Rankings Risers: 18 Players Who Vaulted Up the NC Ranks
August 26, 2026
North Carolina Class of 2027: Rankings Risers
The latest update to the North Carolina Class of 2027 Rankings expanded the board to the Top 350 players in the state, reflecting another full evaluation cycle for the Prep Baseball North Carolina scouting staff.
Throughout the spring and summer, our staff continued to follow the 2027 class in a variety of settings. Evaluations came from Prep Baseball ID events, state, regional and national events, tournament coverage, high school games, practices and workouts. Events like the NC/SC Border Battle, Senior Future Games and Tobacco Road State Games provided another valuable piece of the evaluation process, allowing scouts to combine measurable tools and workout data with performance against high-level competition.
As the 2027 class enters its senior year, projection remains part of the equation, but performance carries increasing weight. How tools translate into games, how players handle quality competition, and how their skill sets continue to develop all factor into the overall player grade.
Below, we take a closer look at 18 prospects who made notable jumps in the latest rankings update. Each player is listed with where our staff evaluated him, his movement in the rankings, video from the evaluation process, and updated scouting notes.
Kellen Rogers — SS, Wake Forest HS
NC State Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 7 → No. 4
Scouted: Summer Tournament Circuit
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
After some down time late in the spring season, Rogers returned to the summer tournament circuit and quickly reminded evaluators of the high-end tools in the profile. An athletic middle infielder with the ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball, his summer performance pushed him back toward the very top of the North Carolina class. Now sitting at No. 4, Rogers will be a name to follow closely throughout the remainder of 2026 and into his senior spring.
Harrison Corey — RHP, DH Conley HS
North Carolina Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 15 → No. 10
Scouted: State Games of North Carolina, East Coast Pro
Scout Notes:
After missing some time on the mound, Corey made a loud return during the spring and continued to build momentum into the summer. At the State Games of North Carolina, the right-hander sat 92-93 and touched 94, showing the arm strength and stuff that belongs near the top of the state's 2027 class. The summer pushed Corey into the Top 10 at No. 10.
Jude Carter — RHP, Alexander Central HS
Alabama Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 34 → No. 17
Scouted: Spring Coverage; State Games of North Carolina, East Coast Pro
Scout Notes:
Coming off a productive high school season, Carter continued to flash a big arm in high-level settings throughout the summer. The right-hander made another statement at the State Games of North Carolina, sitting 92-94 and touching 96. The combination of present velocity and continued development pushed Carter firmly into the Top 20.
Brennan McKenna — RHP, Holly Springs HS
NC State Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 41 → No. 20
Scouted: Spring Coverage; Senior Future Games
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Fully healthy during the spring, McKenna saw his arm strength and overall stuff continue to climb into the summer. He capped the evaluation period with an electric outing at the Senior Future Games, where the fastball worked 89-92 and bumped 94 with solid spin and movement metrics. McKenna committed to NC State shortly after the outing and climbs into the state's Top 20.
Cooper Holland — LHP, Charlotte Latin
NC State Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 106 → No. 26
Scouted: Corndogs Scout Day; Summer Tournament Circuit
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Pitchability and feel for moving the baseball throughout the zone have been constants for Holland. The left-hander took another step during the summer as improved movement patterns translated into intriguing release characteristics and a jump in the overall stuff. His Corndogs Scout Day appearance was one piece of a strong summer that featured stretches of dominant work. Holland makes one of the biggest moves near the top of the board, climbing 80 spots to No. 26.
Andrew Caracio — LHP, Pro5 Academy
Virginia Tech Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 83 → No. 39
Scouted: Senior Future Games, Raleigh Summer ID
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
A physical left-hander, Caracio has continued to develop a clear identity on the mound. He attacks hitters with a combination of sink and spin while doing a good job of maximizing the strengths of his arsenal. Improved movement has helped the velocity and strike percentage tick upward, giving the Virginia Tech commit another jump in his overall grade.
Jackson Brooks — 3B/RHP, Laney HS
Rankings Movement: No. 131 → No. 50
Scouted: Wilmington Summer ID; Senior Future Games
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Brooks brings physicality, twitch and excellent strength to the offensive profile, with his in-game production throughout the summer pushing the bat forward. His development on the mound added another dimension. At the Senior Future Games, Brooks worked 87-91, creating legitimate two-way value. The ability to contribute in multiple roles gives him a chance to lengthen a college roster upon arrival.
Joshua Beam — RHP, East Lincoln HS
Rankings Movement: No. 254 → No. 67
Scouted: Spring coverage; Summer Tournament Circuit; Tobacco Road State Games
Scout Notes:
Beam makes one of the biggest jumps of the entire rankings cycle. The scouting staff liked the projection following the Preseason All-State, and several spring outings showed continued growth before he took another step during the summer. At 6-foot-7, Beam creates deception with a lower release and a heavy fastball. The breaking stuff is currently solid and trending upward, leaving considerable ceiling in the profile.
Parker Simo — LHP, JH Rose HS
East Carolina Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 116 → No. 71
Scouted: Spring Coverage; NC/SC Border Battle; State Games of North Carolina
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
There are times when production against quality competition carries significant weight, and Simo consistently answered that test. After performing throughout the spring, the left-hander produced a breakout look at the NC/SC Border Battle and followed it with another crisp outing at the State Games of North Carolina. An athletic mover with feel for pitching, Simo continues to trend upward.
Jess Bowling — RHP, South Brunswick HS
UNC Greensboro Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 142 → No. 75
Scouted: Wilmington Summer ID
Scout Notes:
Lean and lanky with room remaining in the frame, Bowling began finding better direction while showing increased arm speed. The cleaner movement allowed the stuff to take a step forward, with his outing at the Wilmington Summer ID providing a strong look at the developing profile. There remains room to the ceiling as the right-hander continues to add strength.
Elijah Martin — RHP, Green Hope HS
Davidson Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 189 → No. 96
Scouted: Spring Coverage; NC/SC Border Battle
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Martin entered the year with some intrigue as a potential two-way prospect, but the arm began creating significant buzz during the spring and early summer. That jump was confirmed at the NC/SC Border Battle. A good athlete, Martin works with rhythm over the rubber and solid direction through the plate, allowing the overall arsenal to play up. There is still room remaining in the ceiling.
Nolan Ellington — RHP, North Stanly HS
Rankings Movement: No. 166 → No. 99
Scouted: State Games of North Carolina; Gardner-Webb Summer ID
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Ellington initially entered the rankings following a quick spring evaluation and continued to give the scouting staff reasons to push him upward. Looks at the State Games of North Carolina and Gardner-Webb Summer ID showcased an athletic arm with quickness and a developing sink/slider combination. The athleticism and arm speed suggest there could be another jump ahead.
Odin Ginader — RHP, Marvin Ridge HS
Belmont Abbey Commit
Rankings Movement: No. 136 → No. 104
Scouted: Tobacco Road State Games
Scout Notes:
Ginader struck out six hitters in two innings at the Tobacco Road State Games, but the performance was about more than raw stuff. His ability to tunnel the fastball and slider before creating late, hard action in opposite directions kept hitters uncomfortable. The improved execution and understanding of how to use the arsenal elevated the overall look.
Nicholas Trogdon — RHP, Northwest Guilford HS
Rankings Movement: No. 205 → No. 108
Scouted: Tobacco Road State Games
Scout Notes:
Improved direction and hip action have helped Trogdon create a more synced delivery and quicker arm. That progress showed at the Tobacco Road State Games, where both the fastball and slider took significant steps forward. He maintained feel for the strike zone while showing an ability to attack hitters on both halves of the plate.
Cooper Redfern — RHP, Eastern Carolina Academy
Rankings Movement: No. 192 → No. 122
Scouted: Tobacco Road State Games
Scout Notes:
Long and lean with a fairly clean arm action, Redfern already featured an intriguing fastball/splitter combination. At the Tobacco Road State Games, he unveiled a slider with hard horizontal action, giving him a more complete three-pitch mix. The additional weapon allows him to attack hitters in different ways and increases the effectiveness of the fastball.
Tyler Eason — SS, East Bladen HS
Rankings Movement: No. 272 → No. 131
Scouted: Campbell Summer ID; Tobacco Road State Games
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Eason has a youthful look with a frame that continues to mature. His stock climbed through looks at the Campbell Summer ID and Tobacco Road State Games, where the defensive actions stood out. There is a chance to remain at shortstop long-term, while continued gains in quickness and strength could push the overall profile higher as the frame fills out.
Beckett Rinkus — OF, North Lincoln HS
Rankings Movement: No. 273 → No. 150
Scouted: Charlotte Summer ID; Tobacco Road State Games
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Rinkus has added noticeable strength to his 6-foot-2 frame, and the physical development has begun changing the overall profile. The added muscle has produced gains in both his potential power and speed tools. Those improvements were evident at the Charlotte Summer ID and again at the Tobacco Road State Games, resulting in a substantial jump in his overall player grade.
William Taylor — LHP, Myers Park HS
Rankings Movement: No. 296 → No. 164
Scouted: Spring Coverage; Charlotte Summer ID; Summer Tournament Circuit
Video Spotlight:
Scout Notes:
Taylor initially caught the scouting staff's attention during spring break with his pitchability and feel. Those traits continued to show at the Charlotte Summer ID and throughout the tournament circuit. He owns a lean, projectable frame with clean arm action, and the fastball has already begun to tick upward. The combination of athleticism, feel and projection gives Taylor considerable room to continue climbing.
More Movement Ahead
The summer update represents the accumulation of months of evaluations, but the rankings remain a snapshot in time. The 2027 class will continue to develop throughout the fall and winter before entering its final high school season in the spring.
For this group of risers, the movement reflects more than a strong workout or one good outing. Each provided our scouting staff with new information through physical development, improved stuff, increased production, or the ability to translate tools against quality competition.
With the rankings now expanded to the Top 350 players in North Carolina, there remains plenty of room for movement as the 2027 class moves toward its senior spring.
View the complete North Carolina Class of 2027 Rankings:
https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/rankings/NC/North-Carolina-class-of-2027