2022 College Baseball Recruiting Rankings
College baseball’s signing period opens Nov. 10 and as players around the country formalize their college commitments, Baseball America presents its first iteration of the 2022 recruiting class rankings.
These rankings will be updated and expanded over the next year, as it is a long journey from signing day until players arrive on campus. The draft will have a profound affect on these classes, as well as changes in performance, injuries and more.
Vanderbilt tops the rankings, headlined by righthander Dylan Lesko, the 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year, and outfielder Druw Jones, the son of former all-star Andruw Jones. The premium talent in the Commodores’ class is unmatched around the country. Louisiana State is close behind Vanderbilt for the top spot, however, as it has perhaps the deepest class in the nation.
The recruiting rankings take into account all players from the high school and junior college ranks and were compiled following many conversations with coaches and scouts. Four-year transfers are not considered for the ranking.
RELATED RANKINGS
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Vanderbilt
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Mike Baxter
Top recruit: Dylan Lesko, RHPOverview: Vanderbilt has assembled an unmatched array of elite talent in this class. Led by Lesko, outfielder Druw Jones and lefthanders Brandon Barriera and Noah Schultz, half a dozen players in the class have a legitimate chance to be first-round picks this summer. Signing that kind of talent means the Commodores will be sweating out the draft with many players, but it also means there’s tremendous upside for this group.
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LSU
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Dan Fitzgerald
Top recruit: Paxton Kling, OFOverview: After Jay Johnson and his staff of Fitzgerald and pitching coach Jason Kelly were hired this summer, they went to work and supplemented what was already a strong recruiting class with some more high-end talent. The result is perhaps the deepest class in the country.
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Miami
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Norberto Lopez
Top recruit: Elijah Green, OFOverview: Miami has been recruiting as well as any program in the ACC over the last few years, including landing the top-ranked 2020 class. The Hurricanes’ 2022 group has that kind of potential, particularly with Green and righthander/shortstop Nazier Mule in the mix.
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Mississippi State
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Jake Gautreau
Top recruit: Jurrangelo Cijntje, BHPOverview: The Bulldogs made a few key additions to this class in the aftermath of winning the College World Series. Those players take a solid class for an SEC team into a premium class with high-end upside.
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Louisville
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Eric Snider
Top recruit: Cam Collier, 3BOverview: The Cardinals have put together a big, strong class that ranks among the best in the ACC. The class, which got a boost over the summer when Collier reclassified from 2023 to 2022, has high-end talent both among pitchers and position players.
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Clemson
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Bradley LeCroy
Top recruit: Brock Porter, RHPOverview: With Porter and lefthander Tristan Smith leading the way, Clemson is signing a 1-2 punch on the mound that stacks up well with any team in the country. The Tigers have a strong group surrounding them, including several players that have breakout potential.
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Arkansas
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Nate Thompson
Top recruit: Jayson Jones, SSOverview: The Razorbacks have brought in back-to-back top-10 classes and their 2022 group has similar upside. It’s a well-rounded group that includes some high-impact position players.
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Duke
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Josh Jordan
Top recruit: Cole Young, SSOverview: Duke this year shepherded its recruiting class through the draft without losing any players to pro ball and was rewarded with its first top-10 class in program history. If the Blue Devils do so again next summer, their 2022 class could be even better than their 2021 group.
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Mississippi
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Carl Lafferty
Top recruit: Jackson Ferris, LHPOverview: The Rebels have compiled a strong recruiting class with some high-upside players and a lot of depth. Ole Miss has a veteran roster for 2022, so this class should be well positioned to make an impact in Oxford once it arrives.
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Florida
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Craig Bell and Chuck Jeroloman
Top recruit: Luke Heyman, COverview: Florida consistently recruits at a high level and this class is another example of that. The class is deeper on the mound, but the Gators also signed some high-end position players.
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Oklahoma State
Big 12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Justin Seely
Top recruit: Jackson Holliday, SSOverview: Oklahoma State has some top-end talent on the position player side of the class and also went heavy on the mound, as it could lose several pitchers off its current team in the draft. The result is a class that ranks among the best in the Big 12.
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Texas
Big 12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Sean Allen
Top recruit: Henry Bolte, OFOverview: Texas has a veteran roster for the 2022 season and will likely lose several players in next summer’s draft, especially from its lineup. As a result, the Longhorns hit the recruiting trail hard for position players and have compiled an exciting group.
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Auburn
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Karl Nonemaker
Top recruit: Hayden Murphy, RHPOverview: With an older, veteran roster for the 2022 season, Auburn needed to put together a bigger recruiting class to account for all the players it will lose. The Tigers went big on both numbers and talent to sign one a high-upside class.
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Georgia Tech
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: James Ramsey
Top recruit: Riley Stanford, RHP/OFOverview: The Yellow Jackets have a big, deep class as they this summer will likely be looking to replace several key players as they move into professional baseball.
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Texas Tech
Big 12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: J-Bob Thomas
Top recruit: Travis Sanders, SSOverview: The Red Raiders have a big, deep recruiting class that’s especially strong among position players, who stand out for their speed and versatility. It isn’t all about the hitters, however. Texas Tech also adds some exciting talent on the mound.
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Alabama
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Matt Reida
Top recruit: Walter Ford, RHP/3BOverview: The Crimson Tide in 2021 landed their first top-10 class since 2012. This 2022 class may not have quite the same high-profile headliners but has more depth. All in all, it makes for another strong class.
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Oregon State
Pac-12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Rich Dorman and Ryan Gipson
Top recruit: Gavin Turley, OFOverview: Oregon State in 2021 brought its highest-ranked recruiting class to campus since 2013. The 2022 group doesn’t rank quite as high, but it’s another strong class for the Beavers.
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Florida State
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Mike Metcalf
Top recruit: Jordan Taylor, OFOverview: The Seminoles continue to recruit at a high level, signing a class with some exciting, athletic position players and projectable pitchers.
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Michigan
Big TenNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Nick Schnabel
Top recruit: Nolan Schubart, OFOverview: Michigan in 2017 set a Big Ten conference record when it landed the 10th-ranked recruiting class. That group helped the Wolverines to a runner-up finish at the 2019 College World Series and produced four top-five round draft picks. This class has that kind of upside and ranks as the conference’s best this year.
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Texas A&M
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Nolan Cain
Top recruit: Jace LaViolette, OFOverview: After the new coaching staff was hired in June, the Aggies worked to bolster their recruiting class and they were able to put together a strong class. It’s an especially strong position player group, which will add a lot of athleticism to the roster.
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Virginia
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Kevin McMullan
Top recruit: Bradley Hodges, LHPOverview: The Cavaliers continue to recruit at a high level and signed a strong 2022 class. It’s especially deep on the mound, combining pitchers who can make an instant impact in Charlottesville with some upside.
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Stanford
Pac-12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Thomas Eager
Top recruit: Malcolm Moore, COverview: Stanford’s class is small, but it includes some high-impact players. If the Cardinal can keep the class together through the draft, it could end up as the best in the Pac-12.
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Kentucky
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Will Coggin
Top recruit: Tommy Specht, OFOverview: The Wildcats haven’t landed a Top 25 recruiting class since 2018 and this class has the talent to end that streak. It’s a smaller class than many others in the conference, but it’s not lacking high-end talent.
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South Carolina
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Chad Caillet
Top recruit: Eli Jerzembeck, RHPOverview: South Carolina has brought in a Top 25 recruiting class for 12 straight years and this year’s group is no different. The class is deeper on the mound but still includes some exciting position players.
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Oregon
Pac-12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Jack Marder
Top recruit: Jackson Cox, RHPOverview: Oregon in 2021 made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015, hosting a regional. Now, as head coach Mark Wasikowski and his staff enter their third season in Eugene, they have signed the Ducks’ best recruiting class in years. The Ducks have not brought a Top 25 class to campus since 2016.
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