All-Century Team: Best High School Pitchers Since 2000
December 2, 2025
In high school, pitchers don’t just lead rotations — they define eras.
They throw gas, paint corners, and rack up strikeouts under Friday night lights. They’re the ones who silence bats and electrify scouts. And the three on our All-Century Team? They were already big-league material before they ever signed their first contract.
We’re talking about pure dominance, elite projection, and the kind of prep careers that built legends.
Madison Bumgarner (South Caldwell High School, North Carolina)
Bumgarner wasn’t just a standout — he was the guy in North Carolina.
As a senior at South Caldwell, he posted an 11–2 record with a 1.05 ERA, 143 strikeouts in 86 innings, and hit .424 at the plate. He led his squad to a state championship, was named Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year, and proved he could do it all — pitch, hit, lead.
The lefty had that bulldog mentality from day one. The Giants took him 10th overall in the 2007 draft, and he quickly evolved into one of the most clutch pitchers of his generation.
Stat Line (Senior Year):
11–2 | 1.05 ERA | 143 K | .424 AVG
Gerrit Cole (Orange Lutheran High School, California)
Power. Precision. Presence.
At Orange Lutheran, Gerrit Cole was a flamethrower with a wipeout slider — regularly sitting in the upper 90s and overpowering hitters across Southern California. His senior year numbers? 8–2 record, 0.47 ERA, 121 strikeouts in 75 innings.
Scouts saw the bulldog demeanor and frontline stuff. He was drafted by the Yankees 28th overall in 2008, but turned it down to attend UCLA. That bet paid off — Cole returned to the draft in 2011 and was selected #1 overall.
The velocity. The makeup. The upside. All there in high school.
Stat Line (Senior Year):
8–2 | 0.47 ERA | 121 K in 75 IP
Clayton Kershaw (Highland Park High School, Texas)
Our Pick
Kershaw wasn’t just dominant — he was untouchable.
His senior year at Highland Park in Dallas was the stuff of Texas baseball folklore:
13–0, 0.77 ERA, 139 strikeouts in 64 innings, and a perfect game with 15 Ks.
And by the way — he also hit .517 with 9 home runs.
Kershaw was named USA Today High School Player of the Year, drafted 7th overall by the Dodgers in 2006, and hasn’t stopped dealing since.
It’s rare to see this kind of command, confidence, and polish at 18. But Kershaw made it look easy.
Stat Line (Senior Year):
13–0 | 0.77 ERA | 139 K in 64 IP | .517 AVG | 9 HR
Why Kershaw Leads the Staff
Cole had the power. Bumgarner had the edge.
But Kershaw had the full package — command, stuff, mindset, and sheer dominance.
When you’re building an All-Century Team rotation, he’s the one you hand the ball to on Day 1.
Who's Your Ace
Drop your rotation in the comments and keep the debate going.
Watch the full All-Century Team Series on YouTube and
follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes reels, scouting notes, and more.
