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| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | State Preview | 5/25/2016

State Snapshots: South Central

Photo: OU Athletics Communications

 


Perfect Game 2016 MLB Draft Preview Index

South Atlantic
– FL, GA, NC, SC

Southeast – AL, KY, MS, TN
South Central – AR, LA, OK, TX
Mountain – AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY
Pacific – AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
Great Plains – IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
Great Lakes – IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mid-Atlantic – DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
New England – CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Canada and Puerto Rico



Arkansas

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Arkansas
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: North Arkansas
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Bryant

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Dominic Taccolini, rhp, Arkansas
WILD CARD: Kasey Ford, 1b/rhp, Bentonville HS

Top 2017 Prospect: Hunter Milligan, lhp, Greenbrier HS
Top 2018 Prospect: Connor Noland, rhp, Greenwood HS

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Jeff King, 3b, Arkansas (1986, Pirates/1st round, 1st pick)

2011 Draft: Dillon Howard, rhp, Searcy HS (Indians/2nd round)
2012 Draft: Matt Reynolds, 2b, Arkansas (Mets/2nd round)
2013 Draft: Ryne Stanek, rhp, Arkansas (Rays/1st round, 29th pick)
2014 Draft: Brian Anderson, 2b, Arkansas (Marlins/4th round)
2015 Draft: Andrew Benintendi, of, Arkansas (Red Sox/1st round, 7th pick)

2015 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 11/10
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 4/1

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• Zach Jackson, rhp, Arkansas (59)
• Luke Bonfield, of, Arkansas (311)
• Carson Shaddy, 3b/of, Arkansas (399)




Louisiana


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Louisiana State
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: LSU-Eunice
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Barbe

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Stephen Alemais, ss, Tulane

WILD CARD: Zach Watson, ss, West Ouachita HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Louisiana Connection:
 Dylan Burdeaux, of, Southern Miss
Top 2017 Prospect: Alex Lange, rhp, Louisiana State
Top 2018 Prospect: Antoine Duplantis, of, Louisiana State

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Danny Goodwin, c, Southern U. (1975, Angels/1st round, 1st pick); Ben McDonald, rhp, Louisiana State (1989, Orioles/1st round, 1st pick)

2011 Draft: Mikie Mahtook, of, Louisiana State (Rays/1st round, 31st pick)
2012 Draft: Kevin Gausman, rhp, Louisiana State (Orioles/1st round, 4th pick)
2013 Draft: Ryan Eades, rhp, Louisiana State (Twins/2nd round)
2014 Draft: Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State (Phillies/1st round, 7th pick)
2015 Draft: Alex Bregman, ss, Louisiana State (Astros/1st round, 2nd pick)

2015 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
24/23
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 1/0
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 3/2

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• Jake Fraley, of, Louisiana State (54)
• Jake Rogers, c, Tulane (69)
• Stephen Alemais, ss, Tulane (80)
• Jameson Fisher, 1b, Southeastern Louisiana (156)
• Jared Poche, lhp, Louisiana State (157)
• Zach Watson, ss, West Ouachita HS (266)
• Austin Bain, rhp, Louisiana State (300)
• Kyle Clement, of, Louisiana-Lafayette (309)
• Kramer Robertson, ss/2b, Louisiana State (436)
• Parker Bugg, rhp, Louisiana State (472)



 
Oklahoma


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Oklahoma State
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Connors State
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Owasso

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Sheldon Neuse, ss, Oklahoma
WILD CARD: Alec Hansen, rhp, Oklahoma

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Oklahoma Connection:
 Zach Jackson, rhp, Arkansas
Top 2017 Prospect: Conner Uselton, of, Southmoore HS
Top 2018 Prospect: Jensen Elliott, rhp, Oklahoma State

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Mike Moore, rhp, Oral Roberts (1981, Mariners/1st round, 1st pick)

2011 Draft: Dylan Bundy, rhp, Owasso HS (Orioles/1st round, 4th pick)
2012 Draft: Andrew Heaney, lhp, Oklahoma State (Marlins/1st round, 9th pick)
2013 Draft: Jonathan Gray, rhp, Oklahoma (Rockies/1st round, 3rd pick)
2014 Draft: Gavin LaValley, 3b, Carl Albert HS (Reds/4th round)
2015 Draft: Anthony Hermelyn, c, Oklahoma (Astros/4th round)

2015 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 31/26
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 1/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 4/1

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• Alec Hansen, rhp, Oklahoma (35)
• Thomas Hatch, rhp, Oklahoma State (85)
• Sheldon Neuse, ss/rhp, Oklahoma (100)
• Tyler Buffet, rhp, Oklahoma State (142)
• Trey Cobb, rhp, Oklahoma State (165)
• Remey Reed, rhp, Oklahoma State (259)
• Donnie Walton, ss, Oklahoma State (262)
• Michael Mertz, rhp, Oklahoma State (396)
• Cade Cabbiness, of, Bixby HS (446)




Texas


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Texas A&M
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: San Jacinto
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Coppell

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Conner Capel, of, Serven Lakes HS
WILD CARD: Mason Thompson, rhp, Round Rock HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Texas Connection:
 Jake Rogers, c, Tulane
Top 2017 Prospect: Cole Turney, of, William Travis HS
Top 2018 Prospect: Luken Baker, rhp/1b, Texas Christian

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
David Clyde, lhp, Westchester HS, Houston (1973, Rangers/1st round, 1st pick); Matt Anderson, rhp, Rice (1997, Tigers/1st round, 1st pick)

2011 Draft: Anthony Rendon, 3b, Rice (Nationals/1st round, 6th pick)
2012 Draft: Courtney Hawkins, of, Corpus Christi Carroll HS (White Sox/1st round, 13th pick)
2013 Draft: Kohl Stewart, rhp, St. Pius X HS, Houston (Twins/1st round, 4th pick)
2014 Draft: Tyler Kolek, rhp, Shepherd HS (Marlins/1st round, 2nd pick)
2015 Draft: Trent Clark, of, Richland HS (Brewers/1st round, 15th pick)

2015 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 67/63
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 13/8
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 28/15

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• Forrest Whitley, rhp, Alamo Heights HS (18)
• Kyle Muller, lhp, Jesuit HS (48)
• Jon Duplantier, rhp, Rice (57)
• Charles King, rhp, Coppell HS (63)
• Hudson Sanchez, ss, Southlake Carroll HS (88)
• Conner Capel, of, Seven Lakes HS (96)
• Nick Banks, of, Texas A&M (103)
• Mark Ecker, rhp, Texas A&M (119)
• Brigham Hill, rhp, Texas A&M (131)
• Ryan Hendrix, rhp, Texas A&M (135)
• David Hamilton, ss, San Marcos HS (141)
• David Martinelli, of, Dallas Baptist (145)
• John McMillon, c/rhp, Jasper HS (146)
• Kyle Weatherly, rhp, Grayson JC (149)
• Dustin May, rhp, Northwest HS (155)
• Devin Smeltzer, lhp, San Jacinto (163)
• Ryan January, c, San Jacinto (172)
• Tres Barrera, 3b, Texas (178)
• Andrew Lantrip, rhp, Houston (213)
• Montana Parsons, rhp, San Jacinto (227)
• Ulysses Cantu, 3b/c, W.E. Boswell HS (241)
• Jordan Roberts, lhp, Trinity HS (252)
• Mason Thompson, rhp, Round Rock HS (260)
• Nick Hernandez, rhp, Houston (277)
• Joel Kuhnel, rhp, UT-Arlington (288)
• Kyle Simonds, rhp, Texas A&M (312)
• Tyler Neslony, of, Texas Tech (322)
• Hunter Melton, 1b, Texas A&M (323)
• Daniel Sweet, of, Dallas Baptist (331)
• Elliott Barzilli, 3b, Texas Christian (335)
• Mitchell Traver, rhp, Texas Christian (368)
• Boomer White, 3b, Texas A&M (376)
• Colin Poche, lhp, Dallas Baptist (381)
• Brian Howard, rhp, Texas Christian (385)
• Trey Morris, rhp, Taylor HS (386)
• Bubba Maxwell, rhp, Houston (389)
• Cory Voss, c, McLennan JC (398)
• Michael Neustifter, c, Hebron HS (422)
• Jon Heasley, rhp, Prestonwood Christian HS (432)
• Ray Gaither, 3b/rhp, Coppell HS (449)
• Andrew Vinson, rhp, Texas A&M (457)
• Lael Lockhart, 1b, Friendswood HS (495)



Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 10/15/2026

Beyond the Board: C/UTL Gavin Kelly

Tyler Henninger
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Beyond the Board: SS Dylan Seward 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. This week we are diving in West Virginia’s Gavin Kelly. The Mountaineer backstop posted a .382/.477/.725 slash line with 19 home runs, 44 extra-base hits, and helped lead WVU to Omaha in ‘26. Let’s dive in.  Player: Gavin Kelly  Position: C/UTL B/T: R/R Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 175-pounds School: West Virginia Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pen. Physical Description: 6-0/175. Lean, athletic build. Sneaky strength throughout. Frame has room to fill out and get stronger.    Slo-mo look at the HR by Gavin Kelly (@WVUBaseball)....
Tournaments | Championship | 10/22/2026

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After both the Best of the West and the Beast of the East wrapped up, a big conglomerate of high end talent and stacked teams descended upon West Palm for both the 13u and the 14u WWBA World Championships. While the weather threw a wrench into the plans early on and some adjustment was needed to ensure the event moved forward, it was nothing but sunshine and competitive baseball throughout Sunday and into the early morning Monday.  Kicking off with the 13u WWBA World Championship, the first thing to point out is the fact this was a wood bat tournament played on 60-90 fields and while the combo was a first for most, you wouldn't know it with their level of play throughout the weekend. In an unsurprising twist and a continuation of their 12u dominance, the 13u championship saw the #2 seeded Goldin Prospects lock horns with the top seeded Houston Wildcatters, aka the champion of the...
Tournaments | Story | 10/22/2026

17u Coastal Fall Invitational

Perfect Game Staff
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Dalton Fisher (2028, China Grove, NC) stands at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, with a lean, projectable frame and room to add strength as he develops. Bats and throws right-handed and plays the outfield. Shows a good approach at the plate with quick hands, solid bat speed, and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Fisher went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI, putting together a great day at the plate. Bradley Edwards (2028, Summerville,SC) Stands at 6-feet-5 225 strong build and the potential to generate considerable power. Bats and throws right handed is a right handed pitcher. Shows good arm strength and the ability to attack hitters while generating swings and misses. Demonstrates a competitive approach on the mound with the ability to challenge hitters in the zone. Recorded 4.2 innings pitched with 10 strikeouts, a 56% strike rate, and a fastball that topped out at 85 mph. Jackson Pierce (2028,...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 10/21/2026

PG Softball Chesterfield Fall Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
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Tournaments | Story | 10/21/2026

Windy City Finale Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘27 RHP Jaxson Weiss (IL) pitched well in his 5 innings and put up some eye popping strikeout numbers. He punched out 10 and allowed only 2ER. FB T86 early and flashed a BB 72-75. #WCFinale https://t.co/M8GtCUgxyS — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) October 17, 2026 Jaxson Weiss (2027, New Lennox, Ill.) a right-handed pitcher put up big strikeout numbers in his start on Saturday. He worked five innings while punching out ten opposing hitters. The fastball topped out at 86 mph and sat in the 82-85 mph range most of the game. His breaking ball was his primary off-speed, living 72-75 mph. Weiss keeps his body under control throughout his delivery, helping him with his good command on the mound. He uses his lower half well with a nice leg drive and gets his hips through, guiding his backside. He pitched with confidence and stayed ahead of hitters most of the game. Hayden...
Tournaments | Story | 10/19/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers

Tyler Henninger
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The WWBA World Championship remains one of the premier events on the draft calendar as all 30 major league organizations descend on Jupiter to evaluate some of the top talent in amateur baseball. The event serves as a pivotal checkpoint in the scouting process, giving established prospects an opportunity to further elevate their stock while lesser-known names have a chance to put themselves on the radar of various organizations. This year was no exception, as several players made strong impressions and positioned themselves for increased attention heading into the spring. With that being said, let’s dive into a few draft risers and sleepers who stood out in Jupiter. Calum Andersen (‘27,CAN) had his A stuff working today running the FB to 96 mph with a devastating horizontal SL at 85 mph that can break bats. Mixed in a late breaking 12/6 curveball at 78 mph that induces weak...
Tournaments | Story | 10/20/2026

Jupiter Recap: Stars Being Stars

Vincent Cervino
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers With the 2026 WWBA World Championship in the rearview mirror, we're going to begin our breakdowns of 4 different subcategories, beginning today with the Stars Being Stars category. Most of the players below are household names or were teetering on the edge of such recognition, using Jupiter as their launching pad. From Perfect Game All-Americans to some serious helium names for the MLB Draft, the PG crew breaks them all down below.  ‘27 Samir Mohammed (FL) racked up 11 Ks thru 5 IP on 75% strikes. FB lived 98-99, T100 w/ tons of ASR & life thru the zone. Hit 99 mph 10+ times incl his final pitch of the outing. Had his sharp vert CB on a string & faded the CHG effectively vs LHHs (clip). #LSU commit. @PG_Draft #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting)...
Tournaments | Story | 10/21/2026

Jupiter Recap: Uncommitted...For Now

Kyler Peterson
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers | Jupiter: Stars Being Stars Gets your reads in now because by the time you reach the end, some of the talent in this article might be giving their commitments to a college somewhere across the country. Every player below did something that caught out scout's eye and should certainly be on the radar for college coaches, if they aren't already.  Braxton Sykes (2028, Brunswick, Ga.) tossed a total of six innings down in Jupiter, collecting six strikeouts while failing to allow either a hit or earned run during his tenure on the mound. The 6-foot-2 right-hander showcased an impressive three-pitch mix with excellent feel to locate in every part of the strike zone. His fastball lived in the mid- to upper-80s mph range with more velocity to project for as Sykes continues to add strength and...
Tournaments | Story | 10/22/2026

Jupiter Recap: Breakout Prospects

Kyler Peterson
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers | Jupiter: Stars Being Stars | Jupiter: Uncommitted...For Now There's truly nothing better than a prospect staying fresh, making the trip to Jupiter and fully taking advantage of the opportunity to perform in front of all 30 MLB teams over the course the tournament. Some of the players below were already on the radar but took their status to the next level, while others made scout and recruiters do a double take and add themselves to follow lists.  Benjamin Faigin (2027, Monroe, N.J.) showed off some serious stuff on the mound in Jupiter, pitching with a ton of energy and confidence. The 6-foot southpaw ran his fastball up to 95 mph, sitting comfortably in the low-90s with good carry through the strike zone. He went to a more vertical curveball when ahead in counts, sequencing the...
Tournaments | Story | 10/15/2026

Big Offense Propels TBT/FTB to Title

Hannah Jo Groves
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Big Offense Wins TBT/FTB Phillies Scout WWBA Freshman Title Runs scoring in every inning led to the TBT/FTB Phillies Scout Team taking home the 2026 PG WWBA Freshman World Championship - winning over Canes National 15U 10-5. It had been a long week in West Palm Beach for the freshmen coming in from around the country to go up against the best of the best. While they had gotten to play on the backfields during the whole tournament, the players who made it to the championship game got to play it in the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches Stadium. TBT/FTB showed their defensive strength right away - executing quickly to retire each of the first three batters. With the bats in their hands, they also showed speed to deliver - with Luca Briggs batting Trey Vandergriff in for the first run of the game and Kingston George quickly plating Briggs with a double in the next at-bat. In the first at-bat of...
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