Inside the 2025 Rankings: Risers & Newcomers
November 30, 2023
TEXAS - As we wind down the 2023 campaign, it is time to look one more time at our 2025 rankings now that the season is over. The top of the 2025 class is full of up the middle position players, the traditional hard throwing righties, and one LHP that may have won more big games than anyone on the list. Let’s take a look at some fresh faces as well as some of the players that moved up on this update.
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16. Tye Briscoe - LHP/OF - Abilene Wylie HS - Arkansas - Up 7 Spots
The LHP/OF from Abilene really impressed this fall at State Games. The arm talent has always been electric, but now he is really starting to pitch. He showed three above avg. pitches with an easy low 90’s fastball from the left side. He has the makings of a plus slider. He is filling up the zone at a higher rate, which has really let the stuff play. He also shows juice at the plate, and got off multiple good swings. He is a good runner with a plus arm in the OF. The future Razorback is as toolsy as they come, and he continues to put it all together.
18. Jackson Cotton - OF - Episcopal HS - Texas A&M - Up 8 Spots
Another toolsy lefty is Cotton. The Texas A&M commit out of Houston continues to show some of the highest upside on the mound in Texas. He is an athlete on the mound, and the arm really works. He will get his fastball into the low 90’s right now, but there is more coming. He has a big breaking ball that has good depth, and Cotton shows feel for the pitch. Jackson also shows big potential at the plate with quick hands and some present strength. He has the ability to leave the park at any time.
50. Luke McLeod - RHP - Hardin-Jefferson HS - Oklahoma - Up 26 Spots
To stay with the theme of the first two players listed, McLeod is another 2 way prospect that offers a lot of value. He is a good athlete who has a quick arm and moves easily down the mound. He saw his velocity continue to make jumps and his fastball will make it into the low 90’s. He has a feel for spin and his breaking ball is a real weapon for him. McLeod was also on a tear this summer and fall, barreling baseball wherever he went. His loud summer and fall led to a commitment to the Univ. of Oklahoma.
52. Jacob Evans - RHP - Oak Ridge HS - Texas A&M - Newcomer
Evans had a standout summer and fall that led to his commitment to the Aggies this fall. In today’s game of pitching up in the zone with high IVB, Evans is a bit of a throwback with a low ¾ slot and a turbo sinker. He is tough to square up and elevate. He throws his slider from the same slot, and it has good sweeping action, making it tough on righties. His fastball sits in the upper 80’s and he has the frame to keep making jumps.
53. Jayden Blalack - MIF - Travis HS - DBU - Up 27 Spots
Blalack is another one who flashes some two way ability. The primary infielder had a really good summer, and shows natural barrel skills. He has good rhythm in the box and always looks ready to hit. He has some pull side power right now, and he should really be able to impact the baseball as he matures. He shows good actions up the middle, and should be able to stick up the middle long term. The DBU commit has a chance to be one of the top hitters in the Houston area this spring.
56. Christopher Gutierrez - LHP - Bridgeland HS - DBU - Newcomer
Gutierrez, another DBU commit, is a good blend of present stuff with plenty of projectability left. The tall, lanky lefty from Bridgeland has a fastball that will get up to 89 with life. He throws a tight, short slider that he commands well, and a changeup that comes out of the hand just like his fastball. He can command the zone with all 3 pitches, allowing him to go deep into games. We will get an up close at Gutierrez this spring, when they head up to the DFW for the PBR Texas Invitational.
75. Brady Ladusau - OF - Rockwall Heath HS - DBU - Newcomer
Ladusau is the 3rd DBU commit on this list, and he is another great get for the Patriots. Brady is a RHH that shows the ability to impact the baseball to all fields. He has a simple operation in the box, but does a good job of creating separation and getting quality swings off. He is a good athlete who continues to take his game to the next level. He should be part of a deep Rockwall Heath lineup this spring.
76. Nathan Johnson - OF/RHP - Seven Lakes HS - Uncommitted - Up 54 Spots
Johnson is a physical outfielder from Houston who shows the ability to really hit. The RHH has a projectable frame with some serious bat speed, making it easy to project some big power gains as he matures. But he also shows the ability to make consistent hard contact, making him a really tough out. Johnson also shows his arm strength on the mound, where the big righty shows some arm strength
86. Parker Ivy - C - Rockwall Heath HS - Uncommitted - Newcomer
Ivy really impressed this fall, and showed the ability to be an impact player on both sides of the field. Ivy is a really good catch and throw guy behind the plate, and consistently can get in the 1.9’s on his pop times. He has strong wrists and can really receive, and moves well laterally back there. At the plate, Ivy has a strong frame and shows the ability to impact the baseball to the pullside. Ivy is a high academic kid as well, with grades to go pretty much anywhere.
91. Chase Connell - RHP - Cy Ranch HS - Uncommitted - Newcomer
Connell is a big bodied RHP out of Houston who impressed this fall. His fastball sat in the upper 80’s and it is easy to dream on the velocity jumping some more. Connell is a strike thrower and can fill the zone up with the FB. He showed the ability to sink it with good run, making it tough to elevate the pitch. He also flashed a low 80’s slider with a changeup he was really able to kill the spin on. Connell will be one to watch this spring.