MaxPreps 2017 Minnesota preseason high school baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Minnetonka will challenge defending champion Wayzata, while Woodbury, Lakeville North and Burnsville fight for the top ranking in the Minnesota baseball #MaxPrepsFab5.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
By
Feb 27, 2017, 10:00pm
Video: Sam Thoresen highlights vs. Chaska
Thoresen is one of the top returning players for Minnetonka.

2017 Minnesota Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Minnetonka
Head coach: Paul Twenge
2016 record: 17-9

The Skippers did not reach the state tournament last year, but they return a number of players who are ranked among the top players in Minnesota by Perfect Game. Returning righthander Jimmy Ramsey is the No. 2 player in the state and he is joined on the pitching staff by Samuel Thoresen and Nate Shoemaker.

See last season's Minnesota baseball computer rankings

2. Burnsville
Head coach: Mike Scholl
2016 record: 22-5

Burnsville won the consolation championship at the Class AAAA state tournament last year after losing in the opening round to Woodbury. The Blaze return the state's top player, according to Perfect Game, in pitcher Sam Carlson. He has already committed to Florida and has been clocked with a fastball over 90 mph.

See the MaxPreps Minnesota baseball pro photo galleries

3. Lakeville North
Head coach: Tony Market
2016 record: 21-7
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
The Panthers reached the Class AAAA semifinals, but fell to eventual champion Wayzata and lost in the fourth-place game to Woodbury. Lakeville North returns starting pitcher Ross Bastyr, and shortstop Tyler Fietek, along with one of the state's top juniors in catcher Nicholas Juaire.

See last season's MaxPreps Minnesota baseball playoff brackets

4. Wayzata (Plymouth)
Head coach: Bobby DeWitt
2016 record: 23-3

The Trojans captured the Class AAAA state championship last year for the first time in school history by beating Champlin Park in the finals. Wayzata has one of the state's top players in Will Oberg, who is one of the top-ranked seniors by Perfect Game.

See last season's MaxPreps Minnesota baseball stat leaders

5. Woodbury
Head coach: Kevin McDermott
2016 record: 24-4

The Royals finished in third place in the Class AAAA tournament, losing to Champlin Park in the semifinals and beating Lakeville North for third. One of the state's top position players returns or Woodbury in shortstop Max Meyer. He batted .436 with a team-high 18 RBIs and two home runs last year.

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