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Updated Class of 2028 Player Rankings (September)

Throughout the summer 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.

As summer sports come to an end and the new school season is upon us, we will take a look at "What's New at the Top", "Notable Newcomers”, "Summer Showcase Standouts", "Prospects To Look At This Fall", and a look some of the top uncommitted prospects by position.

To view the Class Rankings, click below:

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

To view the Prospect Reports, click below:

• Uncommitted Spotlights | Commitment Insider | Overall News

To view the entire Class of 2028 rankings, please click here.

What's New In The Top 10

Carter Shouse OF / LHP / Bishop Fenwick High School, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 18 / POS: 7 Report: Shouse holds firm at No. 1 in Ohio’s 2028 class, standing out as a physical, athletic left-handed bat with advanced tools across the board. At 6-foot and already well-built, he shows the ability to consistently find the barrel with impact, driving the ball to all fields with emerging power. A versatile defender who can handle both the outfield and first base, Shouse also flashes promise on the mound as a left-handed arm. With a balanced mix of present production, polish, and long-term projection, he continues to separate himself as a premier prospect in the class.

Landon Echelberry RHP / 3B / Oregon Clay, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 21 / POS: 3 Report: Echelberry sits at No. 2 in the 2028 class and has every bit the look of a frontline arm. The big right-hander’s frame jumps out right away, and the stuff matches — the fastball already works into the upper-80s with plenty more in the tank. He spins a tight breaking ball and flashes a changeup, giving him a real starter’s mix at a young age. There’s some polish to go with the raw tools, and the competitiveness on the mound stands out just as much as the arsenal. Echelberry is the type you circle early as a guy who could keep climbing the national ranks and turn into a high-end arm down the road.

Jakob Groeschel OF / RHP / Kenton Ridge High School, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 46 / POS: 13 Report: Groeschel checks in at No. 3 in the 2028 class, and it’s all about athleticism and twitch. At 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, he’s quick-twitch in everything he does. The actions in the field are fast, the bat speed jumps, and he’s got the type of first step that changes games defensively. The swing is short and whippy with barrel accuracy, and there’s sneaky juice that will only grow as he fills out.

Notable Newcomers

Anderson Mounts OF / 1B / Massillon Jackson, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 32 / POS: 4 Report: At 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, Anderson Mounts fits the mold of a high-upside prospect with plenty of room to grow into his frame. He’s a fluid athlete who moves well for his size, and the leverage in his swing already produces loud results. Mounts registered a 95.6 mph exit velocity at the Underclass Games this summer, and the ball jumps differently off his bat when he connects. The frame, athleticism, and early production have started to draw significant attention this fall at college team camps, making him a name to follow closely as he continues to mature.

Kooper Leatherman C / 3B / Liberty-Benton High School, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 51 / POS: 10 Report: Leatherman posted a strong freshman season at Liberty-Benton, hitting .400 with a .500 OBP and .573 SLG across 30 hits, including 11 doubles and a triple, while driving in 32 runs. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, he brings physicality to the box with developing gap-to-gap power and the ability to drive the baseball with authority. Behind the plate, he shows a solid defensive foundation — blocking well, controlling the run game with arm strength, and demonstrating the ability to handle a pitching staff. His summer with the State Line Stars included an uptick in extra-base hits, with multiple home runs that point to continued offensive growth.

Sam Griffiths 3B / RHP / Avon High School, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 49 / POS: 5 Report: Griffiths is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound two-way prospect whose size and athletic build immediately stand out. On the mound, he shows the ingredients of a high-upside arm with a clean delivery, looseness, and plenty of room to add strength, projecting for significant jumps in the coming years. At the plate, the right-handed swing generates leverage and carry off the barrel, with flashes of gap power that should continue to grow as he fills out. With his frame, athleticism, and two-way potential, Griffiths profiles as one of the more intriguing long-term prospects in the class.

Summer Showcase Standouts

Peyton Drabick SS / RHP / CVCA, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 2 Report: Drabick has been making noise this fall at college camps, drawing strong feedback from evaluators. A quality athlete with a bright future on the mound, he shows a loose arm and a fastball with traits that stand out for his age. While he’ll continue to contribute as a two-way player for now, the upside on the mound gives him a chance to separate himself in the long run.

Bryce Besgrove LHP / OF / Oregon Clay, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 19 / POS: 2 Report: Besgrove, a 6-foot, 180-pound left-hander, sits in the mid-80s and leans on his competitiveness every time he takes the mound. He’s aggressive in the zone, not afraid to challenge hitters, and shows the toughness to pitch through jams. The arm has some effort to it, but his ability to compete and consistently go after lineups makes him a difficult matchup.

Evan Thacker LHP / 1B / Olentangy Liberty, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 1 Report: Thacker, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound left-hander, stands out for his advanced pitchability at a young age. He showed the ability to navigate and shut down some of the best lineups in the country this summer, mixing his arsenal with confidence and feel. The frame is long and lean with plenty of room to add strength, and as the body fills out, there’s significant upside for the velocity and overall stuff to make a jump. A poised strike-thrower now with projection still to come, Thacker is a lefty to watch closely moving forward.

Prospects To Look At This Fall

Parker Alix C / SS / Dublin Jerome High School, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 25 / POS: 5 Report: Alix brings a physical 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame with tools that fit a middle-of-the-order profile. The right-handed bat is strong through contact, producing carry to both gaps with signs of emerging power. Defensively, he shows arm strength that plays behind the plate and the athleticism to handle infield reps when needed. With his build and present strength, Alix projects as a run producer who can impact the game on both sides of the ball.

Jake Bauer LHP / OF / Jonathan Alder High School, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 55 / POS: 5 Report: Bauer, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound left-hander, has started to draw attention this fall with a fastball sitting 81–84 mph and a breaking ball spinning north of 2400 RPM. The lean, athletic frame suggests more velocity is on the way as he continues to develop physically. With his ability to spin it and the projection in the body, Bauer is an arm trending up in the 2028 class.

Remy Trautner SS / RHP / New Albany, OH / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 62 / POS: 15 Report: Trautner profiles as a steady defender up the middle, showing reliable actions and the ability to stay on the dirt. At the plate, he brings an advanced approach with a gap-to-gap power profile, using efficient moves to the ball and consistent barrel control. The combination of dependable defense and a polished offensive skill set makes him a well-rounded prospect to follow.

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