One of the most interesting parts of following prep prospects is seeing players make strides throughout the developmental process over their careers. The fall of 2016 had some of Perfect Game’s most noteworthy tournaments and saw a lot of outstanding performances from players of all ages. The following players made the biggest jumps in our rankings for their respective classes as we detail their performances and reason for the increase in their ranking.
Updated 2017 Rankings | Updated 2018 Rankings | Updated 2019 Rankings | Updated 2020 Rankings
2017 MLB Draft: Top 250 Prospects | 2018 MLB Draft: Top 100 Prospects | 2019 MLB Draft: Top 100 Prospects
Class of 2017
OF Drew Waters (Woodstock, Ga.) PREV.: 31 NEW: 8
Waters was ranked No. 31 in our rankings after the summer and his performance in the fall – and more specifically in Jupiter – helped him make the jump to No. 8. The Georgia commit and PG All-American continued to show his worth as a two-way star and his performance in Jupiter, 5-for-11 with multiple extra-base hits and 100-plus mph hits, with a good feel for hitting, solid speed on the basepaths and good coverage in center field. Waters is No. 17 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Wilberto Rivera (Naranjito, Puerto Rico) PREV.: 85 NEW: 14
The FIU commit made a big jump in velocity from his previous high of 94 mph between the National Showcase and his performance in Jupiter. With a highly projectable frame and good arm speed, Rivera was able to bump up his velo to 97 mph. Rivera has a lot to like in terms of his ability on the mound and as his potential for the future – in terms of pitch refinery and his live arm – helped him jump to No. 15. Rivera is ranked No. 37 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Samuel Carlson (Savage, Minn.) PREV.: 75 NEW: 27
The Minnesota native put on a strong fall season as he impressed at both the Kernels Foundation Championship and in Jupiter. Carlson was able to increase his fastball velocity from the low-90s to 93-94 mph during the fall. In addition to the fastball, he showed a strong three-pitch mix, including a changeup with strong, downward fade and a tight slider. The Florida commit’s draft stock continues to improve and he landed at No. 41 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Christopher McMahon (West Chester, Pa.) PREV.: 63 NEW: 30
Another EvoShield Cane, McMahon made a big jump in the rankings thanks in part to his impressive showings at the Northeast Qualifier and in Jupiter. McMahon is a player who has shot up draft boards over the course of 2016 and his performance in Jupiter was the cherry on top. With an easy arm action the Miami commit has been clocked up to 95 mph in the past with two legitimate off-speed pitches: a changeup and a curveball. He is ranked No. 51 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP/C Hagen Danner (Huntington Beach, Calif.) PREV.: 70 NEW: 42
One of the top two-way players in the country, Danner got a nice ranking boost after seemingly doing it all for the EvoShield Canes. Danner had a strong outing in a playoff start where he was working in the low-90s with his fastball and mixing in a hammer curveball. The UCLA commit has a strong power profile at the plate and drives in plenty of runs hitting in the middle of the lineup. It will be interesting to follow his development as a two-way draft prospect and he came in at No. 75 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Jonathan Stroman (Albuquerque, N.M.) PREV.: 148 NEW: 57
Stroman was another western arm who impressed in the fall. Stroman’s draft stock shot up during the PG/Evoshield Upperclass National Championship with an outstanding performance in the quarterfinals. A complete game shutout while showing a fastball as high as 91 mph and a slider that flashed potential combined for one of the best pitching packages of the entire fall. The Arizona commit had a live fastball that touched 94 mph with movement to the arm side in Jupiter. Stroman came in at No. 109 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Spencer Strider (Knoxville, Tenn.) PREV.: 181 NEW: 60
The last that Perfect Game saw of the Tennessee native he was up to 94 mph during the 17u National Championship. Jumping up to 96 mph while regularly bumping the pitch to the mid-90s in Jupiter is a reason he made such a high jump. Strider also mixed in a changeup and curveball to complete the three-pitch repertoire during an impressive Jupiter performance. The Clemson commit is ranked No. 122 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Aaron Perry (Hurricane, W. Va.) PREV.: 500 NEW: 62
Perry was a big surprise to the scouts and spectators in Jupiter as he came out firing bullets in his first inning of work. Having a previous velocity high of 91 mph, the Kentucky commit reached 95 mph with his fastball and mixed in a hard, plus slider. He is a bit smaller of a pitching prospect but his impressive showing should not be overlooked especially with a mid-90s fastball complemented by a mid-80s slider. Perry was ranked No. 127 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Daniel Ritcheson (Northridge, Calif.) PREV.: 235 NEW: 69
With a physical and tall frame for a pitcher, Ritcheson increased his velocity from 91 mph over the summer to topping out at 95 mph in Jupiter. The San Diego State commit showed the ability to mix his pitches well and to keep hitters off balance with his pitch selection. His outing against the Evoshield Canes in the playoffs was one of the top pitching performances of the event and his new ranking certainly reflects the jump he made. Ritcheson is ranked No. 139 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospect list.
SS Austin Martin (Orange Park, Fla.) PREV.: 500 NEW: 75
The player whose stock might have increased the most from Jupiter was Martin. The currently uncommitted shortstop showed athletic actions and smoothness defensively with good instincts and speed on the bases. Martin’s tools jump off the page and he has the present athleticism with projection in his frame to fill out at the position. His overall performance and skillset helped him to jump to no. 145 on the Perfect Game 2017 Top 250 MLB Draft prospects list.
Class of 2018
RHP Ethan Hankins (Cumming, Ga.) PREV.: 9 NEW: 5
Team Elite is well represented near the top of the 2018 rankings, with teammates Kumar Rocker (Watkinsville, Ga.) and Will Banfield (Lawrenceville, Ga.) coming in at Nos. 1 and 6 respectively, but Hankins might be the most improved. The Vanderbilt commit has a very easy delivery and smooth arm action that helped him bump his velocity up to 95 mph during the WWBA Underclass World Championship. Hankins showed refinery of both his off-speed pitches which helped him jump into the top 5. He is ranked No. 9 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
SS Nolan Gorman (Glendale, Ariz.) PREV.: 21 NEW: 7
With some of the best barrel feel and offensive abilities in the class, Gorman raked all year long. He was his usual self in the fall and impressed with the hard contact that he was able to generate at the plate. The Arizona commit is one of the highest ceiling players in the class and is poised for a dominant senior campaign. Gorman came in at No. 12 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Austin Becker (Sunbury, Ohio) PREV.: 17 NEW: 8
The 6-foot-6 righthander is continuing to make strides with his pitching and his performance at the Underclass World Championship shows exactly why he moved up. Becker topped out at 96 mph and sat from 93-95 mph most of the afternoon while showing a plus curveball. The Vanderbilt commit has advanced refinery of his pitches and his upside is seemingly limitless. Becker came in at No. 13 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
LHP Luke Bartnicki (Marietta, Ga.) PREV.: 34 NEW: 11
Lefthanded pitchers up to 95 mph do not come along very often, and Bartnicki put together all of his physical tools and ability to impress in Jupiter. The Georgia Tech commit has an impressive physicality on the mound and with an uptick in velocity and an improved breaking pitch, moving him up was an easy decision. Bartnicki rose to No. 22 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Carter Stewart (Melbourne, Fla.) PREV.: 44 NEW: 19
One of the more polished arms in the class is Central Florida Gators righthander Carter Stewart. The Florida native has a strong two pitch mix of fastball and curveball and his lean, 6-foot-5 frame promises much more in the future. Stewart’s curveball is rated as plus with sharp, late break and led all of Jupiter with the highest spin rate of the tournament at 3296 rpm. Stewart is No. 39 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Cole Winn (Longmont, Colo.) PREV.: 181 NEW: 29
A bit of an unknown in the baseball world, Winn took a big step forward with his performance in Jupiter. The righthander was 88-92 mph with a very projectable arm and frame. The Notre Dame commit The Colorado product has a heavy fastball and has shown a strong feel for his curveball which has late break downward. Winn jumped over 150 spots in the rankings and to No. 64 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Carter Raffield (Cochran, Ga.) PREV.: 135 NEW: 30
Raffield did not throw many innings during Perfect Game events over the course of the summer but when he did he sat mostly 88-91 mph. The immensely projectable righthander took a big step forward in the fall and his performance in the playoffs at the National Qualifier was memorable. The Georgia commit sat 92-94 mph with a feel to spin on his curveball. His jump up the rankings comes as no surprise to those who saw him pitch and he landed at No. 67 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
3B Devin Warner (Euharlee, Ga.) PREV.: 103 NEW: 33
The East Cobb infielder was turning heads all fall long as he is quickly becoming one of the premier power bats of the 2018 class. Jumping 80 spots in the rankings, Warner shows a fly-ball swing path with the ability to leverage well and drive the ball out front. His in-game power and physical frame impressed and his powerful swing makes him an intriguing prospect. The Auburn commit came in at No. 72 on the Perfect Game 2018 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
OF Cole Roederer (Canyon Country, Calif.) PREV.: 408 NEW: 56
Lefthanded outfield bats with plus bat speed and power potential don’t come along all too often so Roederer came as a pleasant surprise. Jumping into the top 60, the UCLA commit showed good skills at the plate with immense upside.
LHP Justin Wrobleski (Canton, Ga.) PREV.: 243 NEW: 58
Wrobleski, a seasoned Perfect Game veteran, showed immense development over the course of 2016 and that contributed to the rise in his ranking. The southpaw has a fastball that sits in the low-90s that he is able to locate very well with repeatable mechanics. The Clemson’s ability to mix locations and pitches as well as his upside make him one of the top lefthanders in the class.
Class of 2019
OF Riley Greene (Oviedo, Fla.) PREV.: 24 NEW: 5
One of the jewels of the Florida 2019 recruiting class, Greene is an immensely talented outfielder who continues to make strides at the plate. He has a smooth stroke from the left side with present power and the potential to hit for more as he continues to develop. Greene’s athleticism and arm strength give him the ability to play any outfield position although he mainly stays in right field. The Florida native landed at No. 10 on the Perfect Game 2019 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
3B Rece Hinds (Niceville, Fla.) PREV.: 182 NEW: 14
One of the highest jumps in the rankings belongs to Hinds, who put on a show at the Underclass World Championship. The physical frame jumps out at scouts and his quick bat speed and power profile project for big results from the right side. Hinds has in-game power as well and will continue to grow as a hitter. He landed at No. 30 on the Perfect Game 2019 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
OF Judson Fabian (Ocala, Fla.) PREV.: 37 NEW: 18
The righthanded outfielder is yet another high-end Florida native who has committed to Florida. Fabian has an impressive skillset with an impressive ability to barrel baseballs all over the plate. His swing path allows for carrying line drives with the potential for a power profile as well. Fabian came in at No. 42 on the Perfect Game 2019 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
RHP Mack Anglin (Marengo, Ohio) PREV: NR NEW: 28
For such a young pitcher Anglin already has an advanced feel for pitching and his physical projection, at a lean 6-foot-5, makes his upside limitless. The Clemson commit garnered a lot of attention at the Underclass World Championship where he showed the ability to mix speeds, locations, and looks to get hitters out. Anglin is ranked No. 79 on the Perfect Game 2019 Top 100 MLB Draft prospect list.
SS/RHP Thomas Keehn (Highland, Md.) PREV.: 184 NEW: 72
As one of the top two-way talents in the class, Keehn is a very athletic talent. At shortstop Keehn showed good defensive actions and showed the ability to drive the ball out in front with authority to all fields. He stood out at the Fall Academic Showcase where on the mound he sat from 84-89 mph. Keehn recently committed to Duke.
Class of 2020
OF Austin Hendrick (Pittsburgh, Penn.) PREV.: 20 NEW: 1
The new No. 1 player in the class was outstanding throughout 2016 and capped off an impressive year with a strong performance at the Freshman World Championship. Hendrick has some of the best bat speed and bat control in the class with an advanced approach and feel for the game. He stands out in the outfield as well and his overall package combined with performance helped make him the No. 1 prospect in the class.
RHP Jared Jones (Whittier, Calif.) PREV.: 40 NEW: 10
The young USC commit impressed at the PG/Evoshield Underclass National Championship and showed that he has made strides overall as a pitcher. He topped out at 88 mph but was comfortably in the 84-87 mph range. Jones has shown a solid two pitch mix with a curveball that has shown significant improvement.
RHP Jared Kelley (Refugio, Tex.) PREV.: NR NEW: 29
The two-sport star, Kelley also plays quarterback for Refugio High School in Texas, recently committed to TCU. Reports had Kelley bumping 90-91 mph at a college camp and such high velocity at this age will impress anyone.
3B Connor Morgan (Brooksville, Fla.) PREV.: NR NEW: 31
One of the stars at the Freshman World Championship for the champion FTB was Morgan. He has a simple approach at the plate that allows him to barrel baseballs to all fields including some fly balls with carry that showcases his power potential. Morgan has a strong arm as well, evidenced by being up to 84 mph on the mound at the event, and covers ground at third.
SS/OF Nate McCollum (McDonough, Ga.) PREV.: 73 NEW: 39
McCollum has seen a lot of growth as a player from this summer to last. His calling card is his speed and athleticism which allows him to play both shortstop and center field effectively. The bat has made strides as well seen by increases in both his bat speed and overall strength and physicality.