Each year as Perfect Game looks toward the high school baseball season, it puts together a preview for each of the nine regions in the United States: Florida, Pacific, Texahoma, Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Great Plains, Northeast, and Northwest. You can find the 2020 High School Preview Index here.
As part of these previews, Perfect Game has put together a regional “dream team” each year since 2012, made up of the top players in the region as constructed into a roster of eight position players, five pitchers, and one utility player.
Traditionally, as one could imagine, the Florida and Southeast regions tend to produce the most talent. Texahoma and the Pacific also claim a lot of talent.
The following is a list of 10 of the best “dream teams” of the past nine years, across all nine regions. There is hesitation in saying this is a list of *the* best 10, because there is a strong amount of opinion that was used. This 10 may not be someone else’s 10.
There is a small amount of bias that inherently sneaks into these teams. The groups dating back to 2012 have the advantage of having MLB debuts next to their name. However, a first round draft pick from 2012 or 2013 who hasn’t panned out yet may hurt the group.
Conversely, a pair of 2020 dream teams make this list. They have the disadvantage of not having MLB careers yet, but the advantage of having everything in front of them and just their class rankings to go off of.
The plan was to strike a balance between all of those factors. Prospect rankings, position rankings, draft position, success after the draft.
It was really difficult to narrow this down to 10 teams. In the process, dream teams from the Southwest that included Matthew Liberatore and Nolan Gorman were left off, for example.
For the most part, depth won out over one or two studs on a dream team. A region with four or five first round picks with 10 or so top-100 prospects won out over a region with a pair of top-10 talents who have made an impact in the MLB. Again, this is an exercise that looked to balance who the players are now on top of how they were looked at when the original dream team preview was published when they were in high school.
Here are the 10 dream teams, in order from most recent to oldest. Click on the name of each dream team to look at the original preview of the region:
2020 Southeast Dream Team
The depth of high-end talent in the 2020 Southeast group is impossible to keep off this list. Hence being the lowest-ranked prospect on the team is absurd. There are seven Perfect Game All-Americans in the group, with three more on the way in coming years with House, Bishop, and Lesko. Walker, House, and Lesko give this group No. 1 overall prospects in three consecutive classes.
2020 Florida Dream Team
11 Perfect Game All-Americans scatter this roster, which yes, only spans the state of Florida. The state is an embarrassment of riches. Like the 2020 Southeast Dream Team, there isn't a single prospect that lands outside of the top-100.
2019 Texahoma Dream Team
The 2019 Texahoma Dream Team produced three first round picks in last year's draft, including the No. 2 overall pick in Witt. Winn and Kelley give this group another two potential first round picks in this year's draft. There are also 10 Perfect Game All-Americans on the roster, including four of the five pitchers.
2018 Florida Dream Team
Pos. |
Player |
Overall Rk |
Position Rk |
Draft |
School |
C |
Adrian Del Castillo |
No. 136 |
No. 12 |
Rd 36, White Sox |
Miami |
1B |
Triston Casas |
No. 14 |
No. 1 |
26th overall, Red Sox |
Signed |
MIF |
Nander De Sedas |
No. 6 |
No. 2 |
Rd 29, Brewers |
Florida State |
MIF |
Xavier Edwards |
No. 19 |
No. 6 |
38th overall, Padres |
Signed |
3B |
Rece Hinds |
No. 11 |
No. 3 |
Rd 2, Reds |
Signed |
OF |
Jud Fabian |
No. 13 |
No. 4 |
None |
Florida |
OF |
Riley Greene |
No. 3 |
No. 1 |
5th overall, Tigers |
Signed |
OF |
Connor Scott |
No. 15 |
No. 2 |
13th overall, Miami |
Signed |
SP |
Slade Cecconi |
No. 39 |
No. 14 |
Rd 38, Orioles |
Miami |
SP |
Joseph Charles |
No. 35 |
No. 12 |
Rd 25, Mets |
UNC |
SP |
Mason Denaburg |
No. 11 |
No. 4 |
27th overall, Nationals |
Signed |
SP |
Jonathan Gates |
No. 54 |
No. 5 |
None |
Miami |
SP |
Carter Stewart |
No. 3 |
No. 2 |
8th overall, Braves |
Signed |
UT |
Hunter Barco |
No. 14 |
No. 1 (LHP) |
Rd 24, Mets |
Miami |
The 2019 Florida Dream Team could possibly be the most loaded team on this list, top to bottom. There are 13 Perfect Game All-Americans among 14 team members. The one member not named to the All-American Game, Del Castillo, was a Freshman All-American at Miami last year after hitting .331 and starting every game behind the plate. Seven players signed out of this group, including six first rounders.
2018 Southeast Dream Team
Pos. |
Player |
Overall Rk |
Position Rk |
Draft |
School |
C |
Will Banfield |
No. 10 |
No. 1 |
Rd 2, Miami |
Signed |
1B |
Blaze Jordan |
No. 2 |
No. 1 |
2020 |
Mississippi State |
MIF |
CJ Abrams |
No. 2 |
No. 2 |
6th overall, Padres |
Signed |
MIF |
Jeremiah Jackson |
No. 16 |
No. 5 |
Rd 2, Angels |
Signed |
3B |
Kendall Logan Simmons |
No. 30 |
No. 7 |
Rd 6, Phillies |
Signed |
OF |
Ryder Green |
No. 53 |
No. 12 |
Rd 3, Yankees |
Signed |
OF |
Parker Meadows |
No. 25 |
No. 5 |
Rd 2, Detroit |
Signed |
OF |
Joe Gray Jr |
No. 20 |
No. 3 |
Rd 2, Brewers |
Signed |
SP |
JT Ginn |
No. 24 |
No. 8 |
30th overall, Dodgers |
Mississippi State |
SP |
Ethan Hankins |
No. 2 |
No. 1 |
35th overall, Indians |
Signed |
SP |
Kumar Rocker |
No. 8 |
No. 3 |
Rd 38, Rockies |
Vanderbilt |
SP |
Ryan Weathers |
No. 7 |
No. 2 |
7th overall, Padres |
Signed |
SP |
Cole Wilcox |
No. 18 |
No. 6 |
None |
Georgia |
UT |
Anthony Seigler |
No. 17 |
No. 2 (C) |
23rd overall, Yankees |
Signed |
One player outside of the top-50 overall class rankings on this list. Yes, one. That's Green, who was a third round draft pick of the Yankees. Ginn spurned the Dodgers to instead go to MSU, and looks to be an All-American this year. Baseball fans know Rocker, who truly announced himself last year in postseason play at Vanderbilt. Jordan also appears on this list as a freshman, after also being listed on the 2020 Southeast Dream Team.
2017 Pacific Dream Team
Pos. |
Player |
Overall Rk |
Position Rk |
Draft |
School |
C |
Kameron Guangorena |
No. 67 |
No. 6 |
Rd 36, Blue Jays |
Cal State Fullerton |
1B |
Nicholas Pratto |
No. 24 |
No. 2 |
14th overall, Royals |
Signed |
MIF |
Royce Lewis |
No. 3 |
No. 2 |
1st overall, Twins |
Signed |
MIF |
Nick Allen |
No. 12 |
No. 3 |
Rd 3, A's |
Signed |
3B |
Brice Turang |
No. 13 |
No. 4 |
21st overall, Brewers |
Signed |
OF |
Calvin Mitchell |
No. 10 |
No. 3 |
Rd 2, Pirates |
Signed |
OF |
Garrett Mitchell |
No. 32 |
No. 10 |
Rd 14, A's |
UCLA |
OF |
Je'Von Carrier-Ward |
No. 71 |
No. 17 |
Rd 12, Brewers |
Signed |
SP |
Hans Crouse |
No. 9 |
No. 2 |
Rd 2, Rangers |
Signed |
SP |
Hagen Danner |
No. 30 |
No. 8 |
Rd 2, Blue Jays |
Signed |
SP |
Jeremiah Estrada |
No. 46 |
No. 14 |
Rd 6, Cubs |
Signed |
SP |
Kyle Hurt |
No. 27 |
No. 6 |
Rd 34, Phillies |
USC |
SP |
Daniel Ritcheson |
No. 85 |
No. 29 |
Rd 23, Blue Jays |
San Diego State |
UT |
Hunter Greene |
No. 1 |
No. 1 (SS) |
2nd overall, Reds |
Signed |
It's impossible to leave off a team that had four of the top-21 draft picks in the 2017 MLB Draft, including the first two picks in Lewis and Greene. There are 10 Perfect Game All-Americans in the group, as well.
2016 Midwest Dream Team
Pos. |
Player |
Overall Rk |
Position Rk |
Draft |
School |
C |
Ben Rortvedt |
No. 29 |
No. 2 |
Rd 2, Twins |
Signed |
1B |
TJ Collett |
No. 73 |
No. 5 |
Rd 40, Twins |
Kentucky |
MIF |
Gavin Lux |
No. 11 |
No. 2 |
20th overall, Dodgers |
Signed |
MIF |
Tyler Fitzgerald |
No. 42 |
No. 11 |
Rd 4, Giants |
Louisville |
3B |
Cal Coughlin |
No. 118 |
No. 41 |
None |
TCU |
OF |
Jaren Shelby |
No. 52 |
No. 8 |
None |
Kentucky |
OF |
Jarred Kelenic |
No. 4 |
No. 1 |
6th overall, Mets |
Signed |
OF |
Jordan McFarland |
No. 99 |
No. 11 |
Rd 36, Nationals |
Arkansas |
SP |
Karl Kauffmann |
No. 72 |
No. 26 |
Rd 2, Rockies |
Michigan |
SP |
Skylar Szynski |
No. 66 |
No. 23 |
Rd 4, A's |
Signed |
SP |
Easton McGee |
No. 54 |
No. 16 |
Rd 4, Rays |
Signed |
SP |
Drake Fellows |
No. 70 |
No. 25 |
Rd 6, Padres |
Vanderbilt |
SP |
Nate Brown |
No. 116 |
No. 39 |
Rd 40, Yankees |
Arizona |
UT |
Jordon "Jo" Adell |
No. 2 |
No. 1 (OF) |
10th overall, Angels |
Signed |
While this team may not have the overall depth of some of the Florida or Southeast squads, it is impossible to keep the 2016 Midwest Dream Team off this list when it includes Lux, who has already made his MLB debut, Kelenic, who is a top-10 prospect heading into this year, and Adell, who is a top-5 prospect. Fitzgerald and Kauffmann both attended school and have since been drafted out of Louisville and Michigan, respectively.
2013 Pacific Dream Team
Pos. |
Player |
Overall Rk |
Position Rk |
Draft |
MLB Debut |
C |
Alex Jackson |
No. 4 |
No. 1 |
6th overall, Mariners |
2019 |
1B |
Dominic Smith |
No. 4 |
No. 1 |
11th overall, Mets |
2017 |
MIF |
John Paul Crawford |
No. 6 |
No. 1 |
16th overall, Phillies |
2017 |
MIF |
Trae Arbet |
No. 72 |
No. 3 |
Rd 5, Pirates |
None |
3B |
Ryan McMahon |
No. 25 |
No. 2 |
Rd 2, Rockies |
2017 |
OF |
Jordan Paroubeck |
No. 53 |
No. 11 |
Rd 2, Padres |
None |
OF |
Dane McFarland |
No. 74 |
No. 16 |
Rd 12, DBacks |
None |
OF |
Scott Hurst |
No. 62 |
No. 15 |
Rd 3, Cardinals |
None |
SP |
Carlos Salazar |
No. 34 |
No. 8 |
Rd 3, Braves |
None |
SP |
Ian Clarkin |
No. 12 |
No. 3 |
33rd overall, Yankees |
None |
SP |
Jonah Wesely |
No. 41 |
No. 8 |
Rd 11, Angels |
None |
SP |
Matt Krook |
No. 16 |
No. 4 |
Rd 4, Giants |
None |
SP |
Trevin Haseltine |
No. 76 |
No. 19 |
None |
None |
UT |
Christopher Rivera |
No. 42 |
No. 6 (SS) |
Rd 7, Cardinals |
None |
Much like the 2016 Midwest Dream Team, the top-end talent in the 2013 Pacific group is too good to ignore. There are four MLB players in the group, while team-wide every prospect was listed as a top-100 player in his graduating class.
2012 Florida Dream Team
Pos. |
Player |
Overall Rk |
Position Rk |
Draft |
MLB Debut |
C |
Zack Collins |
No. 31 |
No. 5 |
10th overall, White Sox |
2019 |
1B |
Keon Barnum |
No. 40 |
No. 1 |
48th overall, White Sox |
None |
MIF |
Spencer Trayner |
No. 163 |
No. 24 |
Rd 25, Cardinals |
None |
MIF |
Addison Russell |
No. 20 |
No. 3 |
11th overall, A's |
2015 |
3B |
Eric Neitzel |
No. 98 |
No. 6 |
None |
None |
OF |
Jesse Winker |
No. 15 |
No. 5 |
49th overall, Reds |
2017 |
OF |
Albert Almora |
No. 9 |
No. 4 |
6th overall, Cubs |
2016 |
OF |
Lewis Brinson |
No. 16 |
No. 6 |
29th overall, Rangers |
2017 |
SP |
Walker Weickel |
No. 10 |
No. 3 |
55th overall, Padres |
None |
SP |
Carson Fulmer |
No. 57 |
No. 22 |
8th overall, White Sox |
2016 |
SP |
Zach Eflin |
No. 19 |
No. 7 |
33rd overall, Padres |
2016 |
SP |
Nick Travieso |
No. 34 |
No. 11 |
14th overall, Reds |
None |
SP |
Robert Whalen |
No. 134 |
No. 46 |
Rd 12, Mets |
2016 |
UT |
Lance McCullers |
No. 4 |
No. 2 |
41st overall, Astros |
2015 |
There are nine Big Leaguers on this team, including three (Russell, Almora, McCullers) who have World Series rings already. The amount of MLB players this group has produced is impressive, but the group looked just as loaded before they were pros. 11 of the 14 from the 2012 Florida Dream Team ended up being first round picks.
2012 Southeast Dream Team
Pos. |
Player |
Overall Rk |
Position Rk |
Draft |
MLB Debut |
C |
Stryker Trahan |
No. 35 |
No. 2 |
26th overall, DBacks |
None |
1B |
Matt Olson |
No. 100 |
No. 3 |
47th overall, A's |
2016 |
MIF |
Jordan Ebert |
No. 138 |
No. 9 |
None |
None |
MIF |
Gavin Cecchini |
No. 21 |
No. 1 |
12th overall, Mets |
2016 |
3B |
J.T. Phillips |
No. 190 |
No. 68 |
Rd 18, Rangers |
None |
OF |
Byron Buxton |
No. 3 |
No. 1 |
2nd overall, Twins |
2015 |
OF |
David Dahl |
No. 8 |
No. 3 |
10th overall, Rockies |
2016 |
OF |
Jameis Winston |
No. 48 |
No. 10 |
Rd 15, Rangers |
None |
SP |
Duane Underwood |
No. 14 |
No. 4 |
Rd 2, Cubs |
2018 |
SP |
Lucas Sims |
No. 17 |
No. 5 |
21st overall, Braves |
2017 |
SP |
Clate Schmidt |
No. 31 |
No. 10 |
Rd 20, Tigers |
None |
SP |
Tucker Simpson |
No. 104 |
No. 38 |
Rd 39, Orioles |
None |
SP |
Matthew Crownover |
No. 62 |
No. 7 |
Rd 6, Nationals |
None |
UT |
Kyle Carter |
No. 92 |
No. 20 |
None |
None |
There are a number of big names in this group, maybe none bigger than Winston, who was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. Beyond him, Olson earned an MVP vote last year and already has a pair of Gold Gloves. Buxton has a Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year award on his shelf, and Dahl hit .302 for the Rockies last year. This turned out to be an extremely talented group on the top.