Updated Class Rankings: 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Class of 2018 Rankings Risers
Daniel Espino – 153 to 13 (2019, Statesboro, Ga.)
After a dominant start during the High School Academies Showdown, Espino rocketed up the rankings from 153 to 14. The newly committed righthander to the Tigers of LSU produced a fastball up to 96 mph and sat in the mid-90s early on. He has now produced the best velocity PG has seen thus far in the 2019 class and projects nicely in his 6-foot-3 200-pound frame.
Mason Auer – 500 to 91 (2019, Springfield, Mo.)
Missouri State commit Mason Auer showcased his tools at the PG 2018 National Indoor Showcase in February. The righthanded outfielder not only sprinted a 6.67-second 60 yard dash, but also showed off outstanding arm strength as he bolted 98 mph from the outfield. These tools as well as his 90 mph fastball on the mound are strong indicators why the junior soared up the rankings list.
John Piacentino – 500 to 165 (2019, Cherry Hill, N.J.)
Coming off of an outstanding showing at the PG Northeast Indoor Showcase, Penn State commit John Piacentino showed big-time two-way potential. Piacentino threw showed good arm strength both from the outfield and on the mound topping out at 94 and 92 respectfully. He also ran a 4.73-second 40 yard dash and projects well with the bat giving indications of why he boosted up from 500 to 178 in the updated 2019 rankings.
Aaron Roberts – 500 to 176 (2019, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Roberts was impressive on the mound at West MLK topping out at 87 mph, but has even more recently blossomed on the mound. The 6-foot-3 220-pound righthander has produced a fastball up to 93 mph. Showing outstanding lower half usage and good drive to the plate, the uncommitted righthander is really continuing to trend in the right direction out west.
Will Stevens – High Follow to 302 (2019, Kansas City, Mo.)
The biggest riser in the 2019 class is uncommitted righthanded pitcher Will Stevens. The 6-foot-2 210-pound righty impressed at the PG National Indoor Showcase by running his fastball up to 90 mph with three secondary pitches. Stevens fills up the zone especially with the fastball and will likely continue to make strides as he continues to progress.
Blake Walston – High Follow to 403 (2019, Wilmington, N.C.)
Moving from the High Follow list to 400 is North Carolina native and highly projectable lefthanded pitcher Blake Walston. The North Carolina State commit has made strides this spring and most recently attended the 2017 16U WWBA National Championship where his fastball peaked at 85 mph. Walston projects well and his velocity will likely continue to improve moving forward.
Alec Gonzalez – 160 to 93 (2020, Chicago Heights, Ill.)
Displaying his advanced arm strength and athleticism on both the mound and in the infield, Gonzalez topped out at 86 mph from each position. The University of Tennessee commit also showed good strength and bat speed in his swing at the PG National Indoor Showcase giving a strong indication why he jumped 67 spots in the updated class of 2020 ranks.
Hunter Marsh – 166 to 94 (2020, Hoschton, Ga.)
Big power and exit velocities were the norm for Marsh during the Showdown. He also topped out at 86 mph on the mound as well. Marsh crushed a long home run to the pull side gap during the showdown and showed advanced strength in his swing in doing so. The way Marsh can swing the bat and projects on the mound shows why he is one of Perfect Game’s Rankings Risers in this edition of the updated rankings.
Justin Thorsteinson – Top 1000 to 114 (2020, Langley, British Columbia)
Thorsteinson, a verbal commitment to Oregon State, was up to 89 mph at West MLK Underclass and was very impressive in doing so. From a performance standpoint, Thorsteinson went four innings and struck out five helping solidify his bolt up the updated 2020 rankings list as the class’s top riser in these updated rankings.
George Klassen – 476 to 281 (2020, Port Washington, Wis.)
A native of Wisconsin, Klassen is making a name for himself in the Midwest. The righthanded pitcher really impressed during the 2017 Underclass World Championship. After a six inning one-hit stint on the bump and showing a fastball that topped at 85 mph, Klassen really projects on the and is doing so early on in the 2018 PG Spring League.
Dylan MacCallum – High Follow to 286 (2020, Portland, Ore.)
Projectable righthanded pitcher Dylan MacCallum stands at 6-foot-4 197-pounds with a clean arm action that really projects well. MacCallum made a strong appearance on the mound during the National Indoor Showcase where he topped out at 88 mph with his fastball and showed developing feel for a pair of breaking balls. With continued development, MacCullum has a high ceiling on the mound.
Gene Kolarik – High Follow to 300 (2020, Crown Point, Ind.)
Big, physical righthander Kolarik has been a pitcher to monitor as he continues to grow into his body. He has done exactly that adding 20 pounds to his now 6-foot-7 230-pound frame. Kolarik’s last PG event came in Fort Myers at the 2017 WWBA Underclass World Championship where he topped out at 85 mph and projects for more moving forward.
Charlie Saum – Top 1000 to 80 (2021, Port Hueneme, Calif.)
Turning heads in the high school circuit this spring is 2021 catcher Charlie Saum. With sub-2.00-second pop times and advanced defensive actions, Saum is a top-notch catcher and it shows in his jump in the rankings. Charlie is the brother of Jake Saum who is committed to UCLA as a lefthanded pitcher.
Nick McLain – NEW to 85 (2021, Tustin, Calif.)
Starting for his high school team as a freshman, the young framed outfielder has impressed on the west coast. A switch-hitter and brother of UCLA commit Matt McLain, the baseball genes run in the family and it shows in the way Nick McLain plays.
Jose Acuna – NEW to 112 (2021, Corpus Christi, Texas)
Acuna is a young lefthander who has recently been up to 90 mph in at his Texas high school. The freshman from Veterans Memorial High School in Corpus Christi, Texas is a very projectable and young lefty who is rising rapidly in the 2021 Texas and National ranks.
Mekhian Jackson – High Follow to 113 (2021, Dothan, Ala.)
University of Alabama commit Mekhian Jackson moves up to 113 from being on the High Follow list after an outstanding fall in the National Indoor League. Jackson batted an impressive .449 in 98 during the fall session and made one of the more impressive exit velocities at the event with a 95.8 mph hit.
Jack Hunke – NEW to 160 (2021, Foristell, Mo.)
After a great showing at the 2018 National Indoor Showcase, Hunke topped out at 85 mph with advanced feel for his changeup. His changeup showed good diving action. The young righthander projects on the mound with plenty of growing still to do and time to do so. There is a lot to like with Hunke and it will be interesting to see the righty progress moving forward.