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Initial Class of 2029 Player Rankings (November)

Throughout the fall we were all over the state, scouting numerous prospects and seeing many new names came to the forefront of the recruiting scene. With that information, we are updating each of our class rankings based off what we have seen. Up now, the Class of 2028.

As fall sports come to an end and winter sports season kicks off, we will take a look at the Top Five and "Weldon's Watchlist", and 50 "Freshman Follows".

To view the Class Rankings, click below:

• Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2029

To view the Prospect Reports, click below:

• Uncommitted Spotlights | Commitment Insider | Overall News

To view the entire Class of 2029 rankings, please click here.

The Top Five

Our first look at the Ohio Class of 2029 comes after an extended evaluation window that began in 2024 and continued through this past fall. During this period, our staff gathered information from Rising Stars events, Prep tournaments, and a variety of regional competitions that featured players in this graduating class. These early viewings provided a foundation for identifying the prospects who currently separate themselves within the state.

This release is not intended to serve as a finalized picture of the class. Instead, it functions as an early guide to the players who have shown standout traits at a young age. As these athletes grow, gain experience, and begin competing in varsity environments and major events across the region, the landscape will shift. New players will emerge, current follows will continue to refine their tools, and our confidence in future rankings will grow as the sample size expands.

For now, we are focusing on the top five prospects who have consistently shown the physical ability, skill development, and competitive traits that place them at the top of the early conversation. We look forward to tracking this group over the next four years, knowing that the story of the 2029 class in Ohio is only beginning to unfold.

Colton Smith C / RHP / Archbishop Moeller, OH / 2029 Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 143 / POS: 12 Report: Colton Smith is one of the most polished prospects in the class. He shows advanced traits both behind the plate and on the mound. His arm strength stands out with fastballs already climbing to 87 mph, and his athletic movement patterns suggest even more growth ahead. Behind the plate he receives at a high level, blocks well, and shows a quick and efficient exchange. Offensively he combines strength with quality bat-to-ball skill and a mature overall approach. Smith has the talent to be an early-impact prospect with the potential to continue rising on the national stage.

Carter Houseman SS / OF / Urbana High School, OH / 2029 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 156 / POS: 45 Report: Carter Houseman brings a high-level athletic foundation that places him among the most dynamic movers in the class. He can run, track the ball, and create offensive pressure with his ability to impact the baseball. His defensive versatility gives him the option to play both outfield and infield. In games he consistently provides competitive at-bats and delivers timely contact. His athletic ceiling is significant, and he has a strong chance to continue climbing as he matures.

Mitchell Huber 1B / RHP / Jonathan Alder High School, OH / 2029 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 197 / POS: 9 Report: Mitch Huber stands out for his size and natural strength. His 6’3”, 200-pound frame gives him a physical presence that few players in the class can match. On the mound he shows fast-twitch qualities and a delivery that should support significant velocity over time. His offensive profile features leverage and the ability to drive the ball with authority. Continued growth in mental consistency will determine how quickly he reaches his considerable potential. The tools give him a chance to be a high-end prospect.

Carter Williams C / 3B / Kenton Ridge, OH / 2029 Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 2 Report: Carter Williams brings one of the stronger offensive profiles in the class. His swing is built for hard contact with a heavy barrel and the ability to produce damage. Behind the plate he is sturdy and physical with the traits needed to stay at the position as he develops. Williams projects as a middle-of-the-order type bat with continued refinement.

Maddox Roth SS / RHP / Lakota East High School, OH / 2029 Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 2 Report: Maddox Roth fits the mold of a high-upside, early-projection athlete. His 6’1”, 185-pound frame already provides length, strength, and natural explosiveness. He moves well and shows the foundational traits of a future two-way contributor. As he continues to refine his timing, consistency, and skill-specific work, his tools have a chance to make significant leaps. Roth brings a high ceiling with plenty of room for growth.

Weldon's Watchlist

10 players who have consistently impressed throughout the evaluation period and have positioned themselves on the doorstep of the rankings. These prospects show the traits, feel, competitiveness, and long-term upside that make them strong candidates to break into the rankings.

Austin Krenzel RHP / 3B / Dublin Jerome High School, OH / 2029 Report: Krenzel is the next in line from a family that has produced high-level arms, and the similarities to his brother Brayden (Tennessee RHP) are easy to see. He moves with the same looseness and balance in the delivery, showing natural tempo and a fast-moving arm that projects for significant velocity jumps as he gets older. The frame is athletic and built for long-term growth, and his ability to repeat his mechanics at this age is uncommon. As the strength arrives, Krenzel has a chance to become one of the premier arms in the class.

Camden Martin SS / Jonathan Alder, OH / 2029 Report: Martin is one of the more polished defenders in the group, a true infield “operator” who plays fast, clean, and confident on every rep. His internal clock, footwork, and body control allow him to make plays all over the dirt. Offensively, he brings a scrappy, competitive profile with consistent contact skills and sneaky strength beginning to emerge. Martin’s instincts and feel for the game elevate his floor, and added physicality will push his overall ceiling even higher.

Cameron Schaefer SS / 2B / St. Xavier, OH / 2029 Report: Schaefer is an ultra-athletic shortstop with smooth actions and quick-twitch movement patterns. His defense already shows maturity, with steady hands and the ability to stay under control on the move. The offensive upside is notable as well, as his athletic foundation hints at a swing that should continue to get louder with strength gains. Schaefer profiles as one of the better long-term athletes in the class and could take a major leap as his body develops.

Connor Chaney SS / RHP / Mason, OH / 2029 Report: Chaney brings a lean, athletic build with clear long-term projection. His defensive traits stand out early: quick feet, fluid actions, and advanced glove-to-hand transitions. He plays with rhythm and carries himself like a natural shortstop. Offensively, the swing works to all fields with a chance to grow into legitimate gap-to-gap impact as strength arrives. Chaney checks a lot of boxes and could make a major jump with physical maturation.

Cooper Rhoads SS / RHP / Lakota West High School, OH / 2029 Report: Rhoads offers an intriguing two-way profile with a strong, durable frame that already supports advanced movement patterns. Defensively, he shows the arm strength to stay on the right side of the infield, while his offensive game continues to trend upward with flashes of real power. On the mound, he shows early arm talent and feel. Rhoads has the kind of build and versatility that often takes off once body control sharpens through high school.

Kevin Klingerman RHP / OF / Columbus Academy, OH / 2029 Report: Klingerman brings one of the more polished pitching arsenals in the group. He has a strong, athletic frame paired with a clean delivery that allows him to fill up the zone with multiple pitches. His ability to sequence, repeat, and compete shows an advanced level of pitchability for his age. As velocity naturally climbs with added strength, Klingerman projects to be an arm who could surge up the board quickly.

Liam Bradley RHP / OF / Gahanna Lincoln, OH / 2029 Report: Bradley stands out for how clean and effortless his delivery is. The arm works freely, and the mechanics suggest a big jump is coming as he matures physically. His body control, timing, and feel for the zone give him an outstanding developmental foundation. With his athleticism and looseness, Bradley has some of the highest long-term upside among the unranked arms.

Michael Cangelosi Jr SS / RHP / Padua Franciscan, OH / 2029 Report: Cangelosi brings “hitterish” qualities to every at-bat, showing natural barrel accuracy and the ability to impact games with one swing. The ball jumps off his bat with ease, and his offensive ceiling could end up being one of the louder ones in the class. Defensively, he is steady and reliable with smooth actions and confident hands. Cangelosi’s combination of offensive punch and defensive stability gives him strong upward mobility in the coming years.

Tate Lantz OF / LHP / Urbana High School, OH / 2029 Report: Lantz is an instinctive outfielder with real tracking ability and natural speed in the gaps. His reads and routes play ahead of his age, allowing him to cover ground and take away hits. Offensively, he shows athletic movements with room for the swing to grow as he adds strength. Lantz’s defensive value and athletic baseline make him a strong candidate to rise once the bat takes the next step.

Tyler Walder SS / OF / Marlington High School, OH / 2029 Report: Walder profiles as a true shortstop with advanced defensive actions and a calm, steady presence on the dirt. His footwork, glove skill, and arm accuracy already stand out. Offensively, he carries a foundation for a potential plus profile as he continues to grow into his body. Walder’s defensive certainty paired with an upward-trending bat makes him one of the safer long-term bets to climb into the rankings.

50 Freshman Follows

• Aaron Schromm – C – Archbishop Hoban
• Alexander Toler – RHP – Waverly
• Austin Krenzel – RHP – Dublin Jerome
• Aydan Hare – SS – Piqua
• Blake Hoover – OF – Wadsworth
• Boston Griffin – C – Lakota East
• Brooks Packanik – C – Dublin Coffman
• Bryce Messick – RHP – North Royalton
• Camden Kieft – SS – Turpin
• Camden Martin – SS – Jonathan Alder
• Cameron Schaefer – SS – St. Xavier
• Carson O’Connell – 3B – Jackson
• Carter Beck – SS – Saint John
• Cayden Conrad – 2B – Dublin Jerome
• Clayton Graley – 1B – Teays Valley
• Connor Bitler – SS – Archbishop Moeller
• Connor Chaney – SS – Mason
• Cooper Ailes – OF – Olentangy Berlin
• Cooper Rhoads – SS – Lakota West
• Desmond Parnell – OF – Archbishop Hoban
• Drew Hughes – OF – Jonathan Alder
• Dylan Moeves – C – St. Xavier
• Eli Fogle – 2B – Valley View
• Ezra Scheffler – SS – Butler
• Finn Fesler – RHP – Northmor
• Franco Remesch – OF – Saint Ignatius
• Grady Leach – OF – Ottoville
• Grayson Slabodnick – 3B – North Ridgeville
• Hudson Pauling – Cedarville
• Joe Stevens – OF – Canton Central Catholic
• Jonah Koret – SS – Mayfield
• Kaden Fleckenstein – OF – Badin
• Kale Pittser – 1B – CHCA
• Kayson Smith – SS – Bexley
• Kevin Klingerman – RHP – Columbus Academy
• Liam Bradley – RHP – Gahanna Lincoln
• Mason Abbey – SS – St. Ignatius
• Mason Pavolino – RHP – Westerville Central
• Matthew Clarke – C – Archbishop Moeller
• Max Griffin – OF – Olentangy
• Michael Cangelosi Jr – SS – Padua Franciscan
• Nolan Bailey – RHP – River Valley
• Nolan Beyer – RHP – St. Charles Prep
• Nolan Cordrey – C – Little Miami
• Randy Torres – 1B – St. Edward
• Roman Walz – RHP – Springboro
• Ryder Francis – 2B – Franklin
• Tate Lantz – OF – Urbana
• Tyler Richardson – OF – Archbishop Moeller
• Tyler Walder – SS – Marlington
• Victor Rodriguez Ortiz – 3B – Lutheran West

***** To view the entire rankings, please click here.