TEXAS, USA - It has been four long months since we last updated our Texas Rankings. With a full slate of preseason events from January, and the start of the high school season with tournaments and district play, our scouting staff has seen a ton of the top talent throughout all corners of Texas. The 2019 Class is beginning to take shape, and the talent in this state is second to none. The rankings have expanded to 200, with the top 43 players in the state already committed, and 83 of the top 100 players already chosen a college to attend.

+ Not much has changed among the top four spots, with Oklahoma commit, SS/RHP Bobby Witt Jr. (Colleyville Heritage HS) keeping the No. 1 spot locked up. In an early season game this spring we saw Witt Jr. make several highlight-reel plays. One in particular where he made a diving catch on a hard liner to his backhand side, taking one quick crossover step then elevating into a full extension, dive parallel with the ground to snag the liner in mid-air. Later in the same game, he jumped on the mound to close out a 2-1 victory over Flower Mound. Working from a high-¾ slot with a loose-quick arm stroke, the right-hander pumped 91-95 mph with his fastball with tilt and angle. The junior only needed a handful of pitches to execute a 1-2-3 inning. His slider was sharp with 11/5 5 rotation and hard, late bite at 79-81 mph.

+ We have a couple of big risers to our rankings, including RHP Christopher Benavides (Klein Collins HS), a Sam Houston State commit. On opening weekend, we saw Benavides throw a gem against George Ranch. The right-hander showed electric stuff, working from a ¾ slot with a long, loose, quick arm swing. Repeatable, athletic delivery. His fastball topped out at 93 mph in the first inning, sitting 91-92 mph from the wind-up and 87-90 mph out of the stretch. Slider got better as the game went on, coming in at 80-82 mph with sharp 2/8 shape.

+ Another riser in the rankings is RHP Will Rigney (Waco-Midway HS). At 6-foot-4, 190-pounds, Rigney has a projectable, strong, pitchers frame. Against Allen HS in week two of the season, Rigney threw six innings of one-hit baseball, and recorded thirteen punchouts. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke. Good tilt on his fastball at 89-91, topping out once at 92 in the first inning. His slider sat 76-78 the entire night with 11/5 shape. He flashed a couple of changeups that had heavy sink at 81 and 83 mph.

+ Also moving in to the Top 10 is Dallas Baptist commit, 3B/RHP Chandler Freeman, who recently transferred to Colleyville Heritage because his family moved to the DFW Area. At the PBR Texas Preseason All-State Showcase, Freeman once again showed off why he is one of the top players in Texas. His last swing of batting practice was a mamo-tank bomb to left field. The right-handed hitter has easy rhythm, and strong pull side pop. Generates easy gap power (96 exit velo) with more to come as the ball jumps off his bat. On the infield, he threw 89 across the diamond with plus carry. Soft hands, quick footwork, can play on the run. A dynamic two-way prospect, Freeman’s fastball sat 89 mph with late life. Sharp slider with 11/5 shape at 77. Changeup flashes depth to his arm side at 80 mph.

+ Making a big jump in the rankings is Texas A&M commit, SS Ismael “Izzy” Lopez (Arlington Heights HS). Lopez has all the makings of an elite defender with smooth footwork, easy actions, and the ability to throw from different slots. At our Preseason All-State Showcase, he showed great tempo, rhythm through the ball, quick exchange, quick release, accurate arm across the diamond, really soft hands and elite glove actions.  He took a solid round of batting practice, barreling up balls with gap power, loose hands, fluid rhythm, and a low hanging leg kick.

Texas Ranking

 

 

CLICK HERE to view the entire Texas 2019 Class Ranking.

 

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