HANDICAPPING THE TOP TEAMS
As everyone knows, 2020 has been a different year for just about everyone in every part of our lives, so why don’t we end the 2020 WWBA season on a different note and hold the WWBA World Championships in Fort Myers, not Jupiter.
The Pandemic-caused shift across the state doesn’t seem to have affected the level of talent that will be competing in this iconic event, however. In fact, this year’s event seems to feature more talent than usual, if that is really even possible. There won’t be the unique Jupiter atmosphere of 13 fields going all at once, with all the crowds of golf carts providing transportation hazards, but the fields themselves over five days of competition will feature the best talent in high school baseball from around the country.
Below is our annual attempt to handicap the field with the twenty teams that seem most likely to have a shot at winning the WWBA World Championship on Monday. The Canes, the Florida Burn and the Dirtbags have combined to win the last seven championships and each organization will be strong contenders again this year. But with all the talent in Fort Myers, it could be as wide open a field as ever as well. After all, 2020 is a different year in all respects.
(Note: Teams are listed in alpha order within each grouping. Comments/numbers based on rosters as of Monday, October 5)
PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITES
Canes National/Mets Scout Team
College Commitments: 28/29 Primary Pitchers: 18
It’s hard to believe that the Canes National team hasn’t won the WWBA World Championship since their three-year run in 2013-2015 (the Canes Prospects won in 2017) but they certainly have been a factor every year. They enter this year’s championships ranked first in the PG 17U Travel Team Rankings and have one of their strongest rosters ever, including no fewer than six Perfect Game All-American position players: All-American Classic MVP shortstop Alex Mooney, outfielder Camden Hayslip, outfielder Malakhi Knight, catcher Rene Lastres, outfielder Daylen Lile and shortstop Cody Schrier. The hallmark of the Canes program has always been pitching depth and it will be again this year, with 18 primary pitchers on the roster. Perhaps the three potentially most impactful arms all come from the West Coast in left-hander Gage Jump, right-hander Eric Silva and hard throwing 2022 Ian Ritchie Jr.
Florida Burn 2021 National
College Commitments: 13/20 Primary Pitchers: 9
The two-time defending champion Burn never look like a pre-tournament favorite on paper but no one should ever bet against them playing on Monday. PG All-American Tommy White returns for his third straight championship as the Burns third baseman and is hitting an eye-opening .456 this summer in PG tournaments. Outfielder Michael Robertson and catcher Tayden Hall will provide speed and power around White in the Burn lineup. No Burn pitcher ranks in the Top 500 in their class but you can guarantee that they will throw strikes and compete.
FTB/Giants Scout Team
College Commitments: 24/25 Primary Pitchers: 11
FTB is the only team in the Pre-Jupiter Favorites category that hasn’t won at least two WWBA World Championships, although they have certainly come close many times. Could this be the year they break through? Their projected starting lineup has three All-Americans in outfielder Jay Allen, shortstop Edwin Arroyo and catcher Jayden Melendez all filling middle of the field premium defensive positions. That is, if Allen starts in centerfield and moves top 2022 prospect Elijah Green over to right field. All-American left-hander Mason Albright leads a talented pitching staff and his combination of stuff and command could come up big in the playoffs. California’s fast rising Thatcher Hurd will get huge scout attention when he takes the mound after exploding up the rankings in the past few months. Slugging left fielder Treylen "TJ" White has been hot over the last month with his left-handed power.
Padres Scout Team/ECB
College Commitments: 24/30 Primary Pitchers: 14
East Cobb Baseball has two distinct advantages as they seem to win the championship for the first time since 2012. One is that they may have played more games together over the last 4-5 months than any team in the country, not a small consideration in 2020. The second, and more important reason, is that they might have the most talented roster not only in this year-ending 2020 event but for many years, featuring 16 players who rank in the top 200 of either the 2021 or 2022 class. PG All-Americans catcher Harry Ford, catcher Joe Mack, outfielder Thaddeus Ector and shortstop/right-handed pitcher Michael Braswell, along with 2022 infielder Termarr Johnson, lead a deep multi-weapon offense. The pitching staff is equally deep, featuring All-American right-hander Shane Panzini along with hard throwing 2022 right-hander Nazier Mule. Plus, East Cobb has the one pitcher that no team honestly wants to face off against in the second ranked 2022 player in the country Dylan Lesko, perhaps the most dominant tournament pitcher in Perfect Game history.
Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
College Commitments: 28/30 Primary Pitchers: 17
In infielder Brady House and two-way standout Carter Holton, Team Elite has two potential MVP candidates should they make a run to the finals, as both have dominated virtually every WWBA/BCS tournament they have ever played in. The roster goes far beyond that duo, though, featuring All-Americans right-handers Christian Little and Drew Cristo and shortstop Rob Gordon along with slugging outfielder Jonathan Santucci. If you’re looking for younger prospects to contribute, look no further than outfielder Nolan Schubart, the sixth ranked 2022 prospect, and shortstop Hayden Murphy, who checks in at 32nd in the 2022 class. Another potential difference maker is another seasoned two-way standout, Ryan Spikes.
DEEP PLAYOFF RUN POTENTIAL
Canes 17U Prospects
College Commitments: 22/28 Primary Pitchers: 15
Underclass teams have won the WWBA World Championship twice, including the Canes Prospects in 2017, so age and experience aren’t always the key factor. This Canes Prospects team is both very national in their construction, with 12 states represented but also extremely talented, featuring 18 players in the 2022 Top 200 rankings. Shortstop Cole Young might be the best pure hitter in the 2022 class and is hitting a robust .458 with power over his 81-game PG tournament career. He’ll be supported by fellow Top 50 players first baseman Xavier Isaac, outfielder Roman Anthony, outfielder Nathan Fink and outfielder Paxton Kling in the Canes lineup. The pitching staff is headlined by right-handers Brock Porter and Tyler Gough and left-hander Tristan Smith.
CBA Marucci
College Commitments: 22/22 Primary Pitchers: 10
CBA Marucci’s roster gets better every time one looks at it and they have the history of success as an organization that leads you to believe they are capable of making a deep run this year. All-American left-hander Brock Selvidge is the 20th ranked player in the 2021 class but catcher/right-handed pitcher Josh Randall may be more impactful to CBA’s chances and get more scout attention after some of his recent pitching performances. Third baseman Wes Kath, shortstop Cameron Magee, catcher Jack Holman and 2022 outfielder Mason Neville will help Randall drive the offense. Left-hander Mason Molina and right-hander Evan Yates will bring California polish to the mound.
Dallas Tigers 2021 Hernandez
College Commitments: 18/21 Primary Pitchers: 9
There will be plenty of talented middle infield’s spread among the 92 teams in Fort Myers but maybe none more talented than the Dallas Tigers trio of All-Americans Jordan Lawlar and Luke Heefner and 7th ranked 2022 prospect Jayson Jones. Each brings a different key element to the field, highlighted by Lawlar’s all-around athletic brilliance, Heefner’s advanced barrel skills and Jones’ huge power potential. The key to the Tigers advancing deep into the playoffs will be their pitching staff, led by big right-hander Ryan Johnson and hard throwing 2022 left-hander Trenton Shaw.
Dirtbags Skrap Pak
College Commitments: 23/23 Primary Pitchers: 13
The Dirtbags have had as long a run of deep playoff appearances as any team in the country and this year seems no different. First baseman Grant Hussey and precocious 2022 infielders Tucker Toman and Colby Shelton will lead the offense, with Hussey’s big left-handed power sure to find its place in the middle of the Dirtbags lineup. Right-hander Tyler Dean and his upper 90’s fastball leads a pitching staff that characteristically has six left-handed pitchers ready to throw.
Ohio Warhawks
College Commitments: 24/34 Primary Pitchers: 16
Handicapping the Warhawks is always the most difficult task in ranking the WWBA World Championship field because the squad is always so diverse, large and eclectic. This looks like one of their most talented rosters in years, however, led by a pair of dynamic Northeasterners in All-American Joshua Baez, the sixth ranked player in the 2021 class, and versatile slugger Carlos Pena. Pena is one of four Missouri commits on the Warhawks and future teammates outfielder JuJu Stevens and third baseman Aidan Stewart will help Baez and Pena lead the offense. Calvin Ziegler, the top ranked 2021 pitcher in Canada, is the top senior pitcher on the staff, while 6-foot-7 2022 lefty Blaise Grove may have the highest ceiling.
THE TALENT’S THERE
5-Star National Gold
College Commitments: 23/28 Primary Pitchers: 12
5-Star National Gold may be one of the youngest teams ever to be expected to contend in the WWBA World Championships, with ten 2023 standouts among their top players, but don’t underestimate this group. They will be taking the field expecting to win every game, which is the appropriate thing to do as the team went 40-0-1 in WWBA/BCS 16U play this summer. Slugging third baseman Sal Stewart and speedy Puerto Rican shortstop Nicolas Perez highlight the 2022 players, but the real focus is on the 2023’s with this team, including Top 20 players third baseman/right-handed pitcher Cam Collier, outfielder Drew Burress, catcher Riley Jackson and right-handed pitcher James Hays.
Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
College Commitments: 23/25 Primary Pitchers: 12
The base of the Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team roster is young 2022 and 2023 talent from Southeast Florida but the key players in the drive for the playoffs are likely to be talented seniors from both the East and West Coast. Shortstop Maxwell Muncy and catcher Charlie Saum not only are among the best at their positions on the West Coast, with Muncy’s bat especially standing out, but they are also classmates at Thousand Oaks High School in Southern California. Left-hander Anthony Solometo from New Jersey has big stuff and could make a loud statement to scouts this week. Second baseman Roc Riggio (California) and right-hander Luke Holman (Pennsylvania) will also get plenty of attention.
North East Baseball National
College Commitments: 32/36 Primary Pitchers: 20
North East Baseball always brings a talented and geographically diverse team to the WWBA World Championships but this group seems to have jelled on the field better than most, a challenging thing to do when one’s roster includes players from 17 states and provinces. PG All-American shortstop/right-handed pitcher Casey Saucke II is one of the top two-way talents in the country and is coming off an outstanding performance at the All-American Classic. Scouts eyes will be on a pair of hard throwing pitchers in right-hander Micah Ottenbreit and left-hander Travis Garnett, as neither threw much on the summer circuit, but the key to North East Baseball advancing deep into the playoffs will be consistency from their huge pitching staff.
Scorpions Marucci Franchise Team
College Commitments: 23/28 Primary Pitchers: 14
The fortunes of the Scorpions could well rest on their players, all position players, who have committed to either Florida or Oklahoma State. In fact, the four 2021 players committed to Florida on the roster could make up the core of future Gators lineups, as all are Top 150 prospects: outfielders Ty Evans and Corey Robinson and middle infielder’s Derek Fabian and Jake Fox. Oklahoma State’s contributions are slugging third baseman Aidan Meola and shortstop Jackson Holliday, the 36th ranked player in 2022 class. The pitching staff is deep and loaded with experienced seniors who will throw strikes and compete.
Trosky National 2021
College Commitments: 20/22 Primary Pitchers: 9
Trosky National has had a strong summer and will be looking to finish higher in the final WWBA World Championship standings than some of their more celebrated California based peers, a definite sub-plot of the event. All-American first baseman Max McGwire, shortstop Jabin Trosky and shortstop Trevor Haskins will lead a talented lineup but the fate of the team may lie with a trio of very talented and highly ranked underclass right-handers in Jackson Cox, McGwire’s younger brother Mason McGwire and hard throwing sophomore Jacob Hudson. Vanderbilt commit Greyson Carter will bring a senior presence and a mid-90’s fastball to the pitching staff.
DON’T SLEEP ON THEM
5-Star Academy Select
College Commitments: 18/22 Primary Pitchers: 10
5-Star Academy Select has been outstanding all summer in Texas-based events and although they don’t bring as much prospect name recognition as other top teams, they bring that team cohesiveness that many successful clubs have. Catcher/first baseman Creed Willems is an intimidating and powerful left-handed hitter who has had a great summer and first baseman Gavin Kash and shortstop Peyton Stovall give 5-Star a very left-handed hitting dominant line up. Left-hander Hagen Smith will get lots of attention from scouts during his appearance, as it is his first major outing since 2019 TJ surgery.
East Coast Sox 2021 Founders Club
College Commitments: 26/29 Primary Pitchers: 16
The Mississippi-based East Coast Sox does rely heavily on Mississippi talent, as six of their players are Mississippi State commits and five more are committed to Mississippi. Another Mississippi resident, OF-RHP Braden Montgomery, who is committed to Stanford, is the team’s highest ranked player and one of three All-Americans rostered and his contributions across the board, including potentially on the mound, will be key to the Sox success. Left-handers William "Pico" Kohn and All-American Maddux Bruns and hard throwing right-hander Aaron Calhoun will throw important innings as part of a deep and talented pitching staff.
Reds Midwest Scout Team
College Commitments: 28/29 Primary Pitchers: 14
The Reds Midwest Scout Team has always performed well at the WWBA World Championships but they’ve expanded their geographical reach a bit this year, pulling in talented two-way Washington native RHP-SS Nathan Deschryver along with 2022 standouts shortstop/right-handed pitcher JeanPierre Ortiz from Puerto Rico, right-handed pitcher Isaiah Lowe from North Carolina and shortstop Jose Vargas from Texas. Still, the most important players on the team are likely to be Midwesterners such as right-handed pitchers Vincent Trapani (Wisconsin) and Ben Kudrna (Kansas). Shortstop Brock Daniels and slugging first baseman Vytas Valincius will lead the offense.
San Diego Show
College Commitments: 16/24 Primary Pitchers: 11
All-American shortstop Marcelo Mayer, ranked ninth in the 2021 class, and 2022 middle infielder Mikey Romero will form one of the top middle infield duo’s in the championship and lead the Show’s effort. Third baseman Ryan Ward and right-handed pitcher David Horn are a pair of 2022’s that could also step up big, especially Horn, who has been coming on fast this summer. The Show were outstanding in Arizona in September and will be confident as a team traveling across the country.
Team Indiana
College Commitments: 21/23 Primary Pitchers: 11
This is truly an Indiana based team, as all but three of their players are either from Indiana or committed to an Indiana college. Shortstop Colson Montgomery and right-handed pitcher Luke Hayden, both Indiana commits, lead a well-balanced roster. Montgomery has been strong all summer, while Hayden is a Jupiter veteran with the kind of stuff that can shut down any lineup. Right-hander Andrew Dutkanych IV, a 2022, and outfielder Maxwell Clark, a 2023, are both highly ranked underclass Vanderbilt commits who have the talent to really step up on the big stage.
PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A STRONG SHOT AT THE PLAYOFFS
In addition to the 24 pools that will each produce an automatic bid to the single elimination playoffs, there will be 8 wild card teams selected after pool play based on the Perfect Game tie breaking formula. Expect a number of these talented teams to be among those pool champions or wild card teams.
643 DP Cougars 18U
Banditos Scout Team 2021
BPA 2021
Canes American/Dodgers Scout Team
Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black
Chicago Scouts Association
Dirtbags Scout Team
Dulins Dodgers
East Cobb Yankees
eXposure/Knights Baseball
FTB Tucci 2021
GBG Navy 2021
Houston Astros Scout Team
Hunter Pence Baseball Academy
Louisiana Knights 2021
Mets Scout Team/Georgia Bombers
Royals Scout Team
San Diego Padres Scout Team
South Charlotte Panthers
Team Elite National
Team Georgia National
Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
Tri-State Arsenal Scout Team