Prep Baseball Report

Rankings Update: Class of 2023


Shea Sbranti
Arizona Scouting Director

With the summer coming to a close the Prep Baseball Report Arizona 2023 Class Rankings have been fully updated. The 2023’s continue to add depth to an already talented class with some players who have seen major development along with some new players making the list. Check out the top ranked players and fully expanded rankings, below. 

All players on this Top-100 list are well deserving and have a bright future ahead. The players at the top of the list have separated themselves from the rest, and proven they belong where they will be heading. Most of these prospects are very tough to compare, and through the entire Top-100, the players are merely interchangeable, including some of those that have been left out.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TOP 100

top 10 headliners

Roch Cholowsky SS / 3B / Hamilton , AZ / 2023

Coming in at the #1 spot in the post summer 2022 rankings is 6-foot-2 180 pound Roch Cholowsky. Cholowsky is a two-sport athlete and is currently QB1 for a top Arizona high school football team in Hamilton. The UCLA commit shows high level defensive ability at shortstop with pro level arm strength and the ability to change slots and throw on the move. At the plate Cholowsky has shown to be a gap-to-gap type hitter with a plus contact tool. With added size and strength we feel Cholowsky will be able to produce homerun type power. The UCLA commit remains the #1 player in the state going into his senior season, and will be a high follow as we go into the fall and spring seasons and early projection going into the 2023 MLB draft.

James DeCremer III RHP / OF / Brophy College Prep, AZ / 2023

Ranked at #2 in the State of Arizona, is Oregon State commit James DeCremer III. The 6-foot-2 205 pound RHP out of Brophy high school, has had arguably the biggest summer in the class. DeCremer was one of the stand out performers in this year’s Area Code Games, going 2 inn with 6ks and a FB ranging 93-95 with a top of 96. Backing up his power FB, Decremer has a tight SL ranging anywhere from 82-85 that showed to be a defining out pitch . DeCremer’s 2600+ spin FB with a combination of arm side run is an uncomfortable at bat for any hitter. During DeCremer’s 2022 campaign he has put up video game type numbers with, 74 inn 116 ks 26 BB and an ERA of 1.50. DeCremer show’s a high lift and quick arm from a HTQ slot. The Oregon State Commit has made some major strides this season and has separated himself as one of the top prospects in the country going into his senior season. We look forward to following the #1 pitcher in the state as he is an early projection for the 2023 MLB draft.

 

 

 

Justin Chambers LHP / OF / Basha, AZ / 2023

Previously ranked in the #9 spot and moving up to #3 in the updated rankings is LHP Justin Chambers. The Washington State commit has made some big velo strides in his 2022 campaign sitting in the low 90’s. The 6-foot-3 210 pound LHP showcased a starters profile at this year’s Area Code games, showing a 3-pitch mix strike ability. With a FB that shows some good arm side run, Chambers best offspeed pitch is hands down his SL, showing good sweep action, Chambers SL is arguably the best out pitch in the class that produces some big time swing and miss. The recent transfer to Basha will lead their staff this spring once he is cleared to play. Chambers will be a high follow in the state as he is an early projection for the 2023 MLB draft.

Ryan Kucherak SS / 2B / Hamilton, AZ / 2023

Coming in at #4 and recent LSU commit is shortstop Ryan Kucherak. The #2 ranked SS in the state has had a blow out 2022 campaign, helping lead Hamilton high school to the 6A State Championship, with a homerun in the semi final game vs Chaparral. Kucherak is one of the more projectable players in the class, with a high level hit tool, and power that plays to the gaps. In the field Kucherak has a smooth glove with a 90+ mph arm across the diamond. Kucherak has a long and lengthy build with room for added strength and size as he moves onto the next level. Kucherak will be a high follow for the Arizona staff as he goes into his fall season playing for the DiamondBacks and Mets scout teams, along with his spring season at Hamilton looking to repeat the championship season they had in 2022.

Duce Robinson OF / OF / Pinnacle, AZ / 2023

Coming in at #9 and a new addition to the top 10 is OF/RHP Duce Robinson. Robinson is the top ranked uncommitted prospect in the 2023 class. Robinson is a premier two-sport athlete with big play type ability and brings an X-factor to whatever field he is on. The 6-foot-6 220 pound Robinson has the size, strength and speed to separate him from the rest. Robinson’s speed and first step has played a major factor in his success that transfers over to the bases. At this year’s Area Code games Robinson opened some eyes as one of the most talked about players across the whole event. With Robinson being the #1 ranked football player in the state we are excited to see whether or not he will continue be a two-sport athlete at the collegiate level.

movers & standouts

Marco Pacheco RHP / Alhambra, AZ / 2023

One of the most interesting uncommitted prospects in the 2023 class is RHP Marco Pacheco. The Alhambra high school ace had a stand out junior season helping lead Alhambra to a 30-3 season. Pacheco posted 9 wins .99 era 56.1IP 75 ks in his junior season. With his velo ranging in the mid-80s, Pacheco has high level command with a pitch usage that keeps hitters off balanced and a 3-pitch mix that he can throw in any count. With added strength Pacheco has the ability to be one of the top pitchers in the state. Pacheco will be a high follow for the Arizona staff as he goes into his fall season with AZBC and senior season at Alhambra.

Cristian Mogen 3B / RHP / Centennial , AZ / 2023

Mogen came onto the seen this past spring where he had an impressive .500 BA at Centennial high school. Mogen continued to show his abilities at this year’s West Coast games at the University of Las Vegas, where he was one of the top performers. The uncommitted 2-way prospect distanced himself from the rest as he went 5-7 on the weekend with 4 XBH. While Mogen had a stand out weekend at the plate, on the mound is where he turned the heads of many. Going 3 inn of scoreless baseball with a FB sitting 88-90 topping out at 91. Mogen struck out 6 and didn’t allow a base runner through his first 7 batters faced. Along with a good FB, Mogen has the ability to spin a breaking ball for strikes with a spin of 2700+ that showed to be an out pitch for the RHP. Mogen has made big strides in his 2022 campaign and we look forward to watching him this spring as he is a high follow for the Arizona staff.

Cooper Brass SS / 2B / Hamilton, AZ / 2023

One of the biggest movers in the updated rankings going from #73 in the state to #41 is uncommitted shortstop Cooper Brass. Brass participated in this year’s West Coast Games in Las Vegas Nevada, and came out as one of the most talked about middle infielders throughout the entire event. Going 4-7 on the weekend with a triple, Brass showcased a quiet load and flat swing at the plate with a full field line drive approach. At shortstop Brass had quick twitch athleticism with good lateral movement, and an accurate arm across. At the next level we feel Brass profiles as a defensive second baseman with the ability to gap-to-gap doubles type hitter. We look forward to following Brass as he goes into his fall season with USA Prime and Spring season at Hamilton high school.

top 25

RANK   NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Roch Cholowsky AZ Hamilton 2023 SS UCLA
2 James DeCremer III AZ Brophy College Prep 2023 RHP Oregon State
3 Justin Chambers AZ Basha 2023 LHP Washington State
4 Ryan Kucherak AZ Hamilton 2023 SS Louisiana State
5 Derek Schaefer AZ Cactus Shadows 2023 RHP Tennessee
6 Carson McEntire AZ Mountain Ridge 2023 OF Oregon State
7 Zach Wadas AZ Hamilton 2023 OF Texas Christian
8 Connor Mattison AZ Canyon View 2023 RHP Grand Canyon
9 Duce Robinson AZ Pinnacle 2023 OF  
10 Joshua Tiedemann AZ Hamilton 2023 3B Texas Christian
11 Grant Smith AZ Pinnacle 2023 RHP Arizona State
12 Cooper Neville AZ Mountain Ridge 2023 SS Grand Canyon
13 Andrew Cain AZ Ironwood Ridge 2023 3B Arizona
14 Bradyn Barnes AZ Basha 2023 LHP Arizona State
15 Owen Kramkowski AZ Walden Grove 2023 RHP Arizona
16 Joshua Butler AZ Sandra Day O'Connor 2023 RHP Arizona State
17 Cole Carlon AZ Corona del Sol 2023 LHP Arizona State
18 Carter Bailey AZ Mountain Pointe 2023 SS California
19 Bryce McKnight AZ Desert Vista 2023 RHP Arizona
20 Traig Oughton AZ Liberty 2023 RHP Mississippi
21 Derek Montijo AZ Nogales 2023 SS  
22 Tyler Acton AZ Verrado 2023 SS New Mexico State
23 Cayne Killion AZ Red Mountain 2023 LHP UC Santa Barbara
24 Will Shelor AZ Hamilton 2023 RHP Arizona
25 Owen Wade AZ Pinnacle 2023 3B Army

 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Fall Underclass Showcase (2025-2026 Grads) AZ 10/02 Grand Canyon University
Fall Upperclass Showcase (2023-2024 Grads) AZ 10/30 Grand Canyon University