The national champion has been crowned and the All-American teams have been selected, which means the only thing left to do for the 2026 high school baseball season is to give a way-too-early look at the top 25 teams for 2027.
Way-too-early MaxPreps Top 25
1. Venice (Fla.), 32-2
In addition to the aforementioned Houston, Backman and Poplin, brother Kasen Poplin also returns in the rotation along with rising sophomore Macade Carey, who is ranked as one of the top pitchers in the Class of 2029. Starters Jonathan Mauro (C), Beau Daniels (1B) and R.J. Shields (OF) are also back, giving the Indians a stacked lineup.
2. Norco (Calif.), 28-5
The Cougars were a bit of a surprise last year as they posted wins over a number of Southern California powerhouses en route to a runner-up finish in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Norco ended the 2026 season at No. 10 in the MaxPreps Top 25. Shortstop Dylan Seward, the No. 1 prospect in the country in the Class of 2027 according to Perfect Game, returns to lead the Cougars along with MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Jose Ayala at pitcher. Ayala has reclassified to the Class of 2027 and leads a pitching staff that returns 14 wins. A total of 10 of the top 11 offensive players from 2026 return for the Cougars.
3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 26-6
The Wolverines are perennial national championship contenders and 2027 should be no different. Although MLB Draft pick James Tronstein has graduated, a number of players return, including MaxPreps Underclass All-Americans Justin Kirchner at pitcher and Louis Lappe in the infield. Ira Rootman, ranked among the top 100 players in the country by Perfect Game, also returns in the outfield. Eight of the top 10 offensive players return for coach Jared Halpert.
4. Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.), 20-16
After starting the season 2-6, Lincoln stormed to a Florida Class 5A state championship with a 5-4 win over Winter Park in the final. Eight of the top nine offensive players return for the Trojans, including shortstop Chase Fuller, who is ranked the No. 2 player in the nation by Perfect Game. Also back are all-area infielder Jayson Parker and second baseman Luke Thomas.
6. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.), 28-7
The Dons knocked off Southern Section Division 1 champion St. John Bosco in the first round of the Southern California Division 1 regional and also made a brief appearance in the MaxPreps Top 25 during the regular season. Cathedral Catholic returns a pair of All-American candidates in pitcher Jose Partida and outfielder Joshua Priest, the San Diego Section player of the year.
7. Merritt Island (Fla.), 25-7
Spent the better part of the 2026 season in the MaxPreps Top 25 but dropped out during the postseason. Merritt Island returns 11 of the top 12 offensive players from the past season along with 21 pitching victories. Leading the way is All-Space Coast Player of the Year Ty Brandes at shortstop along with leading pitcher Jesse Becter and infielder Liam Miller.
8. Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 34-6-1
The Leopards won their first state championship in baseball last year, beating Sharyland for the Conference 5A Division 2 title. A total of 10 of the top 15 offensive players return, including leading hitters Liam Quinlan and Reed Blakely in the outfield and MaxPreps Underclass All-American Tyler Scarborough on the mound.
9. Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 23-8
Class 6A finalists lose Kellan Tom but five starters return including all-conference picks Ben Jacobus, Colton Floyd and Conor Rae. The Aztecs return 14 pitching wins, including eight by Rae.
10. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 24-8
The Indians return the top two players in the state by Perfect Game in shortstop Malachi Butler and pitcher Chubb Jones. Ten of the top 12 offensive players return for the Indians along with 21 pitching victories.
11. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 26-7
The Red Raiders went to the National High School Invitational and went 2-2, including a win over national champion Trinity (Louisville, Ky.). While a state championship eluded Baylor, two MaxPreps Underclass All-Americans return in catcher Blake Lundy and shortstop Mac Morris. Lundy ranks as one of the top returning home run hitters in the nation with 32 in his career.
12. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 25-6
The Lancers won the National High School Invitational last season but finished second in the Trinity League and fell victim to No. 2 Norco in the postseason to end up at No. 12. While a number of players have graduated, that rarely seems to matter for the Lancers who simply reload every season. A pair of All-Trinity League first team members return in outfielder Richard Hurtado and infielder Jordan Kurz. A total of 17 lettermen from the 2026 team return.
13. Brother Rice (Chicago), 28-11
Along with MaxPreps National Junior of the Year Brady Cunningham, the Crusaders have five other starters returning from a team that went 11-3 in the Chicago Catholic Blue Conference. The pitching staff returns only 10 wins from last year but Cunningham may take more of a role on the mound next year than his 10 appearances as a junior.
14. Magnolia Heights (Senatobia, Miss.), 39-4-1
All-American Cole Prosek has graduated along with all-state infielder Christian Doty. But MaxPreps Underclass All-American Quincy Pratt returns behind the plate to lead the Chiefs. A total of seven players who appeared in 15 games return along with 17 pitching wins.
15. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 23-5
Got off to a rough start in 2026 after self-reporting team rule violations and forfeiting three games. The Spartans also played the entire season without injured shortstop Tyler Spangler, who was taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. De La Salle still managed to capture a North Coast Section championship. Five starters return, including leading hitter Ben Hayden (.459) and undefeated pitcher Cooper Barnes (7-0).
16. Delbarton (Morristown, N.J.), 28-4
The Green Wave dominated New Jersey competition, going 25-1 against in-state opponents. Delbarton also went 2-2 at the National High School Invitational and had a win over Non-Public B champion Gloucester Catholic. Fourteen players return from the Non-Public A championship team including rising senior outfielder Finnian O’Loughlin, the state’s top-rated player in the Class of 2027 by Perfect Game, and rising junior Parker Klug, the state’s top-rated player in the Class of 2028.
17. North Paulding (Dallas, Ga.), 32-8
Spent time in the MaxPreps Top 25 during the season and had a pair of wins over Etowah early on before eventually losing to the Eagles in the AAAAAA state final. North Paulding returns 14 lettermen from the 2026 season, including all-state players Skyler Lee (C) and Chance Williams (P) and all-region players J.R. Hoffman (P), Jacob Krivanek (OF) and Wesley Moering (IF).
18. Stony Brook (N.Y.), 26-3
The Bears won the Mid-Atlantic Private School championship for the second straight year. Stony Brook lost shortstop Aiden Ruiz to the MLB Draft but over half the starting lineup returns. Players ranked among the top 100 in New York by Perfect Game include Vaughn Steinert (1B), Mateo Lopez (3B), and Colin Raymond (OF).
19. Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.), 28-7
Knocked off Metrolina Academy for the NCISAA 4A state championship and coach Reid Fronk returns seven of the top nine offensive players. The Knights figure to be a powerhitting club in 2027 as seven players who combined for 32 home runs also return. Leading the way are MaxPreps Underclass All-American Derek Vazquez and all-state selection Jacob Reynolds.
20. Corona (Calif.), 24-9
Six Corona players have been selected in the MLB Draft the past two seasons, the most by any high school team in the nation. The Panthers could add a few more in 2027 as they return five of the top nine offensive players from 2026 along with six of the top seven pitchers, totaling 20 wins. Pitcher Mason Sims and third baseman Danny De La Torre could add to the list of drafted players in 2027.
21. Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 13-21
Both Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report list two-time MaxPreps Underclass All-American Luke Esquivel
as a transfer to Southlake Carroll. Formerly at Grapevine, Esquivel led
the team to a state title as a freshman but the Mustangs were banned
from the postseason last year after ineligible player violations were
reported. Esquivel gives the Dragons one of the nation’s top two-way
players. The Dragons were extremely young last year with as many as
eight sophomores in the starting lineup. Yet Larry Vucan’s club made the
postseason for the 28th straight season. All-district outfielder Cam Dean returns along with shortstop Matthew Heredia, the district newcomer of the year.
22. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 24-7
Finished second in the Mission League behind Harvard-Westlake and had a win over Southern California Regional champion Huntington Beach. Sierra Canyon is particularly strong in the junior class where shortstop Theo Swafford and outfielder Dru Wilson are ranked among the top three players in the state. Rising sophomores Jordan Leon and Alexander Scott are ranked No. 3 and 4 in the state by Perfect Game.
23. Liberty (Bakersfield, Calif.), 25-8
Return 21 pitching wins and 10 of the top 14 offensive players from a team that won the Central Section Division 1 championship. Liberty belted 62 home runs last year and 41 of them return, including MaxPreps All-American Brogan Witcher with 14 and MaxPreps Underclass All-American Pierce Buckey with 12.
24. Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), 34-6-1
The Lions won their final 24 games of the season to claim the Division II-AA state championship. All-state pitcher Bo Holloway has graduated but seven of nine starters return. Leading the way is rising junior catcher Jack Rhodes, who is ranked No. 1 in the state by Perfect Game. The Lions also return Crew Chance, who earned All-MidState as a sophomore.
25. Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.), 22-12
The Titans figure to have one of the top outfields in the nation led by All-American candidates Caden Dawson and Aidan Pack. Although MaxPreps All-American Jose Contreras has graduated, the junior class contains five of the top 100 players in the state according to Perfect Game, including Region 6-4A Offensive Player of the Year Gavin Greene.
