Best high school baseball freshmen across the nation in 2024

These 20 players are budding stars on the diamond, and some played varsity as eighth-graders

Spring sports are finally here, and many ninth-graders are already making an impact at the varsity level in high school baseball.

SBLive Sports set out to identify some of the brightest emerging baseball stars across the country.

Here are 20 freshmen showing off their power at the plate and/or on the mound so far in the 2024 season.

Vote: Who is the best freshman high school baseball player in the country in 2024?

Trent Buckley, Columbia Academy (Mississippi)

Buckley hit .322 with 34 RBIs during his eighth-grade season with Columbia Academy. He is up to .351 as a freshman while holding a 2.33 ERA on the mound. 

Sam Dart, Spanish Fork (Utah)

Dart can do it all on the baseball field as a left-handed pitcher and hitter. When not blowing hitters away on the mound, Dart can play the outfield and handle duties at first base. 

Caden Dawson, Blessed Trinity (Georgia)

Dawson is a tremendous all-around athlete with sky-high potential as an outfielder. He also played varsity football for Blessed Trinity as a freshman. 

Manny Ehinger, Lakeridge (Oregon)

Ehinger is a two-way standout who can dominate on the mound and play strong defense at shortstop. The Oregon commit hits with power from the right side. 

Chase Fuller, Lincoln (Florida)

Chase Fuller committed to Florida State as an eighth-grader :: Photo by Jack Williams/Tallahassee Democrat/USA Today Network

Fuller was sensational for Maclay as an eighth-grader who batted .354 with 16 stolen bases. Perfect Game’s No. 1 national recruit for the class of 2027, the infielder transferred to Lincoln in the offseason and committed to Florida State in January 2023. 

Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (California)

Grindlinger already possesses a low-90s fastball from the left side. The TCU commit is also a strong hitter for Huntington Beach. 

Jud Harris, Gulf Shores (Alabama)

Harris is an elite athlete who can pitch and patrol the outfield. During the fall, Harris played quarterback and led Gulf Shores to a 15-0 record and the Class 5A state championship. 

Max Hemenway, Puyallup (Washington)

Puyallup is loaded with Division I players, and Hemenway is at the top of the list as an athletic middle infielder. Hemenway is committed to Tennessee. 

Lash Henderson, Prestonwood Christian (Texas) 

At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Henderson has an ideal frame to play the outfield. He is a terrific runner with great upside as a power hitter. 

Erick Jaylen Jimenez, O’Connor (Arizona)

Jimenez is a right-handed pitcher who knows how to mix his fastball and curveball. When not pitching, Jimenez is also a strong hitter who plays first base and the outfield. 

Broder Katke, Brother Rice (Michigan)

Katke is a standout defensive catcher who already possesses a sub-two-second pop time. The physical catcher and hitter is committed to Duke. 

Graham Keen, Mt. Lebanon (Pennsylvania)

Keen is a switch hitter who could wind up as a corner infielder or outfielder at the next level. The 6-foot-5 phenom swings a great bat and can also get outs on the mound. 

Matthew Kelley, Carlsbad (California)

In his first 18 plate appearances at the high school level, Kelley recorded seven hits with four walks. The elite contact hitter is committed to Miami. 

Teagan Leach, Battlefield (Virginia)

Leach committed to Virginia Tech as an eighth-grader and has emerged as one of the best players in his class nationally. The left-hander shines on the mound and can also play first base. 

Connor Salerno, Legion Collegiate Academy (South Carolina)

Salerno is another left-handed pitcher with swing-and-miss stuff. His fastball tops out in the upper 80s, while the slider continues to improve. 

Grant Sperandio, Memorial (Texas)

A Texas commit, Sperandio already has a plus fastball and slider from the right side. He is a true throwback who can also catch, play corner infield and run down balls in the outfield. When he’s not starring on the baseball field, Sperandio plays quarterback for Memorial. 

Chase Stieferman, Capital City (Missouri)

Stieferman can bring it on the mound from the left side while also shining as a hitter. A Missouri commit, Stieferman already has four plus pitches. 

Jackson Teutsch, Magnolia (Arkansas) 

Teutsch is another two-way player who excels as a pitcher and outfielder. The versatile athlete also plays football for Mangolia. 

Connor Wells, Dorman (South Carolina)

A 6-foot-5 left-handed pitcher, Wells throws from a three-quarter arm slot and has easy velocity. His fastball and curveball are both plus pitches. 

Sebastian Wilson, Lane Tech (Illinois)

Another Tennessee commit, Wilson is an electric runner who can play multiple positions on the diamond. He has plenty of pop as a left-handed hitter. 

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports