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Draft  | Story | 11/21/2025

MLB Draft Rewind: #1 Pick Last 5 Years

Tyler Henninger
Isaiah Burrows
Tyler Kotila
It’s fun to reminisce. The last five MLB Amateur Draft classes have brought a bevy of incoming talent to the big leagues. As always, hindsight is 20/20 and some picks nailed and some picks have been underwhelming of sorts. This piece highlights the last five No. 1 overall picks from 2021-2025 and if we had a redo, what would each member of the draft team do and why? Although the 2025 class has yet to really begin, it promotes an interesting dynamic to see who each member favored if they had the choice. 

You may be surprised at some of the selections below. We hope you enjoy it. Let’s dive in. 




2025 Original Pick: Washington Nationals - Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Okla.)

Henninger's New Pick: Washington Nationals - Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State 

The 2025 draft class has not had a ton of experience in pro ball so there is a lot to still sort out here, but if we were to redo the first selection I lean toward taking Kade Anderson. The left-hander put together a monster sophomore campaign for LSU, recording 180 strikeouts over 119 innings to go with a 3.18 ERA. The performance was impressive, but the stuff is even better. The fastball can get into the upper-90’s, both breaking balls have extremely impressive metrics, and there is a changeup in there too. The stuff misses bats and is thrown from strikes. Anderson should stick as a starter and should be a real good one.

Kotila's New Pick: Washington Nationals - Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (Calif.)

While the 2025 MLB Draft is still pretty fresh and there’s still a lot to be seen from this crop of talent, however, why not have some fun and project on some of the talent in this class? With that in mind, it still feels pretty fresh that some folks were shocked when Oklahoma native Eli Willits went 1:1, even with some of the best bat-to-ball skills and athleticism in the class. It felt like there were about 5-6 players who could profile as the Nationals' selection on draft day (including Willits), though they ended up taking Willits. But in this re-draft, I’ve got the Nationals taking Seth Hernandez with the first overall selection. Hernandez has some of the loudest stuff in the profile, from the frame to the pitch mix; it’s going to be a notable name for prospect followers for years to come. Hernandez flirted with triple digits in his prep days and recently threw 101 at the Pirates Academy in the Dominican Republic. Time will tell, and this class will take shape, but I’ve got the Nats taking Hernandez 1:1 in our first-overall pick re-draft.

Burrows' New Pick: Washington Nationals- Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Okla.)

With so little sample size, no need for a major hindsight pick this early and Willits has the complete tool set and instincts worthy of a first overall pick in this particular class. If the power improves as a young-for-grade shortstop it’s true five-tool upside and Willits simply does it all with ease. He handled his own during his first professional Single-A stint, hitting .300 with a .757 OPS over 58 plate appearances. 

2024 Original Pick: Cleveland Guardians - Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Henninger's New Pick: Cleveland Guardians - Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (MS)

You will not find a bigger fan of Travis Bazzana than me and I still think he will go on to have a very successful big league career, but the stuff Konnor Griffin has done since entering pro ball has been absurd. In his first full year, Griffin played his way through three different leagues, posting a .333/.415/.527 slash line with 21 bombs and 65 stolen bases. The power potential, the feel to hit, the speed on the base paths all make for a potential superstar profile. Griffin is likely to make his big league debut next year at just 20 years old. Looking back now, it is hard to believe he feel all the way to the 10th pick, but that would surely change with a redraft.

Kotila's New Pick: Cleveland Guardians - Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

There were a lot of fans in the Travis Bazzana camp when he went 1:1 to the Guardians in 2024. He put together a great season for the Beavers and showed some seriously impressive tools on the college stage. But in our re-draft, I’ve got the Guardians taking Nick Kurtz with the first overall pick. Kurtz took home American League Rookie of the Year honors, a Silver Slugger award, and even received some MVP votes. He made the most of his first year in the bigs, slugging .619 with 1.002 OPS as he clubbed 36 homers and legged out 26 doubles. It was a heck of a rookie campaign for the big left-handed hitter. For that reason, I’ve got him going first overall in this re-draft.

Burrows' New Pick: Cleveland Guardians- Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

There are dozens of names atop top prospect lists on publications, but it's hard not to think Kurtz here with one of the most dominant rookie stretches we’ve seen in some time. The Athletics’ sensation and AL Rookie of the Year is carving himself amongst some of the best bats in the majors, clubbing a staggering 36 homers and 1.002 OPS in just 117 games. Despite what the rest of this class can amount to, Kurtz seems like a slam dunk at this point. 


2023 Original Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State 

Henninger's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

This may be the easiest pick to make of them all. Skenes has quickly become one of, if not the best pitcher in the big leagues. Skenes took home the Rookie of the Year and followed it with a NL Cy Young trophy in year two. The pure stuff is absolutely dominant and the performance has matched it from the jump. The Pirate right-hander has posted a ridiculous 1.98 ERA over 320 2/3 career innings and has amassed nearly 11 fWAR already.  In a class that had some debate as to who should go 1:1 at the time, Skenes has left no doubt that the Pirates got it right in real time.  

Kotila's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

Looking back on the 2023 draft class, there’s a lot of talent at the top of the draft board and throughout the entire class. There could be a litany of future big-leaguers across the board in just a few years, and while it's still early, Paul Skenes is still the first overall pick in my eyes. It’s really hard to argue with Skenes being anything but 1:1, even with just two years under his belt. He’s taken home NL Rookie of the Year honors and was crowned the NL Cy Young Award winner earlier this month. Skenes has a career 1.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over his 320.2 career innings. He’s managed 386 career strikeouts already and continues to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He’s continued to make strides and improve his stuff. In our re-draft, Skenes remains the slam-dunk 1:1 pick in my book.

Burrows' New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates- Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

Going with consensus here and the 2023 class is shaping out to be one of the best classes with the likes of Kevin McGoningle, Max Clark, Walker Jenkins and several others making their highly anticipated debuts very soon. Skenes is simply in a class of his own right now and is stacking up one of the best two-season stretches the game has seen in centuries. He’s the obvious choice and coming off his first NL Cy Young campaign, which could be the first of many at the trajectory he is currently on. 


2022 Original Pick: Baltimore Orioles - Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (Okla.)

Henninger's New Pick: Baltimore Orioles - Roman Anthony, OF, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla). 

The 2022 draft class has a couple guys that you could make the argument should have gone 1:1 when looking back, but the guy I’m going with is Roman Anthony. Anthony originally came off the board at pick 79, but has quickly outplayed that selection. The outfielder skyrocketed up prospect boards before making his big league debut this year. The bat has a chance to be special. There is a feel to hit to go along with big power potential. His debut season was impressive and has the underlying metrics to match. It would not be a surprise if Anthony is one of the premier outfielders in the game very soon, thus is a guy I would take 1:1 if given the chance again.

Kotila's New Pick: Baltimore Orioles - Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder College

The 2022 draft class has its fair share of big leaguers already, guys who are establishing themselves as starters at the next level and finding their roles. The Milwaukee Brewers found a diamond in the rough in the second round. While it may be a stretch to suggest that he go 1:1, the JuCo fans will be cheering as I’ve got the Orioles selecting Jacob Misiorowski in our re-draft. The massive 6-foot-7 righty has some of the best stuff in the league and showed up, taking the league by storm as part of the Brewers' 2025 run. He was the All-Star Game starter this year and has the stuff that should only continue to improve as he finds his groove and settles into his role with the Brewers' pitching staff. But, looking back on the 2022 draft, I’ve got the Orioles taking a chance and grabbing Misiorowski with the first overall pick, betting on the outrageous stuff with his long and lean frame.

Burrows' New Pick: Baltimore Orioles- Zach Neto, SS, Campbell University

Plenty of options to go here, but the 13th overall pick in this draft has turned into a high quality offensive shortstop coming off his best year. Neto has accumulated a career 11.8 WAR and is coming off a career-best 26 homers and .793 OPS. He’s a consistent speed and power threat penned into the Angels’ lineup for the past two seasons. Neto has room to grow on both sides too and can blossom into another career year. 


2021 Original Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Henry Davis, C, Louisville

Henninger's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - James Wood, OF, IMG Academy (Fla.)

Wood is one of only a few players that have made a legitimate impact at the big league level from the 2021 draft class. The big left-handed hitting outfielder did not come off the board until pick 62, although he got first round money with a signing bonus of $2.6 million. Either way, the pick number and bonus are both drastically low compared to his production thus far into his pro career. Wood compiled a career OPS+ of 129 and posted a 31-homer season this year in his first full season in the big leagues. Not only are the overall stats good, Wood has the components under the hood to be successful for a long time. He posted a 98th percentile hard-hit rate and barrel percentage. His bat speed ranks in the 95th percentile and he walks at an extremely high rate. Wood looks to be a budding superstar and is a guy I would take 1:1 if we did the 2021 draft over again.

Kotila's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Jackson Merrill, OF, Severna Park HS (Md.)

When Henry Davis was selected first overall, some folks were shocked as the Pirates got Davis on an under-slot deal with the first overall draft pick. However, in this re-draft, we’re just looking at the talent of the class, not necessarily at slot value or what could or couldn’t have happened on the financial front. That being said, I’ve got prep outfielder Jackson Merrill going to the Pirates as the first overall draft pick. Merrill had a big-time rookie performance with 31 doubles, six triples, 24 home runs, and 90 RBI while settling into the Padres outfield quite well. He also took home a Silver Slugger award in his rookie campaign. He returned in 2025 and battled injuries but still performed as a quality big league outfielder. There’s plenty to like in Merrill’s profile moving forward, and for that reason, I’ve got the Pirates taking Merrill with the first overall selection in the PG re-draft of first overall picks.

Burrows' New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates- Mason Miller, RHP, Gardner-Webb University

Let’s have fun on this pick. As the original third-round pick by the Athletics, Miller has transformed into one of the league's most dominant closers equipped with a routine triple-digit fastball and wipeout slider. He has collected 50 saves over his career with a career-best 15.2 strikeouts-per-nine between the Athletics and Padres. He’s a former All-Star and may be stretched into a larger role if the stuff and control holds over multiple innings. He’s a worthy No. 1 pick with a sky-high ceiling at a premium valued position. 
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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...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/17/2025

15u Tourney All-American Team

Jason Phillips
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Hitter of the Year: Landon Bonner The 2028 class saw many players from across the country take the next step in their development as they entered the High School ranks. There were huge performances from highly ranked players on the PG circuit as well as some under-the-radar guys who burst onto the scene. Landon Bonner came into Sophomore National as a Top 500 ranked player and after an impressive showing, left with all eyes on him as a rankings riser in the class. The left-handed hitting shortstop from The Colony, Texas, had a summer to remember with All-Tournament Team selections in three of his next four events culminating with a historic performance at the 2025 PG 15U WWBA National Championship. The Hebron High School prep went 20-for-24 in nine games for 5 Star Mafia 15U Black with four homeruns and 12 runs batted in. He also scored 17 runs and finished with a mind-boggling 2.500...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/16/2025

16u Tourney All-American Team

AJ Denny
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Hitter of the Year: Koa Romero is the Hitter of the Year for the 16u group, as he would come to every premier event of the summer and earn All-Tournament honors (Beast of the East, 16/17u WWBA, Jupiter) in every single one. Over 82 plate appearances, Romero would pump ten homeruns with forty two RBI and sixteen walks, good for a .378 average and 1.339 OPS. The performance on volume at the best events of the year pushed Romero over the edge here, as he’d hit a pair of homeruns in Jupiter (one of them at 112 EV) as an underclassmen and collect double digit hits in BOTH WWBA events with a combined six jacks over the two tournaments. It was a summer that combined performance and winning on the biggest stages for Romero. It’s a quiet left-handed swing that packs a punch. He would reap the benefits of his performances, earning a commitment to LSU and jumping to the #74 prospect in...
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College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 15

John McAdams
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Tucker Rice (27 MS) bumping up to 91; living hi-80s from real fast arm. Good SL @ 77-79 w/ depth & sold w/ intent. Loads of traits & strikes. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/DEjFqRcsIY — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 6, 2025 Tucker Rice, RHP, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Alabama has continued to stay red hot in the recruiting trail ever since August 1st rolled around on the calendar and have continued to stack major pieces in their ’27 class. They dip into Mississippi to land one of the premier arms and one that’s stood out on the circuit for quite some time. It’s a fast arm and the athleticism certainly shines working down the slope. The velocity has continued to tick up over the last calendar year and reached into the low-90s towards the end of the summer. He’s confident in his changeup and the breaking ball is...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/15/2025

17u Tourney All-American Team

Vincent Cervino
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There’s a lot of talent throughout this 2026 class, filled with the big-name stars, to talent that spreads across the nation. It’s been a lot of fun seeing these prospects grow and develop over the years, from the days of watching some of these guys at the 13/14u days at events on the circuit, to now where they are all graduating seniors in 2026. There’s been new faces who have popped along the way over the years, even in 2026, where some players who were relatively undiscovered, have come out and made a name for themselves with a statement performance. Between the familiar and the new, there’s a lot of names on this list that are going to be quite regularly talked about on the circuit, and for good reason.  Whether it’s PG All-Americans or not, there’s a lot of names with superstar potential at the next level. We’ve got 14 PG All-Americans...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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