The talent in high school baseball seems to sprawl more and more on a year-over-year basis. No matter where you turn, the powerhouse programs are being joined by budding newcomers looking for their place on the mantle.
Of course, states like California and Florida dominate the overall demographic but likely the top prep player in the country, Max Clark, is from Indiana. There is a five-tool shortstop out of Hawaii in Nolan Souza. How about an SEC or ACC commit for the class of 2023 in nearly every state. It’s easy to see that there are bluechips everywhere.
Today we are going to highlight some of the most talent-rich rosters across the country as we move closer to the start of the 2023 high school season. A majority of the teams included today will be at the 2023 USA Baseball National High School Invitational in Cary, NC, which my colleague Tyler Jennings did a preview for.
Lastly, you’ll notice the absence of academies from the list, as in teams like IMG Academy, Combine, P27, among others. We wanted to highlight teams in a more traditional high-school landscape.
Orange Lutheran (CA)
Key Players- OF Derek Curiel (2024), 1B Casey Borba, 2B Ben Reiland (2024), SS Gabe Fraser (2024), RHP Evan Miranda, RHP Edward Park
A perennial powerhouse in the prep ranks, Orange Lutheran kicks off the list with one of the best trios of 2024s in the country. Curiel, who is a consensus top five player in the 2024 class, will be a catalyst as a true five-tool player with potential to impact the game in a multitude of ways. The pair of Reiland and Fraser make up the middle-infield with advanced defensive abilities and hitterish profiles in the box. Fraser, a recent transfer from Huntington Beach could be a fast mover up 2024 draft boards this spring with high-level projection and power potential. Texas commit 1B Casey Borba anchors the lineup with experience and one of the purest hit tools in the 2023 class. The OLu staff will be led and dependent on a pair of crafty, command-led RHP in Evan Miranda and Edward Park. The three-time NHSI winners won’t be in Cary this year, but still should be among the top teams in the country.
Doral Academy (FL)
Key Players- SS Adrian Santana, LHP Frank Menendez, OF Michael Torres (2024), C Justin Ruiz, RHP Keyler Gonzalez, OF Sebastian Berrios (2024)
Led by one of the fastest players in the country in the ultra-twitchy Adrian Santana, Doral offers one of the more complete rosters in the state of Florida. The duo of Menendez and Gonzalez gives the Firebirds a veteran duo on the mound with both above-average pitchability and experience that can help lead this team to back-to-back state titles. Miami commit Michael Torres has a very strong hit tool from the left side with burgeoning power that gives the lineup an impressive one-two punch alongside Santana. It is a very veteran team in terms of playing time, and chock-full of players like C Justin Ruiz with strong defensive abilities and intangibles.
Jesuit (OR)
Key Players- RHP Noble Meyer, 3B Levi Jones, SS Ryan Cooney, RHP Tyler Alleman, SS Carson Gantz
Just a few years removed from producing one of the top RHP in the country and eventual 1st rounder, Mick Abel, Jesuit is back with yet another elite arm in Noble Meyer. The Oregon commit boasts arguably the best two-pitch combo in the 2023 class with a mid-90s fastball and devastating upper-80s slider that could be a plus offering currently. Ryan Cooney and Levi Jones make up a quality left side of the infield, with the latter providing loud offensive tools in the middle of the lineup. Brock Leitgeb has legitimate above-average raw power from the catcher spot. Tyler Alleman and Carson Gantz look to give the team a solid rotation, with Gantz providing strong two-way tools that could be a catalyst for this ball club. The two-time state champion has the roster to make yet another run at a trophy this spring.
Hagerty (FL)
Key Players- RHP Garrett Baumann, LHP/OF Talan Bell (2024), SS Austin Jacobs (2024), RHP Eli Fleming (2024), RHP Brayden Toro (2024)
When your recent alumni features multiple MLB starters (Ryan Mountcastle, Riley Greene, Vaughn Grissom, Zach Eflin), it should be no surprise to see Hagerty once with a loaded roster. Garrett Baumann and Talan Bell leading a staff is about as good as it gets for a high school roster. Baumann, with a 6-8 frame, mid-90s fastball and one of the best changeups in the state and Bell, whois already in the low-90s from the left side with a diabolical sweeper that is a swing and miss machine. Bell will be a potent part of the lineup as well, with a true two-way profile in the outfield. Austin Jacobs is a true shortstop with an above-average glove and bat that has made huge strides to be a cog in the middle of this lineup as a 2024. Eli Fleming and Brayden Toro get overlooked a bit on this team, but both hold quality commitments (Pittsburgh and USF, respectively) and will throw vital innings throughout the year as this squad faces a very tough schedule including a NHSI trip.
Parkview (GA)
Key Players- SS Colin Houck, 2B Landon Stripling, 3B Cade Brown (2024), RHP Garrett Lambert, RHP Thorpe Musci (2024), LHP Ford Thompson (2024)
Easily one of the best teams in the Southeast region, but Parkview could make a run for best team in the country. Colin Houck might be a star. A former QB1 who’s finally committed to baseball full-time, and boasts one of the best hit/power combos in Georgia, and at a premier defensive position. Landon Stripling is the prototype top of the order hitter with an advanced approach and above-average hit tool. 2024 Georgia commit Cade Brown adds a very athletic third baseman with power potential that will be here sooner than later. The three-headed monster that is Parkview’s pitching rotation is quite impressive. Garrett Lambert is a true four-pitch arm in the low-90s and the pair of 2024s in Musci and Thompson will also both touch low-90s with present feel for swing and miss breaking balls. The Panthers are a nine-time state champion and three-time National champion, and could have a chance to be in the running for both in 2023.
Hamilton (AZ)
Key Players- SS Roch Clolowsky, 1B Zach Wadas, 3B Josh Tiedemann, 2B Ryan Kucharak, RHP Carson Johnson, SS AJ Diaz (2024)
A year removed from losing one of the most tooled-up players in the country in Gavin Turley to Oregon State, Hamilton comes back in 2023 with possibly the best infield in high school baseball. Roch Cholowsky has one of the best gloves in the infield since Nasim Nunez in 2019, and could be a present double-plus tool with a bat that isn’t too far behind. Zach Wadas and Josh Tiedemann both offer light-tower power at the corner infield spots, while LSU commit Ryan Kucharak shows both hit and power projection at second. Projectable RHP Carson Johnson will be looked upon to lead a young, but talented pitching staff with a strong three-pitch mix that’s been making strides as he grows into his frame. No NHSI trip for Hamilton this year, but the roster is as good as they’ve had recently and will be a factor in national rankings throughout the year.
JSerra Catholic (CA)
Key Players- 3B Trent Caraway, C Andrew Lamb, RHP Ben Reimers, RHP Brodie Purcell, RHP JJ Hollis, 3B/RHP Matthew Champion (2024)
Here’s another California powerhouse on the list in JSerra Catholic. Trent Caraway leads the way as one of the best infielders in California with an elite bat and tons of projection remaining. Pitching is the overall strength for this Lions ball club with a deep staff that’s led by a pair of PAC12 commits in Ben Reimers (Stanford) and Brodie Purcell (USC). A pair of two-way talents in JJ Hollis and 2024 Matthew Champion will be key pieces for this team, with the latter being one of the Top 100 prospects in the 2024 class. This isn’t the 2021 JSerra team that featured names like Cody Schrier, Gage Jump, Eric Silva and more, but this is a very talented club that will be among the best teams in California once again.
Bishop Gorman (NV)
Key Players- 1B Easton Shelton, 3B Gunnar Myro, RHP Kamdyn Perry, OF Aiden Pollock, C Burke Mabeus (2024), RHP James Whitaker (2025)
Here is yet another multiple State and National champion on the list with Bishop Gorman bringing a very potent offense into 2023. Easton Shelton and Gunnar Pyro bring impressive power, with 2024s Maddox Riske and Burke Mabeus bringing solid all-around hitting profiles to give the lineup depth. A very deep pitching staff that’s led by Kamdyn Perry who’s arm speed and projectability stand out and could feature James Whitaker, a standout 2025 arm who’s already up to 89 and the younger brother of current Astros prospect / former Bishop Gorman star Tyler Whitaker. The Gaels have all the pieces to be among the elite this spring.
Calvary Christian (FL)
Key Players- RHP Liam Peterson, LHP Hunter Dietz, RHP Landen Maroudis, 1B Cameron Uzzillia (2025), MIF Jace Kohler (2024), OF Blake Opie
This list couldn’t be valid without including Clearwater’s Calvary Christian and the best pitching staff in the country. The rotation of Liam Peterson, Hunter Dietz and Landen Maroudis is among the best pitching staffs that’s been seen at the prep level in recent years. A combined ERA of 0.63 with 185 strikeouts for the trio last year and there’s still a plethora of quality arms behind them including Notre Dame commit Justin Mayes and NYU commit Paul Guerne. Maroudis will likely also be the starting shortstop on non-pitching days alongside a quality 2024 bat in Jace Kohler, who’s made big strides in the past year. Blake Opie will be the engine that makes the lineup run with an advanced hit tool and above-average run tool. Underclass bats in 2024 C Andrew Tess and 2025 1B Cam Uzzillia will provide the thump for the team in 2023 and for years to come. Pitching will take this team as far as it wants to go, and thankfully it’s the best pitching you can find.
University Liggett (MI)
Key Players- SS Jarren Purify, C Oliver Service, RHP Jack Jones, MIF Reggie Steele (2024), 3B Preston Barr (2024), RHP Blake Ilitch (2025)
A bit of a sleeper on this list, but make no mistake, Liggett is loaded. It starts with a twitchy, electric middle-infield pairing of Jarren Purify and 2024 Reggie Steele, who impact the game in a variety of ways. Purify is one of the fastest players in the Midwest and Steele shows a promising hit tool with an extremely high IQ, while both showing above-average gloves. C Oliver Service was a standout throughout the 2022 summer with impressive tools flashing on both sides of the plate and could be poised to breakout even more in the middle of this Liggett lineup. Pitching is led by Michigan State commit Jack Jones who has plenty of big-game experience for this team. Brother Rice transfer Blake Ilitch is a special talent in the 2025 class and could be an instant difference maker for this staff with an extremely whippy arm that’s up to 90 with feel for two really good breaking balls. There’s quite a few members of this team who were a part of the Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League that went to the 2018 Little League World Series, so winning at the highest level is not a new topic for this ball club.