MaxPreps Top 50 baseball sophomores for 2013

By Kevin Askeland Mar 14, 2013, 12:00am

Young talent abounds, especially in California, as Kyle Molnar and Joe DeMers lead the way.

Kyle Molnar, following an outstanding freshman campaign last season, has been selected as the top sophomore of 2013 by MaxPreps.
Kyle Molnar, following an outstanding freshman campaign last season, has been selected as the top sophomore of 2013 by MaxPreps.
File photo by Rob Carmell
Pitchers dominate on the MaxPreps list of the Top 50 baseball sophomores in the nation, led by a pair of California throwers in Kyle Molnar of Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) and Joe DeMers of College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.).

Molnar holds down the No. 1 spot as he has been tabbed by several publications, including the Los Angeles Times, as the next big thing in high school baseball in Southern California. Already this season Molnar has 13 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched. Last year he was 5-3 with 27 strikeouts in 53.1 innings pitched. At 6-foot-2, Molnar is already throwing 91 mph.

Joe DeMers, College Park
Joe DeMers, College Park
File photo by Dennis Lee
DeMers, meanwhile, was the MaxPreps Freshman Player of the Year after posting a 9-2 record for College Park. He has yet to see the diamond this spring, however, as he has been instrumental in leading his team to the Division II Northern California basketball championships. DeMers ranks No. 3 on our list of top sophomores.

Other pitchers in the top five include Cole McKay of Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas) and Thomas Szapucki of Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).

McKay is ranked by Diamond King Tournaments as the top sophomore in the southwest. McKay, ranked No. 4 by MaxPreps, pitched only 24.1 innings last year, but he struck out 26 batters in those frames with a 1.91 ERA. McKay's big frame (6-5, 195) makes him a very projectable player. This year he already has 14 strikeouts in only 11 innings.



Szapucki, meanwhile, has thrown as hard as 93 mph and was named by the MLB Prospect Guide as the top high school pitcher for the 2015 amateur draft. He's the No. 5 player on the MaxPreps list.

The only non-pitcher in the top 5 is Dazmon Cameron, an outfielder for Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.). Cameron had a huge summer, performing well in showcases sponsored by Perfect Game. The MLB Prospect Guide ranks Cameron as the No. 1 overall pick for the 2015 draft while Perfect Game lists Cameron as the potential No. 3 overall high school selection.

Others in the top 10 include shortstop Nicholas Schumpert of Highlands Ranch (Colo.) at No. 6, pitcher Lucas Herbert of San Clemente (Calif.) at No. 7, outfielder Kyle Dean of Poway (Calif.) at No. 8, catcher Chris Betts of Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) at No. 9 and pitcher Jacob Bukauskas of Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.) at No. 10.

RankNamePosition
1Kyle MolnarAliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, CA)RHP, LF
2Dazmon CameronEagles Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, GA)OF
3Joe DeMersCollege Park (Pleasant Hill, CA)RHP, SS
4Cole MckaySmithson Valley (Spring Branch, TX)INF, P
5Thomas SzapuckiDwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)P
6Nicholas SchumpertHighlands Ranch (CO)SS
7Lucas HerbertSan Clemente (CA)C, INF
8Kyle DeanPoway (CA)OF
9Chris BettsWoodrow Wilson (Long Beach, CA)C
10Jacob BukauskasStone Bridge (Ashburn, VA)RHP, OF
11Brendan IlliesPuyallup (WA)C, RHP
12Austin MooreMarina (Huntington Beach, CA)RHP, INF
13Christopher CullenWest Forsyth (Cumming, GA)C
14Kyle TuckerPlant (Tampa, FL)RHP, OF
15Kep BrownWando (Mt. Pleasant, SC)OF
16Solemon BatesSerra (Gardena, CA)3B, P
17Jordon MyrowNotre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA)OF
18John AielloGermantown Academy (Fort Washington, PA)SS, 3B
19Nico HoernerHead-Royce (Oakland, CA)SS, RHP
20Chris AndritsosThe Woodlands (TX)P
21Kyle HattonNorco (CA)P, 1B
22Bailey FalterChino Hills (CA)LHP, 1B
23Dominic DicaprioDouglas (Parkland, FL)C, OF
24Luken BakerOak Ridge (Conroe, TX)RHP
25Nick MadrigalElk Grove (CA)SS, 2B
26Michael HickmanSeven Lakes (Katy, TX)C, OF
27Jarrett MontgomeryLawrence Central (Indianapolis, IN)RHP
28Jonathan IndiaAmerican Heritage (Delray Beach, FL)SS
29Jahmai JonesWesleyan (Norcross, GA)INF, OF
30Daniel ReyesMater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens, FL)OF
31Mitchell HansenPlano (TX)OF
32Brandon PerezMater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)SS
33Andreus FaltesekPearland (TX)RHP
34Jonathan OlsenDamien (La Verne, CA)RHP, SS
35Jio OrozcoSalpointe Catholic (Tucson, AZ)RHP
36Danny CasalsSouthwest (Miami, FL)INF
37Jagger RusconiWest Ranch (Valencia, CA)SS, 2B
38Nick AndersonFort Bend Kempner (Sugar Land, TX)2B, SS
39Kyle RobeniolLos Osos (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)P
40Cole SandsNorth Florida Christian (Tallahassee, FL)RHP, 3B
41Coby WeaverHallsville (TX)P, OF
42Charlie DonovanWestmont (IL)SS
43Parker KellyWestview (Portland, OR)SS
44Tyler WilliamsKellis (Glendale, AZ)OF
45Jake WoodfordPlant (Tampa, FL)RHP, 3B
46O'Neal LochridgeSt. Thomas More (Lafayette, LA)3B, SS
47Logan CrouseBloomingdale (Valrico, FL)P, OF
48Shane TuckerUnion Grove (McDonough, GA)RHP
49Ashe Brenton-RussellIndianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis, IN)RHP
50Logan TolbertMauldin (SC)SS, RHP