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Tournaments  | Story | 10/6/2018

World Underclass Day 2 Notes

David Rawnsley
Perfect Game Tournament Staff
Vincent Cervino
Taylor Weber
Greg Gerard
Photo: Dylan Crews (Perfect Game)

2018 WWBA Underclass World Championship: Daily Leaders | Day 1 Notes

High-end two-way talent Brandon Eike (2020, Powhatan, Va.) started on the mound for Canes American pitching very well and topping out at 88 mph with his fastball and batted three hole for his club connecting on a very loud double to the left-center field gap. Eike is a strong player who can make an impact on both sides of the ball as he did on Friday. At the plate, Eike has impact strength at the point of contact with the ability to drive the baseball to either gap with potential power. As the starting pitcher, the Virginia Tech commit creates lots of life to his fastball from an extended three-quarters arm slot living in the upper-80s as well. Eike bats in the middle of the order for a talented Canes American team and started their first pool play game on the mound giving a good indication that he is a true talent on both sides of the baseball.

Not many teams had more strikes thrown for them than the Scorpions did with the combination of both starter Nick Romagnola (2020, Bradenton, Fla.) and reliever Lucas Ismaili (2020, Dunedin, Fla.) who each topped out at 87 mph with their fastballs.

Romagnola, a South Florida commit has a frame that one can dream on moving forward and an easy effort delivery that maintained velocity primarily in the 84-86 mph range. Standing at a believable 6-foot-3, 197-pounds, the future Bull pounded the strike zone to either side of the plate mostly with his fastball attacking hitters with the pitch. He flashed a curveball that shows good potetial with short break and tight spin when thrown with similar fastball conviction. Romagnola throws with low effort and has an ideal frame to dream on making him a promising young arm to follow moving forward.

Ismaili is unique in his own way as he showed more promising two-way potential batting in the second spot in the Scorpions batting order and collecting a total of three hard hits in his team’s double header including a pair of doubles to each gap showing a smooth stroke and loose wrist to the point of contact. The uncommitted righthander was as mentioned up to 87 mph on the mound with a short slider to go with and pounded the strike zone just like his teammate Romagnola. Ismaili has plenty of arm strength to his wiry 6-foot frame with room to fill and projects well both on the mound and at the plate.

One of the more elite hitters not only in this event but in the entire 2020 class is righthanded hitting outfielder Dylan Crews (2020, Longwood, Fla.). The LSU commit has outstanding hand speed to his swing generating some of the best bat speed in the country. Crews got the offense going early on in the tournament in the Scorpions Founders Club’s first game by squaring up a first pitch fastball for a triple to the left-center field gap. The ball makes a different type of sound coming off of his barrel with incredible exit velocities as this particular hit did. Crews has been on the PG circuit or several years now and has done nothing been rake at each event that he attends.




Not many at his age look the part of a big-time shortstop like Miami commit Yohandy Morales (2020, Miami, Fla.) does. Standing at a lean 6-foot-4, 180-pounds, Morales moves well in the middle infield making nimble actions to the baseball with a clean glove and plenty of arm strength across the diamond. On one slow roller in Friday’s game Morales came charging in making the play look extremely easy fielding the ball cleanly and making a perfect throw to first base on the run with ease showcasing his athleticism. At the plate is where Morales did his damage for the Banditos tripling to dead center field on a long fly ball that jumped off of his bat. His swing is simple with an easy trigger and plenty of juice. Morales is a fun player to watch in the 2020 class and is only going to get better as he matures.

Morales’s teammate Eduardo Garza (2021, Rio Grande City, Texas) collected three hard hits on the day Friday. The young 2021 graduate is playing up in this week’s event and holding his own and playing well in the two spot of the order for a loaded Banditos Scout Team. Garza repeatedly hit the baseball on the barrel to his pull side getting the head of the bat out in front and turning the barrel over well. Garza is an uncommitted primary third baseman with a contact oriented approach that he executed well on this day and a line drive swing plane.

During the last time slot of games at Lee County Player Development Complex, Jackson Boyd (2020, Braselton, Ga.) made a loud impression as he connected on a sixth inning home run to his pull side. The leadoff hitter for Team Elite-Braves Scout Team has a compact frame with well-proportioned strength throughout the build. The strength at impact shows up in his swing as he is able to hit the ball hard and on the barrel repeatedly. The swing is compact and direct staying short to the ball with good hand speed. An uncommitted 2020 graduate batting leadoff for a loaded 2020 team surely is worthy of note for the middle infielder from metro Atlanta.

– Greg Gerard



Early morning action on Friday saw the Staten Island Orioles Underclass playing at the complex at CenturyLink Park. The Orioles uncommitted catcher and cleanup hitter, Bill Minett (2020 Staten Island, N.Y.), had his considerable talents on display in both his club’s games. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound backstop is sturdy and athletic. He presents a low profile at the ready gives umpires a great view of all pitches. He has soft hands and shows advanced skill in framing pitches. His ability to transition and throw the baseball, especially to second base, is as good as any catcher in Fort Myers this weekend. Each throw he made during competition was on target. His pop time was below 2.0 throughout the day. He is the unquestioned field general of his club. At the plate, the solidly built Minett has a classic power righthanded hitter’s approach. He shows great plate discipline and never expands the zone. He gets his bat on plane and has a slugger’s lift at contact.

The Elite Squad Black’s Gavin Smith (2020, Cooper City, Fla.) had a big day at the dish as the toolsy American Heritage HS sophomore consistently barreled up numerous offerings during morning pool play action. The 6-foot, 170-pound righthanded hitter has a short, quick and compact swing and a gap-to-gap mentality. He also flashed some natural raw power. The quick-twitch, athletic Smith is also a plus runner who is very instinctive on the bases.

The East Cobb Astros 17u club has a number of very talented players in Southwest Florida this weekend and were led Friday morning by three standouts. Showing highly repeatable mechanics and a smooth, easy arm action was lefthanded pitcher, Carson Beavers (2020, Blue Ridge, Ga.). The 6-foot, 165-pound poised southpaw has a short takeaway and an extended finish that allowed him to pound the strike zone with an active 85-87 mph fastball. Although he showed a projectable curve ball warming up, Beavers stuck with his active fastball that has plus arm side run. He consistently missed bats during his impressive two-inning relief appearance.

Swinging a powerful bat for the Astros was Georgia Tech commit Brad Grenkoski (2020, Kennesaw, Ga.). The athletically gifted 6-foot-4, 195-pound Kell HS sophomore, is a solidly built, quick twitch athlete who brings considerable tools to the ballpark. He consistently barreled up baseballs throughout the day and flashed gap-to-gap raw power on more than one occasion. Grenkoski is also a plus runner who is both instinctive and aggressive. In addition to his advanced offensive talents, Grenkoski is also a very gifted center fielder who understands positioning, gets great jumps on balls hit in his direction and has a plus arm that is highly accurate.

Hitting behind Grenkoski in the very talented Astros 17u lineup is Ethan Stamps (2020, Madison, Ga.). Stamps is a powerfully built, 5-foot-11, 190-pound righthanded swinger who rarely gets cheated. He is very strong through his lower half and core and incorporates that power into every swing. He has a definitive slugger’s lift at contact and consistently gets his bat on plane and shows great lift at contact.

Not to be outdone by their older organizational brethren, the East Cobb Astros 16u team also had a big day at CenturyLink. The 16u Astros have a very deep offensive lineup. Brocker Way (2021, Loganville, GA) is the very talented leadoff hitter for the Astros 16U. The righthanded hitting left fielder understands his role at the top of the order and is very patient in and with his approach. He seemingly always had the count in his favor throughout the morning and was either on base via the walk or hit. He has a very balanced stance and a short, quick, compact stroke and a flat swing path. He consistently sprays line drives to all parts of the field and then uses his plus speed and aggressive running style to force the action by either stealing a bag of taking the extra base.

Mark Gallups (2021, Marietta, Ga.) took advantage of the traffic on the bases during his at-bats. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound righthanded swinger showed a very quick bat and solid gap-to-gap pop as he drove the ball to the big parts of the ballpark. He is also a gifted runner who uses his speed to take the extra bag.

Bryant Herring (2021, Hampton, Ga.) is a toolsy, quick-twitch player who had numerous gifts on display throughout morning play at CenturyLink. The Astros 16u center fielder is a gifted athlete who is an advanced defender.  He can also swing the bat. His natural defensive instincts allows the Dutchtown HS sophomore to play more shallow than most. He shows consistent plus average arm strength and throws that are firm and true. Herring truly shines with a bat in his hands. The lefthanded swinger flashed pull side pop and a very quick swing path. He consistently got his barrel to the ball and never expanded the zone. His disciplined approach and keen eye at the dish project to a much higher level. Lastly, and maybe most notably, Herring is an advanced runner with game-changing speed.

– Jerry Miller



Turning in a quick, efficient start during the morning slot over at Jet Blue was righthander Michael Schultz (2020, Vienna, Va.) as he needed just 44 pitches to get through three scoreless frames on the mound. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound starter pounded the zone nicely with his fastball in the 83-86 mph range throughout to go along with a hard breaking ball. The frame projects with a long and loose arm stroke through the back and Schultz does a nice job at staying online toward the plate and on time. Schultz was more around the zone than commanding it during the outing, but still didn’t allow a walk during his time on the mound and used his power, 12-to-6 breaking ball as a primary out-pitch. The breaker worked up to 73 mph with nice depth to the pitch and Schultz looks the part of an intriguing uncommitted arm at this juncture.

Canes Florida Prime edged out the win over the Richmond Braves in the morning and uncommitted outfielder Ian Farrow (2020, Merritt Island, Fla.) showed off some tools in the process. Farrow has a strong and twitchy 6-foot, 195-pound frame with a set of tools that have the potential for impact but are still a bit raw overall. He’s a very good athlete, he turned in a 4.6 second turn time from the right side, and certainly passes the initial eye test with loose actions and a good motor. Farrow was slated in right field and didn’t get a chance to show off the arm, but did hook a double down the pull-side line during his first at-bat of the game. The swing is a bit crude at times but there is present bat speed, which is enough to project upon given his athleticism and strength. He creates lift through the hand path, though the swing will get a bit too uphill at times as he keeps his hands very inside. It was a nice look at a quality uncommitted prospect and athlete on Friday morning.




After winning the MVP of the 15u WWBA in 2017 and showing off some impressive raw power at the PG Underclass AA Games, Slade Wilks (2020, Columbia, Miss.) got off on the right foot during the first game for the East Coast Sox on Friday. Wilks smoked two baseballs in his first two at-bats and was given an intentional pass on his third, and gave a glimpse of that significant impact strength.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound outfielder looks more of a football player than baseball, with impressive physicality and some grown-man strength in the batter’s box. The Southern Miss commit swings the bat hard and fast, as he maintains the barrel nicely through the hitting zone with lots of leverage created to pull the ball. Wilks’ ability to create backspin and jump off the barrel are both immediately evident as he ripped a line drive single on a first pitch fastball in at-bat number one and controlled the barrel to punish an opposite field, ground rule double in his second on a breaking ball. There is some swing-and-miss to his game as was shown later in the day during game two, but the power and impact strength is certainly notable at this point.

The Sox won their first game of the tournament and did so in very impressive fashion from a pitching standpoint as Aidan Keenan (2020, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) and Cade Watson (2020, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) combined for a no-hitter and racked up 11 strikeouts during the game.

Keenan was electric from the first pitch of the game as he worked up to 87 mph and in the mid-80s for the majority of the game. The arm stroke is clean through the back from a more over-the-top slot which does a good job at creating some plane when leveraging low in the strike zone. The uncommitted, 5-foot-10 righthander has some present arm speed too and delivers the baseball with intent upon release, however, what impressed most about Keenan’s performance was his breaking ball. The curveball had lots of power, velocity, and bite to it as the pitch worked in the upper-70s and Keenan alternated landing the pitch and burying it for chases. Watson followed Keenan and showed a bit of a different look, with a loose lefthanded arm stroke while working his fastball in the low-80s. Watson created some life on the fastball while showing a good feel for the breaking ball as well. The Sox went 2-0 during action on Friday and look to be in good position heading into Sunday’s final pool play game.

Perhaps the most impactful offensive contributor of the day, Carter Jensen (2021, Kansas City, Mo.) did nothing but mash baseballs during the Royals Scout Team’s doubleheader on Friday as Jensen collected five hits in two games including a double and a triple. The Missouri commit is an intriguing player for the overall class of 2021 as the profile is very bat-driven presently with juice in his lefthanded swing. Jensen has a very loose and easy trigger to start his swing and loads his weight hard onto the backside during the pre-pitch load. This allows him to create some serious impact juice and hard leverage to pull the ball but makes the swing and approach very high risk-high reward. Jensen saw a lot of the “reward” end of that spectrum with a couple of line drive singles, a hard hit double, and a smoked triple that one-hopped the pull-side wall. Jensen had a very loud day at the plate and should be monitored closely going forward.




Closing out the On Deck O’s second win on Friday afternoon was righthanded North Carolina commit Hayden Summers (2020, Greensboro, N.C.) as he ran his fastball up to 89 mph and showed a lot of swing-and-miss type stuff as he struck out seven batters over the final three innings. The righthanded pitcher has a pretty athletic delivery, with a strong present lower half, showing a quick arm stroke and an over the top slot. Summers loads on his backside nicely and creates an element of explosiveness through the release with intent as he attacked the strike zone with fastballs. The pitch worked mostly 86-88 mph and flashed some hard cutting life when working over to the glove side of the plate. Summers showed a couple of secondaries including a big breaking 12-to-6 curveball with good depth to it while also flashing a changeup with some arm side life that was thrown softer. Summers turned in a good look in an abbreviated performance and was a key piece for an On Deck team looking to make bracket play on Saturday.

One of the top-ranked prospects to take the mound on Friday was No. 203 Ben Hernandez (2020, Chicago, Ill.) and the University of Illinois-Chicago commit had a tough first inning, but showed off a lot of impressive stuff on the mound. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect certainly passes the initial eye test and works well with three pitches, strikes, and flashes a couple of put-away secondary pitches.

Hernandez tossed four innings with a clean and loose arm stroke while working downhill nicely upon release. He falls off to the first base side sometimes, which affects his ability to work to the arm side, but he showed three pitches that were all impressive at various points. The fastball worked up to 89 mph but sat 86-88 mph pretty consistently. He throws from an extended arm slot which created some tail when working low, but caused the fastball to flatten out at times when working up in the strike zone. Hernandez spun off a couple of impressive breaking balls that flashed bite, but often worked as a get me over pitch when locating it in the strike zone. Hernandez’ changeup showed two different looks, one in the upper-70s with a lot of life and more of a firm, straight changeup in the 80-82 mph range. Hernandez showed flashes of very impressive stuff, in an inconsistent overall performance, but still remains a top prospect for the class and an arm to monitor closely.

There were a number of hitters who stood out in an 8-7 affair between Dirtbags Bad Company and the Canes Black as both offenses were hot throughout the game.

Andrew Fricks (2020, Pikeville, N.C.) of the Canes showed off some intriguing contact skills and some twitch near the middle of the lineup. Fricks displayed some barrel control and hitterish qualities with multiple hits, including a directed opposite field line drive for a successful hit and run. The uncommitted outfielder has a short, controlled swing path with quickness to his hands and stroke but does a good job at putting the ball in play off the barrel of the bat. He’s also pretty athletic in the outfield and moves well to batted balls.

Christopher Boyd (2020, Lewisville, N.C.)and  Ryan Wilson (2020, Durham, N.C) both had big days in an offense that put up eight runs on 11 hits. The duo look the part of two impressive uncommitted prospects on a very talented Dirtbags team.

Boyd is an athletic, up-the-middle type with a twitchy 6-foot, 160-pound frame as a prospect. Boyd has clean and loose actions throughout his movements with loose hands at the dish that bodes well with his ability to create some whip through the zone. The uncommitted middle infielder operates best on a present gap-to-gap approach and the power is very projectable onto the frame and should continue to grow with additional strength.

Wilson showed off some juice to pull with a strong righthanded swing that generates a good amount of leverage through the point of contact. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound uncommitted prospect found the barrel of the bat, hard, multiple times with two doubles on the afternoon that included a long ground rule double that just barely missed going out to the pull side of the field.

FTB Tucci Berryhill heads into Saturday with a 2-0 record and game two starter Albert Padron (2020, Tampa, Fla.) had a big role to play in that record. The uncommitted prospect tossed four no-hit frames on the afternoon and the 6-foot-3, 170-pound arm certainly looked the part of a Division I arm late on Friday night. Padron has good balance with a loose arm stroke and ran his fastball in the 83-86 mph range during the game. He worked the strike zone okay, he walked three hitters, but did a good job mixing in his breaking ball which showed real potential. Padron struck out eight batters and showed a good feel for manipulating shape on the breaker, with big depth that he could land or late bite for swings and misses in the mid-70s. Four no hit frames will stand out anywhere and Padron performed well in front of numerous college coaches.

– Vinnie Cervino



East Coast Sox twins Ryan Bruno and Jaden Bruno (2020, Wellington, Fla.) aren't identical twins, with the most obvious difference being that Ryan is lefthanded and Jaden is righthanded, but both share significant pitching talent and commitments to Stanford.

Ryan started Friday in an intense 2-1 win over the Mid-Atlantic Rookies and threw four excellent innings, striking out eight and allowing only one hit while using only 53 pitches. The loose and tall southpaw worked in the 88-91 mph range from a mid three-quarters arm slot while occasionally mixing in a 77 mph slider and very deceptive 75-78 mph changeup that just died at the plate a few times. Bruno looks like one of the top lefties in the 2020 class and has bumped his top velocity up from 85 mph to the present 91 mph in just the last few months.

Brother Jaden threw 1 2/3 innings in relief, working in the 85-89 mph range with his fastball from more of a drop and drive delivery and a higher arm slot. His 72-74 mph curveball had very good spin at times with sharp 11-to-5 action to it.

Mid-Atlantic lefthander Connor Vucovich (2020, Lititz, Pa.) also threw four effective innings in the starting role, striking out nine East Coast hitters and making a number of very talented lefthanded hitters look befuddled with one of the best curveballs this scout has seen a while. Vucovich's hammer was in the low-70s with huge sharp 1-to-7 shape and was tunneled very well with his fastball. The present issue was that Vucovich had much better command of his curveball than his mid-80's fastball and ended up walking four hitters and throwing 89 pitches in his four innings. College coaches note that Vucovich is a 4.0 student with no present college commitment.

Both teams’ catchers also stood out while handling top flight arms. East Coast receiver Sam Contacos (2021, Irwin, Pa.) showed lots of lower half quickness and athleticism along with firm hands receiving the ball, especially considering his relatively young age. He has a firm athletic build at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds and projects well physically. It was hard to miss that he also hosed the only two runners who reached base against Ryan Bruno with perfect throws to second base.

Mid Atlantic's Bryce Behmer (2020, Lancaster, Pa.) already has a college scholarship in hand to Kentucky and is ranked 275th in the PG class rankings. He showed a solid average big league arm behind the plate, had no problem handling Vucovich's plus curveball when it missed in the dirt and took the best swing of his teammates against Ryan Bruno, driving a ball deep to centerfield in his first at-bat while hitting in the two hole.

Righthander Connor Pillsbury (2020, Inverness, Fla.) of 5 Star National attended the 2018 PG Jr. National Showcase as a primary catcher but is now a primary pitcher with a commitment to Florida. He was dominant in a four-inning outing, striking out six hitters over four shutout innings and throwing only 53 pitches. Pillsbury has a multi-part hands-over-head delivery with some back leg collapse moving forward but has the athleticism to keep things his consistent and repeat his mechanics. His fastball sat in the 87-89 mph range and his 74 mph curveball was sharp and tight. There is pretty much no doubt that the 6-foot-3, 185-pound athlete is going to keep adding velocity as he fills out and gets more primary time on the mound.

Elite Squad returns to the 2018 WWBA Underclass World Championship as the defending champions and have an outstanding roster again this year. Their leadoff hitter and shortstop is Jordan Carrion (2020, Miami, Fla.), the 63rd-ranked player in the PG 2020 class rankings. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Miami commit is an outstanding defensive player with 6.6-second speed in the 60-yard dash, 90 mph arm strength off the mound and the highest level instincts in the field. Like the highest level shortstops, he has the ability to slow the game down while playing very fast and is always in the right place on the right hop with the correct angle through the ball. Carrion still has some strength to gain until his offense approaches his defense but his defense will continue to make him one of the top prospects in the class.

Elite Squad moved their record to 2-0 Friday morning with an easy 9-1 win. Lefthander Nelson Berkwich (2020, Boca Raton, Fla.) got the start, spotting a mid-80s fastball to both sides of the plate to go with a sharp mid-70s slider. Berkwich, who is a Vanderbilt commit, has a drifting delivery that would seem to leave his arm behind but he has a very compact and quick arm action that gives hitters very little time to pick up the ball. He's been in the 87-89 mph range in the past at PG events.

Berkwich was relieved by righthander Juhlien Gonzalez (2021, Southwest Ranches, Fla.), a primary third baseman who is ranked 65th in the 2021 class rankings and already has a commitment to Florida International. Gonzalez looked solid on the mound for a sophomore, needing only 42 pitches to get 11 outs and working in the 83-86 mph range with a big breaking low-70s curveball.

D-Bat Elite righthander Nathan Haberthier (2020, Liberty Township, Ohio) threw two near perfect innings in a short start for D-Bat Elite and looked like he could have cruised a complete game shutout if given the chance. Haberthier, who is uncommitted, is listed at 6-foot-5, 205-pounds but that looks to be understating his size, as he's a physical presence on the mound. He has an exceptionally low effort delivery that produced a steady 87-89 mph fastball and mixed in some quality 77 mph sliders that was a swing-and-miss pitch for him. Haberthier was 83-87 mph while throwing 11 innings and only allowing one run at the 2018 WWBA 16u National Championship in July and it's easy to see him adding plenty more velocity the end of his senior year.

Vipers Baseball righthander Nick Brown (2020, Madison, Ala.) attracted a good crowd of college coaches to a non-complex field at 8 a.m. this morning and they were well rewarded. Brown, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound uncommitted junior who also sports a 4.0-plus GPA in the classroom, worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings, throwing 85-88 mph for the most part from an over-the-top arm slot that created good arm-side running action in addition to its downhill angle. He threw a 73-77 mph slider that he showed good feel for changing speeds with and was especially adept at using as a back door pitch to lefthanded hitters.

It was a very short look in a one sided game but North East Baseball catcher Kyle Lavigne (2021, Bedford, N.H.) is sure to be a player that gets plenty more looks. The first reason is self-explanatory: his older brother Grant, a lefthanded hitting first baseman, was the 42nd overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Colorado Rockies and hit .350-8-38 with 45 walks in 59 games in his short season debut. The second and more important reason is that the younger brother is a very strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound righthanded hitter with plenty of bat speed from a short and direct swing. Lavigne showed very good raw arm strength for his age on a couple of throws but like all catchers that size, will have to continually work on his lower half flexibility and quickness.

Center fielder Daryl Carney (2020, Coral Springs, Fla.) is a quick-twitch athlete for the Banditos Florida Prospects who looked like he had a combination of prospect level bat speed and plus running speed on a projectable 6-foot-2, 175 pound build. A righthanded hitter, Carney showed his power potential with a long foul home run on one swing but also picked up a couple of two strike base hits by shortening up his swing and moving the ball around the field. He ran a 4.39 abbreviated turn on one hit and definitely looked like he had the body life and bounce of a plus runner. Carney is also a 4.0 student who is uncommitted.

This scout saw Twins Cities Baseball Academy righthander Blake Mahmood (2020, Eden Prairie, Minn.) at the PG Great Lakes Indoor Showcase in February and he looked strong while throwing 82-85 mph. A well-built 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete, Mahmood has definitely taken the next step forward since then, working mostly 87-89 mph for five one-hit innings to go with a 74 mph slurve-type curveball with some bite to it. Mahmood works from the stretch and has a very long stride out front that will remind older fans of Tom Seaver and while that occasionally gives him vertical command issues, he did only walk one hitter in five innings. His fastball got on hitters quickly and broke some bats when on the inside half. He is uncommitted.

All Out Baseball righthander Luke Vaks (2020, Mays Landing, N.J.) has been a primary middle infielder for much of his baseball career and looks like a middle infielder with an athletic and live 6-foot-1, 180-pound build. He throws from a mid three-quarters arm slot that creates lots of movement on a steady 85-87 mph fastball that he threw consistently to the bottom of the zone for strikes. He judiciously mixed in a 77 mph true slider at key counts effectively and showed some polished feel for pitching over his five-inning stint. It's easy to see him as a quality sinker/slider starter at the college level, especially as he adds more strength. Vaks is not committed at present.

– David Rawnsley



Team Elite Prime-Braves Scout Team fought to a tie in their first game of the weekend, pulling even with a solid CBC Elite team 2-2. Wyatt Crowell (2020, Cumming, Ga.) got the start, and while he ended up with a no-decision, he still showed the deception and power breaking ball we’ve come to expect from him. He’s an athletically-built lefthander who projects physically, and has some of the better funk/deception to his mechanical profile in the class of 2020. He as an extremely crossfire delivery, closed off in his stride and throwing across his body, hiding the ball well and releasing from an extended low three-quarters slot, creating outstanding angles to the plate. The fastball peaked at 87 mph a few times, settling into the 83-86 mph range, and showing as a particularly impactful pitch when he was able to throw it across the entirety of the strike zone to his glove side. The breaking ball is the equalizer here, thrown in the mid-70s with the ability to sweep it across the zone and land it for a strike, as well as to bury it down and out of the zone. He got several swings-and-misses over the top of the pitch, as it features late, two-plane break with sharpness and spin, and it projects to be a weapon for him vs. hitters of either handedness.

Alex Edmondson (2020, Simpsonville, S.C.) came on for a quick one-inning appearance late in the game to preserve the tie, needing only eight pitches to punch out two and throw a perfect seventh inning. He’s an ideally-built righthander, long and lean with excellent projection, and he worked 90-91 mph with his fastball, exploding out of his hand from an extended slot, and also showing the ability to spin a quality breaking ball with slurvy, albeit sharp break. He’s arguably as high an upside arm in the 2020 class, and we’ll look forward to seeing him throw again later this weekend should Team Elite make it to the playoffs.

Jordan Walker (2020, Stone Mountain, Ga.) is a two-way player committed to Duke, and it’s up for discussion as to whether he possesses better upside as a hitter or as a pitcher, as he’s extremely talented both ways. He’s also an extremely athletic and capable infield defender, playing mostly third base (where he projects best), showing off the twitch, hands, arm strength and quick release necessary to be an impact defender at the hot corner long term.

Team Elite Prime-Braves Scout Team won their second game of the day to move to 1-0-1 on the weekend via a 9-2 decision over Dig In Baseball on Friday afternoon. Carter Holton (2021, Guyton, Ga.) got the win, as the Vanderbilt commit continued to show the extremely advanced pitchability and overall stuff we’ve come to expect from him. With an easy delivery and clean arm stroke, Holton worked in the 84-87 mph range with his fastball, hiding the ball well through the back and otherwise pounding the strike zone with the fastball, creating both good angle and good life to the pitch. His breaking ball is likewise advanced, thrown mostly in the 70-74 mph range with late, sharp break on a 2-to-8 shape, giving him two extremely advanced pitches right now to go along with ever-developing feel for his changeup.

On the offensive side, Jack Bulger (2020, Bowie, Md.) has shown advanced tools both in terms of hit and power throughout the course of his development on our radar and, in addition to being a quality defensive catcher, has shown absolutely no signs of slowing down with the bat. His strength and bat speed are what stand out immediately in his swing, generating significant torque in his lower half as well as leverage off of his front side, seemingly barreling up the ball with authority every time he decides to swing. In this game, he drilled a rising liner about 2 feet over the shortstop’s outstretched glove that was hit so hard it nearly went all the way to the wall, picking up a double in the process. Another Vanderbilt commit, he’s one of the more exciting prospects to monitor in the class of 2020.




The MLB Breakthrough team moved to 2-0 on Saturdays and Marquis Grissom, Jr. (2020, Atlanta, Ga.) was among the star attractions to the game, as the young righthander possesses absolutely sky-high upside in the 2020 class. With an outstanding frame and tremendous physical projection, Grissom moves well on the mound and shows his athleticism through his delivery, working downhill extremely well and creating steep plane to the plate. The arm stroke is efficient and well-timed for the most part, working up to 91 mph a few times with his fastball, sitting in the 87-90 mph range and within the zone for the most part. The fastball features quality late life to the arm side, though the life is a bit inconsistent, the fastball shows the makings of a truly plus pitch moving forward. His breaking ball was thrown firmly in the 76-78 mph range or so, with a bit of a varying shape, looking more like it wants to be a slider but still developing in terms of that power, late finish that it shows flashes of. He’s an extremely exciting prospect right now with obvious bloodlines, and has the makings of a potential high draft choice in 2020.

Ed Howard (2020, Lynwood, Ill.), the shortstop of the MLB Breakthrough Series team, has made a case as one of the top shortstops in the class and continues to show as that. He has an excellent combination of size and athleticism and already has the advanced ability to make tough plays look easy in the middle infield to go along with a big time weapon in his arm. He’s also an impact performer offensively, with a quick, strong swing that produces plenty of bat speed and strength off the barrel, showing the ability to cover the plate well and get his barrel on pitches all over the zone.

Team Ohio Pro Select picked up a win on Friday afternoon at Lee County Player Development Complex, with Louisville commit Skylar Brown (2020, Grand Rivers, Ky.) picking up the win in an abbreviated two-inning appearance, and we should see him again later on in the tournament should Team Ohio advance to the playoff round. Brown is a well-built prospect with strength through his build, staying compact through his delivery for the most part and doing a fair job of throwing strikes. His fastball peaked at 90 mph with good arm-side life, sitting more in the 86-88 mph range, showing off advanced feel for his changeup as well, replicating his fastball arm speed and generating excellent fade out of the same tunnel as the fastball, giving him a very solid fastball/changeup combo to go along with solid feel for a sweeping breaking ball as well.

The Canes National 17 club moved to 1-0 late on Friday night via a 6-3, hard-fought decision over DuPage Training Academy at Terry Park, and did it with a very good team effort of several guys contributing, both on the mound and at the plate. Lukas Cook (2020, Knoxville, Tenn.) struck the decisive blow, driving a bomb of a double over the left fielder’s head with the bases loaded, clearing the bases and picking up three RBI, which obviously ended up being the difference in the game. He’s a strong, righthanded hitting prospect whose swing actually reminds this evaluator of 2018 first rounder Alec Bohm’s, and that swing when combined with his present physical strength gives him some of the top righthanded raw power in the class.

Angelo Deer (2020, West Orange, N.J.) got the start for the Canes and was very good over his 4 1/3 innings, scattering four hits and picking up five strikeouts while walking no one and throwing 80 percent strikes over his 50 pitches. As one can see easily by looking at the numbers, Deer just pounded the strike zone with his fastball, which peaked at 87 mph and cruised more in the 82-85 mph range. The arm is quick and loose and he extends well through release, leveraging the ball down in the zone and showing the ability to get to both sides with the pitch, mixing in a slurvy breaking ball for strikes as well.

– Brian Sakowski



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Tournaments | Story | 12/14/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2030
Jheremy Brown
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The youngest of the classes that we'll look at for the best defenders in the country, this group is loaded with guys that play the game well better than what their age says. From athleticism to arm strength, it's quite impressive what these guys can do already. C Jhunior Jose Cordero (Boca Raton, Fla.) Cordero has all the traits imaginable behind the dish including elite strength and athleticism in his 5-foot-10 160-pound frame. The switch-hitting catcher came in at No. 3 nationally in the recently updated class of 2030 rankings. He has been clocked at 1.91 sec from home to second base with legitimate arm strength up to 78 mph. With advanced abilities at every position, the primary backstop Cordero is simply a special talent on the defensive side of the ball. He has tons of quickness in his hands and lower-half, which allows for fast and fluid transfers behind the plate. Cordero’s...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
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College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
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Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2026

Tyler Henninger
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The Class of 2026 is one of the deeper prep classes that we have seen in a couple of years. With that being said, there is plenty of talent on the defensive side. Let’s take a look at some of the best defenders in the class.  C: Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (Memphis, TN) Brick is a newcomer to the class after reclassifying, but immediately became the top backstop. Extremely advanced actions are shown behind the dish with impressive athleticism to go with it. Brick showcases big time arm strength and is consistently accurate on throw downs. He can make playing the position look extremely easy at times. Brick possesses all the defensive tools needed to be a premier catcher.  1B: AJ Curry, University City HS (San Diego, CA) Curry has a bigger and stronger frame with good strength throughout. He has a well-proportioned build that serves him well on the dirt. He’s...
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General | Blog | 12/10/2025

Youth Baseball Exec. DeDonatis III Joins PG

Jim Salisbury
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Youth Baseball Executive Don DeDonatis III Joins PG By Jim Salisbury  It’s free-agent season in baseball and Perfect Game has landed a big one. Don DeDonatis III joined PG as a consultant in November. The DeDonatis name is synonymous with youth baseball and softball. Along with his dad, Don Jr., DeDonatis helped build USSSA into a big hitter in the game. He brings decades of experience and knowledge to PG. “We all acknowledge that Donny has moved on from USSSA,” PG CEO Rob Ponger said. “This is a new chapter for him and we hope both sides take advantage of it to help youth sports in general. “The DeDonatis name has a legacy attached to it and we’re hoping that Donny is going to help us. PG is a growing brand and he’s on board to help.” DeDonatis was CEO at USSSA from 2018 until his exit from the company two years ago. “I’m...
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