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| 2,572 MLB PLAYERS | 16,332 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,572 MLB PLAYERS | 16,332 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | Prospect Scouting Reports | 4/21/2017

2017 MLB Draft Pack: April 21

Photo: Mizzou Athletic Strategic Communications

Once a week leading up to the 2017 MLB Draft Perfect Game will provide detailed scouting reports, and video (when available), on 10 of the top draft-eligible prospects. The first report each week will be available for free, the rest can be viewed with a PG Insider subscription. To learn more about Perfect Game’s subscription packages and to sign up today please visit this link.

Previous MLB Draft Packs:

March 17: Nick Allen, Cole Brannen, Michael Gigliotti, Hunter Greene, D.L. Hall, Keston Hiura, Blaine Knight, Corbin Martin, Brendan McKay, Joe Perez.
March 24: Jake Eder, MacKenzie Gore, Colton Hock, Zach Kirtley, Alex Lange, Royce Lewis, Calvin Mitchell, Glenn Otto, Evan Skoug, Cole Turney.
March 31: Shane Baz, J.B. Bukauskas, Hans Crouse, M.J. Melendez, Brian Miller, Seth Romero, Kevin Smith, Alejandro Toral, Logan Warmoth, Drew Waters.
April 7: Austin Beck, Jake Burger, Hagen Danner, Jeremiah Estrada, K.J. Harrison, Luke Heimlich, Garrett Mitchell, Peter Solomon, Coner Uselton, Evan White.
April 14: Jordon Adell, Griffin Canning, Terriez Fuller, Jacob Gonzalez, Adam Haseley, David Peterson, Trevor Rogers, Pavin Smith, Mitchell Stone, Riley Thompson.


Prospects covered this week: Riley Adams, Ernie Clement, Jacob Heatherly, Tanner Houck, Brendon Little, Nate Pearson, Matthew Sauer, Alex Scherff, Christopher Seise, Mark Vientos.

Special thanks to 2080 Baseball for providing video of Ernie Clement. To view the 2080 video library of players eligible for the 2017 MLB Draft please visit this link.





Riley Adams – C

Height/Weight: 6-4/225
Bats/Throws: R/R
Birthdate: June 26, 1996
College: San Diego
Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.
Projected Draft Round: 2-4

One of the larger catching prospects in this year’s class—a relatively “down” class of collegiate catchers across the board—San Diego’s Riley Adams has had his name on the prospect map for well over a year now. 

The very first question scouts ask when talking about an amateur catching prospect is “can he stick behind the plate at the professional level?” When it comes to Riley Adams, the answer at present is a resounding “maybe.” As is typical with a catcher of his size, there are concerns about the durability of his knees in the long term, as catchers of his length don’t normally catch for very long. Adams’ athleticism is not a problem though, as he’s agile enough behind the plate and blocks well side-to-side, and his arm is a weapon, earning easy plus grades from evaluators. 

His receiving skills are below average at present, with a tendency to “push” the ball out of the strike zone as he receives a pitch, a phenomenon relatively common with catchers of above average size, like Adams is. Such receiving kinks can potentially be worked out with player development at the professional level, however, and there is hope that he can eventually be a serviceable receiver. 

His bat and power are the real calling cards here, with excellent righthanded raw power (he’s already belted 10 bombs this season) to go along with a very good approach at the plate that leads to (and will continue to lead to) a good number of walks. His swing has some length to it, and he likes to get extended, so it’s within reason that plus velocity may give him issues down the line, and he has swung and missed a good bit in college. 

There are concerns to Adams’ profile to be sure, but as a catcher with prodigious power and a chance to stick behind the plate, to go along with good athleticism and a cannon for an arm, Adams is unlikely to last very long when the draft rolls around. He could potentially go as high as the second round to a team convinced he can catch long term, though his athleticism and arm strength leave open the possibility of a position switch to a non-1B defensive home, which also helps increase his profile value. (BS)
 

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Draft | Mock Draft | 7/13/2026

2027 Mock Draft: Way Too Early Ediition

Vincent Cervino
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Perfect Game Staff
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Perfect Game Staff
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Tournaments | Story | 7/16/2026

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Alyssa Golden
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Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

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Tournaments | Championship | 7/15/2026

East Cobb Go Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS

Alyssa Golden
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East Cobb Goes Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS Twenty years after winning the inaugural 14U BCS National Championship in 2006, the East Cobb Astros once again stood atop the tournament, defeating the Original Florida Pokers 7-4 at JetBlue Park. A hot, sunny afternoon set the stage for a tightly contested match between the Original Florida Pokers 2030 and East Cobb Astros 14U Orange. Although the Pokers had a two-run lead with just three innings to go, East Cobb showed their team had no quit as they pulled away with a 7-4 victory. The teams battled through a highly contested tournament field of over sixty teams from across the country, with the Pokers coming in 8-1 and East Cobb entering 8-0 in tournament play. Cohen Carter started on the mound for East Cobb, allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters over four innings. His fastball sat 71-75 mph. Silas Anstett opened the...
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Kinley Kitchens
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Expectations naturally follow one of the nation’s top ranked teams. For Stars Marucci 2027, those expectations have only grown as the summer season has progressed.  Ranked No. 16 nationally and featuring a roster loaded with Division I commits and nationally ranked prospects, Stars Marucci 2027 entered the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship as one of the top teams to watch.  Through the opening two days of the tournament, they have shown why they are a team to watch, opening the week with back-to-back victories over SBA Tucci 2027 (6-1) and FC Twins Scout (5-2) to build early momentum heading into the later rounds.  The talent on the roster is undeniable.  Virginia Tech commits Chase Colangelo, Yogi Colangelo, and Teagan Leach, Maryland commit Jerome Fortier, and Youngstown State commit Sam Capuano headline a group filled with college bound...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Mine Wood Bat World Series Notes

Jordan Gates
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/14/2026

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Coastal Region Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Ridge Whitfield (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot, 158 pounds with an athletic build that should allow him to maintain his mobility and quick-twitch actions as he continues to develop. He bats and throws left-handed. Whitfield locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, mixes his pitches effectively, and keeps hitters off balance. He competes on every pitch and doesn’t back down in big situations. Whitfield threw 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out three on 75 pitches (58% strikes). He attacked the zone with a fastball that sat 73 mph and topped out at 78 mph, mixing in a 67 mph breaking ball and a 68-70 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance. Sam Jobe (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, with a lean, athletic frame and plenty of projection. He bats and throws right-handed. Jobe shows good feel for the...
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