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| 2,496 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,496 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | State Preview | 5/29/2017

State Snapshots: South Atlantic

Photo: Perfect Game

 


Perfect Game 2017 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


Florida

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Florida
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Chipola
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Archbishop McCarthy

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Jeter Downs, ss, Pace HS
WILD CARD: Christopher Seise, ss, West Orange HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Florida Connection:
 Adam Haseley, of, Virginia
Top 2018 Prospect: Jackson Kowar, rhp, Florida
Top 2019 Prospect: Hunter Barco, lhp, The Bolles HS

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Chipper Jones, ss, The Bolles School (1990, Braves/1st round, 1st pick); Alex Rodriguez, ss, Westminster Christian HS (1993, Mariners/1st round, 1st pick); Paul Wilson, rhp, Florida State (1994, Mets/1st round, 1st pick); Pat Burrell, 1b, Miami (Phillies, 1998/1st round, 1st pick)

2012 Draft: Mike Zunino, c, Florida (Mariners/1st round, 3rd pick)
2013 Draft: Chris Anderson, rhp, Jacksonville (Dodgers/1st round, 18th pick)
2014 Draft: Nick Gordon, ss, Olympia HS (Twins/1st round, 5th pick)
2015 Draft: Brendan Rodgers, ss, Lake Mary HS (Rockies/1st round, 3rd pick)
2016 Draft: A.J. Puk, lhp, Florida (Athletics/1st round, 6th pick)

2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 47/45
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 31/16
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 41/19

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• Alex Faedo, rhp, Florida (14)
• Nate Pearson, rhp, College of Central Florida (24)
• Brendon Little, lhp, State College of Florida (30)
• Jeter Downs, ss, Pace HS (37)
• Mark Vientos, ss, American Heritage (39)
• James Marinan, rhp, Park Vista (48)
• Dalton Guthrie, ss, Florida (51)
• Brady McConnell, ss, Merritt Island (53)
• Tommy Mace, rhp, Sunlake (54)
• MJ Melendez, c, Westminster Christian (57)
• Christopher Seise, ss, West Orange (69)
• Kevin Merrell, ss, South Florida (71)
• Mike Rivera, c, Florida (80)
• Shane Drohan, lhp, Cardinal Newman (91)
• Taylor Walls, ss, Florida State (101)
• Jake Eder, lhp, Cavalry Christian (103)
• Garrett Cave, rhp, Tampa (105)
• Jack Leftwich, rhp, TNXL Academy (115)
• Sam Keating, rhp, Canterbury (116)
• Zach Jackson, c, Winter Haven (119)
• Freddy Tarnok, rhp, Riverview (122)
• Evan Steele, lhp, Chipola (123)
• Alejandro Toral, 1b, Archbishop McCarthy (123)
• Christian Santana, rhp, American Heritage (132) 
• Austin Martin, ss, Trinity Christian (136)
• Garrett "Hunter" Ruth, rhp, F.W. Bucholz (139)
• Sam McMillan, c, Suwannee (141)
• Logan Allen, lhp, University (144)
• CJ Van Eyk, rhp, Steinbrenner (147)
• Christian Robinson, of, Viera (151)
• Reese Albert, of, Jupiter (153)
• Deacon Liput, 2b/ss, Florida (174)
• Joseph Perez, rhp, Archbishop McCarty (185)
• Cash Case, ss/2b, The First Academy (189)
• Tim Elko, 3b, Hillsborough (214)
• JJ Schwarz, 1b/c, Florida (218)
• Austin Pollack, lhp, Lawton Chiles (232)
• Matthew Golda, ss, Inspiration Academy (241)
• Andrew Bechtold, 3b, Chipola (244)
• Pearson McMahan, rhp, St. John's River (250)
• Jackson Tetreault, rhp, State College of Florida (264)
• Jackson Stoeckinger, rhp, College of Central Florida (272)
• Jake Walsh, rhp, Florida Southern (284)
• AJ Labas, rhp, Trinity Christian (292)
• Matt Morales, ss/2b, Palm Beach State (295)
• Jordan Spicer, rhp, Polk State (296)
• Troy Bacon, rhp, Santa Fe (299)
• Ricky Vanasco, rhp, Williston (301)
• Bowden Francis, rhp, Chipola (307)
• Reynaldo Rivera, 1b, Chipola (314)
• Dylan Busby, 3b, Florida State (343)
• Bryson Hutchinson, rhp, Spruce Creek (344)
• Scott (John) Kobos, lhp, St. John's River (348)
• Michael Rothenberg, c, Pine Crest (359)
• Jordan Butler, lhp, Alonso (375)
• Harrison Francis, rhp, Lawton Chiles (382)
• Cam Sanders, rhp, Northwest Florida State (387)
• Raymond Gil, 3b, Gulliver (404)
• Keshawn Lynch, 2b, State College of Florida (409)
• Justin Smith, of, St. John's River (418)
• Jaren Shelby, of, State College of Florida (422)
• Brady Smith, c, TNXL Academy (423)
• Austin James, ss, State College of Florida (425)
• Jordan Scheftz, rhp, Central Florida (426)
• Jared Johnson, lhp, Palm Beach State (438)
• Gio Arrierra, rhp, Palm Beach State (444)
• Andres Santana, of, Doral Academy (451)
• Michael Largey, of, TNXL Academy (456)
• Robert Touron, rhp, Gulliver (458)
• Oraj Anu, of, Home School (462)
• Brandon McCabe, rhp, Trinity Christian (468)
• Mason Doolittle, c, Jupiter (474)
• Francis Villaman, ss, Olympia (478)
•  Phoenix Sanders, rhp, South Florida (488)
• Dalton Wingo, of, Plant City (489)


Georgia

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 Mercer
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Highlands
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Pope

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Luis Campusano, c, Cross Creek HS
WILD CARD: Emerson Hancock, rhp, Cairo HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Georgia Connection:
 Clarke Schmidt, rhp, South Carolina
Top 2018 Prospect: Kumar Rocker, rhp, North Oconee HS
Top 2019 Prospect: C.J. Abrams, ss, Blessed Trinity HS

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Ron Blomberg, 1b, Druid Hills HS, Atlanta (1967, Yankees/1st round, 1st pick); Mike Ivie, c, Walker HS, Decatur (1970, Padres/1st round, 1st pick); Tim Beckham, ss, Griffin HS (2008, Rays/1st round, 1st pick)

2012 Draft: Byron Buxton, of, Appling County HS (Twins/1st round, 2nd pick)
2013 Draft: Clint Frazier, of, Loganville HS (Indians/1st round, 5th pick)
2014 Draft: Max Pentecost, c, Kennesaw State (Blue Jays/1st round, 11th pick)
2015 Draft: Cornelius Randolph, ss, Griffin HS (Phillies/1st round, 10th pick)
2016 Draft: Kyle Lewis, of, Mercer (Mariners/1st round, 11th pick)

2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 23/19
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 2/2
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 21/12

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• 
DL Hall, lhp, Valdosta (13) 
• 
Drew Waters, of, Etowah (19)
• 
Luis Campusano, c, Cross Creek (43)
• 
Cole Brannen, of, Westfield Schools (52)
• 
Kyle Jacobsen, of, Allatoona (65)
• 
Emerson Hancock, rhp, Cairo (135)
• 
Tony Dibrell, rhp, Kennesaw State (166)
• 
Terriez Fuller, of, Griffin (179)
• 
Steven Williams, c, Deerfield-Windsor (194)
• 
Barron Radcliff, of, Norcross (281)
• 
Pat DeMarco, of, Winder-Barrow (286)
• 
Oscar Serratos, ss, Grayson (297)
• 
Ivan Johnson, ss, Kennesaw Mountain (317)
• 
Josh Hatcher, of, Lee County (396)
• 
Beau Hanna, c, Winder-Barrow (416)
• 
Ryan Avidano, lhp, Georgia (452)
• 
Zachary Daniels, rhp, Eagle's Landing Christian (487)
• 
Brant Hurter, lhp, Woodstock (500)


North Carolina


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 North Carolina
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Brunswick
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: TC Roberson

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Greg Jones, ss, Cary HS
WILD CARD: Joe Dunand, ss/3b, NC State

Best Out-of-State Prospect, North Carolina Connection:
 Bailey Ober, rhp, College of Charleston
Top 2018 Prospect: Jason Bilous, rhp, Coastal Carolina
Top 2019 Prospect: Brennan Malone rhp, Porter Ridge HS

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History: B.J. Surhoff, c, University of North Carolina (1985, Brewers/1st round, 1st pick); Brien Taylor, lhp, East Carteret HS, Beaufort (1991, Yankees/1st round, 1st pick); Josh Hamilton, of, Athens Drive HS, Raleigh (1999, Devil Rays/1st round, 1st pick)
2012 Draft: Corey Seager, ss, Northwest Cabarrus HS, Kannapolis (Dodgers/1st round, 18th pick)

2013 Draft: Colin Moran, 3b, University of North Carolina (Marlins/1st round, 6th pick)
2014 Draft: Carlos Rodon, lhp, N.C. State (White Sox/1st round, 3rd pick)
2015 Draft: Eric Jenkins, of, West Columbus HS (Rangers/2nd round)
2016 Draft: Will Craig, if, Wake Forest (Pirates/1st round, 22nd pick)

2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
41/37
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 1/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 4/2

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• 
MacKenzie Gore, lhp, Whiteville (5)
• JB Bukauskas, rhp, North Carolina (6) 
• 
Austin Beck, of, North Davidson (10) 
• Logan Warmoth, ss, North Carolina (21)
• 
Brian Miller, of, North Carolina (58)
• Stuart Fairchild, of, Wake Forest (78)
• Gavin Sheet, 1b, Wake Forest (83)
• 
Greg Jones, ss, Cary (138)
• 
Kier Meredith, of, Glenn (156)
• Nick Feight, c, UNC-Wilmington (199) 
• Kyle Datres, 3b, North Carolina (221)
• Jason Morgan, rhp, North Carolina  (234)
• Spencer Smith, c, Northern (247)
• Griffin Roberts, rhp, Wake Forest (260)
• Gavin Williams, rhp, Cape Fear (269)
• Evan Mendoza, 3b, North Carolina State (273)
• Donnie Sellers, rhp, Wake Forest (287)
• Josh McLain, of, North Carolina State (300)
• Josh Roberson, lhp, UNC-Wilmington (304)
• Noah Campbell, ss/of, Cardinal Gibbons (311)
• Zack Gahagan, 2b/3b, North Carolina (345)
• Justin Bullock, rhp, South Granville (353)
• Nick Jodway, rhp, Jimmy C. Draughn (365)
• Tommy DeJuneas, rhp, North Carolina State (445)
• Parker Dunshee, rhp, Wake Forest (457)


South Carolina


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 Clemson
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Florence Darlington
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Northwestern

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Tyler Johnson, rhp, South Carolina
WILD CARD: Clarke Schmidt, rhp, South Carolina

Top 2018 Prospect: Seth Beer, of, Clemson
Top 2019 Prospect: Logan Davidson, ss, Clemson

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Kris Benson, rhp, Clemson University (1996, Pirates/1st round, 1st pick)

2012 Draft: Richie Shaffer, 3b, Clemson University (Rays/1st round, 25th pick)
2013 Draft: Nick Ciuffo, c, Lexington HS (Rays/1st round, 21st pick)
2014 Draft: Grant Holmes, rhp, Conway HS (Dodgers/1st round, 22nd pick)
2015 Draft: Taylor Clarke, rhp, College of Charleston (Diamondbacks/3rd round)
2016 Draft: Chris Okey, c, Clemson (Reds/2nd round)

2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 24/21
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 2/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 3/1

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

• Clarke Schmidt, rhp, South Carolina (36)
• Will Crowe, rhp, South Carolina (55)
• Tyler Johnson, rhp, South Carolina (164)
• Will Gaddis, rhp, Furman (175)
• Bailey Ober, rhp, College of Charleston (178)
• Charlie Barnes, lhp, Clemson (196)
• Chris Williams, c, Clemson (216)
• Alex Destino, of/1b, South Carolina (254)
• Alex Cunningham, rhp, Coastal Carolina (363)
Carmen Mlodzinski, rhp, Hilton Head (491)


Draft | Mock Draft | 7/6/2026

MLB Mock Draft: 4.0

Tyler Henninger
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MLB Draft: Top 500 Update Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Chicago White Sox Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA 2 Tampa Bay Rays Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian 3 Minnesota Twins Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech 4 San Francisco Giants Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Schools 5 Pittsburgh Pirates Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara 6 Kansas City Royals Drew Burress OF Georgia Tech 7 Baltimore Orioles Eric Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove 8 Athletics Chris Hacopian SS Texas A&M 9 Atlanta Braves Ryder Helfrick C Arkansas 10 Colorado Rockies Tyler Bell* SS Kentucky 11 Washington Nationals Jared Grindlinger LHP/OF Huntington Beach 12 Los Angeles Angels Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina 13 St. Louis Cardinals AJ Gracia OF Virginia 14 Miami Marlins Derek Curiel OF LSU 15 Arizona Diamondbacks Gio Rojas LHP Marjory Stoneman Douglas 16 Texas Rangers Liam Peterson RHP Florida 17 Houston Astros Justin Lebron SS Alabama 18...
College | Story | 7/7/2026

USA Collegiate National Team: Stripes

Craig Cozart
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Collegiate National Team: Stars Notes Quick Hits  Each year at the end of June and beginning of July, top collegiate baseball talent from around the nation arrives in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.  Typically, the rosters are filled with top underclass, non-draft-eligible talent but this year, we will see a sprinkling of upper-classmen as the coaches evaluate just under 60 players to get to their final 28 roster spots.  For a total of two weeks, the Stars Squad and the Stripes Squad will compete against outside competition in North Carolina as well as Virginia before finishing their slate with 5-games against each other at the NTC Complex.  Once the final roster has been announced the team will depart for Taiwan to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Championships, July 11-15.    CNT Stripes Position Players  Nico Partida ...
Tournaments | Story | 7/8/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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13u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Chaysten Fuentes (2030, Ewa Beach, HI) worked really well from the right side of the plate ending up with five hits and a double in the last two days. The right handed hitting Hawaiian has a ton of strength to the body. The hands work directly to the ball and can hit to all fields in the approach. Has done an incredible job getting the barrel to almost everything and gets on plane in the turn.  Triston Valdez (2031, Castaic, CA) was electric on day four batting .500 with a double, triple, and five rbis. The barrel is really quick to the ball and works with a level path. Against NY Gotham 13u Ghost, Valdez would not be denied demolishing the bases clearing triple way back into the RCF gap. Stays inside the baseball consistently with the hands and torques it hard.  Christopher Julian Leija (2031, Weslaco, TX) really showed out the last two...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

Two Day Rewind at 15u National Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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Two days into the 2026 Perfect Game 15U National Elite Championship, the storylines are already beginning to take shape. As one of the summer’s premier invite-only events, the tournament annually brings together many of the nation’s top 15U clubs, with 100 elite teams traveling to Hoover in pursuit of a championship. While there is still plenty of baseball left to play, the opening rounds have already produced breakout performances, dominant team victories, and plenty of excitement heading into bracket play. Several nationally recognized organizations entered the week as favorites, including MTBA Dawgs, ranked No. 3 nationally, Wildcatters Baseball at No. 10, and 5 Star Mafia, ranked No. 12. Meanwhile, newer programs like Jason Kidd Select Team have quickly shown they are capable of making noise against the nation’s best. One of the biggest storylines through the first...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

15u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Troy Sutherland
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Tristan Barton (‘29, TX) has struck out three over three scoreless innings of work, getting a lively FB up to 89. Mixed in a sharp vt CB w/ late bite. Operates from a projectable RH frame w/ length + room to fill. #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/LXfkLOtxdo — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 5, 2026 Tristan Barton (’29, Gunter, TX) turned in a strong start on Sunday, lasting four innings of one run ball, striking out four. Barton operates from a bigger lengthy right-handed frame with considerable room to fill. He starts with a mid-body handset before working to the belt and into a high compact leg lift. Barton fires down via a compact arm action and high three quarters slot. The Texas native got a run/ride fastball up to 89, living in the mid-80s throughout the outing. He mixed in a sharp 12-6 curveball with vertical depth and late bite. Jack Graviss...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Jason Phillips
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Nolan Ash (2028, Ashland, Mo.) showed off the power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a leg lift stride. Creates separation and uses a direct hand path with a slightly uphill bat plane and some feel to generate lift from the lower half. Quick hands and stays in-sync with a rotational lower half and solid bat speed. Showed the power belting a solo bomb over the left field fence. Long and lean 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with wiry strength present and more room to fill. The shortstop has a high ceiling and feel for the barrel. Colton Dodds (2028, Columbia, Mo.) showed off the barrel feel and power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a no stride trigger. Direct hands...
College | Story | 7/7/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 7 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
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It’s an exciting time for College Baseball. Not only do potential and proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) elevate the game, but we are coming off a thrilling College World Series and less than a week away from Major League Baseball’s 2026 Amateur Draft. In the middle of it all is the Cape Cod Baseball League.  The amateur players on the Cape are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th  through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and...
Tournaments | Story | 7/6/2026

16u WWBA Rolls Into Marietta

Will Dembo
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More than 300 of the nation’s top 16u teams will meet in East Cobb, Georgia this week as the 16u WWBA Championship gets underway. Over 50 ranked teams from across the country will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in travel baseball, drawing scouts and fans from all over. Pool play will commence on Monday, July 6th with the championship game set for July 13th at the storied East Cobb Baseball Complex. Canes National 16u will hold honors of being the top ranked team entering the event as they have earned a No. 2 national ranking following a dominant 17-2-1 start to their season. The highly touted program is home to many of the top ranked prospects from the 2028 class including talented two-way athlete, Grant Arnold (No. 12 overall) who lives in the 90’s from the mound as well as middle infielder, Bryan Mesa (No. 14 overall) who will draw lots of attention this...
College | Story | 7/6/2026

USA Collegiate National Team: Stars

Craig Cozart
Article Image
Quick Hits  Each year at the end of June and beginning of July, top collegiate baseball talent from around the nation arrives in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.  Typically, the rosters are filled with top underclass, non-draft-eligible talent but this year, we will see a sprinkling of upper-classmen as the coaches evaluate just under 60 players to get to their final 28 roster spots.  For a total of two weeks, the Stars Squad and the Stripes Squad will compete against outside competition in North Carolina as well as Virginia before finishing their slate with 5-games against each other at the NTC Complex.  Once the final roster has been announced the team will depart for Taiwan to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Championships, July 11-15.    CNT Stars Position Players  Anthony Pack Jr.  FR / OF / University of Texas ...
Tournaments | Story | 7/5/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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Michael Wedgeworth (2030, Flomaton, AL) had put the two way ability on full display so far this week, dominating from both sides. On the mound Wedgeworth ran the fastball up to 84 (81-83) with ease to the delivery. Broke off a couple nasty curveballs that induced swing and miss, as well as freezing hitters for punch outs. Collected six in his four inning complete game. He also would not be denied at the plate going 3-5 in the first two days with two doubles. Very intriguing young player as the body continues to grow.  Tyler Bellush (2031, Summerville, SC) is a sure handed shortstop for the Canes Nation squad. Swings it from the left side of the plate and the barrel accuracy has really stuck out thus far. 3-4 through the first couple days with a double and two triples, Bellush has also walked twice and collected 3 RBI along the way. Yesterday against USA Prime with the bases loaded,...
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