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The end of the fall season gives the scouting staffs at Prep Baseball a chance to do a quick clean of their class rankings.  First up in North Carolina will be the senior class, the 2025 grads.  The class expanded to the top 340 players in the state with several players making small moves within the rankings based on what our scouting staff saw this fall season.  Events like the Open IDs and the Top Prospect Games allowed our scouting staff to hone in on players with their eyes and the full analytical package, detailing players strengths and giving some feel for what their future could hold as they continue to develop.

The process of rankings players can be somewhat simple but it does take a ton of time and effort.  For every player the Prep Baseball scouting staff in NC sees, they work to put a player grade on the player and a confidence rating on the grade.  The confidence rating can be related to the number of times a player is seen, and the number of different ways that player is evaluated.  Once ready, the database is sorted blindly, with all player information hidden outside the player grade, confidence rating, and tool grades.  When the data base is sorted by player grade, the tool grades are used to flush out players with similar overall grades.   As the sorting process is finished, the rankings are basically set.  Our scouting staff will go through the list to see if there are any outliers, where the grade may have been off for one reason or another.  As this process is finished, the rankings are ready to post.

As we hit mid-November players that are committed are afforded the ability to commit to the school of their choice.  In the past seven years, our staff has followed and analyzed commitment trends within the state of North Carolina.  Over that time, we typically see 400-450 college commitments from each senior class.  We also see that more than half of the players that commit to play college baseball do so after the November signing period opens.  The senior class, and uncommitted players, may feel like time is slipping away but history tells us college programs are working into the spring season to find players to fill their rosters. 

There is one item to follow with the 2025 class... College rosters are getting older.  With a combination of high school players reclassifing, the rise in the transfer protal, and the ability for players to earn a 5th, and sometimes 6th year of eligibility, the spots for high school players have never been more competitive.  The 2026 and 2027 classes should be following the trends we see in the next 6 months as they will have an impact on their recruiting periods.

Below we begin the process of breaking down the top talent in the 2025 class.  This is a very deep class that is very heavy at the top.  There will be a number of players with heavy follows from MLB Scouts as we enter the spring season.  The entire class of 2025 Rankings update, expanding it to the top 340 players in North Carolina, can be seen HERE.

2025 Class Rankings Update

North Carolina Stars Shine at All-American Game

This year's Prep Baseball All-American Game took place in Miami on September 14th.  Hosted by the Marlins at their Load Depot Park stadium, 23 players from the 2025 class took on 23 players from the 2026 class.  The 2025 class took the opportunity to defend their All-American Game title, running the classes record to 2-0.

Three players from North Carolina earned invited with two able to play in Miami.  Reigning MVP from the 2023 AAG, Josh Hammond, was accompanied by 2025 LHP Briggs McKenzie.  Both excited fans, players, and scouts with their weekend performance.  Hammond has solidified himself as one of the top prospects in the country.  McKenzie may have the most helium to his prospect status within the 2025 class.  Hammond shined in the event.  He reached the finals of the Home Run Derby, collected a couple of hits in the game play action, and worked a seemless inning on the bump.  McKenzie drew rave reviews for the way he handled the lead up to the game.  His humble confidence and demeanor put a spotlight on him as he took the mound.  From there, the left-hander dazzled with a combination of stuff, poise, and instinct.

You can see the full breakdown from the 2024 Prep Baseball All-American Game HERE.

Names to Know for the Super 60

The Prep Baseball Super 60 is the premier winter draft event in the country.  Typically featuring 60+ top prospects from the Senior class, from across the country, the event will draw all levels of scouts from each MLB organization.  The event is a chance for top level draft prospects to show off their off-season work while giving the scouting community a taste of what they will be ready to do in the spring season. 

The 2025 class in North Carolina is extremely talented and very deep.  While the North Carolina staff is still working with our National staff to get invites out to the top players, we do expect to see a strong contingent of players heading to Chicago in early February, from North Carolina.  A combine event, position players will run through a pro-style workout indoors.  The facility allows for a full 60 yard dash, followed by BP in an open arena, allowing scouts to see the ball fly.  Defensively, the site allows for a full infield, and for outfielders to make a full length throw from centerfield. 

While the names of those invited and those that have accepted are not being released at this time, a brief look through the Top 20 in North Carolina could give baseball fans in North Carolina a feel for how deep the draft follow list is in the state.

Top Uncommitted Players at the Top Prospect Games

Along with following key draft prospects, the staff in North Carolina continued to work to update profiles on some of the top uncommitted prospects in North Carolina.  The Fall Top Prospect Games were hosted in early November at Asheboro's McCrary Park.  Several seniors saw their stock rise with good performances to finish up their fall season.

Lucas Riley OF / SS / Ledford, NC / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 117 / POS: 21

Nicholas Quinones OF / RHP / Swansboro, NC / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 282 / POS: 56

Nolan Winnek C / 3B / Camden Military, NC / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 285 / POS: 34

Jahdier Rodriguez C / OF / Charlotte Catholic, NC / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 290 / POS: 35

Isaac Devine OF / LHP / Overhills High, NC / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 186 / POS: 37

Previewing the Top 10

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UPDATED CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS IN FULL

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