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Tournaments  | Story | 12/10/2025

Scout Stories: Part 3

John McAdams
Cam McElwaney
Tyler Kotila
Scott Rankin
Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2

Best Game I Saw:



The 17u Ultimate Baseball Championship featured a thrilling matchup between the ZT National Prospects and the Trosky Brewers 2026, with the winner claiming the trophy. Both teams showcased their talent, boasting a combined 15 players committed to Division I programs. In a back-and-forth contest that highlighted standout pitching against potent lineups, ZT National ultimately held off a late comeback to secure a 5-4 victory. Justin Lopez shone for ZT National with three hits and two RBIs, while University of North Carolina commit William Myhand added two hits and two runs batted in. On the Trosky side, UCSB commit Noah Dabela kept his team competitive with an impressive performance out of the bullpen, tossing 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings. However, time ran out with ZT on top.


Best Tournament Performance I Saw:

Noah Jarolimek delivered an outstanding performance at the 14U UBC West in Irvine, showcasing one of the most dominant tournament displays in recent memory. The 6-foot, 200-pound middle infielder impressed at the plate with six hits in 11 at-bats, including a double, triple, and home run, driving in 11 runs. As a standout player for ZT National, he finished the tournament with a .545 batting average, earning him a spot on the All-Tournament team and the title of Tournament Most Valuable Player.


Favorite Single Game Performance:

Striker Pence delivered an unforgettable performance at the 15U UBC in Irvine last June. Playing for GBG National against Stacked Pro at Concordia College's packed venue, the 6-foot-6 right-hander excelled on the mound. He pitched four hitless innings, striking out 10 batters with just 47 pitches, achieving a 78% strike rate. This was Pence's first Perfect Game event, where he reached 98 mph on the radar gun, later increasing to 101 mph. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the All-Tournament team and the Most Valuable Pitcher award.


Biggest Showcase Breakout Performer:

Benjamin Bradley from Roseville, CA had an impressive performance at the 2025 PG Northern California Showcase. As a switch-hitting primary catcher, he demonstrated agility and strong arm action behind the plate, effectively managing various pitchers. Bradley also showcased his versatility by playing a clean third base. His solid performance during batting practice carried over to the game, as he successfully impacted the ball from both sides of the plate. Expect more from this 2028 graduate in the future.


Pick to Click:

Micah Mecucci from Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, CA is a promising prospect for 2026. This right-handed outfielder has added significant strength to his athletic build. After a standout freshman year, he continued to excel over the summer, showing consistent ability to make contact and potential for in-game power. Mecucci moves effortlessly in the outfield, combining his strength and speed with improving arm velocity. He has already demonstrated impressive power potential in Southern California, with even more to come.

-Scott Rankin


Best Game I Saw


The Quarterfinal Matchup between Stars Baseball 2026 Marucci and Ghost National 18U in Jupiter became an instant classic. A back-and-forth affair that saw plenty of offensive fireworks, as one would expect on the final day of the gauntlet that is commonly tabbed as the pinnacle of amateur baseball tournaments. Both squads traded blows as five of the six innings featured scoring. Ultimately, St. Joseph’s commit Eddie Rosado capped off his three-hit day with a walk-off triple that brought home three and win it for Ghost.


Best Tournament Performance I Saw

Seton Hall commit Henry Pancoast was an absolute hitting machine during the 18U Mid-Atlantic World Series, as the physical right-handed hitting two-way prospect hit an astounding .909 (10 for 11) including three doubles and a bomb. He also hopped onto the mound and punched out three, while running his fastball up to 89 mph in this look. Ultimately, Pancoast took home MVP honors for his performance.


Favorite Single Game Moment
I am going to preface this statement with the fact that I attend a wider variety of events across all ages within the PG platform so when I mention my favorite single game moment that is exactly why. Angel Garcia got the start in the 12U Perfect Game Select Festival and proceeded to pump 80-plus mile per hour fastballs that ultimately reached 85 mph. An absolutely ridiculous thing to watch first hand regardless of age.


Biggest Showcase Breakout Performer
Cooper Mason came to the 13U National Showcase as someone our staff may have known previously due to his performances at several signature events throughout the summer circuit. Truth be told, his performance both during the workout portion and then even more in game action thrust him into the discussion and ultimately being named to the 13U Perfect Game Select Festival. The left-handed hitting infielder from Alabama showed plenty of attributes to project on, while seemingly being on the barrel each at-bat. He added to the bevy of tools but peaking at 83 mph on the mound with feel for a tight slider.


Pick to Click


Cole Marchetti (2026, NJ) is my pick to click this upcoming spring, as the 6-foot-3 Rutgers commit should add more velocity to-go along with a pair of stellar secondary offerings. He has already been up to 92 mph but a jump to the mid-90s could be unlocked as he continues to refine his overall components. The Columbus, NJ native could be a sneaky arm to monitor should the velo uptick as I fully expect.
 
-John McAdams


Best Game I Saw 

This one was easy for me. Being based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I’ve seen the Iowa Select 2026 Scout group grow and develop over the past few seasons, and in the fall of 2025, they made some history on the Midwest circuit. Coaches Travis Mueller & Gordy Nordgren took their squad down to Jupiter, and in a big-time spot against the Canes 17u National team, they came up with a 7-1 victory to go 3-0 through pool play and earn a trip to bracket play. While the run stopped there, they made some history by making the bracket and going 3-0 through bracket play. This game was the epitome of Midwest Baseball. Southpaw Trevor Sutherland came out working the mid-80s and shoved for 4.0 innings, allowing the lone run for the Canes, showing great pitchability. He gave way to Tait Tierney, who worked into the low-80s and closed the door on a victory with 2.0 innings of 1-hit ball. Some good at-bats from Evan Schmierer and Collin McClintock allowed the first two runners to get on before Roman Carrington came up big with a 3-run home run. Iowa Select came back and put up 3 more in the 6th inning, to add even more run support. It may not have been the flashiest game filled with homers, but it was a heck of a showing of fundamental baseball on both sides of the ball, and it was awesome to see this group come away 3-0 and advance to bracket play.
 

Best Tournament Performance I Saw 

This one was quite easy to narrow down as well, with one of the better performances I’ve ever seen on the national circuit happening this summer. Charlie Sarsfield (2026, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was downright phenomenal with his Spects National 2027 group as they took home the WWBA Underclass Championship victory. Sarsfield finished the weekend going 10-for-18, with a double, 2 triples, a home run, and 14 walks to just 1 punchout. He swiped 8 bags as well, and made serious noise on the circuit with this performance. He came out and got it done every single at-bat, finding ways to be a difference-maker for his team. After another good showing in Jupiter, Sarsfield announced his commitment to Arkansas, capping off one of the performances on the circuit, but his WWBA Underclass performance was one to remember. 


Favorite Single Game Moment  
  

Perhaps the moment that left me in awe of what I was watching came from a trip up north of the border. While watching the CPBL Prospect Games in Dorchester, Ontario, the weekend started off with a bang. While a lot of folks up there talk about Myles Naylor, and the incredible home run that he hit at Royal Field. It was deemed the furthest ball hit up there, and it makes sense for a 2023 first-rounder to the Athletics. However, during the 2028 Prospect Game, Ontario Blue Jays standout Mikey Batiste (2028, Mississauga, Ont.) made noise of his own. Batiste hit one of the furthest balls I’ve seen hit, at any complex, and it was surely one that rivaled (and topped) the ball Naylor hit just a few years ago. Batiste got the hands to a heater out in front and lifted it well beyond the wall, beyond the berm in the outfield, and flirted with the cars in the parking lot. It was a towering shot, leaving folks in attendance in awe. He took home MVP honors from the game, and to me, that homer just really stands out. Both of the big swings from Naylor and Batiste are shown above, so you can be the judge. 


Biggest Showcase Breakout Performer 

Two guys come to mind who have really used 2025 as a launchpad onto the scene. It started during indoor season for RHP Tyson Grulkowski (2026, Muskego, Wisc.) when he came out and shoved at the 2025 PG North Indoor Showcase. He worked 88-91 mph on the fastball with bowling ball sink, a quality slider, and a good fading changeup to round out a 3-pitch mix. The 6-foot-7 righty has that imposing look on the mound, and he carried that big performance into a loud outing at PG National in Arizona this past July. Grulkowski has taken a jump into the low- to mid-90s on the heater, showing plus-spin on the slider, and the quality changeup as well. The unique angle makes a tough look on hitters, and he made some serious noise on the circuit this year, with his indoor showcase performance being the launchpad. Grulkowski also announced his commitment to USF this year.  

Another breakout name was OF Easton Kitura (2026, Vauxhall, Alb.), who got it done at PG National as well. Kitura showed a really good approach at the plate, finding ways to be on the barrel and do damage. The Miami commit tallied 4 hits over his 2 games played at PG National and also looked the part during workouts. He ran a 6.69 60-yard dash and threw 86 mph from the outfield with good actions working to the baseball. It was a loud performance and one that made some noise.  


Picks to Click 
RHP Austin Winge (2027, Homer Glen, Ill.) has the traits that stand out when it comes to guys who could be in a prime position to “pop” or make a jump. Winge has always been a standout name on the circuit with the Cangelos Sparks. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound right-hander has an athletic, twitchy frame that translates well to his move down the slope. He moves quickly and has some seriously impressive arm speed. He was up to 91 mph on the PG circuit this past year, being a shut-down arm, who was able to shove in his outings on the mound. He has the arm speed and stuff that could allow him to take a step forward and make some noise on the circuit in 2026.  

RHP Lucien Kovalcik (2028, Burlington, Ont.) still has plenty of time on the circuit, but has quickly emerged as a name to know moving forward. While he showed great pitchability and projection working the low-80s just a year ago, he’s taken strides forward in his development, and still leaves plenty to dream on. Kovalcik looked the part on the circuit this fall with the Canadian Premier team, where he worked 86-89 mph on the fastball, with good feel to locate it, flipping a mid- to upper-70s slider in the mix, and turning over the occasional changeup as well. He moves well down the slope and flashes great stuff. He’s got a chance to really make some noise moving forward.  

RHP Will Steinman (2027, Toronto, Ont.) has quickly come onto the scene from north of the border, but I’m betting on him taking further steps forward and really making some noise. Steinman, a Michigan commit, has been into the upper-80s on the fastball, with giddy up out of the hand, and a good feel to locate it. He flips a sharp slider in the upper-70s with 2,700+ spin and a sharp breaker in the low- to mid-70s with hard downer bite. Steinman is an exceptional mover who repeats the actions well. He has good arm speed and has the tools/traits to keep moving forward and progressing down the line. 

-Tyler Kotila 
 

Best Game I Saw:


The best game that I saw throughout the year came from my favorite event on the calendar, the PG High School Showdown. The game that set the tone for the weekend was Blessed Trinity HS (GA) vs American Christian Academy (AL). At the end of the year, both teams saw their schools hoist a state title and it was an electric game when they played. With an 8-3 score heading into the bottom of the 6th, American Christian’s chances looked bleak at best but then a three-run homer from Cade Durrett and a solo homer from PG All-American Eric Hines tied the game and they’d later grab the lead on a Hunter Elmore triple, winning the game 9-8. The mix of night game, on PGTV, with so much talent and a late comeback made this an easy choice.


Best Tournament Performance I Saw: 

There were some elite showings throughout the tournament calendar and plenty of names to choose from but it’s tough to forget what Christian Gomez did at 16u WWBA. He flew up the rankings after a strong showing at Jr National but then followed that up hitting .571 over nine games with four homers and four doubles with 14 RBI to go with it. He was on the barrel quite literally the entire week and skyrocketed even more after this, for good reason.


Favorite Single Game Moment: 


My favorite singular moment in the entire year was the easiest choice of these categories and it’s Kinon Bastian hitting a ball off the top of the Western Metal Supply Company Building at Petco Park during the PG All-Star Game. He got his A swing off on a breaking ball and the entire crowd went silent when we saw where the ball eventually hit. It’s rare air to hit a ball up there especially in game action and even more especially when it’s a 16-year-old doing it. This may be my top moment the rest of my career doing this.


Biggest Showcase Breakout Performer: 

The biggest showcase breakout performer that I saw throughout 2025 was Connor Gavigan, both from Sunshine East as well as Jr National. He also took part in the inaugural Uncommitted Select Games and put on a show each time he came to an event. The batting practice is loud each time he takes it, and it may have been best at Sunshine East, casually launching balls out of Boombah to the pull-side. He is also a good runner and has easy arm strength from the outfield. He skyrocketed on our rankings after Jr National and is a name for college coaches to be all over.


Pick to Click: 


One of the main names that stood out to me throughout the fall was 2028 SS Ty Madden and he’s a clear choice for my pick to click. He’s already ranked inside the top-75 in the class after these showings, but we may still be light especially when he continues to fill out the 6-foot, 165-pound frame. It’s effortless bat speed and generates leverage with feel to hit to all parts. It’s one of the better hit tools in the class and is my pick to click over the next year.

-Cam McElwaney
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