SBLive's Arkansas class of 2024 high school baseball prospects rankings

Today, we introduce our first overall player rankings for baseball. Later, we will also roll out our top 20 players for class of 2025 and 2026. The class of 2024 is very deep, especially on the mound, with 12 pitchers making the list. Rankings are based on a multitude of factors including production in high school and summer ball and projection at the next level. If you have a player you would like us to consider, please email me at coachkbo21@gmail.com. 

1. Slade Caldwell OF Valley View Ole Miss 

Caldwell has been the top player in the state since starting for the Blazers as a freshman. He has all the tools to be a draft pick next July so he will have a decision to make. Caldwell hit .512 with 20 extra base hits and 40 stolen bases last spring.

2. Lance Davis RHP Valley View Arkansas

Davis has the 6-foot-4 4 frame scouts dream about. When you add a fastball in the 91-93 MPH range, you have a lethal weapon. Davis transferred to Valley View in the off-season to give the Blazers another weapon as they aim for their fourth straight title game appearance.

3. Jackson Kircher OF/RHP LR Christian Oklahoma

Kircher was under the radar for most of 2023, then he went 6-for-8 with three triples and was clocked at 93 MPH on the mound in a save situation against Maumelle to clinch a conference championship. He committed to Oklahoma a week later and is a legit two-way prospect.

4. Ross Felder RHP Har-Ber Arkansas

Felder was the first 2024 commit for the Razorbacks and has gotten better each year. He was named the 6A Championship game MVP as Har-Ber won their second title in school history. Felder was 10-0 with 109 strikeouts and a 0.56 earned run average in 2023.

5. Steele Eaves RHP Lonoke Arkansas

Eaves has been the workhorse for Lonoke the past two seasons. In 2023, he led the state with 134 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. He was 13-0 leading the Jackrabbits to the 2023 4A championship. Eaves is a great student as well earning an academic scholarship to Arkansas.

6. Kel Busby RHP PA Arkansas

Busby would likely be higher on the list had he been healthy last spring. After winning a 6A championship in football, Busby had elbow surgery and missed most of the spring. When he is on the mound, he is almost unhittable. He beat Lonoke in 2022 leading the Bruins to the state tournament.

7. Tag Andrews RHP Maumelle Arkansas

Andrews made national headlines throwing a no-hitter at one of Perfect Game’s most prestigious events as a freshman. He has been the ace of a very talented Maumelle staff the last two seasons and helped the Hornets to the semi-finals last spring.

8. Lawson Ward C Valley View Arizona State

Ward recently committed to the Sun Devils after originally committing to the home state Razorbacks. A pitching staff is only good as their backstop, and Ward is the best in the state behind the plate. He can get it done at the plate as well, hitting .424 with 38 RBI in 2023.

9. Eli Crecelius RHP Valley View Arkansas

Crecelius has started the state championship game on the mound for the Blazers the last two seasons. He has gotten the ball every time against the best competition and Coach Josh Allison knows the Blazers are in good hands with Crecelius on the mound. Crecelius was 8-1 with 93 strikeouts over 61.2 innings in 2023.

10. Nolan Belcher C Walnut Ridge Arkansas State

Belcher has great baseball genes with his father and head coach, Jason, having played at the professional level. Nolan is making his own name for the Bobcats as he hit .489 with 17 extra bas hits and 41 RBI in 2023.

11. Cole Spears INF Lonoke Neosho (Mo.) Community College

Spears would have likely hit 20 home runs in 2023 had he been healthy the entire season. He had to settle for 10 to go along with his 40 RBI while slugging .918. He is a versatile athlete that can play either corner infield spot. I expect another double-digit home run total for Spears in 2024.

12. Brooks Ward OF Catholic Air Force

2023 was a banner year for Ward. He earned all-state honors in football leading the Rockets in receiving as they advanced to the 6A semi-finals. Ward then turned in his best high school season on the diamond hitting .478 while slugging .874. Ward is also one of the best defensive outfielders in the state with above average speed.

13. Aden Velasquez RHP Cabot UCA

I think Velasquez has as much upside as anyone on the list. He had 14 extra base hits and a .421 batting average while also leading the 7A Central champions on the mound with 64 strikeouts and a 1.17 earned run average over 46 innings.

14. Gideon Motes LHP Bryant Michigan

Six-foot-three lefthanded pitchers are very rare. They are at the top of every professional scout’s list and Motes has the potential to pitch for a long time. Motes is the ace of a Bryant staff that has another power 5 commit and expectations are very high for 2024 with new head coach Garrett Bock leading the Hornets.

15. Parker Morris LHP Rogers Heritage Wichita State

You will hear the name Parker Morris a lot this spring. Morris had an outstanding summer as his fastball jumped up to 91 MPH to go along with his very good curveball. Morris committed to Wichita State in July after impressing coaches at multiple events.

16. Jaxson Ingle OF Lonoke UCA

There was one home run hit in the six state championship games played at UCA in May. Ingle, at 5-foot-8 and 165, was the player to hit that home run over the right field wall in route to the Jackrabbits winning the 4A title. He dominated on the mound as well for Lonoke going 6-0 with three saves. He struck out 86 hitters while only allowing 14 walks.

17. Pierce Yates RHP Prescott Kansas State

Yates is a two-sport star and earned all-state honors last spring leading Prescott to the second round of the state tournament. Yates had one of the best performances of the post season with a 14 strikeout one-hitter over Elkins. Yates has a chance to have a big spring for Prescott before heading to Manhattan, Kan. for college.

18. Jackson Privett RHP Pocahontas UALR

Privett earned SBLive First Team All Arkansas last spring as the ace for Pocahontas. He had 101 strikeouts over 56 innings. He had a 0.62 earned run average and only allowed 25 hits.

19. Tripp Sullivan LHP Lonoke LSU-Eunice

Sullivan was 6-1 with 76 strikeouts over 32 innings pitched for Lonoke last spring. Teams only hit .100 against him which led the pitching staff and was one of the best in the state. Look for Sullivan to come back this spring with a renewed focus as he has worked extremely hard in the offseason to improve command.

20. Cutter Colvert INF Lonoke Neosho CC

Colvert quietly had one of the best seasons offensively in the state last year earning SBLive First Team All Arkansas honors after hitting .453 with 12 doubles and 34 RBI. He was also probably the most underrecruited player in the 2024 class, but this fall he found a home at junior college powerhouse Neosho CC.