Inside The Rankings: Looking At The Top 10
September 13, 2016
By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa
The Iowa Updated 2017 Rankings were released Monday and we delve deeper inside the rankings. With four-plus months of baseball being played since the last rankings update, plenty of prospects improved their stock and have risen in the rankings, along with a strong group of 40+ players appearing in the rankings for the first time.
The high school season, end of the summer showcases, tournaments and out-of-state events all played major roles in prospects rising in the rankings.
SS/RHP John Swanda (Des Moines Roosevelt) made one of the biggest moves in the updated rankings, climbing 13 spots to the top of the rankings at #1. Swanda, who committed to Nebraska early in the summer, has continued to elevate his game and offers intriguing 2-way potential on the field.
Holding their spots at the top of the rankings; OF Trey Leonard, LHP Jack Dreyer (Johnston) , and LHP/OF Cam Baumann (Fairfield) all had strong summer campaigns cementing their place as top prospects in the state.
Council Bluffs Lewis Central, C, Joel Thompson made a move from #9 to #5 in the rankings. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher continues to show premium arm strength from behind the dish; along with a bat that has continued to develop.
Iowa basketball commit Connor McCaffery who splits time between first base and outfield. McCaffery made a jump from #13 up to #6 in the rankings; has shown above average athleticism along with a strong left-handed bat; just scratching his ceiling while juggling basketball commitments along with playing baseball.
LHP Trenton Wallace (Davenport Assumption), 3B Izaya Ono-Fullard (Iowa City West), and SS/OF Gregory Bennett (Western Dubuque) have held firm in the Top 10. C Jordan Wendel (Alta-Aurelia) stood out at the IA Top Prospect Games in August jumping from #16 to #9 in the updated rankings. With his strong build, left-handed bat, and superior arm strength- Wendel has continued to make strides and improvements in his game over the past two years.
Rank
Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Commitment | |
1 | John Swanda | IA | Des Moines Roosevelt | 2017 | SS | Nebraska |
2 | Trey Leonard | IA | Cedar Rapids Washington | 2017 | OF | Louisville |
3 | Jack Dreyer | IA | Johnston | 2017 | LHP | Iowa |
4 | Cam Baumann | IA | Fairfield | 2017 | OF | Iowa |
5 | Joel Thompson | IA | Council Bluffs Lewis Central | 2017 | C | Iowa |
6 | Connor McCaffery | IA | Iowa City West | 2017 | 1B | Iowa |
7 | Trenton Wallace | IA | Davenport Assumption | 2017 | 1B | Iowa |
8 | Izaya Ono-Fullard | IA | Iowa City West | 2017 | 3B | |
9 | Jordan Wendel | IA | Alta-Aurelia | 2017 | C | |
10 | Gregory Bennett | IA | Western Dubuque | 2017 | SS |
CLICK HERE for the complete Top 110 in the IA 2017 Rankings.
Iowa news
- IA - Sep 13, 2016
Inside The Rankings: Looking At The Top 10 - PBRPlus - Sep 12, 2016
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