Early Look at Pennsylvania's Class of 2021
December 14, 2017
On a yearly basis our initial player rankings for those in their freshman year of high school is released following the completion of the high school baseball season. While most freshman spend their first year in a high school uniform as members of their school's freshmen or JV rosters, some get the privilege of dawning a varsity uniform. An even smaller percentage actually have the opportunity to affect the outcome of varsity games in their initial year of high school.
With highly talented underclassmen making college announcements earlier and earlier, we have decided to begin the process a bit earlier for the Class of 2021. Following we take a look at a handful of freshmen statewide that are likely to make a name for themselves this spring. We will make our next update to the 2021 rankings following the Preseason All-State Showcase in late January and will then follow up with an additional update after the completion of the high school season.
An update to the current PBR Class of 2021 overall rankings is due before the end of the year.
Wagner Tops the Initial Rankings
While he has yet to play a high school game, Red Land LHP/1B Cole Wagner has garnered more than his fair share of attention on the national stage through youth and travel baseball. The 6-foot, 190-pound left-handed hitter and thrower broke onto the national scene as a 13 year old while leading the Red Land Little League team to a United States championship. Wagner has continued his physical maturation, currently sitting in the mid-80s while running his fastball up to 87 mph. The No. 5 ranked prospect in the PBR Class of 2021 overall rankings continues to showcase advanced power and is a legitimate two-way prospect. Wagner announced his commitment to Georgia earlier this fall.
RANK | NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS | COMMITMENT |
1 | Cole Wagner | PA | Red Land | 2021 | LHP | Georgia |
2 | Nick Bitsko | PA | Central Bucks East | 2021 | RHP | Virginia |
3 | Nick Kurtz | PA | Manheim Township | 2021 | LHP | Wake Forest |
4 | Joe Jaconski | PA | Springside Chestnut Hill | 2021 | SS | North Carolina |
5 | Sam Contacos | PA | Penn-Trafford | 2021 | C |
Team Pennsylvania
The PBR Future Games is the top event in the country for uncommitted rising juniors every summer. While it is not uncommon for a few rising sophomores to dot the rosters representing the various PBR states at the event, it is not the norm. This year's Team Pennsylvania roster is in the infancy stages of its development, but if past history repeats itself, a number of Class of 2021 prospects will be included on the final roster.
The Future Games is an event for the top uncommitted prospects in the country which means that four of the current Pennsylvania prospects ranked in this class will not be up for consideration. A full lineup of winter events will play a major role in sifting through the top underclass prospects in the state over the coming weeks and months.
First Look This Winter
Following is a look at prospects from the Class of 2021 currently registered to participate in a winter PBR event in Pennsylvania. This list will grow significantly over the coming weeks leading up to the bulk of the scheduled events in January.
PBR Measurables & Evaluation Showcase - 12.30.17
NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS |
Michael Cunningham | PA | Spring-Ford HS | 2021 | RHP |
Dylan DuCharme | PA | Spring-Ford | 2021 | OF |
Brady Faust | PA | Blue Mountain | 2021 | 3B |
Luke Holman | PA | Wyomissing | 2021 | RHP |
Zack Kramer | PA | Cumberland Valley | 2021 | OF |
Gavin Neal | PA | Palmyra | 2021 | 2B |
Ethan Phillips | PA | Red Land | 2021 | 3B |
Chase Renner | PA | Brandywine Heights | 2021 | RHP |
Asa Wilson | PA | Exeter Township | 2021 | C |
Preseason Preview - 1.13.18
NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS |
Landon DiBeradin | PA | Norwin | 2021 | C |
Jack Price | PA | Spring-Ford | 2021 | RHP |
Tim Quinn |
PA | Franklin Regional | 2021 | 2B |
Preseason All-State Showcase - 1.27.18 & 1.28.18
NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS |
Ben Chase | PA | Octorara | 2021 | SS |
Brian Finn |
PA | Springside Chestnut Hill | 2021 | SS |
Eric Genther |
PA | The Haverford School | 2021 | C |
Jack Giovenco | PA | Parkland | 2021 | C |
Peter Kern |
PA | Malvern Prep | 2021 | OF |
Andrew Muraco |
PA | Franklin Regional | 2021 | SS |
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