High school baseball rankings: Way-too-early MaxPreps Top 25 for the 2024 season

1. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
2023: 29-0, Class 7A state champion
Top returning players: Devin Fitz-Gerald, IF (.410, 6 HR); Rylan Lujo, IF (.415, 6 HR); Alex Rodriguez, OF (.385); Jayden Dubanewicz (11-0, 1.17)
Outlook: With one of the top coaches in the nation (Todd Fitz-Gerald) and three returning MaxPreps Junior All-Americans (Fitz-Gerald, Lujo, Dubanewicz), the Eagles are the clear choice as the No. 1 team to start the 2024 season. Baseball ranking services that don't include IMG Academy in the rankings (MaxPreps included IMG) all had Stoneman Douglas as the No. 1 team in the country in 2023. The Eagles were also No. 1 ahead of St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) by some ranking services in 2022. The Eagles are 77-4 over the past three seasons and start the year with the longest active in streak in the nation.

2. West Monroe (La.)
2023: 34-5, Class 5A state runners-up
Top returning players: Hayden Federico, IF (.409, 3 HR); John Pearson, OF (.427, 7 HR); Trey Hawsey, UT (.378, 11 HR); Tyler Roark, C/1B/P, (.353), Drew Ferguson, P (10-1); Bradyn Garner, P
Outlook: The Rebels came within a monumental Barbe last-inning comeback of winning its second straight Louisiana Class 5A state championship. Next year's team is expected to include five players who earned all-state recognition returning, including MaxPreps All-American Pearson.



3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
2023: 25-0, MaxPreps National Champions
Top returning players: Dean Moss, OF (.372, 3 HR); Sean Gamble, IF (.367, 7 HR); Noah Franco, P (.320, 3 HR, 4-0, 1.62 ERA)
Outlook: It's always hard to tell where to rank the Ascenders this early in the year due to the likelihood of transfers. Last year, Zion Rose of Illinois transferred to IMG Academy and had an All-American season that pushed the Ascenders to a 25-0 season and the national championship. MaxPreps Underclass All-Americans Moss, Gamble and Franco are all expected back.

4. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
2023: 21-6, Class 5A state champions
Top returning players: Jordan Rich, OF (.414); Lucas Ramirez, 1B (.304); Andrew Ortiz, OF (.272); Chris Levy, IF (.345); Zack Wilson, IF (.352); Talan Holiday, P (9-1, 1.28); Spencer Krasner, P (5-1, 2.19)
Outlook: The Patriots arrived as a national power way ahead of schedule after beating Jesuit (Tampa) for the Class 5A state championship. Blessed with two underclass pitching standouts in rising junior Holiday and sophomore Krasner, the Patriots should be the team to beat in Class 5A for at least the next two seasons.

5. Corona (Calif.)
2023: 22-11
Top returning players: Anthony Murphy, OF (.342, 6 HR); Josh Springer, C (.277); Sam Burgess, OF (.295, 42 Ks); Ethan Schiefelbein, P (7-1, 94 Ks); Jake Skelskey, P (30 Ks).
6. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
2023: 27-5, Class 5A state runner-up
Top returning players: Noah Sheffield, IF (.281, 3 HR); Vincent Decarlo, C (.342, 3 HR); Jacob Lozano, IF (.369); Aden Knowles, P (7-0, 1.33); McCall Biemiller, P (3-0); Wilson Andersen, (1-1, 2.97)
Outlook: A strong pitching staff returns for a Jesuit team that is traditionally one of the top programs in the nation. Two of the Tigers' losses were to IMG Academy and another came in the state final.

7. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
2023: 32-8, Class AAAAAAA runner-up
Top returning players: Cade Brown, 3B (.486, 14 HR); Makhi Buckley, OF (.292); Ethan Finch, C (.352, 3 HR); Thorpe Musci, P (10-1, 2.23 ERA); Porter Berryman, P (3–3); Ford Thompson, P
Outlook: While first round draft pick Colin Houck is gone, the Panthers' top home run hitter returns in Brown along with two of the state's top pitchers in Musci and Thompson. Parkview is a perennial favorite in the state under coach Chan Brown.

8. Lewisburg (Olive Branch, Miss.)
2023: 29-8, Class 6A state champion
Top returning players: Austin Hannigan, SS (.360); Samuel Richardson, 3B (.301, 6 HR); Talon Haley, P (9-0, 1.99); Cayden Baker, P (7-1, 1.56); Matthew Osteen, P (5-2, 1.80); Gunner Gilmore, P (5-3, 1.59); Easton Fesmire, OF (.295); Cooper Bennett, IF (.324); Trae Cagle, C (.308, 2 HR)
Outlook: Coach Rusty Cagle earned National Coach of the Year honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association while leading the Patriots to a Class 6A state championship. The bulk of that team returns, including all-state pitchers Haley and Baker.

9. Flower Mound (Texas)
2023: 37-10-2
Top returning players: Josh Glaser, P-3B (.336, 5-1); Zack James, P (9-2); Zane Becker, C (.259); Ryder McDaniel, SS (.331); Sam Erickson, OF (.429); Adrian Rodriguez, DH (.328).
Outlook: The Jaguars stormed to a Class 6A state championship under MaxPreps National Coach of the Year Danny Wallace. That after being ranked No. 12 in Class 6A prior to the playoffs by Texas High School Baseball. Flower Mound returns six players who earned all-district honors including Utility Player of the Year Glaser.



10. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
2023: 24-9, Southern Section Division 1 champion
Top returning players: Matthew Champion, IF-P (.8-1, 59 Ks)
Outlook: The Lions have won a championship each of the past three seasons with back-to-back Southern Section Division 1 championships in 2022-23 and a Southern California Regional crown in 2021. Although JSerra had a senior-heavy lineup, coach Brett Kay can reload with nine underclassmen who are ranked by Perfect Game, including MaxPreps Junior All-American Champion.

11. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
2023: 20-12-1
Top returning players: Derek Curiel, OF (.358), Josiah Hartshorn (.316); Justin Lopez (.258)
Outlook: The Lancers have the No. 1-ranked player in the nation by Perfect Game in outfielder Curiel. Coach Eric Borba also has 16 returning players ranked among the nation's best by Perfect Game.

12. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2023: 36-2, Class 5A state champion
Top returning players: Maddox Riske, IF (.305); Burke Mabeus, C (.453); Nolan Eberwein (.408); Colton Boardman, SS (.354); James Whitaker, P (46 Ks)
Outlook: Chris Sheff led the Gaels back to state championship honors for the first time since 2015 in the first year of his second stint as Bishop Gorman's head coach. He led the Gaels to five state championships from 2006-10, part of Bishop Gorman's seven straight state crowns. The Gaels have three of the state's top four rising seniors in Riske, Mabeus and Boardman according to Perfect Game.

13. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
2023: 21-9
Top returning players: Bryce Rainer, OF (.436); James Tronstein, IF (.344).; Tommy Bridges, RHP (7-1)
Outlook: The Wolverines could move back to the top of the Mission League thanks to the return of two four-year starters in Rainer and Bridges. Rainer could be a first round draft pick next year.

14. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
2023: 36-8
Top returning players: Lukas Buckner, SS; Eli Evans, 3B; Gavin Brewer, C; Landis Davila, RF; Jake Merrick, 2B; Brennon Seigler, OF
Outlook: The Admirals have won state champions three times since 2019 including back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Over half of the starting lineup returns in 2024, including All-American candidate Buckner.

15. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
2023: 26-5, Class 6A state champion
Top returning players: Liam Wilson, C (.287, 6 HR); Jaylen Payne, OF (.420); Drew Rogers, C (.400, 9 HR); A.J. Diaz, P (4-2)
Outlook: The Huskies have won back-to-back state championships in Class 6A and coach Mike Wood ranks as one of the nation's best. While MaxPreps State Player of the Year Roch Cholowsky has graduated, Hamilton reportedly has former Mounds View (Minn.) catcher Rogers in the fold, according to Perfect Game. Rogers was the MaxPreps Player of the Year for the Gopher State.



16. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
2023: 21-9
Top returning players: Trent Grindlinger, C (.250); Nate Aceves, P (53 Ks); Tyler Bellerose, P (30 Ks)
Outlook: The winners of the National High School Invitational return a solid pitching staff led by Aceves and they have one of the Class of 2025's top catchers in Grindlinger. The Oilers have won over 20 games seven of the past nine seasons.

17. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
2023: 39-1, Class 5A state champion
Top returning players: Landon Victorian, RHP (8-0); Presley Courville, C; Diego Corrales, LHP/OF
Outlook: The Buccaneers are routinely one of the top teams in the nation thanks to a strong coaching staff led by Glenn Cecchini and a long tradition of state championships. Barbe won its 12th state championship under Cecchini this year and return the key pitcher on that staff in MaxPreps Junior All-American Player of the Year Victorian.

18. Basic (Henderson, Nev.)
2023: 25-9
Top returning players: Troy Southisene, CF; Tate Southisene, OF; Ty Southisene, SS; Tee Southisene, RHP
Outlook: The Wolves have four of the top players in Nevada and they are all in the same family. The Southisene brothers all rank among the top players in the state in their age group and all four made the Review Journal's All-Southern Nevada team.

19. Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.)
2023: 36-3
Top returning players: William Schmidt, RHP (5-1); Trip Dobson, 3B (.340); Jack Ruckert, SS (.294); Brooks Wright, OF (.330)
Outlook: The Bears had one of their best seasons in school history last year but a loss to Archbishop Rummel in the Division 1 Select semifinals ended their season short of a state title. Catholic returns a pair of all-state picks in Schmidt and Dobson.

20. Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
2023: 22-9
Top returning players: Justin Cherrington, 1B (.405); Reece VanDevander, 1B/P (.404); Raul Escobar, C (.394); Gavin Mesa, OF (.389); Chris Newstrom, IF (.379); Ryan Penney, P (3-2, 2.33)
Outlook: The Firebirds reached the Class 5A quarterfinals before falling to Horizon. Coach Troy Gerlach returns six starters from that group that all earned all-conference honors.

21. Buford (Ga.)
2023: 19-15
Top returning players: Cannon Goldin, OF (.418); Nate Taylor, P (7-2, 106 Ks); Ethan Murray, SS; Damian Brown, OF; Bubba Coleman, SS
Outlook: The Wolves came close to winning a state championship three years ago and saw another run at a title end in 2022 when Dylan Lesko's season ended early with an arm injury. The majority of the starters from last year's 19-15 team return, including Goldin, Murray and Coleman. All three are ranked in the top five in the state of their respective classes by Perfect Game including Goldin at No. 2 in the Class of 2025.



22. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
2023: 31-3, Division 1 state champion
Top returning players: Zion Theophilus, RHP; Luke Pappano, LHP; Carter Christenson, SS; Tucker Wilburn, RHP; Kellan Klosterman, RHP; Conlan Daniel, OF; Matt Ponatoski, SS
Outlook: The Crusaders lose nearly every starter from the 2023 Division 1 state championship team but coach Tim Held has a tremendously talented group of underclassmen. Among the up and coming players are freshman shortstop Ponatoski, ranked No. 1 in the state by Perfect Game, and sophomore pitcher Theophilus, also ranked No. 1.

23. Argyle (Texas)
2023: 35-11-2
Top returning players: Park Prater, P (74 Ks); Grady Emerson, 1B (.336); Alex D'Angelo, OF (.341)
Outlook: National champions in 2018 and 2019, the Eagles reached the Class 5A state final before falling to Magnolia West. Coach Ricky Griffin went over 500 career wins this year and his team could be in the hunt for another state championship. According to Perfect Game, Emerson is the nation's top player in the Class of 2025.

24. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
2023: 27-5, Class 3A state runner-up
Top returning players: Gian De Castro, 3B (.321); Mateo Gray, SS (.333); Riley Luft, OF (.378); Thomas Gramesty III, C (.321); Nikolas Koorse, IF (.300); Andrew Cutler, 1B (.295); Ryan McPherson, P (6-0)
Outlook: Winners of state championships in 2021 and 2022, the Eagles finished second in Class 3A in 2023. Seven of the top nine offensive performers return, among them six players ranked nationally by Perfect Game.

25. Tomball (Texas)
2023: 26-13
Top returning players: Cade Arrambide, C; C.J. Sampson, RHP; Catcher Hopkins, C; Karson Reeder, RHP; Colman Ryan, SS; Braeden Scherzer, SS
Outlook: In catcher Arrambide and pitcher Sampson, Tomball has two of the top players in the state of Texas. The Cougars reached the regional quarterfinals before falling to The Woodlands.