Pool A
Projected Pool Winner: Burn Scout Team 2023
The Florida Burn have been here before, and the two-time champs enter Jupiter with one of their better on-paper rosters in recent years. The depth of arms is very impressive, led by Florida commit Reilly Witmer, but there’s a whole depth of Division I and Power 5 arms that will be able to limit run scoring, including Trey Beard and Aidan Knaak. Sammy Mummau and Carter White lead the way on offense and while the offense won’t be the focal point of the team, they should score enough to supply their potent pitching staff with run support.
Dark Horse: Team Indiana Powered by Indiana Bulls
Team Indiana routinely boasts some of the best talent in that midwestern region of the country and they’ll be led by PG All-American Andrew Wiggins. The roster is deep and features plenty of other top ranked prospects like Brett Denby and Mitchell Dean. The 6-foot-7 southpaw will likely get the start against the Florida Burn which will be must-see baseball but nearly everyone on this roster is a Division I caliber player which makes them a tough out in what looks like a tough pool.
What To Look For: Burn Rebound
The Florida Burn won this event in 2018 and 2019 before failing to make it out of pool play in 2020. The Burn made their return to Jupiter bracket play in 2021, losing in the first round, but this is a team with championship aspirations and could be in store for a deep run once more. The roster is reloaded with a ton of pitching depth and this could be the year that the Burn return to the championship final of the event.
Uncommitted Impact: Bailan Caraballo
Bailan Caraballo recently impressed at the Florida Top Prospect Games at UCF and showed some massive right-handed power from his 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame. It’s impressive bat speed with plenty of impact potential from the right side and 6-foot-4 power-hitting sluggers like Caraballo don’t come around very often. Caraballo could cap off an impressive fall with a big Jupiter and he’ll be sure to get some love from scouts and coaches as well; he’ll be playing for Stars Baseball – Carroll.
-Vinnie Cervino
Pool B
Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags
The Dirtbags have an array of talents on both sides that immediately stand out. Perry Hargett is one of the smoothest defenders in the class and top middle infielders in the country. He and Dalton Wentz can form a potent duo up the middle. Kyle Johnson is a consistent two-way performer with plenty of upside on the bump, featuring a lively low-90s fastball from the left side. Harrison Lewis, Jackson Little and Justin Leguernic feature a deep arsenal of arms with deep mixes and feel to spin. The Dirtbags bring a solid squad and have a chance to take pool play by storm.
Dark Horse: Baseball Northwest National
They may stay in the Pacific Northwest, but Baseball Northwest National can bring some pop to Jupiter. Levi Jones and Carson Ohland are a pair of loud bats to keep an eye on. Reeve Boyd brings plenty of defensive versatility on the dirt along with Maddox Molony. On the mound, Baseball Northwest National have some high upside arms including Robert Orloski and Dane Lais. It’s a deep lineup and the bats can get hot in an instant. Don’t be surprised if Baseball Northwest National makes a splash.
What To Look For: Power bats
Several position players bring some notable pop in this particular pool. Levi Clark is a physical presence in the box with plenty of strength in the path. Runs may be hard to come by in the early going, but each squad has some names capable of producing runs via the long ball.
Uncommitted Impact: Aden O'Donnell
O’Donnell of Spects National is an impactful two-sport athlete from Bettendorf, Iowa with plenty of upside on the mound as a right-handed pitcher. Features a long and loose arm action through the backside with plenty of life out of the hand The fastball has good downward tilt to it with above-average feel for secondaries. The curveball in particular is a tight 12-6 hammer with a fading changeup. It’s a solid profile that remains uncommitted.
- Isaiah Burrows
Pool C
Projected Pool Winner: Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
It’s no surprise that the Canes National team comes into Jupiter with loads of talent and the kind of depth to make a run at the title but this year they’ve got a really well-built roster that may give them their best chance at the title in recent memory. They won the UBC East in pretty dominant fashion, posting big wins over a number of the country’s top programs and it’s much of the same roster here. PG All-American Kevin McGonigle sets the pace of this lineup as one of the best pure hitters you’ll find at the prep level while a pair of fellow All-Americans in Trent Caraway and Macon Winslow bring some more firepower. Add in a crazy amount of talented senior bats like Jonny Farmelo, Gavin Gallaher, Ryan Jaros, Luke Lavin, Campbell Smithwick and junior PJ Morlando and you have a nightmare for opposing pitching. Where they’re certainly not short is on the mound with 17 primary arms rostered, all of which are ranked inside the Top 500 in the country. Cal Randall, Steven Echavarria, Tucker Holland, Alex Kranzler, Bradley Link and Chase Meyer have all been into the mid-90s in previous looks while they have a pretty ridiculous cast of low-90s righties and lefties that make this maybe the best pitching staff at the entire event.
Dark Horse: Royals Scout Team 2023 Every year the Royals Scout Team brings a strong group of players from up and down the middle of the country, including a couple from the East and West coast, and this year is no different. They’ve got the daunting task of playing in a pool with the Canes National team, but they’ve got a roster that should draw some follow both from professional departments and college recruiters with a handful of really talented uncommitted names on the roster. Matthew Priest is likely as tooled up as any prospect at the event, as an underclassman, with elite run times and huge juice, and he’ll pair well in the lineup with fellow young bats Drew Dickerson and Eli Lovich and the slough of talented senior hitters like Dondreone Kennedy and Addison Smith, among others. On the mound, guys like Gabe Smith, Jackson Baker and Jake Melvin likely lead the way, but there are others, including uncommitted guys, that will play a huge role in trying to make it out of pool play.
What To Look For: Canes versus Top Arms
It's to be expected that the “big dog” in the pool is going to draw the ace of the other three and if we do in fact get to see that, it should be some fun matchups. The biggest storyline there is with Royals Scout Team’s Gabe Smith as he faced this Canes National team in pool play at the 17u WWBA this summer and went four strong innings, only allowing a single hit and keeping the game at a point to eventually end it in a 1-1 tie. AZ T-Rex Scout Team will likely send Jason Bodin to the mound who has been excellent in looks this summer with a low-90s fastball and the ability to miss bats, which will give the Canes another tough task, and there’s the possibility of a meeting with funky 6-foot-7 left-hander Hunter Possehl and an underclass-heavy Florida Burn team that’ll round out three pretty wildly different looks.
Uncommitted Impact: Chase Meyer
There’s only one player on the Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team roster that’s still listed as uncommitted and it’s certainly a big one who will have a big impact on their run at the title in Chase Meyer. Now he’s likely got his pick of where he’d like to call home at the next level, if the collegiate level is even where he ends up, but it’s still about of an uncommitted name at the entire event. He’s been up to 94 this summer with plenty of life to it but the slider is the bread-and-butter pitch that entices so many, spinning it in the low-80s with over 3000 RPMs, a pitch that has a chance to be one of the best in the entire class. It’s a good delivery with projection there too and if he can show he can throw more strikes, it’s a high-end profile with the ability to miss bats in bunches.
-Tyler Russo
Pool D
Projected Pool Winner: 3n2 Sticks Baseball – Brewster/White Sox Scout Team
3n2 Sticks Baseball – Brewster/White Sox Scout Team is coming down to Jupiter with one of the deepest rosters in the event. Three of the younger players on the team, Spencer Browning and Ethan Murray, and Jaison Delamar are going to be relied upon heavily in the lineup and should provide a youthful spark on offense. Minjae Seo and MJ Seo have long been seen as two of the top level two-way players in the country. Mark Brissey, Brex Caldwell, and Ross Felder round out what looks to be one of the better rotations in the tournament alongside the Seo brothers. Look for them to make a deep run in Jupiter with an elite blend of offensive explosion and dominance on the mound.
Dark Horse: Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
The Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team is loaded up with talent at the plate that can keep them in any ball game. Noah Franco and Dean Moss headline the lineup as the No. 1 and No. 7 prospects in the class of 2025. Franco has serious power to the pull side, a clean stroke and the hands work well in the swing. He can also contribute on the mound, we’ve seen him up to 91 mph with feel to spin a breaking ball. Moss has one of the best left-handed swings in the country and has consistently found barrels in every event. The middle of the lineup has PG All American Edward Phelps III, Miami commit Antonio Jimenez and Auburn commit Eric Guevara. The pitching staff is bolstered by young lefty RJ Cope and South Carolina commit Jevarra Martin. Look for them to make a lot of noise at the plate with this electric offense.
What To Look For: Young Offensive Weapons
This pool is full of young, promising hitters with tools that are shining through at the right moment. Noah Franco, Dean Moss, Ethan Murray, and Gustavo Melendez all look to put on a show at the plate in the coming week. Each look at these players gives us that more intrigue to follow this pool throughout the tournament. Each of them have the ability to leave the yard at any point and string together quality at-bats throughout the event.
Uncommitted Impact:
Keep close eyes on Luis Castillo of the Midland Redskins throughout the week and monitor him closely. Castillo is a physical, 6-foot-5, 210-pound outfielder with well-proportioned strength throughout the frame. He swings the bat with intent and the ball jumps off the barrel when squared up a little different than anyone else. He’s an imposing figure in the box that has shown big tools throughout the summer. If he gets hot, he has the ability to carry an offense.
-Cameron McElwaney
Pool E
Projected Pool Winner: Scorpions/Giants Scout Team
Pulling talent from eight different states, the Scorpions/Giants Scout Team. North Carolina State commit and backstop Alex Sosa will be a force with his left-handed bat as will Stanford commit and shortstop Sebastian David. The trio of Grayson Smith, Hudson Calhoun, and Taylor Rabe form a very formidable arsenal of arms that should always give them a chance to win.
Dark Horse: Team Georgia National
The depth on both sides of the ball is what stands out for Team Georgia National. The middle infield talent is plentiful in Brett Denby, Brayden Martin, and Gus Gandy. The rotation is headed by a pair of Auburn committed southpaws in Griffin Graves and Taft Middleton. The pitching doesn’t end there and with the majority of the team being from Georgia and having experience playing together often, they should pull together well.
What To Look For: Depth of quality arms
All four teams in the pool possess an abundance of pitcher that should allow the games to be well-played with runs coming at a premium. With fastballs up to 94 mph, both Porter Buursema and Casan Evans bring power arms that will draw plenty of eyes. In addition to velocity, good pitchability is dispersed throughout all of the squads.
Uncommitted Impact: Daniel Hartley
Hartley is a talented right-handed pitcher for Scorpions/Giants Scout Team. A good athlete, the Florida native features a full four pitch mix and fastball up to 91. Hartley can spin two distinct breaking balls and knows how to add and subtract with his fading low-80s changeup. He should throw plenty of strikes and offer impact on the mound in Jupiter.
-Kyler Peterson
Pool F
Projected Pool Winner: USA Prime National
USA Prime National will arrive in Jupiter with depth of high end talent, as 10 of their 19 committed players will be on campus at Power 5 programs next year at this time. They’ll be led by PG All American Antonio Anderson, a dynamic switch-hitting shortstop with a blend of speed and power. The lineup will feature plenty of depth including some players that have performed well at several other events this summer. Ashton Larson, Rustan Rigdon, and Steven Milam are players to look for. With ten arms that have been 90+ in the past, the depth of talented arms to win the pool is certainly there.
Dark Horse: 5 Star National - Black
This is a roster that features young high end talent led by 2025 grads Jacob Kendall and Kelvyn Paulino Jr. The two infielders have skill sets to make a big impact against primarily older competition and have both performed well at the plate in PG events this year. Two-way talent Cooper McMullen looks to make a big impact and perhaps lead the team on the mound, where he’s been dominant all summer featuring a fastball up to 92 and a sharp breaking ball that misses bats. It’ll be the youngest team in the pool, but that doesn’t mean they lack the talent to make a run at winning it.
What To Look For: Talent at all ages
This pool will feature multiple players in the 2023-2025 grad classes ranked in the top-125 of PG rankings. Adding to some of the aforementioned players above: right-handed pitcher Ryan McPherson, left-handed pitcher Blake Dickerson and catcher Xavier Rivera look like impact players that may help decide who wins the pool. The high end talent from three separate grad classes will be unique and offer a glimpse of the near and distant future.
Uncommitted Impact: Dylan Deleo
A 2023 right-handed pitcher with a 6-foot-5, 215-pound imposing frame on the mound. A fastball up to 90 on the mound with spin rates consistently registering above 2400 RPM and the ability to locate a swing-and-miss breaking ball with late vertical break. Controls the athletic movements in his delivery, offers plenty of upside remaining to tap into and has been nothing short of dominant in PG events this summer and throughout his amateur career. Has the stuff to be an impact arm in Jupiter and certainly has the present stuff and frame that make him a projectable pitcher for the collegiate level.
-Blaine Peterson
Pool G
Projected Pool Winner: Ostingers Baseball Academy 2023
How can you not back the defending champs to go back-to-back? This squad has one thing on its mind, and that’s to bring more hardware back to Lithia, Fla. With 16 committed players and 10 ranked in the top-500, Ostingers once again are loaded with talent top to bottom with balance on both sides of the ball. If you’re not familiar with the name Arjun Nimmala, you better get accustomed to seeing it and quickly because the kid can flat out rake at the dish with lightning fast hand speed and easy juice to pair, posting an exit velo of 103 mph this summer. With him in the heart of the lineup and names like Alex Philpott and Evan Dempsey leading the staff, the Ostingers once again are a favorite to win it all.
Dark Horse: East Coast Ghost - Artillery
It’s real hard to be considered a “dark horse” when you have 19 commits on your roster as well as 10 names who throw 90+, but regardless of what you call them they’re guaranteed to produce some fireworks on the field. Led by guys like Caleb Bonemer, AJ Gracia, Rives Reynolds, and Ty Thompson on the offensive end, opponents are going to have a real difficult time finding a break in the lineup. It’s safe to say that 1-9 in the lineup is going to present major power threats with the ability to leave the facility at any given point, and if that wasn’t enough you have Chris Levonas among many others on the bump to mow hitters down. If there ever was a dark horse to put money on, this would be the one.
What To Look For: The Future
42 players in this pool are committed to Division I programs, and 25 of them are going Power 5. If you really want to get an early look at the faces of the future, look no further than the names listed above among many others who not only want to win as a team, but also add value to what they can ultimately provide at the next level. This pool (and tournament in general) is truly the highest caliber of travel baseball with superstars in the making.
Uncommitted Impact: Luke Coll
Very rarely do you see a 93 mph arm not have a committed tag next to their name, but Luke Coll is still up for grabs as a member of East Coast Ghost - Artillery. The athletically built 6-foot-2, 180-pound righty can shut down just about any lineup across from him with a full arsenal and command of multiple off speed offerings. Each pitch has unique movement with a power curveball and tumbling change piece in the back pocket. The arm action is clean and compact and is almost certainly going to be a force in the rotation for the Jersey-based squad.
-AJ Denny
Pool H
Projected Pool Winner: BPA
A common thread amongst the last handful-plus of champions in Jupiter is camaraderie amongst the roster, meaning they’ve played together in several tournaments over the years and know what each are capable of in any given moment. That can certainly be said about this BPA club as the nucleus has been together for some time and really the only “new” faces are the players coming up from the younger age groups within the organization. Of the 18-man roster, only four are currently uncommitted and there’s some real SEC flair amongst the commits, led by Ole Miss Rebels bound shortstop and Perfect Game All-American Cooper Pratt who’ll pace the offense from the middle of the order but also serve as the field general in the dirt. Catchers Marcus Galvan, who slashed an impressive .408/.563/1.182 from the left side atop their order, Kelven Perera Arellano and Gavin Taylor will split the reps behind the plate while underclassmen like Brandon De Goti and Billy Carlson could serve in a two-way capacity. BPA’s pitching could be a difference maker with hard throwing righty Cade Townsend leading the charge and bringing with him an advance arsenal while Hudson Mattox pounds the zone, 2025 grad Seth Hernandez continues to show as one of the more exciting arms in the country and a pair of 6-foot-7 arms in Alex Wallace and Benjamin Smith make for anything but a comfortable at-bat.
Dark Horse: Knights Baseball 18u National
If you want to look for depth, look no further than this Knights team as they have 19 players committed to play at the Division I level and all but one rostered player is ranked somewhere within Perfect Game’s national rankings. There’s no doubt scouts will be locking in on physically gifted catcher Stone Lawless as he missed most of the summer circuit but with a strong performance in Jupiter and a showing of the tools we know he possesses, he could generate some serious buzz heading into next spring. Having a bat like Lawless in the middle of the order no doubt gives the coaching staff some peace of mind but other bats like Drew Harrison, Connor Christenson, Mason Onate and potent two-way Miller Green give the club invaluable depth with the sticks. The 6-foot-5 left-handed Green is an imposing figure on the mound as he powers the ball downhill into the low-90s as part of a three-pitch mix which includes a sharp, downer curveball and late fading changeup. Louisville-bound Thomas Howard averaged better than a strikeout-per-inning this spring with a low-90s heater of his own while a couple of Kentucky Wildcat commits need to be monitored closely as well in 6-foot-3 southpaw Ben Cleaver and 2024 grad England Bryan who has already been up to 92 mph. With 11 primary arms, 6 of whom have been 90 mph or better, keep tabs on this Knights team throughout pool play.
What To Look For: Pool Depth
All four clubs in Pool H have at least 11 players ranked within Perfect Game’s Top 500, meaning there are going to be plenty of big matchups in any given point of any game. We went into some depth with both BPA and the Knights and while one of them could go on to bracket play, don’t sleep on 5 Star National-Gold or the Puerto Rico Scout team as both rosters offer quality talent on both sides of the ball. This pool has a little bit of everything from big arms and impact bats, to potential draft sleepers and underclassmen who look to prove they can hang with the big names under the brightest of lights.
Uncommitted Impact: Alex Wallace & Justin Torres Soto
Residing on two separates ocean coasts, the 6-foot-7 Wallace and the 6.4 running Torres Soto have unique attributes about them that, with a strong performance in Jupiter, should generate plenty of buzz around their names. One of two 6-foot-7 arms on the BPA roster, Wallace has worked into the upper-80s through the summer season, peaking at 91 mph during the UBC West where he was named the event’s Most Valuable Pitcher. Despite his size Wallace does an excellent job of repeating the delivery as evidenced by his 24 strikeouts to just 6 walks in 19 1/3 innings and shows feel for a complete arsenal of pitches. Torres Soto has a loud collection of tools, from his mid-90s arm from the outfield to the max exit velocity of 101 mph at the National Showcase, and if he puts them all on display, he should be a focal point of the Puerto Rico Scout Team as they look to make noise in Pool H.
-Jheremy Brown
Pool I
Projected Pool Winner: Knights Knation/Dodgers Scout Team
This year’s rendition of Knights Knation/Dodgers Scout Team brings an eclectic mix of offensive fire power across a multitude of Grad Classes, while having tons of depth amongst the pitching corps primed for a deep run in Jupiter. PGAAC participant Will Gasparino, Casey Borba, Trenton Lape and Konnor Griffin (No. 2 in our recent Class of 2024 Rankings) are well-known names that should see plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. The pitching staff bolsters eleven arms that have touched 90 mph or above with John Alex Walsh, William Schmidt and Hiro Wyattbeing amongst the most battled tested. Griffin could be an X-Factor on the mound, as the immensely talented two-way prospect has been up to 93 mph in previous looks. 2026 left-hander Bradyn Garner is another high-octane arm that could see important innings on the bump, as pitching depth is a key when it comes to surviving the gauntlet that is Jupiter.
Dark Horse: USA Prime Coastal
On paper, this roster looks to be a good mix of fundamentally sound baseball players with some thump in the middle-of-the lineup. Nigel Robinson should provide speed at the top of the lineup, while Peyton Young and Tristan Salinas add length and high-level bat-to-ball skills. Ryan Schwartz and Bryce Hooker will provide the thump, as they boast in-game power production and can leave the yard at any time. Cole Nelson and Josh Hammond are power-armed right-handers that can stymie any lineup when they are locked in. Look for them to deployed in a big-time matchup with pool favorite Knights Knation/Dodgers Scout Team.
What To Look For: Pool Depth/Power Arms
Pool I is loaded with tons of talent on both sides of the ball, which could lead to some pretty intriguing matchups across the board. Power arms are scattered throughout each one of the rosters and a “special” outing by one of them could turn this pool upside down. Jack Cropper, James Raidt are two arms for the Boston Red Sox Scout Team that can stifle any lineup at any given moment. Add-in the likes of Hiro Wyatt from his respective squads, and there is sure to be some intense battles amongst the pool, as teams will pull out all stops in order to secure the pool.
Uncommitted Impact: Hiro Wyatt
Hiro Wyatt is an electric uncommitted arm who could certainly be called upon in a pool deciding matchup. Wyatt is a low slot, low release height spin rate unicorn that has been up to 94 mph in previous looks with heavy sinking life to the fastball. He flashes a frisbee slider at times and has the ability to kill spin on the changeup. He provides an interesting look with high-octane stuff to go with it and should be a big-time pickup for any recruiting class looking to bolster their pitching staff.
-John McAdams
Pool J
Projected Pool Winner: Power Baseball 2023 Marucci
There is a ton of balance in this Power roster in terms of really everything. Jaden Bastian can really run and disrupt on the bases. Braden Holcomb has real power and already hit a homer to dead center field in Jupiter last year. Austin Jacobs can really pick it at short. Talan Bell is as tough as there is and has the stuff to roll innings in a hurry. Professional hitter, Collin Priest, will bring experience and confidence to the middle of the lineup. The balance of experience and youth will be a really fun follow and the strike throwers on the pitching side give Power Baseball all the ingredients to get to Championship Monday.
Dark Horse: MLB Breakthrough Series 2023
There are some absolutely explosive players on this roster and can put up crooked numbers in a hurry. One could argue the top/middle of the lineup that could consist of Dillon Head, Kendall George, Nazzan Zanetello, Zion Rose and George Baker can match any other club in the tournament. When the lineup flips the golf carts will be racing in to catch the at-bats of this lineup.
What To Look For: Who gets the big hit?
This pool just has the feel that the winner will be the team that has one more big swing than the other. There is balance here coming from all teams and, on paper, has huge balance between all four teams. The rosters are littered with players we have watched do special things and it would be fitting that this pool comes down to one huge hit in the 7th inning to get to bracket play.
Uncommitted Impact: Amari Allen
If Allen returns to his 2021 form, this could be interesting. Allen’s outing at the UBC in 2021 was one of the more competitive matchups of the entire summer and the low-90s heat and solid breaker made the southpaw seem like one of the top arms in the country. He has the ability to create a ton of buzz from both college recruiters and pro scouts on the biggest stage of the year.
-Jered Goodwin
Pool K
Projected Pool Winner: Alpha Prime
The boys out west are primed up and ready to go on a deep run this year. It all starts with pitching and defense, which this squad is loaded up with, anytime you can field a team with Ryder Helfrick or Hideki Prather dawning the tools of ignorance behind the dish. I'm a buyer in that stock all day. Not to mention the likes of Nolan Souza and Carl Schmidt up the middle. The power arms of Austin Nye, Kaden Taque, and Quinn Larson should be on full display and I fully expect the group to come out firing.
Pool Dark Horse: East Coast Sox Scout
Tough calling such a big name, well thought-of organization a true ‘dark horse squad, but here we are. The squad from the Deep South is coming with no shortage of SEC quality arms, headlined by left-handers Kade Anderson and Walker Hooks. It's not going to be glamorous but rather a grind-it-out style that will ultimately lead to the success of the squad. Keep an eye on them though because if they make it out of the pool they are loaded up with the arms to make a deep run.
What to look for: Alpha Prime to push across the finish line / Ethan Holliday
After a disappointing end in the semifinals last year, it's perfectly clear that Alpha Prime has one goal in mind, being one of the elite group to be crowned champions of the WWBA worlds. Could this be the year? We will soon find out but they have all the pieces to do so. Great position talent. Check. Premier Arms. Check. On a completely different note, many are excited to watch the brother of last year's first overall selection Jackson Holliday take the field on amateur baseball’s biggest stage. Ethan Holliday has all the makings to be another top end of the draft talent. The smooth left-handed swing is filled with rhythm, strength, and athleticism. Definitely excited to see how he competes against some the the nation’s top pitchers.
Uncommitted Gem: Eli Driskell of East Coast Sox Scout
The Sturdy 6-foot-1 right-hander showed well at Underclass All-American in San Diego where he features an 88-91 mph fastball that occasionally shows quality running life through the zone as well as a pair of swing-and-miss breaking balls. The first of the offerings was a slider spun just north of 2500 rpm with some bite to entice swings off the outer edge, the second being a sweeping style breaker that demonstrates usable depth. There’s solid makeup with some refinement in command; he should be off the uncommitted list in short order.
-Troy Sutherland
Pool L
Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags Scout Team
There may not be a more recognizable brand when it comes to amateur baseball than the Dirtbags. It’s not just about their unique or unconventional uniforms, it’s more about sustained success. Their history of helping players get to the college, professional and Big League level is unrivaled. Originating in Burlington, N.C., the brand has steadily grown and expanded beyond the Carolinas. That’s what makes this team’s roster so intriguing, as it has a strong national presence well beyond the Coastal Region. Cody Sharman, a LHP with elite command and Ethan McNally, a well-rounded catcher both hail from Maryland. Jon Young is a smooth MIF, Alex Gay and Tucker DeLisle are high end RHPs in the 2024 class that all hail from the northeast. Jacob Bresnahan, another reliable LHP will make the trek from Washington and Aiden Pollock from Nevada is a prospect with the bat and on the mound. All said and done, this roster has 23 total commits, 21 Top 500 players and a stock of 7 arms that have been clocked at 90+ mph. The quality and depth of this roster is going to difficult to match in this pool.
Dark Horse: San Diego Show
It’s extremely difficult to put an organization like the San Diego Show in the dark horse category with their history and prolific roster, but on paper they appear to be the second-best team. However, as anyone that has played against them will say, you better pack your lunch when they’re in the opposing dugout. They have finished in the top-three of PG events 37 times, 15 of those saw a championship come their way and 12 were runners-up results. They have one of the youngest rosters they’ve ever brought to Jupiter, but their underclassmen are highly ranked on a national level. Vanderbilt commit Duke Ekstrom and Texas A&M, Max Stanley are both power-armed RHPs that will set the tone for the Show on the bump. While Dean West, the UCLA commit and Jonathan Mendez, the UC Santa Barbara commit, will pace the club offensively and up the middle with the gloves. I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see the Show make a deep run next week.
What To Look For: The Youth Infusion
It wasn’t too long ago that seeing an underclassman in Jupiter was unusual, but now it is commonplace and rightfully so. Quite simply, younger players are more talented and advanced than ever before. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 classes look like they will continue to take the game where it has never been, and the depth of that talent is extensive. ECU commits Holden Cooper and Austin Irby are athletic 2024 grads and have proven to be impact bats already. WVU commit Sammy Laux is a frontline catch-and-throw guy and is no slouch with the stick. Logan De Groot, the UCLA commit, is a legitimate two-way prospect that will see time both ways. Texas commit, Gavin Fien will be one of the youngest players in the field as a 2025 grad, but he can flat out pick it in the middle infield and hold his own on the mound as well.
Uncommitted Impact: Nathan Bassett
Virtually a complete unknown until he showed up at one of our PG showcases in Maryland a few weeks ago, Nathan Bassett has garnered major attention in a very short amount of time. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he looked the part right away and when his first warmup pitch clocked in at 88 mph with 2,500+ rpms, we knew this was going to be special. The delivery is not refined yet, but the ease of operation makes it very easy to project a jump in stuff across the board very soon. His fastball sat in the 88-91 mph range with boring action and the spin is elite, reaching 2,600+ at times. His off-speed pitches already have the proper metrics as the slider is a low-80s power breaker with impressive 2,800+ spin and his changeup showed arm-side run with contact deadening spin. The arm itself is clean with low mileage as he has never played in a “travel” ball event until last week. So, it will be interesting to see how he handles the bright lights of Jupiter, but I think he’ll be just fine.
-Craig Cozart
Pool M
Projected Pool Winner: Trosky National 2023
The squad from out west brings a talented roster to Jupiter loaded with both depth and star power. The roster features 15 committed players and 19 total players ranked within the top 500, the most in the pool. A quality pitching staff will be led by Arizona State commit Easton Barrett, who impressed throughout the summer circuit. Fellow ASU commit Alec Belardes, along with Hawaii commit Brayden Marx and uncommitted right-hander Ben Leikam should all provide valuable innings as well. The lineup will be led by one of the top players in the 2025 class in Oregon State commit Xavier Neyens. Will Matuszak, Reggie Sharpe, and Peter Moutzouridis can all provide valuable defense on the dirt, while Georgia Tech commit Drew Rogers can provide some thump from behind the plate. It is an impressive roster that has the potential to make real noise.
Dark Horse: Home Plate Chili Dogs
The Home Plate Chili Dogs are loaded with athletes with a history of performing. The roster consists of 16 committed players, including three within the top-60 players of their respective class. Georgia Tech commit Tai Peete provides the star power, being one of the bigger names in this year’s draft class. A trio of Georgia commits in Ariston Veasey, Jaxon Walker, and Wayne King should make for a scary lineup that opposing pitchers will not want to face. It would not be surprising if this roster ended up winning the pool.
What To Look For: Two-Way Players
This pool is loaded with high level players that have legit two-way ability. Ariston Veasey possesses a high offensive ceiling and has been up to 92 mph with the ability to create bite on a sweeping slider. Xavier Neyens not only has big time left-handed power, he can run it up to 90 mph with feel for a slider. When Easton Barrett is not dominating on the mound, he displays athleticism and a quality bat that can hit near the top of an order. Not to mention Tai Peete, who is one of the more elite two-way players in the 2023 class. There is a long list of two-way players who will be a major factor in this pool.
Uncommitted Impact: Jaden Knight
Knight has a chance to make a big impact on both sides of the ball. The outfielder features a strong, athletic build that can produce loud contact in the box. A simple, controlled swing finds the barrel regularly and has run producing ability. Knight also possesses advanced athleticism, having run a 6.78 60-yard dash. It is a dynamic, well-rounded profile that should not remain uncommitted for long.
- Tyler Henninger
Pool N
Projected Pool Winner: Texas Twelve
Texas Twelve is loaded with talent on both sides, led by top-ranked catcher in the country and LSU commit Blake Mitchell. Mitchell isn’t only the top backstop in the class, but he has also been up to 97 mph on the mound, making him the top two-way talents in the country. Kendall George, Drew Markle, and Sam Myers can’t be overlooked as they are all ranked inside the top 500. This lineup has the chance to be one of the best in the tournament. On the other side, they have a pitching staff that can match up with any other team in the event. Left-hander Jackson Brasseux is a left-hander with power stuff, running the fastball up to 94 mph and a slider in the upper-70s. Jacob Schulz, James Ellwanger, Drew Kirby, and Diego Luzardo, all D-I commits.
Dark Horse: eXposure Prime
eXposure Prime is bringing a young roster down that is almost exclusively underclass players. Even though they are young, they should not be taken lightly as they can roll out one of the more dangerous lineups in the event. Auburn commit Anthony Tralongo, Vanderbilt commit Brodie Johnston, Tennessee commit Brennon Seigler, and UCF commit Jason Bello give eXposure a very strong top four in the lineup. On the mound, Virginia Tech commit Brady Smith has shined in recent outings and looks to continue in Jupiter. Cade Oleary, Brendon Bennett, and two way player Mateo Gray are only a couple of the D-I arms that will be in town.
What To Look For: Maple Flavor
Brewers Langley Blaze is bringing 19 players to Jupiter from Canada which should be intriguing to watch. The group is led by Iowa commit Elliot Cadieux Lanoue, ranked 301 in the 2023 class and the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Canada. Ty Hamilton, Sam Shaw, and Reece Usselman are three other plays with Canadian roots that are committed to D-I programs. We only have a few times throughout the year to get a look at Canadian players and should be a fun team to follow in Jupiter.
Uncommitted Impact:
One name to look out for on Texas Twelve is uncommitted right-handed pitcher Clayton Freshcorn. Fastball has already been up to 91 mph, lives 88-90 with command to both sides. Also had a slider in the upper-70s and a changeup right around 80 mph. Medium, athletic build with still some room for growth on the mound. Another name to look out for is 6-foot-6, 205-pound middle infielder Cesar Andre Lopez. Andre Lopez stands out whenever you walk up to the field due to size and the projectable frame. He has athletic actions on the dirt and has also shown feel for the outfield. At the plate, he has an inside out swing path, long levers, and big power projection. Keep an eye out for both Freshcorn and Andre Lopez.
-Cameron McElwaney
Pool O
Projected Pool Winner: GBG Navy
GBG heads to Jupiter looking to reclaim the WWBA title that they took home in 2020. They’re sending a well-balanced and deep squad that went 6-0 in the PG Fall National Championship in taking home the title. GBG has the deep stable of arms needed to make a serious run in the tournament, headlined by PG All-American Justin Lee of Notre Dame High School. Lee can run the fastball up to 94 with an easy delivery, and backs up the heater with a slider and splitter. He’s shown the ability to dominate a lineup when he’s commanding the zone. The rest of pitching staff may look more like a high school basketball team, with several 6-foot-3 and taller pitchers, all of whom are built to eat innings. Jaden Alba (6-foot-3), Oliver Boone (6-foot-4), LHP Mason Edwards (6-foot-3), Owen Geiss (6-foot-4), Stunner Gonzales (2024, 6-foot-7), Tomas Lopez (6-foot-3), Kamdyn Perry (6-foot-3) all fit this profile. GBG’s offense has similar depth, UCLA commit Boston Baro (SS) has been an on base machine sporting an OBP of .550 in 2022 PG events. He continues to show an all field line drive approach with sneaky pop to the pull side. Cal commit Finley Buckner provides a strong offensively profile on the left side of the infield showing the ability to drive the ball all over the yard with over the fence power, Buckner heads to Jupiter with a .932 career OPS in PG events over a 37-game span. GBG’s trio of left-handed hitting outfielders, all currently ranked as top-10 outfielders in California, have shown the ability to impact a game offensively. Anthony Huezo, Owen Martin and Zach Plasschaert (also plays first base) are some bats to keep an eye on.
Dark Horse: Northeast Baseball
Based out of Harvard, Mass., Northeast Baseball’s roster goes national with players coming from 8 different states, and even one player from Canada Daniel Leonard. Top-ranked catcher in Florida for the 2024 class, Hunter Carns, comes in as the highest ranked prospect for NEB, a Florida State commit that has been an offensive force in Perfect Game events going back to 2018 with a career OPS over 1.000 with 16 home runs over that span. NEB will be strong behind the plate, with Matt Conte pairing up with Hunter Carns as standout underclass catchers, Conte is currently the top-ranked backstop in the 2024 class in Massachusetts. Long limbed center fielder Cade Sorrell, a Texas A&M commit, should be the table-setter at the top of the lineup for NEB, he’s displayed advanced speed that plays on the bases and in closing the gaps in center field. Look for Miami commit Eric Fernandez to be one of the key cogs at the top of the lineup, the 6’4” shortstop has a knack for getting on base, sporting a .477 on-base percentage in 101 career games in Perfect Game Events.
What to Look For: Can youth prevail for USA Prime Scout Team?
Based out of Canton, Ga., USA Prime heads to Jupiter with one of the younger teams, sending 21 juniors (Class of 2024s), including the top two outfielders from Georgia for the 2024 class in Michael Mullinax and Terrence Kiel II. Both have put up huge numbers in Perfect Game events over their careers. Georgia commit Ryan Johnson is another intriguing underclassmen, with a lean 6-foot-4, 165-pound frame, he has had success both with the stick and on the mound where the frame projects well. If USA Prime is going to make a deep run in Jupiter, the group of juniors will have to play big roles.
Uncommitted Impact:
Matt Hoag is a lefty arm to keep an eye on not only in Jupiter, but over the next year and a half as he continues to develop. Look for Hunter Gotschall out of Colorado to get a start for NEB. He can run the heater up to 92 with some depth to his pitching arsenal. San Diego Native Joey Wittig heads across the country after a strong showing at the West Coast Top Prospect Games where he featured a fastball up to 91 (w/ spin up to 2563 RPM) and high spin curveball (up to 2790 RPM) in the upper-70s.
-Steve Doherty
Pool P
Projected Pool Winner: Cincinnati Reds Scout Team
The Reds Scout Team enters Jupiter as the top seed in their pool, and they look to be especially loaded on the positional side heading in. This club, per usual, is filled with players who will play professional baseball at some point, and will be amongst the more heavily scouted teams as a result. Offensively, Cal Fisher (2023, Deerfield, Wis.) is amongst the best pure hitters in the region, and he should make for a very good offensive lynchpin in the middle of the order. One would expect AJ Garcia (2023, Chicago, Ill.) to hit near the top of the order, he’s a very good bat-to-ball type of hitter with elite speed, and the Bakes brothers, Ryan and Brayden (2023, Algonquin, Ill.) will also fit in the middle of the order somewhere. Mason Eckelman (2023, Broadview Heights, Ohio) is a talented backstop with good left-handed hitting tools as well, and that’s just to name a few of the talented bats this club should throw out everyday. On the mound, any number of players will contribute in a variety of roles, and this club has a good stable of power arms and more crafty guys.
Dark Horse: Elite Squad
The South Florida boys will be led by some serious star power through the middle of their lineup, led by Daniel Cuvet (2023, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), the No. 20-ranked player in the ’23 class who has as much power as anyone in the country. George Lombard (2023, Pinecrest, Fla.) will play short coming off of an extremely good summer on the circuit, and will likely hit just ahead of Cuvet in the order. Zaid Diaz (2023, Miramar, Fla.) will provide good left-handed thump in what should be plentiful RBI opportunities, and don’t forget about underclassman Manuelle Marin (2024, Hialeah, Fla.), a top 70 player in the ’24 class who does a lot of things well. Alex Valentin (2023, Hollywood, Fla.), Pavlos Piperakis (2023, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Brixton Lofgren (2023, Coral Gables, Fla.) lead a talented group of pitchers as well.
What To Look For: Star Power
This pool is replete with star talent throughout, and scouts will definitely spend a fair bit of their time watching the games of this collection of teams. Lombard, Cuvet, Marin, Fisher, and several others have already been mentioned, but both Canadian Premier and 5 Star Performance 2023 National have high-end talents to keep an eye on. Brendan Lawson (2024, Toronto, Ontario) is draft-eligible in 2023 and should be followed closely on the Canadian Premier team, along with teammate Myles Naylor (2023, Mississauga, Ontario), who continued to establish himself as a legitimate draft prospect throughout the course of the summer circuit.
Uncommitted Impact: Noah Konings, Canadian Premier
Konings has been coming on like gangbusters over the course of the last several months, as an uncommitted right-handed hitting outfielder with real tools. He, to be succinct, absolutely rakes and has the peripheral tools to impact the game in a variety of ways. There’s good power in the right-handed stroke and he’s a good athlete with the upside of potentially handling all three outfield spots, and is my pick to be a sneaky huge contributor as an uncommitted player in this pool.
-Brian Sakowski
Pool Q
Projected Pool Winner: TG D-Backs Scout Team
The D-Backs are loaded with 17 Division I commits and with most of the same roster from the Georgia Bombers 17U Marucci team that finished second at the 2022 WWBA 17U National Championship in July, the D-Backs look to make another deep run in Jupiter. Depth of the pitching staff is always a determining factor in the teams that advance, and the D-Backs will feature a trio of the top arms in Georgia with Jeffrey “Mac” Heuer (Texas Tech), Luke McNeillie (Florida) and Francesco Capocci (North Carolina) leading the charge. Not to be overshadowed by the power arms, the offense will feature several talented bats in Colin Houck (Mississippi State), Landon Stripling (Texas Tech), Kyle Henley (Georgia Tech), Walker Barron (East Carolina) and Carson Kerce (Georgia Tech) along with newcomers Jett Johnston (Texas A&M) and Armani Guzman (West Virginia). This D-Backs club is primed and ready to make a run deep in the tournament and if they fire on all cylinders this could be the year the WWBA World Championship trophy will reside in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Dark Horse: Canes Prospects
Littered with a who’s who of 2024 ranked players, Canes Prospects field a roster consisting of 16 Division I commits, including a pair of 2025 commits in Everett Johnson (North Carolina State) and Zion Theophilus (Duke). Despite fielding a team of players a year or two younger than the rest of the field, the Canes Prospects can matchup against anyone and will lean on pitchers Chase Mobley (Florida State), Jake Gregor (Louisville) and two-way star Carson Messina (South Carolina) to provide solid innings at the front of the rotation. Andre Modugno (Duke), Owen Paino (Mississippi), Burke Mabeus (TCU) and Dante Nori (Mississippi State) should provide enough offense in a potent lineup to not surprise anyone if they come out on top of this pool.
What To Look For: Fundamentals
The team that pitches and plays clean defense will win this pool as every game is important in pool play to conserve energy and pitching depth in the heat and humidity of Florida. Three of the previous four winners of the WWBA World Championship hail from the state of Florida with endurance and health playing a key factor. The grind of multiple games per day in the heat takes its toll on the players and coaches and the team that can execute and play fundamental baseball will come out on top.
Uncommitted Impact: The uncommitted arms of the TG D-Backs Scout Team
The D-Backs feature four uncommitted right-handed pitchers that will need to step up and provide solid innings if they are to make a deep run in the tournament. Seniors Gavin Lynch, Daniel Powell, and Jayson Barber are all capable of dominating on the bump as well as 2024 grad Jackson Barberi who although are uncommitted presently, will be given the opportunity to shine and secure a commitment in the not-too-distant future.
-Jason Phillips
Pool R
Projected Pool Winner: Top Tier 5 Star Roos Mafia
Simply put, Top Tier is loaded from top to bottom with high-end talent. Aidan Miller and Liam Peterson have garnered spots as some of the premium players in the 2023 class, and for good reason. Drew Burress, AJ Ewing and Riley Jackson are just some of the names that will look to help anchor a potent offensive squad. Landen Maroudis and Anderson Nance join Peterson atop the rotation along with plenty of high-octane arms that can be called upon in any given situation. Top Tier Roos has some of the most impressive talent on paper and will look to compete right away.
Dark Horse: Hawaii Elite 2G
Hawaii Elite 2G tends to produce and perform at Perfect Game tournaments, and this year’s team shouldn’t be underestimated in the slightest. The squad is filled with serious athletes and two-way producers. Jace Souza is a spark plug at the top of the order who glides on the paths and in the outfield. Uncommitted corner infielder Chandler Murray is a big time physical bat who swung a hot stick this summer. Levi Maddela is another physical lefty stick, and two-way athlete Taylin Oana handles duties up the middle at short or second and comes equipped with plenty of upside on the bump. Blade Paragas and Koen Smith will be called upon atop the rotation, and the bats can do some serious damage. Hawaii Elite 2G play clean, fundamental ball on both sides and are a fun watch.
What to Look For: Premium Defense
The defense, particularly up the middle is an aspect to be on the lookout for. It’s rare to find as many high level, gifted athletes and defenders bunched up on one squad. But this pool has the potential to put on quite a defensive clinic. Names such as Ariel Antigua or Elijah Ickes can make a significant impact. The leather will be on full display, and it’s an aspect of the game to watch closely.
Uncommitted Impact: Tanner Chun
Coming off a loud summer, 2024 middle infielder Tanner Chun from Honolulu, Hawaii has placed himself amongst the top of the uncommitted talents in the entire country. Chun oozes athleticism and projection in a lean 6-foot-1, 165-pound build. The swing is rhythmic and simple, as he creates good length and whip with extension out front. Chun works the barrel to the pull side and the power is beginning to show in game. His athletic presence in the box shows up defensively, where he’s comfortable playing short or third base and even handling second base duties. The actions are quick and fluid with crisp transfers. Overall, Chun brings a lot to like from a profile standpoint with even more upside going forward. He shouldn’t be on the uncommitted scene for long.
-Isaiah Burrows
Pool S
Projected Pool Winner: Ohio Warhawks
The Ohio Warhawks are going to be by far the deepest staff and lineup in this pool. They proudly host over 25 Division I committed players with numerous players ranked inside PG’s Top 500 in their respective classes. The middle of their infield is about as solid as you can get with Ty Southisene and Erik Parker both holding SEC commitments and advanced actions on the infield. Boston Bateman and Cole Miller look to shutdown apposing lineups with the elite level stuff, both possess as well. All in all, this is going to be a fun group watch compete and should be poised to make a deep run in bracket play.
Dark Horse: USA Prime American
Don’t overlook the USA Prime American group to come out of this pool as winners into bracket play. They are led by a strong middle infield in Sean Gamble and premium velocity out of their pitchers in Carson Johnson and Ryan Lynch. This group is one of the more experienced teams at Jupiter with over 25 guys on the roster in the 2023 class. I think this will play a factor in how they compete on the field, as this group has been on the Perfect Game stage for awhile and have long awaited the opportunity that Jupiter presents. There are loud tools and skill sets across this team, and it wouldn’t shock me to USA Prime American come out as pool winners here.
What to look for: The amount of underclass talent from East Cobb Astros – Orange
East Cobb Astros – Orange are going to bring a plethora of uncommitted underclass talent with them to Jupiter. They have 13 guys who are ranked inside the Top 500 in the 2024 and 2025 class, who are looking to show out and make a statement in Jupiter. They also have two Texas commits in Masa Chilcutt and Maddox Monsour who look to make some noise on the big stage.
Uncommitted Impact: Sean Gamble
The prized uncommitted player of this pool is most definitely Sean Gamble, of USA Prime American. The No. 3 ranked player in the 2025 class is a gifted player who frequently flashes the leather on the infield, along with handling the bat from the left side. Undoubtedly will be one of the most viewed players in Jupiter this week. A few other uncommitted players from the pool that deserve a mention are Jay O’Neal and Andrew Karhoff, both inside the Top 500 for East Cobb, and Cole Leclair from Rawlings National, who will be an interesting 2023 infielder to watch out for.
-Brett Swalve
Pool T
Pool Favorite: South Charlotte Panthers 2023
The South Charlotte Panthers are a truly loaded team and are a well-balanced ball club that has the potential to win on any given day. Their pitching depth will definitely carry them deep into the playoffs, led by Samuel Cozart who is committed to Mississippi State, Haiden Leffew who is committed to Wake Forest, and Chance Mako, who is committed to North Carolina State. These power arms showcase great pitching ability, which makes it extremely difficult for the opposing hitters; not to mention these guys have high draft potential. When you're talking about draft potential, of course you must be speaking of No. 2 nationally ranked Walker Jenkins, who showcases tremendous power at the plate and advanced hitting tools, which ignites a spark for the offense, and will definitely score enough for the pitching staff.
Dark Horse: Chicago Scouts Association
The Chicago Scouts Association carries a very loaded roster with 23 committed players. George Wolkow, a South Carolina commit, and JD Dix, who is committed to Alabama, lead the way for the offense. They will be looking to jump on pitching staffs early and often, attacking the balls while trying to get early leads for the pitching staff. Having good depth in the lineup is going to make it difficult for opposing pitching staffs to limit their scoring potential.
Uncommitted Impact: Camden Clewett
Clewett will be handling the pitching staff behind the plate and quite possibly will walk away being committed after Jupiter. This young man checks all the boxes with a strong arm, quick pop time with release, and soft hands behind the plate. He can also hit in over 70 at bats this year while batting right at .299 over the last three years with 140 AB and hitting .364. What else do you want in a catcher?
-Todd Coffey
Pool U
Projected Pool Winner: ECB/Padres Scout Team
The ECB/Padres Scout Team is one of those perennial teams that can easily be considered a favorite to win the whole WWBA World Championship. This team is no different and could be one the best rostered teams here. The lineup is as formidable as any assembled with a plethora of top talent. Leading the way is power threat Isaiah Drake with an almost .450 batting average throughout the summer and the ability to take one yard at any moment. He also offers tremendous speed with 26 bags to his credit. His supporting cast consists of other top hitters in both the ’23 and ’24 classes such as Frank Estrada, Ira Jefferies Harris, Samuel Richardson and Cayden Sheffield. A bonafide two-way player in Jax Phillips will surely be used both ways with his 90 mph fastball being a treasure to bring in for relief work perhaps. Michael Graziano has had a down year offensively but has a history of being a flat-out juggernaut with the stick and looks to right himself. The other side of things is the pitching staff that will run arm after arm at opposing teams with many being over the 90 mph reading. Staff leader would be Tate McKee with his 94 mph heat looking to set the tone and keep hitters at bay. Tate offers a multitude of pitches to his arsenal with a fastball he can get some run on, curveball that has short bite, slider with some depth and flashes a changeup occasionally. Connor Shouse, Tate Strickland, Jake Hanley, and Luke Dotson (uncommitted) all bring over 90 mph heat and Caleb Fones, a southpaw coming off 6 no-hit innings at the Southeast Qualifier in Marietta a couple weeks ago, all offer depth on a team that is surely to put up some runs.
Dark Horse: Dallas Patriots 18U
The Patriots have a team that if both sides of the game are on, can cause some surprises through this event. The lineup has some good contact guys to get on base like Callen Singhania and Wyatt Sanford. Griffin Turner offers some good speed with high stolen base totals on the year. The boppers and run producers come from the bats of Cade Ladehoff and Uriah Walters. Ladehoff has a few home runs this year, showing some occasional power, while Walters offers a good all-around approach with almost a run batted in per hit recorded. The pitching staff has a number of good arms with high strikeout totals. Top arm Kannon Kemp named to 3 top tournament teams this summer, shows an extremely powerful arm topping out at 94 mph that has some cutting action at times. Kemp complements his heater with a shape slider in the upper-70s. Preston Crow and Nick Staszak offer more power from the mound with a “here it is, hit it” mentality. Both named to 4 and 11 all-tournament teams this summer, respectively.
What To Look For: Off-the-radar arms
In a pool full of highly-touted players and pitchers, I find that the "lesser" known arms (committed and uncommitted alike) in this pool could do some neutralizing of the offenses. Guys like Preston Crow, Aidan Lamar and Nick Staszak from the Dallas Patriots 18U all have higher strikeouts than innings pitched. From CBU 2023 Scout Team: there are arms like Jeffrey Bielec, Justin Breitenstein and Robert Hurlock who can be relied upon to limit damage while on the bump and who knows if we will see one of the top-15 pitchers from the '26 class in Mills Carrillo. A trio of hurlers that include Tommy Skelding, Cooper Clark and Jack Geiser anchor a staff with Team Ohio Pro Select that are allowing just 3 runs a game against.
Uncommitted Impact: Nick Staszak & Justin Breitenstein
Nick Staszak (Dallas Patriots 18U) is a big righty standing 6-foot-5 and weighing around 210 pounds that brings a demeanor to the mound that coaches will love. He has shown the ability to overpower hitter this summer with a fastball consistently in the upper-80s while topping out at 90 mph. The curveball which has some sharpness and bite to it is his complement to the fastball. Giving up only 7 earned runs over 53 2/3 innings pitched and striking out 63 batters, Nick has shown that he is as reliable as they come for his team.
Justin Breitenstein (CBU 2023 Scout Team) is another big right-handed arm in this pool that can be an impact type arm. Justin is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound guy that has a bulldog mentality while facing opposing hitters. With a heavy attack of sinking fastballs that run into the mid-80s and a solid changeup, Justin has put up some remarkable numbers for the summer as he had an ERA under 1.00 and averaged right at a strikeout per inning pitched. The arm slot can swim a bit as he changes angles to add more movement and deception to batters. Breitenstein was named the preseason Underclass All American list in the Florida Region and was awarded to 6 all-tournament teams in 2022.
-Tim Redding
Pool V
Projected Pool Winner: Premier Banditos Scout
The Premier Banditos Scout team is looking to come to Jupiter and make some noise this year, carrying over 20 players committed to the Division I level, with another handful of highly sought-after uncommitted guys. Cade Arrambide leads this strong group behind the plate, where he shows great vocal leadership and strong hit tools. Tristan Bristow and Alex Valentin will lead the staff, as they will show off their full repertoire of nasty stuff and pitchability traits.
Dark Horse: Canes American
You can never count out a Canes team from winning. This squad is deep and hungry to show that they have what it takes to make a run at winning this pool. Led by Camden Sos and Brayden Buchanan, this Canes group is looking to put up big numbers on the board. Their staff led by Mason Yokum and Ryan Demartin, looking to fill up the zone and keep opposing hitters off-balanced. There is a good mix of talent here with this group and I think they stand a shot at coming out of this pool victorious.
What to look for: The horsepower of Premier Banditos Scout
This team is locked in and ready to go. They won the WWBA South qualifier in September, which is no easy task at all. They were led that tournament by Houston commit Conner Bennett, who hit over .400 during the event. He is a top-of-the order guy at the next level and I think he is going to be one to keep an eye on next week as well. His frame is smaller at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds but this kid can play the game. Be on the lookout for Bennett and Banditos lineup.
Uncommitted Impact: A few standout backstops
Aj Malzone from the state of Illinois is primed to have a coming-out party for Canes American next week. The left-handed hitting catcher had numerous good showings recently at PG events in Nevada and Iowa. His swing has strength and bat speed to allow for projectability at the next level. Another backstop on the market for East Cobb Astros is Joseph Cable. He has stood out at PG events this year, hitting .360 over 50 at-bats with 14 RBI and multiple extra-base hits. Behind the plate, Cable’s hands are soft and shows good flexibility when blocking and throwing. He will be one to follow in Jupiter next week.
-Brett Swalve
Pool W
Projected Pool Winner: CBA
With two 2022 Perfect Game All-Americans and 19 Division I commits, perennial power CBA heads to Jupiter with yet another deep and talented group. All-Americans Eric Bitonti and Brandon Winokur will be looked on to provide some thump in CBA’s deep lineup while also providing some defensive versatility with both being able to move all over the field defensively. Yucaipa’s Daniel Arambula heads to Florida after having a loud summer in PG events that saw him hit 450 with a 1.588 OPS. Look for fellow Yucaipan Luke Scherrer to log a lot of innings behind the dish for CBA, as he’s made great strides defensively, positioning himself as one of the top catchers in California, having posted an OPS north of 1.000 the past two years at Perfect Game Events. Stanford commit Brady Reynolds is another potential impact bat for CBA who has seen a lot of success with the bat in 2022, sporting a .364 average over 14 games.
On the mound, CBA has depth in arms, headlined by a trio of southpaws in Toby Twist, Sterling Patick, and Bradyn Barnes. Patick has an interesting blend of stuff and deception from the left side with a bit of crossfire delivery that helps the fastball (up to 90) really get on hitters. The UCSB commit will feature two breaking balls (w/ high spin) with low-70s (RPM’s in 2600s) curveball and slider in low-80s (2500 RPM). Barnes has been absolutely dominant in 2022, sporting a 0.54 WHIP over 27 2/3 innings of work with a 0.00 ERA with 30 punch outs. If he can harness his stuff, Stanford commit Joey Volchko can be one of the louder arms on CBA, running the fastball to the mid-90s with a complete power arsenal.
Dark Horse: Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
It’s a little hard to consider them a dark horse with 17 of their players committed to play at the collegiate level, but the Brewers have a handful of potential impact 2025s that help make their squad really interesting. Californians Brady Ebel (Etiwanda) and Linkin Garcia (Huntington Beach) are both longer-framed infielders that have impact bat potential and are currently ranked No. 2 and No. 9, respectively, in the state of California. 13 and 14U Select Festival player Michael Torres is another highly-touted class of 2025 player that is the No. 2 ranked player (and No. 1 ranked outfielder) in the state of Florida. Look for 2024 RHP Schuyler Sandford to anchor the staff as he heads to Jupiter as the #2 ranked RHP in the state of Florida. A big bodied 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, the righty can already run the fastball up to 93 MPH.
What To Look For: Can CBA bang their way to a WWBA Championship?
CBA has some intriguing arms, but if they're going to make a deep run, I expect it to be because of their deep lineup. I noted plenty of their potential impact bats as I projected them to win their pool, but they also have plenty of table-setter types in Nico Libed and Riley Hunsaker (who shows sneaky pop) who could be relied upon to trigger some rallies. Toby Twist and Jase Evangelista are also two primary arms that have shown the ability to swing the bat and flex for power.
Uncommitted Impact: Dylan Goff, RHP, Etiwanda HS (CBA)
I may be a bit of a homer here, with Goff going to high school less than 10 miles from me, but Goff has certainly earned this on the mound. In multiple looks, the thin righty has had dominant outings shutting down powerful lineups in helping lead Etiwanda to a CIF Championship. He’s certainly backed that up in Perfect Game events with a sub-1.00 ERA going back to 2018 over 38 2/3 innings of work. Goff has a lean and projectable frame and has shown excellent pitchability. Look for Goff to work the fastball in the mid- to upper-80s and mix in plenty of slurvy breaking balls in low-70s. He pitches like a crafty veteran showing the ability to pitch backwards, landing the breaking ball early in the count as well as use the go-to breaker as a swing-and-miss chase offering.
-Steve Fiorindo
Pool X
Projected Pool Winner: FTB/Philadelphia Phillies Scout Team 2023
A perennial contender that is loaded with talent is what the Phillies Scout team has consisted of in the past, and this year is no different. The roster can flat out rake with PG All-Americans Justin Best, Andrew Duncan, Adrian Santana, and home run champion Raffaele Velazquez leading the charge. Davis Rivers, Nikolas Sanders, and Velazquez give the Phillies some of the deepest depth at the catcher position in the tournament. Recent Florida commit Jayden Dubanewicz, consistent performer Blake Dean, and Miami commit Nick Robert headline a formidable staff that complement the potent offense nicely. It will be interesting to see how the Phillies handle all their two-way talent but there is no doubt this team has the depth to make a deep run in Jupiter.
Dark Horse: Wow Factor National
Wow Factor embodies their “National” team title, drawing from states all over the country and Puerto Rico as well. They’ve assembled arguably the best group of sophomores in the tournament in Omar Serna, Jax Bishop, and Eli Pitts, all of whom are Select Fest alumni and rank in the top-50 in their respective class. Baylor commit Austin Young and UMBC commit Logan Wiley are coming off dominant summers and give Wow Factor some experience on the bump. How their three-headed monster in the 2025 class play will have a major impact on how Wow Factor performs in the WWBA. If they, and the experienced upperclassmen, get hot, Wow Factor will no doubt give the Phillies a run for their money as top dogs in their pool.
What To Look For: Dynamic catchers
Both Omar Serna and Raffaele Velazquez rank at or near the top in their class catcher rankings. The way they play the game is similar with both showing elite arm strength with mid-80s velo from behind the plate, sub-1.9 pop times, and impressive power with exit velocities as upward as 99 mph. Velazquez has a chance to rise draft boards with a good tournament and Serna is looking to cement himself as one of the top draft prospects in the 2025 class. I’m excited to see if the power shows up in game and how each of them handles the arm talent on their teams. There is no doubt scouts will be locked in on this pool to see how each fairs against top competition and they are in for a treat when they do.
Uncommitted Impact: James Amptmann and Logan Chapman
Amptmann and Chapman have done nothing but perform over the summer. Chapman, a long time Stetson commit, finds himself back on the recruiting trail but shouldn’t be on it for long. The Florida native has good bat speed with a lot of torque in his lower half that he implements nicely into his swing. The hands are loose and work with leverage giving him loads of power potential. He’s a solid defender with good bend at the waste, impressive lateral range, and a strong, accurate throwing arm from the hot corner. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s barreled baseballs consistently and this summer he slashed .375/.444/.500. Amptmann is one of the better arms available in Illinois and should be monitored closely in Jupiter. The tall right-hander features a fastball up to 92 mph that shows heavy life. His secondaries have made considerable improvements over the summer, and it will be intriguing to see if he puts it all together in this upcoming tournament.
-Jake Cosart
Pool Y
Projected Pool Winner: Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
Bouras & Co. have long been known for making some serious noise down in Jupiter. This year seems to be no different as they enter pool play as the favorites to move on into bracket play. The pitching staff will be solid as always. Juan Vargas’ appearance on the mound will surely be anticipated by many. Vargas is one of the top uncommitted arms from the ’23 class still left on the board who has been into the 90s. They also have some younger arms that will be making Jupiter debuts in Owen Hancock and Thorpe Musci, both with low-90s fastballs. The pitching staff is also in great hands with Cale Stricklin behind the dish. A solid hitting defensive catcher who is committed to Georgia. Offensively, they will be led by Alabama commit, Coleman Mizell and Oklahoma commit Jason Walk. Mizell possessing an impressive combination of speed and power at the dish. No doubt Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team will have high hopes going into Jupiter as they have their eyes set on coming back to Atlanta with a trophy.
Dark Horse: Easley Baseball Club
Don’t sleep on the Easley Baseball Club, as they come from a historical baseball city in Memphis. They boast 11 commits on the roster with D-I schools littering the column. Expect them to play with a noticeable cohesiveness on the field as the roster consist mostly of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama prospects. Look for Kentucky commit Hudson Brown and Oklahoma State commit Donovan Lasalle to be offensive spark plugs. If they are to pull off winning this pool, they will need big outings from young arms. A pair of 2025 arms in Landon Harmon and Talon Haley will be tasked to get the job done. You can also expect to see Auburn commit Hank Eaton on the hill at some point. Saying Easley is a dark horse may be a surprise for some to hear, but only time will tell as we all look forward to getting the action underway.
What to Look For: Uncommitted Talent
Most will be making the trip down to chase a championship trophy, but what many also realize is that this one event could be a ticket to playing baseball at the next level. One swing of the bat, one dominant inning on the hill, these are the moments that make Jupiter what it is. This pool will be spot-on for some good uncommitted talent looking to make names for themselves. Eli Deberry is a 6-foot-4 right-hander who has been up to 92 mph this year and will be a must-follow uncommitted guy in the pool. Pierce Boles is another arm into the 90s who also finds himself on the uncommitted list. Boles’ teammate Landon O’Donnell has a bevy of tools with plenty of high upside offerings. One more name to add to that follow list is Andrew Hart, a solid middle infielder who has been up to 90 mph on the mound. The uncommitted list of guys who should be committed could go on and on. Look for the stakes to be even higher in some situations as we could have important matchups between guys looking to prove themselves.
Uncommitted Impact: Juan Vargas
Vargas was noted above and for good reason. His appearances on the mound this summer have been nothing short of impressive. Consistent performer on the hill living in the low-90s. Athletic mover and easy to think he has plenty more in the tank down the road. In 20 1/3 innings pitched this year, he has struck out 41 on just nine hits. No doubt, he is one of the top uncommitted arms left in the country. Look for that uncommitted status to change after his outing in Jupiter.
-Drew Wesolowski