THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 6/27/2021

5 Star Blends Culture and Talent To Win

Photo: Jacob Kendall (Perfect Game)
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- To say that 5 Star Baseball is a powerhouse on the national competitive scene is an understatement. Since they began playing in Perfect Game events over a decade ago, the baseball conglomerate has won 149 PG tournaments and had over 1700 players commit to college programs. Names like Buster Posey, Josh Reddick and Austin Martin are just a few of the 113 5 Star alumni that have been drafted in the MLB Draft. The organization started in Warner Robbins, Ga., but now has 298 teams nationwide across 12 age divisions.
 
Of the plenty, 5 Star National 14u RR may field one of the most talented rosters in the 5 Star system. The squad is the 33rd-ranked 14u team in the nation, featuring six players ranked inside the top-150 of their respective classes and some of the best talent the country has to offer. Head coach Daniel Torres said while the team has a plethora of highly-ranked talent, he builds his team based on the quality of his player’s performance in the dugout, not just on the field.
 
“For me, it’s all about character,” Torres said. “It’s all about buying into the culture of 5 Star and wanting to fight for one another. We want guys that will be here for the long haul and are looking to be a part of a family.”
 
On Saturday, Torres and his squad displayed that combination of talent and character in their quest for the 2021 14u BCS National Championship, securing a solid victory at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers. After playing a close game through four innings, the 5 Star offense broke through for six runs in the fifth inning, leading them to a 10-8 win over Legit Baseball Club.
 
For the prestigious tournament, Torres pulled out all the stops for his roster. Among their top-150 ranked players are Jacob Kendall and Luke Pappano, who rank inside the top-15 in the 2025 class. Jackson Roper, Ethan Clauss and Gabriel Acevedo add to 5 Star’s 2025 top-150 representation, and Xavier Rivera, the 72nd-ranked player in the 2024 class, adds some experience to the young and talented roster. While each player on 5 Star’s roster is individually talented, Torres reminds his team that baseball is a team sport and selflessness is required for success.
 
“They understand that in the game of baseball, there’s more failure than wins,” Torres said. “They understand that being that talented, they make each other better by the way they act no matter how they perform on the field.”
 
Despite the victory, 5 Star faltered at the start of their game against Legit Baseball Club. In the top of the first, Legit’s Jake Merz hit a leadoff triple to begin the game and promptly scored on a wild pitch. Ben Schulman added on for the club in the second, poking an RBI single to give Legit a 2-0 lead. 
 
However, the 5 Star bats woke up in the bottom of the inning, as Randy Ruiz gave the squad their first hit with a leadoff double. While the next two hitters couldn’t do any damage, Rivera stepped up with two outs and lined an RBI single up the middle, scoring 5 Star’s first run. The top-ranked 2024 player in Puerto Rico said he was happy he could produce for his team in a tight spot.
 
“I was able to drive the ball today, and that let me get the runs in,” Rivera said. “I just wanted to play for the team and help us get the win.”
 
5 Star kept the train rolling in the third, as Cole Rambler drove a two-RBI double over the Legit center fielder’s head to give his team the lead. Ruiz then sent a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Rambler and making it a 4-2 ballgame.
 
Legit didn’t back down from the challenge, however, as they answered back with two runs in the fourth on an Ismael Tavarez two-RBI double. The team then retook their lead in the top of the fifth, advancing on a throw to put them back on top, 5-4. Heading into the bottom of the inning, Torres knew his team had to make some adjustments to get over the hump.
 
“We had to have the right approaches at the plate and come through with situational hitting,” Torres said. “We had to be a little bit more aggressive, and that allowed us to be successful.”
 
In the bottom of the inning, 5 Star came through with situational hitting when they needed it most. Kendall and Rambler began with back-to-back singles, setting the table for an Acevedo RBI single to tie the game. Ruiz and Andrew Alvarez then reached on hit-by-pitches, loading the bases, then scoring Acevedo. Mason Mojica then added for 5 Star, shooting an RBI single to left field to make it 6-4. Rivera wasn’t happy with just a two-run lead, as he smoked a three-RBI double to deep left-center to clear the bases. The Florida International commit said his approach was simple as he stepped to the plate in the pivotal spot.
 
“There were no outs, so I just wanted to get a runner in,” Rivera said. “I was looking to drive the ball the other way, and everything worked out.”
 
While the sixth inning would be the matchup’s last due to time constraints, Legit didn’t go down without a fight. The Glen Rock, N.J.-based club put up three runs in the inning, but in the end, Austin Denamen was able to induce a lineout to right to end the game, giving 5 Star a 10-8 victory.
 
Despite believing his team could perform to a higher standard, Torres was proud of how his team came back and hung around in a close game. The head coach credits his team’s ability to do so to their team chemistry and close-knit relationships.
 
“We believe in each other like a family,” Torres said. “Our name is 5 Star National Mafia, so when you are a part of a mafia, you are a part of a family. So, we have to believe in each other like we are one.”

Tournaments | Story | 1/27/2026

MLK East Scout Notes Recap

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘28 OF Jakob Groeschel (OH) continues to impress with the bat on the circuit, picked up 2 2Bs in the first game today. Really athletic, went 4.4 on turn; easy to dream on all the traits. #MLKEast @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/wOIwnGKnkg — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) January 17, 2026 2028 OF Jakob Groeschel (Springfield, Ohio) broke out at this event last year hitting a casual .909, and although he didn’t turn in quite the same performance, he hit a strong .462 with 4 extra-base hits, 5 walks, 5 bags and only struck out once. He’s a pretty dynamic athlete who can do a lot of things well, but the bat is the calling card as he just lives on the barrel and has no problem handling all kinds of pitching. It’s a simple swing, but he’s got fast hands and he can really impact the ball without being overly physical yet.  2030 RHP Michael Vazquez...
High School | General | 2/27/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1

Tyler Russo
Article Image
High School Showdown Event Page | High School Showdown Preview ‘27 1B Frank Thomas (FL) goes liftoff once again for 2nd HR, again in the L on L. Leveraging w/ such easy juice. #PGShowdown @IMGABaseball @Florida_PG https://t.co/BgWiDyMiMo pic.twitter.com/IC6sdAkhmT — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 26, 2026 Frank Thomas III (2027, Sarasota, Fl.) was all over a breaking ball in the first inning of an IMG Academy offensive explosion, making it back-to-back-to-back homers to start the game. He did not turn back from there, homering on two more occasions. The ball explodes off the barrel with low effort strength and he showed the ability to manipulate the barrel to lift with authority. Thomas III is built strong and physical and he is just beginning to tap into that huge power upside. He showed no issues handling left on left matchups, with his first two homers coming...
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 2/26/2026

PG Draft: Early Season Underclass Performers

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Dax Whitney (@BeaverBaseball) showed LOUD stuff. FB up to 100, cruised at 95-98. Pair of plus secondaries. CB at 77-79 (2923) with sharp, 12-6 action. Firm SL at 89-91 (2714) with bite. Flashed fading CH at 87-88 (1425). Ranked No. 1 on the ‘27 board @PG_Draft So./‘27 elig. pic.twitter.com/9PNbjJ53Zo — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 13, 2026 RHP Dax Whitney, Oregon State (‘27 elig.) Whitney may not just be the best arm in next year’s class, he may be the best arm in the entire country right now. The right-handed sits 98 mph with the heater and has been up to 100 mph. Both the slider and curveball are plus offerings that he spins extremely well. Whitney will mix in a quality Gavin changeup that sits in the upper-80’s and has also introduced a new cutter. All the pitches come from the exact same release point and jump out of the hand. He...
High School | General | 2/26/2026

PGHS Showdown: Academies Scout Notes

AJ Denny
Article Image
Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) going WAY out to right. Rhythmic approach and smooth swing get into big time power. #Mountaineers commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/qyDaIPxIol — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) First live look at the left-handed hitting West Virgina commit. The power is real, launched two long homers in game action this weekend. Easy mover with very clean path with sky high offensive ceiling if he continues to show like this. Swing is built for power and lofted pull side impacts.    CJ Alfano (‘26 NY) long PS bomb this morning. Just leaning on everything that’s thrown over the heart. #WVU commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/4lGnhOEyrl — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Cj Alfano (‘26 NY)Just an impossible out throughout the weekend....
High School | General | 2/27/2026

SoCal High School Notebook: Feb. 27

Steve Fiorindo
Article Image
5 K's over 4 hitless innings of work for Jared Grindlinger (2026), making first start as member of the 2026 class. 92-94 t95 w/ the FB, SL 80-83, CH 81-83, CB 77/78. Efficient outing, 50 pitches, 39 strikes. #PGHS @PG_scouting @PG_Draft @HBHS_basebll @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/y7jwX1oPyB — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) February 25, 2026 Jared Grindlinger, LHP, Huntington Beach High School (2026) Gringlinger’s first start as a member of the 2026 class was a good one… 4 innings of no hit ball with 5 strikeouts.  Ran the fastball to 95, lived 92-94, throwing a ton of strikes.  50 pitches on the day, 39 strikes, pretty much landing all four pitches in the zone.  Went to the slider early and often, quadrupling up on the slide piece to the first hitter of the game. The slider shows late lateral action with some vert, living 80-83.  Used...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/25/2026

Perfect Game Softball 16U Winter Elite Showcase

Dave Durbala
Article Image
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball 16u Winter Elite Showcase, February 20-22, 2026. Twenty-Four teams arrived in Springfield for the opportunity to showcase some of the best talent in the midwest. After 3 pool play games,  the field was split and seeded into either the Platinum or Gold Division to begin bracket play.  With several highly sought after young arms on display, it was Indiana Magic Gold 16U Carroll and Indiana Magic Gold 14U National making it into the Platinum Division Championship, and through a mutual agreement, they decided to end the tournament as Co-Champions. In the Gold Division, it was Gts 16u Elite-Gonzalez with a 7-2 win over Cedar Rapids Blue Devils 14u, to earn the championship. Below are some of the players that played their way onto the top performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from both the Platinum and Gold Divisions. Earning the...
College | Recruiting | 2/25/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: Feb. 25

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
A few weeks into the season and the shape of the national picture is starting to emerge (slightly, let’s get too silly about early results). Some preseason favorites are humming exactly as advertised, a few dark horses are pawing at the gate, and a handful of early contenders are discovering that February optimism and March reality are not always the same thing. Across DII, DIII and the NAIA, pitching staffs are setting the tone, offenses are either detonating or recalibrating, and the Top 25 is already beginning to feel less theoretical and more earned.   DII UT Tyler is performing as predicted with a 12-2 start that includes a series win at Angelo State. The Patriots’ offense has not exactly been knocking the cover off the ball, but the pitching staff has been stingy, holding opponents to a .228 batting average.  They have not faced a ranked opponent yet, but...
Juco | Rankings | 2/25/2026

JUCO Top 25: February 25

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Another strong week for many of the top teams in junior college baseball. Walters State put together another undefeated weak and sticks in the top spot for the 3rd consecutive ranking. Chipola on the strength of a 20-1 start has established themselves early as one of top teams in the country. Johnson County put together a 2nd consecutive undefeated week and moves into the top 5 with a 15-1 overall record. They will play 4 games against #22 Iowa Western this week who is also coming off an undefeated week. Fresno City (15-0) and Midland (13-0) are two undefeated programs to begin 2026. They have gone from not in the preseason top 25 to the top 15 in our rankings in less than a month. And welcome to the PG Juco Top 25 Cloud County (KS) who debuts at #23 and is coming off a huge 3 game sweep on the road in Texas of a previous top 10 program in our rankings. Plenty of good matchups ahead this...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/24/2026

Perfect Game Softball February Frenzy

Dave Durbala
Article Image
BURLINGTON, IA - Perfect Game February Frenzy, February 20-22, 2026.  Twenty-two teams, representing five states, rolled into town for the opportunity to compete in this pool play, then into bracket play, with four games guaranteed,  in both a 14u and 18u division. Taking home top honors in the 14u division was Midwest Sluggers 11, who held off a late charge by the Black Dragons , winning 7-5. In the 18u division, it was Nebraska Gold 319 Berning topping Iowa Gold Prospects 4-0, avenging a pool play opening, 1-0 loss. Below are some of the players that played their way onto our Top Performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from the championship bracket in each age division. 14U Division Earning the 14u division MVP award was Presley Perkins (2030 Taylor Ridge, IL) who although is listed as a switch hitting OF, was only observed hitting from the left side for tournament...
High School | General | 2/25/2026

High School Showdown Preview

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
We’re only about 24 hours away from the 14th PG High School Showdown and as we get closer to one of the premier events on the high school schedule, we look ahead to what we’ll see in Hoover. The teams and players are what make this event special along with the environment with scouts packing the stands for this event. As with every year we’ve run this event, there are sure to be names called in the upcoming MLB Draft along with big time contributors at the college level. This year’s field is loaded with five teams ranked inside the Preseason High School Top-50, headlined by a trio of top-10 teams in No. 8 South Walton (FL), No. 9 Blessed Trinity (GA), and No. 10 IMG Academy (FL). Rounding out the list of top-50 teams are No. 34 Parkview (GA) and No. 43 Hoover (AL), along with plenty of other teams that will challenge for state championships in their respective...
Juco | Story | 2/27/2026

JUCO Notebook: February 27

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
An extended look at Carson Bailey (@mccbaseball1 )…. https://t.co/TltEl9M31H pic.twitter.com/24Lv8q73Yb — Perfect Game Texas (@Texas_PG) February 7, 2026 Carson Bailey (2024, Richardson, Texas) worked up to 97 with his fastball out the gate and lived 95-96 throughout his short burst outing. Fastball got up to 2500 RPM showing subtle tail at times. It plays firm and gets in on hitters quick. Locates fastball well at times. He went to a change in the 85-88 range as his bread and butter secondary killing spin with good dive. Change produced 5 whiffs. He also mixed in a slider in the 80-85 getting upwards of 2500 RPM with it. Slider tight and sharp when around it. Also flashed a curve at 79. Bailey stands in at 6-foot-3 from a deceptive delivery that creates tough angles for hitters. He should be a big follow throughout the Spring with plenty of draft buzz surrounding him. He is...
Loading more articles...