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Draft  | Story | 5/10/2002

Biggest Draft Gainers and Surprises

Each year there are players who move up to the front of the draft class due to strong performances during the spring season. Some of these players were nearly unknown before their final high school season. Others have been ranked earlier, but have continued to improve. Here is a list of a few prospects who have increased their stock dramatically over the past couple months.

Chris Gruler 6?€™3/200 RHP Liberty HS Brentwood, CA
Chris Gruler
Gruler is a strong RHP who we?€™ve watched grow over the last few years. In the past year we saw him many times. First, in June at the PG National he showed low 90s velocity and great arm action, quick and fluid. His breaking ball looked very promising. At several other events he was less than amazing, but we kept reporting he had a chance to be a MLB power pitcher.

Then at the PG/BA World Championship in Jupiter last fall, Gruler put it all together. He lived in the mid 90s with a devastating, at times, breaking ball. This spring he?€™s continued to improve, to the point of living in the mid 90s and touching lots of 97s. His make up and mound presence is right up there with anyone in the country. Sure he still projects, but he has reached the level we predicted for him, way ahead of schedule. He is looking like a very early first round pick.

Zach Greinke 6?€™2/190 RHP Apopka HS Orlando, FL
Zach Greinke
We have watched Greinke closely for the past couple years. He has always been a good prospect as a player. Two years ago we put him on the mound, because he showed plus-plus arm strength from the infield. He touched 94 that day and looked like he was born on the mound. Many times we have written that this kids future is pitching and he has a very special arm. However, even after again showing mid 90 velocity, a very good breaking ball and an advanced feel for pitching at the PG World Showcase last winter, everyone tried to figure out what position he projected best at. He did look good behind the plate and that even became news. Sometimes the hardest thing to see?€? is the most obvious!

All bragging aside, it has been crystal clear to us, for two years, where this special arm belonged. Wish we had a dollar for every time we told scouts that Greinke is a big time pitching prospect. Problem was, Zach was first a player and a very good one. He didn?€™t really pitch all that much with his summer teams, high school or in other showcases. This spring has changed everything. Zach became the ace of his high school pitching staff. The rest will soon become history. Greinke should go early in the first round as a RHP.

Jeremy Hermida 6?€™3/195 OF Wheeler HS Marietta, GA
When we saw Hermida in the PG/BA World Championship, we saw a very good player with a potential plus bat. He looked like a good prospect who could develop into a top 5-10 round pick. Hermida has become perhaps the biggest of all surprises among position players this spring.

First of all, he has worked hard to develop an excellent MLB body and strength. That added size and strength has helped him become one of the top hitting prospects in this years draft. Some scouts say he is the hitter in high school baseball. He has simply improved more than any player in the country over the last 6 months. He looks like a sure first round pick at this time.

John Mayberry 6?€™5/210 OF/1B Rockhurst, MO HS Overland Park, KS
John Mayberry
We rated Mayberry one of the top prospects in the nation after watching him in last years PG National at Tropicana Field. He hit the best pitching in the nation better than anyone else at the event. Mayberry is an athletic first baseman, who we feel has a future in the outfield. He runs OK and has a strong arm. His dad was a former major league hitting star and it looks like the younger Mayberry might be too.

After Tropicana, Mayberry had several lack luster showings including the Area Codes. Making the mistake of listening to others we moved him down the list a ways. We forgot what we saw in Tropicana Field! That was a mistake?€? if it?€™s there?€? it?€™s there! Now the only thing keeping John from being an early pick is his commitment to Stanford. If he decides he wants to start his pro career now?€? he?€™s going early in this years draft.

A few others who have, with strong performances this spring, moved front and center into possible high draft status.
Cole Hamels 6?€™2/185 LHP Rancho Bernardo HS San Diego, CA
Top lefty, out last year with broken arm. Now throwing low to mid 90s with more.
Kevin Jepsen 6?€™3/195 RHP Bishop Monogue HS Sparks, NV
We have seen Jepsen very good, but now he?€™s been in the upper 90s with a 90 mph slider.
Zach Hammes 6?€™7/230 RHP Iowa City HS Iowa City, IA
Hammes has opened some eyes with his consistent 90+ live fastball and plus curveball. He projects to throw in the mid 90s or better. Maybe the best arm action in the country.
Blair Johnson 6?€™4/200 RHP Washburn HS Topeka, KS
The first 14 fastballs we saw Johnson throw last year were all 91-93. He has continued to get better this year.
Matt Cain 6?€™3/190 RHP Houston HS Collierville, TN
We liked Cain to begin with, but didn?€™t see the low to mid 90s he?€™s been throwing this spring. Team mate and top prospect Connor Lalor was injured so Cain took over this spring.
Greg Miller 6?€™5/190 LHP Esparanza HS Yorba Linda, CA
We made the mistake of thinking we saw Miller his best ever early this year. We liked him a ton, but now he has increased his velocity to the low 90s and can really pitch.
Jesse English 6?€™2/215 LHP Rancho Buena Vista HS Vista, CA
English is showing plus velocity and extreme pitchability.
Romelio Lopez 6?€™7/240 P/OF Conroe HS Sugar Land, TX
Is he Juan Gonzalez with the bat or is he a mid 90 power pitcher?
Robert Sovie 6?€™2/195 OF Stratford Academy Macon, GA
One of the top athletes he may be the fastest player in the draft.
Brandon Weeden 6?€™4/190 RHP Cobble HS Edmond, OK
Kind of unknown for awhile, but now one of the better pitching prospects in the plains. Could be a big surprise.
Kris Harvey 6?€™4/190 RHP Catawba HS Catawba, NC
Dad was a big leaguer and now son is looking like one.
Mark Wagner 6?€™1/185 C Mayfair HS Lakewood, CA
Athletic catcher who stood out at the PG predraft. Nothing but line drives.
Trevor Crowe 5?€™11/180 INF Westview HS Portland, OR
Some past injury concern, but big time switch hitter who can run and play.
Garrett White 6?€™5/230 LHP Round Rock HS Round Rock, TX
Big, strong lefty, we liked him when we first saw him and he?€™s even better now.
Jarrad Page 6?€™0/185 OF San Leandro HS San Leandro, CA
Football star with plus baseball tools.
Paul Keck 6?€™3/190 C/P Granada HS Pleasanton, CA
Keck shows plus arm strength and power potential. Big, good, athlete!
Jonathan George 6?€™3/220 RHP Camden Catholic HS Pennsauken, NJ
Been lights out this spring, consistent low 90s with more.
Brandon Perry 6?€™1/175 LHP Graham HS Graham, NC
Teammate of the very projectable and better known, Nick Starnes.
Kodiac Quick 6?€™3/185 RHP Belton HS Belton, MO
Belton HS also has draft prospect Randy Braun. Quick has committed to Stanford so he may be unsignable, but he has shown a plus-plus fastball this spring.

Draft | Story | 12/10/2025

PG Draft: Post-Lottery Draft Targets

Tyler Kotila
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On Tuesday night, the MLB Draft Lottery took place, and the draft order has officially been set for July. With draft slots finalized, teams can now begin narrowing in on the prospects most likely to be available when they are on the clock. From polished college players to high-upside preps, several potential targets are already emerging as ideal fits based on past draft philosophy and finalized draft position. Let’s take a look at potential targets for the six teams that were awarded a lottery pick.  1. Chicago White Sox Potential Targets:  -Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA -Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (Tex.) -Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.) The White Sox took home the top spot at the MLB Draft Lottery, staying true to their spot, with the highest odds to earn the first-overall draft pick amongst lottery-eligible teams this year. This will only...
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2026

Tyler Henninger
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The Class of 2026 is one of the deeper prep classes that we have seen in a couple of years. With that being said, there is plenty of talent on the defensive side. Let’s take a look at some of the best defenders in the class.  C: Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (Memphis, TN) Brick is a newcomer to the class after reclassifying, but immediately became the top backstop. Extremely advanced actions are shown behind the dish with impressive athleticism to go with it. Brick showcases big time arm strength and is consistently accurate on throw downs. He can make playing the position look extremely easy at times. Brick possesses all the defensive tools needed to be a premier catcher.  1B: AJ Curry, University City HS (San Diego, CA) Curry has a bigger and stronger frame with good strength throughout. He has a well-proportioned build that serves him well on the dirt. He’s...
General | Blog | 12/10/2025

Youth Baseball Exec. DeDonatis III Joins PG

Jim Salisbury
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Youth Baseball Executive Don DeDonatis III Joins PG By Jim Salisbury  It’s free-agent season in baseball and Perfect Game has landed a big one. Don DeDonatis III joined PG as a consultant in November. The DeDonatis name is synonymous with youth baseball and softball. Along with his dad, Don Jr., DeDonatis helped build USSSA into a big hitter in the game. He brings decades of experience and knowledge to PG. “We all acknowledge that Donny has moved on from USSSA,” PG CEO Rob Ponger said. “This is a new chapter for him and we hope both sides take advantage of it to help youth sports in general. “The DeDonatis name has a legacy attached to it and we’re hoping that Donny is going to help us. PG is a growing brand and he’s on board to help.” DeDonatis was CEO at USSSA from 2018 until his exit from the company two years ago. “I’m...
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