Top 10 Arizona high school baseball players in Class of 2023

7. Derek Schaefer, RHP, Cactus Shadows

Schaefer is a fast riser after an excellent summer which included a dominant performance at the Perfect Game Junior National Showcase. The slender right-handed pitcher has a fastball that gets up to 92 mph but it’s his breaking stuff – a slide, changeup and curveball – that rounds out his four-pitch arsenal and makes him arguably the top arm in the state. Schaefer and his 6-foot-2 frame are headed to Tennessee to help make up another strong incoming class for the Vols.

2023 RHP 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐤 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 had 19 Ks in 13 innings this summer against only 1 BB/7 H.

Why? He’s up to 94 with breaking balls at 24-2500 RPMs; it’s a 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 mix to hit. 🎥#Vols commit. @derekschaefer9 pic.twitter.com/Xd7GidOxda

— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) December 6, 2022