MaxPreps Way-Too-Early Top 25 high school baseball rankings for 2020

Way-Too-Early Baseball Top 25

1. Notre Dame (SO) (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), 24-7
The Mission League champion lost in the second round of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, but they appear to be the team to beat in the Southern Section next season. The Knights won the season series with Harvard-Westlake, which lost in the Southern Section finals to Cypress. Notre Dame also has the top eight offensive players from last year, including Mission League MVP Lucas Gordon (.366, 5-1, 1.39 ERA) and Los Angeles Daily News All-Area selections Devan Ornelas (.423) and Daylen Reyes (.398) in the infield. Nearly the entire pitching staff returns as well with Tyler Stromsborg (6-0, 1.58 ERA), Jack Snyder (3-0, 2.60 ERA), and Connor Skertich (5-1, 3.36 ERA) returning. Notre Dame doesn't have any players ranked among the top 149 players in the nation by Perfect Game, but it does have four ranked among the top 500. Notre Dame also plays in one of the toughest leagues in the Southern Section and will have to navigate one of the toughest postseason tournaments in order to win a section championship. If it does that, the Knights have an excellent chance at being the No.1 team in the nation.
2. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 38-3
One of the most decorated teams in high school baseball history, the Buccaneers captured the Class 5A state championship and finished No. 6 in the MaxPreps Top 50 rankings with a mostly underclass starting lineup. According to Perfect Game, Barbe has the No. 1 rising senior in the state in Brody Drost (.364, 7 HR, 8-0), the No. 4 rising junior in Jack Walker (9-1, 96 Ks) and the No. 2 rising sophomore in Gavin Guidry. Barbe also has two of the top infielders in Louisiana in shortstop Davis Meche (.354) and junior third baseman Kyle Debarge (.388). Add in one of the nation's top coaches in Glenn Cecchini, who has a 923-204 record in his 32-year career.

3. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 29-1
Which De La Salle sports program has been ranked No. 2 in the nation the past two seasons? While the school's much-heralded football team would be a good guess, it's actually the baseball team that has been the more impressive program. In 2018, the Spartans finished 26-4, ranked No. 2 by the MaxPreps computer rankings, and won the North Coast Section Division 1 championship. In 2019, the Spartans went 29-1, again finished No. 2 overall and won another section title (their fourth in a row). Coach David Jeans returns the Bay Area News Group's Player of the Year Kyle Harrison (10-0, 103 Ks), as well as all-area players Vince Bianchina (IF, .419), Charles McAdoo (DH, .333), and junior Blake Burke (1B, .395, 4 HR).

4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 26-7
Mike Woods has won seven state championships since 2003, including three in the past four seasons. The Huskies are the favorite again thanks to the return of five starters from the 2018 team. Among the returning players are Michael Brueser, who led the state with 12 home runs, Brock Selvidge, the top-ranked player from the Class of 2021 in Arizona by Perfect Game, and Logan Saloman, the top-ranked player from the Class of 2022 in Arizona by Perfect Game. Saloman was the winning pitcher in the state championship game while Selvidge hit a two-run homer in the finals. Also back are all-state second team member Tyler Wilson at first base (.412, 7 HR) and third baseman Will Maxey (.419, 6 HR).

5. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), 27-5
The defending Florida Class 6A state champions return eight of the top returning players from last year's team, including pitcher Camden Minacci (12-1, 85 Ks), who was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 6A state player of the year. The Tigers return all 27 wins from last year, along with two outfielders, three infielders and a starting catcher.

6. Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 33-11
The Dragons might have been the surprise team in the nation last year. After winning a state title in 2018, Carroll was expected to be in rebuilding mode in 2019 after losing most of the starting lineup from the championship team. The Dragons did just fine with a young group of players, defeating Ridge Point (Missouri City) for the Class 6A state championship. Now, Carroll is the favorite to make it three in a row. Eight of the team's top players return, including six players who batted over .299 and two others who provided nine wins. Carroll did not have any players named to the coaches association all-star game or all-state teams, nor did it have any players on the Dallas SportsDay all-area first team. However, district MVP Cade Manning (.432) is back along with all-area second team pick Brandon Howell (.373).

7. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 42-3
The Admirals posted their third state championship in the past 11 seasons under coach Matt Buckner, averaging 37 wins a season with no fewer than 32 wins in a single season. Last year's 42-3 record marked Farragut's best season under Buckner, who has 409 wins during his tenure. The Admirals return eight players who made heavy contributions to the 2019 state championship, including MaxPreps Junior All-American Ryan Hagenow, who is ranked by Perfect Game as the state's top pitcher in the Class of 2020.

8. Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), 45-11
The Patriots led the nation in wins with 45 after finishing runner-up in the Alabama Class 7A playoffs to McGill-Toolen. Five All-State players return for Bob Jones, including four first team members — Mitchell Daly (IF), Cam Hill (IF), Dylan Ray (OF) and Caden Rose (UT). Sam Maynard (P) made second team All-State. Ray earned a spot on the MaxPreps All-American second team.

9. La Mirada (Calif.), 26-7
Six of the Matadors' top seven offensive players return from last year's Suburban League championship team, including MaxPreps Junior National Player of the Year Jared Jones. Also back are Long Beach all-area players Michael DeHaro (P), Eugene Leon (IF), and Memo Pacheco (P).

10. Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.), 29-4
The Central Coast Section Open Division champions return four All-West Catholic Athletic League first team picks in Eddie Park (OF, .377), Jack McGrew (IF, .306), Trevor Haskins (IF, .309) and Jonathan Cymrot (P, 8-1 record). The Warriors have won three straight Open Division championships.

11. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 26-4
The Lancers return two of the top pitchers in Southern California in Max Rajcic (7-0) and Christian Rodriguez (4-2). All-league players Chad Born and Elijah Buries are also back. Ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps computer rankings, Orange Lutheran has won two straight Trinity League championships, but lost to Harvard-Westlake in the Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

12. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 27-6
The Tennessee Division II AAA state champions have three of the top players in New York and one from Illinois back for 2020. A private boarding school, Baylor is home to New York residents Christian Moore, Danny Corona and Campy Campanella, all of whom rank among the top five players in New York for the Class of 2021 by Perfect Game. Add in recent transfer Vytas Valincius, formerly of St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.), who is ranked in the top 4 in Illinois and was a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American.

13. Kingwood (Texas), 31-7-2
The Class 6A Region III runners-up return two of the top players in the Houston area in Masyn Winn and Tre Richardson. Winn earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honors after going 13-0, while Tre Richardson was the All-Greater Houston Offensive Player of the Year by the Houston Chronicle.

14. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 36-4
The Panthers have won three national championships and seven state titles, including the last two Georgia Class AAAAAAA state championships. Coach Chan Brown returns two of the state's top pitchers in Xander Stephens (10-1, 82 Ks) and Miles Garrett (8-0, 84 Ks) along with one of the state's top position players in Jon Ponder.

15. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 27-6-1
The Wolverines reached the Southern Section Division 1 championship game and were also the runners-up in the National High School Invitational. Coach Jared Halpert returns two of the Southern Section's top players in outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and infielder Drew Bowser.

16. American Heritage (Delray Beach, Fla.), 29-3
The Stallions finished second in Class 4A to Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.), but return eight of the team's top 10 offensive players from 2019, including Jacob Lojewski (.303, 4 HR), and Bailey Uderitz (.359, 4 HR). Nelson Berkwich, who led the team with 10 wins, also returns along with 11 other pitching wins.

17. Smiths Station (Smiths, Ala.), 20-12
The Panthers came up short of reaching the playoffs in 2019, but they return three of the state's top-ranked 11 players, according to Perfect Game. Outfielder Carson Swilling is the top-ranked player in the state while Hunter Donaldson (IF) and Zane Faulk (UT) were both second team All-State.

18. Monsignor Pace (Miami), 20-6
A strong junior class places Pace in the Top 25. Pitcher Victor Mederos ranks as one of the top pitchers in the nation, according to Perfect Game, while shortstop Samuel Infante, outfielders Albert Hernandez and Robert Moya all earned All-Dade County honors in 2019.

19. DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.), 34-3
Mark Monaghan has led the Jaguars to consecutive state championships and has one of the nation's top players in Blaze Jordan, who reclassified from the Class of 2021 to 2020 over the summer. Jordan blasted 10 home runs last year and was named the MaxPreps Sophomore National Player of the Year. DeSoto Central also has one of the state's top returning pitchers in Cade Smith (10-1, 1.15 ERA).

20. North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.), 31-8
The Bulldogs lost to eventual state champion Parkview in the Class AAAAAAA semifinals, but return All-State catcher Corey Collins, who belted 16 home runs, and All-State pitcher Brandt Pancer. All-State second team outfielder Josh Shuler also returns.

21. Miami Springs (Fla.), 27-4
The Golden Hawks had their best season in over 15 years in reaching the Class 6A semifinals. A pair of All-Dade County first team picks return in second baseman Lazaro Hernandez (.354) and utility Carlos Rey (6-0, 0.90 ERA). Also back is MaxPreps Freshman All-American Jason Torres at first base, and all-county honorable mention pitcher Jesus Gonzalez.

22. Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 22-8
The Pride lost in the first round of the playoffs, but return seven of the top 10 offensive players from the 2019 squad including Ethan Long (.469, 9 HR) and Carson Tucker (.453). Also back are 12 wins from the pitching staff.

23. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 19-6
The Patriots lost in the playoffs to Miami Springs, but the Patriots return some of the state's top players in outfielder Enrique Bradfield, pitcher Devin Futrell and first baseman Gavin Casas. Others include All-Broward County picks Jordan Carrion (UT), Gavin Smith (P), Matt Ruiz (OF) and Gio Ferraro (3B).

24. Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas), 33-5-1
The school posted its best season in the school's short eight-year history, more than doubling the 15 wins from the 2018 season. The Panthers return a pair of all-state players in pitcher Hayde Key and catcher Will Pendergrass.

25. St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 34-9-2
The Eaglets won the Michigan Division 2 state championship and return a pair of All-State players, including rising senior pitcher Logan Wood and MaxPreps Sophomore All-American infielder Alex Mooney. The Eaglets also have the state's top player in the Class of 2022, according to Perfect Game, in pitcher Brock Porter.