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| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | Rankings | 5/13/2016

2016 MLB Draft: Top Tools

Photo: Perfect Game




2016 Perfect Game MLB Draft Preview Content Index | Mock Draft Version 1

An annual exercise as part of Perfect Game's MLB Draft content, PG's staff of draft experts combined to assemble a list of the top individual tools available for this year's draft. The players that ranked among the top five in six different categories for position prospects and five different categories among pitchers is as follows:

High School College
• Joshua Lowe (3 - power, arm, athlete) • J.B. Woodman (3 - speed, arm, athlete)
• Brandon Marsh (3 - speed, arm, athlete) • Will Craig (2 - hitter, power)
• Jason Groome (3 - fastball, curveball, command) • Bryson Brigman (2 - hitter, defender)
• Braxton Garrett (3 - curveball, changeup, command) • Buddy Reed (2 - speed, defender)
• Kevin Gowdy (3 - slider, changeup, command) • Corey Ray (2 - speed, athlete)
• Alex Kirilloff (2 - hitter, power) • Stephen Alemais (2 - speed, defender)
• Mickey Moniak (2 - hitter, defender) • Sean Murphy (2 - arm, defender)
• Taylor Trammell (2 - speed, athlete) • Jake Rogers (2 - arm, defender)
• Thomas Jones (2 - speed, athlete) • Zack Burdi (2 - fastball, slider)
• Dominic Fletcher (2 - arm, defender) • Robert Tyler (2 - fastball, changeup)
• Cooper Johnson (2 - arm, defender) • A.J. Puk (2 - fastball, slider)
• Riley Pint (2 - fastball, changeup) • Jordan Sheffield (2 - fastball, changeup)
• Forrest Whitley (2 - fastball, slider) • Logan Shore (2 - changeup, command)


2016 Top Tools: Hitter

High School College
Rk. Name Pos. School Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Mickey Moniak OF La Costa Canyon HS (Calif.) 1 Nick Senzel 3B Tennessee
2 Joe Rizzo 3B Oakton HS (Va.) 2 Will Craig 1B/3B Wake Forest
3 Alex Kirilloff OF/1B Plum HS (Pa.) 3 Matt Thaiss C/1B Virginia
4 Carlos Cortes C/2B/OF Lake Howell HS (Fla.) 4 Jameson Fisher 1B Southeastern Louisiana
5 Nolan Jones 3B Holy Ghost Prep (Pa.) 5 Bryson Brigman 2B San Diego


2016 Top Tools: Power

High School College
Rk. Name Pos. School Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Blake Rutherford OF Chaminade Prep (Calif.) 1 Zack Collins C/1B Miami
2 Joshua Lowe 3B Pope HS (Ga.) 2 Kyle Lewis OF Mercer
3 Alex Kirilloff OF/1B Plum HS (Pa.) 3 Heath Quinn OF Samford
4 Drew Mendoza SS/3B Lake Minneola HS (Fla.) 4 Lucas Erceg 3B Menlo (NAIA)
5 Bo Bichette 2B/3B Lakewood HS (Fla.) 5 Will Craig 1B Wake Forest


2016 Top Tools: Speed

High School College
Rk. Name Pos. School Rk. Name Pos. School
1 David Hamilton SS San Marcos HS (Texas) 1 Buddy Reed OF Florida
2 Brandon Marsh OF Buford HS (Ga.) 2 Jake Fraley OF Louisiana State
3 Delvin Perez SS Internat'l Baseball Academy (PR) 3 Corey Ray OF Louisville
4 Taylor Trammell OF Powder Springs, Ga. 4 Stephen Alemais SS Tulane
5 Thomas Jones OF Laurens District 55 (S.C.) 5 J.B. Woodman OF Ole Miss


2016 Top Tools: Arm

High School College
Rk. Name Pos. School Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Joshua Lowe 3B Pope HS (Ga.) 1 Bobby Dalbec 3B/RHP Arizona
2 Dominic Fletcher OF Cypress HS (Calif.) 2 Sheldon Neuse SS/RHP Oklahoma
3 Cooper Johnson C Carmel Catholic HS (Ill.) 3 J.B. Woodman OF Ole Miss
4 Brandon Marsh OF Buford HS (Ga.) 4 Sean Murphy C Wright State
5 Nicholas Quintana SS Arbor View HS (Nev.) 5 Jake Rogers C Tulane


2016 Top Tools: Defender

High School College
Rk. Name Pos. School Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Cooper Johnson C Carmel Catholic HS (Ill.) 1 Jake Rogers C Tulane
2 Alexis Torres SS Colegio Angel David (PR) 2 Sean Murphy C Wright State
3 Mickey Moniak OF La Costa Canyon HS (Calif.) 3 Buddy Reed OF Florida
4 Dominic Fletcher OF Cypress HS (Calif.) 4 Stephen Alemais SS Tulane
5 Gavin Lux SS Indian Trail Academy (Wis.) 5 Bryson Brigman 2B San Diego


2016 Top Tools: Athlete

High School College
Rk. Name Pos. School Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Taylor Trammell OF Mt. Paran Christian HS (Ga.) 1 Corey Ray OF Louisville
2 Thomas Jones OF Laurens District 55 (S.C.) 2 Buddy Reed OF Florida
3 Brandon Marsh OF Buford HS (Ga.) 3 Anfernee Grier OF Auburn
4 Nonie Williams 3B Home-schooled (Kan.) 4 Bryan Reynolds OF Vanderbilt
5 Joshua Lowe 3B Pope HS (Ga.) 5 J.B. Woodman OF Ole Miss


2016 Top Tools: Fastball

High School College
Rk. Name Throws School Rk. Name Throws School
1 Riley Pint RHP St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.) 1 Zack Burdi RHP Louisville
2 Jason Groome LHP Barnegat (N.J.) 2 Robert Tyler RHP Georgia
3 Matt Manning RHP Sheldon HS (Calif.) 3 A.J. Puk LHP Florida
4 Forrest Whitley RHP Alamo Heights (Texas) 4 Alec Hansen RHP Oklahoma
5 Alex Speas RHP McEachern HS (Ga.) 5 Jordan Sheffield RHP Vanderbilt


2016 Top Tools: Curveball

High School College
Rk. Name Throws School Rk. Name Throws School
1 Braxton Garrett LHP Florence HS (Ala.) 1 Zach Jackson RHP Arkansas
2 Tyler Baum RHP West Orange HS (Fla.) 2 Cody Sedlock RHP Illinois
3 Ian Anderson RHP Shenendehowa HS (N.Y.) 3 Matt Krook LHP Oregon
4 Nick Lodolo LHP Damien HS (Calif.) 4 Jon Duplantier RHP Rice
5 Jason Groome LHP Barnegat (N.J.) 5 Brett Adcok LHP Michigan


2016 Top Tools: Slider

High School College
Rk. Name Throws School Rk. Name Throws School
1 Kevin Gowdy RHP Santa Barbara HS (Calif.) 1 Shaun Anderson RHP Florida
2 Forrest Whitley RHP Alamo Heights HS (Texas) 2 Connor Jones RHP Virginia
3 Will Ethridge RHP Parkview HS (Ga.) 3 A.J. Puk LHP Florida
4 Zach Hess RHP Liberty Christian Academy (Va.) 4 Eric Lauer LHP Kent State
5 Drake Fellows RHP Joliet Catholic Academy (Ill.) 5 Zack Burdi RHP Louisville


2016 Top Tools: Changeup

High School College
Rk. Name Throws School Rk. Name Throws School
1 Riley Pint RHP St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.) 1 Logan Shore RHP Florida
2 Austin Bergner RHP Windermere Prep (Fla.) 2 Robert Tyler RHP Georgia
3 Braxton Garrett LHP Florence HS (Ala.) 3 Cal Quantrill RHP Stanford
4 Jesus Luzardo LHP Marjory Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) 4 Anthony Kay LHP Connecticut
5 Kevin Gowdy RHP Santa Barbara HS (Calif.) 5 Jordan Sheffield RHP Vanderbilt


2016 Top Tools: Command

High School College
Rk. Name Throws School Rk. Name Throws School
1 Jason Groome LHP Barnegat HS (N.J.) 1 Andrew Lantrip RHP Houston
2 Braxton Garrett LHP Florence HS (Ala.) 2 Logan Shore RHP Florida
3 Kevin Gowdy RHP Santa Barbara HS (Calif.) 3 Shane Bieber RHP UC Santa Barbara
4 Kyle Muller LHP Dallas Jesuit HS (Texas) 4 Cole Irvin LHP Oregon
5 Joey Wentz LHP Shawnee Mission East (Kan.) 5 Matthias Dietz RHP John A. Logan (JUCO)



Draft | Story | 10/5/2026

Beyond the Board: Dylan Seward

Tyler Henninger
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As the 2027 draft cycle moves through the fall and into the offseason, we kick off a new series called Beyond The Board. With each installment, we will provide an in-depth scouting report for some of the top players in the class, breaking down their tools, strengths, question marks, and overall projection. To kick things off, we let’s take a look at the current No. 1 player on our board, Norco HS SS Dylan Seward. Player: Dylan Seward Position: SS  B/T: S/R Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 177-pounds School: Norco HS Hometown: Corona, Calif. Physical Description: 6-0/177. Shorter build. Lean, athletic body. Frame has wiry strength throughout. A little bit of room for some continued strength development.  Hit: Switch-hitter. Uses an even base with a slightly closed stance from the left side and ever-slightly open stance from the right side. Hands are set at chin level. Displays a...
Tournaments | Story | 10/14/2026

Beast of the East Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘31 Ryan Spann (GA) obliterates this ball for a solo HR 💣. Ball jumps off barrel & shows the juice and & PS impact. 3x @PGSelectFest alum. #BeastOfTheEast @PG_Georgia https://t.co/TgVGPfDRYc — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) October 10, 2026 Ryan Spann (2031, Warner Robins, Ga.) took home MVP honors after a standout weekend and finishing as the number one player on the top performers list. The top player from Georgia and number two player in the country led all performers in home runs (2) and tallied 7 RBIs on his way to a .400 average. The overall profile on Spann is super advanced for the age with electric offensive upside and one of if not the prettiest swing in the class. This will be a fun follow for years to come and I am all in. Carlo Rivero (2031, Apopka, Fla.) checks in as the number one overall player in the class and it’s easy to see why at...
Press Release | Press Release | 10/14/2026

Perfect Game Extends Turtlebox Deal

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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH TURTLEBOX AS OFFICIAL BLUETOOTH SPEAKER AND AUDIO PROVIDER   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, October 14, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Turtlebox has extended its partnership as the Official Bluetooth Speaker and Audio Provider of Perfect Game. The relationship, which began in 2023, expands to include original content, player recognition and a larger presence at Perfect Game's marquee events. At the center of the extension is "Turtlebox Cage Sessions," a new series produced and distributed by Perfect Game across all its social media platforms. The 12 short-form episodes will feature...
Tournaments | Story | 10/13/2026

East Cobb/Padres Explode Late for Jupiter Win

Hannah Jo Groves
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East Cobb/SD Padres ST Explode Late for WWBA Worlds Win A hard-fought, crazy ending resulted in the East Cobb/SD Padres scout team coming back and winning the 2026 PG WWBA World Championship over the SBA/Marlins Scout Team 2028. The score was 8-7 after the championship was won with a walk-off balk. After going against some of the most talented, highly-ranked players in the country for the past couple days, it was finally time for the championship game at Roger Dean Complex Stadium in Jupiter, FL. The WWBA World Championship, or, as it’s more commonly and lovingly referred to as, “Jupiter,” has become a favorite for all who have been part of its iconic, golf-cart infested, electric atmosphere. This championship game was sure to entertain. The first two innings were scoreless for both teams as they got settled. Both defenses were making plays - SBA/Marlins executed a...
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 4

Marcus Thomas
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WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 James Watson (2030, Canton, Ga.) showed the two-way upside to start bracket play for East Cobb Astros 15u. On the mound the right-handed pitcher went three innings and with three strikeouts and spread five hits and two walks for three runs. Watson works from a hybrid windup from the middle-of-the-rubber into a small heel-turn and an around-the-belt leg lift before using drop-and-drive back leg mechanics into a longer, in-line stride down the mound. Showed some feel to get extension down the mound. The hands separate into a moderate arm action before accelerating through from an over-the-top arm angle. The fastball ran up to 86 with arm-side run and life. Paired it with a curveball with 11-5 shape and solid two-plane break. Mixed in a change-up in the upper- 70s with some vertical depth. Competed at the top of the zone well. Athletic...
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 4

AJ Denny
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 ‘27 Mark Susa (WI) picked up 3 Ks thru 2 inn of work. 4SFB topped at 90 mph early on; 2S lived 85-86 w/ good run & sink down in the zone. Spun a 2600 rpm SLV w/ sharp traits (clip). Got up to 7’1” of extension. 6’4/200lb frame w/ more to come. #IUBase #WWBAWorlds @PG_WiscMinn https://t.co/uXfjVSSSZF — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 11, 2026 Mark Susa (2027, Hudson, Wisc.) put together a quality outing on Sunday, striking out three batters over 2.1 innings of work. The 6-foot-4 200-pound left-hander ran his fastball up to 90 mph, pairing it with a two-seamer that lived in the 85-86 mph range with heavy sink and arm-side run. He also showed great feel for spinning and locating his slurvy breaking ball, which read spin up to 2600 rpm. Susa utilizes his length to his advantage, creating...
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 3

Kyler Peterson
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘28 Alan Zimmerman (FL) racked up 5 Ks w/ just 1 H allowed thru 3 shutout frames. Lived 89-90 T91 w/ lots of life thru the zone & some ASR. Dropped in a 12/6 breaker for Ks (clip). Projectable 6’3” mold. #Uncommitted @PG_Uncommitted #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG https://t.co/KTDFpGK49y — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 10, 2026 Alan Zimmerman (2028, Winter Garden, Fla.) was dominant in his start on Saturday, collecting five strikeouts through three shutout innings while allowing just one hit. The uncommitted 6-foot-3 right-hander showed out in front of a lot of scouts, running his fastball up to 91 mph. The heater plays up with lots of life through the zone and short arm-side run. Zimmerman sat comfortably in the 88-90 mph range, pairing his fastball with a late-acting 12/6 curveball that was landed...
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 3

Jheremy Brown
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WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 Carson Garzaniti (2029, Jupiter, Fla.) showed the barrel feel all game for West Boynton Cobras. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with his weight shifted forward and in-line feet with a high handset and an even back elbow, utilizes a heel lift weight transfer trigger. Creates some separation in the back shoulder and uncoils the lower half with a short, direct hand path and extension out front from a slightly uphill bat plane. Good bat speed in the swing with some feel to impact. The catcher has shown the barrel accuracy all event with three hits, including a double and triple, to drive in four RBI and has come around to score five runs. Lean, athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame with feel to generate power working ground up from the back leg. Exciting player that has been swinging a hot stick through pool play.  ...
Tournaments | Story | 10/10/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 ‘27 C Joshua Digulio (TX) opened the morning in Cacti Park with a bang. In his first at-bat of the morning, Digulio crushed an 0-2 fastball. The right-handed hitter powered a fly-ball through the Florida morning humidity off the back wall of the left field bullpen for a no-doubt solo shot. Everybody in the stadium knew it was gone as soon as he made contact. The catcher also worked a walk in his only other plate appearance. His home run was the only hit in the game, providing Texas Brigade 2027 a 1-0 win.  ‘27 MIF Xavier Martin (IL) woke up the stadium with an electric swing. The right-handed hitter was sitting dead-red on a 2-0 heater, got it, and torched it. Martin scorched a line drive all the way over the left field bullpen, as the ball cleared a near 20-foot wall and bounced onto the concourse. It was a two-run shot for the...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 10/9/2026

PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division

Erica Beach
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PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division Oct 3-4 Peoria, IL PEORIA, IL- It was a phenomenal weekend for softball as six teams from three different states gathered at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, Illinois for the 2026 PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division. The competition was fierce from the first pitch to the final out, making for an action-packed slate of games. Our scouts were treated to an incredible display of talent and athleticism throughout the event, and below are the standout players who truly caught our eye. Joharah Boze (2027, Chillicothe, IL) of the Indiana Magic 18U Lewellen hit an astounding .778 on the weekend. She finished the tournament with four singles, three doubles, two walks, three runs scored, and four RBIs, proving to be the pillar of consistency for her squad. Featuring an athletic stance and a balanced...
Tournaments | Story | 10/10/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 ’30 RHP/OF Amir Kriz-Hopkins (VA) couldn’t be touched, striking out all six batters he faced over 2 IP. Tall, projectable frame w/ a quick, loose arm. FB worked 87-91 mph w/ ASR & the SL missed bats w/ late break at 76-79. #SelectFest alum. #WWBAWorlds @PG_VirginiaWV https://t.co/mN4H64aLgo — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 9, 2026 Amir Kriz-Hopkins (2030, Chesapeake, Va.) of SBA Bolts National 15U was lights out on the mound, striking out all six batters he faced over two innings before adding a double offensively. The right-hander has a tall, projectable frame with a quick, loose arm and worked his fastball up to 91 mph with arm-side run. Kriz-Hopkins paired the fastball with a sharp slider at 76-79 mph that generated swings and miss, showing his ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball.   ’30...
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