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PG Select Baseball Festival  | General  | 8/18/2022

13u Select Festival Roster Preview: West

Jheremy Brown     
Photo: Jorvorskie Lane (Perfect Game)
In just three days, 36 of the most talented 13u players from across the country, along with Venezuela, will step foot on Lindsey Nelson Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee for the 4th annual 13u Perfect Game Select Festival. Continuing to grow since its inception back in 2019, the 13u Festival has continued to grow into the premier event at this age group, hosting numerous players who have already gone on and committed to powerhouse Division 1 programs, as well as one international free agent signing. Below we break down each player in the on West roster, with the East to follow, and will continue to look into the event in the days leading up to the first pitch. 


Luke Armijo, LHP, Class of 2027
L/L, 6-0/185, Whitter, Calif.



Despite hailing from the West Coast, Armijo ventured out East a good bit this summer, allowing the Perfect Game staff to see him in a variety of events, culminating with a strong outing at the 13u National Showcase. The strongly-built southpaw accumulated nearly 60 innings on the summer, a span in which he struck out 88 due in large part to a true three pitch mix he can throw with confidence and conviction. Remaining compact through the backside before working to an extended slot, Armijo makes for an uncomfortable at-bat as he routinely sits in the low-80s with a heater that looks to jump out of his hand. Mix in both a quality changeup as well as a short breaker, and it’s quick to see how he has racked up all the strikeouts. 

Ethan Armbruster, RHP/C, Class of 2027
R-R, 6-0/160, Austin, Texas

A long and projectable 6-foot right-hander, Armbruster made the most of his time on the bump to round out his summer circuit, impressing with the type of pitchability and poise you don’t often see at the 13u level. It’s a simple, athletic delivery for Armbruster as he shows a loose and quick arm stroke up to a higher slot, filling the zone with the makings of four pitches while putting his athleticism on display which allows him to also stand out both behind the plate and in the batter’s box. The fastball currently sits in the low-80s and given just how low-effort the operation is, it’s only a matter of time before that number pops. Armbruster pairs the heater with a variety of off speed pitches, including a slider, cutter and curveball, all of which are tunneled and mixed with intent. 

Carson (Bear) Calvo, SS, Class of 2027
R-R, 5-11/165, Fullerton, Calif.

There isn’t much that Calvo can’t do on the diamond as you’ll see him in a variety of roles throughout the summer circuit. When it comes to playing defense though, it’s up the middle where he shines the brightest. Stronger to the eye than his listed measurables, Calvo moves around with a bounce to his step, showing lateral range to either side and a big arm which has also produced a peak fastball of 84 mph on the bump. The young California product was perhaps even more impressive in the box though as he shows a simple, yet fluid and low effort stroke, producing plenty of hard contact around the yard. On the year he slashed .396/.516/1.225 and proved to be a valuable piece to one of the top programs in the country. 

Noah Everly, 3B/RHP, Class of 2026
R-R, 6-0/175, Pasadena, Calif.

Everly has already made a name for himself on the travel ball circuit to his point in his career and he’s done nothing but elevate his overall game in every viewing we get. A primary shortstop with the footwork and arm strength to stay on the left side, Everly is also an accomplished pitching prospect with a fast arm and a heater that’ll approach the mid-80s, though it was the short, late biting curveball he showed at the National Showcase that could set him apart. That said, Everly’s production with the bat may be too loud to ignore as he had an outstanding 13u World Series in which he hit .550, collecting 11 hits (4 doubles, 3 triples), showing very real present strength to either gap with a compact, repeatable stroke. 

Dominic Giametta Iii, RHP, Class of 2027
R-R, 6-2/195, Richmond, Texas

A quick look at Giametta and you certainly wouldn’t think he’s a 13u level pitcher, already standing at a stronger 6-foot-2 and what he’s able to produce on the mound isn’t like many others his age either. Bumping into the mid- to upper-80s with his fastball throughout the summer, Giametta saved arguably his best performance of the year for his showing at the National Showcase where he punched out three in two innings of work, ran the fastball up to 86 mph with plenty of heavy and late life, and showed some present feel for three distinct pitches. Despite his size the Texas native keeps things simple on the mound as he works exclusively out of the stretch and shows some real intent in challenging hitters and living in attack mode. 


Carter Hadnot, SS, Class of 2027
S-R, 6-0/145, Rialto, Calif.

A switch-hitter who was a mainstay at the major summer circuit events, Hadnot accrued 170 plate appearances in 2022 and finished with a .351 average and a near .500 on-base percentage, speaking to the success he was able to enjoy. Hadnot, unlike others his age who are listed as a switch-hitter, has legitimate offensive tools from both sides of the plate, showing real hand quickness and barrel accuracy from either side with a longer, fluid path that’s easy to project for some real strength moving forward. While the offense is noteworthy and stands out amongst his peers, so too does his defensive actions up the middle. It’s at shortstop where he continues exudes athleticism with quick-twitch actions, soft and snatchy hands, all leading up to a loose arm across the diamond, rounding out what’s a pretty exciting profile overall. 

Lash Henderson, OF, Class of 2027
R-R, 6-2/180, Frisco, Texas

There’s a better-than-not chance that whenever you walk up to watch an at-bat from Henderson you’ll come away having seen a base knock, or at the very least, a hard barrel even if resulting in an out. Already listed at 6-foot-2, it’s easy to see Henderson developing into some real power down the road, though his current stroke already possesses more than enough bat speed to do damage while working on a linear plane and utilizing all fields to his advantage. Despite the age/size combination, Henderson’s athleticism still shines through as he shows plenty of coordination in his actions as evidenced by a 6.82 in the 60-yard, a number that’ll only continue to lower down the road. Take the offensive ability and 6.8 speed then add in a mid-80s arm strength, and you have the makings of a high-end prospect. 

Zayne Hookala, LHP/1B, Class of 2026
L-L, 5-10/155, Waialua, Hawaii

The first-ever Hawaiian to appear in a Select Festival after suiting up for last year’s 12u game, Hookala returns to the Festival, only this time a little stronger and showing tools that are a bit louder. On the 2022 circuit the young left-hander logged 37 innings on the mound, delivering several big performances while impressing Perfect Game scouts throughout. While Hookala isn’t the most physical just yet, the arm speed and strength already stand out amongst his peers as he’s already running his fastball up to 85 mph with some seriously late and heavy life through the zone. Add in the ability to pump the zone while mixing a pair of quality secondary pitches and Hookala looks to be one of the next big prospects from the 50th state and that’s before even factoring in his offensive tools.

Broder Katke, C, Class of 2027
R-R, 5-11/175, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 

Katke first put his name on the radar during his showing at the Main Event Showcase at the start of the year, showing a collection of tools to circle back on come summertime. Well, jump forward a half dozen months or so and Katke comes out looking more physical and his tools across the board had taken the next step. A key piece in his summer team’s deep run in the 13u World Series, Katke is impressive on both sides of the ball with an accurate arm and solid carry behind the dish where he also receives the ball with comfort. The right-handed swing might be the loudest part of his game however as he does a very nice job of staying short to the ball with some serious jump off the barrel to all parts of the field. 


Jorvorskie Lane, OF/C, Class of 2026
R-R, 5-9/165, Fort Worth, Texas

Already one of the more well-known names on the 13u circuit with a set of skills too loud to ignore, Lane proved there really wasn’t anything he couldn’t do on the diamond. Though he’s already physically built he retains plenty of fast-twitch muscle, proving to be a menace on the bases for opposing teams to control, while the athleticism allows him to shine in a variety of spots around the diamond. Whether it’s in the outfield or behind the plate, you can expect his right-handed swing will make an impact with any given just how much bat speed and strength he’s able to generate at the point of contact. Lane finished the year with a .426 mark with 8 home runs, 2 of which game during the 13u WWBA where he managed to make Spring Training parks look small. 

Maddux Lessard, C, Class of 2027
R-R, 6-0/165, Muskego, Wis. 

The first player from the state of Wisconsin to ever be named to a Select Festival roster, Lessard is another player that progressed throughout the summer circuit. Lessard quickly proved himself as a performer and quite possibly one of the stronger players in attendance, a daunting thought for opposing pitchers as he’s just starting to scratch the surface of his overall game. Though he has a rather unique set up at the plate, Lessard does an excellent job of uncoiling into contact, showing the ability to drive the ball just as hard the other way as he can to his pull side, truly utilizing all parts of the field. On top of the offense, he also received plenty of high-end arms throughout the summer circuit and did so well while showing a big arm of his own down to second base. 

William McIntire, SS/RHP, Class of 2027
R-R, 5-11/150, Boyd, Texas

McIntire has proven to be the type of player you could put anywhere on the lineup card, both offensively and on defense, and he’ll get the job done as he showed while excelling in a variety of roles this summer. A primary catcher but just as talented in the infield dirt and on the mound, McIntire’s athleticism takes over as does his arm strength as we saw throughout the 13u National Showcase. The operation on the mound is simple with an extreme uptick in pace, pumping the strike zone with a heater that has been up to 84 mph with all sorts of life while showing a real feel for a short, late biting slider as well. He does a nice job of keeping things relaxed at the plate too, showing solid bat-to-ball skills and refined hand-eye coordination as evidenced by just 5 strikeouts in 133 plate appearances.

Joshua Priest, OF, Class of 2027
R-R, 5-10/160, San Diego, Calif. 

It only takes a swing or two for you to lock in on Priest whenever he’s at the plate, as the young right-handed hitter possesses some of the best bat speed and strength in the class and it shows up in live actions with plenty of frequency. Over the course of 76 plate appearances in 2022 Priest managed to hit .461 with a 1.354 OPS with a handful of home runs, though it’d be hard to imagine any being more impressive than the shot he put out during the 13u National Showcase, clearing the wall in left field at FITTEAM Ballpark by a good margin. While the offensive tools are simply too loud to ignore, his athleticism needs to be noted as he posted a 6.88 in the 60-yard which aids him well in the outfield where he continues to show an advanced set of tools. 


Taytum Reeves, C, Class of 2026
R-R, 5-10/180, Menifee, Calif. 

A younger player for the class of 2026, Reeves may just be entering his high school career this fall but the backstop from California has already made a bit of a name for himself given his complete skill set on both sides of the ball. Though physically built already, Reeves’ athleticism and ability to retain looseness in his actions stand out behind the plate, showing a sense of ease and comfort receiving the ball while also possessing one of the better arms at the 13u level. From an offensive standpoint it’s a true all fields approach as he regularly went with the outer half pitch this summer, driving it with some serious authority, though that’s not to say he can’t turn on the ball as we also saw him do just that regularly throughout the 13u World Series.

Francisco Renteria, OF, Class of 2027
R-R, 6-1/165, Maracaibo, Ven. 

Renteria is no mystery to Perfect Game as he suited up in last year’s 12u Select Festival and though he doesn’t have the extensive resume like others in the game, he’s quick to grab hold of your attention. Much longer and stronger than a year ago, Renteria came to the states for the first time this summer to take part in the 13u National Showcase where his right-handed swing stood out amongst his peers, showing a loose and fluid stroke with real barrel whip and natural lift out front. The young Venezuelan then continued to swing it throughout the Florida Summer Select tournament, hitting .400 with a 1.460 OPS while collecting 4 extra-base hits with 11 RBI. He moves well for his size already with sound fundamentals in the outfield and will undoubtedly draw attention from pro teams when he’s eligible to sign as an international free agent. 


Logan Schmidt, LHP, Class of 2027
L-L, 6-1/175, Villa Park, Calif. 

Rarely, if ever, do you find a 13u left-handed arm living in the mid-80s and bumping 88 mph but that’s just what Schmidt came out firing during the 13u WWBA earlier this summer, cementing himself as one of the top arms in the class already identified to this point. A long 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Schmidt has seen a surge in velocity since last fall’s All State Games and given just how fast his left arm is, there’s no reason to think he’s anywhere near hitting his ceiling. The ball jumps out of his hand and it shows some serious sinking life through the zone which he compliments with a sharp breaking ball and for as good as he is on the mound, Schmidt has proven to be just as impressive with the bat in his hands as he hit .452 this summer.

Grant Sperandio, RHP, Class of 2026
R-R, 5-10/165, Houston, Texas

It’s safe to say Sperandio enjoys collecting his strikeouts in bunches as he punched out 57 batters this spring and summer over just 34 2/3 innings which speaks to just how big his stuff plays through the zone. Strongly built at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, Sperandio possesses one of the better fastballs that’ll be in Knoxville, bumping as high as 86 mph this summer and will run it into the mid-80s during any given outing. Of course, that type of velocity at the 13u level takes some special arm speed which the young Texan possesses while showing the ability to still command either side of the plate and flash a potential out-pitch in a late sweeping slider in the upper-60s. And like his peers, Sperandio shows real potential with the bat in his hands as well, creating separation in his swing and some serious jump at the point of contact. 


Nomar Torres, SS, Class of 2026
R-R, 6-0/160, Hurst, Texas

If you’re looking for a player on the West team to come up in a big situation and deliver, Torres has to be on your short list as he has proven to do nothing but hit, regardless the situation or stage. A versatile defender who you’ll see in the dirt or behind the plate during any given game, there’s no mistaking his right-handed swing as his calling card on the diamond; then again, a .487/.591/1.347 slash line speaks for itself. At the plate Torres employs an all-fields approach, just as willing to go backside as he is pull side, truly speaking to his ability to control the barrel head through the zone with a long, fluid swing. While it’s more of a contact-oriented approach right now, don’t be surprised when he starts hitting for power, sooner rather than later.
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