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Tournaments  | Story  | 10/11/2018

World Championship Pool Preview

Patrick Ebert      Jheremy Brown      Vincent Cervino      Greg Gerard     
Photo: Dylan DeLucia (Perfect Game)

2018 WWBA World Championship Event Page

All 22 pools, A through V, for the 2018 WWBA World Championship will be released and previewed over the span of two days on Thursday, October 12 and Friday, October 13. Be sure to check out the Perfect Game homepage as well as the main event page for links to the full tournament schedule, standings, playoff bracket, daily scout recaps and feature stories leading up to and carrying through this year's WWBA World Championship to be held at the Roger Dean Sports Complex in Jupiter, Fla., Oct. 18-22.

Event schedule: 2018 WWBA World Championship Schedule

Click on the team name link to view each team's schedule and roster.



Pool A
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
All Star Baseball Academy 2019 Bryce Behmer
 275
 2020 Mason Fluharty 500
 2019 West Chester, PA
FTB 55 Tucci
 Juan "JJ" Gonzalez-Molina 500 2019 Hamilton Martinez 384 2019 Kissimmee, FL
Georgia PG Texas Orange Kristian Campbell 48 2021 Treyton Rank 96 2021 Marietta, GA
Texas Rangers Scout Team Brett Baty 48 2019 Blake Mayfield 108 2019 Sugar Land, TX

Projected Pool Winner:  Texas Rangers Scout Team
 The Texas Rangers Scout Team comes in this year with talent loaded from the Lone Star State. The power righthanded arms are seemingly endless, highlighted by Blake Mayfield, Caleb Cannon, Evan Vanek and Jared Plank, among others. Lefthanders Bodi Rascon and Jacob Hasty should also have a role to play, while the offense is defined by their physicality. Brett Baty leads the way in that department to go along with Nate Rombach, Blake Marsh and Mason Speaker. The Rangers Scout Team is going to throw the ball very hard, hit the ball very far, and, if everything goes according to plan, win a lot of games with that formula.

 Dark Horse: Georgia PG Texas Orange
 The Georgia PG Texas Orange team is very young, with the top-ranked prospects on the team being ranked in the 2020 and 2021 classes. That being said they do have some of top prospects for said classes including standout shortstop Kristian Campbell, outfielder James Tibbs and righthanded pitcher Treyton Rank. The roster is very deep with players and a number of those players recently played on the 16u East Cobb Astros team in Fort Myers that made it to the quarterfinals of the WWBA Underclass World Championship. The talent is there to win the pool but the pitching depth will have to show up for Georgia PG Texas Orange to advance.
What To Watch For: Dylan Lesko's Jupiter debut
 The No. 2-ranked player in the class of 2022, Dylan Lesko is going to be one of the youngest players in attendance and has a chance to show out on a national stage in a big way similar to Blaze Jordan’s performance two years ago. Lesko has done nothing but shove over the entire year and he recently delivered a stunning performance at the WWBA Underclass World Championship where he was up to 89 mph with solid secondaries while tossing a complete game shutout. Lesko’s potential is limitless and whenever he gets the ball for Georgia PG Texas Orange in Jupiter it will certainly be a must-watch performance.

– Vinnie Cervino



Pool B
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Chicago Scouts Association
 Matt McCormick 85 2019 Michael Prosecky 186 2019 Chicago, Ill.
Padres Scout Team/Chandler World
 Bobby Zmarzlak 51 2019 Jayson Hoopes 225 2019 Winter Garden, FL
Team Warstic
 Carmine Lane 500 2019 Alex Santos 215 2020 Richardson, TX
Tri-State Arsenal FC Stephen Reid 102 2019 Kellan Tulio 59 2019 Mt. Laurel, NJ

Projected Pool Winner: Chicago Scouts Association
The Chicago Scouts Association, as a program, has the experience of being under the bright lights in Jupiter and their roster this year packs a punch to make some noise. Made up mostly of 2019 graduates like hard-hitting Matt McCormick and polished lefty Michael Prosecky, who will prove to be a challenge for any opposing team, they also have some of the more formidable underclass talent with the notables being shortstop Ed Howard and third baseman AJ Vukovich. As is the case in any tournament, pitching depth will be key though their offense should keep pace with almost any in attendance.
Dark Horse: Tri-State Arsenal FC
By no means is this pool going to be an easy one to advance out of, thus making this pick even more difficult, but ultimately the core of this Tri-State team has been together for their entire high school career which is huge in this environment. Tulio is the headliner of the pitching crop and will likely get the ball in a critical pool play game, though it’s their depth that truly stands out with the likes of Stephen Restuccio and Shawn Rapp who have national level experience. Matt Orlando will serve as a table-setter in a lineup that features power bats in Chad Knight, Lilo Paxia, Eric Grintz and Jack Scanlon.

What To Watch For: Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Territory
The borders of the Northeast territory vary team-to-team but wherever those boundaries may lie, this pool offers a collection of talent that will need to be monitored closely as the looks in Jupiter will be incredibly important. Bobby Zmarzlak has as many raw tools as any player in the country and could truly explode this spring given his speed and strength combo, a couple tools also possessed by Stephen Reid. Jayson Hoopes and Kellan Tulio are two of the higher upside arms in the region and while they may be saved for when their respective teams play Chicago Scouts, there’s also a chance these two lock horns and draw quite the crowd behind the backstop.

– Jheremy Brown



 Pool C
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Baseball U Max Cotier 305 2019 Jimmy Starnes 284 2019 West Long Branch, NJ
East Coast Sox Select Bobby Witt, Jr. 1 2019 Farmer Abendroth 142 2019 Columbus, MS
East Cobb Yankees Drew Byers 500 2020 Brody Westbrooks 500 2019 Marietta, GA
Team Mizuno Puerto Rico Mario Zabala 19 2020 Erick Figueroa 500 2019 Caguas, PR

Projected Pool Winner: East Coast Sox Select
The stars will certainly be aligning when East Coast Sox Select takes the field in Jupiter, presumably with a left side of the infield featuring No. 1 overall prospect Bobby Witt, Jr. at shortstop and No. 7 overall Rece Hinds at third base, not to mention No. 57 overall Hayden Dunhurst behind the plate. They have potentially one of the best overall collections of talent in the event, and should be considered one of the favorites win the whole thing. 

Dark Horse: Baseball U
Anything can happen on any given day in Jupiter, and sometimes it only takes one pitching performance to turn the tide of the whole event for a team. Baseball U will be bringing an excellent collection of talent to Jupiter, and their pitching staff looks pretty deep, led by West Virginia commit Jimmy Starnes, who could potentially get the ball for their pool play matchup with the East Coast Sox Select. With or without Starnes, that is a game that will not be missed by dozens of the scouts who will be in attendance next weekend. 
 
What To Watch For: East Coast Sox Star Power
The WWBA World Championship is always one of the headliner events on the draft calendar, and this year will be no exception to that. There will be scores of scouts following around this East Coast Sox Select club with the aforementioned stars dotting their roster. Scouts will be looking to add to the profiles of projected first rounders like Witt, Jr. and Hinds along with the rest of their roster, so it will be especially interesting to see how those players cement their draft stocks heading into a long winter. 

– Brian Sakowski



 Pool D
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
GBG Marucci Michael Curialle 96 2019 Davis Heller 227 2019 Los Angeles, CA
SWFL 2019 Nation Jorel Ortega              320 2019 Brandt Pancer              217 2020 Fort Myers, FL
Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team Matthew Lugo 36 2019 Jackson Finley 275 2019 Toronto, ON
Upstate Mavericks Elijah Dale
 500 2019 Patrick Hollomon 143
 2020 Lyman, SC

Projected Pool Winner: GBG Marucci
A combination of both underclassman and 2019 draft class players, GBG Marucci is set for a big run at this year’s WWBA World Championship. Headlining the team is quick-twitch shortstop Michael Curialle who is taking his talents to UCLA following his senior season. GBG Marucci also has a trio of big-time pitchers who attended the PG National Showcase, a sign of their depth on the mound. These arms include big righthander Davis Heller from Arizona, one of the top uncommitted righthanders in the 2019 class, Cole Dale and BYU commit Tyson Heaton.

Dark Horse: Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
From top to bottom this team is as loaded as anyone in the pool with players represented from all parts of the United States, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. PG All-American Matthew Lugo of Puerto Rico is the top position player on the squad as he will be manning shortstop for his team. Georgia Tech commit Jackson Finley is the ace of a staff that has multiple pitchers who could carry them far into the weekend’s event. Watch out for the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team to turn some heads at this year’s WWBA World Championship.

What To Watch For: Hitters
The all-around hitters in this pool is going to be something see. The amount of offense produced in this pool will likely be pretty high due to the fact that each team has a loaded lineup from the one spot to the nine spot in the order. Top 100-ranked hitting prospects include Matthew Lugo of the Blue Jays Scout Team and Michael Curialle of GBG Marucci, as well as Daylen Reyes and Roc Riggio of GBG Marucci, who are ranked in the Top 100 of the 2020 and 2021 classes, respectively.

– Greg Gerard



 Pool E
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Banditos Scout Team Yohandy Morales 29 2020 Jack Kochanowicz 64 2019 Tomball, TX
Canes American Hayden Travinski 37 2019 Leonard "Trey" Valka III 396 2019 Fredericksburg, VA
Coastal Prospects Upperclass Ethan Jenkins T1000 2019 Avery Love
 T1000 2019 Jacksonville, FL
On Deck O's Ronald Evans II
 500 2019 Brennan Malone
 4 2019 Pineville, NC

Projected Pool Winner: Banditos Scout Team
The Banditos are a staple in Jupiter, and this year's team is loaded with talented position players from the class of 2020, including middle infielders Samuel Infante, Yohandy Morales and Aaron Nixon, as well as catcher Drew Romo. Those youngsters are complemented by several seniors, with Julian Brock and Jared Payne likely splitting the duties with Romo behind the plate and Austin Bradbury and Jordan Keller providing some pop in the middle of the lineup. Stability comes in the form of a handful of experienced 2019 hurlers, starting with Jack Kochanowicz and contiuning with Cole Ferguson, Jared Southard and Yordani Carmona. That depth is sure to serve the Banditos well in pool play and is a big reason why they're viewed as the favorites in Pool E.

Dark Horse: Canes American
There's an impressive number of Division I recruits on the Canes American roster, led by PG All-American catcher Hayden Travinski, a hulking presence at 6-foot-3, 234-pounds that is a threat to go deep every time he steps in the batter's box. With Travinski behind the dish the team is especially strong up the middle thanks to the presence of middle infielders Jadyn Jackson and Dax Dathe. The staff has intriguing depth, headlined by Ole Miss recruit Wes Burton, Arkansas recruit Leonard "Trey" Valka III and East Carolina recruit Carson Whisenhunt, and that depth gives them a chance to deliver an upset and advance into the playoffs.

What To Watch For: Brennan Malone
2018 will mark the third time Malone will take the mound in Jupiter, peaking at 93 mph at this event a year ago as a high school junior. The On Deck O's first two pool play games are against Canes American (Thursday afternoon) and the Banditos Scout Team (Friday afternoon), and one of those teams is sure to draw the PG All-American flamethrower. Regardless of the opponent be sure to arrive early and claim your spot behind homeplate, and if Malone starts opposite Banditos' ace Jack Kochanowicz, that matchup has the potential to be one of Jupiter's all-time best.
– Patrick Ebert



 Pool F
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Canes National Corbin Carroll 8 2019 Nolan Crisp 93 2019 Fredericksburg, VA
Chet Lemon's Juice Jacob Herbert 131 2019 Cole Stallings 273 2020 Eustis, FL
DRB Elite/Georgia Bombers Reuben Church 183 2020 Hank Bearden 117 2020 Alpharetta, GA
Hunter Pence Baseball Academy John Tyler "JT" Mounce 159 2018 JJ Goss 13 2019 Houston, TX

Projected Pool Winner: Canes National
The Canes are perennially one of the most dominant teams on the travel ball circuit, and this team features a number of returning players from 2017’s championship team (Canes Prospects) including last year’s MV-Pitcher Dylan DeLucia, Patrick Alvarez and Jason Diaz, among others. The Canes made it to the quarterfinals at the 17u WWBA National Championship and certainly have some of the better prospects in the country led by the PG All-American Classic MVP Corbin Carroll. The electric center fielder has a bevy of tools across the board and should be a fairly high selection in next June’s draft. The MLB Draft prospects don’t stop there, however, as nearly the entire team is going to get looks including high-end position prospects such as Cade Doughty, Anthony Volpe and Chris Newell.

Dark Horse: Hunter Pence Baseball Academy
The Houston-based HPBA program has a dearth of prospects that make them a contender to upset the Canes and take home the pool. Their depth of prospects was on full display during the South Qualifier with a number of Division I arms including JJ Goss, Reed Smith, Justin Barnes, Evan Godwin and Ryan Peters. JT Mounce is a top 200 player in the class and he uses a combination of barrel skills and plus speed to be dynamic at the top of the lineup while Peyton Chatagnier is an Ole Miss commit who has solid defensive actions and barrel control at the plate. This is a very talented team, and while they might not have top-of-the-charts level talent, they have been playing together for a long time and have a chance to go on a run at Jupiter.

What To Watch For: JJ Goss vs. the Canes
JJ Goss is an elite draft prospect, checking in at No.13 in the class of 2019, and he should get the start against the Canes which would be a must-see matchup on Saturday night. Goss has developed nicely over the past few years and most recently he was up to 96 mph at the 17u National Championship in bracket play. Goss, a Texas A&M commit, has really impressive arm speed, some life on the fastball and an absolute banger of a breaking ball that projects as a plus pitch with his advanced ability to manipulate the pitch. Goss would likely matchup against one of the Canes’ top arms in Nolan Crisp or Jason Diaz, which would almost ensure that it will be one of the most packed games of the weekend.

– Vincent Cervino



 Pool G
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
D-Bat Elite Devan Lindsay 500 2019 Sayer Diederich 500 2019 Carrollton, TX
MLB Breakthrough Series Nasim Nunez 21 2019 DJ Jefferson 86 2019 New York, NY
St. Louis Pirates/Elite Baseball Training Kurtis Byrne 63 2019 Evan Gray 486 2019 St. Louis, MO
Team Elite Prime Kellum Clark 21 2020 Luke A. Wagner 77 2020 Winder, GA

Projected Pool Winner: MLB Breakthrough Series
Led by a quartet of PG All-Americans in Nasim Nunez, Emanuel Dean, Tre Faltine and Darius Perry, the MLB Breakthrough offense is one that can’t be taken lightly and as a result will more than likely face everybody’s No. 1 arm. The depth is incredible as you go up and down their roster as Chase Davis, Daylen Xavier Carter and Glenallen Hill Jr. are additional weapons who will get looks on the national level as well. All that said, their pitching is nearly as deep as the offense led by DJ Jefferson, Michael Harris II and Marquise Grissom Jr., all of whom can take the ball deep into an outing, where Faltine could take the ball and finish off games.

Dark Horse: St. Louis Pirates/Elite Baseball Training
If this club is going to make a run through pool play, likely by knocking off the MLB Breakthrough Series team, they are going to need their two big, middle-of-the-order bats in Kurtis Byrne and Drake Westcott to do damage. Byrne will be especially important as he’ll be doing a majority of the receiving defensively, an area he’s excelled at in prior looks with plus arm strength. Of course this duo isn’t the only offensive firepower as Chase Krogman and Drew Gray have both shown solid tools, while Gray’s older brother Evan, an Arkansas commit, will headline a pitching crop that features six primary arms.

What To Watch For: Team Elite's Youth
It’s not unprecedented for an underclass team to make a run and ultimately take home the title (see last year’s tournament), and if there’s a group of sophomores and juniors who could make noise it’s this Team Elite squad. There are heavy hitters up and down the lineup from Kellum Clark to Ethan Long and Jack Bulger to Thomas Dilandri, while pieces like Vince Smith and Zane Faulk provide table-setting qualities and defensive versatility. A trio of lefthanders in Luke A. Wagner, Wyatt Crowell and Carter Holton all know how to attack the zone and fill it up with quality arsenals, providing the staff with a slew of arms who can take down the favorites.

– Jheremy Brown



 Pool H
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Blackhawk National Damone Hale 42 2019 Spencer Jones 19 2019 Lancaster, PA
Cangelosi Sparks Alex Helmin 447 2019 Alex Vera T500 2019 Lockport, IL
Palm Beach Select Liam Cogswell 500 2019 Jack Sharpe T500 2020 Jupiter, FL
Stix Baseball 2019 Hunter Teplansky 35 2021 William Rangel T500 2019 Grapevine, TX

Projected Pool Winner: Blackhawks National
The Blackhawks National club brings a talent-laden roster to Jupiter, including three Perfect Game All-Americans in Spencer Jones, Damone Hale and Wesley Scott, to go along with other very talented players both expected to play everyday as well as fill out what looks to be a deep pitching staff. Watch out for lefthander Reggie Crawford, as he's already made a ton of noise this fall, as well as fellow lefty Alex Munroe, a Miami commit who possesses excellent pitchability. 

Dark Horse: Cangelosi Sparks
The dark horse pick for this pool, the Cangelosi Sparks always bring a talented, deep roster to Jupiter stuffed with Midwestern flavor. In fact the Cangelosi roster has five players who are verbally committed to the University of Illinois, which is unique in it's own right. Those commitments – Jack Crowder (2020), Cal Hejza (2020), Justin Janas (2019), Cole Kirschsieper (2019) and Alex Vera (2019) – are all expected to be pivotal to the Cangelosi success next weekend and will be followed by Midwest scouts in earnest. 

What To Watch For: All-American Arms
The PG All-American pitching duo of Spencer Jones and Wesley Scott will be on full display in Jupiter for the Blackhawks National club, and there may not be a better 1-2 punch in terms of arms on any other team in the event. Jones has taken several steps forward over the years and now looks like he may be in the first round discussion for the MLB Draft, while Scott has continued to show the ability to blow low- to mid-90s heat right by hitters from a very tough lower slot. 

– Brian Sakowski



 Pool I
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
East Cobb Baseball ST
 Isaac Nunez 66 2019 Davidjohn Herz 148
 2019 Marietta, GA
SF Giants Scout Team - Christman Blayne Robinson 500 2019 Nate Stahl T1000 2019 Noblesville, IN
Slammers Baseball Tayler Aguilar 260 2019 Calvin Marks 500 2019 Denver, CO
US Elite 2019 National Troy LaNeve  165 2019 Matthew Wyatt 500 2019 Duncansville, PA
 
Projected Pool Winner: US Elite 2019 National
US Elite 2019 National has players on their roster represented from states all along the East Coast as well as Kansas and the Dominican Republic. Physical third baseman Troy LaNeve and Virginia commit Matthew Wyatt each are the highest ranked players on the club and hope to send their team deep into the tournament. US Elite had an outstanding run at the 17u WWBA National Championship back in July, making it to the third round of play, and are looking for an even deeper run in this event. The WWBA World Championship in Jupiter is a who’s who for travel baseball and US Elite 2019 National certainly has a well-balanced team to turn heads and win plenty of games.

Dark Horse: East Cobb Baseball ST
East Cobb’s organization as a whole has produced plenty of future Major Leaguers and this team may have a few of their own. Isaac Nunez, Spencer Keefe and Josiah Miller may be the best infield trio not only in this pool but in the entire tournament, with a similar depth of talent on the mound. With several low-90s arms at the helm including lefty North Carolina commit Davidjohn Herz, Tennessee commit Brandon Smith and underclassman Blake Money, East Cobb Baseball ST has plenty of balance on both sides of the baseball and they could be a team that could surprise some people in Pool I.

What To Watch For: Wide open pool
While US Elite 2019 National is labeled as the favorite, this may be the most competitive pool of the entire tournament. It is really any team’s pool to win due to the fact that each team has talent, pitching and high-level hitters who are going to produce plenty of runs. Look out for East Cobb’s front-line pitching and for each of the other team’s offensive producers. Simply put, it is all about who gets hot in baseball and any team can beat anybody on any given day and that is what is worth watching for in the competitive Pool I.

– Greg Gerard



 Pool J
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Dallas Raiders Elite Masyn Winn 8 2020 Victor Mederos 11 2020 Grapevine, TX
Florida Burn Platinum Joshua Rivera 83 2019 Kyle Machado 500 2019 Sarasota, FL
North East Baseball Jared Cushing 270 2019 Jonathan Blackwell  202 2019 Hudson, MA
Team GA National Travis Odom 115 2019 Michael Polk 247 2019 Marietta, GA

Projected Pool Winner: North East Baseball
 Don’t let the team name fool you, North East Baseball may have roots in New England but they have had a national reach for several years, as 18 different state represented on their roster in addition to Puerto Rico. Ryan Vanderhei, Andrew Devine and Jonathan Blackwell are among their more notable pitchers, all members of the class of 2019 with the experience to match up against other accomplished arms in pool play. Of their position players North East Baseball is especially strong up the middle with middle infielders Jared Cushing, Jacob Shaver and Ben Kailher in addition to catchers Dalton Rushing and James Valdivia.

 Dark Horse: Florida Burn Platinum
 Runner-up at this year’s 17u BCS National Championship, the Florida Burn make up whatever lack of star power they may have with a group of players that have a tremendous amount of playing experience with one another. The program also does an excellent job providing the Florida-based colleges with talent, and in particular this year they have five Florida Gulf Coast recruits and four more than have given their verbal pledge to the Gators. How efficient their pitching staff is, led by three of the FGCU recruits – Kyle Machado, Clay Callan and two-way talent Kevin Conway – will go a long way in determining how successful they are.
What To Watch For: Class of 2020 preview
 The Dallas Raiders, North East Baseball and Team GA National all have a wealth of underclass talent, but it’s the Raiders that possess numerous impact players from the class of 2020. Offensively there’s Jordan Andrade and Yanluis Ortiz. On the pitching staff you have Victor Mederos and Gerardo Cuevas. And pulling double duty will be Masyn Winn. While the experience may not match other teams in attendance the Dallas Raiders have the talent to do some damage throughout the weekend.

– Patrick Ebert
Pool K
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
DBacks Langley Blaze Shane Sasaki 147 2019 Justin Thorsteinson 229 2020 Vancouver, BC
Diamond Devils Trotter Harlan 500 2019 Hunter Steger T1000 2019 Mt. Pleasant, SC
Midland Redskins Colt Keith 50 2020 Ty Collins 78 2020 Cincinnati, OH
Rawlings National Scout Team Cayden Wallace 12 2020 Blake Adams 65 2019 Rockville Centre, NY

Projected Pool Winner: Midland Redskins
The Midland Redskins have been one of the more consistent teams over the years when it comes to performance in Jupiter, however, this iteration of the team feels a little bit different as most of their high-end talent comes from the 2020 class as three of the top 100 ranked players in that class are on the roster. Colt Keith, Ty Collins and Jack O’Dowd are those three prospects, who were all recently at the PG Underclass All-American Games in San Diego, and all offer various ways in how they impact a game. The eight Division I commits on the mound bode well for their pitching depth as they should be a strong candidate to come out of the pool.

Dark Horse: Rawlings National Scout Team
Despite finishing 1-3 a year ago, the Rawlings National Scout Team has a nice mix of senior and junior talent across the board. Righthander Blake Adams, an Arkansas commit, comes in as the 65th-ranked player in the class and should garner plenty of looks from pro scouts as the sturdily built righthander can already run his fastball into the low- to mid 90s with a good breaking ball as well. One of the top-ranked 2020 prospects will be playing on this team as Cayden Wallace, the No. 12 ranked prospect, has the ability to go on a tear with tremendous impact strength and bat speed to the profile. They have a number of high-upside prospects that could get hot and come out of the pool.

What To Watch For: Underclassmen on deck
This pool features a number of top-ranked prospects from the class of 2020 including the aforementioned prospects in Keith, Collins, O’Dowd and Wallace. Some other top 2020s include the uber-projectable Justin Thorsteinson of the DBacks Langley Blaze, Ole Miss commit Cody Adcock and Arkansas commit Markevian Hence, who was very impressive at the 17u WWBA National Championship. There are also some impressive 2021s in this pool such as Reece Holbrook, Asa Runge, Tyler Lee and Lauden Brooks. Jupiter has continued to evolve into an event that not only is a must-see in terms of draft talent, but also a place for underclassmen to make their names on the biggest stage possible.

– Vinnie Cervino



Pool L
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Knights/eXposure Baseball Chris McElvain 104 2019 Solomon Washington 349 2019 Nashville/Chattanooga, TN
Ontario Blue Jays Jaden Brown 34 2019 Nick Fraser 500 2019 Toronto, ON
Reds Midwest Scout Team Nathan Stevens 62 2019 Benjamin Wiegman 71 2020 Hartford, WI
Sandlot Scout Team Sam Thompson 88 2019 Derek Bridges 500 2019 Tulsa, OK

Projected Pool Winner: Reds Midwest Scout Team
Unlike other scout teams who come together for just a single tournament, the Reds have some experience playing together under their belts as it was an almost identical roster at the Kernels Championship earlier this fall. With 22 Division I commits on of their 24-man roster, there’s obvious talent in this lineup from PG All-American Nathan Stevens and Mac Horvath – one of the top players in the 2020 class – to the Wiegman brothers in Andrew and Benjamin, both of whom should make a noted impact. The younger Wiegman, Benjamin, will lead a pitching crop that runs 11 primary arms deep, a crucial element to any team looking to make a run in Jupiter.

Dark Horse: Knights/eXposure Baseball
While the Knights and eXposure programs have come together for Jupiter, they also pulled some of the top players from Power Baseball, making for a roster that could create some noise as 23 of their 24 players are committed to Division I programs. Two-way prospects Chris McElvain and Najer Victor offer the coaching staff flexibility as their athleticism allows them to stand out both with the bat and on the mound. Kurtis Reid may only be a 2021 but he’s proven why he’s one of the top players in his class with middle infield skills that will play nicely alongside Mason Land. Solomon Washington and his low-90s fastball will anchor the staff of six primary arms and plenty of talented secondaries. 

What To Watch For: Jaden Brown
While it’s not the hotbed like that of the warm, southern states, Canada has continued to produce high-level talent and shortstop Jaden Brown leads the 2019 crop. After making the national circuit, which culminated in a PG All-American selection, Brown’s performance in Jupiter will be closely monitored as he’ll go up against big arms that he may not necessarily see on a daily basis come spring. He’s young for the grade and has continued to come into his own, showing a loose righthanded stroke with present juice and soft hands defensively, plenty of things for scouts to be drawn to moving forward.

– Jheremy Brown



Pool M
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
AZ D-Backs Scout Team Joe McLaughlin 138 2019 Chandler Murphy 180 2019 Phoenix, AZ
Canes Prospects Brody Drost 80 2020 Caden Grice 293 2020 Fredericksburg, VA
Miami PG Columbia Blue Adrian Figueroa 209 2020 Ronald Zayas HF 2020 Miami, FL
Ohio Warhawks/643 DP Cougars Andrew Jenkins 133 2019 Logan Austin 57 2020 Moraine, OH

Projected Pool Winner: Ohio Warhawks/643 DP Cougars
In one of the more exciting team combos this year, the Ohio Warhawks and the 643 DP Cougars come together to form quite the formidable roster. Strong on the mound with the likes of Logan Austin, Dutch Landis, Colin Bosley-Smith, Dylan Eskew and others, this looks to be a deep rotation with plenty of bullpen options. The everyday lineup looks strong as well and capable of scoring more than enough runs to allow that pitching staff to really work.

Dark Horse: Canes Prospects
A Canes team made up entirely of 2020 graduates, the 2017 Jupiter iteration of the Canes prospects – then made up entirely of 2019 graduates – ended up winning the whole thing. This speaks, of course, to the depth of talent throughout the Canes organization as a whole, and this year's underclass team should be just as tough. They're very strong on the mound with Caden Grice, Coby Ingle and others and the lineup looks just as deep with Brody Drost, Johnny Castagnozzi and Lukas Cook expected to play key roles. 

What To Watch For: Can the Canes Prospects do it again? 
In 2017, the Canes Prospects, made up like every year with a team of underclassmen, ended up running the gauntlet and winning the WWBA World Championship, an event mostly designed around seniors. So the amateur baseball world is wondering, and we're all looking forward to seeing, can this version of the Canes Prospects team do what hasn't been done since the Canes National team won back-to-back-to-back titles and repeat as World Champions? 
 
– Brian Sakowski



 Pool N

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
9ers Baseball Club Tate Ballestero 183 2019 Liam Simon 216
 2019 Wall, NJ
Home Plate Chili Dogs Searcy Ryan Dyal 200 2019 Clay Weatherly 490 2019 Peachtree City, GA
Royals Scout Team
 Sammy Siani 105 2019 Austin Pace 136 2019 Kansas City, MO
USA Prime/Prospect National Team Mahki Backstrom 47 2019 Austin Wallace 350 2019 Carrollton, TX

Projected Pool Winner: Royals Scout Team
With almost an entirely full roster of Division I commits, the Royals Scout Team is as loaded as anyone in the entire tournament. Seventeen of their 22 players will be graduating from high school in 2019 and all 22 players are ranked in the top 500 of their respective class rankings. Made up of a group of players that have been playing with each other on the travel circuit for a handful of years now, the Royals Scout Team has a strong balance of both offense and pitching and are destined for a deep run at this year’s WWBA World Championship in Jupiter.

Dark Horse: USA Prime/Prospect National Team
Mostly consisting of players from the state of Texas, USA Prime/Prospect National Team has a solid roster that could win them plenty of games in Jupiter. PG All-American Mahki Backstrom will likely man the middle of the order for the team. The lefthanded hitting first baseman has as much raw pop as anyone in the 2019 class and is worth watching anytime he steps into the box. On the mound Austin Wallace of Flower Mound, Texas is the top-ranked pitcher and has committed to play for the Longhorns at Texas. He brings with him high-level two-way potential for his USA Prime/Prospect National Team both on the bump and in the outfield.

What To Watch For: Middle infield play
Highlighted by the middle infield duo of Christian Cairo and Robert Moore on the Royals Scout Team, this pool is sure to have high-level glovework and some flair up the middle. The USA Prime/Prospect National Team roster has some nice prospects up the middle as well in 6-foot-4 shortstop Jordan Brown, a Fresno State recruit, and Oklahoma State commit Braley Hollins. 9ers Baseball Club has a handful of future Division I middle infielders including Vincent Bianchi, committed to St. John’s, Georgetown commit Patrick DeSalvo as well as Eliot Dix, Aurelio Licata and Johnny Volpe who are committed to Longwood, Seton Hall and Rider, respectfully.
– Greg Gerard



 Pool O
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
CBA Marucci Carter Young 67 2019 Marcus Johnson 500 2019 Temecula, CA
Dallas Tigers Jaden Woodson 212 2019 Jacob Meador 132 2019 Dallas, TX
Elite Squad Prospects Enrique A. Bradfield Jr. 40 2020 Gregory Martinez T1000 2019 Pembroke Pines, FL
Nelson Baseball School Ethan Anderson 169 2019 Zachary Maxwell 153 2019 Acworth, GA

Projected Pool Winner: CBA Marucci
CBA Marucci is not only a favorite to win Pool O, they're one of the favorites to win it all in Jupiter, with a balanced roster made up almost entirely of players from the class of 2019. Depth of pitching and a strong defense is what helps define the CBA program, but their lineup is loaded with top-ranked prospects, including middle infielders Carter Young and Cody Freeman in addition to run producers Joseph Naranjo, Jasiah Dixon and Gabe Briones. Duke recruit Marcus Johnson is the lone "pitcher only" listed on their diverse roster and he's coming off a strong performance at the Ways to Play West event.

Dark Horse: Dallas Tigers
It's hard to call the Dallas Tigers a dark horse for success at the WWBA World Championship, a team that has made the playoffs three times in the last four years, which included their quarterfinal finish from a year ago. With a recent history of some pretty impressive arms that have suited up for the Tigers, Jacob Meador returns to this year's team after striking out 13 in a five-inning, no-hit performance a year ago. The lineup looks like it will be on the young side, with several underclassmen suiting up at key positions, but they should be especially strong up the middle, led by shortstop Jaden Woodson.

What To Watch For: Friday night lights
When CBA Marucci and the Dallas Tigers square off on Friday night it will mark both team's second pool play game, and the winner very well could ultimately be the overall pool winner once the dust settles on Saturday. There's a good chance the Tigers save their ace, Meador, for this contest to help quiet a potentially dominant CBA Marucci lineup. It should be noted that both Nelson Baseball School and Elite Squad Prospects, a pair of teams with rosters loaded with experienced and talented ballplayers, have the pieces to play spoilers.

 – Patrick Ebert



 Pool P
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
5 Star National Trey Carter
 67
 2020 Jonathan Machamer
 378 2019 Warner Robins, GA
Dallas Patriots Stout Kaden Dydalewicz
 497 2019 Cutter Sippel
 500 2019 Dallas, TX
PG Navy Select Steven Loden
 500 2019 Alex Margot 500 2019 Brick, NJ
Scorpions Founders Club Grant McCray
 78 2019 Josh Mallitz
 323 2020 Winter Park, FL

Projected Pool Winner: Dallas Patriots Stout
The Dallas Patriots enter the Jupiter field as the leading contender to come out of their pool thanks to a deep collection of talent and a senior-heavy team. Senior commits include Kaden Dydalewicz and Cutter Sippel to Texas Christian, along with outfielder Joey Aden, who is committed to Ohio State. The lineup should have a lot of depth to it as Miller Ladusau, Adam Bland and Drew Galyean should also factor into the decision. Sippel is their top-ranked arm and the Patriots will be expecting a big outing out of the future Horned Frog as the Patriots look to make it out of pool play and make a run toward the Jupiter crown.

Dark Horse: 5 Star National
5 Star should be able to make a run of their own as they have some star power leading the way with two top 100 ranked underclassmen in Trey Carter and Colby Halter. Carter, a Florida State commit, oozes with tools galore including a fastball that can work into the mid-90s on the mound, while Halter, a Florida commit, has a smooth lefthanded swing and is a legitimate prospect on the mound too. With 17 Division I commits listed on their roster, 5 Star is one of the most loaded teams in the event and should make for a very intriguing game with the Dallas Patriots to kick things off early on Thursday afternoon.

What To Watch For: Young talent on Scorpions Founders Club
With numerous players on the title-winning club from last weekend's WWBA Underclass World Championship, the Scorpions Founders Club shows some of the upside of the younger classes. Top-ranked 2021s such as Deric Fabian, a Florida commit, and Corey Robinson, a Miami commit, are sprinkled in with a very deep 2020 roster that includes players such as Lucas Costello, Cade Udell and Colin Apgar. The talent is absolutely there for a run if they can get hot, and they’ll be anchored by two seniors in UCF commit Jakob Runnels and Florida State commit Grant McCray, a top 100 player in the class.  

– Vinnie Cervino



 Pool Q
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Giants Scout Team/FTB Riley Greene 2 2019 Alejandro Torres 106 2019 Kissimmee, FL
Iowa Select Peyton Williams 437 2019 Zachary Bierman 500 2019 Cedar Rapids, IA
Louisiana Knights Gavin Kash 32 2021 Thomas Wilhite 197 2019 Baton Rouge, LA
Team Elite Nation Hunter Marsh 276 2020 Xander Stephens 267 2020 Winder, GA

Projected Pool Winner: Giants Scout Team/FTB
Looking up and down this roster, there’s a good chance this squad could be the final team standing come Monday afternoon after a second-place finish last year. While most of last year’s roster has moved on to the next level, PG All-American Riley Greene returns once again and he has established himself as perhaps the best pure hitter in the 2019 prep class. Fellow All-Americans Hylan Hall and Myles Austin are fast-twitch, impact players and Maxwell Romero has Jupiter experience as well as a well-rounded skill-set behind the plate. Alejandro Torres throws a heavy fastball in the low-90s and Michael Dominguez knows how to mix, leading a staff that has the depth to make a run.

Dark Horse: Iowa Select
There are plenty of factors for a team to make a run in Jupiter, from on-field talent to roster depth and experience. The Iowa Black team is made up entirely of 2019 graduates, eight of whom are committed to play Division I with another three committed to play at the next level. Lefthander Zachary Bierman is a Creighton commit who could very well get the ball in the critical pool play game and is one of eight primary arms listed on their roster. The trio of Peyton Williams, Sam Link and catcher Garrett Ries are just three of the bats capable of making an impact on the game on a team that just competed in the Kernels Foundation together earlier this fall.

What To Watch For: Can anybody take down Giants Scout Team/FTB?
There’s no hiding that the Giants Scout/FTB team has some premier talent with three Perfect Game All-Americans, but they also have the drive to finish the job after last year’s second-place finish. That said, every team in their pool will be aiming for them, and in an atmosphere like Jupiter, anything goes. Both the Louisiana Knights and Team Elite Premier teams are on the younger side but have key pieces needed for an upset, even if they are underclassmen, with valuable talent on both sides of the ball. Mentioned above, Iowa Select is a group that has played together recently and has some chemistry, along with talent, to make noise in pool play.

– Jheremy Brown



 Pool R
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
East Cobb Astros Joe Mack 20 2021 Kaleb Corbett 398 2020 Marietta, GA
Houston Astros Scout Team/Elite Squad Tyler Callihan 17 2019 Timothy Manning 55 2020 Pembroke Pines, FL
Kentucky Baseball Club 2019
 Trace Willhoite 421 2019 Jordan Fox T1000 2019 Nicholasville, KY
Langan Bandits 2019
 Elliott Hayward T1000 2019 Zane Robbins T1000 2019 Stamford, CT

Projected Pool Winner: Houston Astros Scout Team/Elite Squad
The annual marriage between Elite Squad and the Astros Scout Team always results in an extremely talented roster, a pick to win the pool and a puncher's chance to win the whole thing, and this year is no exception. PG All-Americans Tyler Callihan and Gunnar Henderson should see plenty of time up the middle to go in the lineup with fellow standouts Nathanial LaRue and Raymond Torres. On the mound it could be an underclass show, with Timothy Manning, Jamar Fairweather, Ben Vespi and others all toeing the slab. 

Dark Horse: East Cobb Astros 
Perhaps one of the longest-tenured powerhouse travel organizations in baseball, the East Cobb Astros once again make the journey south to Jupiter with a talent-laden roster. Their underclassmen in this event are especially intriguing, with 2020s and 2021s like Kaleb Corbett, Tiger Borom, Joe Mack and Austin Tienda dotting their roster. That isn't to say they aren't without experience, as they have played in many higher-profile events, so don't expect them to be wide-eyed and vulnerable. 
 
What To Watch For: Underclass arms
The Houston Astros Scout Team/Elite Squad group has, as detailed above, quite the collection of 2020 arms that will look to do what '19 Hunter Barco did last year: really make noise as an underclassman in Jupiter, thus vaulting onto the draft radar early. Timothy Manning has a chance to do just that when he starts, as we just saw him at the Underclass event last weekend and he looks like he has the ingredients to potentially be a first rounder in a couple years. In the same vein, watch out for fellow Elite Squad arm Jamar Fairweather, who has some the best raw arm speed in the class. 

– Brian Sakowski



 Pool S

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA) Jerrion Ealy 6 2019 Joseph Charles 33 2019 Altamonte Springs, FL
South Charlotte Panthers CJ Neese Jr. 137 2019 JD Brock 290 2019 Charlotte, NC
Team Indiana Grant Trinkle 162 2020 Avery Short 61 2019 Westfield, IN
Team Northeast Nick Maldonado 109 2019 KC Hunt 317 2019 Voorhees, NJ

Projected Pool Winner: Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA)
Team GA, who were the co-champions of the 17u WWBA National Championship with the Scorpions, have teamed up with the San Diego Padres to make a lethal roster of future draft picks, and 27 of their 30 players are committed to play Division I baseball. It is a daunting lineup that includes four PG All Americans on offense as well as a PG All-American pitcher in Joseph Charles. Combining two talented teams is one thing, but when you combine two of the four best teams in the country at the 17u age group you have a special group that should fair very well in Jupiter.

Dark Horse: Team Indiana
An imposing roster of both 2019 and 2020 graduates is what Team Indiana will bring with them to the field each day in Jupiter. Two Top 100 ranked pitchers in their respective classes will certainly give Team Indiana a high chance to win games. 2019 lefthander Avery Short who is committed to play his college ball at Louisville and Charez Butcher, a 2020 graduate and uncommitted righthander will help pave the way for their team. The offense is young and hungry to win coming in with a pair of 2020 Top 350 ranked bats in Kentucky commit Grant Trinkle and Indiana commit Kip Fougerousse. If Team Indiana gets production from their group of young hitters, look for Team Indiana to surprise teams in Pool S.

What To Watch For: Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA) depth
As mentioned the Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA) has an incredibly talented roster, and it is not only the starters that are going to make an impact on this team. They have 27 Division I commits on their roster making depth an obvious strength of theirs. Half of the SEC is represented in the commitments they have on the roster as well as three teams in the ACC, including Florida State, Miami and North Carolina. It is truly intimidating to the opposition when future Power 5 commits will be sitting on the bench for a team as they will be for Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA) and that is what to watch for in Pool S.

– Greg Gerard



 Pool T
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Baseball Northwest National Cole Hinkelman
 44 2019 Alex Giroux
 500 2019 Portland, OR
Braves Scout Team/Team Elite Tyler Williams 117 2019 Alex McFarlane
 72 2019 Atlanta, GA
Premier Baseball Futures Logan Hamm
 249 2020 Connor Phillips
 60 2019 Tomball, TX
Richmond Braves Jordan Peyton
 500 2020 Jake Berry 124 2020 Richmond, VA

Projected Pool Winner: Braves Scout Team/Team Elite
 Team Elite has aligned with the Braves for this year’s WWBA World Championship and appropriately has a team loaded with some of the top prospects from Georgia and neighboring states. The lineup will have some serious firepower with several big boppers in the middle of their lineup, but it’s the pitching that will be the separator. The roster includes five arms that are ranked among the top 350 in the class of 2019, and yet the icing on the cake is the presence of three incredibly talented members from the class of 2020: Jackson Phipps, Nate Wohlgemuth and Alex Edmondson. Phipps and Wohlgemuth were both named to the All-Tournament Team at the 17u WWBA National Championship earlier this summer, more than proving they can play up a level.

Dark Horse: Baseball Northwest National
 Baseball is alive and well in the Pacific Northwest and the Baseball Northwest National squad is bringing some serious talent with them from one corner of the nation to the other. It starts with hulking PG All-American Cole Hinkelman and continues with middle infielders Justin Boyd and Owen Cobb as well as outfielder Bryce Matthews. These players are committed to college programs among the nation’s best, including Oregon State, Arkansas and Stanford, speaking to the level of rostered talent, and while the team is a little thin on primary pitchers, it’s a diverse group that could make some noise in Jupiter.

What To Watch For: Team Elite arms
 Every year it seems as though a pitcher from Team Elite steps up and dominates. In 2015 it was Connor Thomas. Two years ago it was Ethan Hankins, as a high school junior, who took home a share of the Most Valuable Pitcher honors. Last year it was Ethan Smith, who tossed a 14-strikeout perfect Game. It’s impossible to predict who will step up this year but there are no shortage of options to do so on a loaded staff.

– Patrick Ebert



Pool U
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Dirtbags Jax Cash 156 2019 AJ Wilson 119 2019 Burlington, NC
Minnesota Blizzard Dalton McNamara 500 2019 Ryan Sleeper 239 2019 Vadnais Heights, MN
San Diego Show Kevin Sim
 54 2020 Charles Acker
 500 2019 San Diego, CA
Scorpions Baseball Club Jackson Green 252 2020 Dylan Heine T1000 2019 Altamonte Springs, FL

Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags
Champions of this event only two years ago, the Dirtbags return with a loaded roster and look to make it to the top of the mountain yet again. With 20 Division I commits rostered, it’s going to be hard to beat the Dirtbags once you get to the later innings as they will be able to pull arms out of everywhere to look for shutdown outs. AJ Wilson is the big draw on the mound here as the East Carolina commit can work up to the 90s from an almost sidearm slot with a very tight spinning breaking ball as well. Jax Cash and Xander Hamilton should receive plenty of professional looks as well as the Dirtbags certainly look the part of a championship contender.

Dark Horse: San Diego Show
One of the premier organizations on the West Coast, the story for this year’s roster for the San Diego Show is the talent of their 2020s. They feature some of the top juniors in the country with 54th-ranked Kevin Sim, 96th-ranked Jordan Thompson, 126th-ranked Kyle Casper and 134th-ranked Nathan Nankil. The team has their star power of 2020s backed up by reliable 2019 Division I commits on the mound in Steven Vasquez, Alex Kendrick, Charles Acker and Ricky Tibbett. The talent blends nicely together as the Show certainly have components to that roster to make a run at the pool and upset the Dirtbags in the process.

What To Watch For: Minnesota Blizzard Arms
The majority of the Division I commits on the Blizzard roster are primary arms, and that could make for very low-scoring affairs when squaring off with the Minnesota-based team. Led by North Carolina commit and lefthander Ryan Sleeper, who can run his fastball up to 89 mph with a good breaking ball too, the arms should see plenty of interest from professional scouts in attendance. Benjamin Pedersen, Trent Schoeberl, Sean Bernard and William Roguske round out the rest of the staff and should be able to make the Minnesota Blizzard into a scary opponent in Jupiter.

– Vinnie Cervino



 Pool V
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
BPA
 Brooks Lee 90 2019 Cutter Clawson 77 2019 Laguna Niguel, CA
Dulin Dodgers Blaze Jordan 1 2021 Nick Bitsko 4 2021 Cordova, TN
MVP Kadon Morton 214 2019 Antoine Harris 135 2019 Chesapeake, VA
PRBAHS Erik Rivera 29 2019 Erik Rivera 29 2019 Caguas, PR

Projected Pool Winner: BPA
Every time BPA enters a tournament, the roster is more or less the same with a couple moving pieces, but the core nucleus remains intact and as a result they usually find themselves somewhere in the thick of things. This BPA team features a 16-man roster, 13 of whom are already committed to Division I programs, and all can make a difference on a game outcome. Shortstop Brooks Lee will get some extra attention from pro scouts during the tournament as a switch-hitter while center fielder Petey Halpin and his loud tool-set provides a look into the future. The pitching crop is primed for a run as well, led by lefthanders Cutter Clawson and Cooper Benson, along with UCLA righthanded commit Evan Fitterer.

Dark Horse: Dulin Dodgers
The Dulin Dodgers are the dark horse here as they are made up almost entirely of underclassmen, though the roster features plenty of familiar names from the 15u team who finished as the No. 1-ranked team in the country. Despite entering his sophomore year of high school, this trip to Jupiter will be Blaze Jordan’s third and he’ll once again be a threat in the middle of the order along with fellow slugger Slate Alford; Kyle Booker, Jeffery Ince and Lane Forsythe will help set the tempo of the offense. Nick Bitsko has the fastball to match nearly any arm in Jupiter, already up to 95 mph, and is one of three committed arms, joining a duo of lefthanders in Pico Kohn and Jaxon Weber.

What To Watch For: Rising draft prospects
The WWBA World Championship, like every previous year, is guaranteed to be loaded with draft prospects, some of whom will take that next step under the bright lights. This pool offers a handful of prospects that scouts will be certain to get extra looks on, including BPA’s Brooks Lee, who had a loud performance at the Area Code Games, PG All-American and PRBAHS outfielder Erik Rivera who spent limited time on the summer circuit, and MVP righthander Antoine Harris, a New Orleans commit who continues to see a jump in velocity as he fills out his long and athletic 6-foot-4 frame. Harris and BPA lefthander Cutter Clawson will match up with these bats at some point in pool play, meaning scouts will be able to double up on their looks of these prospects.

– Jheremy Brown



Brian Sakowski's Projected Champion: East Coast Sox Select
Armed with two of the top-ranked prospects in the country in Bobby Witt, Jr. and Rece Hinds, to go along with a roster boasting high-end prospect after high-end prospect, the East Coast Sox Select come to Jupiter as one of the heavy favorites to take home the World Championship this year. They are admittedly a bit less deep on the mound, and though it usually ends up where the deepest pitching staffs have the best chance to win the event, this team is so loaded offensively that they should be able to score as many runs as they need.

 Jheremy Brown's Projected Champion: Giants Scout Team/FTB
While the rosters in this tournament aren't fluid year-to-year due to graduation and switching teams, the club is hungry to finish what they just fell short of last October. Anytime you have one of the best pure hitters to come through the prep ranks in the last couple years you’re off to a good start and that’s just what FTB has in Riley Greene. Both Hylan Hall and Myles Austin joined Greene in San Diego at the PG All-American Classic and offer top-of-the-class athleticism and tools while the roster also features a glimpse into the future with a few prominent prospects out of the 2020 class. They say pitching depth is key to making a run in a juggernaut of a tournament like Jupiter and this team is ready with 14 primary arms, led by hard throwing Alejandro Torres and righthander Michael Dominguez, who knows how to pitch with a full arsenal.

Vincent Cervino's Projected Champion: GBG Marucci
Only one California-based team has ever won the WWBA World Championship, and that 2008 ABD Bulldogs team included one (probable) MVP in Christian Yelich. This year's GBG roster is stacked from top-to-bottom with a good combination of both 2019 and 2020 talent. UCLA commit Michael Curialle and Arizona State commit Michael Carpentier lead the way in terms of position prospects, while the 2020s on this roster certainly have their own star power. Daylen Reyes, Kevin Parada, and Devan Ornelas make up that strong core of juniors that should see a lot of playing time. There are a good number of arms as well, including Davis Heller and Tyson Heaton, and perhaps most importantly, enough of them to make a deep run at Jupiter. 

Patrick Ebert’s Projected Champion: CBA Marucci
With one of the deepest lineups of any team participating in this year's WWBA World Championship, there is a lot of versatility to the position player group, a unit that has an incredible amount of experience playing together. The talent and experience combined led to a co-championship at the 17u WWBA National Championship in July, and also allowed them to enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed at the 17u PG World Series later the same month. The key to CBA's success will like on its pitching staff, as it appears as though they'll be traveling East without a few of their usual primary arms, so how others step up, particularly some of the players that can pull double duty, could lead to a deep run towards another WWBA tournament championship.

Gregory Gerard’s Projected Champion: Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA)
The Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA) are as loaded as anyone and have the depth at every position to win the title. Primarily made up of players from the Sunshine State, the Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA) also have a few of the top players from the state of Mississippi in PG All-American Logan Tanner and elite two-sport talent committed to play both football and baseball at Ole Miss, Jerrion Ealy. The pitching staff includes both power arms like Joseph Charles, who has reached as high as 96 mph with his fastball, and crafty lefthanders like Mississippi State commitment Davis Rokose, who has extremely high-level command of his three-pitch mix.



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