It is time for our end of the fall update to the Class of 2026 rankings. This is a modest update, as a lot remains the same towards the top of the rankings from our previous update in early September. There is, however, one new player in the Top Five since we last updated the rankings, as well as a handful of newcomers.

Stay tuned for an in-depth discussion on the rankings on the Rounding Third podcast soon. For now, here is a look at the top five in the class.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS

THE TOP 5

Noah Spalding remains entrenched in the No. 1 spot. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Louisville commit has run his fastball up to 90 mph, but that's not all Spalding has in his game. Offensively, he possesses big power, and while it's highly likely he ends up on the mound at the college level (the arm is too good), he is a real threat at the plate until that time comes with big pull-side power.

 

 

 

 

Kentucky commit Gary Gibson sits in the No. 2. Everything Gibson does is electric with a 90 mph fastball on the mound and big bat speed at the plate. Already spinning a high-70's slider in the 2400's, that pitch has wipeout potential moving forward, and he's really just scratching the surface of how good he will be.

 

 

 

 

Griffin Loy, a big 6-foot-5, 200-pound RHP, occupies the No. 3 spot. The Louisville commit runs his fastball into the upper-80's, and has really started to get his delivery synced up as evidenced by cutting down on his walks significantly in the spring. He features a power curveball to go along with an effective changeup, and Loy should see his velocity continue to uptick in the near future. Loy is a power arm in the making, with as high of a ceiling as any player in the class.

 

 

Evan Hampton, a Kentucky commit, checks in at No. 4. The 6-foot, 185-pound  SS features a rare combination of athleticism and power, and has been a force in the Owensboro HS lineup for two years already. Hampton's electric hand and bat speed immediately stand out, and he has the athleticism and arm strength to stick at SS at the next level. He's a SS with a middle-of-the-order bat that will continue to hit for power.

 

3B/RHP Kole Grundy rises into the Top 5 after putting on a show in the State AC Games in mid-September. The uncommitted 6-foot-4, 195 pound right-handed hitter from Somerset HS may possess the most power of any bat in the class, but the skillset doesn’t stop there. He has run his fastball up to 86 mph, and features a 71-74 mph curveball with spin rates in the 2500’s. He has really come into his own as he has physically developed over the past year, and ultimately before all is said and done, a No. 5 ranking in the class likely isn’t high enough.