2021 College Baseball Recruiting Rankings
Florida tops the Baseball America 2021 recruiting class rankings as the fall signing period for the class of 2021 opens.
Nine of the Gators’ commits are ranked among the top 100 players in the high school class and of those nine players, seven rank in the top 50. Florida leads the nation in both categories.
While the recruiting class rankings aren’t finalized until the players arrive on class next fall, Florida now has the inside track for its first No. 1 class since 2013. It has landed a top-five class every year since then, a record streak of eight years that is likely to again be extended.
Vanderbilt and Louisiana State, which both had top-three class in 2020, are close behind Florida in the 2021 rankings. UCLA, the top-ranked Pac-12 program, and Tennessee round out the top five.
The rankings have a heavy ACC and SEC flavor. Those two conferences account for 20 of the top 25 classes and all but one of the top 15.
The recruiting rankings take into account all players from the high school and junior college ranks and were compiled following many conversations with coaches and scouts. The rankings will continue to be updated leading up to the final version in September 2021.
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1
Florida
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Craig Bell
Top recruit: Andrew Painter, RHP (No. 3)Overview: The Gators have had some outstanding recruiting classes under coach Kevin O’Sullivan and Bell, including two that rank among the 10 best since 2000. This class has the potential to stack up favorably with Florida’s best. It’s a big class—in part because the Gators expect to this summer lose a plethora of talent to pro ball—and runs very deep.
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2
Vanderbilt
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Mike Baxter
Top recruit: Jordan Lawlar, SS (No. 2)Overview: The Commodores are again in the mix for the top-ranked class, which they have landed in the last three odd-numbered years (2015, 2017, 2019). It’s an impressive all-around class and still includes righthander Christian Little, who has announced that he will graduate a semester early and enroll at Vanderbilt this winter. As he’s still signing in November, he is credited in this class until his enrollment is official.
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3Last: 4
UCLA
Pac-12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Bryant Ward
Top recruit: Alonzo Tredwell, RHP (No. 19)Overview: The Bruins continue to excel on the recruiting trail and have put together the West Coast’s best class. It’s especially deep and talented on the mound and could give coach John Savage a wealth of pitchers to deploy over the next few years.
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4Last: 3
Lousiana State
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Nolan Cain
Top recruit: Ian Moller, C (No. 13)Overview: The Tigers have yet another high-end recruiting class that’s especially rich in pitching. It’s a larger class, as LSU prepares to lose a lot of talent—especially on the mound—to the draft.
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5
Tennessee
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Josh Elander
Top recruit: Brady House, SS (No. 1)Overview: The Volunteers have been recruiting well under coach Tony Vitello and Elander, who came to Knoxville in 2017. They broke through with a top-20 class in 2020, but their 2021 class, headlined by House, takes it to another level.
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6
Mississippi State
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Jake Gautreau
Top recruit: James Wood, OF (No. 5)Overview: As Chris Lemonis enters his third season as coach at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs are increasingly taking on the identity he wants to build around and this class fits that approach. It’s full of athleticism, both among position players and pitchers.
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7
Miami
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Norberto Lopez
Top recruit: Irving Carter, RHP (No. 12)Overview: After landing the top-ranked 2020 recruiting class, Miami has another strong class in 2021. As they did with their 2020 class, the Hurricanes have some exciting arms in the group to go with some athletic position players teeming with upside.
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8
Arkansas
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Nate Thompson
Top recruit: Braylon Bishop, OF (No. 18)Overview: The Razorbacks continue to recruit well, and this year put together a class that’s especially strong among position players. That group figures to soon form the core of the Arkansas lineup.
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9
Clemson
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Bradley LeCroy
Top recruit: Joe Mack, C (No. 14)Overview: The Tigers put together a strong all-around class, meshing premium talent with some high-end projection. After its five-year streak of Top 25 classes was snapped in 2020, this class should see Clemson comfortably return to the final ranking.
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10
Louisville
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Eric Snider
Top recruit: Daylen Lile, OF (No. 27)Overview: The Cardinals have a deep, large recruiting class in anticipation of losing several key players from their current team to the draft. As it typically does, Louisville has a well-balanced class between pitchers and position players.
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11
Texas A&M
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Justin Seeley
Top recruit: Izaac Pacheco, SS (No. 8)Overview: Like many teams, Texas A&M enters 2021 with a veteran roster and could lose several players off its current team. With that in mind, the Aggies put together a deep class that should be able to quickly contribute in College Station.
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12
Florida State
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Mike Metcalf
Top recruit: Edwin Arroyo, SS (No. 30)Overview: The Seminoles loaded up on athletic, versatile position players and pitchers that have a combination of solid present stuff with some projection remaining.
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13
North Carolina State
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Chris Hart
Top recruit: Kahlil Watson, SS (No. 7)Overview: Hart has put together some impressive classes over the last decade as NC State’s recruiting coordinator. This year’s class has a chance to be as good as any of them, especially its group of position players.
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14
Wake Forest
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Bill Cilento
Top recruit: Joshua Hartle, LHP (No. 11)Overview: Coach Tom Walter and Cilento have elevated Wake Forest’s program over their 12 years in Winston-Salem, reaching super regionals in 2017 and producing several high-end prospects. This year, the Demon Deacons have taken a step forward on the recruiting trail and have put together their best-ever class.
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15
South Carolina
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Trip Couch
Top recruit: Michael Braswell, SS/RHP (No. 42)Overview: After this year bringing in the sixth-ranked recruiting class, South Carolina has a smaller 2021 class. It’s still a solid group, however, and can provide impact talent, especially in the lineup.
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16Last: 17
Georgia Tech
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: James Ramsey
Top 100 players: C Harry Ford (23), RHP Logan McGuire (95)Overview: The Yellow Jackets’ recruiting efforts have ratcheted up a notch under Ramsey’s direction and they’ve brought back-to-back Top 25 classes to campus. This is a smaller group, but still provides plenty of impact and is especially deep on the mound. Ford is an outstanding athlete and could be the next in line of excellent Georgia Tech catchers. McGuire has big arm strength and can run his fastball up to 95 mph.
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17Last: 18
Alabama
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Jerry Zulli
Top 100 players: OF Camden Hayslip (24), SS Noah Miller (65)Overview: The Crimson Tide have recruited well since coach Brad Bohannon and his staff of Zulli and pitching coach Jason Jackson arrived in Tuscaloosa. This class is no exception, with Hayslip and Miller leading the way. Hayslip is an excellent athlete with a physical lefthanded swing. Miller, the younger brother of Indians prospect Owen Miller, is a good defender and polished hitter who can play right away.
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18Last: 19
Virginia
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Kevin McMullan
Top 100 players: OF Benny Montgomery (32), RHP Shane Panzini (93)Overview: The Cavaliers have another strong, balanced recruiting class, as has become the expectation. Montgomery is one of the toolsiest players in the country and offers big upside, while Panzini would likely slot right into the rotation in Charlottesville.
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19Last: 20
Oklahoma State
Big 12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Marty Lees
Top 100 players: OF/2B Roc Riggio (67), SS Alex Ulloa (71)Overview: The Cowboys have a small, talented prep class supplemented with some key junior college transfers, a model they will likely follow in the future. The result this year is the top class in the Big 12. Riggio has a long track record of hitting on big stages and it’s easy to see him becoming a fan favorite in Stillwater. Ulloa also has a strong track record at the plate and is a solid defender. Carson Benge, the younger brother of former Cowboys standout Garrett Benge, has two-way potential and may be the class’ sleeper.
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20Last: 21
Stanford
Pac-12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Thomas Eager
Top 100 players: OF/RHP Braden Montgomery (21), C Charlie Saum (97)Overview: After this fall bringing a top-10 class to campus, the Cardinal have a smaller group for 2021. It still has impact potential, however, and complements their current roster well. Montgomery has true two-way talent and could fill a variety of roles. Saum is an advanced defender and outfielder Saborn Campbell adds exciting offensive upside.
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21Last: 22
Mississippi
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Carl Lafferty
Top 100 players: SS/RHP Jackson Jobe (20), LHP Hunter Elliott (77)Overview: The Rebels continue to put together strong recruiting classes and this group is no exception. Jobe is one of the best two-way players in the country and a premium athlete. He’s a good shortstop and righthanded hitter and has also shown plenty of upside on the mound and an excellent fastball-slider combination. Elliott stands out for his pitchability and track record, which should translate well to the next level.
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22Last: 16
Oregon State
Pac-12Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Rich Dorman/Ryan Gipson
Top 100 players: OF Tyree Reed (4)Overview: Reed gives the Beavers an elite athletic, dynamic outfielder to headline the class. He is the top outfielder in the nation and has five-tool potential. Travis Bazzana, an Australian native, played for the Australian national team throughout his prep career and helped it to a fourth-place finish at the 2019 18U World Cup.
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23
Indiana
Big 10Notes:Recruiting coordinator: Derek Simmons
Top 100 players: SS Colson Montgomery (78), RHP Luke Hayden (98)Overview: For all the success the Hoosiers have had on the diamond over the last decade, they have never before put together a Top 25 recruiting class. They took advantage of having a pair of players like Montgomery and Hayden in state, but also were able to dip into the south for South Carolina prep outfielder TJ White, a physical switch-hitter. Montgomery stands out for his smooth, easy lefthanded swing, while Hayden gives the Hoosiers a power arm for their pitching staff.
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24
Duke
ACCNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Josh Jordan
Top 100 players: SS Alex Mooney (52)Overview: Duke has grown significantly as a program over the last five years and that’s in part thanks to its recruiting efforts. This is another solid class for the Blue Devils, highlighted by Mooney. He’s a solid all-around player who fits Duke’s profile well. Righthanders Ryan Higgins and Fran Oschell give the class a couple of exciting arms on the mound.
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25
Missouri
SECNotes:Recruiting coordinator: Fred Corral
Top 100 players: SS Justin Colon (45), OF Carlos Pena (100)Overview: Missouri hasn’t landed a Top 25 class since 2014 (No. 12) and this class looks to be its best since then. Colon, a Puerto Rican native, is a slick defender and offers some raw righthanded power. Pena has a powerful lefthanded swing that will play in the heart of the order.
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