As high school baseball is starting to get going across the country in most regions, with some states actually heading into the playoffs, it all means the summer circuit is right around the corner. Over the next several weeks we will look at the top-ranked players at each position, in each class, while also taking a look at some gut-feel players that could be big risers. With players having more access to individual development, things will undoubtably change at a rapid pace in the early months of the Perfect Game schedule. This provides a good look at some of the top performers coming into 2021 who look primed to continue dominance or make their mark on a national level.
Class of 2022: Catchers | Corner Infield | Middle Infield | Outfielders
Class of 2023: Catchers | Corner Infield | Middle Infield | Outfielders
Class of 2024: Catchers | Corner Infield | Middle Infield | Outfielders
Class of 2025: Catchers | Corner Infield | Middle Infield
Konnor Griffin (Miss.)
6-3/180, R-R
PG Events: 7
Key Stats: .443-3-34 career line, 26 stolen bases
Short Story: Some of Griffin’s swings have made the rounds this spring with towering blasts out to his pull side, illustrating the present power the possesses while providing a glimpse into what he could ultimately develop into once he fills out his long and athletic 6-foot-3 frame. The bat speed and ability to separate in his swing are exceptional and he patrols the outfield with fluidity while showing big arm strength as well. That arm strength translates well to the mound where he has shown an uptick in velocity this spring and captured the 13u Two-Way Player of the Year at last August’s 13u Select Festival.
Big Moment: Griffin made quite the first impression last summer at the 13u Summer Shootout as he hit .636-1-6 with seven stolen bags while also punching out seven in 6 1/3 innings of work, running his fastball up to 85 mph. It was a sign of things to come for Griffin as he continued to show well on both sides of the ball and for as good as he is on the mound, his future is likely with the stick, and he foreshadowed some of his blossoming strength at the Select Festival, capturing the Home Run Derby crown.
Bold Prediction: The Mississippi native, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the country, continues to perform at the highest of levels and carries the power production he’s showing this spring into the summer, despite switching over to wood bats.
Dean Moss (Calif.)
6-0/185, L-R
PG Events: 9
Key Stats: .435/.519/1.301 at 13u World Series
Short Story: Moss spent a lot of time on the East Coast last circuit season and he’s currently prepping at IMG Academy in Florida. A consistent presence in the middle of the order despite the uniform he’s wearing, the young left-handed stick put up some mind-boggling numbers pretty much everywhere he went, hitting a robust .773 at the 13u West World Series before traveling to Florida for the 13u World Series where he captured MVP honors after hitting .435-1-9 while posting a 1.301 OPS. His athleticism plays in the outfield as he can cover plenty of ground, but make no mistake, the bat is the big tool here for the young Californian.
Big Moment: It’s easy to point to the MVP performance at the 13u World Series or the triple he hit during the 13u Select Festival, but he was a consistent performer this past fall at the WWBA 14u World Championship in Panama City, Fla., the first major event of the 14u circuit. He picked up a hit in six of his team’s seven games and hit .391 on the tournament, showing some strength off of the barrel with a pair of triples while accounting for nine runs (4 runs scored, 5 RBI) on the weekend.
Bold Prediction: Moss will come out stronger and build upon his reputation as one of the top left-handed power threats in the country, showcasing his offensive exploits against some of the top arms in the premier events around the country.
Micah Matthews (Va.)
6-2/195, R-R
College Commitment: South Carolina
PG Events: 10
Key Stats: 7.01 60-yard, 91 mph exit velocity
Short Story: Simply put, Matthews is built differently than most, already standing at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, exuding strength throughout while retaining his athleticism as evidenced by his 7.01 60-yard time at the 13u National Showcase. His physical strength stands out with his right-handed swing and despite his simple, low effort stroke, the results are extremely loud off of the barrel as the ball jumps to all parts of the field, evidenced by his 91 mph exit velocity. It’s scary to think he’s just getting going and there’s no telling where he’ll be with additional reps under his belt.
Big Moment: The 2020 summer as a whole was a successful one for the future Gamecock as he hit .369-4-24 with 32 runs scored and 11 stolen bases while collecting four all-tournament teams and a pair of top prospect list nods as well. He was selected for the 13u Select Festival and picked up a single in game, again showing off big-time potential and committed to South Carolina shortly after, so it’s safe to say it was a successful and productive 2020 summer for Matthews.
Bold Prediction: Matthews is just beginning to scratch the surface of his long-term potential and he’ll likely take his game to the next level, something that’s scary to think about as he’s already ranked No. 6 in the country and has a long list of accolades to his credit.
Domaine Vann (N.C.)
6-2/175, R-R
College Commitment: Miami
PG Events: 12
Key Stats: 6.99 60-yard, 87 mph FB, 90 mph exit velocity
Short Story: Vann is a super-athletic two-way prospect out of North Carolina who has already committed to the University of Miami and excels all over the diamond. Already posting a sub-7 in the 60-yard, Vann has shown well both up the middle at shortstop as well as in the outfield and though he’s listed as a primary outfielder, his long term future could very well be on the dirt. He generates some big-time barrel whip with fast hands and extension out front, impacting the baseball as hard as any as his 90 mph exit velo suggest. And just for good measure, he’s also up to 87 mph on the mound.
Big Moment: Vann starred in his first career showcase, the 14u Atlantic Coast, and seemed to find plenty of barrel in live action which has simply been a continuation of what he has done early this spring. Proving that the bat plays not only in BP but also against live pitching, Vann was able to put his speed on the bases on display as well as his footwork in the infield with ample range to either side and a free flowing arm action.
Bold Prediction: There’s not much to predict here as the future Cane showed off what he’s capable of in virtually every Perfect Game event. His 6-foot-2 frame is only going to get stronger over the years and that could pose some real problems for the opposition.
Travis Friend (Calif.)
5-10/145, R-R
PG Events: 11
Key Stats: .466-1-33, 13 stolen bases in '20
Short Story: Friend may not be as physical as some of the other players on this list, yet, but the strength is coming and when it does, his game will only take off that much more. The young Californian is coming off a big 2020 summer in which he hit .466-1-33 with four triples, 13 stolen bags and 30 runs scored, setting stage for an even bigger 2021. The bat-to-ball skills stand out right away, showing a simple and repeatable stroke with a natural handle for the barrel while the speed (6.98 60 at 13u National, second best of event) is another standout tool that helps him separate both on the bases as well as in center field.
Big Moment: Through what was a fruitful 2020 circuit, Friend’s biggest performance probably came during the Las Vegas Fall Super Regional NIT this past November in which he captured MVP honors after putting up video game type stats: .667/.706/1.973 slash, three doubles, three triples and 11 RBI in a six-game stretch. Overall, he made four out of five all-tournament teams, was tabbed to the 13u National Showcase Top Prospect List, and ultimately earned a spot in the 13u Select Festival.
Bold Prediction: Friend’s tools stand out on both sides of the ball and the fact that he ran a sub-7 at 13 years old while checking in a 5-foot-10, 145 pounds, a very good 60-yard time which speaks to his levels of athleticism and twitch, he’s only going to improve upon that mark with added physicality. That speed will translate into a problem for opposing catchers and he’ll be able to cover ample ground by himself in the outfield this summer.
Josiah Hartshorn (Calif.)
6-0/180, S-L
PG Events: 6
Key Stats: .455/.500/1.182 in '20
Short Story: Hartshorn does a little bit of everything and time will certainly tell whether he’s a power-armed left-hander or a switch-hitting outfielder. Either way, the young Californian has already made a name for himself on the national scene, running his fastball up to 85 mph before turning 14 years old and is coming off a 2020 season in which he hit .455 with five doubles and 11 RBI. He found his name scattered throughout leaderboards following the 2020 season, including having the highest exit velocity (86 mph) for the ’25 class in ’20.
Big Moment: The California Workout Camp served as Hartshorn’s big splash, announcing his presence loudly as a 2025 commit in a sea of upperclassmen. The aforementioned 85 mph fastball came during his time on the mound where he showed both a curveball and changeup for strikes. After throwing 86 mph from the outfield, he went to work at the plate, showing intriguing strength from both sides of the plate with a nearly mirrored set up and matching results.
Bold Prediction: Hartshorn continues to show well on either side of the ball, further putting his two-way talents on display as the strongly-built Californian already checks in at No. 10 in the country.
Jacob Parker (Miss.)
6-2/190, L-R
PG Events: 5
Key Stats: .333-1-8 at '20 Freshman WWBA
Short Story: Parker is one of the more physical outfielders in the 2025 class, already standing at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and he certainly knows how to use that strength inside the batter’s box. Playing alongside Konnor Griffin this past fall and upcoming summer, the duo will be as potent as any in the country in the middle of the order with the left-handed hitting Parker finding plenty of barrels this past summer and fall, launching balls with backspin and big strength at impact to his pull side. He moves well for his size too, accelerating around the bases with balance while showing a strong arm with ample carry from the outfield.
Big Moment: Parker helped lead the Louisiana Knights to a deep playoff run in the WWBA 14u this past fall, a tournament in which he hit .333 with a few extra-base knocks, including an inside-the-park home run where both his strength and speed tools were on display. He collected multiple RBI in three of the team’s five games and drove in at least one in four of the five, proving to be a difference maker in the middle of the order.
Bold Prediction: It’s a heavy barrel for Parker and as he continues to fill out the power is only going to further jump off the page. The young Mississippi native will help pace the offense for one of the top travel clubs this summer and you’ll hearing about Parker frequently on the circuit.
Michael Torres (Fla.)
5-10/160, L-L
PG Events: 24
Key Stats: 2020 13u Select Festival MVP
Short Story: Torres wasn’t on the 13u circuit much last summer and that’s not due to a lack of playing, but rather that he was playing up at the 14u level for a majority of the summer, hitting leadoff and patrolling center field. Not overly physically, Torres put together quality at-bats throughout the summer despite playing up an age level, working counts while repeatedly showing the ability to track the ball and work to all parts of the field with the barrel depending on where he was pitched. The speed tool often attributed to a leadoff/center field profile holds true with Torres as he’s a threat on the bases and patrols plenty of grass out in center.
Big Moment: It’s hard to think of a bigger moment than the 13u Select Festival, played live on PerfectGame.TV, in which you take home MVP honors after going 2-for-3 with a double and triple. That put a cap on a quality summer performance in which he hit .328 with 4 triples, scored 37 runs and swiped 25 bases, all while playing up.
Bold Prediction: It’s hard to top an MVP performance in an All-American type setting, but Torres has the bat-to-ball skills to make an impact anywhere he goes and whether he plays at the 14u or the 15u level this summer, he’s a name you’ll certainly be hearing about moving forward.
Cam Caminiti (Ariz.)
6-0/182, L-L
PG Events: 23
Key Stats: .375 BA, 21 K/11 IP in '21
Short Story: Up until the last week or so you might lean towards Caminiti’s future being in the field, whether it be the outfield or first base, thanks in part to his smooth and fluid left-handed stroke at the plate. Flash back to last weekend’s SoCal Showdown however and Caminiti continued to show an uptick on the mound, running his fastball up to 89 mph while striking out seven in three innings, all on the heels of capturing MV-Pitcher honors at the Super Regional NIT event in Las Vegas a month prior. The athleticism and versatility are two big assets for the young Arizona native as they allow him to excel at a high level, whether on the mound, in the field, or with a bat in his hands.
Big Moment: Caminiti made a name for himself during last summer’s 13u World Series in Florida, slashing a robust .533/.611/1.344 with a few doubles while also striking out seven and topping out at 82 mph. The performance was a continuation of what he had been showing at several PG events on the West Coast and served as a spring board of sorts, ultimately gearing up for the 13u Select Festival later in the summer.
Bold Prediction: Caminiti’s 89 mph fastball vaults him to the top as the hardest throwing left-hander in the country in the 2025 class and given that he was touching 84 mph in January, 87 mph at the start of April and recently posted the aforementioned 89 at the beginning of May, it’s safe to assume we’ll see at least another jump this summer.
Kaden Hart (N.C.)
5-11/210, R-R
PG Events: 18
Key Stats: 13 All-Tournament Team & 5 MVPs in PG career
Short Story: We’ve talked about player’s physicality above, but you’d be hard pressed to find somebody in the class with the overall strength possessed by the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Hart. The strength is on display with every pass through the zone as he shows big intent and equally as impressive bat speed, whipping the barrel through the zone and when he catches it out front, odds are the catcher will be turning to the ump and asking for a new baseball. He already has one MVP award on the resume during this short 2021 season, slashing .500/.692/1.192 at the 14u Coastal Spring Invitational where he proved to be a threat each and every time, whether in the box or on the bases.
Big Moment: You have to go with Hart’s MVP performance at the 2020 13u Coastal Championship last July where he essentially had his way at the plate. Over the span of six games Hart hit .600 with a ridiculous 2.100 OPS as he cranked three home runs, drove in 10 and scored 10 of his own, all in 15 at-bats.
Bold Prediction: While he has delivered some big games on the mound and has worked into the low-80s already, there’s no questioning it’s his right-handed bat speed/power combo that’ll attract some eyes this summer circuit.
The Rest of the Top 70
Noah Franco (Calif.)
6-2/165, L-L
You can flip a coin to guess where Franco’s ultimate home on the diamond will be, whether it’s in the outfield or on the mound. A long and lean, ultra-projectable 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, Franco shows plenty of arm speed on the mound and will continue to make jumps in velocity, though the physical projection makes his bat-to-ball skills and left-handed swing equally as intriguing.
Jackson Miller (Fla.)
6-0/180, R-R
Miller is a strong 6-foot, 180-pound corner outfielder from Florida who has played in several of the high-end events and always seems to perform with the stick. A career .419 hitter in Perfect Game events, his short and quick right-handed swing is off to a blazing start in 2021 as he’s already hitting .452 with 14 doubles and 25 RBI, proving that the strength plays in his swing as his 90 mph exit velocity suggests.
Austin Killingsworth (Ga.)
5-9/160, R-R
There are plenty of tools to be enticed with by Killingsworth as he showed at the Main Event Showcase, running a 6.95 in the 60-yard, throwing 84 mph from the outfield and posting an 87 mph exit velocity, giving him a solid foundation of tools. His swing is as good as his metrics are, staying shorter to the ball while creating separation out front with natural lift to his path and jump off the barrel to either gap.
Mason Greenhouse (Calif.)
6-3/163, R-R
Greenhouse stood out during the 14u South Fall Showcase when he stood 6-foot-1, 155 pounds. He has since grown a couple of inches and as he continues to add strength, watch out as his right-handed stroke is plenty fast through the zone and he’s already able to impact the baseball. The young Californian moves well in the outfield as well, showing athleticism and solid arm strength, only adding to his package of tools.
Cannon Goldin (Ga.)
5-11/177, L-L, College Commitment: South Carolina
It’s safe to say Goldin elevated his game to the next level with his showing at the Mid South Showcase, finding himself atop several leaderboards, including the 60-yard as he ran a blazing 6.74. That fast-twitch muscle translates into his swing as his hands are plenty quick, whipping the barrel through the zone while generating solid backspin coming off to the middle and pull side parts of the field.
Colton Cordeiro (Texas)
6-1/155, R-R
Cordeiro is another intriguing player to follow in that his future could be in the outfield or on the mound. The ultra-projectable 6-foot-1, 155-pound Texas product has already ran his fastball up to 88 mph early this spring, a significant jump from last summer, but has also opened eyes with the bat. His right-handed swing with quick and there’s plenty of athleticism, yielding plenty of barrels early this spring with some real life off the barrel.
Ed Small (Texas)
6-0/185, R-R
Small made a name for himself quickly, no pun intended, by running a 6.91 in the 60-yard at last fall’s 14u Fall Showcase in Texas. Since then he’s added some strength to his frame and it’s already showing early in the spring with his right-handed swing as he stays loose and free flowing at the plate, exhibiting a solid overall approach. During a loaded South NIT event, Small hit .400 on the weekend, scored eight runs and swiped seven bags.
Dillon Adkins (Md.)
6-0/165, L-L, College Commitment: Tennessee
Having recently turned 14 years old, Adkins is one of the youngest players ranked within the top-70, though that hasn’t stopped colleges from taking notice as he committed to the Vols not too long ago. He’s a solid athlete who shows nice arm strength all over the diamond and a left-handed swing that’s loose and offers natural leverage out front.
Five More Names to Know
Joshua Campbell (Mich.)
5-10/165, R-R
Campbell is one of the top-ranked players in the state of Michigan and rightfully so given the strides he has made in the last calendar year and the scorching hot start he’s off to in 2021. Following a 7.29 60-yard time at the Main Event Showcase, the right-handed hitting Campbell hit north of .300 in 10 straight tournament appearances thanks to a loose and fluid swing.
Malakhi Boone (Fla.)
6-1/225, R-R
Boone is as strong of a player as you’ll find at this level and he certainly knows how to impose his strength on opposing pitchers. Coming off of hitting four home runs in just 36 at-bats last summer, the young Floridian has already surpassed his triples total from last summer (4) and has matched his RBI total (19) and the summer has just begun.
Quinten Marsh (Calif.)
5-11/175, L-L
Marsh may not have the longest of track records like most of the other young prospects in here, but the young NorCal product is showing well during NCTB The League on both sides of the ball. He runs his fastball into the low-80s already and patrols the outfield with athleticism while showing an advanced approach at the plate and a quick, compact stroke.
Tucker Holton (Ga.)
5-11/140, R-R
As Holton’s listed measurables suggest, the right-handed stick out of Georgia is extremely projectable long-term but he already shows plenty to like with the stick. He’s well-timed in the box and creates whip to the barrel, repeating his swing as evidenced by his .471 batting average thus far into the 2021 season.
William Hill (Texas)
6-0/175, R-R
Hill is both strong and athletic as evidenced by the metrics he has put up at both showcases and tournaments. His swing is both simple and quick and he does a nice job of getting the barrel out front while getting separated at the point of contact. Hill has already amassed 81 at-bats in 34 games this spring, picking up 32 hits (12 extra-base) while driving in 24 and swiping 17 bags.