Top 10 Class of 2022 baseball players in Minneosta
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (BVM) – The MSHSL baseball season is underway and with just a month left before the playoffs begin, here are 10 seniors from the Class of 2022 to pay attention to.
1. Logan Olson, LHP/1B, Academy of Holy Angels
Olson enters his senior season as one of the main pitchers for Academy of Holy Angels. Last year as a junior, the left-handed pitcher had 55 strikeouts in 22 innings on the mound with an ERA of 0.64 and a WHIP of 1.32. He helped the Stars to a Section 3AAA semifinal appearance last season. According to Prep Baseball Report, he is the number one player in the state of Minnesota for the Class of 2022. Olson is committed to play baseball at the University of Oregon next year.
'22 Logan Olson @_loganolson, LHP, Holy Angels @AHABASEBALL – Lean, projectable frame. Works downhill from high 3/4 slot. Pounds zone, challenges hitter w/ offspeed. FB 84-85 T87. Plus CB 70-72 mph w/ solid depth @MINNESOTAMASH #TeamIAMNNE #PBRFutureGames pic.twitter.com/0nbbsuqkcA
— PBR Minnesota (@PBRMinnesota) August 4, 2020
2. Derrick Smith, RHP, White Bear Lake High School
Smith has been a bright spot for White Bear Lake High School ever since he first stepped on the mound. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed pitcher is committed to NC State and will be heading down to Raleigh to play in the ACC. His fastball is in the 90s and he has already thrown a no-hitter this season for the Bears. In that game, Smith had 11 strikeouts in the 10-0 victory. Last year, Smith had a similar outing in which he had 12 strikeouts in a 4-2 win over Park of Cottage Grove.
More strikeouts for Derrick Smith. 2022 White Bear Lake, MN. @DrockSmith22 @MNIcemen pic.twitter.com/I4rTOu8vRH
— D Sellman (@DeDeSellman) July 19, 2021
3. Maddox Mihalakis, SS, Hopkins High School
Mihalakis is considered the best shortstop in Minnesota by Perfect Game and is a University of Arizona commit. Last year, he helped Hopkins make it to the state tournament. In the sectional championship game against St. Louis, Mihalakis went 2-for-2 with a double and a homerun as well as four RBIs in the Royals’ 15-8 win. Hopkins lost in the state quarterfinals to Andover but with Mihalakis returning for his senior season the Royals will have a good chance at another run to the state tournament.
Maddox Mihalakis with an RBI triple. @PastimeAllScout @MaddoxMihalakis @StartersSportsT pic.twitter.com/cZmo4wkkSj
— Starters Sports Training (@StartersSportsT) June 19, 2020
4. Easton Fritcher, LHP/CF, Hayfield High School
The reigning Class A state champions have one of their best players returning for his senior season. Last year for the Vikings, Easton Fritcher had a .531 batting average with eight home runs, 52 runs scored and 48 RBIs. The Minnesota commit also went undefeated on the mound with an 11-0 record, a 1.55 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. In the state championship game last season against New York Mills, Fritcher pitched 5 ⅓ innings with seven strikeouts as well as getting a triple and a single at the plate.
Easton Fritcher (‘22, Hayfied, MN) did it all for @BlizzardBasebal in this one, tossing a CG shutout with 7 Ks and driving in the only run of the game to send his squad to the #WWBANorth Championship. Sat 80-83 with excellent feel for a CH (shown below) and CB @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/aJ9dz9lPcl
— PG Wisconsin and Minnesota (@PG_WiscMinn) July 19, 2021
5. Samuel Kennedy, RHP, North St. Paul High School
The Minnesota Golden Gopher commit is already off to a great start in his senior season at North St. Paul High School. Kennedy is 2-0 on the mound with 22 strikeouts in 11 innings and a 0.64 ERA. Kennedy also has two home runs and four RBIs. Last year for the Polars, Kennedy was a force on the mound and at the plate. The right-handed pitcher had 54 strikeouts in 32 innings and a 3.06 ERA while having a .451 batting average with three home runs.
‘22 Samuel Kennedy
North St. Paul @NSPbaseball @GopherBaseball commitNot ☝️ pic.twitter.com/tQ0PxovGi6
— PBR Minnesota (@PBRMinnesota) April 28, 2022
6. Blake Guerin, 1B, Mounds View High School
Guerin is one of the top prospects in the state of Minnesota for the Class of 2022 and is committed to play baseball at Iowa. The first baseman for Mounds View helped the Mustangs make it to the state tournament last year. Guerin has already helped the Mustangs get off to a great start this year. In a game against Cretin-Derham Hall, Guerin pitched six innings, giving up just two runs and getting 11 strikeouts as well as an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Blake Guerin (‘22, MN) just misses a HR w/ this ball off the LF wall. Extremely physical frame at 6-foot-7, 255-pounds. Generates massive pullside power. Barrel stays in the zone a long time leading frequently hard hit balls. @UIBaseball commit @PG_WiscMinn #MLKWest pic.twitter.com/WBhQMQ5iH6
— Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) January 16, 2022
7. Jeremy Bingesser, RHP, Pierz High School
After decommitting from East Carolina, Jeremy Bingesser announced he would be playing at Wichita State next year. Bingesser is considered one of the top pitchers in the Class of 2022 and proved it last year. As a junior, he went 5-1 on the mound with a 1.41 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 39 ⅔ innings. The Pioneers made it to the sectional championship last season and this year with Bingesser returning, they hope to make it to state. Already Bingesser has helped Pierz win. Against Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines, he had an RBI triple and against Little Falls, he went 2-3 with a double and two RBIs.
#Shockers commit (‘22,MN) Jeremy Bingesser of @BlizzardBasebal • 6’3 RHP up to 89 w/2100rpm and run, BB checks in at 78 w/2200rpm. Competing against a solid Scorps-Giants lineup here through 4IP #WorldInvite pic.twitter.com/snAFtkikJp
— Brando Centrone (@BcentronePS) September 11, 2021
8. Weber Neels, C, East Ridge High School
As a freshman at East Ridge High School, Neels helped the Raptors win a state championship. Last year, Neels was a part of an East Ridge team that went 14-9 and made it to the sectional championship. The Minnesota commit had a .303 batting average with 53 RBIs, 12 doubles and three home runs. As a catcher, Neel threw out nine of the 15 runners who tried to steal a base on him.
2022 3b @GopherBaseball commit Weber Neels (East Ridge HS, MN) sends a no doubter into the night for @NorthStar__BB @PBRMinnesota @CreeksideBase #GPFallChamps #PBRBombSquad #GrandSlam pic.twitter.com/uG0Kb2hJQK
— Kevin Moulder PBR (@PBR_Moulder) October 17, 2020
9. Kristofer Hokenson, LHP/OF, St. Louis Park High School
Hokenson is off to a great start this season with St. Louis Park. The Minnesota commit has a .462 batting average with a 1.281 OPS, one home run and six RBIs. His hot start is setting him up to have a better season than last year when he had one home run, 16 RBIs, 12 doubles with a .348 batting average. Last season, Hokenson was also 4-0 as a pitcher with 58 strikeouts in 31 innings. This year, he already has one win with 22 strikeouts in 11 ⅔ innings.
Kristofer Hokenson (‘22, MN) | OF
6-0/170 | L/LBP and Game swings from #MWSAworkout
• Feel for barrel
• bat path stays in zone
• handles velocity in game@GopherBaseball commit@KristoferHoken1 @NorthStar__BB @SLP_Baseball pic.twitter.com/3dSQ0w2FmY— Perfect Game Midwest Baseball (@PGMidwestBB) August 2, 2021
10. Drew Berkland, C, Wayzata High School
Berkland has had success in football and basketball at Wayzata throughout his high school career and now he is looking to end his senior year on a high note on the baseball diamond. The Minnesota commit had an impressive season for the Trojans as a junior with a .340 batting average, a .500 OBP, two home runs and 20 RBIs. The Trojans lost in the sectional semifinals but with Berkland returning, Wayzata has a chance to make a run this postseason.
2022 C/OF Drew Berkland bangs one off the wall in left center for @NorthStar__BB #TOC pic.twitter.com/u5tSeSytkL
— PBR Ohio Scouting Coverage (@PBROhioScout) August 8, 2020
