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Positional Powerhouses: Ranking North Carolina’s 2027 Talent by Spot

September 12, 2025
Brandon Hall
NC / Mid-ATL Director of Scouting

North Carolina Class of 2027: Rankings Update

With the close of the summer season and the start of the new school year, Prep Baseball North Carolina has updated its Class of 2027 Rankings. This update expands the list to the Top 275 players in the state, reflecting the depth and quality of talent in this group. For the, now, Junior class, this summer was the beginning of the eyes of the scouting world turning their attention to them. With bigger stages, several players in the state made big impressions. With new recruiting rules in place, coaches and scouts are getting a longer look at players prior to making offers. This summer was just the beginning of the process that will last, for many, well into their Senior year.

Summer of Growth

The summer of 2025 was a pivotal period for the Class of 2027. Players across the state competed in national tournaments, organizational scout days, and Prep Baseball events, testing their tools against high-level competition. Many prospects showed measurable gains in strength, speed, and skill, while others emerged as consistent performers in game action.

The Prep Baseball Future Games once again proved to be a major proving ground. Team Carolina’s 2027s delivered standout performances in front of more than 400 college coaches, with several players making significant jumps in their prospect status. Those gains are now reflected in the updated rankings.

Overall, the rankings database saw over 350 players added from Prep Baseball events and coverage. The 2027 Rankings move to the Top 275 players with over 60 players making their 1st appearance inside the state’s rankings.

Positional Rankings

The Prep Baseball rankings process is completed holistically, without initial consideration for positional breakdowns. Once the overall class rankings are finalized, the scouting staff reviews how players align within their respective positions.

Positional rankings provide additional context, offering a clearer picture of how prospects compare to others at the same spot on the field. It is important to note that positional rankings can be influenced by positional value—players up the middle (catcher, shortstop, center field) often carry more weight than those on the corners. However, the hit tool remains the most prized attribute, and a player’s offensive ability can elevate their standing even if their defensive profile projects differently at the next level. In this way, positional rankings are not always a direct indicator of a player’s long-term defensive home, but rather a tool for understanding the balance of talent within the class.

For the 2027 class, and younger, player positions are assigned by the player themselves, and how they set their profile up. With that being said, there are players that rank in a position that may differ from the overall grading process used by Prep Baseball scouts. Our scouting staff may have a player rated higher as a pitcher than a position player, but if the player has themselves setup as a primary position player, that is how their ranking will reflect when listed by position.

First Basemen – Class of 2027

  1. Cooper Partin – Southern Alamance (NC), 1B
  2. Troy Alderfer – Ambassador Christian (NC), 1B
  3. Grant Helms – Hickory Ridge (NC), 1B
  4. Luke Talley – Green Level (NC), 1B
  5. Giovanni Buccino – West Forsyth (NC), 1B
  6. Jayden Pipes – Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC), 1B
  7. Carson Mentlewski – Eastern Carolina Academy (NC), 1B
  8. Connor Howard – Grace Christian (NC), 1B
  9. Ethan Frazier – Covenant Day (NC), 1B
  10. Will Ray – Christ (NC), 1B

Shortstops – Class of 2027

  1. Kellen Rogers – Wake Forest (NC), SS – Committed: North Carolina State
  2. Reggie Marshall III – Grace Christian (NC), SS, Class of 2028
  3. Trent Baker – North Raleigh Christian Academy (NC), SS
  4. Charlie Beck – Central Davidson (NC), SS
  5. Brady Holmes – Person (NC), SS
  6. Rooke Knittle – D.H. Conley (NC), SS
  7. Carter Huff – Reagan (NC), SS
  8. Chappy Smith – Roberson (NC), SS
  9. Cooper Marks – Walter M. Williams (NC), SS
  10. Kayden Bradsher – Orange (NC), SS

Outfielders – Class of 2027

  1. Jacob Seamon – Metrolina Christian (NC), OF
  2. Griffin McKain – Charlotte Catholic (NC), OF
  3. John Hucko – Charlotte Catholic (NC), OF
  4. Caleb Lynn – Cleveland (NC), OF
  5. Brody Brannan – South Central (NC), OF
  6. Jaxon Haynes – Providence (NC), OF
  7. Brandon Bush – Hoggard (NC), OF
  8. Tanner Williams – Midway (NC), OF
  9. Jaylen Witherspoon – West Forsyth (NC), OF
  10. Kannon Huffman – Southwest (NC), OF

Right-Handed Pitchers – Class of 2027

  1. Will Parrish – Charlotte Christian (NC), RHP – Committed: North Carolina State
  2. Beckett Denton – Weddington (NC), RHP
  3. Luke Samples – C.E. Jordan (NC), RHP – Committed: Wake Forest
  4. Kameron Keenan – North Buncombe (NC), RHP
  5. Oliver Van Tiem – Orange (NC), RHP – Committed: North Carolina
  6. Lawson Copeland – Myers Park (NC), RHP
  7. Colt Briggs – Saint Stephens (NC), RHP – Committed: Appalachian State
  8. Ethan Wisler – Wakefield (NC), RHP
  9. Landon McDonald – Grace Christian (NC), RHP – Committed: South Florida
  10. Trevor Yancey – Providence Day School (NC), RHP

Left-Handed Pitchers – Class of 2027

  1. Connor Salerno – Sun Valley (NC), LHP
  2. Michael Scaletta – Covenant Day (NC), LHP
  3. Caleb Renn – Holly Springs (NC), LHP
  4. Dru Gaddy – Surry Central (NC), LHP
  5. Sam Rice – Reagan (NC), LHP
  6. Andrew Caracio – Pro5 Academy (NC), LHP
  7. Jacson Taplin – Ambassador Christian (NC), LHP
  8. Cooper Holland – Charlotte Latin (NC), LHP
  9. Parker Simo – Junius H. Rose (NC), LHP
  10. Christian Sandoval – Lake Norman (NC), LHP

Catchers – Class of 2027

  1. Banks Woody – North Raleigh Christian Academy (NC), C
  2. Cole Bowman – Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC), C
  3. Tyce Thompson – South Central (NC), C
  4. Wyatt Lytle – Pro5 Academy (NC), C
  5. Coleton Newbern – D.H. Conley (NC), C – Committed: East Carolina
  6. Parker Filipek – T.C. Roberson (NC), C
  7. Brady Maxwell – Pro5 Academy (NC), C
  8. Leyton Guhl – Metrolina Christian Academy (NC), C
  9. Hudson Tuttle – Reagan (NC), C
  10. Harrison Mears – South Brunswick (NC), C

Third Basemen – Class of 2027

  1. Mason Hawkins – Needham Broughton (NC), 3B
  2. Matty Carroll – Charlotte Christian (NC), 3B
  3. James Price – Mount Tabor (NC), 3B
  4. Christian Xavier Romine – Union Pines (NC), 3B
  5. Gabriel Diaz – Carmel Christian (NC), 3B
  6. Brandon Loehr – Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC), 3B
  7. Connor Woods – Terry Sanford (NC), 3B
  8. Jayden Morales – North Raleigh Christian Academy (NC), 3B
  9. Baker York – Needham Broughton (NC), 3B
  10. Jackson Brooks – Emsley A. Laney (NC), 3B

Second Basemen – Class of 2027

  1. Carter Rowe – Gaston Christian (NC), 2B
  2. Carter Beck – North Davidson (NC), 2B
  3. Benjamin Bernard – Green Level (NC), 2B
  4. Fletcher Owens – Homeschool (NC), 2B
  5. Davis Jones – Millbrook (NC), 2B

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