Top 20 high school shortstops entering the 2023 baseball season

Expect these 20 shortstops to excel on a national level this season

Austin Phillips photo by Robbie Rakestraw

High school baseball has begun in several states across the nation.

Earlier this month we featured 20 pitchers and hitters expected to be among the best in the nation in 2023. Then we began taking a position-by-position look at some of the country’s top high school baseball players, starting with standouts behind the plate and then going to first basemen and third basemen.

Now it's time to highlight one of the most star-studded positions in the game at every level, from little league to the big leagues. Here are 20 shortstops to watch entering the 2023 high school baseball season.

Note: Many high school baseball players excel at multiple positions. Don't be alarmed to see an ace pitcher listed here as a shortstop, for example.

Dean Carpentier, sr., Huntington Beach (California)

Carpentier rounds out one of the top infields in the country for nationally-ranked Huntington Beach, along with first baseman Ralphy Velazquez and third baseman Colby Turner. The 6-foot-3 senior won’t be going far to play college baseball, as he committed to USC in August.

Roch Cholowksy, sr., Hamilton (Arizona)

On a loaded Hamilton squad ranked No. 7 in the country entering the 2023 season, Cholowsky might be the top prospect. He’s a magician with his glove and led Hamilton with 35 hits last season. The UCLA signee was also a three-star quarterback with a dual-sport offer from Notre Dame.

Bryce Clavon, jr., Kell (Georgia)

A top 15 prospect nationally in the junior class, according to Perfect Game, Clavon can truly do it all. Currently uncommitted, he’s also gaining buzz as a quarterback and a potential two-sport prospect for one lucky college.

Colt Emerson, sr., John Glenn (Ohio)

One of the nation’s top hitters heading into the 2023 season, Emerson batted. 459 last year with 39 hits, 12 doubles and five home runs. The left-handed slugger signed with Auburn but has a great chance of starting his professional career later this year.

Theo Gillen, jr., Westlake (Texas)

Gillen isn’t just one of the best middle infielders in the Lone Star state. He’s the No. 5 junior in the country at his position, according to Perfect Game. The speedster committed to the Texas Longhorns in November.

Blake Grimmer, sr., St. Mary’s Prep (Michigan)

Grimmer played a large role in St. Mary’s perfect season (44-0) capped off with a Division 1 state title in June. The Tennessee signee batted .343 with 11 doubles and eight homers last year for St. Mary’s, which enters the season on a 66 game win streak and ranked No. 8 in the country.

Ethan Holliday, soph., Stillwater (Oklahoma)

The son of former MLB all-star Matt Holliday and younger brother of the first overall pick in the 2022 draft Jackson Holliday, Ethan is quickly making a name for himself as a multi-tool prospect. The left-handed slugger is the No. 1 sophomore in the country, according to Perfect Game.

Colin Houck, sr., Parkview (Georgia)

With over 6,000 career passing yards at Parkview, Houck held offers to play college football but chose to focus on baseball moving forward. The Mississippi State signee crushed 15 home runs with a .412 batting average last year for the Panthers, who open the 2023 season ranked No. 3 in the country.

Camden Kozeal, sr., Millard South (Nebraska)

Kozeal rakes from the left side of the plate and makes an impact with his speed. The 5-foot-11 Vanderbilt signee batted .433 last season with 42 RBIs, six homers and 18 stolen bases.

George Lombard Jr., sr., Gulliver Prep (Florida)

Widely considered one of the nation’s top high school prospects in the country, Lombard Jr.’s father (and namesake) is a former second round pick who is now the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers. Fans voted the Vanderbilt signee Lombard Jr. the top baseball player in Florida heading into the 2023 season after he batted .360 with nine home runs as a junior.

Roman Martin, sr., Servite (California)

Scouts love Martin’s ability to make tough plays at shortstop and put up impressive numbers at the plate. The UCLA signee was named to SBLive California’s 2023 preseason all-state team after batting .422 with six doubles, two triples and two home runs as a junior.

Kevin McGonigle, sr., Monsignor Bonner (Pennsylvania)

McGonigle is expected to be a first round pick and one of the first high school players taken in this year’s MLB Draft. Fans recently voted the Auburn signee will be the top hitter in the nation this season. The left-handed hitter posted a .506 batting average last year with 11 home runs.

Aidan Miller, sr., JW Mitchell (Florida)

The nation’s No. 4 overall player in the class of 2023, according to Perfect Game, Miller shines at the plate and in the field. The Arkansas signee is projected to go top 10 in the 2023 MLB draft, with MLB.com slotting him at No. 9 to the Colorado Rockies in a recent mock draft.

Arjun Nimmala, sr., Strawberry Crest (Florida)

A true five-tool prospect, Nimmala possesses the rare combination of speed and power in addition to being smooth with his glove. He’ll soon have to decide whether he wants to play college baseball at Florida State or begin his professional career, as he’s projected to hear his name called in one of the first couple rounds of this year’s draft.

Owen Paino, jr., Ketcham (New York)

A dangerous left-handed slugger, Piano has been playing at the varsity level for Ketcham since he was a seventh grader. The 6-foot-3 Ole Miss commit finished his sophomore year with a .442 batting average.

Austin Phillips, jr., South Grand Prairie (Texas)

As a sophomore last year at South Grand Prairie, Phillips batted .400 with 10 doubles, four homers and 21 RBIs. The Oklahoma commit also showcased his speed on the base paths, swiping 15 bags and scoring 43 runs.

Cooper Pratt, sr., Magnolia Heights (Mississippi)

Pratt is ranked No. 31 among players eligible to be drafted in 2023, both high school and college, per MLB.com. The 6-foot-4 righty finished his junior year with a .453 batting average, 23 doubles and three home runs.

Jarren Purify, sr., University Liggett (Michigan)

Purify has been making plays on the national stage since his days representing the Great Lakes region in the 2018 Little League World Series. The Clemson signee is now the top shortstop and No. 1 overall recruit in Michigan for the class of 2023, according to Perfect Game.

Bryce Rainer, jr., Harvard-Westlake (California)

The nation’s No. 1 shortstop in the class of 2024, according to Perfect Game, Rainer batted .391 with five home runs last season. The Texas commit is also expected to hop on the mound for the nationally-ranked Wolverines this year after being unable to pitch a season ago.

Nazzan Zanetello, sr., Christian Brothers College (Missouri)

Zanetello is one of the nation’s best hitters as a shortstop, but his elite speed has scouts wondering if he could be more useful manning center field for a big league team. He’ll be heading to Arkansas to play for the Razorbacks if he chooses the college route instead of going straight to pro ball.