17 Players Moving Up The 2023 High School Rankings

Eric Bitonti, SS/1B, California (No. 11)

Bitonti came into the year as one of the elite players in the 2023 class. He only further cemented that status this month at the Area Code Select event at Dodger Stadium, an event of mostly top 2022 and certain high-profile 2023 players on the West Coast. Bitonti showed off his massive raw power there, launching two home runs during the game, including one to the opposite field. A 6-foot-4 lefthanded hitter committed to Oregon, Bitonti is one of the youngest players in the class—he will still be 17 on draft day—but his power already ranks among the best for a 2023 prospect, with impressive mobility, hands and quickness in the infield for someone his size.

 

Aidan Keenan, RHP, California (No. 17)

Keenan had plenty of arrows pointing the right way last summer, when he reached 95 mph with a fast arm and lots of room to fill out his 6-foot-1 build. A Stanford commit, Keenan has since been up to 97, with more room for velocity growth and innate feel for spin on his breaking ball.

 

Roman Martin, SS, California (No. 18)

The more you watch Martin play, the more you appreciate his skill set. His eye for the strike zone is outstanding, so he rarely chases. When he does swing, he rarely misses, with the ability to recognize and barrel all types of pitches. The UCLA commit is also a good athlete with a strong arm at shortstop.

 

Francesco Capocci, RHP/3B, Georgia (No. 34)

Capocci came into the year as an athletic pitcher with a track record of throwing strikes. Now his velocity is increasing early in 2022, with the North Carolina commit reaching the mid 90s with a chance for more on the way.

Tai Peete, SS/RHP, Georgia (No. 37)

Peete continues to generate buzz with his two-way ability, though scouts seem particularly excited by his bouncy athleticism and upside as a position player. One of the youngest players in the 2023 class, Peete is 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with a short lefty swing and promising power potential once he fills out, with that tool trending up. A Georgia Tech commit, Peete’s arm strength is evident both on the left side of the infield and on the mound, where he has been up to 93 mph.

Charlee Soto, RHP/3B, Florida (No. 42)

Soto was intriguing last fall when he was touching 91 mph and showing feel for a breaking ball with lots of space left to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame, especially as one of the younger players in the 2023 class. Already this year, Soto has seen his stuff spike, reaching 96 mph with more velocity likely still to come. He’s committed to Central Florida.

 

Max Kaufer, C, New Jersey (No. 44)

A Texas A&M commit, Kaufer was a consistent offensive performer all summer and fall with tools that ticked up throughout the course of the year. He has strength in his simple, efficient swing from the right side and good bat-to-ball ability, with catch-and-throw skills that should stick behind the plate.

 

Sammy Stafura, SS, New York (No. 48)

Stafura has a knack for being on plane and on time at the plate, which has led to consistent offensive production. A Clemson commit, Stafura recognizes and barrels different types of pitches with a sound righthanded swing and an approach geared to driving the ball to all parts of the park.

 

Noble Meyer, RHP, Oregon (No. 54)

An Oregon commit, Meyer is 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, with a ton of space to add good weight and continue to improve a trending-up fastball that has reached 93 mph. His slider has good movement across the zone to develop into a true out pitch at the next level.

 

Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, California (No. 59)

After having Tommy John surgery in 2020, Gaeckle showed he is back with a fastball that continues to tick up, now reaching 96 mph. The UCLA commit has one of the better three-pitch mixes in the class with his feel for a curveball and changeup.

 

Coleman Mizell, OF, Alabama (No. 68)

Mizell has the size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and athleticism that will catch scouts’ attention quickly. An Alabama commit, Mizell has also hit well in games with a relatively short lefthanded swing, showing the ability to drive the ball well to the opposite field with a patient approach.

Justin Leguernic, LHP, New York (No. 74)

A Clemson commit, Leguernic seems to be just scratching the surface of his potential. With a fastball up to 89 mph, he doesn’t throw as hard as most of the other pitchers in the class, but he’s one of the youngest players in the class. He has a 6-foot-5, 185-pound frame that screams projection with feel to spin his slider and he pounds the strike zone with an easy operation mechanically.

Colin Houck, SS, Georgia (No. 77)

The only uncommitted 2023 players ranked higher than Houck are lefthander Thomas White (No. 4) and shortstop/center fielder Nazzan Zanetello (No. 47). Houck has more options to sort through, as he’s also a quarterback with Division 1 options. His combination of athleticism, hitting ability and power stands out.

Josh Knoth, RHP, New York (No. 78)

Committed to College of Charleston, Knoth is a strike-thrower whose velocity continues to increase, reaching 91 mph last fall at the WWBA Underclass World Championship and more consistently operating in the low 90s since then. With his ability to command his fastball and mix in a power curveball, he could climb even higher up our 2023 rankings if he’s throwing harder this spring, especially as one of the younger players in the class.

Jacob Gomberg, LHP, Florida (No. 84)

At 5-foot-10, 160 pounds with a fastball that has hit 90 mph, Gomberg doesn’t have the size or power arm to match some of the other pitchers ranked in the top 100, but few of them have two secondary pitches as good as Gomberg’s. A Florida commit, Gomberg throws a sharp curveball that’s a big bat-missing weapon for him, while his changeup is a deceptive pitch that flusters the timing of hitters.

 

 

Jonny Farmelo, OF, Virginia (No. 86)

Farmelo has the swing and approach that makes him one of the more advanced lefthanded hitters in the class. His swing is compact, balanced and leads to a high contact rate in games with occasional home run power to the pull side. He’s a Virginia commit.

Drew Sofield, LHP, Georgia (No. 89)

Sofield was one of the high-profile follows for the 2024 class, but he’s now an even more important arm for scouts to be tracking this summer after he announced in January that he reclassified for 2023. He’s already up to 91 mph, with the arm speed and strength projection in his 6-foot-2, 181-pound frame to eventually throw in the mid 90s, with a curveball, slider and changeup also in his mix. Sofield is an Auburn commit.