2024 Player Rankings Update - Newcomers
August 25, 2022
TEXAS - Earlier this week, we updated the 2024 Player Rankings in Texas. Today, we take a deeper look at the update by focusing on 11 players who are new to the rankings.
+ RISERS
NEWCOMERS
#36 Brooks Roberson - RHP - Wolforth Frenship - Uncommitted
The 6’4 RHP from the panhandle showed up to Future Games under the radar, but after his electric outing against Team Indiana, everyone knows who Roberson is. He features a FB that sits 85-87 right now, but with the frame and cleanness of the arm, we expect Roberson to make some big velo gains. Roberson also showed a full arsenal of secondary pitches, headlined by the SL. He throws it in the upper 70’s with good depth and late bite to it. He also has a curveball and change up that are both quality pitches. Roberson’s future game outing has made him a top 40 player in the state, and as the body progresses he could keep shooting up the state rankings.
#37 Zack James - RHP - Flower Mound - TCU
The 6’2 righty is just the next P5 arm to roll through Flower Mound High. James burst on the season last spring for the Jaguars, taking over a district starter role and thriving. A lot like Roberson, James’ frame is ultra projectable. His fastball will get up to 88 right now without much effort, and that number is going to continue to go up. He has great command of his fb, and it allows him to be aggressive and put the pressure on the hitter. James also features a change up and breaking ball. The change up is the better of the two right now, showing confidence in the pitch throwing it to both righties and lefties. His breaking ball has good shape, and as he gets stronger and puts more power into the pitch, it has swing and miss potential.
#38 Brayden Bergman - RHP/OF - Plano East - Baylor
Bergman was one of the biggest risers in the second half of the summer. He has predominantly been an outfielder who pitched a little. Towards the end of HS and this summer, Bergman got on the mound more and really opened some eyes. The velocity kept climbing and by the time Area Code Underclass games came around he was sitting in the low 90’s. The Baylor commit has some physicality to him with a thick, strong build, but he is a very good athlete as well. He is a sub 7 runner, and Bergman takes some of the loudest batting practice you can find. He had some nice hits in San Diego as well, making him a true two way talent. With Bergman concentrating on baseball full time and focusing on pitching some more, I expect some more big jumps next spring.
#40 Camden Clewett - C/RHP - Montgomery - Uncommitted
Behind the plate Clewett is an outstanding catch-and-throw guy with defensive skills to match. Stays below the ball with quickness and instincts that make him one of the better catchers in his class. Pops in the 2.0-2.1 range with accuracy and carry on his 79 mph arm. Shows flashes of raw power - went off the LCF wall for a double at Future Games - while being a consistent line drive hitter. Shows patience and is selective and won't give in. Clewett also pitches where he's made significant gains since spring. Up to 88 mph and living 85-87 at Future Games, Clewett paired it with a 73-75 mph curveball that induced whiffs at a 68% clip. Shows feel for a mid-to-upper 70's changeup that tunnels well off the fastball. Struck out the side in his relief appearance at the Future Games.
#43 Nathan Tobin - OF - VR Eaton - Uncommitted
Tobin burst onto the scene this summer and always seemed to hit and do things right in the field. The left handed hitting outfield is a pest in the box with well above average bat to ball skills allowing him to put the barrel on the ball and find hits consistently. Tobin has an athletic simple setup and doesnt try to do too much in his at bat allowing him to hit the ball where its pitched. Tobin will also show his ability to effect a game with his legs as well showing above average speed down the line as well as a base stealer. Tobin is an interesting prospect that has the ability to be a pest at the top of any lineup.
#44 Jordan Ballin - MIF - Boerne Champion - UTSA
Ballin is one of the more fun players in this class to watch. High energy player who always seems to be in the middle of the action. The Future Games participant showed up to LakePoint with high expectations, and more than delivered. The 5’8 MIF has a strong build for his size and plenty of explosiveness. At the plate, Ballin stays gap to gap and shoots line drives all over the field. He had multiple extra base hits at Future Games. In the field, he made some head turning plays at short showing off enough arm to stay there in the long term. He also played CF for a couple innings and looked natural out there as well. Not long after the Future Games, Ballin committed to UTSA.
#49 Donte Lewis - OF/RHP - Shadow Creek - Uncommitted
One of the more athletic players in the entire class, Lewis shows a ton to like all over the field. The 5-foot-11 athlete plays on the dirt now but could see a move to CF if he has to at the next level, and he also has a loose athletic arm when he jumps up on the mound. In the box Lewis has a simple setup with a short compact stroke showing quick hands and bat speed allowing him to hit balls hard consistently. Lewis recently was a standout for the Rangers at the Area Code games and is still just scratching the surface of his potential as a ball player.
#56 Jaxon Miller - OF - Frisco Heritage - Uncommitted
Miller caught our eye right off the bat this summer with a 6.6 60-yard dash from his athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame. Twitchy and athletic, the OF checks all the boxes off from a physical standpoint. In the box Miller isn't a finished product yet but currently he shows bat speed and quick hands that should allow him to hit a high level as he continues to develop in the box. The uncommitted OF is still just scratching the surface of who he will become as a player but his pure athleticism and tools are undeniable.
#68 Blaine Lucas - INF - New Caney - Uncommitted
Athletic with a strong lower half, Lucas doubles as a football player in the fall and that shows up on the diamond in the spring/summer as well. The left handed hitting middle infielder gives you a lot to like on both sides of the ball. Offensively Lucas has a balanced simple setup with a flat compact stroke allowing him to drive the ball to both gaps for extra bases. In the field, he moves well to the ball in both directions with quality hands and feet around the ball. Currently he has enough arm to make the play from the left side and he shows no reason he cant stay on the left side moving forward.
#70 Jackson Burns - RHP - FW SW Christian - Texas Tech
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound RHP didn't have his best outing of the summer at the Texas Summer Championships but gave you plenty to like in our early look at the physical right hander. Burns’ best baseball is still ahead of him but there is still a ton to like about him right now. Throwing with a long path out of a high ¾ slot, he creates some natural cut to the fastball allowing him to miss barrels and get some ugly swings. The fastball worked 85-87 mph but has been up to 90 mph with plenty more in the tank as he continues to physically mature. The breaking ball is a change of pace coming in at 65-68 mph but there is some shape there and will only continue to refine with development.
#71 Braylon Mitchell - INF/OF - Cy Creek - Texas State
The recent Texas State commit produced all summer and shows a ton to like all over the field and in the box. Mitchell is twitchy and athletic in the box that puts together quality AB’s and hits the ball hard on a consistent basis with a short compact stroke. He has shown the ability to backspin the ball to all fields and shows more doubles power right now but some of those will turn into home runs with time. Naturally a third baseman, Mitchells hands and feet work well around the ball and has rhythm in his throws across and shows the arm strength to play anywhere on the field.
#76 Tobin Escheif - RHP/3B - Davenport - Uncommitted
Standing 6-foot-6, 190-pounds, Escheif offers a lot to dream on down the road as a prospect on the mound. Naturally athletic, the big right hander repeats his delivery well and allows him to pound the zone with strikes consistently. Throwing from a low ¾ slot Escheif creates natural arm side action to the fastball and pairs a quality changeup and workable breaking ball that all tunnel well together when right. The fastball worked 84-86 mph with late arm side action in the early summer and velocity will only continue to climb with time. The changeup worked 76-77 mph with good arm speed and late fade and paired well with the action on the fastball. The slider at times showed the ability to get outs but was a tick inconsistent in our look, but also came out of the same slot as the FB/CH so one would think the pitch will only continue to get better.
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