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Tournaments  | Story | 5/29/2018

West Memorial Notes: Days 3-4

Photo: Josiah Chavez (Perfect Game)

Righthander 
Joseph Acosta (Murrieta, Calif.) may be listed as a primary third baseman per his Perfect Game profile but he showed big upside on the mound Sunday morning, despite not having his sharpest command. Having just completed his freshman season at Murrieta Valley, Acosta worked 3 1/3 innings for Dykstra Baseball and showed components to his game that make him an intriguing arm to follow moving forward.

Overall his delivery with a balanced one with a simple leg raise working to a full, on line arm action and while there aren’t many moving parts to his delivery he’d get mistimed with his release, leading to four walks on the day. That said, he lived down in the zone for the most part with a fastball that lived in the 82-85 mph range, bumping 86 a time or two while showing the ability to work in on the hands which resulted in two broke bats. The velocity came easy for Acosta and he maintained well both out of the stretch and through his outing and he was able to generate solid plane when working on top of the ball.

He worked exclusively off of his fastball in live action but flashed both a curveball, with 11-to-5 shape, and a changeup in between innings and down in the bullpen pregame. There’s definite upside to Acosta on the mound given his frame and ease of operation on the mound and the fact his fastball has jumped seven mph since this past September.

Another former PG Select Fest All-American, shortstop Parker Welch (Riverside, Calif.) continues to add strength to his frame and appears stronger than his listed 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. A lefthanded hitter who’s already committed to UC Santa Barbara, Welch showed smooth, balanced stroke during game action on day three, handling the barrel while showing the ability to work on all fields. He also showed instincts and a feel for the overall game on a popup he skied straight up to the middle of the infield. With all four infielders converging the and the ball ultimately dropping between them, Welch was off to the race and took both second and third in what ultimately became a footrace in beating the defender back to the ball. That same foot quickness was put on display at shortstop as he moved well laterally and made a nice play ranging back on a soft flair to make a tough play look rather routine.

Another uncommitted rising sophomore from the Dykstra Baseball program, lefthanded hitting catcher Josiah Chavez (Santa Paula, Calif.) impressed with the stick as he went 3-for-3, collecting three singles throughout the contest. His swing is a simple one, beginning with an upright stance while shifting his weight well into contact and using loose hands to get the barrel through the zone. Chavez is already strongly built at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds and rather than just trying to overpower the baseball he showed a handle for the barrel as well as the ability to work the opposite field. Both of those characteristics were put on display when he got caught out front on a curveball which he simply flicked into left field for his second of three knocks.

Already ranked No. 225 in the class of 2020 rankings, Colt Keith (Goodyear, Ariz.) is the type of player who makes it easy to project big physicality moving forward as he already stands 6-foot-2, 185-pounds, though the broadness of his shoulders help envision plenty of strength en route. Keith has already made his commitment to the nearby Sun Devils of Arizona State and it’s easy to see what the coaching staff saw in the young lefthanded hitter as he stays short to the ball with quickness to his hands and also showed sound defensive actions up the middle. Playing up at the 18u level, we’ll be able to see Keith play against peers his own age in a couple weeks at the PG Junior National Showcase at Lake Point.

Helping lead his Lights Out team to an opening round victory in the playoffs was 2021 shortstop Hunter Katschke (Basic, Nev.) who continued to have an impressive performance and is now hitting .556 on the tournament. He’s listed at a strong and still projectable 6-foot-2, 175-pounds and incorporates his strength well into his righthanded stroke, staying short and direct to the ball. He reached base in all three at-bats, bookending a walk with a pair of doubles, both of which came to his pull side. With looseness to his hands Katschke barreled a ball to his pull side gap in his first at-bat before showcasing the ability to wait back on a curveball and though somewhat elevated still found the barrel and drove the ball down the left field line for his second two-bagger of the day. He moves well defensively with footwork up the middle and shows sound arm strength across the diamond, something he showcased on the mound earlier with a top fastball of 83 mph earlier this tournament.

A young prospect out of Spanish Fort, Utah, Zac Dart started the Utah Horns’ playoff game at third base where he certainly looks the part with a wide shouldered, 6-foot, 155-pound (appears stronger) build. While picking up a deep double to his pull side from the left side of the plate, Dart impressed again on the mound after running his fastball up to 83 mph at the start of the tournament. While he didn’t show quite that with the heater in his second outing, Dart still worked in the 79-81 mph range with a short and quick arm stroke through the back. Working exclusively out of the stretch, Dart shows an on line delivery down the mound and pitched off his fastball, an offering that offered short sink down in the zone and helped collect three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.

Jacob Galloway (Camarillo, Calif.), a 2022 catcher, has shown some of the more polished defensive actions throughout the tournament and they are skills that’ll continue to improve and stand out as he develops physically. He’s light with his actions and does a nice job of sticking pitches out front while also showing a quick transfer and a clean release with true throws down to second base. Offensively, he’s a lefthanded stick and bats in the two-hole for PBA and has shown a consistent feel for the barrel, picking up another two hits in the playoffs. While there isn’t much strength to his profile, yet, he shows looseness to his swing and comfort working all parts of the field with extension out front.

Mentioned in an earlier recap for both his bat and abilities on the mound, 2022 third baseman and righthanded pitcher Jordan Kang (Porter Ranch, Calif.) once again put his righthanded bat speed on display and it’s proving to be some of the best in the 14u division of the tournament. Kang is now hitting .500 after a two-hit performance in PBA’s win in the opening round of the playoffs, one of which was an opposite field triple. Getting his hands and barrel extended on an outer half pitch, Kang drove the ball into the right-center field gap with authority (not something you’ll often see at the 14u level) and while he was ultimately thrown out trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park home run it was an impressive piece of hitting, nonetheless. He continued to swing a hot stick during PBA’s run to the championship, barreling another deep double while running his fastball back up to 83 mph during the semifinals.

Connor Culp (2019; Sparks, Nev.), a primary shortstop who has a middle infielder’s build at 6-foot-1, 160-pounds, took the mound for the final inning of Stars N’ Spikes’ victory over AZ Pro to advance to the playoffs in the 18u portion of the tournament. Working with an up-tempo delivery and high leg lift which helps creates some deception, Culp ran his fastball up to 85 mph and lived within the 82-85 mph range throughout the inning while showing some cut action through the zone. The slider proved to be a go-to offering for the uncommitted Culp, even in this one inning look, and it’s an offering he tunneled well with his release with tight rotation and late tilting life in the 73-75 mph range.

Earlier in the tournament, uncommitted 2020 third baseman Joel Rubin (Scottsdale, Ariz.) connected for one of the louder home runs of the tournament though it was his abilities in the playoffs that stood out on day four. Rubin, who’s physically built at 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, worked with an up-tempo delivery on the mound and showed impressive arm strength as he ran his fastball up to 88 mph early in the contest, settling into the mid-80s, while showing late sinking life down in the zone. Working four scoreless innings, Rubin attacked hitters with his fastball and punched out five though he also mixed in a 12-to-6 breaking ball up to 76 mph that he can continue to incorporate into his sequencing more often.

It wasn’t the longest of looks at 2019 righthander Jack Folkins (Seattle, Wash.) as he worked just 2 2/3 innings before coming out, but it proved to be enough to make an impression about his present arsenal and long-term projection. At 6-foot-3, 185-pounds Folkins stands out on the mound with a loose frame and a short, repeatable arm stroke, two elements that helped produce a fastball that sat comfortably in the 84-87 mph range though there’s plenty more left in the tank. Already committed to Portland, the velocity comes easy for Folkins and as he continues to implement additional lower half into his drive watch for the gun to produce even higher readings. Along with the velocity the Washington native showed three pitches, mixing in a mid-70s slider – which he’ll continue to refine the release on – and a changeup which offered fading life in the 76-78 mph range.

Ultimately taking home the MVP honors for the 18u Memorial Day Classic, Sean Rimmer (Mesa, Ariz.) impressed again in the championship, this time on the mound though he did find the barrel in three of his at-bats with loud contact. Working into the seventh inning before hitting his pitch count limit, the physically impressive 6-foot-4, 215-pound Rimmer ran his fastball up to 87 mph early in the championship, inducing some weak contact while also striking out seven along the way.

Working to a three-quarters slot with a tight release, Rimmer did a nice job of working within the zone and varied his tempos and looks throughout, giving a pause at the top of his delivery from time to time. A middle of the order bat and everyday player for AZ T-Rex, Rimmer worked more in the 82-85 mph range later in the content and understandably so given his work load, but he also was able to land his 12-to-6 shaped curveball in the 69-72 mph range for strikes.

Opposing Rimmer in the championship game was righthander Tyler Whitaker (Las Vegas, Nev.), who was detailed earlier in the tournament for his talents on the mound. It was more of the same for the future Arizona Wildcat as he showed three pitches, though his velocity was up from what we saw earlier in the tournament, sitting in the 84-87 mph range while bumping as high as 88 mph. What stood out even more than his pitching was his righthanded bat, a tool that produced two solid base hits to his pull side in a double and a single, both coming off curveballs. While Whitaker has tremendous upside on the mound with a projectable build and quick arm, there’s certainly two-way potential for the Las Vegas native.

Speaking of young talent, outfielder Derrick Mitchell (Tempe, Ariz.) just completed his seventh grade season, though looking at him in a uniform you wouldn’t guess he’s just 13. Standing at a long and high waisted 6-foot-2, Mitchell employed an aggressive approach from both sides of the plate in each of his first two at-bats, jumping on fastballs early in the count while displaying a loose swing from either side. And while he isn’t listed as a primary outfielder, Mitchell got the start in center field where he showed a short arm action that produced solid carry on his throws. It’s obviously early in the process for Mitchell but there are components to both sides of his game that need to be monitored moving forward.



Tournaments | Story | 3/31/2026

14u East Spring Opener Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Roman Keister (2030, Dade City, FL) Could not miss the barrel this weekend tallying 6 hits including 2 triples and 4 RBI. Starts the load early and controls his body well, the up the middle approach really plays in game. Also worked from off the mound for an inning and picked up a punch out.  Colton Russo (2030, Coral Springs, FL) Showed off the power burning outfielders all weekend. 5 hits including two triples that carried over the CF and RF heads. Has a good understanding about using the lower half in the swing and the bat to ball skills really impressed.  Karson Blakney (2030, St. Augustine, FL) Made his impact in a big way this week, collecting the win in the quarterfinals. In his outing he went 5 shutout innings and struck out 5 while only allowing 2 hits. Worked in the mid 70s with the FB and topped out at 78. Also produced on offense driving in 5 RBI on 4 hits. ...
Juco | Story | 4/8/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 8

Troy Sutherland
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Another week of conference play down and Johnson County continues there tear through the spring of 2026, they retain the top spot with Gaston nipping their heels at number 2 for the third consecutive week. McLennan jumps up to number 3 with a big series sweep over rival Texas powerhouse, Weatherford. Out west, Cochise just keeps rolling in the desert and California looks to be hotly contested all the way down the final stretch. A couple of debut appearances down the board with Harford, CCF, and Linn Benton all earning their spot on our top 25 for the first time in the first week of April. So many great records out there it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out with so many teams vying for seeding and conference championships on this final stretch run. Rank Team Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 38-2 2 Gaston (NC) 38-3 3 McLennan (TX) 29-7 4 Chipola (FL) 34-7 5 Walters State (TN)...
College | Rankings | 4/8/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 8

Nick Herfordt
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We are past the midpoint of the college baseball season and the stakes are rising by the week. Conference races are tightening, schedules are getting harder, and the résumés that will matter in the selection room are being written right now — one series at a time. This week's most significant development came in Division II, where North Greenville swept Young Harris in three consecutive one-run games to claim the top spot for the first time this season, knocking Tampa from a perch they've held most of the year. It's a genuine changing of the guard at the top, and it's exactly the kind of shakeup that makes this stretch of the season worth paying close attention to. Across all three divisions the picture is coming into focus. In Division I NAIA, Georgia Gwinnett remains the standard while Taylor and Cumberlands continue to make their cases from behind. In Division III,...
High School | General | 4/7/2026

Iowa Spring League Notes: Week 1

Perfect Game Staff
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Brooks Mitchell-Birdsell (2027, Atkins, Iowa) was solid on both sides of the ball this weekend. He was able to show a clean move working into it, with the feel to impact it out in front and drive hard through contact. He had good barrel accuracy with feel to drive the ball well, especially working pull-side. He was 4-for-8 on the weekend with a double to his credit, driving in 7 runs as well. Mitchell-Birdsell also put together a good outing on the mound, delivering 2 innings of scoreless work with 3 punchouts. He worked the low 80s with some run, flashing a mid-70s curveball with good 11-5 shape and depth.  Maddux Mueller (2026, Amana, Iowa) LH bat with plenty to like in the batter’s box, and he put together a solid showing this weekend. He finished 2-for-3 with a double, demonstrating both contact ability and the capacity to drive the baseball for extra bases. Mueller...
College | Story | 4/7/2026

College Players of the Week: April 7

Craig Cozart
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April 7th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Andrew Williamson, OF, UCF  The UCF Knights (20-9) are coming off one of their biggest series victories in years when they went to Morgantown and took down the Mountaineers to take control of the Big 12 regular season standings.  The offense put on quite the performance and Andrew Williamson set the tone by leaving the yard in his first at-bat of the weekend launching a towering home run over the centerfield wall.  The 6-0/195 lefty from St. Petersburg, FL has one of the sweetest strokes in the college game today and when he goes, so do the Knights.  In the 3-game series, the junior collected 6 hits in his 10 at-bats, scoring 6 runs, on 5 walks, a double and he launched 3 home runs all told.  While he had a stretch earlier in the season where he was searching for his stroke a bit, he is getting locked in at the...
College | Rankings | 4/6/2026

College Top 25: April 6

Vincent Cervino
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With another week in the books, some teams at the top continue to prove they are elite, and others continue to fall by the wayside.  Meanwhile, there were several teams that had been lingering outside the Top 25 that had huge weekends to put themselves in the thick of things as every weekend has significant consequences for good or for bad.  The No. 1 UCLA Bruins (29-2) have now pushed their win streak to an incredible 23-games as they swept USC (27-6) who was previously ranked No. 7 in the poll.  The Bruins are off to a perfect (15-0) start in Big Ten play and are without a doubt the most complete team in the country right now.  The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (26-5) move up to No. 2 this week after they dismantled now No. 12 Auburn (22-9) in the midweek and then swept Cal on the West Coast last weekend.  Texas (26-5) moves down one spot to No. 3 this week after...
Draft | Mock Draft | 4/3/2026

PG Staff Mock Draft

Jheremy Brown
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Welcome to another Perfect Game Mock Draft. This is not your typical mock draft as it features 15 different GMs drafting the first two rounds of the draft. Each member of the mock draft was assigned two teams and as such will be drafting all of the picks in the first two rounds for each responsible team. The actual draft order will be presented below and we will dive into how teams made their selections and how they feel about the players drafted. It is important to note that this is not how we think the draft will play out in almost any capacity. This is simply an exercise 4 months ahead of time with a large portion of the scouting staff and some picks fall under personal favorites, best available, and a multitude of other factors. Chicago White Sox 1:1 Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA | 1:41 Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame The White Sox don’t overthink here and select Roch Cholowsky, who has...
High School | General | 4/2/2026

High School Notebook: April 2

Steve Fiorindo
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Lennex Minor (‘28 CA) absolutely destroys this offering to the PS for a 2-run shot. 2-4 on the day w/ 4 driven in. Athletic in the box w/ a quick stroke and strength throughout the frame. Also closed out the game running the FB up to 88 in a St. Bernard win #PGHS @PG_Scouting pic.twitter.com/KF7BsKGcm7 — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) March 29, 2026 Lennex Minor, MIF/P, St. Bernard (2028) Minor had a massive day in my look this past Saturday in a game being played at the University of San Diego.  The sophomore had a pair of hits, one which was a no-doubt homer, and drove in four.  Minor’s athleticism jumps out on the field with twitchy actions both at the dish and in the dirt.  He features a 6-foot, 170-pound frame with room to add and generates from a strong lower half and exceptionally quick hands.  Showing two-way potential, he made an...
High School | General | 4/2/2026

NHSI Scout Notebook

Cam McElwaney
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An extended look at ‘26 RHP Wilson Andersen… 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 K. @HailStateBB signee. #NHSI26 @JesuitBaseball @Florida_PG @PG_Draft @PGAllAmerican https://t.co/VLwECd2qZ8 pic.twitter.com/JbTFR3Gd2l — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) March 30, 2026 Wilson Andersen, RHP, Tampa Jesuit  Andersen got the ball on day two of the event and showed a quick tempo, pounding the zone with a power mix. He ran the fastball up to 97 mph, working comfortably in the mid-90s, with a power curveball/changeup mix he showed confidence in. He’s one of the top right-handers in the class that saw his stock rise in Cary. Andersen is signed with Mississippi State.    An extended look at ‘26 RHP Cooper Sides… 5 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. @LSUbaseball signee. #NHSI26 @olubaseball @PG_Draft @California_PG https://t.co/Ag1MfBAR5a pic.twitter.com/5wSszVjBn8...
All American Game | Story | 4/2/2026

All American Classic Heading to Citizens Bank

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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME DICK’S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC HEADED TO CITIZENS BANK PARK IN 2026   Perfect Game makes debut at iconic Phillies venue during America’s 250th birthday celebration   Former Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel named Honorary Chairman of All-American Classic   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Thursday, April 2, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that the 2026 Perfect Game DICK’S All-American Classic will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, marking the first time a Perfect Game event has ever been held at the iconic home of the Philadelphia Phillies.   The game will take place on...
College | Rankings | 4/1/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 1

Nick Herfordt
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Welcome to another week of Perfect Game Small School baseball — and if you're looking for clarity at the top, you've come to the wrong place. Across all three classifications, the No. 1 spot is very much an open question, and nobody is sleeping comfortably right now. In NCAA Division II, Pittsburg State is stumbling at precisely the wrong moment, leaving the door cracked wide open for hungry challengers to come knocking. In the NAIA, defending national champion LSU Shreveport has dropped four straight and suddenly looks far more vulnerable than a program of their pedigree ever expects to be. And in NCAA Division III, the race for the top ranking is less a competition and more a ten-car pileup of elite programs, none of whom have done enough to pull away — and all of whom have done plenty to deserve it. Three classifications, three vacancies at the top, and a whole lot of...
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