2026 Prep Baseball Minnesota Power Rankings: Preseason
March 27, 2026
Each week during the high school season, Prep Baseball Minnesota will update its Power Rankings, highlighting the top ten teams in the state along with bubble teams to watch. These rankings are determined by Prep Baseball Minnesota in collaboration with a dedicated coach’s committee, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation of talent, performance, and strength of schedule.
Stay tuned as we track the best teams throughout the 2026 season and provide insight into the ever-changing landscape of Minnesota high school baseball.
Below are our Preseason rankings of the 2026 season.
FOR FULL TEAM RANKINGS, PLEASE VISIT STRIB VARSITY.
1. CRETIN DERHAM HALL RAIDERS 
Cretin Derham Hall enters 2026 as the preseason No. 1 after capturing last year’s state title. While the Raiders lost key senior leadership, they return a strong core and boast a talented underclass ready to step into big roles. With depth, skill, and a roster built to reload rather than rebuild, Cretin Derham Hall has the pieces to defend its crown and set the standard for the state once again.
Key Match-Ups: May 2nd-May 3rd, round robin at Siebert Field with Eagan and Edina.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Ike Crouser | RHP/C | 2027 | Notre Dame |
| Jack Drieman | OF | 2026 | Sioux Falls |
| Harrison Falk | OF | 2026 | San Francisco |
| Joe Fenlon | SS | 2026 | St. Thomas |
| Davis Fleming | 1B/OF | 2026 | Minnesota |
| Jack Van Gemert | RHP | 2027 | Navy |
2. MINNETONKA SKIPPERS 
Minnetonka starts the season at No. 2 with a strong core returning up the middle, led by Garrett Wheeler and Carter Storts. Jacob Musgjerd provides pop from the corner infield, while Daschle Duwe anchors a pitching staff built to compete. Under the guidance of Head Coach Paul Twenge, the Skippers are poised to execute on both sides of the ball and peak at the right time, making them a top contender in the preseason rankings.
Key Match-Ups: April 17-April 18. Skippers will host Chanhassen, Rogers, and Moorhead in a tournament at Veterans Field.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Daschle Duwe | RHP | 2026 | |
| Sam Friberg | LHP/OF | 2026 | |
| Jacob Musgjerd | 3B/RHP | 2026 | Concordia-St. Paul |
| Carter Storts | OF | 2026 | Augustana |
| Garrett Wheeler | SS | 2026 | New Mexico State |
3. FARMINGTON TIGERS 
Despite graduating eight to the college level, Farmington reloads with eight committed players on this year’s roster. With two top arms back, strong pitching depth, and a core of returning hitters from last year’s 3rd place state team, the Tigers have the experience and talent to contend for titles and justify a No. 3 preseason ranking.
Key Match-Ups: The Tigers will face Prior Lake, Rosemount, and Shakopee two times a piece. Each game should be a battle.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Ty Beck | OF | 2027 | |
| Benny Fenske | OF | 2026 | UW-LaCrosse |
| Ben Freier | RHP/OF | 2026 | St. Mary's (MN) |
| Brodie Gibart | LHP | 2026 | Augustana |
| Ethan Hagman | RHP | 2026 | New Mexico State |
| Matthew Hennen | C | 2027 | Illinois State |
| Ben Keppler | 1B | 2026 | |
| Brody Rasmussen | SS | 2026 | |
| Grady Renwick | 3B | 2026 | Southwest Minnesota State |
4. ANDOVER HUSKIES 
After a 20-8 season and a state tournament appearance, Andover returns a battle-tested core built on the mound. With six pitchers back who have varsity experience, the Huskies have the depth to control games and lean on defense. While the lineup looks to replace key pieces, there is no shortage of hungry talent ready to step in, making Andover a strong pick at No. 4 to start the season.
Key Match-Ups: April 21st is their youth night where the Huskies will square off against the no. 5 ranked Champlin Park Rebels.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Keaton Coe | SS | 2026 | |
| Logan Nistler | RHP | 2026 | Minnesota State-Mankato |
| Danny Scheller | OF | 2026 | SUIE |
| Jack Simpson | RHP | 2027 |
5. CHAMPLIN PARK REBELS 
Coming off a third-place game appearance at state, Champlin Park returns one of the more experienced groups in the field. The Rebels bring back the bulk of their pitching staff, led by senior Evan Nordby, along with multiple All-Conference arms that give them strength and depth on the mound. With key returners across the diamond and a mix of proven veterans and emerging talent, Champlin Park has the pieces to make another run, earning the No. 5 spot in the preseason poll.
Key Match-Ups: The Rebels' opener on April 6th with be a rematch of last year's Section 5AAAA championship game against Maple Grove.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Luke Carlson | SS | 2027 | |
| Christian Dull | IF | 2026 | Bemidji State |
| Rhys George | OF | 2026 | |
| Caleb Greer | OF | 2026 | Bemidji State |
| Josh Henchen | RHP | 2026 | St. Scholastica |
| Evan Nordby | RHP | 2026 | Minnesota State-Mankato |
| Cal Ockuly | C | 2026 | |
| Damon Torke | RHP | 2027 | |
| Donovan Vendel | RHP/OF | 2026 | Sioux Falls |
| Tanner Wylie | RHP | 2026 | Concordia-St. Paul |
6. EDINA HORNETS 
Edina has experience and athletes around the diamond. Chase Bjorgaard alone has basically been in every sport's state tournament this year. The Hornets have a strong chance of repeating in the 6AAAA section.
Key Match-Ups: Their May 2nd-May 3rd round robin with Eagan and Cretin will be a challenge. There's also the April 20th game at Wayzata that will be a strong contest between two solid section opponents.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Chase Bjorgaard | OF | 2026 | |
| Kaden Kimes | C | 2026 | Iowa Central CC |
| Jackson McGrath | 3B | 2026 | Iowa Western CC |
| Owen Meyer | OF | 2026 | |
| Chase Nevers | 3B | 2027 | |
| Lincoln Page | OF/RHP | 2028 |
7. MOUNDS VIEW MUSTANGS 
After a 17-7 season that ended in section play, Mounds View enters the year with a tight-knit group centered around a deep senior class. Miami commit Andrew Gette should keep them in all the games he throws on the mound but there's more versatility across the roster, giving them the ability to mix and match lineups based on production and need. With improved depth and a clear alignment in goals, Mounds View has the pieces to take a step forward, landing at No. 7 in the preseason rankings.
Key Match-Ups: On May 9th, Centennial hosts a round robin which includes a game vs Osseo, the same team that upset the Mustangs in section play a year ago.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Carter Byers | IF/RHP | 2026 | |
| Cooper Caligiuri | C | 2026 | |
| Andrew Gette | RHP | 2026 | Miami |
| Jack Glancey | OF | 2026 | UW-LaCrosse |
| RJ Madison | OF/IF | 2027 |
8. MAHTOMEDI ZEPHYRS 
The defending Class 3A state champions enter 2026 with a new look on the mound after graduating a significant portion of their innings. As Head Coach Rob Garry noted, that remains the “number one question” heading into the season. Still, Mahtomedi returns a talented group of underclassmen, headlined by Player of the Year candidate Connor Finn, giving them plenty of upside. With high-end talent in place but some uncertainty on the pitching side, the Zephyrs slot in at No. 8 to start the year.
Key Match-Ups: The Zephyrs will head to Delano on May 9th for Baseball Day Minnesota.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Gavin Bifulk | RHP | 2027 | |
| Peyton Erickson | RHP | 2026 | Southeastern CC |
| Connor Finn | LHP/OF | 2026 | Texas Tech |
| Isaac Iten | OF | 2027 | |
| Cody Loida | SS | 2026 | Sioux Falls |
| Jake Reubish | IF | 2026 | |
| Luke Torgrude | OF/LHP | 2027 |
9. MAPLE GROVE CRIMSON 
Maple Grove enters 2026 with a strong foundation on the mound, led by bulldog right-hander Evan O’Dwyer and backed by a deep pitching staff. The Crimson also feature high-end talent in Stanford commit Beckett Shimpa, who has already made a name for himself on a national stage. With a roster full of varsity experience and a group embracing the challenge of a new conference, Maple Grove has the depth and upside to earn the No. 9 spot in the preseason rankings.
Key Match-Ups: May 6th vs no. 10 Chaska.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Preston Berg | SS | 2026 | Bethel |
| Joey Limric | OF | 2026 | |
| Evan O'Dwyer | RHP | 2026 | Augustana |
| Beckett Shimpa | 1B/LHP | 2027 | Stanford |
| Oliver Taynton | OF | 2026 | Marshalltown CC |
| Connor Wihlm | C | 2026 |
10. CHASKA HAWKS 
Chaska rounds out the top 10 with a group loaded with experience and high-end talent. The Hawks are led by top-ranked 2026 arm Parker Killian on the mound and power-hitting shortstop Owen Strey, a Creighton commit, in the middle of the lineup. With additional upside from underclass arms like Thomas Leeper and Joshua Keenan, Chaska has the pieces to develop into a dangerous club as the season unfolds, earning the No. 10 spot in the preseason rankings.
Key Match-Ups: May 11th vs rival Chanhassen is their Strikeout Cancer Night.
| PLAYER | POS | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
| Will Holk | OF/RHP | 2026 | Macalaster |
| Parker Killian | RHP | 2026 | Minnesota |
| Owen Strey | SS | 2026 | Creighton |
| Matthew Welter | 1B | 2026 | Augustana |
| Ethan Williams | C | 2026 | Southwest Minnesota State |
MSHSL STATE TOURNAMENT WINNERS
+ 2025: Cretin-Derham Hall, Mahtomedi, Pine Island, Red Lake County
+ 2024: East Ridge, Totino-Grace, Rockford, Springfield
+ 2023: East Ridge, New Prague, Esko, Fosston
+ 2022: Stillwater, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Fairmont, Randolph
+ 2021: Farmington, Mahtomedi, Glencoe-Silver Lake, Hayfield
+ 2019: East Ridge, St. Thomas Academy, Marshall School, BOLD
+ 2018: Stillwater, Mahtomedi, Maple Lake, Heritage Christian
+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL STATE TOURNEY HISTORY
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