THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,422 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,422 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
PG Select Baseball Festival  | General | 8/22/2024

13u Select Festival Preview

13u Select Festival Roster Breakdown

With the 2024 13u Perfect Game Select Festival just on the horizon, 38 of the most talented 13u eligible players from across the country will descend upon the University of Virginia as they were chosen as the host sight for the 6th iteration of the event. It proved to be another long, arduous summer with lots of travel coast-to-coast between some of the marquee youth events in the country, whether the Beast of the East in Panama City, Florida, the PGI in Chesterfield, Missouri, the 13u WWBA in West Palm Beach, Florida or the quite literally the biggest of them all, the Houston Super NIT in Houston, Texas (just to name a few) with all roads eventually leading to the 13u National Showcase back in West Palm Beach where all of the 38 rostered players were in attendance. 

Started three years after the inaugural 14u Festival back in 2016, the alum of the 13u game have already begun making their marks on the pro ranks of baseball as 8 players (Raffaele Velazquez, Slade Caldwell, Konnor Griffin, Cam Caminiti, Theo Gillen, Chase Mobley, Ty Southisene and Erik Parker) have already heard their names called in the MLB Draft, the first 5 of whom went in the first round. And if you include international signings like top prospect Ethan Salas, Jose Perdomo and Luis Ayden Almeyda amongst others, the collective signing bonus is north of $35,000,000. And while the number of draftees is currently at 8, you can expect that to climb into the double digits following the 2025 MLB Draft and there’s no doubt this year’s crop will eventually add to the tally come 2028 and 2029. 



This year’s roster is composed of players from both the 2028 and 2029 graduating classes and truly span from coast-to-coast as 15 different states are represented with your traditional hot beds leading the way in California and Florida (6 players apiece) while both Arizona and Texas rostered 4 players. A deeper dive into the rosters show 21 of the players have experience in at least one Select Festival as a pair return after appearing in the 11u game back in 2022, 13 made the trip to East Cobb last summer for the 12u Select Festival and 6 are returning for their third trip in as many years and look to join an exclusive group in making a clean 4-year sweep next year. 

Quick math shows 17 players will be making their Festival debut this upcoming weekend in Charlottesville and they come in all forms of talent, from power arms to impact bats, threats on the bases and some of the highest-end athleticism that’ll be on the field this weekend. And while the class of 2029 rankings haven’t yet been released, it’s safe to say some of the first timers have made an indelible impression and will fight their way to the top come release day. 

There will be plenty of players to watch closely as the East possesses some of the bigger arms in the game with the likes of Greyson Bell, Alex Bello, Knox Myers and Trent O'Malley while the West will be able to punch right back with Russell Nelson, Adam Kramer and Noah Vrzal amongst others as all the aforementioned arms have already worked into at least the mid-80s.

Are you looking for juice? Jason Marll Jr, Jaden Freeze, Peyton Lopez, Colton Windham, Macgraw Vanwormer and Dylan Mercado all have double digit home runs this spring/summer and it’s Mercado who’s also leading the way in terms of total hits as he collected 95 on the year; he’s one of 8 players to rack up at least 60 knocks this season. Speed? Vanwormer (55) and Charlie Blalock (40) lead the rosters in bags and you can all but guarantee they’ll be on the move come Sunday should they reach base. Amongst all the offensive video game numbers, we can’t overlook Marll’s .636 average nor Easton O'Quinn’s .581 mark, which he put together amongst a slew of appearances at all the major circuit events.

As a whole, these 38 players have come together to help raise funds for the children at UVA Health and as of this writing are nearly at their $40,000 goal, collecting just north of $38,000, all of which goes to the hospital and the families of the patients within. 

If you'd like to help and donate to the cause, you can do so here: https://getinvolved.uvahealth.org/team/595631

Check in day for the players is Thursday, August 22nd and you can experience the ins and outs of the Festival thanks to the social media presence on site who’ll take you behind the scenes throughout the weekend from the room reveals to inside the practices, home run derby, and of course, the game. Be sure to check it out Sunday, August 25th at 11 am EST as it’ll be broadcasted live on PerfectGame.TV as well as on the @PerfectGameUSA handles on both Instagram and X.


 

PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 4/21/2026

Select Festival Dates/Locations Announced

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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES DATES AND VENUES FOR   2026 SLATE OF SELECT FESTIVALS    Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced dates and venues for its 2026 Select Festivals, a premiere series of invitation-only events showcasing many of the nation’s top young prospects at the 11U, 12U, 13U and 14U levels.    The Select Festivals provide elite players with a unique opportunity to compete alongside and against the best talent in their age group while experiencing a...
High School | Rankings | 4/29/2026

High School Top 50 Update: April 29

Tyler Russo
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With another week in the books across the country in the high school baseball season, we have another update to the National Top 50. The southern states are rolling through the playoffs as the weeks unfold along with northern states starting to get to the back half of their schedule as the summer is quickly approaching. The top-10 holds firm in this update as Venice (FL) continues to hold onto the top spot after rattling off W’s since returning home to Florida. Barbe (LA) comes in at No. 2 this week after being ranked at No. 3 a week ago and sport a 37-1 record with 36 straight wins. Orange Lutheran (CA) drops one spot to No. 3 and a pair of Texas schools round out the top-5 as Tomball is at No. 4 and Aledo is at No. 5. 5-9 is the exact same this week as last as IMG Academy (FL) comes in at No. 6, Trinity (KY) is at No. 7, Harvard-Westlake (CA) is at No. 8 and Grapevine (TX) is at...
Juco | Rankings | 4/29/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 29

Troy Sutherland
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Two teams reached the 50 win mark this past week and both are in the top two spots of this weeks ranking. Pearl River continues to win and represents our top ranked D2 JUCO team. Welcome to the top 10 to Cloud County, who is putting together an outstanding season at 43-5. Fresno City, Palomar and Ohlone are the top teams in California. And welcome back to the top 25 to the NWAC and Lower Columbia. Check back next week as teams head into postseason play.  Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 50-2 2 Gaston (NC) 50-3 3 Walters State (TN) 45-10 4 Blinn (TX) 37-12 5 Pearl River (MS) 43-9 6 Southern Nevada (NV) 35-10 7 Florence-Darlington (SC) 46-10 8 Florida Southwestern (FL) 35-15 9 Chipola (FL) 40-11 10 Cloud County (KS) 43-5 11 McLennan (TX) 39-11 12 John A Logan (IL) 44-8 13 Midland (TX) 44-6 14 Georgia Highlands (GA) 41-11 15 Fresno City (CA) 37-3 16 Cochise (AZ) 40-13 17 Harford...
College | Rankings | 4/29/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 29

Nick Herfordt
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Across all three divisions of college baseball, the teams making the most noise heading into the postseason share a common trait — they score runs, and they score them relentlessly. Along with the updated rankings, this week we take a look at the top run-producing programs in DII, DIII and NAIA baseball, spotlighting a trio of teams from each division whose offenses have separated themselves from the field. The numbers tell a compelling story. Whether it's the defending NAIA champion LSU Shreveport Pilots reloading with a new roster yet still posting 10+ runs per game, the Pittsburg State Gorillas hanging blowout after blowout on opponents, or the Lynchburg Hornets making a case as the most complete team in Division III baseball, the formula is largely the same — deep lineups, disciplined at-bats, and the ability to keep pressure on a pitching staff from the first pitch to...
College | Story | 4/30/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 30 POY Deep Dive

John Coppolella
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Each week I huddle with Vinnie Cervino and Craig Cozart to discuss Top-25 rankings and Players of the Week. In Coppy’s Corner, I dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level.   Player of the Week: Jarren Advincula – Georgia Tech  Last week, Fernando Mendoza was taken with the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza transferred from the University of California – Berkeley (Cal) to Indiana University in advance of his draft year. Upon transferring, he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to a national championship. Advincula also transferred from Cal in advance of his draft year, but he took his talents to Georgia Tech. And, while there is still time left in the season, Advincula has positioned himself to be in the conversation for College Baseball’s...
Leagues | Story | 4/28/2026

Iowa Spring League Notebook: Week 5

Perfect Game Staff
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Dawson Weller (2027, Ottumwa, IA) showcased his two-way potential with a strong performance this weekend. On the mound, worked two clean innings while striking out 3 consistently living in the zone and getting ahead with first-pitch strikes. Showed the ability to control tempo and attack hitters throughout the outing. At the plate made a big impact in the same game, collecting two doubles and a home run. Displays quick hands through the zone with the ability to connect on an uphill path and generate carry off the barrel. A well-rounded showing that highlighted impact on both sides of the ball. Will Frederiksen (2026, Bettendorf, IA) had a loud weekend at the plate, launching 2 home runs and showing real impact with the bat. Generates plenty of juice in the swing with a simple, controlled load that allows him to stay on time. The swing works clean through the zone and produces strong...
College | Story | 4/28/2026

College Players of the Week: April 28

Craig Cozart
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April 28th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Jarren Advincula, IF, Georgia Tech  It is well documented how good the Georgia Tech offense was in 2025, so when the Yellow Jackets added Jarren Advincula from the transfer portal in the off-season, the expectations went through the roof for ’26.  Somehow, the team and Advincula have not only met but exceeded those expectations in virtually every way.  Advincula, the 6-2/195 infielder from Santa Clara, CA, has been a fixture in the middle infield and is an elite defender with the leather.  He shows natural instincts for the game and as the season has progressed, he has found himself inserted into the 3-hole in their powerful lineup.  Hitting from the left-side of the plate, Advincula put together an impressive week as Tech took down Georgia in the mid-week and swept Wake Forest on the weekend.  He was...
College | Rankings | 4/26/2026

College Top 25: April 27

Vincent Cervino
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It was another weekend of upsets, upheaval and consequential series victories across the nation.  After the dust settled, the UCLA Bruins (39-4) remain the No. 1 team in the nation after their (3-1) week stepping outside Big Ten play, taking a series against Sacramento State.  Their perfect (21-0) start in conference play is still intact with three weekend series to go.  UNC (36-8) sticks at No. 2 this week after they went across town to take on archrival Duke, winning that series and finishing the week with a (3-1) record.  The No. 3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (36-7) showed their moxie by coming back from large deficits multiple times and swept conference foe Wake Forest, extending their lead in the ACC standings to 2-games.  The Texas Longhorns (32-9) are No. 4 in the poll this week after winning a tightly contested series on the road against Vanderbilt. ...
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 4/24/2026

2026 MLB Draft Reports: Top 100

Vincent Cervino
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PG Draft: Top-100 Reports (April Update) 1. Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA R-R, 6-2/202, Chandler, AZ Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Roch Cholowsky has consistently ranked at the top of the class throughout the cycle due to the safety and upside of the profile. Defensively, he is a plus defender at shortstop with soft hands, consistent actions, and quality range. Not only should he stick at the position long term, he should excel there at the next level. Offensively, there is a strong mix of hit and power potential from the right side of the plate. The swing is a bit unorthodox with a shorter finish, but Cholowsky consistently finds the barrel and drives the ball with authority to all fields. He has strong bat to ball skills with impact. He has walked more than stuck out during his collegiate career, giving him a high on-base ability. The run tool is the only tool that doesn’t jump...
Draft | Rankings | 4/24/2026

2026 MLB Draft Board: Top 400

Tyler Henninger
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Rk. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jackson Flora C RHP R-R UC Santa Barbara Pleasanton CA 5 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 6 AJ Gracia C OF L-L Virginia Monroe NJ 7 Ace Reese C 3B L-R Mississippi State Canton TX 8 Eric Booth Jr. H OF L-L Oak Grove Bassfield MS Vanderbilt 9 Justin Lebron C SS R-R Alabama Miramar FL 10 Drew Burress C OF R-R Georgia Tech Perry GA 11 Gio Rojas H LHP L-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coral Springs FL Miami 12 Ryder Helfrick C C R-R Arkansas Discovery Bay CA 13 Chris Hacopian C SS R-R Texas A&M Potomac MD 14 Cameron Flukey C RHP R-R Coastal Carolina Egg Harbor Township NJ 15 Cole Carlon C LHP L-L Arizona State Tempe AZ 16 Jared Grindlinger H LHP/OF L-L Huntington...
Press Release | Press Release | 4/23/2026

Kash Shaikh Named Perfect Game CMO

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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME NAMES KASH SHAIKH CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AND HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, April 23, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Kash Shaikh has been named the company’s new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Head of International. In this role, Shaikh will serve on Perfect Game’s executive leadership team, overseeing global marketing, brand strategy, creative, partnerships and sponsorships, while leading the company’s international P&L and expansion. Shaikh brings more than two decades of experience building brands, businesses and communities across sports, media and consumer...
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