Top 10 North Carolina baseball players in Class of 2022
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (BVM) — As the regular season for baseball winds down in North Carolina, the state’s best players from the Class of 2022 prepare for either the playoffs or the next steps in their careers. Whether that means college ball or perhaps hearing their names called in the upcoming MLB Draft, these players have a bright future ahead of them.
While there are players across the state, these North Carolina baseball players are the Top 10 prospects from the Class of 2022.
1. Ryan Clifford – 1B/OF, Pro5 Academy
Clifford continues to be the top prospect in North Carolina, bringing his batting average up from .330 his junior season to .369 so far in his senior season at Pro5 Academy. He has continued his progression from when he was named the Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year as a sophomore at Leesville Road High School. He already equaled his 2021 totals of seven doubles and six home runs so far with 44 fewer plate appearances. The Vanderbilt commit has 20 runs scored, 15 RBIs, and has drawn 13 walks so far in his senior season.
Clifford’s bat speed and strength shine when he pulls the ball from his left-handed batter’s box. He is smooth in the outfield and has good footwork, allowing him to show off his arm strength with accurate throws.
OF/1B Ryan Clifford's second bomb in two days. Showing off the all-fields power with an oppo taco here.#mlbdraft | #PBRBombSquad@PrepBaseballNC | @prepbaseball | @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/5wSvmPDAJP
— Nathan Rode (@NathanRode) April 5, 2022
2. Eli Serrano – OF, Pro5 Academy
Serrano snagged Co-MVP honors at the 2021 World Wood Bat Association U17 tournament, helping lead Canes National to the title game and hit a two-run home run despite Canes National coming up just short. That success launched Serrano’s senior season success, going .413 at the plate in his first 16 games of the season, up from .280 his junior season.
He already matched his five doubles from junior year despite 60 fewer plate appearances so far while hitting four home runs to his three all of last season. He also has 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored while adding on seven walks.
No doubt NC State is looking forward to getting this hard-hitting outfielder with a big arm on campus next season.
Eli Serrano (22 NC) this ball got out in a hurry. The missile LD HOMERUN was one of three hits on the day, he also walked twice. Really coordinated for the long limbs and the loose swing projects big. Lots of power potential remaining. #PGHS #NCState commit @PGAllAmerican pic.twitter.com/SztYrs0LKV
— Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) March 13, 2022
3. Brock Wills – MIF, Holly Springs
Wills has been a terror on the basepaths for opposing pitchers, stealing 30 bases in his first 18 games. He’s batting .340 with three doubles, two triples, and 25 runs scored. His season has helped lead Holly Springs to second place in the Southwest Wake 4A conference.
He committed to continuing his career in-state with UNC-Wilmington. He is a two-sport athlete as well, winning the Southwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a quarterback.
SS Brock Wills gets the hands in here for a base hit to CF. #mlbdraft | @PrepBaseballNC | @prepbaseball | @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/8jhKuwWart
— Nathan Rode (@NathanRode) April 5, 2022
4. Michael Gupton – OF, Rolesville
Gupton’s Twitter display name simply says “f a s t e s t.” He has the proof to back it up, too. At the 2021 Perfect Game National Showcase, he set the event record (and personal best) 60-yard dash with a mind-blowing 5.96. However, he is not just a track star playing baseball, he is one of the best players in the state of North Carolina. In his junior season, Gupton went .324 at the plate with 12 runs scored, seven RBIs, one double, three triples, and one home run in 13 games.
Gupton improved his power in his senior season, hitting three home runs in 20 games so far to go with three doubles, nine RBI, and 18 runs scored so far.
NC State will be getting a player that will terrorize opposing pitchers on the basepaths that is improving greatly at the plate and in the field.
Michael Gupton (@GuptonMichael) made it from home to third in 11.4 seconds on this triple 😳
The NC State commit is one of 30+ 2022 draft standouts you need to know this fall.
Here's why: https://t.co/pH7tYq8fSw pic.twitter.com/vy75cDtzxs
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 19, 2021
5. Eli Jerzembeck – RHP, Providence
Jerzembeck made his commitment to the University of South Carolina official when he signed his National Letter of Intent in December 2021. All he has done for Providence since then is go 8-0 as a starter and chip in one save to help his team to a perfect season so far and a number one ranking in the state per MaxPreps. He has posted a 0.27 ERA while compiling 115 strikeouts to only nine walks.
Jerzembeck’s fastball has gotten better his senior year, but he isn’t a one-pitch guy. His curveball has a lot of movement that gets opposing batters to chase.
Another banger curveball? You got it.
Eli Jerzembeck (NC) sat 87-89 T90 on the FB with ASR, flashed a CH @ 81, but his CB is a hammer in the mid-high 70's. Spin rates approaching 3,000 RPM's. Could end up being a plus pitch. #PGNational pic.twitter.com/kiZIBJkepi
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) July 18, 2021
6. Jackson Humphries – LHP, Fuquay-Varina
Humphries finished his junior campaign going 4-1 with eight appearances. He pitched 34 innings with 74 strikeouts to 25 walks. He allowed only six hits all season. The Campbell University commit upped his game so far in his senior season, appearing six times on the mound with a 5-0 record. In 23 innings pitched, he has struck out 29, walked 13, and scattered 20 hits.
At the 2021 PrepBaseballReport Top Prospect Games, Humphries had his fastball top out at 92 mph, but so far in 2022, he’s gotten it up to a high of 95 and averaging just over 91.
Jackson Humphries has looked good through 2. FB has some run and has sat 89-92, bumped a 94 in the first. FB command has been good, not great. SL has good shape at 82-83 with some bite, CB at 79 with 1/7 shape and bite. Has struck out 3, all on heaters, one walk. pic.twitter.com/nbgRcPQFkw
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 14, 2022
7. Xavier Issac – 1B/OF/RHP, East Forsyth
Forsyth’s junior season may have gotten cut short due to a leg injury, but he posted a .385 average in five games with a double, a home run, three RBIs, five runs scored, and five walks. He pitched in one game, earning the save with one inning pitched, no hits or runs, a strikeout, and a walk.
As of April 22, he has a .560 batting average with six doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 23 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 22 walks, and only seven strikeouts. He has pitched in 1.1 inning over two games for a 1-1 record with no hits, one run, four walks, and three strikeouts.
With no lingering concerns from his leg injury, he committed to the University of Florida Gators.
Xavier Isaac launches the 1st pitch of the game way over the CF wall@EFEaglebaseball pic.twitter.com/NTydSlXCMq
— PBR North Carolina (@PrepBaseballNC) April 26, 2022
8. Calvert Clark – RHP, Charlotte Christian
Clark has been a force both on the mound and at the plate for Charlotte Christian his senior season, the team ranked second in the state per MaxPreps. He has posted a .268 average in 27 games with 21 RBIs, five doubles, one triple, five home runs, 29 runs scored, and walked 27 times.
On the mound, the Clemson commit has pitched 44 innings with a 0.95 ERA, scattering 27 hits, 17 walks, and six earned runs to go with 75 strikeouts.
Clark can be an asset for Clemson both at the plate and on the mound as a two-way player going forward.
2022 Calvert Clark | @CCSBaseball5 @ClemsonBaseball commit
FB- 89-92/93
CB- 73-76 (2500 spin) pic.twitter.com/tSPPFUR20I— PBR North Carolina (@PrepBaseballNC) April 2, 2022
9. Isaiah Lowe – RHP, Combine Academy
Lowe, a Wake Forest University commit, has put on a show at Combine for his senior year. He has a 0.97 ERA over 36.1 innings pitched, scattering 14 hits and 20 walks while striking out 64. While at the Perfect Game National Showcase in 2021, he got up to 94 mph on his fastball.
His performance on the mound has helped Combine Academy to an 11-1-1 record so far and the team is ranked fourth in the state per MaxPreps.
Isaiah Lowe (‘22 NC) has been impressive today. Working @ 90-91, touching 2-3, CH showing plus & SL flashing AA if not better. #Wake commit. #PGShowdown #PGDraft pic.twitter.com/q7sVG2PWx6
— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) March 26, 2022
10. Brooks Brannon – C/OF, Randleman
Brannon etched his name in the North Carolina record books and his senior season is still going. He broke the record for most RBIs in a season, and he still has more regular-season games and the playoffs to go. He moved ahead of a tie at 62, a mark hit in 2018 by Royce Peterson from Murphy and in 2011 by Alex Tedford of T.C. Roberson. While they took full seasons, he had 64 RBIs in 21 games. His play is a big reason why Randleman is ranked fifth in the state by MaxPreps.
Not only is Brannon getting his teammates across the plate, but he is also batting .600 through 21 games, has seven doubles, two triples, and 14 home runs.
No doubt UNC is looking forward to adding Brannon’s slugging at the plate next season.
Congratulations to one of the hardest working kids of all time! Brooks Brannon now owns the single season RBI record for the state of NC. @TigerNation_RHS @PrepBaseballNC @SportsToneNet @LexDispatch_md @bhallwfmy #Randlewin pic.twitter.com/8UDWobGn24
— Randleman Baseball (@RhsBaseball336) April 20, 2022
