Kansas Class of 2027 Rankings Update: Preseason Edition

April 22, 2026
Andy Urban & Eliott Wilk
Kansas Staff

After our largest preseason showcase turnout of all time, the Prep Baseball Kansas staff has once again updated the state’s 2027 rankings. Following a massive mid-fall update, we made more substantial adjustments as we head deeper into the season.

While the top of our rankings remains mostly in-tact with some minor shuffleing of players who were already in the top 20, this update features several newcomers and notable risers after strong showings throughout the preseason circuit. Below, we take a deeper look at the movement within the class and highlight standouts from the preseason showcase circuit.

For an in-depth look at how we put our rankings together, click HERE.

Click HERE for the expanded 225 player updated rankings.

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Top 10

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Grant Westphal	KS	Blue Valley	2027	OF	Texas
2	Kam Smith	KS	Girard	2027	RHP	Arkansas
3	Ty Schmeidler	KS	Thomas More Prep-Marian	2027	OF	Kentucky
4	Ryker Mahnke	KS	Lawrence Free State	2027	OF	Missouri
5	Axton Brewer	KS	Seaman	2027	RHP	Auburn
6	Brett Liezert	KS	Olathe East	2027	RHP
7	Connor McCool	KS	Shawnee Mission South	2027	SS
8	Jake Busse	KS	Olathe Northwest	2027	RHP	Oklahoma
9	Quincy Koehn	KS	Maize	2027	RHP	Kansas
10	Owen Lester	KS	Lawrence Free State	2027	OF

Risers

We had 10 players in the top 100 that jumped 10 spots or more in this rankings update.

Skyler Bernbeck 2B / SS / Blue Valley, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 25 / POS: 1

Jumping 22 spots, the Blue Valley three-hole has become one of the most consistent bats in the state. After an eye-popping performance at the MOKAN Preseason All-State, Bernbeck has proven he has elite bat-to-ball skills and sneaky power. He is also a steady defender with clean actions in the middle infield.

Jonah Mull SS / RHP / Bishop Carroll, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 5

A quick-twitch, two-way prospect who can impact the game in every facet. It was his impressive pen at the Wichita Preseason ID, where he touched 89 mph, and some dominant outings this spring that saw him shoot up the rankings to No. 32.

Jamison Rice OF / RHP / Olathe South, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 42 / POS: 10

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound two-way prospect put on a show at the KC Preseason ID, where he ran a 7.1 60 and posted a 100 mph peak exit velocity with a 90 mph average. Rice also flashed a FB up to 83 mph. He has continued to find success in the middle of the order for Olathe South this spring while patrolling center field.

Riland Boyer SS / RHP / Manhattan, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 47 / POS: 10

The quick-twitch athlete put up outstanding numbers on both sides of the ball, but it is especially his added arm strength on the mound that has seen him make a massive jump into the top 50. Boyer is a name to know as he continues to polish his game and gets more reps on the mound this summer.

Hayden Hocker OF / RHP / Andover Central, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 65 / POS: 17

Another standout two-way player shooting up the list, Hocker was impressive in his pen at the Wichita Preseason ID, but it was his work as a position player at the event and his success in the leadoff spot for Andover Central that pushed him up our list. The left-handed hitter has a well-rounded game with advanced metrics in every category.

Carter Nelson LHP / Blue Valley Southwest, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 67 / POS: 4

The 6-foot-2, 160-pound left-hander is not a finished product, and that is what makes him so exciting. Nelson showed exciting stuff on the mound at the MOKAN Preseason All-State, as well as having some brilliant moments this spring. As he continues to add strength and polish his game, he will be a must-see prospect this summer.

Calem Yount RHP / 1B / Blue Valley North, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 70 / POS: 17

Up 30 spots after making his return to the mound and filling up the zone with a fastball up to 86 mph. There is much more to come with such a long frame and a fast-twitch arm out front.

Cade Elder SS / 3B / Christ Prep, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 74 / POS: 16

We got our most recent look at the Christ Prep prospect at the MOKAN Preseason All-State, where he showed improvement in every category, including a jump to a 102 mph peak exit velocity with a 91 mph average. The right-handed hitter shows an impressive blend of power and speed.

Andrew Poss RHP / SS / Rose Hill, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 80 / POS: 19

Poss jumps another 10 spots in the rankings as he continues to get better every time we see him. The long-limbed 6-foot-3 right-hander was up to 85 mph at the KC Preseason ID with depth and deception.

Jackson Beashore RHP / 1B / Shawnee Mission North, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 81 / POS: 20

The 6-foot-5 right-hander is up over 50 spots thanks to a huge spike in velocity up to 85 mph as he becomes more comfortable in his long frame and adds strength. He is an arm to watch as he continues to add polish to his game.

Newcomers

In this massive edtion of the rankings, we see four players make their debut in the top 100.

Abdel Yarala RHP / 1B / Life Preparatory Academy, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 28 / POS: 11

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound two-way prospect stood out on both sides of the ball at the Wichita Preseason ID, but it is his work on the mound that puts him in the top 30 as he enters the rankings for the first time. Yarala features an upper-80s fastball in the zone and mixes a tight slider and changeup as well.

Carter Smith OF / 1B / Wichita Heights, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 88 / POS: 24

The left-handed hitter produced an explosive round of BP and showed feel for keeping the barrel on plane. An athletic OF to watch, Smith makes his rankings debut at No. 88.

Talan Robertson C / OF / Washburn Rural, KS / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 92 / POS: 10

Robertson enters the rankings in the top 100 thanks to advanced athleticism that he showed off at the Engaged Athletics Scout Day. The right-handed hitter showed exit velos up to 100 mph, a quick 30-yard dash, and 1.9-second pop times.