Inside the 2023 Rankings - Rounding Out the Top 10

Jakob Schulz - VanderbiltLHP / Memorial, TX / 2023

Dillon Lester - OklahomaC / Deer Park, TX / 2023

Ranked as the number two catcher in the state, Lester exemplifies all of the little things you want to see out of your catcher. The Sooner commit has been a steady backstop for Hunter Pence as well as Team Elite in the summers, and Deer Park during the school year. Lester has shown the ability to receive high end arms as well as control the running game with a quality transfer and accurate throws to second base. In the box, Lester has continued to add strength to drive the ball to all parts of the park as well as show a quality two strike approach and find a way on base. Lester will likely show up to school due to his size but he plays a lot bigger than he is listed and will be able to make an impact right away. 

Weston Moss - Texas A&MRHP / Oak Ridge, TX / 2023

Standing 6-foot-4, 180-pounds, the long limbed, lean right hander burst on the scene over the covid Summer and has only continued to show his progression since then. Moss was a key part to Oak Ridge’s playoff run this spring and took that right into the summer. With loads of projection still, the Aggie commit makes you want to think there is a lot left in the tank as he continues to develop. Currently the fastball works up to 91 but will pitch comfortably in the 86-89 range with an athletic and repeatable delivery. The breaking ball already shows the right shape and spin at 74-77 mph and the change up is his third pitch at the moment. Moss is still just scratching the surface as to who he will become when it’s all said and done.

Noah Bentley - oklahomaRHP / Celina, TX / 2023

Another Sooner commit in the top 10 in the state, Noah Bentley capped off his Summer in a big way with a quality showing at the Underclass Area Code games. The right hander out of Celina, showed great polish and pitchability with a fastball/ breaking ball combo. The fastball will flash 90-91 but will sit in the 87-89 mph range to all four quadrants of the zone, and pair it with a small slider at 76-78 mph. Both pitches compliment each other well from the same slot and are on the same plane for a long time before they ultimately reach the mitt. Bentley, also QB1 at Celina, shows great poise on the mound and never seems to get sped up or out of sorts. There is a lot to like presently and down the road from the athletic right hander. 

Conner Bennett - vanderbiltC / Oak Ridge, TX / 2023

Rounding out our top ten, its fitting that it is with another catcher. The 2023 class is loaded with high end backstops and Conner Bennett is one of the top three no doubt. The undersized backstop is a flat out gamer. Dont be fooled by his size, Bennett can defend with the best of them showing multiple sub 2.0 in game pop times as well as being a pest at all times in the box. The Oak Ridge backstop handles high end arms throughout the year, allowing him to excel as a defender in all three facets of the position (receiving, blocking, throwing). The Commodore commit also plays high end summer ball with the Banditos out of Houston allowing him to handle some of the best arms in the area. Look for Bennett to continue to master his skills and blossom into an important piece of a college lineup right away.