2,083 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Juco  | Rankings  | 1/29/2024

JUCO: Preseason Top 50

Blaine Peterson      Troy Sutherland      Joey Cohen     
What an offseason it has been! Between the influx of transfer portal and covid eligibility the landscape of junior college baseball has had a different look to it over the last couple of years. This year it seems we start anew with lots of fresh faces coast to coast and we are extremely excited to see how it all shakes out.

Here is just one overarching thought as you dive into the 2024 iteration of the PGJC Top 50; the strength of Texas. With 9 teams ranked inside the top 50 and 3 within the top 5, Texas leads the way and is the region we think is both the best at the top, and potentially the deepest nationally. A bunch of these regions are going to be knock-down drag-outs all the way through the conference tournaments, but these Florida matchups are going to be intense as soon as next weekend in Panama City Beach. A pair of storylines to watch throughout the season: 1. Wabash Valley vs. John A. Logan in the battle for a bid that will be hotly contested to the bitter end. 2. Who steps up to contend with big bad Central Arizona out west? Hope y’all enjoy our top 50 as much as we enjoy the process in which it takes shape. 



Preseason JUCO Top 50

1. Weatherford (TX)
The Coyotes are coming off a strong 2023 campaign which ended in heart break fashion in the world series. Head Coach Jeff Lightfoot is excited about their chances in what should be a tough Texas Juco landscape. They have brought in loads of talent via the transfer portal to unite with a few impact returners. In 2024, it should be a balanced team with a fair share of upper echelon talent on the pitching staff and in the heart of the order. The Hail State commit Robert Fortenberry will headline a deep staff full of power 5 level arms including Cade Crossland, Cody Morse, Evan Brandt, and power righty Tanner Wiggins. The staff feels they are strong through the middle with Kanon Sundgren behind the dish and talented defenders Uriah Walters and Kasen Wells manning shortstop and centerfield, respectively. Dayton Tockey is a name that will draw eyeballs all year long and looks primed to have a monster year offensively. 

2. Wabash Valley College (IL) 
The Wabash Valley Warriors and head coach Aaron Biddle are coming off a 2023 season where they went 57-13. The 2023 season saw the Warriors win the Midwest District Championship and go on to a second place finish at the JUCO World Series. A high octane offense that hit .355 as a team and stole 155 bases a season ago returns some key pieces for the 2024 season. Centerfielder Richard Bonomolo Jr. a 2nd team All-American in 2023 returns after hitting .449 with 43 stolen bases a season ago. He’ll be joined in the line up by notable returners Keaton Mahan, Bruce Jelison, Jon Legrande as well as talented freshman Krew Bond and Ean Czech. A depth of arms will take the mound for the Warriors this season that features both experience and upside. Sophomore Left-handers Jackson Soucie and Aidan Deakins are two of the best left-handed pitchers at the juco level this season. Fellow sophomores Cade Schneider and Zach Horwith will take on a larger role this season and talented freshman Konner Quinn looks like an impact arm to watch. A program that has made runs to Grand Junction the past two seasons has the talent and the pieces to do so once again. 

3. McLennan (TX)
This McLennan squad has a chance to make big time noise in the toughest area of the country to do so in 2024. They are led by the standout two-way Gavyn Jones as well as the big arms of Nick Greaney and Devin Bennett. The staff is deep with power arms in addition to the aforementioned trio, they will run 6 arms deep that we think are top 100 level good. Easy to think this may be the nation’s best pitching staff on paper. There should be no shortage of run production either with this group led by Phoenix Meza, who will be penciled in the heart of order while providing stand out defense at shortstop. The athletic outfielder Xander McAfee is a name to track through the spring and could jump quickly into the top tier of Junior college outfielders. 

4. College of Central Florida 
The Patriots begin their quest to defend their JUCO National Championship this season after a historically dominant run during the 2023 season that saw them finish with a 56-7 record. A team that slugged 119 home runs a season ago in 63 games brings back some of their premier impact bats for the 2024 season. All-American Edwin Toribio is coming off a 20 HR, 75 RBI season in which he hit over .400. Fellow infielder Kareh Velentin is coming off an 80 RBI season in which he hit .393 and returning outfielder Kainen Jorge hit over .300 with 15 HR’s in 2023. They’ll be joined in the lineup by impact transfers Gunnett Carlson and Miles Curley as well as fellow returner and all-conference catcher Cole Bullen. On the mound there’s big upside arms and quality strike throwers that will look to replace some high level arms that threw the majority of the innings a season ago. The most accomplished of the returners is all-conference left-hander Isaac Sewell and hard throwing right-hander Todd Kniebbe who struck out 33 in 28.1 IP as a freshman. Sophomore Cortland Clarke is one of the highest upside arms in junior college baseball and will take on a vital role with transfer Sebastian Perez as starters for this season's Patriots team. While matching last season's historical run will be difficult, there’s plenty of talent to compete for a national title at the College of Central Florida once again in 2024. 

5. Blinn College (TX)
The Blinn Buccaneers are coming off a 2023 season where they went 46-15 on their way to an appearance in Grand Junction at the JUCO World Series. This roster has an impressive depth of talent on both sides of the baseball. The biggest name of that group is sophomore infielder Tanner Reaves, a 1st Team All-American in 2023 after hitting .422 with 20 HR and 86 RBI. Reaves will be one of the premier bats in junior college baseball this season. He’ll be joined in the lineup by all-region outfielders Brandon Bishop and Marshall Lipsey, 2-way talent Jake Kolkhorst and a group of talented transfers from Division 1 schools that gives the Buccaneers some of the best depth of talent at the junior college level this season. On the mound right-hander Brendan Sweeney is a physical presence with big stuff that will be an impact arm, left-hander Cody Pfeffer was conference reliever of the year in 2023 and fellow returner Kaden Dydalewicz should be impact arms this season. A group that will be joined by a depth of talented transfer arms that will make an immediate impact. Of those transfers Caden Marcum is a name to watch as a high upside arm that was a draft pick out of high school and comes to Blinn after recovering from an injury in 2023. This roster has the depth, talent and experience to make another run to Grand Junction in 2024. 

6. Walters State (TN)
The 2024 iteration of Walters State is a promising bunch that added premier freshmen talent to go with their star right-handed bat Deniel Oritz. Ortiz batted .383 in 2023 with 16 pumps and looks to be an impactful player for the club again once again in 2024. On the mound they added SoCal native Matthew Porchas who transferred in from Texas at the break. He can grow into his own at Walters, he will be considered one of the premier arms in the area and in the nation. Look for Karson Bonaparte and Taz Butler to shoulder a portion of the innings as well. Kurtis Reid, Jarret Martin, and Miles Smith to play valuable roles in their chase for another bid to Grand Junction. 

7. Central Arizona 
Central Arizona consistently brings in a ton of talent to the table and this year should be no different where they expect to see similar success to their 47-win season a year ago. This current squad has solid depth to the pitching staff and deep length to the lineup. On the mound they are highlighted by Ryan Spalliero (Arizona), Karter Muck, Cooper Foster, Nick Gibson, Wesley Moore, Luke Meyers (Wash. State) and Santi Garcia who all run it up at least into the low 90s with solid secondary options. At the plate, they expect serious production from Matt Quintanar, Tyree Reed, Elijah Hamill, Jonathan Hernandez and Marcus Harrison. 

8. State College of Florida 
The Manatees and Coach Hill enter the 2024 season with a blend of returners and transfers to compete for a Region 8 championship. This roster's core talent is on the mound and led by sophomore Brandon Clarke, a hard left-hander with a fastball that has touched the upper 90’s. Ed Wagner and Liam Best were both all-conference right-handers from 2023 and should once again be impact arms. Transfer Trevor Zeigler is a name to watch that should come in and make an immediate impact as well. The lineup will feature sophomore and all-conference middle infielder Erick Almonte and fellow returning sophomore Jalen Hairston. A trio of transfer bats: Pip Smalley, Santiago Ordonez and Luke Boykin will play a key role in providing depth to the lineup. This is a talented group with athletes and upside arms that can compete in the always ultra competitive Florida region. 

9. John A Logan (IL)
Head Coach Kyle Suprenant has put together quite the roster for the 2024 campaign headlined by two frontline starters that have returned for their sophomore seasons in East Carolina commit Trevor Jackson and Tennessee commit Drew Pestka. The latter is potentially the best prospect in all junior college baseball and checks all the boxes for a potential top 3-5 round selection in the upcoming draft. They have countless other quality arms at their disposal as well. Offensively, the two big bats of Jake Munroe and Will Cook should produce quite a few runs. This is a deep team on the mound with standout team athleticism especially through the middle. Look for Logan to get off to a fast start with this veteran club. 

10. Crowder College (MO)
Crowder returns impact players on both sides of the baseball and brings in a talented freshman recruiting class that boosts them into the pre-season Top 10. Coming off a 50-13 season in 2023 with a strong group of returners bodes well for the 2024 season. That group is led by sophomore Kolton Reynolds, a 1st Team All-American in 2023 that hit .399 with 19 home runs in 2023 and is one of the two 1st Team All-American position players to return to the juco level this season. He'll be joined by all-region first baseman from a season ago, Joey Morton. As well as sophomores Cole Kitchens and Ethan Fender, both hit over .300 in 2023. Talented freshman infielder Ashton Graff-Rowe and transfer Jason Avila should be impact players right away. On the mound Crowder returns Ashton Branson, the top starter on the team a season ago as well as hard throwing relievers Aaron Arnold and Karsen Richard who had dominant 2023 campaigns. Rhett Richardson, Nick Potter and Nick Moten are all high upside right-handers that could help form a dominant pitching staff for 2024 and push Crowder back to Grand Junction. 

11. San Jac (TX)
The numerous power arms on this San Jac squad make them one of the more intriguing teams in the country. It starts at the top with left-hander Brandon Arvidson, one of the best prospects in college baseball. Behind him you have other talented arms in Augie Mojica and Brayden McCollough. The role of Frank Siano should be an interesting development. The Ravens are extraordinarily strong through the middle of the diamond with standout backstop Jake Bennett and shortstop Adrian Padro. Track Jarrette Bonet in the spring, a power arm that all the makings of a legit frontline piece. 

12. Chipola College (FL)
Chipola is coming off a down season by their standards in 2023. A perennial powerhouse in developing high level talent, has those types of players once again in 2024. Two-way talent JeanPierre Ortiz is one of the best athletes in junior college and has a chance to be an impact player on both sides of the baseball this season. True freshman Samuel Parker was a 19th round pick last season and has arguably the biggest raw power in all of juco baseball. And freshman two-way talent Miguel Hugas has the arm strength and projection to become one of the top arms in junior college baseball this season. Look for Edian Espinal, two-way talent Amari Allen and Brantley Willis to be impact bats and give the lineup some depth. Sophomore Zach Kilby is the teams top returning starter from a season ago and will be joined on the staff by right-handers Lucas Elissalt and Thrasher Steed. High end talent is certainly back in Mariana, Florida for the 2024 season.  

13. New Mexico 
New Mexico is coming off a 46-win season where they got eliminated in regionals by powerhouse Weatherford. In ‘24 they look like a team that’ll be high-level performers on the offensive end. It’s going to start with returners Brent Iredale (Arkansas) who hit .411 with 17 HRs in ‘23, Erick Ballenilla (Southeastern) who hit .387 with 13 HRs. and Christian Hoffman who hit .328 with 10 HRs. On the mound there are some questions, but Landon Yorek returns from last year’s squad where he totaled significant innings and where he shows a low 90s FB with two distinct breakers. They look to get quality innings from Donovan Becerra and Cade Smith who both run it into the low 90s as well. 

14. Florida Southwestern 
The Bucs enter the 2024 season with a lineup that features a blend of power and speed and a pitching staff that features a blend of power and pitchability arms. Outfielder Jered Davis is a speed based top of the order player that should create plenty of runs this season. Fellow outfielder Justin Thomas transfers in and immediately becomes one of the best dynamic power/speed blend players in junior college baseball and fellow transfer Victor Figueroa is a power bat that should drive in plenty of runs in 2024. Middle infielders Michael McAloose and Luca Danos will solidify the middle infield and provide length to the lineup. Look for freshman outfielder Luis Castillo to come in and be a dynamic player right away. On the mound freshman Landon O’Donnell and left-handers Alex Walsh and Jordan Huskey will be the impact arms that will lead the pitching staff. Look for several freshmen and several returners to round out the pitching staff.  

15. Pearl River (MS)
The Pearl train keeps rolling right along, this year's club is extraordinarily strong on the mound with LSU commit Connor Ware, JP Robertson, JT Schnoor and freshman Thomas Crabtree. Ware is a tough customer that has drawn industry eyeballs since his blow-up last spring. Between Robertson and Schnoor they will make for a tough set against even the most formidable competition. I expect Thomas Crabtree to carve himself out a role before it's all said and done and be one of the better Juco prospects in the country in his sophomore season. Bryce Fowler, Creek Robertson, Jeffrey Ince, and Hollis Porter are all bats ranked inside our top 500 and should be key pieces for run production. Keep an eye on Patrick Spencer in 2024, if he is in the zone enough there’s real electricity to that arm. 

16. Northwest Florida 
The Raiders are coming off a solid 34-19-1 season in 2023 and return a high level talent on both sides of the baseball this season. On the mound Colin Linder is one of the top arms in junior college baseball and features a low to mid 90’s fastball, cutter and breaking ball that he can spin at over 3000 RPM. Fellow sophomore Kendrey Maduro is another high end talent with raw power and looks like a budding star for 2024. True freshman Aidan Paradine and Qrey Lott are upside position players that have a chance to make a big impact. With a blend of several other returners, transfers and talented freshmen to combine with some high end talent, this team has the potential to challenge for a Region 8 title.  

17. Salt Lake (UT)
Salt Lake made a deep run last season making it to the NJCAA nationals where they lost to Johnson County. On paper this looks like a squad that can make a similar run and they will be led by a stable of quality arms. Cameron Bott is a RHP who has power stuff, Traton Staheli is a 6-foot-5 projectable righty with a good 3-pitch mix, Garrison Sumner is also into the low 90s with a legit SL, and you have Beau Sampson who is a pitchability left hander who can get it up into the low 90s as well. At the plate, their impact bats will be made up of Kaden Hodson who is a physical 3B, Taylor Ayala who hit .330 for them last season, and Trey Gambill who has a legit LH stick that performed to a .905 OPS clip last season.  
 
18. Johnson County Community College (KS)
The Cavaliers are coming off one of the best seasons in school history that featured a record of 56-10 and a conference record of 30-3 on their way to a JUCO World Series appearance. Much of that roster is now gone, but that doesn’t mean there’s any lack of talent in Overland Park this season. On the mound Ryan Borberg, Sam Novotny and Sawyer Allen transfer in and will throw meaningful innings. True freshman Brandon Stone is one of the higher upside arms in junior college baseball. And returners John Chambers and Maddux Burkitt who were all-conference relievers a season ago will step into impact roles once again in 2024. Sophomore Dagen Brewer was conference freshman of the year a season ago and brings an impact power bat to the lineup. Jordan Black is an infielder with big tools that should step into a bigger role and transfers Cal Kilgore, Maddux Fleck, Matt Lemke and Jack Mosh have a chance to become impact players this season. There are some experience concerns with this roster, but there’s also the talent level to address those concerns in a hurry. Expect the Cavaliers to make another run at a Jayhawk Conference championship in 2024. 

19. LSU-Eunice (LA)
The 2024 outlook on Eunice may even surpass the lofty expectations of the 2023 club. They return a bunch of crucial pieces both in the lineup and on the staff. Sooner commit Dawson Willis will headline the bunch. Willis will have professional attention on his play all year long and should be able to rack up some ungodly numbers again in 2024. How they will contend for the 50-win mark again this season will depend on the health and performance of a veteran pitching staff. Expect Parker Webb to shoulder the load of a true number 1 with Blake Lobell, Will Mabry, Owen Schexnaydre, and Pierce Boles to also log meaningful innings for the Bengals. I love the roster construction of this 2024 team by skipper Jeff Willis & staff. They will be considered one of the early favorites for the division 2 Juco title. 

20. Harford (MD)
The fighting Owls of Harford are primed for a big year in 2024 and may be considered the favorite in what figures to be a tough region. Head coach Josh Houser is excited about the talented shortstop Robert Phelps. A name we have seen in years past that seems to have finally made the jump into the top tier of Junior College shortstops. Jesse Jaconski, Gilbert Saunders, and talented two-way prospect Rueben Livingston will also be vital pieces in the team's success at the plate. Joey Colucci, Tre Benjamin, and Joe Rauscher will take on a majority of the innings on the hill. All of which will debut inside our top 500 tomorrow. I feel good about being aggressive with the ranking of this Harford squad but only time will tell.

21. Cowley College (KS)
A perennial power in the Jayhawk Conference that is coming off a down season by their standards in 2023 brings back plenty of experience to the 2024 roster. Infielders Keaton Campbell and Jadyn McNealy got significant playing time as freshman and are key returners that solidify the infield defense and provide quality at-bats. All-Conference outfielder Cooper Schwindt and sophomore Eaden Holt are impact bats that should have key roles. Transfer Jarrett Flaggert and freshman Alex Conover are talented players that should step in and make an immediate impact. On the mound Cole Abbott, Drew Duckhorn, Cade Perkins, Danny Satterlee and Brett McComas all return and should throw plenty of meaningful innings. Look for freshman left-hander Iziah Salinas to be an impact arm and one of the top freshman arms in the conference. The Tigers made a run to the JUCO World Series and played for a national championship in 2022 and just two seasons later the pieces may be there to make a run to Grand Junction once again. 
 
22. Florence-Darlington Tech (SC)
The Stingers are looking to put up a similar monster season as last year where they won 50 games. At the plate, Rom Kellis looks to lead the offense where he slashed .365/.437/.55 in '23. He’s a physical catcher who can really impact the baseball. Michael Gibson will be a significant player as well as he will be a two-way for them where he brings a powerful RH stroke and runs it into the low 90s on the mound. Eli Stowe will be one the premier arms on the staff as he is a physical 6-foot-4 RHP that runs it up to 95 with solid secondary options. Trenton Burnett should be another impactful pitcher as he has a T94 fastball and a quality SL/CH. Jay Douglas and Jake Bidoglio are also guys that can stand out this season at the plate.  

23. San Joaquin Delta (CA)
The Mustangs enter the 2024 season as our top ranked team in California junior college baseball. Coming off a 37-11 season, Delta is starting to establish themselves as a powerhouse program that develops high level players and competes for championships in the CCCAA. This group features some high end talent on the mound this season in right handers Luke Giotta and Erick Diez who both feature fastballs that reach the mid 90’s. Holden Garcia and Miguel Ramos Jr are pitch-ability arms that should get plenty of outs. The lineup features some impact bats as well. Led by sophomore Dominic Rodriguez, an outfielder with big raw power that he can get to in games. Infielders Mateo Garcia, Grant MacArthur and Blaine French are impact bats that will create and drive in plenty of runs this season. There’s talent and a culture of winning forming in Stockton and they enter the season in our Top 25.

24. Gaston (NC)
Gaston made their first D1 Juco World Series last season, and they have a squad that shows a lot of promise. On the mound, they have a ton of depth and it all starts with Landon Carr who brings a low 90s, T94 fastball to the table with a quality breaker and unique splitter. Mason Smith (Campbell) should be an important pitcher for them as well where he’s an athletic arm that runs his fastball into the low-mid 90s. Other arms that show standout stuff and should put up a ton of zeros include Isaac Williams (Elon), Evan Vandenbosch (Georgia Southern), Calvert Clark (App State), and Wagner Morrissette. At the plate, look for Sean Sullivan, Trevor Lucas, and Ben Carpowicz to set the tone at the top of the lineup. Sullivan is a physical OF with an impact RH stick, Lucas is the everyday 3B who has a whippy RH stroke with serious pullside juice, and Carpowicz (Campbell) comes in from Illinois State and who the staff expects to hit at a high level.  

25. Cloud County Community College (KS)
Cloud County went 37-23 during the 2023 season. Some key bats that performed well as freshmen return from that roster for 2024. They also bring in two of the best arms in junior college baseball in Kevin Mannell and Scott Rienguette. Both put on a show at the Jayhawk Sophomore Showcase in the fall and look primed for huge seasons in the Jayhawk Conference. Mannell features a low to mid 90’s fastball, a mid 80’s hard biting slider and a fading change up. Rienguette spins two breaking balls at times above 3300 RPM and features a high spin fastball in the low 90’s as well. And it doesn’t end there, sophomores Carson Latimer, Caden Walker and Wil Yamka are quality arms that should throw plenty of competitive innings in 2024. Several talented freshman arms will have a chance to step in and earn impact roles as well. Demitri Shakotko and Gavin Roy are key returning bats that should create plenty of runs in 2024. Transfer Jakob Poturnak transfers in and should immediately become a middle of the order run producer. Several freshmen including Noah Konings impressed in the fall and have a chance to earn every day roles. This team has talented arms and arms nobody is going to be excited to face this season. And that puts them in our preseason Top 25. 

26. Miami Dade (FL)
27. Delgado (LA)
28. Shelton State (AL)
29. Iowa Western 
30. Gulf Coast State (FL)
31. South Mountain (AZ)
32. Santa Fe (FL)
33. Santa Ana (CA)
34. College of Southern Nevada 
35. Navarro (TX)
36. Barton (KS)
37. Linn-Benton (OR)
38. Kansas City Kansas 
39. Heartland (IL)
40. Tyler (TX)
41. Saddleback (CA)
42. College of Southern Idaho 
43. Wallace-Dothan (AL)
44. Alvin (TX)
45. Yavapai (AZ)
46. Midland (TX)
47. Tacoma (WA)
48. Paris (TX)
49. Andrew (GA)
50. Palomar (CA)
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.