Arizona 2028 Rankings: Fall Update

Chase moves into the No. 1 spot after continuing to show one of the loudest two-way skill sets in Arizona’s 2028 class. We have watched him develop since the 2022 Rising Stars ID, and the physical left-handed hitter has steadily turned his early power potential into game production. Now standing 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, Chase has produced a 106.2 mph exit velocity with the strength and elite 80.6 mph bat speed that can change a game with one swing. He also showed well against quality competition at the Future Games, collecting four hits, two doubles, and a home run. There is still room to tighten the approach and cut down the swing and miss, but the offensive ceiling is significant. Add in a 93 mph arm from the outfield and a fastball that has reached 91.5 mph from the left side, and Chase owns legitimate two-way potential with plenty of avenues to impact the game.

Cooper remains the top-ranked right-handed arm in Arizona’s 2028 class after continuing the steady climb we have seen from him over the past two years. He first caught our attention by reaching 85 mph at the 2024 Rising Stars ID, then served as Team Arizona’s Game 1 starter at the Junior Future Games later that summer. Now standing 6-foot-4, 192 pounds, Cooper has grown into a long, athletic, wirey frame while pushing his fastball up to 94 mph. The arm works loose and easily, giving him the look of a future starter. His slider is sharp in the 75-79 mph range and gives him a second offering to build around as he continues refining the arsenal. There is still plenty of room for Cooper to add strength and polish, making the present stuff and remaining projection equally exciting.

What stands out most with Ian is how much his game has grown over the past two years. When we first saw him in 2024, he was a lean 6-foot-2, 172-pound outfielder with an 82 mph arm and a 6.93 60-yard dash. He now weighs 191 pounds, runs a 6.48, and has increased his outfield velocity to 91 mph. Offensively, Ian has always shown a natural ability to find the barrel and make high quality swing decisions. The added strength is beginning to set in as well, with a 96.9 mph exit velocity, a 90.8 mph average, and developing power to the gaps. Ian’s steady year-over-year improvement, athleticism, and pure feel to hit have earned him the No. 3 spot in the class.

CJ brings much more to the field than the physical tools immediately visible in his 6-foot-4, 222-pound frame. A two-sport athlete with a high motor, he plays hard, understands the game, and has the type of baseball instincts that consistently show up in competitive situations. The left-handed bat is the foundation of the profile, with natural feel for the barrel, a 100.5 mph exit velocity, and the ability to produce against high level pitching. CJ also runs a 6.76, has reached 95 mph from the outfield, and can get on the mound when needed with a fastball up to 92.6 mph. After helping Arizona College Prep capture a 5A state championship, he will transfer to Corona del Sol and take on the challenge of 6A baseball with hopes of helping the Aztecs return to the state championship game. With his competitive makeup and ability to contribute in several different ways, CJ posseses one of the highest ceilings in the class.

Evan is the type of pitcher whose presence on the mound plays bigger than his growing 5-foot-10, 163-pound frame. A true competitor with plenty of fight, he attacks hitters with confidence and has real stuff to support the demeanor. The loose, whippy arm works from a low 3/4 slot, creating a difficult look and plenty of arm-side action on a fastball that reached 90.1 mph this summer. Evan has also shown an advanced feel for shaping his breaking balls, mixing a curveball and slider in the mid-70s while using an 80-82 mph changeup to keep hitters uncomfortable. His velocity jumped from 83 mph in February to 90 mph by June, but it is his pitchability and willingness to challenge hitters that separate him. As he continues adding strength, Evan has the mentality and complete arsenal to develop into a dependable starter at the next level.

Troy has been one of the more polished players in the class since representing Team Arizona at the 2024 Junior Future Games, and his offensive game continues to catch up with the advanced glove. The physical 6-foot, 209-pound corner infielder led 6A in RBI this spring, showing an ability to produce in the middle of Liberty’s lineup against quality competition. His right-handed bat combines strength with adjustability, producing a 104.9 mph exit velocity, a 96.4 mph average, and a 91 percent hard-hit rate at the Future Games. Troy is also moving better than ever, lowering his 60-yard time from 7.57 in February to 7.17 by June. He remains a hitter first, but his work on the mound has become difficult to overlook, with a fastball up to 89.3 mph and a mid-to-upper-70s slider that averaged more than 2,500 rpm. The bat and defensive reliability drive the profile, while the continued success on the mound gives Troy another valuable tool in the bag.

This summer became a proving ground for Andres and he made the most of every opportunity. The athletic 6-foot, 174-pound outfielder showed well at the Future Games in Georgia, consistently finding the barrel and producing hard contact against high level arms. His 94.4 mph average exit velocity and 88 percent hard-hit rate backed up what we saw during game action, while a 6.67 60-yard dash and 30.9-inch vertical highlighted the athleticism that drives his profile. Andres carried that momentum into Area Codes, where he put together another strong performance and continued to show that he belongs in the top 10. The combination of speed, bat-to-ball ability, and developing power has always been present. After running with his opportunities this summer, Andres enters his junior year positioned to have a breakout year.

Jacob is a lean, athletic shortstop whose game consistently looks under control. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound left-handed hitter plays with high-level baseball instincts and has a natural ability to slow the game down, whether handling a play on the dirt or working through an at-bat. That composure showed at the Future Games, where he reached base in six of eight plate appearances against quality pitching. A 6.64 runner, Jacob has the quickness and body control to remain in the middle of the field while creating pressure on the bases. He also produced a 95.4 mph exit velocity, showing there is already some impact in the bat despite the lean frame. As strength continues to come, the combination of instincts, athleticism, and present feel for the game gives Jacob one of the more complete shortstop profiles in the class.

Sammy has been a steady presence in Hamilton’s varsity lineup since his freshman year, handling the demands of one of Arizona’s top programs with a maturity beyond his age. He plays at a high level without allowing the game to speed him up. One of the best defenders in the class, Sammy combines quick hands, body control, and a 90 mph arm with the ability to complete plays from different angles. He was also an offensive catalyst for Hamilton this spring, showing fast hands and a direct path that produced a 103 mph exit velocity and 94.7 mph average. The tools are evident, but Sammy’s composure and instincts are what truly separate him.

Max put together one of the biggest breakout summers following a strong high schol season, making a name for himself by hitting everywhere he went. The 5-foot-8, 163-pound left-handed hitter plays with the type of leadership and competitiveness that teammates naturally follow. He hit .381 with five home runs for Desert Ridge this spring while drawing nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts, then carried that production into the summer, highlighte by a two-home-run performance at the Future Games. Max is not trying to be something he is not. He controls the strike zone, finds the barrel, and has enough strength in the swing to drive the baseball all around the yard. Add in an 88 mph arm and reliable actions on the dirt, and Max has developed into a well-rounded infielder, but the separator remains simple: the kid just hits.