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| 2,625 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,625 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | State Preview | 6/5/2017

State Snapshots: Great Plains

Photo: Mizzou Athletic Strategic Communications

 


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


Iowa

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Iowa
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Iowa Western

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Daniel Tillo, lhp, Iowa Western
WILD CARD: Jake Adams, 1b, Iowa

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Iowa Connection:
 Derek Burkamper, rhp, Nebraska
Top 2018 Prospect: Ian Bedell, rhp, Davenport Central HS
Top 2019 Prospect: Harrison Cook, rhp, Prairie HS

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Mike King, lhp, Morningside College (1980, Athletics/1st round, 4th pick)

2012 Draft: Alec Rash, rhp, Adel-Desoto HS (Phillies/2nd round)
2013 Draft: Dakota Freese, rhp, Des Moines Area CC (Athletics/12th round)
2014 Draft: Mitch Keller, rhp, Xavier HS (Pirates/2nd round)
2015 Draft: Blake Hickman, rhp, Iowa (White Sox/7th round)
2016 Draft: Spencer Van Scoyoc, lhp, Jefferson HS (Blue Jays/19th round)


2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

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

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

  • Daniel Tillo, lhp, Iowa Western (77)
  • Jake Adams, 1b, Iowa (308)
  • John Swanda, rhp, Roosevelt (398)
  • Korry Howell, ss, Kirkwood (494)

Kansas


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 Kansas
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Johnson County
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: St. Thomas Aquinas

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Nolan Hoffman, rhp, Hutchinson JC
WILD CARD: Shane Cooper, ss, Hutchinson JC


Best Out-of-State Prospect, Kansas Connection:
 Bryce Montes De Oca, rhp, Missouri
Top 2018 Prospect: Jackson Goodard, rhp, Kansas
Top 2019 Prospect: Ryan Zeferjahn, rhp, Kansas

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Joe Carter, of, Wichita State (1981, Cubs/1st round, 2nd pick); Darren Dreifort, rhp, Wichita State (1993, Dodgers/1st round, 2nd pick)

2012 Draft: Collin Wiles, rhp, Blue Valley West HS (Rangers/1st round, 53rd pick)
2013 Draft: Jared King, of, Kansas State (Mets, 5th round)
2014 Draft: Casey Gillaspie, 1b, Wichita State (Rays/1st round, 20th pick)
2015 Draft: Nate Griep, rhp, Kansas State (Brewers/8th round)
2016 Draft: Riley Pint, rhp, St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Rockies/1st round, 4th pick)


2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 12/12
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 5/5
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 7/5

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

  • Nolan Hoffman, rhp, Hutchinson (335)

Missouri


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Missouri State
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Crowder
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Jefferson City

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Jake Burger, 3b, Missouri State
WILD CARD: Bryce Montes de Oca, rhp, Missouri

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Missouri Connection:
 Alex Lange, rhp, Louisiana State
Top 2018 Prospect: Dylan Coleman, rhp, Missouri State
Top 2019 Prospect: Kameron Misner, of, Missouri

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Roy Branch, rhp, Beaumont HS, St. Louis (1971, Royals/1st round, 5th pick)

2012 Draft: Pierce Johnson, rhp, Missouri State (Cubs/1st round, 43rd pick)
2013 Draft: Rob Zastryzny, lhp, Missouri (Cubs/2nd round)
2014 Draft: Monte Harrison, of, Lee's Summit West HS (Brewers/2nd round)
2015 Draft: Jon Harris, rhp, Missouri State (Blue Jays/1st round, 29th pick)
2016 Draft: Joey Lucchesi, lhp, Southeast Missouri State (Padres/4th round)


2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
14/13
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 3/2
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 6/4

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

  • Tanner Houck, rhp, Missouri (26)
  • Jake Burger, 3b, Missouri State (33)
  • Bryce Montes De Oca, rhp, Missouri (181)
  • Jackson Rutledge, rhp, Rockwood Summit (214)
  • Josh Flemming, lhp, Webster University (427)

Nebraska

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 Nebraska
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: McCook
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Norris

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Chase Adams, rhp, McCook JC
WILD CARD: Derek Burkamper, rhp, Nebraska


Best Out-of-State Prospect, Nebraska Connection:
 Nolan Hoffman, rhp, Hutchison JC
Top 2018 Prospect: Luis Alvarado, rhp/of, Nebraska
Top 2019 Prospect: Sam Wibbels, rhp, Grand Island HS

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Darin Erstad, of, University of Nebraska (1995, Angels/1st round, 1st pick)

2012 Draft: Ty Blach, lhp, Creighton (Giants/5th round)
2013 Draft: Sam Tewes, rhp, Waverly HS, Lincoln (Blue Jays/22nd round)
2014 Draft: Jakson Reetz, c, Norris HS, Firth (Nationals/3rd round)
2015 Draft: Tanner Lubach, c, Nebraska (Angels/9th round)
2016 Draft: Ryan Boldt, of, Nebraska (Rays/2nd round)


2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 10/9
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 1/1

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

  • Derek Burkamper, rhp, Nebraska (491)

North Dakota

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 North Dakota State

BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Thompson

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Zac Elgie, 1b, Minot HS (2008, Athletics/12th round)

2012 Draft: Nick Anderson, rhp, Mayville State (Brewers/35th round)
2013 Draft: John Straka, rhp, North Dakota State (Rangers/32nd round)
2014 Draft: No selection
2015 Draft: Jay Flaa, rhp, North Dakota State (Orioles/6th round)
2016 Draft: Zack Muckerhirn, lhp, North Dakots (Orioles/11th round)


2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 2/2
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 1/0


South Dakota


BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 South Dakota State
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Roosevelt

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Dalton Lehnen, lhp, Augustana University

Best Out-of-State Prospect, South Dakota Connection: 
Jake Adams, 1b, Iowa
Top 2018 Prospect: Gustaf Radel, rhp, Roosevelt HS


HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Wade Adamson, rhp, South Dakota State (1978, Reds/4th round)

2012 Draft: Derek Hansen, rhp, Augustana College (A’s/23rd round)
2013 Draft: Layne Somsen, rhp, South Dakota State (Reds/22nd round)
2014 Draft: No selection
2015 Draft: Zach Coppola, of, South Dakota State (Phillies/13th round)
2016 Draft: Michael Letkewicz, rhp, Augustana College (Indians/23rd round)


2016 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 1/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: None

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:
  • Dalton Lehnen, lhp, Augustana University (209)

Draft | Story | 9/11/2026

PG Draft: Potential Risers Into Top 50

Michael Albee
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We are in the early stages of the 2027 cycle and there is still plenty of time for players to make significant jumps up the board. While our current Top-100 provides an early look at the class, several players just outside that group have the upside to make a run at becoming Top-50 pick by next July. With that in mind, each member of the draft team each selected one college player and one prep player they believe could make the jump into the Top-50 over the course of the spring. These are the names to keep an eye on as the 2027 draft picture continues to develop. Joey’s Picks:   Jake Cueto (27 FL) goes oppo πŸ’£ on a mid-90s LonL heater. Performing at a very high level, hitting .464 with 5 homers. Excellent hit/run combo and here comes the juice! #PGHS #Miami commit @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/g4gtml81mm — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) April 1, 2026 Prep: OF, Jake...
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Class of 2026 Recruiting Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
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Tournaments | Story | 9/14/2026

Coastal Fall Battle of the Carolinas Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Deacon Hensley (2028, Zebulon, NC) stands at 6-foot-0, 165 pounds and is a left-handed hitting and throwing right fielder. Lean frame with good athleticism and additional strength likely to come with maturity. Compact swing with quick hands and good feel for the barrel. Relaxed setup with good bat speed through the zone. Good balance in the box with a direct path and solid contact skills. Hensley went 3-for-3, scoring three runs and hitting a double. Great day at the plate. Colt Funderburk (2027, Lancaster, SC) stands at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds with an athletic frame and present strength. Bats and throws left-handed. Physical hitter with a compact swing, good bat speed, and the ability to drive the ball with authority. Good pitch recognition with a disciplined approach. Quiet lower half with a controlled load and good balance. Funderburk went 2-for-4 with one double and two RBI. Cameron...
Press Release | Press Release | 9/14/2026

PG Athletes Raise North of $138,000 in August

Perfect Game Staff
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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 ATHLETES RAISE OVER $138,000 FOR CHARITABLE PARTNERS THROUGHOUT MONTH OF AUGUST   Sanford, Florida (Monday, September 14, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that its August premier events raised a combined $138,422 for children's hospitals and charitable organizations, with 1,112 total supporters contributing across five showcases. Since 2016, Perfect Game athletes have raised over $1.8 million for various charitable causes and organizations. The annual fundraising initiative, which runs in conjunction with several of Perfect Game's marquee events each year, gives players, families and fans the opportunity to support...
College | Recruiting | 9/14/2026

Top 500 Fresh Arrivals on Campus

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It's that time of the year where the freshmen around the country start arriving on campus. Regardless of level, here are the top 500 names to make it to their school for the 2027 season.  Rank Name School High School City ST 1 Archer Horn Stanford St. Ignatius College Prep San Mateo CA 2 Noah Wilson Vanderbilt McCallie School Ooltewah TN 3 Logan Schmidt Louisiana State Ganesha Aliso Viejo CA 4 Blake Bowen Oregon State JSerra Catholic Riverside CA 5 Cole Koeninger Tennessee Keller Keller TX 6 Joseph Contreras Vanderbilt Blessed Trinity Cath Alpharetta GA 7 Bo Holloway Vanderbilt Nolensville Nolensville TN 8 James Clark Duke St. John Bosco Riverside CA 9 Malachi Washington Louisiana State Parkview Stone Mountain GA 10 Brady Harris Florida Trinity Christian Academy St. Augustine FL 11 Grayson Willoughby Kentucky Trinity Louisville KY 12 Jorvorskie Lane Jr. Arkansas Grapevine Fort Worth...
Tournaments | Story | 9/9/2026

PG Wood Bat Fall Kickoff Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Evan Thompson (‘29, AZ) showcasing the all-fields power with this ground rule double the other way. Immense power upside. Really fun offensive profile #FallKickoff https://t.co/l551KirUOf pic.twitter.com/QW0AIeg59g — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) September 7, 2026 Evan Thompson (2029, Gilbert, Ariz.) put on an offensive clinic throughout the weekend, going 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits. He capped off his MVP performance with a walkoff home run to take home the championship. Thompson is one of the premier players in the 2029 class. A fluid left-handed stroke consistently finds barrels. There is all fields power present that will only continue to develop further. It would not be a surprise if Thimpson ends up the top ranked player in the class when it is all said and done.  Chase Fillman (2028, Goodyear, Ariz.) put together a loud summer circuit and...
Draft | Story | 9/8/2026

What Profiles Are Valued Most at Top of Draft

Tyler Henninger
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The landscape of the MLB Draft continues to evolve each and every year. What teams value at the top of the draft can change based on the strength of a particular class, shifts in player development philosophy, and, perhaps most importantly, the way organizations evaluate risk and upside. Some trends are subtle, while others become impossible to ignore when viewed across multiple years. For this study, I set out to answer one question: What player profiles do teams value at the top of the draft? To answer it, I analyzed the Top-100 picks from each of the last six drafts (2021-2026). That gives us 600 total selections to examine and provides a large enough sample to identify both the profiles that have remained consistently popular and those that have gained or lost significant ground. The data was broken down by position, handedness and level to create individual player profiles. While...
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First Look: Class of 2031 Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
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Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early

Tyler Henninger
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Harry Chubb Jones Jr. is getting an early start on the next chapter of his baseball career. The Perfect Game All-American announced Sunday that he will enroll early at the University of Alabama, giving the Crimson Tide an early addition from one of the more intriguing two-way prospects in the 2027 class. See y’all at The Joe! πŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎ pic.twitter.com/Kn0T0mJxq7 — 6._.chubbjones (@chubb_hitter) September 6, 2026 Jones, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound SS/RHP from Georgia, was ranked No. 39 in the 2027 class and came in at No. 83 on the initial Top-100 2027 Draft Board. Chubb Jones Jr (‘27 GA) smokes this one the other way for an RBI single & we’re all level in the 6th. Adv bat speed, impacts w/ authority to all fields #PGAAC@PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/FZ46IvYVp1 — Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic (@PGAllAmerican) August 16, 2026 The McEachern...
Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

2027 MLB Draft: PG Content Hub

Tyler Henninger
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No more having to search for articles pertaining to the 2027 MLB Draft as we will keep it all centrally located here, in the PG Content Hub, leading up to the first pick next July. Tyler Henninger, Joey Cohen, Michael Albee and Ryan Miller, along with the rest of the Perfect Game staff, will continue to provide you with the latest info as it pertains to this 2027 crop.  Article Date Initial Follow List July 12 Way Too Early Mock July 13 Realistic Expectations of 1:1 August 11 Preview: Collegiate RHP August 21  Draft Board: Top 100 August 28 Way Too Early 1:1 Predictions September 4 Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early September 7 Preview: Collegiate LHP September 7 What Profiles are Valued Most at Top of Draft September 9 Potential Risers Into The Top 50 September 11
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