WWBA World Championship Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
WWBA World Championship Uncommitted Standouts: Pitchers | Hitters
Stars Being Stars - big-time prospects coming into the event that lived up to the hype throughout the week.
Cooper Pratt, SS, BPA
The PG All-American did not disappoint down in Jupiter, hitting .385 with a .500 OBP while helping BPA make a run deep into bracket play. Pratt is an advanced hitter with barrel accuracy that produces hard hit balls consistently. The Ole Miss commit also displayed above-average defensive ability at shortstop.
Nolan Stevens, 1B, Alpha Prime 23
The Mississippi State commit had an outstanding offensive performance at the plate, posting a ridiculous .500/.600/.833 slash line. The PG All-American showcased middle of the order ability in a stacked Alpha lineup. A strong frame generates quality power that can show up in-game often.
Carson Tinney, C/3B, Slammers Baseball 2023
The Notre Dame commit showcased why he is considered one of the top players in the state of Colorado. The backstop drove in six runs while reaching base at an absurd .623 clip while in Jupiter. A simple swing finds the barrel regularly, while a strong arm provides value on the defensive side of the ball.
Steven Milam, MIF, USA Prime National
Milam seemingly makes an impact every time he takes the field. The LSU commit displayed that yet again in Jupiter, showcasing tools that play in all facets of the game. The switch-hitter showed a dynamic offensive profile, hitting .429 and stealing three bags over five games. Defensively, athleticism and twitchy actions make plays consistently up the middle.
-Tyler Henninger
Toby Twist, LHP, CBA Marucci
In his only performance on the mound at the WWBA World Championship, Toby went out and dominated a 3-inning stint that resulted in 5 strikeouts. His ability to hide his fastball and pitch with velocity (87-90 mph) while executing a pair of sharp breaking balls to stymy hitters is why he has been one of the top arms in the country. With room for some added power and strength onto his already physical frame, Twist will be a shining addition to Oregon's pitching staff.
Samuel Stafura, SS/2B, Dirtbags
Stafura displayed why he has quickly become a rising sensation in the ’23 class with his offense and defense during the biggest event of the year in Jupiter. Samuel has an extremely athletic build and quickness with his feet that work on both sides of the ball. His sweet swing with some sneaky power propelled him to be tied for second in hits throughout the tourney with nine, and with that he showed speed on the bases stealing 5 bases and scored 5 runs. Clemson has grabbed a truly gifted baseball player here.
MJ Seo, SS/RHP, 3N2 Sticks Baseball Brewster/White Sox Scout Team
Seo has consistently been renowned as a top two-way player in his class. On the mound he was bringing the heat with his fastball up to 92 mph and a sharp 12/6 curve. At the plate he was able to produce several hits that drove in 5 runs for his team. MJ will be a fun player to follow at the next level while at LSU.
-Tim Redding
Ashton Larson, OF/1B, USA Prime National
Larson strung together good at bats throughout the playoff run for USA Prime National. The LSU commit has one of the purest left-handed swings in the country with excellent feel for the barrel and easy loft. He turns the barrel over well and gets extended often when in rhythm. He’s a good runner with all the tools to play every outfield spot.
Boston Flannery, RHP, MLB Breakthrough Series 2023
Flannery got the ball in a big matchup and showed why he is regarded as one of the top arms in the country. The fastball sat in the low-90s throughout the outing, getting up to 94 mph in the first inning. The North Carolina commit also threw a sharp, downer shaped breaking ball in the low-80s that was tunneled very well off the fastball. The operation on the mound is smooth and easy with advanced arm speed and feel to spin.
Cason Engert, RHP, TG D-Backs Scout Team
Engert burst onto the scene in a big way over the summer and continued that in Jupiter. The ETSU commit got the ball in the first pool play game and rolled through two innings. He ran the fastball up to 90 mph with a very sharp 11-5 shaped breaking ball. The arm action is compact, allowing him to hide the ball well. Very easy to project on this arm and has only continued what he did over the summer.
-Cam McElwaney
Ariel Antigua, SS, 5 Star/Top Tier
Antigua was one of the top performers for the World Champions, hitting atop the order and playing shortstop every game in Jupiter. He’s a talented, dependable middle infield glove and has been for some time, and was likewise outstanding at the plate, slashing .333/.517/.572 across 30 plate appearances, doing a good job of working walks and hitting for power. He’s a very well-rounded player who will be followed closely into the spring.
Brandon Winokur, OF, CBA Marucci
Winokur had a great summer and continued that success into Jupiter, continuing to show as a tooled-up, XL-framed outfielder with real power. He profiles well in center field right now and has the speed to play there along with quality arm strength, and he continues to hit for power pretty much every time we see him. It’s an extremely interesting profile overall, as a power-hitting outfielder who has a chance to play center field, and how he develops over the offseason into next spring is something we’ll be paying special attention to.
Trent Caraway, IF/OF, Canes National/Mets Scout Team
Caraway has long been a player whose hit tool has never been in question, and he continued to rake throughout Jupiter, slashing .375/.464/.459 in 28 plate appearances. Caraway is consistently on the barrel and has shown the versatility to be able to play the left side of the infield as well as some corner outfield, and as he continues to lift the ball more and show off the power he has in his frame, he’s surely a very strong draft target next summer. Regardless, Caraway can rake, and has proven that over and over again.
-Brian Sakowski
Alex Sosa, C, Scorpions/Giants Scout Team
Sosa is a super well-rounded catcher with a sweet left-handed swing and excellent defensive chops. He uses the whole field and hit over .300 for the Giants Scout Team during Jupiter. He controls the zone and doesn’t expand and also showed off a plus arm and the defensive acumen is advanced.
Blake Dickerson, LHP, Baseball U Prospects
Dickerson is a classic projection left-hander at 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, but the now stuff is certainly pretty loud and he was excellent during his Jupiter start. It’s a low effort 90-92 with ease and looseness from the left side. Dickerson mixed in a hammer mid-80s slider he has excellent feel for and definitely climbed some boards during his Jupiter start.
Kyle Johnson, LHP/OF, Dirtbags
Johnson is a highly-touted two-way prospect who showed off some big power from the right side and turned in an excellent quarterfinal start on the bump. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, the southpaw is super physical and worked up to 92 mph, settling in to the upper-80s with a good slider. Johnson homered in the semifinals, going the opposite way for an exit velocity of 96 mph off the bat; he’s also young for the grade and will have just turned 18 by draft day.
Bristol Carter, OF, Dirtbags
Carter is a tough-nosed player, an excellent athlete, and someone who set the tone for that Dirtbags lineup game in and game out. Carter is a solidly plus runner, flashing times better than that when falling out of the box, and has centerfield chops from a defensive standpoint. He hit .333 for the weekend and does a lot of things really well.
Zion Rose, C, MLB Breakthrough Series 2023
Rose had a handful of knocks and showed the overall skill set that makes him super intriguing. You don’t see many sub-6.5 runners suit up behind the plate and that athleticism makes for a very dynamic profile. It’s plenty of right-handed bat speed with acumen for the barrel and Rose collected a couple of hits during his time in Jupiter.
Carl Schmidt, SS, Alpha Prime 23
Schmidt hit .308 but was a really mature presence in the box, getting on base exactly half the time and showing an OPS close to 1.000. He’s got big bat speed and athleticism, grinding out longer at-bats and showing the chops to play all over the infield. Schmidt checks off a number of indicators and the baseline athleticism gives him big upside.
Griffin Graves, LHP, Team Georgia National/5 Star
Graves continued his robust 2022 pitching line with just under four innings of shutout ball against a tough Scorpions team. Graves is an insanely athletic pitcher, one who runs a sub-6.6 and has a ton of fluidity to the operation. He worked up to 93 mph and cruised at 89-91 mph for the most part, showing off four pitches and some ultra-competitiveness.
Dean West, OF, San Diego Show
West is the ideal table-setter at the top of a lineup, putting the ball in play often, working long counts, and a left-handed hitter who can run. West hit .450 during the course of the event also showing off the speed with five stolen bases to his name. He’s a very good athlete and a plus runner who can affect the game in a myriad of ways.
Nehomar Ochoa Acosta, OF, Premier Banditos Scout
Acosta is one of the youngest players in next year’s draft class but he’s also one of the more exciting to boot. At 6-foot-4, 208 pounds there’s a ton of room to dream on the physical projection while he’ll be only seventeen on draft day. Acosta hit .444 and OPS’d over 1.100 on the weekend, further showing the upside here as he didn’t even pitch, where he sits low-90s with a hard slider.
Jandaniel Gonzalez, C, Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
Gonzalez has some of the best defensive skills out of any catcher in this year’s class and he’s also extremely young, having only just turned seventeen. Gonzalez has a plus-plus arm that he uses to frequently nail baserunners while the swing from the left side has a clean path with jump off the barrel. Gonzalez hit over .400 on the week and impressed on both sides of the ball.
-Vinnie Cervino
Arjun Nimmala, SS, Ostingers Baseball Academy 2023
Per usual, Nimmala continued to mash baseballs at the WWBA World Championship. The shortstop possesses massive power potential and hits balls as hard as anyone in the class. The power is not the only tool to his game, as he also is a 6.54 runner with soft hands and a good glove.
Jonny Farmelo, OF, Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
Farmelo brings plenty to the table with a very well-rounded game. The left-handed stick has budding all fields juice and uses a simple stroke. With all tools on display in Jupiter, he has proven to be a tremendous athlete, plus runner, while also projecting very well in center field.
Kevin McGonigle, SS, Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
The Auburn commit has one of the best hit tools in the class, utilizing lightning quick hands a short, compact swing. McGonigle can also really pick it up the middle with fluid actions and sure hands. He proved to be a consistent presence at the top of the lineup during the tournament.
-Kyler Peterson
Weston Moss, RHP, Texas Twelve
It was clear that Moss didn’t have his best stuff in this outing; his command was a tic off, and moreover, we have to consider, it was the first time he took the mound off of live hitters in 18 months. If his results in this outing are any indication of what’s to come in the spring, he’ll be just fine. The question will be however; can he stay healthy? The glaring tool here is the quick, short arm action. The fastball is heavy and overpowering that sat 90-95, combined with a devastating, quick, tilting, late breaking slider at 79-81. Possessing two pro-ready pitches, Moss will certainly garner the attention of the pro scouting community in the spring.
Nick Robert, RHP, FTB/Philadelphia Phillies Scout
The Miami commit most definitely passes the eyeball test. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame is imposing to hitters, he fills out his uniform, and his presence on the mound is tangible. If you were to build an MLB Draft prospect from dust, this is what it looks like. With his size, the windup and delivery are quite compact and athletic, indicating he’ll be able to make adjustments on the fly. Robert’s fastball worked consistently with arm-side run at 88-92, and the curveball was sharp at 74-76. Flashed an effective slider with tilt and late downer action at 78-80.
Nash Wagner, RHP, Indiana Bulls
We all know Wagner has a highly projectable 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame with room to add. Shows good velocity, clean arm action, an athletic delivery, and a live arm with his fastball in the 88-92 range and more in the tank. Wagner has an excellent presence and attitude on the mound. Looking years ahead, one could see even more velocity while on a professional strength program. Fastball sat 88-92 consistently. Threw one curveball at 70 and the slider had wipeout actions at 76-79. Wagner is an MLB prospect that will be in the draft discussion if progress continues to occur in the fall and into the spring.
Colt Emerson, SS, Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
Emerson is a high-energy athlete with exceptional coordination and quickness. His physique, twitchiness and athleticism are similar to that of a high-level soccer player. Possesses tools to admire, and will carry him into professional baseball. Demonstrates elite range and makes the routine play consistently. His arm can be a weapon from the left side of the infield and will allow him to remain at the shortstop position long term. If progress continue to occur through the fall and into the spring, he will be in the MLB Draft discussion.
Tyler Pitzer, RHP, US Elite U18 National
The South Carolina commit has electric stuff and the ball explodes out of the hand with late life and sink. Had all of his offerings dialed in and his mechanics were clean and repeatable, even in the inclement weather and the mound not being optimal. Possesses three plus pitches; the fastball sat 89-92, topping 93 where swing-and-miss was evident in, and above the zone. Curveball was sharp at 74-75, and slider at 77-81. MLB teams were present and interested. Will be a high follow through the fall and into the spring.
-Steve Doherty
Andrew Duncan, OF, FTB/Phillies Scout Team
Duncan is completely tooled up, an elite runner and athlete. Duncan can take away runs on defense, change the game with his wheels on the bases, and he had some very loud swings during the event. The University of Florida commit saved his best for the playoffs, when he seemed to be in the mix of all big innings, helping in a deep Final Four run.
Nazzan Zanetello, 3B, MLB Breakthrough Series 2023
Zanetello hit .500 during his time in Jupiter with a 1.292 OPS to round out a great travel circuit in 2022. He is a twitchy athlete with tremendous projection as the long and wiry frame fills out. He also answered a lot of questions defensively, as he showed range and transfer skills that impressed throughout.
AJ Ewing, SS, Top Tier 5 Star Roos Mafia
Ewing has a good blend of current hit/run and given the whippy swing and slender frame, the power should come as he matures. He is patient and controls the zone really well, as he did during his championship run in South Florida. He has all the tools to stay at shortstop and will be given the chance to prove it all spring.
Nolan Souza, SS, Alpha Prime
Souza absolutely looks the part with a great 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame and is a graceful mover in all aspects of the game. The actions and arm strength at shortstop during the event give you a lot of confidence he can stay at the position at the highest level, but if the frame really fills out and he slides over to third, it wont be an issue as the budding power is real. He has no issue taking a walk and working counts, and also takes his chances when he unleashes his powerful left-handed swing. He checked all the boxes needed in Jupiter heading into the Arkansas commit's senior spring in Hawaii.
Ethan McElvain, LHP, Midland Redskins
McElvain did everything he needed to do during his last start of the year. He twirled five shutout innings on his way to striking out nine opposing batters. The fastball worked up to the low-90s and the lefty mixed pitches during his outing with no fearlessness. He was sporadic at times but the swing-and-miss cannot be ignored. This is a high-end talent that is just tapping into his potential.
-Jered Goodwin
Justin Best, OF/MIF, FTB Philadelphia Phillies Scout Team 2023
Best is as well-known as any prospect on the travel ball circuit and was a Perfect Game All-American, of course. But having the opportunity to see most of his at-bats in Jupiter, it was obvious that he is synched up right now and showing great adjustability to his swing. He was on the barrel regularly, moved the ball with two strikes, had a 5:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio and registered an OB% of almost .500 for the week. Not to mention he plays an elite outfield and runs the bases like a veteran.
Walker Jenkins, OF/SS, South Charlotte Panthers 2023
A candidate to be the potential first pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Jenkins came into Jupiter knowing that he would be one of the most scrutinized players in the event. Per usual, he handled the attention with the grace and ease of a true professional and put up his usual impressive numbers. He finished the week with an OPS of .984, batted .333, adding in a 2B, a HR, 3 BB, scoring 5 runs, driving in 3 and stole 2 bags for good measure. It was tremendous to watch him finish out his illustrious travel ball career; Jenkins is first class all the way.
Chance Mako, RHP, South Charlotte Panthers 2023
Mako has always been at home when the lights are brightest, and he brought possibly his best stuff to date to the mound in Jupiter this year. With virtually every professional organization in to see his outing, he came out hot in the first inning with his fastball sitting 92-94 mph. He backed that up with his razor blade slider with elite spin sitting in the low-80s. He went 4 innings on exactly 70 pitches, only allowing 1 hit and punching out 6 batters. At 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, Mako still holds a ton of projection and repeats his delivery at a high level for an athlete of his stature.
Chase Meyer, RHP, Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
With a lot riding on his performance in Jupiter since he was one of the most high-profile prospects that was uncommitted, Meyer flashed some of the best raw stuff of the week. His arm is lightening quick, he is an elite athlete, and once he harnesses his repertoire, he will be a top-of-the-rotation type hurler. While his start was abbreviated due to pitch count, he did show a riding fastball in the 91-94 mph range and a numbing slider in the low-80s with spin that eclipsed 3,100 rpms. Meyer committed to West Virginia almost immediately following this appearance.
-Craig Cozart
Jupiter Breakouts - players from the event who really took a step forward and put themselves on the prospecting map.
Jonathan Mendez, SS, San Diego Show
The UC Santa Barbara had an outstanding showing on both sides of the ball throughout the San Diego Show’s run in Jupiter. Athleticism and strong arm made impressive plays at shortstop. The bat was just as good, showing run-producing ability that can contribute to a lineup consistently. Mendez drove in eight runs and scored another six.
Kamdyn Perry, RHP, GBG Navy 2023
The Saint Mary’s commit had one of the best pitching performances throughout the entire event. The right-hander finished off a complete game shutout while striking out a ridiculous fourteen hitter. Perry attacked the zone with the fastball that got up to 91 mph and showed advanced feel for a sharp, mid-70’s slider.
Miller Durham, 1B, BPA
Durham hit in the middle of a quality BPA lineup and immediately showcased why. The uncommitted first baseman displayed big time left-handed power, slugging .667 with a home run and six RBI. Along with the power, Durham showcased a quality eye and bat to ball skills, walking more time than he struck out.
Wyatt Halvorson, RHP, Wow Factor National
Halvorsen took the hill twice down in Jupiter and showcased intriguing stuff both times out. The uncommitted righthander totaled nine strikeouts over four shutout frames. The fastball works into the low-90’s, pairing with a hard, 12-6 curveball that misses bats often. The stuff combines with a strong, durable frame to make for an intriguing profile on the mound.
-Tyler Henninger
Ezekiel Rojas, MIF, OF, RHP, USA Prime American
Rojas was able to move his fastball around the strike zone and spin his slider at over 2300 rpm. He pitches in the 87-90 mph range and with his long/lean frame could still add strength and power. His fastball jumps on hitters with his easy arm action and the slider has a tilted shape with late depth. As an uncommitted student/athlete, Ezekiel can still project into a special player.
Callen Singhania, OF/C, Dallas Patriots 18U
Singhania was one of his team’s bright points during the WWBA in Jupiter earlier this month. Callen has a consistent swing path to the baseball and does a good job staying on plane through contact. Against some of the best pitching, he recorded 4 hits with a triple and a home run, stealing 3 bases and incredibly didn’t strike out once. A hitter that can be moved around the lineup and show some pull side strength while making contact more times than not is a tough find. As an uncommitted player currently, here is one that any program would be happy and lucky to get.
Peyton Fall, LHP/1B, Canes Florida 18U National
Fall had a very productive pitching performance during his time in Jupiter. Coming in relief, Peyton showcased the ability to move his fastball around the zone and cover 4 scoreless innings while striking out 5 batters. He pitched in the mid-80s while topping 87 mph. He does a good job being in and around the strike zone. Peyton can change his breaking ball with different finger placement and hand positioning while not changing his release. Simply a pitcher that finds ways to get outs.
JD Hay, SS/RHP, USA Prime Coastal
Hay has a very athletic frame with room for added strength and power. Very easily could be a two-way type of player but his arm strength and ability on the mound is what caught some eyes. JD pitches in the upper-80s consistently and was able to top 90 mph more than a few times. With that type of raw arm strength, he can gain more with the right development. Hay has a power slider that he uses to neutralize hitters if and when he feels the fastball is being timed.
Cayden Robinson, RHP/3B, MIF, Team Georgia National/ 5 Star
Robinson is another uncommitted guy that goes out there and competes whenever given the opportunity. Cayden took the ball in relief for his team against the No. 1 seed and carved out parts of 5 innings and gave his team a chance. Cayden sits around 85 mph while topping a few miles per hour more and mixed his off-speed stuff in well. He attacked the zone to get ahead and then made the hitters expand to get them out. There is room for lots of strength and development with his frame and build.
-Tim Redding
Alan Choo, 1B, Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
Choo put together a great week in Jupiter, hitting .429 with four RBI. He’s a strongly built left-handed hitter with advanced bat-to-ball skills and huge power to all fields. On the defensive side, he has athletic movements around the bag at first base with true feel for the leather. The recent Georgia commit is a middle of the order power bat that strings together quality at-bats in every event.
John Wimmer, SS, Upstate Mavericks ST
Simply put, Wimmer was one of the best hitters in Jupiter throughout the week. The Citadel commit has loose hands with electric bat speed and obvious feel for the barrel. He has gap-to-gap power which was on display on his four doubles. Wimmer hit an incredible .692 with nine hits and drove in four.
Jason Walk, MIF/OF, Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
Walk was a spark plug for a loaded Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team lineup throughout the week. The Oklahoma commit is a twitchy middle infielder with good rhythm to both the right-handed and left-handed swing. He sprays line drives all over the field at the plate and can cause havoc on the basepaths. He can play on both sides of the pillow with his range and arm.
Wayne King, SS, Home Plate Chili Dogs
King has been a consistent performer in PG events and continued that in Jupiter. He’s a well-built 6-foot-2 left-handed hitter with advanced barrel control and natural loft to the swing. It’s easy to project on the frame for more power at the plate and he’s already showing flashes of it. Defensively, he’s got range to both sides with a solid arm.
Luis Castillo, OF, Midland Redskins
Castillo, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound outfielder, had a hot week in Jupiter hitting .444 with a double, a triple, and a homerun. The uncommitted prospect is a physically built player with well-proportioned strength in the frame and big pull-side power at the plate. All of the tools are there with Castillo and he shouldn’t be uncommitted for too much longer.
-Cam McElwaney
Keegan O'Hearn, OF/LHP, Canadian Premier
O’Hearn’s physicality at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds is obvious, and he’s very athletic for his size and profiles well in right field long term, where his plus arm strength plays well. The big draw here is the left-handed stick, as O’Hearn has above-average bat speed and a very good understanding of leverage, getting the barrel out on time and showing huge power to his pull-side as well as the ability to drive the ball to dead center and up the oppo gap. The upside here is enormous as a power-hitting right fielder.
Noah Konings, OF, Canadian Premier
Konings came into Jupiter riding a hot streak and did nothing to cool off at the WWBA World Championship, slashing .375/.444/.438 and leading his team in hits. He’s an athletic, right-handed hitting outfielder who can play all 3 spots and profiles atop the batting order, with a very direct and compact stroke that finds consistent barrel to all fields. There’s more power in there as he continues to physically mature, and it’s shocking that he doesn’t have more recruiting interest. Konings can hit and adds value in many ways, and should have plenty of college baseball suitors.
-Brian Sakowski
Ty Waid, C, 3N2 Sticks Baseball Brewster/White Sox Scout Team
Waid was the top statistical performer of the event and though he’s been known on the summer circuit, he took his game to another level in Jupiter. Waid was an extra base hit machine, hitting .556 total on the week with five doubles and a home run. He’s got massive strength and power potential and his propensity for consistent, barreled contact made him one of the best hitters at the event.
Justin Lebron, OF, East Coast Sox Scout
Lebron hit three-hole for an East Coast Sox team that made a pretty deep run in bracket play. He’s got great size at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds with a ton of room for projection. The path is clean and the swing athletic as Lebron hit .375 with a couple of triples. It’s easy to see the long term upside here and Lebron also played a quality centerfield throughout the week.
John Abraham, RHP, Top Tier 5 Star Roos Mafia
The uncommitted right-hander turned forth the best performance of the tournament on the mound, a complete game shutout in the championship to bring home MV-Pitcher honors. Abraham was up to 92 mph and pitched mostly in the 87-90 mph range, mixing in a hammer breaking ball. Abraham should have no shortage of collegiate suitors after a dominant Jupiter performance.
Trey Beard, LHP, Burn Scout Team 2023
Beard finished his 2022 campaign with 80 strikeouts to just 14 walks in over 35 innings on the bump with an ERA under 2.00 so by no means was this a big surprise that he shoved during his Jupiter start. He went five innings of one-hit baseball with ten strikeouts, getting some outrageous metrics on the fastball with 70-grade IVB numbers. Beard gets a ton of swing and miss on his upper-80s heater, mixing in four total pitches including a devilish changeup.
Brad Pruett, RHP, Dulin’s Dodgers Prime
Pruett had one of the best starts at anyone of the event, shutting down the defending champions with a complete game shutout under the lights on the first night of the event. Pruett touched 91 mph early, lived in the upper-80s and pounded strikes. He’s got an excellent slider he manipulated well for a ton of swing and miss and his dominant start certainly caught the attention of a number of evaluators.
AJ Shelton, RHP, Burn Scout Team 2023
Shelton has a huge right arm and though he only threw one inning down in Jupiter he showed some premium velocity, sitting 92-94 mph. Shelton has excellent size and physicality with bat-missing stuff overall as he punched out three hitters in said lone inning. There’s big upside here and certainly big velocity.
Kannon Kemp, RHP, Dallas Patriots 18U
One of the buzziest pitchers heading into the event was Kemp and the big right-hander delivered on a big stage against East Cobb. Kemp ran the heater up to 94 mph, sitting 92-94 in his first inning of work, and struck out five hitters across two frames. The slider has excellent raw spin numbers while there’s also changeup feel and at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Kemp might just be scratching the surface.
-Vinnie Cervino
Connor Mattison, RHP, Ohio Warhawks
Mattison was dominant in his outing in Jupiter. The Grand Canyon commit worked in the low-90s with his heater, but the changeup was the real separator, garnering tons of ugly swings and looks. The righty can also spin it well and knows how pitch.
Haiden Leffew, LHP, South Charlotte Panthers 2023
Leffew was dazzling over his 4.2 inning outing, surrendering zero earned runs while striking out eight. A strike thrower, the southpaw pounded the zone, sitting in the low-90s. He displayed excellent feel to spin a slurvy curve that he was able to land at will.
Brynner Waiolama, RHP, Alpha Prime 23
The Hawaii commit really opened some eyes over his two outings in Jupiter. Waiolama ran his heater up to 95, sitting comfortably in the 91-93 range. The heater features heavy downhill plane to it and he paired it with a solid slider.
Ryan Piech, RHP, Cincinnati Red Scout Team
The righty showed some very intriguing traits on the bump. Piech backspins his fastball very well, allowing for great quality at 89-91 with up to 26 IVB. He complimented the heater with vertical curveball that flashed some downer bite to it.
-Kyler Peterson
Adekide Adetuyi, LHP, Scorpions/Giants Scout Team
Adetuyi helped anchor a very talented Scorpions roster and logged 10 2/3 innings during the event. He sat comfortably in the mid-80s using a polished delivery and good timing to repeat and attack. His three-pitch mix gave fits to opposing teams as the FAU commit did not surrender an earned run. His line on the summer, 40 strikeouts to 6 walks, was on par with his performance on the biggest stage in Jupiter.
James Brody Delamielleure, OF, FTB/Phillies Scout Team
Delamielleure hit from start to finish at the WWBA World Championships and that is exactly what he did for really a calendar year. He is deadly accurate with his barrel and the swing has both rhythm and quickness to it. The FSU commit has a very advanced all-fields approach and he proved that velocity is already not an issue. The right-handed hitter has the polish to make his mark early at the next level. The .600 average with walks and extra-base hits was really impressive during the gauntlet that is Jupiter.
Gavin Gallaher, SS, Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
Gallaher is no stranger when it comes to competing and producing against top competition and he proved once again he is in the group of real winners in the 2023 class. He hit .375 with a 1.100 OPS during a finals run for the Canes. The North Carolina commit also worked nine walks and came through with a dramatic walkoff in the semifinals to help the Canes play for a championship. He is a versatile defender and good runner to go along with his hit-collecting skills.
Trevor Harrison, RHP, Top Tier 5 Star Roos Mafia
Harrison was spectacular in his start down in South Florida. He was nails over his four innings of scoreless work. He struck out eight, touched 93, and gave up only a single hit. He was in total control as he controlled the zone while mixing offerings often. It was a real eye-opener as every facet of his outing was a big tick-up from a development standpoint.
-Jered Goodwin
Ethan Belk, OF/RHP, South Charlotte Panthers 2023
Belk is the type of player that you build a roster around because he can do it all on the field, will show up every day and make you look good if you are the coach. He is sturdy, twitchy and has obvious instincts for the game and will answer the call in some of the biggest moments of a game. Belk finished his Jupiter week with an OPS of 1.271, batted .583, scored 3 runs, drove in 3 and stole a bag while carrying an OB% of .688 as well. This kid is a gamer and Wofford landed a good one here.
Kyle Kipp, RHP, Baseball U Prospects
Kipp put together an outing that likely was the most dominant outing of the event. With a classic pitcher's build at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, he has a powerful delivery that is controlled until foot strike and then violent through release point. Showing his durability and efficiency, he finished his complete game shutout on 96 pitches, 67% strikes, and held his velocity until the end. His fastball sat in the upper-80s, peaking at 90 several times and breaking balls were devastating, generating enormous swing and miss. His final line was 7 innings, allowing 2 hits, no runs, no walks while striking out 13.
Calvin Koo, RHP, Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
You must love a pitcher that knows himself so well that he starts the game with the sequence of changeup, slider, changeup to get a three-pitch punchout. Koo is the essence of a pitcher, and he makes the game move fast as he keeps his defense involved in the game. At 6-foot, 170 pounds, he has room to add mass and overall stuff but honestly it doesn’t matter because this kid will get outs at any level. He added and subtracted with his fastball that peaked at 86 mph, but it played way up due to his elite changeup and slider that was hard on LHHs and RHHs alike. Koo went 5 innings, allowing 1 hit, no runs, 2 walks and striking out 7 batters in all. Somebody should scoop this arm up quick.
Taylor Rabe, RHP, Scorpions/Giants Scout Team
Maybe he wasn’t quite loose when he came into the game or he simply has the flare for the dramatic, but Rabe showed the ability to elevate his game when necessary. He allowed the bases to be loaded with no outs in his first inning of relief and all of the sudden took his fastball from the mid-80s to literally sitting 90-92 mph. This allowed him to strike out the next two batters and then induce a weak ground ball to short stop to end the threat. He is a super projectable 6-foot-5, 195 pounds with a live arm and a natural ability to spin the ball. Rabe’s ceiling is very high.
-Craig Cozart
The Next Wave - the group of prospects, playing up in age class, who stood out at the event.
Austin Nye, RHP, Alpha Prime 23
Nye took the hill for Alpha Prime to start pool play and showed why he is considered one of the more intriguing arms in the ‘24 class. The Vanderbilt commit can overwhelm hitters with a riding fastball that works into the mid-90s and an extremely sharp curveball. There is also feel for a quality changeup at times. The swing-and-miss stuff stands out and has a chance to be some of the best in the class with more consistency.
Boston Bateman, LHP, Ohio Warhawks
Bateman ranks among the top players in the ‘24 class and continues to perform consistently. The Arizona State commit possesses an imposing frame that moves down the mound with intent. A devastating fastball/curveball combination generates whiffs consistently. The fastball sits comfortably at 90-92 mph for now with plenty more coming down the line. The ceiling is extremely high for the young left-hander.
Xavier Neyens, RHP/3B, Trosky National 2023
Neyens possesses some of the loudest two-way tools in the ‘25 class. The Oregon State commit features a strong, physical frame capable of generating big left-handed power at the plate. On the mound, Neyens can run the fastball into the low-90s with feel for a slider present. Neyens has impressive tools present with plenty of time to continue to develop.
Drew Rogers, C, Trosky National 2023
Rogers put the final touches on a strong year, posting a 1.857 OPS over a short three-game showing in Jupiter. The backstop continues to display impact tools on both sides of the ball. The bat will likely carry the profile, showing consistent power and the ability to reach base consistently.
-Tyler Henninger
Joey Tonnotti, RHP/OF, Real Ballers 2023 National Team
With a tall and lean frame, Joey has some natural ability that will be benefitted by a program looking for a good arm. Joey’s fastball has some good ride and life through the zone, reaching 87 mph during this event. He has the start of a good slider that just needs some depth and tilt to be a plus type out pitch.
Erick Peralta, RHP, Real Ballers 2023 National Team
Playing up two years ahead of his class, Erick didn’t shy away and may have just put himself in the spotlight of younger arms to follow moving forward. With a solid 6-foot-4 frame, Peralta has a free and easy delivery and gets into his lower half well. He locates to both sides of the plate with the fastball and his curveball has a top-to-bottom shape with some heavy bite late. The framework and build is there, with fine tuning, maturity and development Erick could add to his fastball and become a big time guy when given the baseball.
Dalton Meadows, RHP/3B, Team Georgia National/ 5 Star
Meadows displayed enough pitchability to be intrigued about what he can produce over the next two springs before going off to the next level. His solid, athletic frame already helps him register his fastball up to 91 mph while pitching steady in the mid- to upper-80s. He possesses a power slider in the upper-70s to low-80s and will continue to get better with the control/command of it. As an uncommitted player currently, Dalton is sure to have some programs inquiring about him as he continues to improve his skills.
Ridge Morgan, RHP/1B, 3B, Dirtbags National
Morgan showed why he is considered as one of the top-200 players in his class and just outside the top-50 for pitchers. With his long, athletic frame, Ridge can bring the heat with his fastball up to the low-90s (92 mph) while showing good control in and around the strike zone. He complements that with a very sharp 12/6 curveball with late action down in zone and below. Projectability aplenty here with this arm and athlete.
Noah Franco, OF/1B, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
Being the No. 1 ranked player for your class (’25) comes with a lot of fanfare and expectations. Noah didn’t have his best outing on the mound during the WWBA Worlds in Jupiter, but he competed and showed grit and competitiveness. His fastball ran up to 90 mph and he gave his team 4 strong innings despite not having his “A” game. As he searched for his command, Noah’s slider showed good tilt and sharp depth as he was able to handcuff some right-handed hitters with its action. Offensively, Franco produced a couple of hits that drove in 3 runs in total over the tournament.
-Tim Redding
William Maginnis, 3B, Home Plate Chili Dogs
Maginnis was a barrel machine the entire time he was in Jupiter. The Georgia State commit hit .429 with a double and a triple. He is still a lean player with big power projection. He has loose hands and a quick, flat barrel path through the zone resulting in a lot of hard contact. He profiles well at third base with his actions and arm, as well.
Jaxon Walker, OF, Home Plate Chili Dogs
Walker has as pure of a left-handed swing as you’ll find in the 2024 class. He has a big leg kick to start the swing and works into the legs, deriving serious pull side juice from the lower half. The Georgia commit hit .375 with two doubles and three RBI in Jupiter. He’s also a plus runner with feel for all three outfield positions.
Elbert Craig, 1B, Lonestar National
Craig, a Texas A&M commit, had a great week in Jupiter. He’s a big, 6-foot-4, 220-pound first baseman with power to all fields that he gets into regularly. Craig hit .500 with two doubles and an RBI. He’s an athletic player with some of the biggest power in the 2024 class.
-Cam McElwaney
Samuel Cozart, RHP, South Charlotte Panthers (2025)
Cozart is a 2025 grad, and while that’s a full two classes under the main focus of Jupiter, he was one of the top performers to no one’s surprise. He punched out 11 in 6 innings, allowing only 1 hit and walking no one, running his fastball up to 93 mph and sitting in the 88-92 mph range. He’s obviously very physically-imposing, but the finer points of pitching are strong with him as well, with command of a full arsenal, feel to spin two breakers, and advanced feel for his changeup.
Brayden Krenzel, RHP, Reds Scout Team (2024)
Krenzel only threw a pair of innings in Jupiter but they were two very impressive, very dominant innings, and the traits his profile possesses are high end. He does it very easy on the mound and is an athletic mover with tons of body projection, possessing plus arm speed and advanced feel to spin a slider that projects to plus pretty easily. He’s in line for a massive summer on the circuit next year, and has the makings of a high-level 2024 draft.
Brayden Ricketts, C/1B, Canadian Premier (2024)
Ricketts has been a left-handed bat that I’ve liked quite a bit since first laying eyes on him, and he came to Jupiter and really performed, as expected, slashing .400/.538/.700, showing off his big time bat speed and power to all fields while working his walks and having consistently competitive at-bats. As he continues to develop behind the plate and his defense joins his offense as high-end, he should be one of the more sought-after uncommitted ‘24s on the continent.
Makaio Cisneros, RHP, Canadian Premier (2024)
Cisneros performed well in Jupiter across a couple outings, allowing just 1 hit and 1 run in 4 innings while striking out 7. He’s a slender, projectable right-hander who fills the zone and keeps hitters off-balance, working mostly in the upper-80s with his fastball, touching higher, and showing a full mix with command. The projection here is excellent and Cisneros really understands how to pitch as well, giving him a pretty substantial ceiling.
Matt Brown, RHP, Canadian Premier (2024)
Brown is the picture of projection at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds and has the type of now stuff that, paired with that projection, leads one to project a huge ceiling. He throws power sinkers that can reach 92 mph with a hard-biting slider, missing bats and barrels alike with both pitches, and he does a fair job of throwing strikes already. The upside here is vast, and he’s a rightfully sought-after recruit in the ’24 class.
-Brian Sakowski
Wyatt Sanford, SS, Dallas Patriots 18U
Sanford finished the week hitting .300 and checks a lot of boxes in terms of what scouts are looking for out of underclassmen. He’s a high-waisted and projectable 6-foot, 160 pounds with a buttery smooth left-handed swing. Sanford has advanced defensive chops and a good internal clock as he certainly looks the part of a left-handed hitting shortstop at the next level.
Cade Townsend, RHP, BPA
All Townsend has done this year is shove as he finished with 48 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA across 27 innings. He delivered again down at Jupiter with a five-inning, complete game shutout with just two hits allowed and nine strikeouts. Townsend was up to 93 mph, sitting right around 89-91 mph, with very good metrics on the stuff including a hammer curveball approaching 3000 rpm spin.
Anderson Nance, RHP, Top Tier 5 Star Roos Mafia
Nance tossed close to seven full innings of shutout ball across two starts, running the fastball up to 91 mph in the process with a very good delivery and strikes. He’s a still-projectable right-hander with easy velocity and feel for a big curveball too. There are solid indicators here due to the cleaner arm action and delivery along with the ease of operation.
Dean Moss, OF, Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
Moss is a top ten prospect for the class of 2025 and he might be the best pure bat in that class as of now. Moss has a smooth swing from the left side and hit .429 during his time at Jupiter, getting on base an absurd two-thirds of the time with six walks and no strikeouts. Moss has a sublime understanding of the zone and his swing, rarely expands or whiffs, positing a very strong hit tool and one of the more mature hitters in any class.
PJ Morlando, OF, Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
Morlando had his time down at Jupiter cut short due to getting banged up, but the No. 3 ranked prospect in the 2024 class hit .333 and is an overall outstanding hitter. He made a couple of really nice plays out in the outfield but the power-hit combination have a chance to be really special.
Schuyler Sandford, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
Sandford is the No. 25 ranked player in the class and he’s got a big arm with a ton of positive indicators here. He’s 6-foot-5, 200-pounds with a long and loose arm action and he worked 91-93 mph in his first of two innings down in Jupiter. The breaking ball and strike throwing has made strides and he looks on the precipice of a huge 2023 season.
-Vinnie Cervino
Talan Bell, LHP, Power Baseball 2023 Marucci
Bell put on a big time performance versus a tough lineup, going five scoreless, one-hit innings while punching out nine. The lefty works in the upper-80s, locating to all quadrants and locking hitters up on his big hook. He is also a talented left-handed bat and outfielder.
Zach Swanson, RHP, Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
Swanson has a legitimate power arsenal and it showed over his dominant four inning outing. The Oregon State commit ran his fastball up to 94 and held the velocity. The primary secondary is a low-80s slider, already proving to be an out-pitch with sharp, late break.
Mason Brassfield, LHP, Ohio Warhawks
The California native was electric in Jupiter. The left-hander operated in the low-90s, creating some very tough angle with a very quick arm. At 83-84, the slider worked well off the fastball, featuring tight break for plenty swing-and-miss.
Jay O'Neal, RHP, East Cobb Astros- Orange
O’Neal exhibited the same pinpoint command he has all year while also making strides in terms of velocity, topping out at 92. The fastball has huge run to it, working to both sides of the plate. The slider and changeup have also had steady improvement.
-Kyler Peterson
Levi Sterling, SS/RHP, Canes Prospects
Already a highly-skilled and experienced player, Sterling's energetic athleticism and high baseball IQ make him the prototypical modern two-way baseball player that championship caliber teams covet. The Texas commit has a long, lean 6-foot-4, 185-pound projectable frame you can dream on. Sterling demonstrates an efficient, compact swing and a contact-oriented approach that will hit for a high average. His willingness to use the entire field allow him to procure hits at a rapid pace. We will be hearing his name in consideration for the 2024 MLB Draft.
Andre Modugno, 3B, Canes Prospects
Tools, tools, tools. Just on the eyeball test, Modugno is a man among boys. Already has s well-developed frame, but you can see there is more room to add strength which is a scary thought. Put him in an upperclass setting and he would still be a standout. Modugno should be able to stay at third base through his prime years, where his bat and power tool has the potential to be above average. There is still a lot of development remaining in front of Modugno, but the tools are evident for a potential impact bat.
-Steve Doherty
Michael Torres, OF, Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
Torres has recently reclassed from the ’25 class to the ’24 class and after the work he did in Jupiter, it doesn’t look like that will affect him at all. He sprayed hits all over the yard to the tune of a .417 average. The eye-hand is real and he identifies and works counts well beyond his years. He also manned center field when called upon and has always been a high IQ player.
Dalton Wentz, SS/RHP, Dirtbags
Wentz had a very solid week, finishing off his really good 2022 campaign. He hit .333, scored seven times, and knocked in four runs, helping his team get to the final four. The South Carolina commit has all the tools to play on the left side of the infield and his bat will literally play anywhere. To top it off, he threw a couple scoreless innings and ran his heater up to 93 mph.
-Jered Goodwin
Connor Chicoli, RHP, Dirtbags Scout Team
Chicoli was impressive in his two innings of relief, requiring only 28 pitches to get his six outs. He has only just begun to realize his potential and once he fills out his 6-foot-3, 175-pound broad-shouldered frame, you should see his stuff continue to trend upward. As is, he presents three quality pitches starting with a riding upper-80s fastball that grabbed 89 mph often. He finished hitters with his vertical curveball that just keeps eating in the zone and a changeup that fades with late depth. He went 2 innings allowing no hits, no runs, no walks and struck out 3. He was uncommitted going into that outing and is now a Georgia Tech commit.
Austin Irby, 3B/OF/RHP, Dirtbags National
While Irby didn’t have a lot to show from a pure numbers standpoint in Jupiter, the physicality, bat path and hand speed jumped out. He was a tough out, found a lot of barrels and just didn’t seem to find the gaps in the opposing defense. It all came back around for him last weekend in the PG Underclass Coastal Fall World Series, however. He put together a monster tournament with an OPS of 1.508, batting .429, with 2 doubles, a triple and a home run. On top of that, he scored 7 runs, collected 11 RBI leading him to an OB% of .579. Anticipate more results like this in the next couple years from this 6-foot, 187-pound prospect.
Bryce Navarre, LHP/1B/OF, Knights Knation/Dodgers Scout Team
Navarre looked like a seasoned veteran in his start early in the week in Jupiter and put his club in excellent position to run through pool play. He is a strong built 6-foot-1, 190-pounder and is just so solid in his movement patterns down the mound. You knew he was never going to beat himself, so it was up to opposing clubs to generate some offense. This was a tall task with Navarre’s three-pitch mix. His fastball had hop in the mid-80s, the changeup is advance with tunnel and deception, plus his curveball seems to have endless depth. Expect him to be a consistent performer for the next couple years.
Gavin Stedman, RHP/OF, Scorpions
One of the youngest participants in the entire event, Stedman showed himself more than capable mentally and physically to handle the big time. Getting the ball in a start role, he dominated on the mound with a bulldog mentality. He simply challenged hitters with every pitch and worked off his upper-80s fastball, going to his advanced breaker only when necessary. Stedman went 4 innings on only 45 pitches, allowing 1 hit, no runs or walks and he struck out 5 batters. I can’t imagine he stays uncommitted much longer.
-Craig Cozart