Dawson Smail Named To Prep Baseball Report (PBR) Class of 2024 Top 10 (Posted 11/28/20)

(Above photo) Dawson at bat during 2020 PBR Junior Futures Games

Clarion Area ninth grader Dawson Smail, has recently received more national recognition for his exploits on the baseball diamond, being named to Prep Baseball Report’s inaugural Top 10 Prospect list, covering the whole USA, for the Class of 2024.

Dawson is rated the Number 1 Outfielder and Number 3 Overall Player in Pennsylvania for the 2024 Class. Dawson is ranked the Number 152 Overall Player, Nationally and ranked as the Number 30 Outfielder in the Country.

PBR has a feature on its website, the “Coffee and Curveballs” webcast, hosted by Nathan Rode and Shooter Hunter.  When discussing Dawson, as Dawson’s video clip plays, Hunter says, “But I think Pennsylvania is going to be leading the Northeast, when it’s all said and done. I think there’s a lot of guys who aren’t even on this list yet, that were knocking on the door, who will continue to come. But Dawson Smail kind of epitomizes what Pennsylvania brings. He’s kind of a lunch pail type guy, real good athlete, can run, left handed hitter, really tough kid. But I think PA is going to be bringing it.”

Eight of the ten players on the list are position players, along with two pitchers.

Dawson competed in this year’s PBR Junior Futures Games, for the 2024 (14-Under) Team PA. His brother Derek competed for the 2025 (13-Under) Team PA. Dawson also competed in the 2019 Junior Futures Games.

He is a member of the 2020 Beaver Valley 14U Red (Pittsburgh area) team and Tri-State Arsenal 2024 Scout Team (from New Jersey).

As a twelve year old, in 2018, Dawson won the prestigious “King of Swat” Home-Run Derby, held at the Cooperstown Dreams Park (CDP), in Cooperstown, New York. He had a combined 14 home runs in the contest which included 104 players from across the country. He represented the Twin Tiers Mountain Lion, from here in Pennsylvania.

Prep Baseball Report has this to say about the 2024 Class on its website:

First impressions—they set the tone and lay the foundation. The rise of the 2024 class into the prep ranks this summer did not come without its own obstacles and hurdles. The COVID-19 pandemic stunted much game play across the country, which did not make it easy for the new high schoolers to announce their arrival on the national stage…and yet, they did.

With precautions, and the ability to adjust and improvise, the baseball world sought some form of normalcy. And while the conditions were less than ideal, at times, the young group of future prospects rose above the adversity to announce itself with authority.

There are sure to be many new players that enter the 2024 Overall Rankings over the course of the next four years. These are merely freshmen in high school. All will continue to develop and get better, and many more will be uncovered and discovered as elite players. Regardless, the Prep Baseball Report remains committed to getting out to games, practices, events, or anywhere else baseball is being played, to provide the most comprehensive and credible information in amateur baseball.

(Congratulations to Dawson and the Smail family for this great honor!!!!)