THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,406 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,406 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 5/26/2018

West Memorial Notes: Day 1

Jheremy Brown
Photo: Tyler Whitaker (Perfect Game)

One of the most useful things that comes from watching a player from the 14u level all the way up is the ability to follow their progress, both physically and in regard to their skill on the diamond. Such is the case with 2020 righthander and third baseman Jaden Agassi (Las Vegas, Nev.), a Southern California commit who continues to develop every time we see him, and opening day of the West Memorial Day tournament proved to be no different.



The first thing that stands out is the strength Agassi has continued to add onto his frame without detracting from his overall delivery. His delivery, and more notably his arm action, is another aspect of his game that has improved since seeing him last summer. As opposed to his longer and deeper arm stroke he was working with last summer, Agassi is now much more online and compact through the back while maintaining solid arm speed, which in turn allowed for more strikes while consistently working down the in zone.

Over the first couple of frame the former 14u PG Select All-American proved to be nearly unhittable, pounding the zone at the knees and even grew stronger with his fastball as the innings ticked on. Opening up in the 86-88 mph range with his heater, Agassi kept upping the ante with each inning out of the windup, eventually living in the 87-89 mph and once bumped a 90. The velocity dips for him some out of the stretch as he can continue to incorporate additional lower half into his drive, though he also was able to generate more sinking life to the pitch.

Agassi worked mostly off his fastball and rightfully so he punched out four in three innings, but he did flash both a changeup and curveball, each of which were thrown for strikes. He did a nice job of maintaining his arm speed and release point on the changeups he did show, creating fading life down in the zone while running the pitch up to 78 mph. And similar to previous looks, the curveball wasn’t an often-thrown pitch aside from a couple of looks which offered short depth in the low-70s.

There’s no reason to doubt that Agassi will continue to climb in terms of velocity on the mound and with his new arm action, strikes should be a plenty for the current No. 37 ranked player in the class of 2020.





Speaking of former PG Select Fest member who threw for LVR during the opening day, 2021 righthander Tyler Whitaker (Las Vegas, Nev.) came in for a quick look in order to get him some work while conserving his pitch count for later in the tournament. Whitaker has long been on the national scene even though he has just completed his freshman season at Arbor View HS.

At a long and broad 6-foot-4, 190-pounds with ample physical projection still remaining, the future Arizona Wildcat was called in out of the bullpen and quickly did his job, inducing two weak ground balls, the second of which yielded a double play to get out of the jam. And as it did to those first two batter, Whitaker’s fastball lived in the 84-86 mph range with consistent sinking life with which he lived off barrels, yielding steady weak contact.

Part of the reason for the sink is Whitaker’s ability to create extension while releasing the ball out front, showing a lower effort release with plenty of arm quickness through the back. The curveball was his go-to secondary, a pitch that has continued to tighten and shows solid spin in the 72-73 mph range with 11-to-5 shape and depth.

The physical projection is too hard to ignore with Whitaker but you don’t have to dream on the body for future success as he already shows plenty of components and an overall arsenal to make him an alluring prospect, as evidenced by his No. 27 national ranking in the class of 2021.

Listed as a primary third baseman who got the start at shortstop for the San Diego Stars, Ryan Ward (Coronado, Calif.) also hit in the leadoff position and of all his tools, it may be his lefthanded stick that stands out the most at present. Ward, a rising freshman who already stands at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds, offers obvious physical projection like others his age but also possesses wiry strength and quick twitch muscle to his overall profile, two things that help create the bat speed he does a present.

It’s a quiet approach at the dish for Ward as he won’t willingly expand the zone, though he also isn’t afraid to attack when he gets his pitch. And that’s just what he did in his third and final at-bat in the Stars’ opening game as he put his loose hands to work and got extended on a pitch which he turned on for a line drive triple to the right-center field gap, accelerating well from first to third. It was the second barrel of the game for Ward and what stands out as much as his physical projection is the overall ease to his swing in getting the barrel through the zone.

The top ranked pitcher in the class of 2019 out of Arizona and No. 86 overall on the national scene, righthander Chandler Murphy (Peoria, Ariz.) took the mound for AZ T-Rex and though he didn’t have his best stuff, he still competed and put together a solid performance. It was a quick three inning look for the Arizona Wildcat commitment, meaning we’ll likely see him another time in this tournament before he makes his was to Tropicana for the 2018 National Showcase.

Having been up to 91 mph last summer, Murphy worked mostly in the 85-87 mph with his heater on day one but also filled the zone and punched out four in his three innings without allowing a hit. Murphy did a nice job of working down in the zone and can continue to implement additional lower half and directionality into his drive, though he did create nice cutting action to his glove side. Along with his fastball Murphy also showed a feel for his curveball, a pitch that offered tight spin in the mid-70s with 11-5 shape a nice depth, an offering he could land for strikes or collect swings and misses with.

Righthanders Zach Locke (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and David Utagawa (Phoenix, Ariz.) are two rising juniors who were pitted against one another as Locke’s SoCal Warriors faced off against Utagawa and the Canyon Thunder 16u squad. Both arms showed components to like and while their stat lines looked different at the end of their outings, both are intriguing arms to keep tabs on.

Locke worked 3 2/3 innings and cruised through them, working in the 83-85 mph range early while bumping an 86 in the opening frame, staying short and quick with his arm stroke through the back. He delivery with simple and shows nice tempo, allowing him to repeat and fill the zone while mixing three pitches for strikes regardless the count. An upper-70s pitch, Locke did a nice job of replicating his arm speed on his changeup and mimicked his release while creating nice fading life down in the zone. His third pitch, a 71-73 mph curveball, was yet another pitch he could land for strikes and did just that in striking out five while allowing just one base hit.

Utagawa didn’t have his best command as he walked seven in his 3 2/3 innings of work, though looking at his delivery there shouldn’t be any reason he can’t iron things out and develop a consistent release point moving forward. He’s strongly built at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds and pitched mostly off of his fastball from a higher three-quarters release point. Early in the content the uncommitted righthander worked in the 84-87 mph range and when everything was on time he showed the ability to create plane with some short running life to it down in the zone. The ease of which the velocity comes from his right hand may be the most alluring aspect of his game, especially given that he can continue to incorporate additional lower half into his drive to the plate.

Throughout day one of the tournament at the 14u age group plenty of players were identified for additional looks like this tournament, three of whom happen to be their team’s starting shortstops in 2022 graduates Michael Vasquez (Whittier, Calif.), Noah Rodriguez (La Habra, Calif.), and 2023 Steven Milam (Las Cruces, N.M.). All three showed interesting tools on opening day and like others at this age, will only continue to develop and refine their overall games moving forward.

Vasquez immediately stands out with his 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame and serves as the starting shortstop and three-hole hitter on the West Coast Braves. Despite his age and size combo Vasquez displayed nice body control along with some range in game and soft hands and solid arm strength across the diamond in between innings. He wasn’t challenged at the plate, showing a willingness to take his walks and not expanded as he reached base three times, but did show the makings of solid bat speed with leverage on the few swings he was able to take.

Rodriguez stood out at the 14u West Showcase for his overall athleticism, abilities with the glove, and aptitude for the game. Batting in the middle of the order for MVP Hustle, Rodriguez showed a handle for the barrel with a linear path and can already impact the baseball despite his listed 5-foot-8, 130-pounds. His defensive actions are among the best I saw day one with plenty of quickness to his feet, allowing for range while showing soft hands out front.

The youngest of the trio, Steven Milam hits in the leadoff spot for Wilson Sandlot and despite his age he plays the game with confidence which he exudes in the batter’s box. Listed as a switch-hitter, my first couple of looks of Milam came from the left side due to a matchup with the righthanded arm he was facing. The young New Mexico native may only be listed at 5-foot-5, 130-pounds but in his second at-bat he showcased the ability to whip the barrel through the zone with a short, easy stroke while creating jump on the barrel on a line drive single into left field.

Another player who stood out on a talented Wilson Sandlot team was 2022 righthander Logan Saloman (Chandler, Ariz.) who’s listed as a primary third baseman and is younger for the grade, just turning 14. Though if you were to guess Saloman’s age off his physical stature you wouldn’t surmise him to be 14 as he already stands 6-foot-2, 180-pounds with broad shoulders and long limbs. He took to the mound for a quick 2.1 inning look and impressed, bumping 83 mph with his fastball while living in the 79-82 mph range. His delivery is pretty simple with a hip coil at top and full arm stroke through the back, releasing the ball out front with relatively low effort. The velocity will only continue to improve as he develops physically and he already shows a feel for landing his mid-60s curveball for strikes.
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 4/9/2026

Don't Boot the Loot Scout Notes
Cam McElwaney
Article Image
‘30 UTL Chase Jelks (GA) lifts this one deep into the gap & rolls around the bags for a triple. Loose LH swing w/ feel to lift. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/leF4GMTawJ — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) April 4, 2026 Chase Jelks (2030, Atlanta, Ga.) put together a great weekend for The Dream 14u Black in their run to a championship game appearance, hitting .444 with two triples and a double along with three RBI. He controlled the zone throughout the event in the box and finished with a 6:1 BB:K ratio because of it while also swiping five bags as well. It was a strong showing for Jelks, something that’s becoming common this spring in PG events.    ‘30 MIF Cohen Carter (TN) hits this one on the screws into the gap for a triple. Functional & compact swing. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Tennessee pic.twitter.com/YVUfxbHBxx — Perfect Game...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 4/15/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 15

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Another week of undefeated weeks for our top 4 ranked teams. Joining them in the top 5, coming off an undefeated week of their own, is Florence-Darlington, a team we have consistently had as a top 10 team all season long. Cloud County and Midland College continue to put together strong weeks and climb the rankings each week it seems. Jumping into the rankings this week on the strength of a 15-game winning streak is Seminole State (OK). And Linn Benton makes the top 25 for a 2nd consecutive week and looks like the top team in the NWAC this spring. Plenty of high-level matchups at the JUCO level for some of the top teams in the county this next week.  Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 42-2 2 Gaston (NC) 43-3 3 McLennan (TX) 34-7 4 Chipola (FL) 37-7 5 Florence-Darlington (SC) 40-8 6 Walters State (TN) 37-10 7 Blinn (TX) 31-11 8 Florida Southwestern (FL) 30-12 9 Southern Nevada...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/15/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 15

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
Welcome to this week's small school baseball rankings, covering NCAA Division II, the NAIA, and NCAA Division III. As the calendar turns toward the final weeks of the regular season, the urgency is real across all three levels — teams are running out of weekends to build their cases, and the extended postseason invitations that every program is chasing don't go to programs that peak in March. The next few weeks of results will carry more weight than anything that happened before spring break, and the postseason committees in all three divisions are watching closely. Every series dropped to a team you should beat, every road sweep you let get away — it all matters now in a way it simply didn't two months ago. What you'll also notice as you read through the breakdowns below is that the numbers are doing more of the heavy lifting in how these rankings are constructed. Run...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/15/2026

Perfect Game & Youth Prospects Team Up

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME AND YOUTH PROSPECTS ANNOUNCE   BROADCAST RIGHTS AND CONTENT PARTNERSHIP    Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with content platform Youth Prospects centered around broadcast rights, content collaboration and expanded visibility for elite youth baseball events.    As part of the agreement, Perfect Game will grant Youth Prospects broadcast rights to select games across its premiere events, including marquee matchups at the WWBA World...
Read More
College | Story | 4/14/2026

College Players of the Week: April 14

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
April 14th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Jaquae Stewart, INF/OF, Texas State  The Texas State Bobcats (24-12) are sitting in second place in the ultra-competitive Sun Belt Conference, and they have one of the most explosive offenses in the country.  They average right at 8-runs per game and can slug with the best of them, averaging almost 2-home runs per game as well.  Sitting in the middle of the order, Jaquae Stewart, is putting together a career year and is becoming the focus of opposing teams.  The 5-10/234 junior from Sinton, Tx is your classic lefthanded power hitter and is thriving in his move from Austin to San Marcos.  While it wasn’t the best week for his club, Stewart was sensational, collecting 8 hits in his 19 at-bats, scoring 5 runs, launching 5 home runs and driving in an insane 17 runs.  For the season, he is now slashing...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 4/14/2026

PG Announces Prospect Gateway Schedule

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
PG has announced the dates for Prospect Gateway events across the country - unique opportunities for young players to receive professional feedback and prepare for the next level. The Prospect Gateways are for players ages 13U-14U and serve as a qualifier for the National Showcase. Kevin Schuver, the senior director of showcases at Perfect Game, said these events are chances for players to step out of their comfort zone and show what they’re really made of. “Perfect Game Prospect Gateways aren’t just events. They’re doorways into something bigger. For young athletes, they serve as the first real step beyond their local fields, where raw ability begins to meet visibility and purpose.” At the event, each player is assigned a PG advisor who will watch and advise them individually. There will also be other scouts giving tips on how to enhance and develop a...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/13/2026

PG & MLB Clubs Offer Discount Tickets

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH THREE MLB CLUBS TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE TICKET DISCOUNTS FOR YOUTH TEAMS    Sanford, Florida (Friday, April 10, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new fan engagement initiative in partnership with three Major League Baseball clubs — the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals — to provide exclusive discounted ticket opportunities for teams participating in Perfect Game events.    Through the collaboration, youth baseball and softball teams competing in...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/13/2026

College Top 25: April 13

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
In a season where remaining in the Top 25 has become a war of attrition, the No. 1 UCLA Bruins (33-2) are making the game look much easier than it is in all reality.  Winners of 27-games in a row, this club continues to win games by any means necessary as they continue their historic run.  Beyond the incredible win streak, the Bruins have started off Big Ten play (18-0) by sweeping their first six conference weekend.  Adding to their resume, in Game 1 of their series at Rutgers, they won a 14-inning thriller by a score of 4-1where their pitching staff registered an eye-popping 30-strikeouts while only surrendering 1 walk and 4 hits throughout.  In most any other season, the No. 2 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (30-5) would be sitting atop the poll as they are putting together a historic season of their own.  They swept Florida State (24-11) who was previously ranked...
Read More
Draft | Story | 4/10/2026

PG Draft: Favorite Position Group

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Every draft class has its strengths. Some years its a loaded group of prep infielders, some years its a deep collection of college arms. In this year’s class, certain position groups stand out above the rest to us. This week, the draft team dives into their favorite position groups. Groups that we believe are loaded with depth, upside, and big league potential. College Infielders It’s hard not to get excited about the crop of college infielders in this year’s class because of who is at the top. Roch Cholowsky alone makes the group exciting. He’s got gold glove potential at the next level and an offensive profile that should make him one of the Top 15 to 20 prospects in all of baseball the second he gets drafted. Justin Lebron is another player with as much upside in the class. He is a premium athlete that can really pick it at short and has big upside with the...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/10/2026

Perfect Game and vivenu Partner Up

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH VIVENU TO POWER DIGITAL COMMERCE ACROSS YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL    Sanford, Florida / New York, New York (Friday, April 10, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, has selected vivenu as its ticketing and commerce partner to unify revenue operations across its tournament ecosystem.    With 1.6 million tickets sold annually, 9,800 events in 40+ states and an immense social footprint, Perfect Game has built the most influential pipeline in amateur baseball. The organization has produced over 2,200 MLB alumni, and...
Read More
General | Blog | 4/10/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common? By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on. Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread? The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching. Most of you probably got there immediately. The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development. Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article. The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently. Don't rush past that....
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.