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The 2023 Five Tool 55: Nos. 55-45
12/14/2021

The 2023 Five Tool 55: Beginning with Nos. 55-45

It’s time for the list.

We’ll begin the inaugural Five Tool 55 with the class of 2023 in Texas and players No. 55-45. If you missed our primer to explain the process and address some frequently asked questions, click HERE and HERE. Also, following the release of the entire list, ending with Nos. 11-1 on Monday night, we’ll also release a list of players who just missed the cut and also a follow list of players who stood out and will be closely monitored by college programs this spring. Cutting the list of players to 55 wasn’t as easy as I hoped and that meant plenty of good players being left off the list.

You can listen to Drew Bishop and Dustin McComas discuss this part of the list by listening to the most recent edition of the Five Tool Podcast.

Let’s get started:

No. 55 – Tine Hampshire – 3B/SS/RHP – Lumberton

A commitment to Arkansas, Hampshire is a fitting way to start the list because he’s reportedly been up to 89 MPH on the mound and is an interesting two way player. We like him more on the hitting side where his smooth, short, promising left-handed swing keeps the barrel in the zone. Hampshire shows some natural feel for hitting with a 6-2, maybe 6-3 lean build that should continue to fill out. He likely ends up at third base at the next level with the possibility for a future plus arm. In the summer, the left-handed hitting infielder and right-handed pitcher plays for Gladiators Baseball.

No. 54 – Easton Winfield – 3B/C – Alvin

A two-sport athlete who can be found trying to hit opposing offensive players and flying around for Alvin’s defense, Winfield made a name for himself this summer with loud performances everywhere he played. In Five Tool events, the left-handed hitting infielder hit .583 across 29 plate appearances with five doubles, a triple and a homer. 

Physical already, Winfield should continue to add strength to his frame and shows some leverage in the swing, which resulted in some loud contact and ability to impact the baseball. He’s a bat-first player but the bat has a chance to be one of the standout ones from the left side in Texas. Winfield is currently uncommitted. 

No. 53 – Hank Benny – INF – Lake Travis

Another uncommitted infielder who put up huge numbers this summer, Benny did his damage with the bat from the right side. He typically works more gap-to-gap with more liners than towering fly balls, but his impressive bat speed and ability to keep his swing centered with his lower half suggests the ball could fly over the fence occasionally. We saw Benny up close several times, including in a really testy, highly competitive summer game when his heartbeat remained calm and his production steady for his team. 

Playing for GPS Legends, Benny hit .434/.524/.585 across 63 plate appearances during Five Tool summer action. A 6.91 runner in the 60-yard dash, Benny swiped seven bags; he’s currently a little slow out of the box, but his athleticism and speed show once he gets going. Defensively, Benny is expected to man third base for Lake Travis this season and shows enough with the hands and transfer to suggest he could play shortstop for his high school in the future. Depending on what the arm looks like, because Benny has been up to 87 MPH off the mound, he could profile as a solid defensive second baseman with a promising hit tool. 

No. 52 – Logan Myers – 3B/OF – Arlington Martin

You’ll notice this list is unafraid to bet on athletic, projectable juniors with tools and Myers is the first of that bunch. Listed at 6-2, 195 pounds with a physical, imposing build, Myers shows the makings of above average or better raw power and throw tools and the run tool is average. He’s already showing some game power from the right side and although some swing and miss can accompany the swing, Myers doesn’t have to sell out to get to his power. He registered a 100 MPH exit velocity during a Five Tool Showcase event. 

Myers uses a simple approach with a short swing geared to mash majestic fly balls; it’s a fitting swing for a player blessed with his power, build and athleticism and ends with a loose, athletic-looking extension through and after contact. Defensively, he plays a lot of shortstop but profiles best at third base or the corner outfield at the next level. Myers plays for United Baseball Club with teammate…

No. 51 – Mac Rose – UTIL/RHP – Rockwall

Will Rose end up wearing catching gear, playing in the infield or outfield or on the mound? I don’t know. However, I do know the junior loves to play baseball and is fine getting on the field any way possible. I also saw him up to 90 MPH on the mound with room for mechanical growth and have seen his strength play through his left-handed swing. 

A Five Tool All-Summer Team selection, Rose hit .431 with five homers across 65 at-bats. He exudes a lot of qualities winning players possess.

No. 50 – Davis Rivers – C/1B – Waller

The winner of last summer’s Pudge Rodriguez World Classic Home Run Derby, Rivers continues to announce his presence in the batter’s box with authority. Recently at an Area Code showcase event, Rivers registered a 105 MPH exit velocity and he smacked more homers this fall. 

A big-chested catcher who controls his movements well for a player his size, the Waller standout has one of the best current combinations of bat speed and in-game power in the 2023 class thanks to tapping into his lower half during his swing. He’s shown a 1.97 in-game pop time and an energetic approach behind home plate. If catcher isn’t in the developmental path at the next level, he has experience and moves well enough to profile at first base, especially with the thunder in his bat. Rivers committed to ACU in August.

No. 49 – John Youens – OF – Bosqueville

Have we mentioned betting on athletes? Youens, who was a standout defensive back in football this past season, plays three sports at Bosqueville and was named the 2A Player of the Year in baseball. Although he threw a no-hitter from the left side in the playoffs, Youens profiles more as a left-handed hitting outfielder currently and has plenty of physical projection remaining. With active and quick hands, Youens, who committed to Baylor in January, does a good job of getting the barrel into the hitting zone and putting it on a good patch to make contact. 

No. 48 – Boots Landry – 1B – Friendswood

With this kind of name, you’d expect Landry to be a masher. And that’s what he is. The Texas A&M commitment profiles as a bat-first, power-hitting first baseman who can do major damage from the left side. A longtime top performer, Landry has a knack for finding barrels and likely only increases the strength to his build as his high school career plays out.

No. 47 – Dylan Schlaegel – OF – Mansfield Legacy

Schlaegel is one of the more interesting power-speed bets in the 2023 class. A plus-plus runner down the line (seen him as fast as 4.19 down the line and slowed up at the very end), the Stix Scout standout is showing some developing power too. From the right side, the right-handed throwing outfielder showcases noteworthy athleticism in his swing with a swing worth betting on.

His speed translates well defensively and he motors around the diamond with the type of lean, muscular, athletic frame you’d see catching passes or defending routes Friday nights. Schlaegel, who had a good fall with the bat, is currently uncommitted.

No. 46 – Derrick Mitchell – OF – John Paul II

A switch-hitter with interesting tools across the board, Mitchell creates some of the brightest flashes of any position player in this class. When it all clicks, Mitchell, committed to Arizona State, can make jaws drop with his power-speed combo. But right now, the in-game clicks don’t match the tools and batting practice looks… yet. If they do, look out.

No. 45 – Landon Bowden – LHP – Hallsville

It didn’t take long, but we’ve reached the point in the list where I ask myself, “is this guy too low?” We’ll see. I’m a big fan of Bowden and it’s not just because of his great hair. He already profiles as an athletic, left-handed strike-thrower from a low three-quarters slot with three pitches and a feel for executing his stuff. Physically, the lefty, who plays for 5 Star Performance, looks the part with a strong, athletic lower half and projection remaining. The velocity will undoubtedly tick up, especially when you watch how the repeatable delivery works.

Tune in tomorrow for the release of Nos. 44-34.

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor
Five Tool Baseball

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