball with heavy life at his best, and he flashes a wipeout power slider, but he's still learning to repeat his delivery and command his stuff consistently. The rest of the class is filled with gritty, heady ballplayers, including a strong group of juco transfers as the Tigers move into the SEC. In one-inning stints, Steele has shown 89-93 mph heat and a good slider, but he also has good actions at the infield corners and a solid righthanded bat. Steele is ticketed for a bullpen role, but James could step into a starting role thanks to his 87-90 mph sinker and good command. Two other juco transfers could earn starting spots up the middle: Keeton lacks flash but has plenty of savvy in the middle infield, while the high-energy Kelly is a standout receiver who handles pitchers well. Yet another juco product, the steady Segovia, will be in the mix at third base, where he is a sound defender. Pearson is a good runner with arm strength and some strength in his lefthanded bat, giving him a chance to earn the everyday job in center. Lester, son of a Pirates scout, repeats his lefthanded swing well and can play all over the infield. The fearless Phillips attacks the zone with an 85-87 fastball and a slider, while also adding infield depth. Fairbanks, who has recovered from the Tommy John surgery that cost him his senior season of high school, works downhill with an 89-91 fastball and promising slider.
Recruiting Coordinator: Shaun Cole/Matt Siegel. Total Recruits: 14 (13 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The reigning national champions built their class around a pair of polished middle infielders with promising bats and a group of solid arms. The crown jewel of the class is Willeford, an undersized baseball rat with strength and a knack for barreling up hard line drives to all fields. Royals officials likened him to a lefthanded-hitting version of ex-big leaguer Marcus Giles. Like Willeford, Newman has advanced instincts at the plate and in the infield, though he is taller and more wiry than the compact Willeford, and he hits from the right side instead of the left. He also has a better chance to play shortstop than Willeford, who fits better at second base. Ramer is a third potential impact position player, with a pretty lefthanded swing and enough athleticism to play the infield or outfield. The unconventional Koziol brings some lefthanded power potential, while the long-levered Parris has even more pop from the right side. On the mound, Scholtens stands out for his advanced feel for pitching, projectability and a fastball that already bumps 91. The shorter, stockier Elder doesn't have Sholtens' upside but has similar command and feel for pitching. Bannister's sinker/slider attack should earn him a role immediately, and the competitive Moffett brings a good fastball and promising offspeed stuff from the left side.
Top 25 Recruiting Classes
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PrintSee also: Recruiting notebook with notes on 64 more recruiting classes
See also: Re-ranking the 2008 recruiting classes four years later
Baseball America's recruiting class rankings are based on many conversations with college coaches and pro scouts across the country this fall, as well as countless more calls during our Draft Preview preparation this spring. The Rk. (rank) column in the charts below indicates players who ranked among the BA 500 (which included college players) for the 2012 draft. Draft references are for 2012 unless otherwise noted. The rankings do not consider transfers from four-year schools, except graduate transfers who are immediately eligible.
| 1. VANDERBILT | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 50 | Walker Buehler, rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 160 | Pirates (14) | Clay HS, Lexington, Ky. |
| 123 | Carson Fulmer, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 185 | Red Sox (15) | All Saints Acad., Winter Haven, Fla. |
| 136 | Rhett Wiseman, of | L-R | 6-1 | 195 | Cubs (25) | BB&H HS, Cambridge, Mass. |
| 138 | Dansby Swanson, ss | R-R | 6-0 | 175 | Rockies (38) | Marietta (Ga.) HS |
| 282 | Xavier Turner, 3b | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Red Sox (34) | Sandusky (Ohio) HS |
| 325 | Luke Stephenson, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Triton Central HS, Fairfield, Ind. | |
| Tyler Ferguson, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 210 | Giants (40) | Clovis West HS, Fresno, Calif. | |
| Patrick Delano, rhp | R-R | 6-6 | 240 | Red Sox (35) | Braintree (Mass.) HS | |
| Tyler Campbell, if | R-R | 5-10 | 155 | Lake Oswego HS, Portland, Ore. | ||
| Chris Raasch, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 180 | Norcross (Ga.) HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Travis Jewett. Total Recruits: 11 (11 freshmen).
Former recruiting coordinator Josh Holliday, head coach Tim Corbin, pitching coach Derek Johnson and volunteer assistant Larry Day put together a balanced group that looks even better than last year's top-ranked class. For the second straight year, Vandy reeled in a power-armed righty who ranks as the nation's top recruit; like Tyler Beede before him, Buehler can reach the mid-90s with his fastball and has good command of his secondary pitches—a devastating power curveball and a sinking changeup. Fulmer gives this class a second marquee arm with a 92-95 mph fastball and a slider that flashes plus. Stephenson and Ferguson offer projection and electric arm strength, as both have reached 94 mph and have flashed promising breaking balls, though their secondary stuff isn't as consistent yet. Delano has a heavy fastball and hard breaking ball, while the sidewinding Raasch helps give this class superb pitching depth. In Swanson, Vandy has a quick-twitch, instinctive shortstop with smooth infield actions and a fundamentally sound swing. Wiseman and Turner offer serious athleticism, bat speed and power potential. Projectable corner infielder/outfielder Kyle Smith is the sleeper thanks to his power bat and power arm.
| 2. UCLA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 53 | Hunter Virant, lhp | R-L | 6-3 | 175 | Astros (11) | Camarillo (Calif.) HS |
| 73 | James Kaprielian, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 200 | Mariners (40) | Beckman HS, Irvine, Calif. |
| 189 | Cody Poteet, rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 180 | Nationals (27) | Christian HS, El Cajon, Calif. |
| 246 | Ty Moore, of | L-R | 6-0 | 180 | Yankees (25) | Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif. |
| 223 | Aaron Porter, of | R-R | 6-2 | 225 | La Habra (Calif.) HS | |
| Darrell Miller, c | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | Phillies (34) | Servite HS, Anaheim | |
| Chase Radan, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif. | ||
| Trent Chatterton, if | R-R | 5-11 | 180 | Pacifica HS, Garden Grove, Calif. | ||
| Jeff Turley, of | L-R | 5-10 | 175 | Long Beach (Calif.) Poly HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: T.J. Bruce. Total Recruits: 12 (12 freshmen).
UCLA's class rivals Vandy's for best collection of incoming arms, headlined by Virant and Kaprielian, two of the top eight players in the BA 500 to attend school this fall. Loose and athletic, Virant has good feel for an above-average, deceptive changeup and an improving slider, and his 87-93 mph fastball plays up because of its downward angle and his ability to locate it. A former football linebacker, Kaprielian attacks hitters with a sinking 88-92 mph fastball, a 12-to-6 curve that projects as a plus pitch and a sinking, fading changeup that could be another plus offering. The slightly built Poteet has flashed 93-94 mph heat in the past and has the makings of a plus power curveball, but his command is less refined. Radan flew under the radar a bit at powerhouse Mater Dei, but his wiry frame hints at projection, and his fastball-curveball mix is promising. His more famous Mater Dei teammate, Moore, is an ultra-competitive performer in the Allen Craig mold with an impact power bat. Porter, who doubles as a linebacker for UCLA's football team, is a physical specimen with power and speed who reminds the Bruins of former Stanford two-sport threat Toby Gerhart. Turley, who also has a football background, has good feel to hit, while Chatterton offers defensive versatility. Miller needs work behind the plate but has arm strength and a solid line-drive stroke.
| 3. GEORGIA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 193 | Kyle Carter, of/lhp | L-L | 5-11 | 180 | Columbus (Ga.) HS | |
| 330 | Sean McLaughlin, of/rhp | L-R | 5-11 | 175 | Braves (38) | Northview HS, Johns Creek, Ga. |
| 348 | David Gonzalez, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Mets (40) | Gainesville (Ga.) HS |
| 398 | J.T. Phillips, 3b/2b/ss | R-R | 6-3 | 185 | Columbus (Ga.) HS | |
| Zack Bowers, c | R-R | 6-3 | 200 | Harrison HS, Kennesaw, Ga. | ||
| Palmer Betts, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 185 | Cook HS, Adel, Ga. | ||
| Austin Wallace, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 185 | Houston County HS, Warner Robins, Ga. | ||
| David Nichols, 1b | L-R | 6-3 | 190 | Lee County HS, Leesburg, Ga. | ||
| Michael Peel, rhp | R-R | 6-7 | 200 | Claxton (Ga.) HS | ||
| Morgan Bunting, 1b | L-L | 6-3 | 180 | Woodward Acad., Atlanta | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Allen Osborne. Total Recruits: 19 (17 freshmen, 2 JC transfers).
The Bulldogs built one of the nation's deepest classes in part by targeting slightly undersized prospects with big tools, like two-way duo Kyle Carter and Sean McLaughlin. The hard-nosed Carter was a Little League World Series hero and centerpiece of three state title teams in high school, though scouts' concerns about his makeup were accentuated after he was arrested and charged with simple assault in August. Still, he'll be an impact college player thanks to a fastball that reaches 92 from the left side, a solid-average to plus breaking ball and a smooth lefthanded swing. McLaughlin has a similar offensive game, enough speed for center field and a fastball that reaches the mid-90s from the right side. The physically mature Gonzalez lacks projection but has good present stuff, working in the 88-92 range and showing feel for both a curveball and a slider. Wallace has a similar build and similar velocity, and though his slider isn't quite as good as Gonzalez's, his feel for pitching is more advanced. The lanky Betts has a quick arm and a fastball that bumps 93, though his delivery has more violence. Peel might be the most projectable arm in the bunch, though he has a bit less current velocity, sitting in the high 80s. Bowers has two plus tools—arm strength behind the plate and raw power from the right side, though he lacks fluidity at the plate and behind it. Phillips has a prettier swing and could grow into some power as well, to go along with easy infield actions and a well above-average arm. Nichols, whose brother Thomas played for Georgia Tech, has some length in his swing but plenty of pop, while Bunting brings a handsy lefthanded swing and good defense at first base.
| 4. ALABAMA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 183 | Mikey White, ss | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | Mets (34) | Spain Park HS, Hoover, Ala. |
| 335 | Colton Freeman, lhp/of | L-L | 6-1 | 190 | Spain Park HS, Hoover, Ala. | |
| Wade Wass, c | R-R | 6-0 | 205 | Orioles (13) | Meridian (Miss.) JC | |
| Ray Castillo, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 185 | Indians (27) | Russell County HS, Seale, Ala. | |
| Kyle Overstreet, 2b/rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | Boaz (Ala.) HS | ||
| Georgie Salem, cf | L-R | 5-11 | 205 | Vestavia Hills (Ala.) HS | ||
| Keaton Haack, rhp | R-R | 6-6 | 210 | Northwest Guilford HS, Greensboro, N.C. | ||
| Mitch Greer, rhp/c | R-R | 6-2 | 225 | Edgewood Acad., Elmore, Ala. | ||
| Matthew Goodson, of | R-R | 6-0 | 205 | Oxford (Ala.) HS | ||
| Daniel Cucjen, if | R-R | 6-1 | 170 | Shreveport (La.) HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Dax Norris. Total Recruits: 11 (10 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The Crimson Tide's banner class is anchored by one of the nation's top incoming shortstops in White, whose moxie and intensity made him a star for USA Baseball's 18-and-under national team. An advanced hitter with sterling instincts on the basepaths and at shortstop, average speed and solid-average arm strength, White reminds the Tide of former 'Bama star Josh Rutledge. Scouts regarded Wass as a top-five-rounds talent this spring because of his bat and his righthanded power to right-center, and his defense behind the plate is improving. Salem is a plus-plus runner with a table-setter tool set that evokes his cousin, former Tide star Emeel Salem. Goodson brings the most power on the team, and Cucjen is versatile enough to play all over the diamond. Overstreet lacks speed but should be able to handle second base, and he offers some pop at the plate as well as the mental toughness to work the late innings off the mound. Fellow two-way talents Freeman and Greer also figure to bolster the bullpen right away; Freeman can reach 93 from the left side and owns a solid-average slider, while Greer features a heavy low-90s fastball and a swing-and-miss breaking ball. Yet another two-way player, third baseman/righty Chance Vincent, reminds the coaches of former Alabama star Jake Smith. Castillo is a dogged competitor with command of three pitches and a chance to step right into a weekend starter spot. Haack works downhill with a fastball that reaches the low 90s, a good changeup and slider, and his 6-foot-6 frame offers more projection.
| 5. NORTH CAROLINA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 214 | Skye Bolt, of | B-R | 6-2 | 175 | Nationals (26) | Holy Innocents' HS, Atlanta |
| 258 | Korey Dunbar, c | R-R | 6-0 | 200 | Dodgers (39) | Nitro (W.Va.) HS |
| 280 | Taylore Cherry, rhp | R-R | 6-5 | 250 | Butler HS, Vandalia, Ohio | |
| 449 | Kayden Porter, rhp/1b | R-R | 6-5 | 230 | Spanish Fork (Utah) HS | |
| Landon Lassiter, ss | R-R | 6-1 | 180 | Diamondbacks (16) | North Davidson HS, Lexington, N.C. | |
| Trent Thornton, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 160 | Kell HS, Charlotte | ||
| Alex Raburn, if/of | R-R | 5-10 | 175 | Jordan HS, Durham, N.C. | ||
| Matt Rubino, c/2b/of | L-R | 5-10 | 190 | Florence (S.C.) Darlington Tech CC | ||
| Zach Daly, of | L-L | 6-2 | 170 | Forestview HS, Gastonia, N.C. | ||
| Reilly Hovis, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 185 | Forestview HS, Gastonia, N.C. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Scott Jackson. Total Recruits: 16 (15 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The Tar Heels believe this might be their best class in the last five years, thanks to a trio of potential up-the-middle mainstays and a couple of power arms with huge upside (though they come with risk as well). The switch-hitting Bolt has dynamic tools: plus speed, intriguing power potential from both sides, superb defensive skills in center field and a rocket arm. His hit tool was a question mark in the spring, but it is maturing fast. The scrappy Lassiter is a tough out who could step into the everyday shortstop job thanks to his advanced instincts. Dunbar is similarly polished, with quality catch-and-throw skills and good power in his righthanded swing. Porter and Cherry have tantalizing size and arm strength, with fastballs that have bumped the mid-90s in the past, but both need to develop their secondary stuff and command. Porter also provides big-time righthanded power potential at the plate, though his approach remains raw. Raburn and Rubino provide valuable defensive versatility and good feel for their barrels, while Daly's lefthanded pop and arm strength evoke former Tar Heel Seth Baldwin—though his plate discipline is more advanced. Hovis is an athletic strike-thrower with good feel for his fastball and slider, like cousin Jonathan Hovis, the 2006 NCAA ERA champion for UNC.
| 6. STANFORD | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 56 | Freddy Avis, rhp | L-R | 6-2 | 180 | Nationals (25) | Menlo School, Atherton, Calif. |
| 234 | Austin Barr, c | R-R | 6-2 | 215 | Mets (29) | Camas (Wash.) HS |
| 256 | Daniel Starwalt, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 211 | Phillies (37) | Granite Hills HS, El Cajon, Calif. |
| Drew Jackson, ss/3b | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Giants (37) | Miramonte HS, Orinda, Calif. | |
| Marcus Brakeman, rhp | L-R | 6-1 | 180 | Shorecrest Prep, Tierra Verde, Fla. | ||
| Bobby Zarubin, ss/3b/rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | Santa Fe Christian HS, Solana Beach, Calif. | ||
| Logan James, lhp | L-L | 6-0 | 170 | Jesuit HS, Carmichael, Calif. | ||
| Andrew McCormick, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Corona del Mar HS, Newport Beach, Calif. | ||
| Jonny Locher, of/lhp | B-L | 6-0 | 175 | Highline HS, Burien, Wash. | ||
| Zach Hoffpauir, of | R-R | 6-0 | 205 | Centennial HS, Glendale, Ariz. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Dean Stotz. Total Recruits: 12 (12 freshmen).
The crown jewel of Stanford's class is Avis, one of the premier incoming arms in the nation thanks to a fastball that reaches the mid-90s, a sharp power curveball and a promising changeup. He also has a fluid lefthanded swing with serious juice. Starwalt gives this class a second potential frontline righty if he can regain the form he displayed before suffering a stress fracture in his back; in 2011 he ran his fastball into the mid-90s and showed a plus power curve. The group's other headliner, Barr, is a physical catcher who can really throw and offers good righthanded power potential. Stotz calls Brakeman a 'feisty little devil' with a polished three-pitch mix, including a fastball that touches 91, a solid curve and a changeup with plus potential. James (a loose-armed lefty in the mold of California's Kyle Porter) and McCormick (an athletic, projectable righty with the makings of a slightly above-average slider) provide valuable pitching depth. The aggressive, versatile Zarubin can play all over the diamond; he and the speedy Locher also have a chance to contribute on the mound during their careers. Jackson, the younger brother of former Cal star and current Cubs outfielder Brett Jackson, is a standout athlete with plus speed and some power potential, though he needs refinement at the plate and in the infield. Hoffpauir, a defensive back for the Cardinal football team, offers electric athleticism.
| 7. TEXAS | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 70 | C.J. Hinojosa, ss | R-R | 5-11 | 190 | Astros (26) | Klein Collins HS, Spring, Texas |
| 218 | Holden Helmink, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 185 | Diamondbacks (22) | Willis (Texas) HS |
| 224 | Chad Hollingsworth, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 195 | Robinson (Texas) HS | |
| Codey McElroy, if | R-R | 6-6 | 210 | Eastern Oklahoma State JC | ||
| Ty Culbreth, lhp | L-L | 6-0 | 180 | Bryan (Texas) HS | ||
| Weston Hall, of | R-R | 6-0 | 190 | Navarro (Texas) JC | ||
| Ben Johnson, of | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | Braves (34) | Westwood HS, Austin | |
| Travis Duke, lhp | L-L | 6-2 | 220 | Dawson HS, Pearland, Texas | ||
| Madison Carter, if | R-R | 5-10 | 175 | Grayson County (Texas) CC | ||
| Jeremy Montalbano, c | R-R | 6-0 | 200 | Seven Lakes HS, Katy, Texas | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Tommy Nicholson. Total Recruits: 14 (9 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
Texas lost seven marquee recruits to the draft—a first-rounder, two sandwich picks, three second-rounders and a fourth-rounder—and fired longtime recruiting coordinator Tommy Harmon, yet still managed to land a top-12 class for the 11th time in the 13-year history of these rankings. Hinojosa was supposed to be part of last year's class, but his plan to enroll early fell through, and an injury to his non-throwing shoulder hampered him last spring. At full strength, he drives the ball to all fields and adds solid speed, arm strength and instincts at short. Pitching coach Skip Johnson calls Hollingsworth 'just a tough, country kid' who pounds the zone with a heavy 89-94 sinker and a solid breaking ball. Helmink offers more projection; Johnson likens him to a righthanded Sam Stafford, with the makings of a plus fastball and downer curve. The competitive Culbreth really commands his curveball; he and Duke should be valuable pitchability lefties with mid-to-upper-80s fastballs. McElroy came out of nowhere to impress scouts this spring with his intriguing righthanded power potential, solid speed and arm strength. He leads a decent group of juco transfers that also includes the speedy, defense-oriented trio of Hall, Carter and Matt Moynihan. Johnson also stands out for his plus speed, though he'll need to shorten up his swing. Montalbano has an accurate arm behind the plate and a gap-to-gap approach.
| 8. ARIZONA STATE | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 203 | Ryan Kellogg, lhp | L-L | 6-5 | 220 | Blue Jays (12) | Street HS, Whitby, Ont. |
| 205 | Ryan Burr, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 215 | Rangers (33) | Highlands Ranch (Colo.) HS |
| Brett Lilek, lhp | L-L | 6-4 | 190 | Mariners (37) | Marion Catholic HS, Chicago Heights, Ill. | |
| David Graybill, rhp/of | R-R | 6-4 | 235 | Dodgers (31) | Brophy Prep, Phoenix | |
| Cullen O'Dwyer, of | B-R | 6-2 | 190 | Braves (39) | El Dorado HS, Albuquerque | |
| John Sewald, of | R-R | 5-11 | 170 | Orioles (34) | Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas | |
| R.J. Ybarra, c | R-R | 5-11 | 205 | Riverside (Calif.) Poly HS | ||
| Trey Kamachi, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 205 | Kapolei (Hawaii) HS | ||
| Chris Beal, of | L-L | 6-2 | 200 | Brophy Prep, Phoenix | ||
| Jordan Aboites, ss | R-R | 5-7 | 150 | Mayfair HS, Lakewood, Calif. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Ken Knutson. Total Recruits: 16 (16 freshmen).
Like Texas, the Sun Devils were hit hard by the draft, losing six of their seven signees who ranked among BA's Top 100 high school prospects last fall. The one who showed up on campus—Burr—regressed in the spring, struggling to repeat his delivery and throw strikes with his power three-pitch repertoire. Still, this class is deep in quality pitching and athletic position players. Kellogg is a polished veteran of the Canadian junior national team with an average fastball, feel for a curveball and changeup, and projection left in his big frame. Lilek showed 90-92 mph heat from the left side and flashed a promising breaking ball before tweaking his biceps in the spring, helping turn him from a potential early-round pick into a Sun Devil. Graybill gives this class a fourth power arm who stands 6-foot-4 or better; he should be a factor in the bullpen as well as at the plate, where he offers raw power from the right side. Kamachi, the top Hawaiian prep prospect this spring, has an average fastball and flashes an above-average curve with good depth. The speedy Sewald had a strong summer in the California Collegiate League and could provide a spark near the top of ASU's lineup. O'Dwyer can handle the bat from both sides, and Beal provides some extra lefthanded offensive upside, if he can put his rough senior year of high school behind him. The offense-oriented Ybarra reminds the Devils of former ASU catcher Carlos Ramirez. The undersized Aboites is a defensive standout at short but must add strength.
| 9. AUBURN | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 169 | Sam Gillikin, of | L-R | 6-2 | 195 | Braves (33) | Hoover (Ala.) HS |
| 253 | Rock Rucker, lhp/of | L-L | 6-5 | 225 | Russell County HS, Seale, Ala. | |
| 396 | Trey Wingenter, rhp | R-R | 6-7 | 190 | Mariners (36) | Bob Jones HS, Madison, Ala. |
| 485 | Damek Tomscha, 3b | R-R | 6-4 | 225 | Cubs (19) | Iowa Western CC |
| Terrance Dedrick, rhp/of | R-R | 5-10 | 175 | Shelton State (Ala.) CC | ||
| Conner Kendrick, lhp | L-L | 6-0 | 185 | Northwest Florida State JC | ||
| Jordan Ebert, 2b/of | R-R | 6-0 | 180 | Baldwin County HS, Minette, Ala. | ||
| Dylan Smith, 1b/of | R-R | 6-3 | 215 | Clay-Chalkville HS, Pinson, Ala. | ||
| Matt Schultz, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | Oswego (Ill.) East HS | ||
| Cole Lipscomb, rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 180 | Edgewood Acad., Elmore, Ala. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Scott Foxhall. Total Recruits: 15 (9 freshmen, 6 JC transfers).
Auburn's balanced class is its strongest since this coaching staff arrived in 2008. Gillikin, a star football player in high school, is a premium athlete with plus speed and plus raw power, and he figures to take off now that he's focusing on baseball full-time. He'll need to refine his offensive approach, however. Tomscha might be one of the nation's most impactful juco transfers thanks to his power bat and his power arm at third base, where he is a sound defender. Ebert should also play right away, likely either at second base or in the outfield, because he is a natural born hitter with surprising pop and plenty of athleticism. The physical Smith brings plus raw power from the right side and average speed, making him a potential middle-of-the-order bat in time. Dedrick is aggressive in the outfield and on the mound, which should help him earn a late-innings role this spring. Fellow two-way talent Rucker has bigger raw tools, with plus raw power at the plate and a fastball that has bumped 94, but he'll need to answer questions about his maturity and toughness. The ultra-projectable Wingenter figures to add power to his 88-92 fastball and promising curve as he fills out his skinny 6-foot-7 frame; the Tigers say he has already been up to 95 mph this fall. He has the look of a front-line SEC pitcher, though he might start out as a midweek starter. Kendrick should contribute immediately thanks to a quality three-pitch mix and good deception, while Schultz and Lipscomb are quick-armed righties with three-quarters slots and the makings of quality breaking balls. Schultz is more advanced and has been more consistent with his fastball velocity this fall, working consistently at 90-94. The sleeper is Michael O'Neal, a deceptive low-slot lefthander with excellent fastball command.
| 10. MIAMI | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 154 | Brandon Lopez, ss | R-R | 6-1 | 170 | Blue Jays (34) | American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. |
| Grant Heyman, of | L-R | 6-4 | 210 | Blue Jays (11) | Pittsford (N.Y.) Sutherland HS | |
| David Thompson, of/if | R-R | 6-2 | 210 | Yankees (38) | Westminster Christian School, Miami | |
| Alex Hernandez, ss/2b | R-R | 5-9 | 175 | Palm Beach (Fla.) JC | ||
| Chris Barr, 1b/of | L-L | 6-1 | 175 | Royal Palm Beach HS, West Palm Beach, Fla. | ||
| Jace Herrera, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 185 | Red Sox '11 (36) | Valencia (Fla.) CC | |
| Roger Gonzalez, c | B-R | 5-8 | 185 | Florida Christian HS, Miami | ||
| Eric Neitzel, of/3b | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | Gulliver Prep, Miami | ||
| Ricky Eusebio, of | R-R | 5-11 | 175 | Gulliver Prep, Miami | ||
| Thomas Woodrey, lhp | L-L | 6-3 | 195 | Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | ||
Recruiting coordinators: Gino DiMare/J.D. Arteaga. Total Recruits: 13 (12 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
Miami focused on building a core of impact position players and wound up with its first top-10 class since 2006. Lopez's fluid, balanced swing generates plus bat speed, and he has the plus arm and good actions to thrive on the left side of the infield. Hernandez, though, might be Miami's shortstop of the future thanks to his advanced feel for the game, sure hands and strong arm. He also has a No. 2 hitter's offensive skill set. Heyman, the No. 2 prospect in the NYCBL this summer, has a balanced offensive approach, above-average speed and plus raw power, giving him a chance to become a first-rounder in three years. Thompson, who doubles as a quarterback for the Miami football team, owns the career and single-season home run records for high school baseball in Florida, illustrating his big-time power. Barr has a quality gap-to-gap approach from the left side and excellent hands at first base. Neitzel offers athleticism and righthanded pop, while Eusebio brings some speed and table-setting skills. Gonzalez is a high-energy, offensive catcher with bat speed from both sides of the plate. Herrera and Woodrey add pitching depth, but this class is all about the stellar position players.
| 11. TEXAS CHRISTIAN | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 110 | Mitchell Traver, rhp | R-R | 6-7 | 251 | Astros (39) | Houston Christian HS |
| 126 | Alex Young, lhp | L-L | 6-2 | 190 | Rangers (32) | Carmel Catholic HS, Mundelein, Ill. |
| 412 | Riley Ferrell, rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 200 | A&M Consolidated HS, College Station, Texas | |
| 460 | Trevor Seidenberger, lhp | L-L | 6-2 | 196 | Blinn (Texas) JC | |
| Paul Hendrix, ss/2b | R-R | 6-2 | 177 | Indians (32) | Howard (Texas) JC | |
| Cody Jones, of | B-R | 5-11 | 175 | Temple (Texas) JC | ||
| Kyle Bacak, c | R-R | 5-9 | 175 | San Jacinto (Texas) JC | ||
| Tejay Antone, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 220 | Mets (22) | Legacy HS, Mansfield, Texas | |
| Boomer White, c/of | R-R | 5-8 | 195 | Houston Memorial HS | ||
| Brian Trieflaff, rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | Houston Christian HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Tony Vitello. Total Recruits: 16 (11 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
TCU believes the pitching in this class stacks up well with any group of incoming arms in the Jim Schlossnagle era, and that argument has merit. With a huge frame, a 92-94 mph power sinker, hard curveball and solid changeup, Traver generated first-round buzz before thoracic outlet syndrome derailed his spring, and he'll miss all of 2013 after having Tommy John Surgery. Young, the top prospect in Illinois this spring, is a projectable, athletic lefty who has touched 93 mph and shown feel for a changeup and curveball. If Ferrell can smooth out his delivery, his stuff should become more consistent; at his best, he can reach 93-94 and flashes a wipeout power slider. Seidenberger could make the biggest immediate impact, as his ability to throw strikes with three solid pitches could earn him a rotation spot. Antone is a physical three-quarters righty with boring life on his 87-92 fastball and the makings of a decent slider/cutter, though he needs refinement. Trieglaff has some funk in his delivery that can lead to spotty command, but he has touched 94 in the past. The Frogs complemented those power arms with solid juco position players like Hendrix (a doubles machine with athleticism and arm strength in the middle infield), Jones (a plus-plus runner who reminds TCU a bit of former Frog Kyle Von Tungeln) and Bacak (a defense-first cacher with a strong, accurate arm). White is an undersized, high-energy grinder with a flat stroke.
| 12. UC SANTA BARBARA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 173 | Andrew Calica, of | L-R | 6-2 | 175 | Indians (17) | Eastlake HS, Chula Vista, Calif. |
| 281 | Connor Baits, rhp | R-R | 6-6 | 200 | Mets (23) | Point Loma HS, San Diego |
| 391 | Dillon Tate, rhp | R-R | 6-1 | 165 | Claremont (Calif.) HS | |
| Devon Gradford, ss | R-R | 6-1 | 185 | Athletics (34) | Downey (Calif.) HS | |
| Kenneth Chapman, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 195 | Claremont (Calif.) HS | ||
| Art Vidrio, lhp | L-L | 5-9 | 170 | Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS | ||
| Robby Nesovic, rhp/if | R-R | 6-3 | 195 | Grossmont HS, El Cajon, Calif. | ||
| Dylan Hecht, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 185 | Foothill HS, Pleasanton, Calif. | ||
| Joe Duffin, c/of | R-R | 6-0 | 215 | Villa Park (Calif.) HS | ||
| Justin Jacome, lhp | L-L | 6-5 | 220 | Redlands (Calif.) East Valley HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Eddie Cornejo. Total Recruits: 23 (19 freshmen, 4 JC transfers).
Cornejo and second-year head coach Andrew Checketts wasted no time making their mark at UCSB, landing the Gauchos in the recruiting rankings for the first time. The crown jewel of the class is Calica, an energetic, quick-twitch player with a knack for making hard contact to all fields and playing aggressive defense in center. Gradford should be another key lineup building block thanks to his good rhythm at the plate and quick hands. At his best, the physical Baits has flashed 94 mph heat and a pair of promising secondary pitches, but he'll need Checketts (a respected pitching guru) to help straighten out his delivery. Scouts were intrigued by Tate's quick arm, wiry frame and easy delivery in the spring; he bumped 94 this summer and has significant upside if he can develop his offspeed stuff. High school teammate Chapman is a strike-thrower with an 88-91 mph fastball and good feel for a sharp breaking ball. The undersized Vidrio tops out in the mid-80s, but he is a proven winner with a good cutter and feel for pitching. Jacome and Nesovic are big-bodied, projectable arms whose repertoires need refinement. Nesovic works from a low three-quarters slot and has very good life on his 87-90 fastball. Jacome works in the mid-80s, and his promising curve needs more power. Hecht has less upside but better present stuff, with a power fastball/slider mix that could be a good fit in the late innings. Duffin needs to find a defensive home and cut down on his swing-and-misses, but his righthanded power is intriguing.
| 13. CLEMSON | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 171 | Clate Schmidt, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 185 | Tigers (36) | Allatoona HS, Acworth, Ga. |
| 215 | Steven Duggar, of | L-R | 6-2 | 185 | Byrnes HS, Duncan, S.C. | |
| 500 | Brody Koerner, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | Robinson HR, Concord, N.C. | |
| Tyler Krieger, ss | B-R | 6-2 | 170 | Mariners (35) | Northview HS, Johns Creek, Ga. | |
| Matthew Crownover, lhp | L-L | 6-0 | 200 | Ringgold (Ga.) HS | ||
| Kevin Bradley, 3b/c | B-R | 6-2 | 200 | Rockies (36) | Hopewell Valley Central HS, Pennington, N.J. | |
| Shane Kennedy, if | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Santa Fe (Fla.) CC | ||
| Wales Toney, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 210 | Hanna HS, Anderson, S.C. | ||
| Maleeke Gibson, of | L-L | 6-0 | 160 | Sumter (S.C.) Academy | ||
| Zack Erwin, lhp | L-L | 6-5 | 190 | Duluth (Ga.) HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Bradley LeCroy. Total Recruits: 17 (15 freshmen, 2 JC transfers).
Clemson's balanced class features exciting arms from the right and left sides, and a solid group of athletic position players. Schmidt needs to add some muscle to improve his durability, but he has electric stuff, with a fastball that reaches 96 and the makings of a plus breaking ball. Schmidt's athleticism also could play in the field, in the infield or in center. The projectable Toney sat at 88-92 in the spring but has been working easily at 93-94 this fall, along with a dramatically improved slider. Crownover generated top-three-rounds draft buzz before having Tommy John Surgery in March; at his best, he can reach 93 from the left side and features a good changeup and promising but inconsistent curveball. Koerner relies more on feel for pitching and a swing-and-miss power curveball in the 78-80 range than on pure velocity, but he could add a few ticks to his 87-91 fastball as he matures. Erwin is less advanced but very projectable at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds; he works in the mid- to upper 80s and has the makings of a very good changeup. The top position player in the class is Duggar, who has three plus tools in his arm, power and speed, reminding some evaluators of Tyler Colvin. Like a young Colvin, he'll need to add strength and improve his contact rate. Krieger's lanky frame and athleticism remind Clemson coach Jack Leggett of former Tiger Brad Miller. He brings plus speed and a short swing from both sides of the plate. Bradley, the son of former big leaguer and current Princeton coach Scott Bradley, has the savvy of a coach's son as well as good power from the left side and a strong arm. The Tigers say Kennedy has the best raw power on the team along with slightly above-average speed, while Gibson's premium speed and skill set evokes former Clemson star Brad Chalk.
| 14. LOUISIANA STATE | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 121 | Alex Bregman, 2b | R-R | 5-11 | 180 | Red Sox (19) | Albuquerque Acad. |
| 401 | Will LaMarche, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 220 | Twins (18) | Chabot (Calif.) JC |
| Chris Chinea, c | R-R | 6-0 | 205 | Gulliver Prep, Miami | ||
| Russell Reynolds, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 175 | Parkview Baptist HS, Baton Rouge, La. | ||
| Hunter Newman, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 180 | Calvary Day School, Savannah, Ga. | ||
| Sean McMullen, of | L-L | 5-8 | 175 | Delgado (La.) CC | ||
| Mark Laird, of | L-L | 6-2 | 180 | Ouachita Christian School, Monroe, La. | ||
| Mitchell Sewald, rhp | R-R | 6-5 | 180 | Archbishop Rummel HS, Metairie, La. | ||
| Geonte' Jackson, 3b | R-R | 6-0 | 170 | Elkins HS, Sugarland, Texas | ||
| Andrew Stevenson, of | L-L | 6-0 | 170 | St. Thomas More HS, Lafayette, La. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Javi Sanchez. Total Recruits: 16 (12 freshmen, 4 JC transfers).
LSU focused on bolstering its athleticism and pitching with this class, but two of its key recruits are bat-first, up-the-middle players. Scouts and rival recruiters are united in their praise for Bregman, who earns comparisons to former California All-American Tony Renda for his superb feel for his barrel, his baseball acumen and his small stature—though he also has surprising pop. Stout and strong, Chinea has very good righthanded power, and his bat could get him in the lineup early on (though he won't displace Ty Ross behind the plate). The physical LaMarche has a mid-90s fastball, hard breaking ball and feel for a changeup, but he'll need to show better control than he did in junior college in order to hold down a weekend rotation spot. Newman, Reynolds and Sewald are loose, athletic and projectable righties who could be weekend starters down the road. Reynolds flashes 89-93 mph heat and an above-average slider, while Newman locates an 89-91 fastball. Sewald's fastball can be inconsistent, but he has touched 93 in the past and shown a promising 12-to-6 curveball. The undersized McMullen has the arm strength and instincts to play any outfield position, while Laird and Stevenson are speedy, lefthanded slap-and-go types. Jackson is another fine athlete with quick hands at the plate, along with good range and actions at the hot corner.
| 15. TEXAS A&M | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 158 | Cory Raley, ss | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Indians (33) | Uvalde (Texas) HS |
| 486 | Rex Hill, lhp | L-L | 6-3 | 180 | Tomball (Texas) HS | |
| A.J. Minter, lhp/of | L-L | 6-0 | 200 | Tigers (38) | Brook Hill HS, Bullard, Texas | |
| Grayson Long, rhp | R-R | 6-5 | 210 | Mariners (39) | Barbers Hill HS, Mont Belvieu, Texas | |
| Andrew Vinson, rhp/if | R-R | 6-0 | 160 | Flower Mound (Texas) HS | ||
| J.B. Moss, of | R-R | 6-1 | 185 | Brook Hill HS, Bullard, Texas | ||
| Greg Maisto, lhp | L-L | 6-2 | 180 | Carroll HS, Southlake, Texas | ||
| Hunter Melton, rhp/1b | R-R | 6-2 | 225 | Corsicana (Texas) HS | ||
| Patrick Michon, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 180 | Louisana State-Eunice JC | ||
| Logan Taylor, if | R-R | 6-0 | 195 | Deer Park HS, Houston | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Justin Seely. Total Recruits: 17 (16 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The Aggies have had great success mining the junior-college ranks under coach Rob Childress, but this freshman-laden class is designed to build a strong long-term foundation. Raley's premium athleticism will surely remind Aggie fans of his brother, former A&M two-way star Brooks Raley. Cory's plus-plus speed gives him a chance to be a dynamic player with some offensive refinement, and his strong arm and good actions should keep him at shortstop. Tommy John surgery helped the loose, projectable Hill make it to campus; before his injury he pitched at 88-92 and touched 94, and showed the makings of a quality changeup. The late-blooming Minter, a physical lefty in the Mike Stanton mold, will make a bigger impact in the short term thanks to an 88-94 mph fastball and a nasty 85-88 cutter. Long has touched 92-93 with a plus changeup in the past, though his velocity and his secondary stuff were inconsistent in the spring. A smallish bulldog with good feel for pitching, Vinson has a four-pitch mix highlighted by an 86-90 fastball, a polished curveball and changeup. Melton, like Minter and Vinson, has two-way ability; he has big power potential at the plate and a big arm on the mound, but he has a long way to go in all facets, making him something of a wild card. Maisto currently works in the 85-88 range but has bumped 91, and his smooth arm action suggests more velocity could come. Michon, the lone juco player in this class, was a successful closer for powerhouse LSU-Eunice thanks to a funky delivery, low-90s fastball and a split-finger. Moss' best tool is his plus-plus speed; he also has surprising strength in his righthanded swing, but he needs refinement. Taylor brings righthanded power potential but needs to find a defensive home. Danny Holst, Ryan Rand and Drew Featherston all have chances to hit as well and bring added athleticism, making this a very deep group as the Aggies move into the Southeastern Conference.
| 16. SOUTH CAROLINA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 276 | Jack Wynkoop, lhp | L-L | 6-6 | 190 | Cape Henry HS, Virginia Beach | |
| 286 | Max Schrock, 2b | L-R | 5-9 | 180 | Diamondbacks (28) | Cardinal Gibbons HS, Raleigh |
| Curt Britt, rhp/1b | L-R | 6-2 | 210 | Scotland County HS, Laurinburg, N.C. | ||
| George Iskendarian, 3b/of | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. | ||
| Graham Saiko, if | R-R | 6-0 | 185 | Tallahassee (Fla.) CC | ||
| Kwinton Smith, of | R-R | 6-4 | 206 | Rangers (14) | Dillon (S.C.) HS | |
| Ryan Ripken, 1b | L-L | 6-5 | 195 | Orioles (20) | Gilman School, Baltimore | |
| Tyler Jackson, rhp | R-R | 6-6 | 200 | Wren HS, Piedmont, S.C. | ||
| D.C. Arendas, if | L-R | 6-1 | 180 | Northern Guilford HS, Greensboro, N.C. | ||
| Zach Smith, 1b | R-R | 61 | 180 | South Carolina-Sumter JC | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Sammy Esposito. Total Recruits: 15 (11 freshmen, 4 JC transfers).
The Gamecocks landed two immediate impact players in Wynkoop and Schrock, buttressed by a nice blend of complementary players and down-the-road building blocks. South Carolina recruited Wynkoop as a pitchability lefty in the Jordan Montgomery mold, but his velocity has jumped from the mid-80s into the 90-92 range, and his changeup is outstanding like Montgomery's. Schrock is short but very strong, with an advanced lefthanded bat that could land him in the No. 3 hole as a freshman. He also has double-digit home run power, plus speed and good enough hands to hold down second base—a total package that reminds coach Chad Holbrook of former North Carolina star Kyle Seager, but with more speed. Britt's heavy 90-93 mph fastball, good changeup and improving breaking balls (a slider and a curve) figure to make him a valuable late-innings contributor early on. Saiko looks like a nice role player for 2013 thanks to his defensive versatility, solid speed and compact swing. Arendas is another polished defender who can handle either middle infield spot but needs to add strength at the plate. Iskendarian has always performed well in workouts thanks to his raw righthanded power and athleticism, but he needs refinement in all phases. The lanky Jackson is a classic projection righty who is still learning to pitch but can already bump 90 and has plenty of upside. Ripken, the son of Hall of Famer Cal, inherited some of his father's moxie and work ethic but needs to get stronger physically, though he does have a knack for squaring balls up. The powerful Zach Smith has a chance to DH against righthanded pitching this year. The X-factor is Kwinton Smith, a wide receiver on the South Carolina football team with significant upside on the baseball field.
| 17. FRESNO STATE | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 74 | Derick Velasquez, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 180 | Orioles (15) | Merced (Calif.) JC |
| 494 | Brody Russell, ss/2b | R-R | 6-1 | 190 | Pirates (30) | Centennial HS, Bakersfield, Calif. |
| 495 | Taylor Ward, c | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Rays (31) | Shadow Hills HS, Indio, Calif. |
| Kevin Viers, 3b/of | L-R | 6-1 | 190 | Esperanza HS, Anaheim | ||
| Nick Villar, of | R-R | 6-1 | 200 | El Toro HS, Lake Forest, Calif. | ||
| Blake Quinn, rhp | R-R | 6-5 | 210 | Bullard HS, Fresno, Calif. | ||
| Luke Weichec, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 210 | Los Altos (Calif.) HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Shaun Larkin. Total Recruits: 13 (11 freshmen, 2 JC transfers).
The Bulldogs landed a legitimate ace in Velazquez, a sophomore transfer who could anchor the rotation for the next two years. The nation's top juco recruit, Velazquez commands a heavy 89-92 mph sinker and shows the makings of a plus changeup and a plus curveball. Russell is a gamer who can play all over the infield and outfield. He has a plus arm, solid speed, quick hands and a gap-to-gap approach with occasional pull power. Ward's best tool is his plus arm strength, and he has a chance to be a solid receiver and blocker with some refinement. His righthanded swing has some fluidity, making him another potential doubles machine. Viers is a good athlete with some power potential and a pretty lefthanded stroke. The physical Villar is another potential middle-of-the-order bat with raw pop from the right side. Quinn and Weichec have good frames, quick arms and athleticism. Both flash plus fastball velocity and have good feel for their breaking balls.
| 18. KENTUCKY | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 267 | Kyle Cody, rhp | R-R | 6-7 | 220 | Phillies (33) | Chippewa Falls (Wis.) HS |
| 304 | Ryne Combs, lhp | L-L | 6-0 | 170 | Bryan Station HS, Lexington, Ky. | |
| 305 | Chase Mullins, lhp | L-L | 6-9 | 285 | Rangers (24) | Bourbon County HS, Paris, Ky. |
| 490 | Matt Pope, rhp | L-L | 6-7 | 215 | Pirates (38) | Science Hill HS, Johnson City, Tenn. |
| Casey Schroeder, c | B-R | 6-2 | 190 | Cardinals (21) | Ottawa-Glandorf HS, Ottawa, Ohio | |
| Zach Arnold, c | R-R | 6-2 | 175 | Mets (27) | Franklin County HS, Frankfort, Ky. | |
| Dylan Dwyer, lhp | L-L | 6-1 | 170 | Calloway County HS, Murray, Ky. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Brad Bohanon. Total Recruits: 11 (11 freshmen).
Kentucky's class is all about pitching and catching. In Cody, Pope and Mullins, the Wildcats have three enormous pitchers with serious upside, though the best of the lot might be the 6-foot Combs, a very advanced three-pitch lefty in the mold of former Wildcat Chris Rusin. Combs commands an 87-91 fastball, a good 79-80 slider and a changeup that also has a chance to be better than average. The ultra-projectable Cody pitches off a fastball in the 87-92 range and mixes in a slurvy mid-70s breaking ball that needs refinement and a developing changeup. The biggest body in this collection of behemoths belongs to Mullins, who showed 87-92 mph velocity and a plus curveball before having Tommy John surgery that will sideline him in 2013. Pope is the most raw of the group but has tantalizing potential, with a 94-95 mph fastball and a power 12-to-6 hammer at 80 mph. Dwyer is a thinner version of Combs, but with less feel for his changeup, more inconsistent fastball velocity, and a traditional 12-to-6 curve rather than a slider. The two catchers in this class complement each other well, as Arnold is a polished defender with a light bat, while Schroeder has more work to do behind the plate but a more advanced bat. Arnold can really catch and throw, and his swing works, but he needs to add strength. Schroeder is a switch-hitter with some pop, and he has the athleticism and solid arm to succeed behind the plate in time.
| 19. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 62 | Kyle Twomey, lhp | L-L | 6-3 | 170 | Athletics (3) | El Dorado HS, Placentia, Calif. |
| 153 | Timmy Robinson, of | R-R | 6-1 | 230 | Twins (31) | Ocean View HS, Huntington Beach, Calif. |
| 197 | Vahn Bozoian, of | R-R | 6-4 | 200 | Ayala HS, Chino Hills, Calif. | |
| Greg Zebrack, of | R-R | 6-1 | 205 | Dodgers '08 (43) | Pennsylvania | |
| Kyle Davis, rhp/c | R-R | 6-0 | 190 | Pacifica HS, Garden Grove, Calif. | ||
| Shane Gonzales, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 200 | Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif. | ||
| Reggie Southall, ss | B-R | 5-11 | 165 | Junipero Serra HS, Gardena, Calif. | ||
| Brent Wheatley, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 200 | Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS | ||
| Brooks Kriske, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Palm Desert (Calif.) HS | ||
| Blake Lacey, ss | R-R | 6-0 | 175 | Clovis (Calif.) HS | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Dan Hubbs. Total Recruits: 18 (16 freshmen, 1 JC transfer, 1 graduate transfer).
Twomey, one of the top prospects to attend college this fall, highlights Dan Hubbs' first class at USC. Twomey stands out most for his ability to locate an 87-91 fastball that plays up because of its life and deception, and for his loose, projectable frame and smooth arm action. His secondary stuff is a work in progress, but his changeup should be a quality No. 2 pitch. The muscular Robinson has plus raw power from the right side and solid speed for his size, but his game has some stiffness. Bozoian is another corner outfielder with less speed but a plus arm; he is another potential slugger, but he swings and misses too much and has a long way to go to unlock his plus raw power. In the short term, the Trojans will get more out of Zebrack, a graduate transfer who began his career at USC before hitting 14 homers over the last two years at Penn. Lacey is a defensive whiz who earned an Adam Everett comparison from one scout, and Southall is another athletic shortstop with good actions. Both of them need to add strength, but they bring energy. Davis, Gonzales, Wheatley and Kriske all work in the upper 80s and bump 90. Gonzales has shown the most velocity of the group, hitting 92 and showing excellent feel for his changeup and a 12-to-6 curveball. Davis has good command of his four-pitch repertoire, highlighted by a quality slider and changeup, and also brings good receiving skills behind the plate. Wheatley and Kriske are strike-throwers who are still developing their secondary stuff.
| 20. TENNESSEE | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 174 | Vincent Jackson, of | L-L | 6-5 | 205 | Yankees (23) | Luella HS, McDonough, Ga. |
| 182 | A.J. Simcox, ss | R-R | 6-3 | 180 | Rockies (32) | Farragut HS, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Christin Stewart, of | L-R | 6-0 | 215 | Providence Christian HS, Lilburn, Ga. | ||
| David Houser, c | B-R | 6-2 | 220 | AC Flora HS, Forest Acres, S.C. | ||
| Scott Price, 1b/of | L-R | 6-3 | 215 | Sumter (S.C.) JC | ||
| Taylor Smart, 2b | R-R | 5-10 | 185 | Western Nevada JC | ||
| Vance Vizcaino, 3b/ss | L-R | 6-3 | 175 | Mets (31) | Wakefield HS, Raleigh | |
| Drake Owenby, lhp | L-L | 6-2 | 225 | Powell (Tenn.) HS | ||
| Andrew Lee, rhp/1b | L-R | 6-5 | 210 | Morristown (Tenn.) West HS | ||
| Davis Aiken, of | L-R | 5-9 | 180 | Oconee County HS, Watkinsville, Ga. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Bill Mosiello. Total Recruits: 25 (20 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
Second-year coach Dave Serrano and his staff wasted no time overhauling Tennessee's roster, bringing in a large class loaded with quality lefthanded hitting, though it is short on impact arms. The top player in the group is the righthanded-hitting Simcox, a rangy, well-rounded shortstop with very good defensive skills and a knack for barreling up hard line drives. The son of former UT assistant Larry Simcox, A.J. served as a bat boy on the Vols' 2001 and '05 Omaha teams, and his baseball acumen is advanced. The long, lean Jackson has huge lefthanded power projection at the plate and good hand-eye coordination that gives him a chance to eventually hit for some average as well. Off the mound, he throws strikes with an 84-88 fastball. The compact Stewart is another corner outfielder with juice in his lefthanded swing. The switch-hitting Houser is similarly physical and powerful, and he has a strong arm behind the plate, though he'll need to clean up his receiving. Another switch-hitter, Vizcaino, could grow into some lefthanded power and is an athletic defender on the left side. Price is a polished juco bat who could step into the middle of the lineup this spring, while the aptly named Smart has the baseball savvy to step into the everyday second base job and hit in the No. 2 hole. The top pitcher in this class is Owenby, a thick-bodied lefty who hides his 85-90 mph fastball well and spins a very good curveball. Lee has shown 90-92 mph heat in the past, but he won't pitch in 2013 after having Tommy John surgery. He could win the starting first base job, however, as his long-levered lefthanded swing has intriguing power potential.
| 21. ARKANSAS | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 249 | Trey Killian, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 190 | Mountain Home (Ark.) HS | |
| 265 | Blake Baxendale, c | R-R | 6-3 | 215 | Rogers (Ark.) Heritage HS | |
| 347 | Willie Schwanke, 3b/rhp | L-R | 6-1 | 185 | Wakeland HS, Frisco, Texas | |
| Colin Poche, lhp | L-L | 6-3 | 195 | Orioles (5) | Marcus HS, Flower Mound, Texas | |
| Brett McAfee, ss | R-R | 5-11 | 180 | Rays (36) | Panola (Texas) JC | |
| Hayden Barnett, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 220 | Stratford HS, Houston | ||
| Isaac Hellbusch, of/1b | R-R | 6-2 | 210 | Deer Creek HS, Edmond, Okla. | ||
| Jalen Beeks, lhp | L-L | 5-11 | 180 | Crowder (Mo.) JC | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Todd Butler. Total Recruits: 15 (10 freshmen, 5 JC transfers).
Arkansas sustained its share of losses to the draft and the junior-college ranks, but its haul still features a nice mix of power bats and projectable arms. Killian ranked as the top prep pitching prospect in the state of Arkansas this spring thanks to four pitches that have all flashed average on the 20-80 scale, led by an 88-91 fastball that bumps 92-93. He lacks a knockout pitch at this stage, however. Schwanke has a quick lefthanded bat and a mature approach at the plate, along with an 88-92 mph fastball and a good hard breaking ball off the mound. The athletic Poche was drafted in the fifth round based on the projection in his 6-foot-3 frame and his promising curveball and change, but he pitches mostly in the 86-88 range currently, occasionally touching 91. Barnett, a late pickup who had originally signed with Georgia Tech, has a big, durable frame and flashes plus fastball velocity. The smaller Beeks has a nice fastball-slider combo from the left side. Baxendale, the younger brother of former Hogs ace D.J., stands out most for his significant righthanded power potential and his strong arm, though scouts have questioned his agility behind the plate. McAfee is a quick-twitch athlete with good speed and infield actions. Hellbusch's senior year was hampered by a broken hamate bone, but he has shown good righthanded pop when healthy.
| 22. FLORIDA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Richie Martin, ss | R-R | 6-0 | 180 | Mariners (38) | Bloomingdale (Fla.) HS | |
| Eric Hanhold, rhp | R-R | 6-5 | 195 | Phillies (40) | East Lake HS, Palm Harbor, Fla. | |
| Tucker Simpson, rhp | R-R | 6-6 | 220 | Oxford (Ala.) HS | ||
| Jason Carmichael, rhp | R-R | 6-2 | 160 | Mariner HS, Cape Coral, Fla. | ||
| Kevin Stypulkowski, c | B-R | 6-2 | 210 | The King's Academy, West Palm Beach, Fla. | ||
| Mike Vinson, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 205 | Columbus HS, Miami | ||
| Christian Dicks, of | L-L | 5-10 | 190 | Providence HS, Jacksonville | ||
| Brady Roberson, 3b/1b/c | R-R | 5-10 | 195 | Palm Beach Central HS, Wellington, Fla. | ||
| Harrison Bader, of | R-R | 5-11 | 180 | Horace Mann HS, Bronx, N.Y. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Craig Bell. Total Recruits: 12 (12 freshmen).
Florida's class was decimated by the draft, leaving it bereft of BA 500 players—but Martin and Hanhold could leave Gainesville as top 50 draft picks in three years. Martin does everything necessary to help his team win: He works counts, hits behind runners, plays hard and practices just as hard. He's also an excellent athlete with plus speed, good arm strength and sure hands at shortstop. The tall, projectable Hanhold flashes 90-93 mph heat, a hard upper-70s breaking ball and good feel for a changeup, giving him a shot at the Sunday starter job as a freshman. Simpson does not have as much projection in his physically mature frame, but he also figures to see significant innings early on thanks to his ability to command a quality three-pitch mix, highlighted by an 88-92 fastball. Carmichael, an athletic sinker/slider righty with a three-quarters slot, works at 87-90 and has room to add velocity. Vinson is similarly rangy and projectable but is more of a long-term project. The physical Stypulkowski is an aggressive hitter with pop from both sides of the plate and has a feel for catching. His fringy arm plays up because of its accuracy. Dicks is less advanced but has a nice lefthanded swing with some pop and average speed on the basepaths. Roberson and Bader are the sleepers. Roberson is a strong, stocky righthanded hitter who drives the ball to all fields, reminding coach Kevin O'Sullivan somewhat of former Gator Josh Adams. The live-bodied Bader, who was previously committed to Pittsburgh and then Maryland, was a late sign with plus-plus speed and a solid gap-to-gap approach.
| 23. CAL STATE FULLERTON | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 130 | Justin Garza, rhp | R-R | 5-10 | 165 | Indians (26) | Bonita HS, La Verne, Calif. |
| 417 | A.J. Kennedy, c | R-R | 5-11 | 175 | Savanna HS, Anaheim | |
| Thomas Eshelman, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 195 | Carlsbad (Calif.) HS | ||
| Jake Jefferies, if | B-R | 6-0 | 185 | Nationals (34) | Foothill HS, Santa Ana, Calif. | |
| David Olmedo-Barrera, if | L-R | 5-11 | 170 | Athletics (40) | St. Francis HS, Mountain View, Calif. | |
| Shane Stillwagon, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 180 | Valley Christian HS, Cerritos, Calif. | ||
| Tanner Pinkston, 1b | L-R | 6-5 | 225 | Dougherty Valley HS, San Ramon, Calif. | ||
| Nico Darras, of | R-R | 6-3 | 215 | JSerra HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. | ||
| Bryan Conant, lhp | L-L | 6-4 | 215 | Alta Loma (Calif.) HS | ||
| Joe Navilhon, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 205 | Freedom HS, Oakley, Calif. | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Mike Kirby. Total Recruits: 13 (13 freshmen).
The Titans wanted to strengthen the pitching foundation they laid a year earlier, add a few lefthanded bats and a quality defensive catcher, and they met those goals. Undersized but electric, Garza should be an instant star. He attacks hitters with a 90-94 mph fastball, a slightly above-average curveball and an average changeup. Eshelman is a converted catcher who evokes former Pepperdine ace Barry Enright in body and style. He ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the West Coast League this summer thanks to an 87-92 fastball, a nasty mid-80s cutter with late action and a promising change. The stocky Navilhon also reaches the low 90s, while the polished Conant works around 87-88 from the left side and has good feel for a changeup. The submariner Stillwagon presents a different look. Kennedy could step into the everyday catcher job as a freshman thanks to his quality catch-and-throw skills, but his bat is light at this stage. The offense-oriented Jefferies is a switch-hitter who handles the bat well from both sides, like his father—former big leaguer Gregg Jefferies. The wiry Olmedo-Barrera has some feel to hit from the left side and a mature offensive approach, but his infield defense needs work. Pinkston brings more physicality and lefthanded pop, and the raw Darras has some athleticism.
| 24. MISSOURI | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 72 | Alec Rash, rhp | R-R | 6-6 | 195 | Phillies (2) | Adel (Iowa) DeSoto Minburn HS |
| Keeton Steele, rhp/3b/1b | R-R | 6-3 | 211 | Rays (29) | Iowa Western CC | |
| Jace James, rhp | R-R | 5-11 | 194 | Hutchinson (Kan.) CC | ||
| Kendal Keeton, 2b/ss | R-R | 6-0 | 198 | Walters (Tenn.) State JC | ||
| Josh Lester, 3b/1b | L-R | 6-2 | 200 | Indians (30) | Columbus (Ga.) HS | |
| Dylan Kelly, c | L-R | 5-11 | 200 | Middle Georgia JC | ||
| Ryan Phillips, rhp/2b/3b | R-R | 5-10 | 191 | Rock Bridge HS, Columbia, Mo. | ||
| Peter Fairbanks, rhp | R-R | 6-5 | 205 | Webster Groves (Mo.) HS | ||
| Shane Segovia, 3b | R-R | 5-11 | 211 | Northeast Texas CC | ||
| Logan Pearson, of | L-R | 5-11 | 173 | Crowder (Mo.) JC | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Kerrick Jackson. Total Recruits: 19 (12 freshmen, 7 JC transfers).
Missouri's large class has a marquee headliner in Rash, the highest-drafted high schooler (No. 95 overall) to attend a four-year school this fall. Long and lean, Rash works downhill with a 91-95 mph fastball with heavy life at his best, and he flashes a wipeout power slider, but he's still learning to repeat his delivery and command his stuff consistently. The rest of the class is filled with gritty, heady ballplayers, including a strong group of juco transfers as the Tigers move into the SEC. In one-inning stints, Steele has shown 89-93 mph heat and a good slider, but he also has good actions at the infield corners and a solid righthanded bat. Steele is ticketed for a bullpen role, but James could step into a starting role thanks to his 87-90 mph sinker and good command. Two other juco transfers could earn starting spots up the middle: Keeton lacks flash but has plenty of savvy in the middle infield, while the high-energy Kelly is a standout receiver who handles pitchers well. Yet another juco product, the steady Segovia, will be in the mix at third base, where he is a sound defender. Pearson is a good runner with arm strength and some strength in his lefthanded bat, giving him a chance to earn the everyday job in center. Lester, son of a Pirates scout, repeats his lefthanded swing well and can play all over the infield. The fearless Phillips attacks the zone with an 85-87 fastball and a slider, while also adding infield depth. Fairbanks, who has recovered from the Tommy John surgery that cost him his senior season of high school, works downhill with an 89-91 fastball and promising slider.
| 25. ARIZONA | ||||||
| RK | Name, Pos. | B-T | Ht. | Wt. | DRAFTED | PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| 162 | Jackson Willeford, 2b | L-R | 5-9 | 185 | Royals (12) | Ramona (Calif.) HS |
| Kevin Newman, ss | R-R | 6-1 | 175 | Poway (Calif.) HS | ||
| Jesse Scholtens, rhp | R-R | 6-4 | 202 | Rodriguez HS, Fairfield, Calif. | ||
| Cody Ramer, if/of | L-R | 5-10 | 178 | Simi Valley (Calif.) HS | ||
| Kevin Elder, rhp | R-R | 6-0 | 240 | Westminster Christian HS, Elgin, Ill. | ||
| Cody Moffett, lhp | L-L | 6-4 | 215 | Highland HS, Gilbert, Ariz. | ||
| Nathan Bannister, rhp | R-R | 6-3 | 225 | Liberty HS, Peoria, Ariz. | ||
| Ryan Koziol, if | L-R | 6-3 | 165 | Providence Catholic HS, New Lenox, Ill. | ||
| Zach Gibbons, of | R-R | 5-11 | 185 | Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. | ||
| Sam Parris, 1b | R-R | 6-5 | 225 | Edmonds (Wash.) CC | ||
Recruiting Coordinator: Shaun Cole/Matt Siegel. Total Recruits: 14 (13 freshmen, 1 JC transfer).
The reigning national champions built their class around a pair of polished middle infielders with promising bats and a group of solid arms. The crown jewel of the class is Willeford, an undersized baseball rat with strength and a knack for barreling up hard line drives to all fields. Royals officials likened him to a lefthanded-hitting version of ex-big leaguer Marcus Giles. Like Willeford, Newman has advanced instincts at the plate and in the infield, though he is taller and more wiry than the compact Willeford, and he hits from the right side instead of the left. He also has a better chance to play shortstop than Willeford, who fits better at second base. Ramer is a third potential impact position player, with a pretty lefthanded swing and enough athleticism to play the infield or outfield. The unconventional Koziol brings some lefthanded power potential, while the long-levered Parris has even more pop from the right side. On the mound, Scholtens stands out for his advanced feel for pitching, projectability and a fastball that already bumps 91. The shorter, stockier Elder doesn't have Sholtens' upside but has similar command and feel for pitching. Bannister's sinker/slider attack should earn him a role immediately, and the competitive Moffett brings a good fastball and promising offspeed stuff from the left side.
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