Baseball America's Recruiting Rankings

by TigerNet Staff - Thu Oct 25 19:01:36 GMT-04:00 2012

DURHAM, N.C.--Vanderbilt became the first team in the 13-year history of Baseball America’s annual recruiting class rankings to place No. 1 in back-to-back years. The Commodores earned the top spot for the third time since 2005; the only other school to top the rankings more than once is Arizona State (2000, 2008). Vanderbilt has landed in the Top 25 of these rankings every year since 2005.

Vandy’s 2012 class features a blend of front-line power righthanders, athletic position players and power bats. Righty Walker Buehler, the nation’s top-ranked freshman, leads a group of six Vanderbilt recruits who ranked among the pre-draft BA 500—most of any recruiting class in the nation. Righty Carson Fulmer, outfielder Rhett Wiseman and shortstop Dansby Swanson joined Buehler as Top 200 prospects for the 2012 draft.

UCLA brought in the No. 2 class, its sixth Top 25 class in the last seven years. Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina round out the top five.

UC Santa Barbara, under second-year coach Andrew Checketts, landed in the recruiting class rankings for the first time ever, checking in at No. 12. The Gauchos were the sole newcomer to the rankings.

The newly expanded Southeastern Conference produced three of the top five classes, four of the top 10 and a whopping 12 of the Top 25, the most ever for a conference. The SEC led all conferences the past two years with eight teams in the Top 25 each season.

Four-year transfers were not considered for BA's rankings, except graduate transfers who are immediately eligible.

For breakdowns on the top 25 classes, plus a look at some of the best classes by region outside the top 25, visit www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/recruiting.

2012 RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS

1. Vanderbilt

2. UCLA

3. Georgia

4. Alabama

5. North Carolina

6. Stanford

7. Texas

8. Arizona State

9. Auburn

10. Miami

11. Texas Christian