THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 7/20/2018

17u World Series Notes: Day 1

David Rawnsley
Photo: Cody Freeman (Perfect Game)

17u Perfect Game World Series: Event Page | Daily Leaders

One of the joys of baseball is the potential to see something you've never seen before at any time. That happened during the first time slot Thursday, an attempted triple play that ended up losing the game for the defensive team. Ostingers Baseball Academy and AZ T-Rex were tied 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning and Ostingers had runners on first and second base with no outs. The Ostingers hitter lined a ball hard at the T-Rex second baseman, who cleanly short hopped the ball, tossed to second for out number one, with the shortstop's relay throw to first getting the second out. The Ostingers runner on second made a belated sprint to third base and would have been out as well, completing the triple play, if not for a wild throw by the first baseman. That runner scored, the only run in Ostingers 1-0 victory.
 
That unearned run marred an excellent outing by T-Rex starter, righthander Chandler Murphy (2019, Peoria, Ariz.).  Murphy has really refined his mechanics well over the last year and showed very good command of a fastball that sat in the upper-80s, topping out at 89 mph. Murphy's curveball was a solid second pitch in the mid-70s. The Arizona commit threw 88 pitches in six innings, with 73 percent of those being for strikes.
 
On a day at the Mariners quad when a mid to upper 80's fastball was the norm and low-90s was not uncommon, it was a pitcher from Colorado throwing 82-86 mph that impressed this scout as much as anyone. 6-foot-5, 180-pound righthander Nathan Mitchell (2019, Englewood, Colo.) from Slammers Cronican retired nine straight hitters in his appearance, striking out five and only needing 42 pitches.  Mitchell throws from a very easy high three-quarters arm slot with big downhill angle and his best pitch was a mid to upper 70's curveball that had serious tightness and 12-to-6 biting action.  Mitchell threw at the 2017 Rocky Mountain Showcase and topped out at 78 mph with a loose mid-60s breaking ball, so he's improved tremendously in the last 14 months and there is no reason he shouldn't keep improving with his body and mechanics.  He is uncommitted at present.
 
The most impressive all around performance, especially with the bat, was turned in by another uncommitted rising senior, third baseman-right handed pitcher Terrell Hudson (2019, Phoenix, Ariz.).  Hudson is a physically imposing 6-foot-4, 230-pound athlete with outstanding raw bat speed and power from the right side.  He hit a two-run triple, showing good running speed for his size, in his first at-bat and crushed a three-run bomb that traveled well over 400 feet with the wind behind it to left-center field in his second at-bat.  He later reached base twice via walk and hit by pitch.  Hudson also picked up the win on the mound, going four innings and striking out eight hitters, working up to 91 mph with his fastball with a mid-70s curveball.  He is presently the 388th ranked player in the PG national rankings
 
Hudson's big day at the plate was matched by CCB Elite shortstop Andrew Kachel (2019, Gilroy, Calif.).  The lefthanded hitting Kachel, batting third in the CCB lineup, hit back to back triples to right-center field, the first a laser shot on a line off the base of the wall, accounting for five RBI. The Fresno State commit also singled later in the game, continuing to show a quick and deceptively strong swing.
 
The 17u PG World Series is a great event for college coaches to uncover uncommitted rising seniors and another, in addition to Mitchell and Hudson, who stood out was North East Baseball righthander Max Meier (2019, Belmont, Mass.). Meier is a solidly built 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete with an especially strong lower half. He throws with a sound low effort delivery that generates a steady upper-80s fastball that topped out at 90 mph while throwing 68 percent strikes over four innings. Meier, who is an older rising senior with excellent academics, was only throwing in the mid-80s at this time last summer but looks to have made a big jump in his overall stuff.
 
Meier was bested this game by the St. Louis Pirates righthander Evan Gray (2019, Swansea, Ill.), who threw a six-inning shutout, scattering five hits and striking out seven. An Arkansas commit, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Gray worked steadily in the upper 80's the entire outing and got many of his outs on a bit breaking downer curveball from a high three-quarters arm slot.
 
Canes National righthander Tyler Nesbitt (2019, LaBelle, Fla.) has been solid all summer, including an appearance at the PG National Showcase, and the Florida Gulf Coast commit was sharp again on Thursday, going three and a third innings in the Canes 2-1 victory.  Nesbit only need 41 pitches to retire ten hitters, working in the 88-90 mph range with his fastball and showing a late-breaking low-80s slider that he worked glove side effectively.
 
Nesbitt's teammate, outfielder Tyler Kehoe (2019, Prospect Park, Penn.) is one of the most polished lefthanded hitters in the 2019 class and a South Carolina commit. A compactly build 5-foot-10, 182-pound athlete, who projects to left field at the next level, Kehoe uses his strength and short arms to really control the bat head well and square up the ball consistently. He has gap-to-gap power and had a double to right centerfield among his three hits over two games this day. 
 
Saddleback Cowboys center fielder Mac Bingham (2019, San Diego, Calif.) bats leadoff for the Cowboys and is a compactly built 5-foot-11, 190-pound athlete with plenty of quick-twitch ability. He also showed surprising power at the plate, hitting a high home run to left field off an upper-80s fastball. Bingham is a Southern California commit.
 
Bingham's home run was the only run and only one of three hits allowed in a strong six inning performance by very projectable righthander Evan Vanek (2019, McKinney, Texas) in a 3-2 win by Vanek's USA Prime Elite over Saddleback.  The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Texas A&M commit sat in the upper-80s, touching 90 mph, for his entire 98 pitch outing in the Arizona heat, mixing in an effective mid-70's curveball and showing easy low effort mechanics that promise solid command in the future.
 
Premier Baseball righthander Josh Wolf (2019, Bellaire, Texas) impressed enough at the PG National Showcase to be ranked 126th overall currently in the 2019 class, good for 13th overall in the talent-rich state of Texas. After a slow start when he walked the first two hitters, Wolf settled down quickly and cruised through five and a third innings, striking out eight hitters while allowing only an unearned run. Wolf has a lightning quick right arm from an upright delivery that has some effort at release, but the stuff, including an 89-93 mph fastball and a curveball that reached 81 mph, is top drawer, with plenty of projection remaining on Wolf's slender 165-pound body. He is committed to Texas A&M.
 
Day one's co-top fastball velocity at the Mariners quad belonged to a very young graduated senior, righthander Hayden Juenger (2018, O'Fallon, Ill.) of the St. Louis Pirates.  The 6-foot righthander, who finished his high school career ranked 290th in the Perfect Game National rankings, went four innings for the Pirates, giving up two runs and topping out at 93 mph.  Juenger, who also throws a power curveball that will get into the low-80s, will be attending Missouri State next year.

– David Rawnsley





The 17u Perfect Game World Series got underway in a hurry on Thursday morning at the Seattle Mariners/San Diego Padres joint complex in Peoria, Ariz. GBG Marucci got off to a hot start via a 10-0 win to open their tourney play over Mountain West, but Mountain West did start one of the more intriguing arms of the day in Joseph Dixon (2020, South Jordan, Utah), an uncommitted righthander who had a bevy of college recruiters watching him as he took the mound. Dixon was pretty dominant for his first two innings before turning the loaded GBG lineup over got to be a bit of an issue in the third inning, but he still showed some extremely good stuff with high upside. 

He has good size with an athletic build, projecting well physically and looking like he’ll be capable of durability as a starter at the next level as he continues to increase his strength. He worked up to 93 mph with his fastball, sitting more in the 87-91 mph range, showing solid arm side life to the pitch at times as well. His lower half in his delivery had some inconsistency in terms of timing and direction, which did lead to some command troubles for Dixon, but it’s still an undeniably live right arm that projects for more. He worked in a breaking ball in the 73-76 mph range with 11-to-5 shape and good bite to it, showing the potential for an above average bat-misser there, and also showed a straighter changeup that he does a fair job of replicating his arm speed on. 

CBA Marucci moved to a quick 2-0 via a pair of victories on Thursday, including an 8-0 win over the Dallas Patriots and a 10-1 win over Power Baseball. Cody Freeman (2019, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), as he usually does, paced the CBA offensive attack from the leadoff spot. Freeman pretty much exemplifies the ideal leadoff hitter profile at this point, with an excellent approach, the ability to make firm contact all over the zone, good speed, and he’s developed nicely in terms of extra base power over the years as well.

Joseph Naranjo (2019, Chino, Calif.) adds a more physical element to the CBA lineup from the No. 3 spot, as the Perfect Game National Showcase veteran brings serious hit-ability from the left side along with some power there as well, doing a very good job of consistently finding the barrel with authority.

Kaden Hopson (2019, Redlands, Calif.) had one of the bigger hits of the day for CBA, muscling a two-run single through the right side in Game 2 to put CBA ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning, a lead they’d never relinquish. The CBA Marucci club is extremely balanced top-to-bottom and have to be considered one of the favorites to take home the title this week. 




Bryce Hubbart (2019, Windermere, Fla.) ended up taking the loss in the Power Baseball-CBA Marucci matchup but really pitched quite well, allowing a pair of runs (both on the aforementioned Hopson base hit), scattering three hits with no walks across four innings while picking up six strikeouts and throwing 72 percent strikes. Younger for the grade, Hubbart will not yet be 18 years old when the 2019 draft rolls around, and he’s got some projection remaining on his frame as well. Working up to 89 mph with his fastball from the left side, Hubbart sat consistently in the 85-88 mph range and showed the ability to generate angle to the plate while working the pitch to both sides. He also showed the ability to manipulate his curveball shape, thrown in the 70-73 mph range, ranging from a 1-to-7 shaped truer curveball that he could land for strikes to a sharper, more swing-and-miss offering on a 2-to-8 shape. Hubbart is committed to Florida State. 

Much like Hubbart, Davis Heller (2019, Gilbert, Ariz.) was the victim of a tough-luck loss on Thursday, as the veritable 6-foot-8 giant pitched quite well for Wilson Sandlot in their 3-0 loss to US Elite. Heller allowed one run over his four innings, racking up nine strikeouts though allowing five walks as well. As is true with 99 percent of pitchers with his length and overall height, Heller occasionally struggles to control his body enough through his movements to repeat his delivery, which can cause lapses in fastball command. He worked up to 90 mph early on with his fastball, throwing straight downhill from an elevated slot, creating as much or more plane to the plate than anyone else in the class, making the fastball impossible to lift when commanded to the bottom of the zone. He’ll yank across and cut the fastball at times as well, nothing overly problematic at this juncture but something to watch moving forward as well. His curveball was thrown mostly in the 70-73 mph range and while there are some inconsistencies, he does show the ability to generate spin and the pitch possesses solid average projection. 




One of the better games of the day took place between Baseball Northwest and the Sticks Baseball Academy, with the Sticks pulling out a 3-0 win late. Markevian Hence (2020, Pine Bluff, Ark.) was absolutely sensational in the win, throwing a complete game shutout with 12 strikeouts while allowing only 4 hits and a single walk. Hence is a bit undersized by righthanded pitching prospect standards but his athleticism on the mound as well as his arm speed both stand out, as he did a pretty solid job of holding velocity deep into the game. He worked up to 91 mph early on with the fastball, pounding the zone at 86-89 mph for most of the game, and he probably could have just dominated with his fastball given the command of the pitch as well as the life it features. He worked in quality changeup with good fade and arm speed replication, and also showed a curveball that, as he threw it harder and harder, got better and better. The best one this evaluator saw came at 75 mph with sharp, late bite; and it, along with the changeup, has a potentially above-average future as he continues to refine it. 

On the other side, Stuart Flesland (2019, Colbert, Wash.) pitched quite well before allowing the go-ahead runs in the final inning, and showed off impressive upside. In our first real look at Flesland in nearly three years since his performance at the 2015 Northwest Showcase, he’s added 18 miles per hour to his top fastball, as well as about eight inches and 40 pounds to his frame…amazing what puberty can do to a teenager. He worked up to 88 mph on at least one gun early on, settling into the 84-87 mph range for the majority of the outing, pounding the strike zone and walking no one while picking up eight strikeouts. The arm action is very clean and efficient and his body projects well moving forward, and he does a pretty solid job creating angles to the plate with his fastball when commanded down in the zone. He throws a bit of a frisbee slider that varies in both shape and effectiveness, but there is undoubtedly feel to spin the baseball there. He sort of exploded onto the draft scene in the past couple weeks as a solid follow in the Northwest area, and he’ll be monitored closely both at Area Codes next month as well as into the spring. 

– Brian Sakowski
 
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 1/27/2026

MLK East Scout Notes Recap
Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘28 OF Jakob Groeschel (OH) continues to impress with the bat on the circuit, picked up 2 2Bs in the first game today. Really athletic, went 4.4 on turn; easy to dream on all the traits. #MLKEast @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/wOIwnGKnkg — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) January 17, 2026 2028 OF Jakob Groeschel (Springfield, Ohio) broke out at this event last year hitting a casual .909, and although he didn’t turn in quite the same performance, he hit a strong .462 with 4 extra-base hits, 5 walks, 5 bags and only struck out once. He’s a pretty dynamic athlete who can do a lot of things well, but the bat is the calling card as he just lives on the barrel and has no problem handling all kinds of pitching. It’s a simple swing, but he’s got fast hands and he can really impact the ball without being overly physical yet.  2030 RHP Michael Vazquez...
Read More
College | Rankings | 3/4/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 4

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
The 2026 college baseball season is starting to reveal its early storylines, and across the Division II and Division III landscape a few programs have already forced their way into the spotlight. From the blistering start by the Pittsburg State Gorillas baseball that rocketed them to the top of the rankings, to the steadily rising championship ambitions of the Taylor Trojans baseball, the national picture is beginning to take shape. In Division III, heavyweight programs like the Trinity Tigers baseball and the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks baseball have already traded blows in one of the season’s first statement series, while emerging challengers such as the Keene State Owls baseball are looking to turn early momentum into a breakout year. With many teams still just getting their seasons underway, the rankings remain fluid, but the early results are already giving us clues...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 3/4/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 4

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Another week down as we get into conference play in parts of the nation. This week is led by Chipola at No. 1 with an impressive 24-1 record. Walters State drops to No. 2 at 16-3 and Florida SouthWestern State College (17-5) follows closely behind. Powerhouse programs  McLennan Community College (11-2) and Johnson County Community College (18-2) round out the top five, while one-loss teams Fresno City, Ohlone, and Cloud County are quickly climbing into the national conversation. With traditional Texas powers, West Coast contenders, and deep Florida Juco rosters all in the mix, the race for Grand Junction is already taking shape.   Rk. Team Record 1 Chipola (FL) 24-1 2 Walters State (TN) 16-3 3 Florida Southwestern (FL) 17-5 4 McLennan (TX) 11-2 5 Johnson County (KS) 18-2 6 Gaston (NC) 20-2 7 Blinn (TX) 12-6 8 Florence-Darlington (SC) 18-5 9 Northwest Florida (FL) 16-8 10...
Read More
High School | Rankings | 3/3/2026

High School Top 50 Update: March 3

Tyler Russo
Article Image
As we get rolling deeper into the spring here in the southern states, other states are only a few weeks away from their seasons beginning and some are even starting the day this will be posted. We’ve concluded the first major event on the high school schedule, the PG High School Showdown, and it was an epic weekend in Hoover. The event was littered with talent and these rankings reflect just that. St. John Bosco (CA) holds onto the first spot in this update and are being pushed by an IMG Academy (FL) team that’s 8-0 after winning the High School Showdown as well as beating two preseason top-10 teams in the first few weeks of the season. Orange Lutheran (CA) holds onto the No. 3 spot after a 1-0 start to the year and just a few weeks away from NHSI. A trio of Florida schools follow Olu in South Walton (FL), fresh off a win at the HS Showdown, Venice (FL), a surging team...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 3/3/2026

PG & RaceTrac Expand Partnership

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME AND RACETRAC ANNOUNCE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, March 3, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced an expanded partnership with RaceTrac, naming the convenience store brand the Official Convenience Store of Perfect Game in Georgia and Florida. The enhanced relationship significantly broadens RaceTrac’s presence across Perfect Game’s premier tournament venues and digital platforms, deepening its engagement with players, families, coaches and fans throughout two of the most active youth baseball markets in the country.   As part of the expanded agreement, RaceTrac will launch a robust...
Read More
College | Story | 3/3/2026

College Players of the Week: March 3

Craig Cozart
Article Image
March 3 Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Cider Canon, OF, Duke  The Duke Blue Devils (11-3) went through massive changes in the offseason, with a new coaching staff and heavy roster turnover like is often seen in the college game today.  That hasn’t held them back as they have kind of flown under the radar on their way to a tie for the most wins in the nation.  They won 4 out 5 games last week and Cider Canon was the driving force behind their offensive onslaught.  The 5-11/180 outfielder from San Marino, CA put together an incredible week collecting 9 hits in 14 at-bats, good for a .643 BA, scoring 7 runs, with 3 walks, 4 home runs and driving in a total of 10 runs.  After a successful couple years at Davidson College, Cider made the trip north to Durham and has fit right into the Blue Devil’s high-octane offense.  For the season, he is...
Read More
High School | General | 3/2/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Days 2-3

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
High School Showdown Event Page | High School Showdown Preview High School Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1 An extended look at ‘26 3B/RHP Coleman Borthwick (FL)… 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 8 K, 0 BB #PGShowdown @SWseahawks @Florida_PG @PG_Draft https://t.co/IHJFWFbn4T pic.twitter.com/I2izGcEdyA — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 28, 2026 Coleman Borthwick (2026, Freeport, Fla.) was excellent over the weekend, securing MVP honors and delivering one of the best starts of the event on the mound. At 6-foot-6, 255-pounds, Borthwick is an ultra-physical prospect and one of the top two-way prospects in the draft. The Auburn signee drew the biggest crowd of MLB scouts in attendance as there were around 50 or 60 so lined up behind home plate on Friday morning. Borthwick was nothing short of dominant, striking out eight hitters and...
Read More
College | Rankings | 3/2/2026

College Top 25: March 2

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Three weeks in and we are beginning to see some separation across the country.  The quality and depth, or lack thereof, are becoming evident and the conference segment for several conferences starts up this weekend.  Midweek games continue to be a tossup and only the teams that are strong on both sides of the ball have been able to maintain momentum.  We have a new No. 1 in this week’s poll as UCLA (9-2) has already accumulated 5-wins against teams that are currently or were previously ranked in the Top 25.  With last weekend’s sweep of No. 17 Tennessee (8-3), Texas A&M (10-1) and No. 4 Mississippi State (11-1) at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series, the Bruins leap now No. 2 LSU (11-1) and No. 3 Georgia Tech (11-1) to take over the top spot.  The Texas Longhorns (11-0) are up to No. 5 as one of only 3-remaining undefeated teams in the nation,...
Read More
High School | General | 2/27/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1

Tyler Russo
Article Image
High School Showdown Event Page | High School Showdown Preview ‘27 1B Frank Thomas (FL) goes liftoff once again for 2nd HR, again in the L on L. Leveraging w/ such easy juice. #PGShowdown @IMGABaseball @Florida_PG https://t.co/BgWiDyMiMo pic.twitter.com/IC6sdAkhmT — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 26, 2026 Frank Thomas III (2027, Sarasota, Fl.) was all over a breaking ball in the first inning of an IMG Academy offensive explosion, making it back-to-back-to-back homers to start the game. He did not turn back from there, homering on two more occasions. The ball explodes off the barrel with low effort strength and he showed the ability to manipulate the barrel to lift with authority. Thomas III is built strong and physical and he is just beginning to tap into that huge power upside. He showed no issues handling left on left matchups, with his first two homers coming...
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 2/26/2026

PG Draft: Early Season Underclass Performers

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Dax Whitney (@BeaverBaseball) showed LOUD stuff. FB up to 100, cruised at 95-98. Pair of plus secondaries. CB at 77-79 (2923) with sharp, 12-6 action. Firm SL at 89-91 (2714) with bite. Flashed fading CH at 87-88 (1425). Ranked No. 1 on the ‘27 board @PG_Draft So./‘27 elig. pic.twitter.com/9PNbjJ53Zo — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 13, 2026 RHP Dax Whitney, Oregon State (‘27 elig.) Whitney may not just be the best arm in next year’s class, he may be the best arm in the entire country right now. The right-handed sits 98 mph with the heater and has been up to 100 mph. Both the slider and curveball are plus offerings that he spins extremely well. Whitney will mix in a quality Gavin changeup that sits in the upper-80’s and has also introduced a new cutter. All the pitches come from the exact same release point and jump out of the hand. He...
Read More
High School | General | 2/26/2026

PGHS Showdown: Academies Scout Notes

AJ Denny
Article Image
Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) going WAY out to right. Rhythmic approach and smooth swing get into big time power. #Mountaineers commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/qyDaIPxIol — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) First live look at the left-handed hitting West Virgina commit. The power is real, launched two long homers in game action this weekend. Easy mover with very clean path with sky high offensive ceiling if he continues to show like this. Swing is built for power and lofted pull side impacts.    CJ Alfano (‘26 NY) long PS bomb this morning. Just leaning on everything that’s thrown over the heart. #WVU commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/4lGnhOEyrl — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Cj Alfano (‘26 NY)Just an impossible out throughout the weekend....
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.