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Draft  | Story | 5/18/2018

2018 MLB Draft: Top Tools

Photo: Xavier Edwards (Perfect Game)




2018 MLB Draft Preview Content | Mock Draft v. 2

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.


2018 Top Tools: Hitter

High School
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Nolan Gorman 3B Sandra Day O'Connor (AZ)
2 Jarred Kelenic OF Waukesha West (WI)
3 Xavier Edwards SS North Broward Prep (FL)
4 Connor Scott OF Plant (FL)
5 Jeremiah Jackson SS St. Lukes (AL)
College
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Nick Madrigal 2B Oregon State
2 Jonathan India 3B Florida
3 Steele Walker OF Oklahoma
4 Alec Bohm 3B Wichita State
5 Travis Swaggerty OF South Alabama


2018 Top Tools: Power

High School
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Nolan Gorman 3B Sandra Day O'Connor (AZ)
2 Grant Lavigne 1B Bedford (NH)
3 Triston Casas 1B/3B American Heritage (FL)
4 Jordan Groshans 3B Magnolia (TX)
5 Nick Decker OF Seneca (NJ)
College
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Alec Bohm 3B Wichita State
2 Trevor Larnach OF Oregon State
3 Bren Spillane 1B Illinois
4 Joey Bart C Georgia Tech
5 Seth Beer 1B/OF Clemson


2018 Top Tools: Speed

High School
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Max Marusak OF Amarillo (TX)
2 Jordyn Adams OF Green Hope (NC)
3 Xavier Edwards SS North Broward Prep (FL)
4 Levi Usher OF Prairie (IA)
5 Isaiah Thomas OF The Benjamin School (FL)
College
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Kyler Murray OF Oklahoma
2 Jake Mangum OF Mississippi State
3 Charlie McConnell OF Northeastern
4 Nick Madrigal 2B Oregon State
5 Jake McCarthy OF Virginia


2018 Top Tools: Arm

High School
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Will Banfield C Brookwood (GA)
2 Blaze Alexander SS Bishop Verot (FL)
3 Joe Gray Jr. OF Hattiesburg (MS)
4 Kendall Logan Simmons 3B Tatnall Square Academy (GA)
5 Connor Pavolony C River Ridge (GA)
College
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Joey Bart C Georgia Tech
2 Josh Breaux C/RHP McLennan
3 Griffin Conine OF Duke
4 Tanner Dodson RHP/OF California
5 Matt Vierling OF/RHP Notre Dame


2018 Top Tools: Defender

High School
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Will Banfield C Brookwood (GA)
2 Xavier Edwards SS North Broward Prep (FL)
3 Mike Siani OF William Penn Charter (PA)
4 Joe Gray Jr. OF Hattiesburg (MS)
5 Alek Thomas OF Mt. Carmel (IL)
College
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Jake Mangum OF Mississippi State
2 Nick Madrigal 2B Oregon State
3 Trey Dawson SS Kentucky
4 Cadyn Grenier SS Oregon State
5 Jameson Hannah OF Dallas Baptist


2018 Top Tools: Athlete

High School
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Jordyn Adams OF Green Hope (NC)
2 Xavier Edwards SS North Broward Prep (FL)
3 Levi Usher OF Prairie (IA)
4 Mason Denaburg RHP Merritt Island (FL)
5 Alek Thomas OF Mt. Carmel (IL)
College
Rk. Name Pos. School
1 Kyler Murray OF Oklahoma
2 Zach Watson OF LSU
3 Jake McCarthy OF Virginia
4 Jameson Hannah OF Dallas Baptist
5 Nick Madrigal 2B Oregon State


2018 Top Tools: Fastball

High School
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Ethan Hankins RHP Forsyth Central (GA)
2 JT Ginn RHP Brandon (MS)
3 Mason Denaburg RHP Merritt Island (FL)
4 Kumar Rocker RHP North Oconee (GA)
5 Matthew Liberatore LHP Mountain Ridge (AZ)
College
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Shane McClanahan LHP South Florida
2 Casey Mize RHP Auburn
3 Brady Singer RHP Florida
4 Reid Schaller RHP Vanderbilt
5 Tanner Dodson RHP/OF California


2018 Top Tools: Curveball

High School
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Carter Stewart RHP Eau Gallie (FL)
2 JT Ginn RHP Brandon (MS)
3 Landon Marceaux RHP Destrehan (LA)
4 Matthew Liberatore LHP Mountain Ridge (AZ)
5 Austin Becker RHP Big Walnut (OH)
College
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Ryan Rolison LHP Ole Miss
2 Tim Cate LHP UConn
3 Logan Gilbert RHP Stetson
4 Durbin Feltman RHP TCU
5 Konnor Pilkington LHP Mississippi State


2018 Top Tools: Slider

High School
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Garrett Wade LHP Hartselle (AL)
2 Garrett McDaniels LHP Pee Dee Academy (SC)
3 Grayson Rodriguez RHP Central Heights (TX)
4 Adam Kloffenstein RHP Magnolia (TX)
5 Lineras Torres Jr. RHP Beacon (NY)
College
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Griffin Roberts RHP Wake Forest
2 Riley Thompson RHP Louisville
3 Shane McClanahan LHP South Florida
4 Casey Mize RHP Auburn
5 Jason Bilous RHP Coastal Carolina


2018 Top Tools: Changeup

High School
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Jonathan Gates LHP Nature Coast Technical (FL)
2 Landon Marceaux RHP Destrehan (LA)
3 Ty Madden RHP Cypress Ranch (TX)
4 Brandon Dieter RHP South Hills (CA)
5 Cole Wilcox RHP Heritage (GA)
College
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Casey Mize RHP Auburn
2 Jackson Kowar RHP Florida
3 Nick Lee RHP Louisiana
4 Josh Hiatt RHP North Carolina
5 Shane McClanahan LHP South Florida


2018 Top Tools: Command

High School
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Ryan Weathers LHP Loretto (TN)
2 Mike Vasil RHP Boston College HS (MA)
3 Cole Winn RHP Orange Lutheran (CA)
4 Gunnar Hoglund RHP Dayspring Christian Academy (FL)
5 Jonathan Gates LHP Nature Coast Technical (FL)
College
Rk. Name Throws School
1 Casey Mize RHP Auburn
2 Nick Sandlin RHP Southern Miss
3 Konnor Pilkington LHP Mississippi State
4 John Rooney LHP Hofstra
5 Luke Heimlich LHP Oregon State




Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 2/26/2026

PG Draft: Early Season Underclass Performers

Tyler Henninger
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Dax Whitney (@BeaverBaseball) showed LOUD stuff. FB up to 100, cruised at 95-98. Pair of plus secondaries. CB at 77-79 (2923) with sharp, 12-6 action. Firm SL at 89-91 (2714) with bite. Flashed fading CH at 87-88 (1425). Ranked No. 1 on the ‘27 board @PG_Draft So./‘27 elig. pic.twitter.com/9PNbjJ53Zo — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 13, 2026 RHP Dax Whitney, Oregon State (‘27 elig.) Whitney may not just be the best arm in next year’s class, he may be the best arm in the entire country right now. The right-handed sits 98 mph with the heater and has been up to 100 mph. Both the slider and curveball are plus offerings that he spins extremely well. Whitney will mix in a quality Gavin changeup that sits in the upper-80’s and has also introduced a new cutter. All the pitches come from the exact same release point and jump out of the hand. He...
College | Rankings | 3/9/2026

College Top 25: March 9

Vincent Cervino
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Collegiate Player Report Database While there will not be any new faces in this weeks Top 25, there is quite a bit of shakeup as the season, somehow, becomes even more unpredictable.  There were several teams in the poll that dropped weekend series and, in some cases, registered losing records in the last seven days.  There is sure to be more chaos this week as virtually every conference starts league play and the race for regular season titles begins.  The UCLA Bruins (13-2) remain No. 1 as their sizzling hot bats led the way to a perfect (4-0) week and they swept their first Big Ten series of the year.  As one of only two remaining undefeated teams in the nation, the Texas Longhorns (15-0) jump to No. 2 before they open SEC play this weekend in Austin.  No. 3 Georgia Tech and No. 4 Mississippi State both (14-2) hold their spots in the poll after both dropped a...
Press Release | Press Release | 3/7/2026

Debut: Contreras YouTube Feature

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 DEBUTS NEW YOUTUBE FEATURE FOLLOWING JOSEPH CONTRERAS ON HISTORIC DAY BEFORE WBC   Behind-the-scenes access captures the youngest player in the World Baseball Classic preparing for the global stage   Sanford, Florida (Friday, March 6, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the debut of a new original YouTube feature spotlighting right-handed pitcher Joseph Contreras, as PG cameras followed him throughout the day of his final high school start before departing to join Team Brazil in the World Baseball Classic.   The feature provides exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to one...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 3/4/2026

Perfect Game Softball March Madness

Ashley Mears
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2026 Perfect Game March Madness February 27-March 1st Ashley Mears What a weekend at the Fun City Dome in Burlington, Iowa! The energy was electric from first pitch to final out towering home runs, edge-of-your-seat battles, dramatic comebacks, and extra-inning thrillers with some unpredictable endings, it was a great weekend all around. The Top Performers list welcomed some exciting new names, while seasoned seniors continued to cement their legacies, delivering standout performances week after week. For some, this may have been their final appearance on a Perfect Game stage, and they made sure it was unforgettable. In the 18u division a tough Nebraska Gold 319 Berning team outlasted the Southeast Iowa All Stars in the championship. In 16u the Top Gun 2028- Strange completed their weekend by beating the Iowa Aries 16U CE Fire Black. 18U The weekend’s Most Valuable Player award...
High School | General | 3/5/2026

High School Notebook: March 5

Steve Fiorindo
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Full BP & pregame I/O from ‘26 SS Keon Johnson. Whippy hands and lifted to the middle of the field throughout the rounds, athletic mover on the dirt & enough arm strength to stick on the left side. #4 in @PG_Georgia & #50 on the @PG_Draft Board. #PGHS @FPDVikingSports https://t.co/vYvReQKTVh pic.twitter.com/BksHJtA09X — Cam McElwaney (@CamMcElwaneyPG) February 20, 2026 Keon Johnson, SS, First Presbyterian Day Johnson has long been near the top of the 2026 rankings and it all culminated in being a PG All-American last August. He heads into the spring as one of the names to know in the upcoming MLB Draft and is drawing crowds to his high school in Macon. It’s a well-built 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame with good actions up the middle. The defensive acumen has continued to improve over the last few years and now looks comfortable at shortstop and even projects there...
College | Rankings | 3/4/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 4

Nick Herfordt
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The 2026 college baseball season is starting to reveal its early storylines, and across the Division II and Division III landscape a few programs have already forced their way into the spotlight. From the blistering start by the Pittsburg State Gorillas baseball that rocketed them to the top of the rankings, to the steadily rising championship ambitions of the Taylor Trojans baseball, the national picture is beginning to take shape. In Division III, heavyweight programs like the Trinity Tigers baseball and the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks baseball have already traded blows in one of the season’s first statement series, while emerging challengers such as the Keene State Owls baseball are looking to turn early momentum into a breakout year. With many teams still just getting their seasons underway, the rankings remain fluid, but the early results are already giving us clues...
Juco | Rankings | 3/4/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 4

Troy Sutherland
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Another week down as we get into conference play in parts of the nation. This week is led by Chipola at No. 1 with an impressive 24-1 record. Walters State drops to No. 2 at 16-3 and Florida SouthWestern State College (17-5) follows closely behind. Powerhouse programs  McLennan Community College (11-2) and Johnson County Community College (18-2) round out the top five, while one-loss teams Fresno City, Ohlone, and Cloud County are quickly climbing into the national conversation. With traditional Texas powers, West Coast contenders, and deep Florida Juco rosters all in the mix, the race for Grand Junction is already taking shape.   Rk. Team Record 1 Chipola (FL) 24-1 2 Walters State (TN) 16-3 3 Florida Southwestern (FL) 17-5 4 McLennan (TX) 11-2 5 Johnson County (KS) 18-2 6 Gaston (NC) 20-2 7 Blinn (TX) 12-6 8 Florence-Darlington (SC) 18-5 9 Northwest Florida (FL) 16-8 10...
High School | Rankings | 3/3/2026

High School Top 50 Update: March 3

Tyler Russo
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As we get rolling deeper into the spring here in the southern states, other states are only a few weeks away from their seasons beginning and some are even starting the day this will be posted. We’ve concluded the first major event on the high school schedule, the PG High School Showdown, and it was an epic weekend in Hoover. The event was littered with talent and these rankings reflect just that. St. John Bosco (CA) holds onto the first spot in this update and are being pushed by an IMG Academy (FL) team that’s 8-0 after winning the High School Showdown as well as beating two preseason top-10 teams in the first few weeks of the season. Orange Lutheran (CA) holds onto the No. 3 spot after a 1-0 start to the year and just a few weeks away from NHSI. A trio of Florida schools follow Olu in South Walton (FL), fresh off a win at the HS Showdown, Venice (FL), a surging team...
Press Release | Press Release | 3/3/2026

PG & RaceTrac Expand Partnership

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 AND RACETRAC ANNOUNCE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, March 3, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced an expanded partnership with RaceTrac, naming the convenience store brand the Official Convenience Store of Perfect Game in Georgia and Florida. The enhanced relationship significantly broadens RaceTrac’s presence across Perfect Game’s premier tournament venues and digital platforms, deepening its engagement with players, families, coaches and fans throughout two of the most active youth baseball markets in the country.   As part of the expanded agreement, RaceTrac will launch a robust...
College | Story | 3/3/2026

College Players of the Week: March 3

Craig Cozart
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March 3 Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Cider Canon, OF, Duke  The Duke Blue Devils (11-3) went through massive changes in the offseason, with a new coaching staff and heavy roster turnover like is often seen in the college game today.  That hasn’t held them back as they have kind of flown under the radar on their way to a tie for the most wins in the nation.  They won 4 out 5 games last week and Cider Canon was the driving force behind their offensive onslaught.  The 5-11/180 outfielder from San Marino, CA put together an incredible week collecting 9 hits in 14 at-bats, good for a .643 BA, scoring 7 runs, with 3 walks, 4 home runs and driving in a total of 10 runs.  After a successful couple years at Davidson College, Cider made the trip north to Durham and has fit right into the Blue Devil’s high-octane offense.  For the season, he is...
High School | General | 3/2/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Days 2-3

Vincent Cervino
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High School Showdown Event Page | High School Showdown Preview High School Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1 An extended look at ‘26 3B/RHP Coleman Borthwick (FL)… 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 8 K, 0 BB #PGShowdown @SWseahawks @Florida_PG @PG_Draft https://t.co/IHJFWFbn4T pic.twitter.com/I2izGcEdyA — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 28, 2026 Coleman Borthwick (2026, Freeport, Fla.) was excellent over the weekend, securing MVP honors and delivering one of the best starts of the event on the mound. At 6-foot-6, 255-pounds, Borthwick is an ultra-physical prospect and one of the top two-way prospects in the draft. The Auburn signee drew the biggest crowd of MLB scouts in attendance as there were around 50 or 60 so lined up behind home plate on Friday morning. Borthwick was nothing short of dominant, striking out eight hitters and...
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