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Juco  | Rankings | 12/9/2020

2020 JUCO to D1 Recruiting Classes: 1-10

Brian Sakowski
Photo: Ryan Ritter (Kentucky Athletics)
December 8: 2020 JUCO to D1 Recruiting Classes: 11-20


Rk. Team Rk. Team
1 Texas Tech 6 Washington
2 Arkansas 7 Charlotte
3 Oklahoma 8 Miami
4 Texas A&M 9 Kentucky
5 Houston 10 South Carolina


10. South Carolina
Recruiting Coordinator: Trip Couch



-CJ Weins, RHP, Wabash Valley
-David Mendham, 3B/1B/C, Connors State
-Michael Robinson, SS, Walters State

As the current coaching staff at South Carolina has remade their roster, they’ve done a nice job of supplementing their prep classes with several high-end JUCO players, dating back several classes. That’s no different in this one, with CJ Weins expected to fill a major role in the pitching staff right away, pounding the zone with three pitches including a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a dynamic curveball. David Mendham was one of the top pure bats in JUCO baseball a year ago and should be an immediate impact offensive force for the Gamecocks who can play several positions, while Michael Robinson brings steady, athletic defense to the middle infield and could see time right away.

9. Kentucky
Recruiting Coordinator: Will Coggin

-Ryan Ritter, SS, John A. Logan
-Kirk Liebert, OF/C, Wabash Valley
-Jacob Plastiak, 3B/1B, Wabash Valley
-Alonzo Rubalcaba, C, Santa Barbara City

This class was dinged a bit by the loss of San Jac lefty Mitchell Parker to the draft, as he’d have represented a slam dunk weekend starter for the Wildcats, but Kentucky still brought in a top-10 class. Ryan Ritter is the headliner here, a plug-and-play presumed two-year starter at shortstop who should end up a high draft prospect in 2022. Kirk Liebert brings a good bit of versatility and athleticism to the table, he can play anywhere in the outfield as well as behind the plate and should hit atop the lineup, while fellow Wabashian Jacob Plastiak has excellent power from both sides of the plate with a chance to start at 3B. Alonzo Rubalcaba is a tremendous defender behind the plate and should impact games right away with his catch-and-throw skills.

8. Miami
Recruiting Coordinator: Norberto Lopez

-Jake Smith, RHP, State College of Florida
-Michael Rosario, LHP/OF, St. John’s River
-Adam Frank, IF/OF, Hillsborough
-Jordan Dubberly, RHP, St. John’s River
-Anthony Arguelles, RHP, Santa Fe

Jake Smith leads the class here, as the No. 1 JUCO prospect to get to campus per our final JUCO draft board leading up to the 2020 draft—a huge pull for the Canes no matter how one looks at it. Smith could potentially be the ace right away, he brings mid-90s heat with solid-average slider and changeup to the table and has a chance at being a high pick this July. Anthony Arguelles throws a lot of strikes and should provide solid innings, while a pair of St. John’s River teammates in Michael Rosario and Jordan Dubberly should help eventually, with Rosario having two-way ability. Adam Frank is a very unique player who can play all over the place defensively, throwing righthanded in the infield and lefthanded in the outfield, and he should be a top-of-the-order piece offensively as well.

7. Charlotte
Recruiting Coordinator: Toby Bicknell

-Andrew Lindsey, RHP, Walters State
-Jack Dragum, IF, Louisburg
-Tyson Tucker, RHP, NIACC
-Sam Grace, RHP, Jefferson College
-Austin Marozas, RHP, San Jacinto
-Kolton Scherbenske, RHP, DMACC
-Hale Sims, RHP, John A. Logan
-Dillon Phillips, RHP, Walters State
-Tom Caufield, SS, Pitt
-Jake Curry, RHP, Polk State
-Parker Stinnett, OF, Walters State
-Aaron McKeithan, C, State College of Florida
-Hunter Baker, OF, Florence-Darlington
-Casey Bargo, RHP, Lincoln Trail

Charlotte has been ultra-aggressive on the JUCO market under the current coaching staff, reshaping the roster and looking strong this fall. Andrew Lindsey comes in as a plug-and-play weekend starter who pounds the zone with a three-pitch mix and found new velocity this fall; he’ll be counted on in a big way. Fellow Walters State transfers Dillon Phillips and Parker Stinnett both figure to be in the mix on the mound and in centerfield, respectively. Austin Marozas is fully healthy and looks to be in the mix to start for the Niners, and the coaching staff likes what they’ve seen from Kolton Scherbenske, Sam Grace, Casey Bargo, and Hale Sims as potential immediate impact pieces. Jack Dragum has been excellent with the bat and glove and should play a huge role right away, and new catcher Aaron McKeithan has impressed right away with the strength of his hit tool and receiving skills.

6. Washington
Recruiting Coordinator: Elliott Cribby

-Tyson Guerrero, LHP, Lower Columbia
-Colton Charnholm, LHP, Spokane
-Stefan Raeth, RHP, Los Medanos
-Mason Weathers, 2B/SS, Midland

Much like Chase Silseth at Arizona or Ryan Ritter at Kentucky, Washington getting Tyson Guerrero, one of the top JUCO draft prospects a year ago, to campus was nothing short of a huge deal for the Huskies. A lefthanded starter, Guerrero combines excellent athleticism and arm speed to overcome a smaller stature, and worked 90-93 mph with a plus curveball this fall. Fellow lefty Colton Charnholm should see work right away as a matchup nightmare, he works in the 87-91 mph range from a submarine slot. Stefan Raeth is the lone righthander in the group and could see time in the backend of the bullpen as a sinker-slider guy with lots of strikes. The lone position player in the class is Midland College’s Mason Weathers, an offensive-minded middle infielder who should add length to the everyday lineup and could be a fit in a handful of defensive spots.

5. Houston
Recruiting Coordinator: Terry Rooney/Sammy Esposito

-Brandon Uhse, CF, Weatherford
-Ben Sears, RHP, Rhode Island CC
-Jaycob Deese, RHP, Galveston
-Josh Brown, RHP, College of Southern Nevada
-Cameron Prayer, LHP, Jefferson College
-Adam Becker, 3B, Grayson
-Hayden Winters, IF/OF, Cypress
-Maddux Miller, RHP, Weatherford
-Derek Abeln, OF, Johnson County
-Leyton Pinckney, C, Northwest Florida State
-Cole Turney, OF, San Jacinto
-Blake Schultz, RHP, Alvin

Houston brought in, by my unofficial count, 12 JUCO transfers and five four-year transfers this fall, and the roster obviously has a much different look as a result. Brandon Uhse was a high-level athlete and performer at Weatherford College, he seems likely to start in centerfield right away for the Cougars, and he should be joined as immediate impact bats by Adam Becker, a righthanded thumper who could start at third base, and Hayden Winters, a versatile defender who was one of the top bats in all of SoCal JUCO a year ago. The pitching staff will look markedly different for Houston this year as well, with Jaycob Deese and Ben Sears both looking like potential weekend starters right away, and they’re joined by behemoth lefty Cameron Prayer as a potential starter with Blake Schultz and Josh Brown both expected to be big pieces out of the bullpen.

4. Texas A&M
Recruiting Coordinator: Justin Seely

-Taylor Smith, C, Grayson
-Brett Minnich, OF/1B, Blinn
-Jordan Thompson, OF, Grayson
-Gabe Craig, RHP, Tyler

In something of a more unique class, the Aggies brought in a JUCO class that’s more heavy on bats than arms, which definitely makes it stand out amongst the majority of these that we’ve ranked. Taylor Smith was widely considered to be the best JUCO catching prospect in the country a year ago, as he brings tremendous catch-and-throw skills to the table with serious righthanded power at the plate. Brett Minnich was one of the best JUCO bats in the class and is simultaneously a massive get to campus, as the A&M coaches expect him to hit and hit in a big way in the middle of their order. Jordan Thompson had a big season at Grayson going pre-COVID, he brings a good combination of offensive tools and athleticism to the table and could see time in any of the outfield spots. The sleeper of the class is definitely Gabe Craig, the lone arm brought in. He only pitched 13 2/3 innings in his JUCO career before heading to College Station, but the coaching staff is high on his projectable frame, loose arm, and fastball that worked 89-94 this fall with a good slider to boot. He’s got excellent long term upside.

3. Oklahoma
Recruiting Coordinator: Clay Overcash

-Brett Squires, IF/OF, McLennan
-Jimmy Crooks, C, McLennan
-Dalton Fowler, LHP, Northwest Mississippi
-Javier Ramos, RHP, Seminole State (Okla.)
-Braden Carmichael, LHP, Grayson

Right here, at No. 3, is where I drew the proverbial line that sets apart the top tier of these classes with the second tier, internally making the debate for best class overall between this one and the pair above it. It’s impactful bats and impactful arms, all guys who have a chance to make huge impacts for the Sooners. Brett Squires brings tremendous lefthanded power to the table and is capable of hitting 15+ home runs this spring while McLennan teammate Jimmy Crooks should see time right away behind the plate and is all-around a solid player. Lefthander Dalton Fowler brings excellent size at 6-foot-6, and based on how his fall went, should be in line for a weekend rotation spot right out of the gate. Righty Javier Ramos might just join Fowler in the rotation as well, as he sat mid-90’s with heavy sink this fall. Braden Carmichael is the potential swing guy who can both start and reliever, flummoxing hitters from the left side with a plus changeup and a fastball mostly around 90 mph. It’s deep and it’s impactful, and definitely one of the best classes in the country.

2. Arkansas
Recruiting Coordinator: Nate Thompson

-Jalen Battles, SS, McLennan
-Brady Slavens, 3B, Johnson County
-Ryan Costeiu, RHP, Sacramento City
-Charlie Welch, C, St. John’s River

Arkansas moved slowly building this class, keeping it small and adding pieces as they saw needs, and ended up with a monster of a class in terms of immediate projected impact. Jalen Battles was one of the top prospects in JUCO last season and seems to have taken even more strides forward offensively this fall, and has a chance to start at shortstop as well. Brady Slavens was likely the most feared hitter in JUCO in the shortened 2020 season, he brings potentially middle-order lefthanded pop to the Razorback lineup and could slot in at third base. Ryan Costeiu has already improved under pitching coach Matt Hobbs, gaining velocity and now working in the mid-90s with sink and a dynamic changeup, he could be in line for either a starter or backend bullpen role. Charlie Welch was the final add to this class, he’s known as a strong righthanded hitter who can roll the pole, and he adds depth to the catcher position behind Casey Optiz.

1. Texas Tech
Recruiting Coordinator: J-Bob Thomas

-Brandon Birdsell, RHP, San Jacinto
-Chase Webster, RHP, Chandler-Gilbert
-Braydon Runion, 3B, Walters State
-Brandon Petix, LHP, Alvin

We had Texas Tech with the No. 1 2020 JUCO class about a year ago when we looked at these classes through the early signing deadline lens, and they stay at No. 1 in the final iteration. It’s all about power arms in Lubbock, as Red Raider pitching coach Matt Gardner can build velocity like few others, and this class gives him even more high-octane arms to work with. Brandon Birdsell was in play to be drafted this past June but opted to head to Tech, he’s been mid-90s and touching higher with a wipeout slider this fall and looks poised for a big role. Fellow flamethrower Chase Webster likewise has been throwing gas and looking like a major bullpen piece. Braydon Runion had some of the better offensive upside of anyone in the ’20 JUCO class and could play either infield corner, while lefty Brandon Petix adds an intriguing projection element to the class, though his stuff is plenty good right now. Texas Tech expects to be in Omaha every year, and this class of JUCO prospects should help them get there in 2021.
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