The last time we ranked the 2020 JUCO-to-4 Year recruiting classes, the world had not ended yet. As such, a lot has changed in these classes over the last year, including a good number of players being added/subtracted as COVID limited roster spot availability and the like. Therefore, this is a ranking of these classes in terms of who actually got to campus, not just who was committed to these schools.
This is a mostly subjective exercise, with varying weights being given to class size, expected short-term and long-term impact, and ultimately in terms of draft stock, which is the main lens through which we view anything for our JUCO coverage here at Perfect Game. Some classes are much, much larger than others, but the line of delineation between “quality” and “quantity” is barely there at all, really. We’ll explain in detail below class-by-class, but as you’ll see, big weight was given to smaller classes of players who will impact in a big way in big conferences, especially if the draft perspective comes into play.
With all that being said, welcome to the final 2020 JUCO-to-4 Year recruiting class rankings. We’ll unveil these in halves over the course of the next two days, with the initial JUCO Top Draft Prospects List coming out on Friday. We’ll have our first go at ranking the 2021 classes in the coming weeks, with the plan once again to do an early rank of those classes and then a follow up like this one once the dust settles and we see who actually made it to campus next fall.
| Rk. |
Team |
Rk. |
Team |
| 11 |
Arizona |
16 |
Illinois |
| 12 |
Nebraska |
17 |
Oklahoma State |
| 13 |
Purdue |
18 |
New Mexico |
| 14 |
South Florida |
19 |
Southern Illinois |
| 15 |
Louisville |
20 |
Rutgers |
Honorable Mention: Michigan, Washington State, Auburn, Mississippi State
Michigan went heavy on the grad-transfer market and their roster will display that this spring, but they still added some nice JUCO pieces to bolster the roster, including righthander Noah Rennard (Santa Barbara City) and outfielder Jake Marti (Heartland), who has some similarities in traits to former Wolverine Jordan Brewer. (Recruiting Coordinator: Nick Schnabel)
Washington State did well and continues to do well in 2021, with the big pieces of their ’20 JUCO class looking like impact guys. Righthander William Sierra (Yavapai) has the makings of a weekend starter right away, Jacob McKeon (Central Arizona) brings big time thump to the lineup, and Dakota Hawkins (Lower Columbia) should pick up good innings in whatever role he’s assigned, given quality stuff and tons of strikes. (RC: Terry Davis)
Auburn picked up two JUCO players but both should be impactful, with Bryson Ware (Pearl River) looking like a two-year stud with the bat somewhere on the infield, he’s a name to watch for the 2022 draft. The other pickup, Bobby Pierce (South Mountain) brings serious righthanded pop to the lineup with intriguing athleticism and a chance to be a big piece. (RC: Karl Nonemaker)
Mississippi State went heavy on the arms, picking up a quarter of guys who expect to be contributors right away, led by righty Parker Stinnett (Northwest Mississippi), who was extremely loud this fall into the mid-90's with a pair of hammer breakers. Cameron Tullar (Wabash Valley) has good feel to pitch and should eat some innings, while Kole Alford (Pearl River) and Preston Johnson (Hinds) are also nice pieces. (RC: Jake Gautreau)
20. Rutgers
Recruiting Coordinator: Brendan Monaghan
-Dale Stanavich, LHP, Herkimer
-Nate McLain, RHP, Lackawanna
-Ryder Tallent, LHP, Mercer County
-Bradley Norton, 2B, Ohlone
There’s real optimism surrounding the Rutgers baseball program under the new coaching staff, and while we’re all hoping that 2021 will give us an extended look at the Scarlet Knights, it’s easy to see the new coaching staff paying off in recruiting, including on the JUCO front. Dale Stanavich and Ryder Tallent will add to the pitching staff in a big way as a pair of lefties with stuff and track record, with Stanavich generally operating in the low-90s with excellent command while Tallent is more mid- to upper-80s with a sharp, downer curveball. Nate McLain could be a rotational piece right away with tremendous physicality and feel for three pitches with strikes while Bradley Norton crosses the country from NorCal to shore up the Rutgers infield defense and brings solid offensive tools with him as well, having a big fall with the bat and in line to see time at either middle infield spot.
19. Southern Illinois
Recruiting Coordinator: Nick Magnifico*
-Tristan Peters, OF, Chandler-Gilbert
-Nick Blubaugh, OF, Chattanooga State
-Braden Babcock, LHP, McCook
-Ben Chapman, RHP, Lincoln Land
-Brodie Lenon, LHP, John A. Logan
-Dawson Hall, RHP, Mississippi Gulf Coast
-Michael Hansell, RHP, Mesa
-Cody Cleveland, IF, Northeast Texas
Obviously a good bit of depth to this class just based on sheer numbers, and along with that depth comes a couple significant pieces as well. Tristan Peters looks like the headliner of the class at present, with high-level hitting tools from the left side of the plate and good speed with a chance to lock down center field. Dawson Hall comes up from Mississippi with excellent size and arm strength, reaching the mid-90s with his fastball. He’s joined in the pitching staff by lefties Brodie Lenon and Braden Babock, both of whom should be counted on for big outs this spring, while Michael Hansell has shown strong pitchability and velocity up to 92-93 mph. Cody Cleveland and Nick Blubaugh provide needed lefthanded bats to the lineup, and both should be immediately impactful at the plate for the Salukis.
*Magnifico has since taken the RC job at South Alabama, but he was the Saluki RC when this class signed.
18. New Mexico
Recruiting Coordinator: Jon Coyne
-Mack Chambers III, SS, Seminole State (Okla.)
-Riley Egloff, RHP, Yavapai
-Bobby Meza Jr, RHP, Yavapai
-Jack Silverman, 1B, Yavapai
-Chezzare Gonzalez, RHP, San Jacinto
-Alec Carr, 2B, Wharton
-Junior Pimentel, RHP, Western Oklahoma State
-Willie Cano, 3B/2B, New Mexico
It’s no surprise when a Jon Coyne-assembled recruiting class is heavy on JUCO players, and the New Mexico 2020 class is certainly no exception. Shortstop Mack Chambers III makes a marked difference right away for the Lobos, bringing tremendous athleticism and defensive ability to the middle of the field while providing top-of-the-order offensive tools. Willie Cano could play 3B or 2B and is expected to really hit along with Alec Carr and Jack Silverman, both of whom should be big pieces right away. Bobby Meza Jr has been the most impressive of the newcomer arms so far, working up to 93-94 mph with his fastball, and the coaching staff expects good things from Chezzare Gonzalez and Riley Egloff as bullpen pieces, along with Junior Pimentel.
17. Oklahoma State
Recruiting Coordinator: Marty Lees
-Justin Wrobleski, LHP, State College of Florida
-Christian Encarnacion Strand, 3B, Yavapai
A smaller class in 2020, but an impactful one nonetheless for the Cowboys, who are already active on the 2021 JUCO trail as well. Justin Wrobleski looks to be rounding into the high-end upside lefthander we’ve watched for years, as his velocity took a large step forward this spring, into the upper-90s with a dynamic, hard slider. He’s expected to either fill a rotational spot or pitch leverage innings out of the bullpen. Christian Encarnacion Strand raked all fall for OSU, and given the tools of his offensive game as well as his performance history at Yavapai, it would be a surprise if he didn’t turn in a monster season for the Cowboys, all while potentially seeing time at either infield corner.
16. Illinois
Recruiting Coordinator: Adam Christ
-Andrew Hoffmann, RHP, John A. Logan
-Ryan Hampe, C/1B, John A. Logan
-Zak Hartleb, IF/OF, John A. Logan
In what is a pretty unique dynamic, Illinois’ 2020 JUCO class all hail from John A. Logan, the perennial Midwestern JC powerhouse located roughly 200 miles down I-57 in the southern part of the state. Ryan Hampe made a lot of noise this fall with the bat, which, to those who had been paying attention, was of no surprise. He’s physical with some ability behind the plate as well, but he should smash this spring for the Illini and really add value to the offense. Andrew Hoffmann also heads north from Logan and should pitch big innings right away, potentially in the weekend rotation, and he should garner a fair bit of top-10 round draft interest as well if he continues to perform this spring. Zak Hartleb brings solid infield depth and a lefthanded stick to the table, playing for his father Dan, the Illini head coach.
15. Louisville
Recruiting Coordinator: Eric Snider
-Cameron Robinson, RHP, John A. Logan
-Luke Seed, LHP, John A. Logan
-Cooper Bowman, MIF, Iowa Western
-Anthony Silkwood, RHP, Parkland
Louisville perennially does an excellent job on the JUCO market but as a result of their elite prep recruiting and player development system, they never have to really pick up more than a handful of JUCO players to complement their roster. Cameron Robinson and Luke Seed both come over from John A. Logan and expect to compete for bullpen innings, with Robinson still projectable from the right side with heavy sink around 90 mph, and Seed having high-end feel and a plus changeup from the left side that ties hitters in knots. Cooper Bowman comes over from Iowa Western and should be in the mix at shortstop or second base, while righthander and Marine Corps veteran Anthony Silkwood brings obvious experience, leadership qualities, and a mid-90s fastball to the mix.
14. South Florida
Recruiting Coordinator: Bo Durkac
-Hayden Wynja, LHP, Lincoln Trail
-Jarrett Eaton, CF, Wallace-Dothan
-Alex Lozado, RHP, Gulf Coast
-Roberto Pena, 3B, College of Central Florida
-Devin Hemenway, LHP, Santa Fe
-Brad Lord, RHP, Santa Fe
USF pulled in something of a sneaky class, staying somewhat under the radar in Florida and picking their spots nationally, building what is a very strong class overall. Roberto Pena had a great fall and is expected to do big things this spring, playing the left side of the infield with increased twitch and showing off an improved approach at the plate, leading to more power. Jarrett Eaton comes in from Dothan and is expected to add a lot of twitch, showing athleticism in the outfield and speed on the bases with bat to ball skills. Lefty Devin Hemenway and righty Alex Lozado are lauded for their attack mentalities and both throw a ton of strikes with fastballs hovering around 90. Hayden Wynja is the wildcard of the group as a 6-foot-9 lefthander with super high spin stuff, he’s got excellent upside if he can refine his command, while righty Brad Lord can touch the mid-90s with his fastball.
13. Purdue
Recruiting Coordinator: Cooper Fouts
-Nolan Daniel, RHP, Tallahassee CC
-Calvin Starnes, RHP, Northwest Florida State
-Calvin Schapira, LHP, Central Arizona
-Landon Weins, RHP, Wabash Valley
-Steve Ramirez, C, Riverside City
This is a strong class for Purdue, on the cusp of the top-10, and the 2019-2020 recruiting classes on the prep side join this one to give Purdue perhaps its deepest, most athletic roster in some time. Calvin Starnes is the headliner here, a righthander with a still-projectable body and extremely high-level arm talent, as he’s expected to flirt with triple digits this spring. Nolan Daniel was a lockdown reliever in JUCO ball and could fill the same role in West Lafayette, while Calvin Schapira should win a rotation spot as a big, physical lefty who can really pitch in the 87-91 mph range with a great slider. Landon Weins is undersized and won’t blow anyone away, but he’s an established strike-thrower who pounds the zone. Steve Ramirez rounds out the group as the JC transfer bat projected to play this spring, he brings lots of offensive success to the mix in his righthanded bat and should help behind the plate as well.
12. Nebraska
Recruiting Coordinator: Lance Harvell
-Griffin Everitt, C, Kansas City Kansas CC
-Koty Frank, RHP, Eastern Oklahoma State
-Luke Sartori, OF, Hutchinson CC
-Efrain Cervantes, SS, South Mountain
-Jake Bunz, LHP, Hutchinson CC
With his first season in Lincoln cut short by COVID, Nebraska head coach Will Bolt will have a different roster heading into 2021, supplemented by a very strong JUCO class. Koty Frank was one of the best performers in all of JUCO in 2020 at EOSC, he doesn’t overpower but everything is thrown for strikes and he misses a ton of barrels down in the zone. Conversely, fellow pitcher transfer Jake Bunz is all about physicality and upside, coming off of Tommy John surgery successfully this fall and looks good, working in the low-90s with a dynamic, swing-and-miss slider. Griffin Everitt brings a different dynamic to the team behind the plate, where he’s lauded for his arm strength and overall catch-and-throw skills to go along with some righthanded pop, while Efrain Cervantes was one of the best pure shortstops in the 2020 JUCO class overall, and he should be an immediate-impact defender with solid hitting tools. Luke Sartori is a big bat who should help in a myriad of ways for the Cornhuskers, most specifically with an extremely enticing power/speed combination in the outfield from the right side of the plate.
11. Arizona
Recruiting Coordinator: Nate Yeskie/Dave Lawn
-Chase Silseth, RHP, College of Southern Nevada
-Mason Millett, RHP, Pima CC
-Nik McClaughry, SS, Sacramento City College
-Cam LaLiberte, C, Chandler-Gilbert
One of the very best JUCO prospects in the class of 2020, Chase Silseth getting to campus in Tucson is a giant win for Jay Johnson and staff as Silseth is seemingly a ready-made ace for the Wildcats. He’s worked in the mid-90s consistently this fall with a plus changeup and solid-ish breaking stuff, throwing strikes and looking like he’ll lock down Friday nights this spring. Mason Millett is an intriguing arm strength/projection bullpen piece who needs to get healthy, while Nik McClaughry brings solid defensive versatility and speed to the mix with Cam LaLiberte, a solid defender behind the plate who has some punch in his bat. As it sits right now, Silseth is the only projected starter of the group—and his draft stock continues to rise, potentially into the top 3 rounds with a big spring.