Expanded and Updated Class of 2016 Rankings

February 23, 2016

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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management

After some intense discussions amongst the PBR VA/DC staff, we released an updated and expanded Class of 2016 Rankings. There are now 125 players in the rankings, as well as a few changes in where previously ranked players can be found. As the high school season progresses and we get out to see the top players in our coverage area, look for the rankings to be updated regularly and players to be added as we see them. Here are a few highlights from the updated rankings:

CHANGES IN THE TOP 5
Zack Hess (RHP, Liberty Christian, Louisiana State) moved up to the third spot in the rankings as the big projectable righty with the big fastball has climbed up draft boards this winter. Sticking with the theme of projectable arms moving up the rankings, Noah Murdock (RHP, Colonial Heights, Virginia) enter the Top 5 as his fastball velocity has jumped as he has begun to fill out his lanky 6-7 frame.

NEW FACES IN THE TOP 30
Josh Simon (C, St. John’s College, VCU) enters the rankings at number 20. Simon is a talented catcher who played the outfield last spring for the Cadets. He has a big arm and the athleticism to stick behind the plate. Simon has a lot of batspeed and upside as a hitter. Also moving into the Top 30 and checking in at number 22 is another catcher in Logan Driscoll (Lake Braddock, George Mason) who has improved his defense behind the plate and is looking like a legitimate middle of the lineup threat with his lefthanded bat.

ABUNDANCE OF ARMS AMONGST THE NEWCOMERS
Many of the additions to the new rankings reflect the depth of the Virginia/DC Class of 2016, as there are a large number of quality arms because of how good the class is as a whole. These guys are very talented and will offer tremendous value to their high schools this spring and at college next fall. This group of arms is led by James Madison commits Kevin Kelly (RHP, Paul VI Catholic), who enters the rankings at 56^th and Nick Robertson (RHP, Franklin County), who checks in at 64^th.