THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,464 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,464 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 5/14/2026

Coppy's Corner: May 14 POY Deep Dive

John Coppolella
Each week I huddle with Vinnie Cervino and Craig Cozart  to discuss Top-25 rankings and Players of the Week. In Coppy’s Corner, I dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level.  

Player of the Week: Drew Burress – Georgia Tech 

I love everything that Craig Cozart writes, and his piece on Burress is as good as it gets (link). Craig does a masterful job of showing us how Burress has (not arguably) the best career college performance of any current player. The body of work is consistent and impressive, and Burress has one of the highest floors in the 2026 MLB Draft with above average or better tools across the board. 



I’m not going to do a deep dive on Burress’ numbers because there is no point: they are really good, everywhere. I would rather talk about smaller players with big tools. Oh, did I forget to mention that Burress is listed at 5’9 and probably closer to 5’8 and maybe even closer to 5’7. And that means … absolutely nothing!! Dustin Pedroia was listed at 5’9, too, and was likely shorter, too, and in the 2004 MLB Draft he lasted all the way to Pick #65 – trust me, I know, because I was working for the New York Yankees, and we took three players ahead of Pedroia (smh). 5’6 Jose Altuve had to talk his way into a tryout in Venezuela and signed for only $15,000. Players who are smaller like Burress, Pedroia, and Altuve may be a market inefficiency.  

Burress should be able to stay in CF and reminds me a lot of Kirby Puckett, who was listed at 5’8, and was also a pretty damn good MLB player. In the latest PG Mock Draft (link), we project Burress going #10 to the Colorado Rockies – who else but Paul DePodesta to recognize a market inefficiency? – and it’s scary to think about the offensive havoc he could wreak in that ballpark. I’d take him even earlier.  

Carry Tool: Hit. All. Burress. Does. Is. Hit. The most consistent college performer in the Draft, he’s having arguably his worst year and is hitting .375 AVG / 1.162 OPS with more walks than strikeouts. Think about that: arguably his worst year is .375 AVG / 1.162 OPS with 38 BB vs. 34 SO. He hits good velocity (.375 AVG vs. pitches 95+ miles per hour) and hits breaking balls (.377 AVG). He hits everybody and everything everywhere. I think he could hit on Mars. I love this player. 

Co-Pitcher of the Week: Cykler Tengler – Arkansas State University  

This is my favorite story in a long time. Cykler Tenger, who also has the coolest name in college baseball, had thrown only 4.2 IP all season heading into last week, spread out among 1 start and three relief appearances. Of course, in his second start, he went CG SHO No-No with 9.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO, 1 HBP. Tengler also accomplished this feat against the University of Arkansas – Little Rock (UALR), the program with which he originally signed out of high school. Tengler never pitched for UALR in 2023, transferred to D2 Arkansas State University – Mountain Home (ASUMH) in 2024 and 2025, and is now at Arkansas State in 2026. Welcome to NIL! 

All kidding aside, there’s something about Cykler. Standing 6’5 / 205 with a good downhill plane and projection remaining, Tengler has shown a knack for missing bats with 116 SO in 76.2 IP for ASUMH last season. I know, it’s D2, right? Well, it was also D2 for Ryan Helsley (Northeastern State), Brandon Pfaadt (Bellarmine University), Alex Vesia (Cal State East Bay), Tim Mayza (Millersville University), and dozens of other pitchers who have had success at the MLB level. Tengler has the weapons with a two-seam FB 89-92, wipeout CH (see below), and improving SL. Tengler opened some eyes and hopefully made himself some money last week. And, while I am not expecting back-to-back no-hitters, I can’t wait to see what he does in his next start and the rest of the season. 

Carry Tool: Changeup. Look, all these numbers have to be taken with a few grains of salt because we are talking about 13.1 IP and 173 total pitches on the season. That being said, 74 / 178 (42.8%) of those pitchers were Changeups – and they generated 84% Strike %, 62% Swing %, and 44% Chase %. When you look at his splits against LH hitters, he’s allowed a .133 AVG and .325 OPS with 6 SO in 15 AB. Those are gaudy numbers and, combined with the leverage and sink he creates on his sinker from his 6’5 / 205 frame, it starts to get interesting. Why not take a chance on a pitcher like this and see what MLB pitching labs can do with these raw tools?

Co-Pitcher of the Week: Karsten Sweum – Gonzaga University  

In the 2013 MLB Draft, with the #19 overall pick, the St. Louis Cardinals selected left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales. Standing 6’1 / 205, Gonzales was a pitchability lefty who worked with a FB 88-91, a killer CH, and otherwise solid off-speed stuff. In his draft year, he was 7-3, 2.80 ERA with 106.0 IP, 102 Hits, 25 BB, 96 SO. Gonzalez pitched 10 MLB seasons with a career 66-50, 4.16 ERA over 926.2 IP. 

Sweum is also a left-handed pitcher from Gonzaga. At 6’3 / 225, Sweum is two inches taller and 20 pounds stronger than Gonzales. Featuring a plus FB 92-96, he also throws 4-5 mph harder. Sweum’s current season totals of 7-1, 4.42 ERA with 71.1 IP, 60 Hits, 33 BB, 99 SO tell a story with much higher upside, albeit also opportunities to improve control. And, while he may not have Gonzales’ CH, he has good off-speed weapons with his SL (49% Miss %, 35% Chase %), CUT (46% Miss %, 39% Chase %), and CH (54% Miss %, 37% Chase %). Aside: he should throw the CH more; he only throws it 6% of the time and it’s been quite effective vs. RH hitters. There’s a lot to like with Sweum: I like the size, I like the stuff numbers, I like that he’s left-handed and I don’t really care about the ERA (shhhhhh). If his development continues, you are going to hear a lot about Sweum in the 2027 MLB Draft. 

Carry Tool: Fastball. Sweum has a good one and throws it 55% of the time. It plays against both right-handed and left-handed hitters, and Sweum has better numbers against right-handed hitters even though he rarely uses his CH – which speaks to the quality of his FB. It’s also important to note the progress that Sweum has made year-over-year, showing marked improvement in BB/9 IP (8.20 in 2025 vs 4.16 in 2026) and ERA (6.27 in 2025 vs 4.42 in 2026). And, lastly, 6’3 / 225 left-handed starting pitchers who can sit 92-96 aren’t falling out of trees. This is one to watch.  

Freshman of the Week: John Paone – University of Virginia 

I usually try to work in a reference to 80’s or 90’s pop culture in these articles, but I am struggling this week. I thought about some kind of John Paone – Ione Skye linkage, but it was a reach. If I am going to present random stuff tied to Paone, it’s probably better to focus on his background as a prep student at the prestigious Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts – founded in 1793! Not to be confused with Groton, Connecticut, which produced a pretty good prep RHP that went to a pretty good college and MLB career: Matt Harvey. The Lawrence Academy has many prestigious alumni, but all I really care about is baseball (hello, former #14 overall pick Tyler Beede) and music (hello, Phish keyboardist Page McConnell).  

Unless Paone plays the keyboards, Beede is probably the better comparison as a strong built (6’2 / 215) prep arm with good stuff. At 6’3 / 210 with a plus FB he can maintain late into games, Paone reminds me a lot of Beede. It’s power stuff and good stuff numbers, his 4.91 ERA belying 59 SO vs. 20 BB in 51.1 IP. It’s even more impressive that, as a freshman, he is getting this opportunity and producing this type of performance. It’s not hard to envision a big jump forward heading into next season, when Paone will be a draft-eligible sophomore in the 2027 MLB Draft. It will be Phun to watch his continued development.  

Carry Tool: Slider. Beede’s bread-and-butter was his Changeup, but Paone has had a lot of success with this Slider. It’s got over 10 mph separation from his FB and has produced good results this year with 35% Chase %, 35 % Miss %, and 47% Swing %. Although he has no clear lefty/righty splits in AVG and OPS, he has struck out a significantly higher % of right-handed hitters (38/120 = 31.7%) than left-handed hitters (21/90 = 23.3%). Scouts like Paone’s CH, too, so there is further potential with continued development. The stuff, build, and, performance, especially lately, are impressive – even if my puns and references are not. 

National Nuggets:

It’s been a tough year for LSU and it was another lost weekend (0-3) against Georgia in Athens, but none of it is or was Derek Curiel’s fault – aggressive side eye toward the pitching staff that allowed 36 runs – as he went 5/10 on the weekend with 3 BB vs. 3 SO … this snapshot is a microcosm of the season for both LSU and Curiel, who continues to hit and get on base, even he isn’t posting Landon Hairson-esque numbers (who is? I mean, besides Landon Hairston) … Curiel hit .345 AVG / .470 OBP / .519 SLG / .990 OPS as a freshman last season and has produced similar numbers as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026 with .341 AVG / .420 OBP / .512 SLG / .932 OPS … however, a deeper dive inside the numbers reveals real progress for Curiel and points toward more upside in this bat … specifically, Curiel has made big progress against LHP (.237 AVG / .800 OPS in 2025 vs .339 AVG / .943 OPS in 2026), hitting on the Road (.253 AVG / .757 OPS in 2025 vs .403 AVG / 1.063 OPS in 2026), and performance on Friday nights (.297 AVG / .813 OPS in 2025 vs .346 AVG / .914 OPS in 2026) … why does this stuff matter? … Curiel is a 6’2 / 185 LHH outfielder so to see him improve vs LH pitching is a good sign he’s more than a platoon player … “The Box” at LSU is a hitter’s park with its humid, sea-level atmosphere, so to see Curiel have so much success on the road is also encouraging … and Friday nights, as most of you know, is when the best pitchers are on the mound, so seeing increased performance is another positive sign because those are the types of pitchers at the next level … and Curiel has always been able to crush the FB, with strong performances both years against 95+ mph velocity (.423 AVG / 1.038 OPS in 2025 vs .419 AVG / .952 OPS) … Curiel can just flat hit and has shown the ability to play CF this season … he reminds me of Rusty Greer, Mark Kotsay, and Christian Yelich, all LH bats who could flat hit – and made multiple All-Star teams. 
Give us your feedback
College | Story | 5/29/2026

Cali Mid-Major Draft Notes

Joey Cohen
Article Image
California annually produces its share of high-profile prep and college draft talent, but this spring also offered quality depth especially on the mid-major side. I wanted to highlight a group of semi under-the-radar prospects who have quietly put together strong seasons and caught the attention of our staff whether it was with in-person looks or just by some performance/data metrics that popped. The bulk of this group comes out of the Big West, with additional names from the WCC, WAC, and Mountain West mixed in. Matthew Thomas - OF - CSUN  Few hitters in the Big West have matched Thomas’ offensive impact this spring, as he slashed a strong .335/.411/.679 with 15 home runs. Long and still mostly viewed as a power-first profile, he’s taken a meaningful step forward in the hit tool, cutting down a bit on significant swing-and-miss concerns while increasing his on-base...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/3/2026

Beast of the East Heads to Georgia

Will Dembo
Article Image
Marietta, Georgia will welcome some of the nation’s top teams this weekend as the Perfect Game Beast of the East Invitational takes place June 4-8. The invite only 15-17u tournament will showcase a plethora of nationally ranked teams and top talent looking to make a statement early into the summer and take home the championship in what promises to be a highly competitive weekend of baseball. The 15u division will shine a spotlight on several of the top ranked programs in the country as 9 out of the 32 total squads competing are T100. 11 states will be represented in the age bracket, proving how prestigious this event has become. Headlining the field are Wow Factor National who comes in at No. 8 in the national rankings, as well as Canes National who enters the weekend trailing just one spot behind Wow Factor. Canes National has an absolutely loaded roster with 9 players who rank in...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

"Houston, We Nave a Problem"

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Some moments set the tone for an entire game. For Jackson Nave, it happened in his very first trip to the plate. The Sevierville, Tennessee native stepped into the batter’s box looking for a pitch he could drive. A few moments later, the ball was flying over the fence, giving FTB Phillies 13U an early boost and igniting what would become a dominant offensive performance. “I was feeling good,” Nave said. “I was just trying to find a pitch I could hammer. I kept my eye on it, took it down the middle and that felt good.” That swing was only the beginning. Nave finished the game with a home run, four runs scored, and four RBI as FTB Phillies 13U rolled to a 27-4 victory on the opening day of the 2026 PG 13U National Elite Championship. For Nave, getting the offense started early is an important part of helping his team succeed. “I think it is really...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Reed Continues to Prove He Belongs

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
For many young players, competing alongside some of the top talent in the country can be intimidating. For Chris Reed, it is simply another opportunity to prove he belongs. The Conyers, Georgia native has established himself as one of the premier players in the 2030 class, currently ranking No. 24 nationally and No. 7 among shortstops according to Perfect Game. Reed’s game has consistently stood out against elite competition thanks to his athleticism, instincts, and all-around skill set. That ability was on full display during the 2025 Perfect Game 13U National Showcase, where Reed earned his invitation to the PG Select Festival, one of the most prestigious events available to players his age. “It showed that I can play with the best of the best, and that I belong,” Reed said of the experience. The event provided more than just exposure. It also reinforced an important...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Beast of the East Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘29 SS Chase Hallett (NJ) drops the bat head on this one & lifts it out to the PS for a solo HR. Free and easy LH swing w/ present strength & more to dream on. #BeastOfTheEast @PGMidAtlantic pic.twitter.com/Ym9LFg05tx — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 4, 2026 Chase Hallett (2029, Pennington, N.J.) came up with a loud swing on Thursday morning, dropping the barrel on one and lifting it out to the pull-side. It’s an intriguing profile overall with the young left-handed hitting middle infielder and the power projects in a big way. The swing is short and simple, he finds the barrel at a high clip, and is a sure handed defender up the middle. This has all the makings of a high-end prospect in a few years and is certainly a name of note in the ‘29 class. Canon Day (2028, Germantown, Tenn.) put together a great day on the offensive side of things,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Arizona Desert Classic Gets Underway

Emily Hicks
Article Image
After another busy week of baseball, attention now turns to the 2026 PG 14u Arizona Desert Classic tournament as teams prepare for a weekend of competition on the Perfect Game circuit. ATB 13U enters the event looking to continue building on its season so far. The team comes into the weekend with a record of 5-4 and has shown strengths in their offense and defense. As the schedule gets tougher, this tournament presents another opportunity to test themselves against quality opponents. The field features teams from across Arizona, setting up several intriguing matchups throughout pool play. Key games against AZ Premier Prospects and Maverix could provide an early look at where the team stands heading into bracket play. A few players to keep an eye on this weekend include Reece Neely and Gavyn Jupp from Maverix and Jakob Couto from USA Scout Team AZ 14u. Whether it's producing at the plate,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/4/2026

California Kickoff Scout Notes

Joey Cohen
Article Image
Jayce Dejong (‘27, CA) finished 6-for-14 on the weekend which included a big HR in the championship game. Intriguing @PG_Uncommitted player to monitor this summer. #CAKickoff https://t.co/UbuSQxNalf pic.twitter.com/kjVcyiG8km — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 1, 2026 Jayce Dejong (2027, Yorba Linda, Calif). Really strong weekend at the plate, going 6-for-14 with multiple line-drive barrels, including a no-doubt pull-side HR. Medium, lean, athletic frame with room to add. Hits from a wider base from the left side, starts early and consistently gets to launch on time. Loose barrel turn with adjustability and length through the middle, showing the ability to create lift and impact out front. Coming off a strong junior season at Crean Lutheran and should be a priority uncommitted follow this summer. Evan Stroner (2027, Huntington Beach, Calif). Impressive...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 6/4/2026

Soph. & Junior National Arrive in Georgia

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
This weekend will kick off the 2026 PG Junior National Showcase with the Sophomore National Showcase following close behind. Both in Marietta, Georgia, these showcases will feature lots of top-50 talent along with the ever-present potential for lesser-known players to turn heads.  For the Junior National Showcase, starting on June 6, 7 of the top 10-ranked players will attend - No. 2 Colin Anderson, No. 3 Cullen Scott, No. 4 Carter Shouse, No. 6 Aiden Kearney, No. 8 Keelan Zumwalt, No. 8 Landon Bonner and No. 9 Theo Swafford.  Anderson won’t have to travel far to attend, coming from Acworth, Georgia. At last year’s Sophomore National Showcase, he impressed scouts with his calm approach and explosive bat speed. Scott, a right-handed pitcher and third baseman from Melissa, Texas, has shown his arm strength getting up in the 90-mph zone....
Read More
Draft | Story | 6/4/2026

Pence Makes the Jump to 2027

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME STANDOUT STRIKER PENCE RECLASSIFIES TO CLASS OF 2027, ACCELERATING PATH TO MLB DRAFT   Corona, California (Thursday, June 4, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Perfect Game prospect Striker Pence, one of the most watched young prospects in amateur baseball, has officially reclassified from the Class of 2028 to the Class of 2027, making the 17-year-old eligible for the 2027 Major League Baseball Draft. Pence is currently the #2 ranked player on Perfect Game’s national rankings and the top-ranked right-handed pitcher. Pence, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting first...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/3/2026

Gulf Coast Classic Kicks Off

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The 2026 Perfect Game Gulf Coast Classic will bring together teams from across the region this weekend as players in the 14U-16U and 18U divisions take the field looking to capture a championship and make their mark on one of the summer’s premier events. Held in Fort Myers, Florida, the tournament will feature a talented mix of standout programs, nationally ranked prospects and emerging young talent. Swamp Baseball enters the 18U division with one of the most talented rosters in the event. The Cape Coral-based team features three nationally ranked top 500 prospects along with several additional High Follow players. Outfielders Nicholas Raber and Austin Schoolcraft, along with right-handed pitcher Tyler Reeder, are all ranked among Perfect Game’s top 500 prospects nationally. Raber will have the opportunity to compete in his hometown of Fort Myers. The 2026 graduate has shown...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 6/3/2026

EBC 17U-Griggs Takes Title

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
After a week of dominant performances, timely hitting, and resilient play, EBC 17U-Griggs capped off its run through the 2026 Perfect Game Hoover Invitational with a championship victory Monday, securing the program’s first tournament title of the summer. Despite a lengthy rain delay, EBC never lost focus, relying on contributions throughout the lineup and another strong pitching performance to secure the win. “This being our first [win] of the summer, we have an amazing group right here,” head coach Rodd Griggs said. “Some of the guys I’ve had for years, some of the guys just joined us this summer, but it’s an amazing group.” EBC’s championship performance reflected the depth that carried the club throughout the tournament. Paxton Wright set the tone of the mound, working four innings while allowing just two hits striking out two hitters....
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.