Fresh Faces: 15 New Names in the NC 2028 Rankings
August 28, 2026
New to the Rankings: 15 Prospects Enter the NC 2028 Rankings
With the release of the updated North Carolina Class of 2028 Rankings, the list has expanded from 200 to 225 players following an extensive spring and summer evaluation period.
Included in the update are 41 newcomers, players who either earned their first extended evaluations from the Prep Baseball scouting staff or showed enough development through the summer to warrant their debut in the rankings.
Prep Baseball scouts continued to work across the state throughout the summer, evaluating players through tournament action, Scout Days, Summer ID events, the Future Games, and the inaugural Tobacco Road State Games. Those looks provided new information and increased confidence in player grades throughout an already deep 2028 class.
Below, we take a closer look at 15 players making their debut in the updated rankings, including where our staff saw them, video from the evaluation process, and scouting notes on what stood out.
VIEW THE UPDATED NC CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS
https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/rankings/NC/north-carolina-class-of-2028
15 Names to Know in the 2028 Rankings
Jack Jordan, OF, Wesleyan Christian Academy
Where We Saw Him: Raleigh Summer ID
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
At 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Jordan immediately presents an intriguing combination of size and offensive upside. The left-handed hitter showed solid bat-to-barrel skills with good quickness through the hitting zone. There is plenty of room to dream on where the hit and power tools can go as he continues to mature and develop over the next several years.
Jackson Cap, SS, Grace Christian School
Where We Saw Him: Campbell Summer ID; Tobacco Road State Games
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Athletic switch-hitter with twitch and strength present. Cap flashed tools in both workout and game settings, creating intrigue around his potential ceiling. Some of the skills remain raw, but the athleticism and physical ability provide plenty to follow as he continues to round out his overall game.
Cooper Slone, SS, Providence HS
Where We Saw Him: Charlotte Summer ID
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Slone filled up the stat sheet during his summer evaluation with an athletic frame that should continue to add strength. Simple and direct from the right side of the plate with feel for the barrel. Defensively, athletic actions, active feet, and good rhythm give him a chance to continue developing at shortstop.
Cohen Taylor, SS, West Wilkes HS
Where We Saw Him: Charlotte Summer ID
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Physical presence with a youthful look and room to continue developing. The switch-hitter showed good rhythm and produced consistent barrel contact from both sides of the plate. Simple actions put him in good positions defensively, where an athletic exchange and release accompany solid arm carry across the diamond.
Evan Meyer, RHP, Green Level HS
Where We Saw Him: Raleigh Summer ID
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Arm-strength right-hander who reached 89 mph during his bullpen session. The breaking ball averaged 2317 rpm, adding another intriguing piece to the arsenal. Meyer possesses advanced raw metrics with room for continued development, giving him an opportunity to climb the rankings ladder as his overall pitch package continues to mature.
Dylan Hancock, RHP, Cuthbertson HS
Where We Saw Him: CBA Scout Day; Tobacco Road State Games
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Athletic right-hander with a quick arm and a fastball that reached 88 mph. Hancock showed the ability to spin a hard, downer breaking ball that gives him a potential weapon moving forward. The athleticism and movement patterns suggest additional upside remains as the arm and overall stuff continue to develop.
Adam Takacs, OF, Grimsley HS
Where We Saw Him: High Point Summer ID
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Strength is present alongside an advanced run tool, with Takacs turning in a 6.65 laser-timed 60. There is strength in the right-handed swing as well. Positioned to continue finding more barrels as he matures into the frame, the combination of speed and physicality gives him multiple tools to follow.
Owen Eudy, OF, Athens Drive HS
Where We Saw Him: Dirtbags Scout Day; Tobacco Road State Games
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
The Most Valuable Player of the inaugural Tobacco Road State Games, Eudy capped a strong summer with an impressive showing against some of the state's top talent. The 6-foot, 175-pound outfielder has an athletic frame with strength present and showed a solid overall tool set during the workout. It translated immediately into game action, where Eudy found four barrels in five at-bats, including a pull-side home run.
Brayden English, C, Palisades HS
Where We Saw Him: CBA Scout Day; Tobacco Road State Games
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Offensive-minded catcher with arm strength behind the plate. English combines strength and quickness in the right-handed swing and carried a solid batting-practice showing into live game action. He continued to find barrels while facing some of the state's better arms, giving the offensive profile additional credibility.
Zach Hykin, RHP, Christ School
Where We Saw Him: Dirtbags Scout Day
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Physical right-hander with arm strength in a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame. A solid mover for his size, Hykin's fastball presents with ride and run through the zone. The breaking ball showed depth with spin rates around 2300 rpm, giving him a secondary offering to build upon as the overall arsenal continues to develop.
Wilmer Marenco Jr., 2B, Eastern Carolina Academy
Where We Saw Him: Raleigh Summer ID; Tobacco Road State Games
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Athletic infielder with quickness present in his game. Marenco showed fundamentally sound actions on both sides of the ball with good rhythm in the hands and feet defensively. The athleticism and overall feel for the game provide a foundation to continue building upon as he develops.
Jackson Welch, OF, Marvin Ridge HS
Where We Saw Him: Charlotte Summer ID; Tobacco Road State Games
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Solid mover with strength present in the frame. The left-handed hitter flashed barrel awareness with a direct path and a gap-to-gap approach. Continued physical development should allow the offensive profile to grow while his present movement skills provide another tool to follow.
Brack Creech, OF, Garner HS
Where We Saw Him: Wilmington Summer ID
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Strength present with solid overall movement skills. Creech produced quality contact during his offensive evaluation, with the ball jumping off the barrel while showing backspin and carry. The combination of strength and developing barrel feel gives the offensive profile room to continue trending upward.
Kaleb Faulders, 3B, West Brunswick HS
Where We Saw Him: Wilmington Summer ID
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Solid mover who showed strength through contact with a flat, direct right-handed swing. Defensively, Faulders displayed good rhythm between his feet and hands while playing through the baseball. The arm was accurate with solid carry across the diamond, rounding out a balanced evaluation on both sides of the ball.
Ty'lae Rose, 1B/LHP, Whiteville HS
Where We Saw Him: Wilmington Summer ID; Tobacco Road State Games
Player Video:
Scout Comments:
Physical two-way prospect with strength present throughout the frame and surprisingly nimble feet for his size. From the left side of the plate, Rose showed strength through contact with solid leverage and the ability to impact the baseball. On the mound, the arm works athletically with the fastball reaching 82 mph and showing ride through the zone. The combination of physicality, offensive upside, and two-way ability gives Rose multiple avenues for continued development.
More to Come on the 2028 Class
These 14 players represent just a portion of the 41 newcomers entering North Carolina's expanded Top 225.
As recruiting for the 2028 class begins to accelerate, Prep Baseball North Carolina will continue breaking down the updated rankings with additional looks at rankings risers, players making significant moves, and names to know throughout the class.
The rankings will continue to evolve as our scouting staff gathers additional evaluations, adjusts player grades, and gains greater confidence in the state's prospects throughout the fall.
VIEW THE COMPLETE NC CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS
https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/rankings/NC/north-carolina-class-of-2028
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