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Tournaments  | Story | 6/30/2018

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Tournament Staff
Vincent Cervino
Greg Gerard
Photo: Myles Austin (Perfect Game)

17u WWBA National Championship: Event Page | Daily Leaders




Starting off the first time slot over at East Cobb was uncommitted righthander Cameron Meeks (2019, Shreveport, La.) who turned in a very good start and helped push his Team Louisiana teammates to a 4-2 victory in the opening round of the 17u WWBA National Championship. Meeks stands at a tall, yet still physically projectable, 6-foot-3 and 180-pounds with extremely long, lanky limbs. The righthander struggled a bit in the first inning before settling down to pound the strike zone in the 87-91 mph range, with the fastballs working at their best when he leveraged his height to locate the ball in the lower third of the strike zone. Meeks was extremely efficient from that point onward, finishing the game with only three hits allowed and striking out six in five shutout innings. Meeks’ off-speed showed potential with a short curveball in the low- to mid-70s with some shape that he could land for strikes while flashing a changeup. There are a lot of present components that would make a prospect like Meeks desirable to a high-end school and I wouldn’t expect his uncommitted status to last for much longer.

Toeing the rubber in the opening game of the tournament for the 16u East Cobb Astros was underclassman Zachary Murray (2020, Sugar Hill, Ga.) and the righthander was fairly impressive over the course of his start. Murray, a still uncommitted rising junior, as the stuff was pretty good through he gave up three earned runs during his stint on the mound. Murray has a long-limbed 6-foot, 170-pound frame with room for additional strength to increase velocity to his presently fluid, low-effort delivery. The longer arm stroke through the back is well timed up and repeatable and he releases from an extended three-quarters arm slot which creates some run and sink on the fastball when low and to the arm side. The fastball topped out at 90 mph on the afternoon and sat in the 86-88 mph range throughout the performance. While the fastball doesn’t jump off the page the angle of release and arm speed allowed him to replicate that on his changeup which he tunneled effectively with the fastball. The change piece was in the upper-70s mostly with good sinking life and got a number of ground balls. Murray also showed a good-shaped breaking ball that he could land for strikes though the changeup is an advanced pitch for him at this stage.

A pair of righthanded hitting power bats went deep during the mid-afternoon slot over at the East Cobb Complex as Florida commit Wyatt Langford (2020, Trenton, Fla.) of the Florida Hardballers and Alabama commit Myles Austin (2019, Smyrna, Ga.) of the Giants Scout Team both had big shots.

Langford is a physically advanced righthanded hitting prospect, with lots of strength well-proportioned through his 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame. The swing is fast with present bat speed and loft through the point of extension and Langford did a good job to show off the strength in his wrists by keeping his hands inside and still being able to get extended. Langford’s power to the pull side is not insignificant, he showed some big power at the Jr. National Showcase a couple of weeks ago, and he had a double and a triple in his first game of the day. Langford’s raw power and bat speed offer serious intrigue and upside, should he continue finding barrels he should have no issue finding power.

Austin was fairly impressive at the recent PG National Showcase, and the overall skill-set, when considered, offers tremendous upside. The lengthy, athletic 6-foot-3, 177-pound frame allows for near limitless physical projection while he already has a great deal of strength and twitch. Austin manned shortstop today for the Giants Scout Team and showed out well at the position, not really being challenged often but making a few difficult plays look almost routine with fluidity and grace. The offensive tools, however, are extremely enticing. His long limbs create natural leverage to the pull side and the first pitch of the evening that Austin saw he drove over the left field fence that got out of the park in under five seconds. The batted ball was a laser off the bat and Austin’s extension and bat speed offer significant righthanded power. The tools are all there for an exciting package, one can’t forget he also has well above average arm strength, and if he continues to show this consistent ability to find the barrel he could be a special player.

All of the arms for the Giants Scout Team at least touched 90 mph on the afternoon as Casey Daiss (2019, Clermont, Fla.), Ben Gilbert (2019, Lake Wales, Fla.), and Alejandro Torres (2019, Miami, Fla.) all showed desirable traits out of pitching prospects.

Daiss, a still uncommitted rising senior, has a prototypical build of starting pitcher with a mature 6-foot-4, 225-pound physical frame. The righthander hit 90 mph on the radar gun a number of times and settled into mostly a 87-90 mph range while commanding the pitch to either side through a longer arm stroke. Daiss clears his front hips easily and throws strikes effectively all while mixing in a hard slider with predominantly horizontal break to the pitch in the 77-80 mph range.

Gilbert, an Ole Miss recruit, appears to be a lefty specialist upon first glance but the southpaw has significant stuff. The arm stroke is very loose and easy while generating whip through release. With velocity in the 88-90 mph range, and touching 91 mph a handful of times, Gilbert created significant sinking life on his fastball that, in conjunction with his advanced ability to hide the ball, resulted in double-digit swings-and-misses on the heater. Gilbert has a pretty solid curveball too in the mid-70s with tight shape and effectiveness, and he looks to be a strikeout machine out of the bullpen.

Torres, a Florida International recruit, worked pretty quickly as he struck out every batter that he faced. The righthander is extremely physical, listed at 6-foot-1 and 235-pounds, with a very fast arm stroke throughout the circle. There is a bit of length to the stroke but the arm speed is so good that he can whip in 90-93 mph heaters while creating plane low in the zone. Torres only needed his fastball to blow by hitters but he also showed a curveball that flashed some potential.

Instantly becoming one of the top uncommitted power bats in the country following his loud PG National performance is Mahki Backstrom (2019, Los Angeles, Calif.) and the lefthanded hitting slugger continued to show his ability to barrel balls in game. Backstrom starts vey wide but remains balanced throughout the full swing path with plenty of bat speed. The full, extended swing path allows his strength and power to play to all fields, and his double on the evening came to the opposite field. He made a good adjustment from his previous at-bat, where he struck out, to stay back and drive an outer half, mid-80s fastball from a lefty. The hitting tools are very impressive and Backstrom’s uncommitted status shouldn’t remain that way for much longer.

After impressing over the past few weeks at TOS and USA Trials, Carter Young (2019, Selah, Wash.) suited up for CBA Marucci and instantly made his presence known on the field. The twitchy and athletic prospect saw some time at shortstop during the game and that’s where his actions just jump off the page, even when he isn’t really doing much of anything. The hand quickness and the exchange are preternaturally fast with advanced feel and instincts, both in the field and on a baseball diamond in general. Young turned in a 4.3 second time to first, as well as a 4.5 turn, though he stole second and third base uncontested following his correct and early reads on the pitcher. Young has one of the more visually appealing swings in the class, with loose and fast hands, a compact path, and excellent barrel control. The fluidity of the path allows him to manipulate the barrel head effectively and the hitting tools in conjunction with maybe the best, pure defensive instincts of the class make the Vanderbilt commit one of the bigger names to know for next year’s draft.

– Vincent Cervino



Corey Collins (2020, Suwannee, Ga.) is a frequently-covered player, but deservedly so. He seemingly doesn’t have a bad game for the Georgia Jackets, or even a mediocre one, and Friday was no exception. After getting the bat taken out of his hands with a hit-by-pitch in the first, he smoked a loud double to the pull side. The combination of raw power, loose and fluid hands and the plate discipline he possesses makes him an absolute nightmare on opposing pitchers. The athletic catcher, ranked second in his class at the position statewide, is very agile behind the plate in his setups and his spectacular pitch-framing ability was on display again as he turned a few balls into strikes. Runners were mostly wise enough not to test his strong arm on the day, although one unfortunate player caught the wrath of his 1.82 second pop time. He does a great job of getting on top of his throws and firing accurately to the bag. The recent Georgia commit doesn’t take any plays off, either, as he can be seen hustling down the line to back up throws. Collins is a truly dynamic talent capable of huge impacts on the game both offensively and defensively.

Another impressive catcher in Cade Hunter (2019, Mount Laurel, N.J.) occupied the opposing dugout for the Pro Skill Baseball squad. He ambushed a fastball in the first inning for a triple, showing a nice, short swing and getting good extension. Later, he stayed on a curveball with two strikes, taking it up the middle for a well-hit single, and walked in his next appearance. He was a consistent presence on the basepaths, where he ran well for a catcher. Defensively, Hunter, who is a Virginia Tech commit, was also solid, showing a good ability to get down and block balls in the dirt. He too displayed a strong arm, making a nice play as he scooped a wild pitch and fired to second to retire the runner. The fourth-ranked New Jersey catcher in his class, Hunter looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Coming in from right field to make a relief appearance, Bryce Mangene (2019, Lumberton, N.J.) showed good levels of velocity in a dominant showing for Sportika Gallagher Elite. He was consistently hitting around 90 mph on the gun, which may have been surprising at first glance given his 6-foot-1, 165 pound frame, but there is plenty of arm strength presently. He also featured a tight curveball, and the combination proved to be too much for hitters, as he retired four via the strikeout in a brief 1 2/3 inning cameo. While the delivery is a bit high-effort, it remains mechanically sound, and as Mangene, a Pennsylvania commit, adds weight in the coming years it wouldn’t be surprising to see him add even more juice to the heater. As mentioned, the hard-throwing righty also plays outfield, ranked seventh there in his class statewide, and while he didn’t get results at the plate on Friday, it will be interesting to watch his bat and glove more in the future.

Another flame-throwing righty who stood out was Hunter Crosby (2018, Dickson, Tenn.). He pitches with a simple, short arm stroke and was showing a fastball that reached 91 mph with occasional good tail to the arm side. Crosby stands at a very projectable 6-foot-4 and was difficult to square up, only allowing a smattering of soft contact. The curveball is thrown with a slightly slower arm speed, but should he improve this offering, Crosby, a Murray State commit, will have a very nice 1-2 punch in his arsenal. He also continues a trend on the day of highly-touted position players toeing the rubber, as he is ranked third among Tennessee first basemen in his class. He wasn’t in the lineup today but demands attention the next time he is.

Using separate release points, Murphy Gienger (2019, Castle Rock, Colo.) confounded hitters by giving them different looks throughout his outing. He alternates between over-the-top and sidearm to keep hitters guessing and showed good command with both arm slots. While he wasn’t lighting the radar gun ablaze, living around 81 mph, he has hit 84 previously and it isn’t inconceivable to think that there is a good deal more in his projectable 6-foot-3 build. Velocity isn’t the biggest element in his pitching style as he relies on his breaking stuff just as much, throwing it when ahead or behind in the count. His curveball showed good snap from both slots, with more horizontal slide from the side and more drop when thrown overhand. Gienger is an athletic presence on the hill and got many quick outs by pitching to weak contact. He also demolished a double to the wall and, as the fifth-best Colorado shortstop in his class, should garner some more attention in the future when playing there.

Logan Jones (2020, Milton, Ga.) was a strikeout machine on the mound to open the day, recording 10 of them in just 4 2/3 innings of work. The 6-foot-3 righthander relied heavily on the fastball to great effect, able to locate to both corners all day and garnering more than a handful of whiffs with the offering, which touched up to 87 mph and seemed to get in on hitters a bit quicker than expected, although it lost some ticks later in the game. His curveball wasn’t always consistent, especially early on as he could leave it hanging. However, Jones seemed to find a feel for it later in the game, and when executed properly, the pitch showed very nice potential with sharp movement that got some hitters to flail. He even gained enough confidence in it throughout the outing where he was able to throw it for first-pitch strikes. The talent is there for Jones, who is ranked 27th among Georgia righties in his class and has two years left in high school to iron out some kinks, which would include not rushing the delivery in order to keep the pitching arm on time.

– Cameron Hines





Aaron Roberts (2019, Las Vegas, Nev.) showed some of the top velocity of the first day of the 17u WWBA National Championship and did so out of the bullpen earning the win as well. Roberts was virtually unhittable and got a profound amount of swings and misses in his three innings of relief work. Tallying up seven strikeouts in three innings, Roberts was giving hitters more than they could handle at the plate with a heavy fastball that sat 87-91 mostly but did touch 93 mph as well as 94 mph on a lone occurrence.

Roberts is an interesting pitcher in that he pitches with effort, but his fastball velocity jumps at times while slightly unexpected. His release point was a bit inconsistent early, but he made the adjustment and was lights out after making a minor adjustment as well as retrieving a seem to be much need rosin bag from the dugout. Roberts does have a loose arm while hooking it slightly through the back-side, but does a nice job releasing the fastball out in front. While listed at 6-foot-3, he may be a bit shorter than that, but is certainly a physical presence on the mound. He features both a fastball and a big breaking ball that he gets hitters to chase or roll over on as he does a good job of keeping the pitch low in the zone. The California-Berkeley commit was dominant in relief and improved his best fastball velocity by two mph from the PG National two weeks ago.

Not many 2020 graduate hitters can fit right into the middle of the order on a highly regarded 2019 travel team, but Trejyn Fletcher (2020, Portland, Maine) does just that for Blackhawks National. Taking such a relaxed and confident approach at the plate, Fletcher waits on his pitch and drives it off of his barrel. The Vanderbilt commit has elite bat speed and showed present in his swing all game long. On his single up the middle in his second at bat of the day, Fletcher put that outstanding bat speed to the baseball and the baseball jumped off of his bat. On a 1-0 belt-high fastball that came in at 86 mph, Fletcher turned the pitch around right back where it came from producing an exit velocity of 97 mph. The most intriguing part of the at bat was that he was actually slightly out in front of the pitch and still hit the baseball with extreme conviction. The commitment to Vanderbilt is one of the top players in his class as well as one of the most athletic and it is always a pleasure to watch him swing the bat.




Matthew Wyatt (2019, Timonium, Md.) worked mostly 88-90 mph early on in his outing and maintained an average fastball of 88 mph through his 42 pitches. Wyatt works at a rapid pace on the mound getting the ball immediately back from his catcher and firing back to him from an up-tempo delivery most of the time. He did like to mix things up with his windup speeds varying timing and side step speeds and did so effectively maintaining his velocity and locating abilities. Wyatt is a tall and athletic righthander standing at a projectable 6-foot-4, 195-pounds. The Virginia commit has a loose arm through the arm circle that continually was on time and repeated well. He also mixed a sharp slider in the low-80s that helped him strike out three batters in 2 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball.

Max DeJong (2020, Powder Springs, Ga.) did not quite show the 92 mph velocity he has been up to recently at PG events but he did have an upper-80s fastball that he used to get ahead in counts and got outs with his two secondary offerings. His curveball is sharp and he uses it well off of his fastball. He also mixed in a changeup with fading action. DeJong only pitches from the stretch with a full and quick arm stroke while creating plane in doing so. He had to work around some trouble against a good US Elite squad, but showed nice potential on the mound as a righthanded pitcher.

Edinson Rafael Sanchez (2019, Passaic, N.J.) is a large righthanded pitcher and got the start at 10:30 am on Day 1 for Farrah Scout. Sanchez has a long and slightly wrapped arm action but the arm whips through the circle getting good velocity on his fastball. His heater topped out at 91 mph and sat 88-90 early on while steadily declining as the game wore on. He did tend to struggle with command of his pitches but threw a heavy fastball and was not able to be squared up when releasing out in front. The uncommitted righthander attacks with the fastball and mixes in a mid-70s curveball when needed to retire hitters.

Andrew Roberts (2019, Altamonte Springs, Fla.) connected on an elevated 1-1 fastball and launched it deep to left field for a home run in the first game of the Scorpions Founders Club 2019’s doubleheader. Roberts torques his hips into his swing generating plenty of bat speed. This hit in particular made a loud crack showcasing the juice present in his stroke. The Florida commit has a strong knack for hitting the baseball out in front while leveraging it to pull. He strides with an athletic leg lift and gets it down on time especially on this swing in particular.

Jamison Simmons (2019, Port Neches, Texas) came into close the door for Marucci Elite Texas Rodriguez 17u pumping an inning at 89-91 mph. Simmons has a unique delivery with a deep stab through the back-side and really sits on his driving leg down the mound. He came in and retired the side with a strike out in an inning of work. Simmons is not overly physical standing at 5-foot-11, 183-pounds, but his spin rate on his fastball is notably high and makes it very hard for hitters to square up his pitches. Simmons creates plane down the mound as well and is virtually unhittable when working the knees with his fastball especially to the inner third on righthanded hitters.

Trent Black (2019, Hudson, N.C.) is a really interesting uncommitted righthander on the mound. Standing at a lean and highly projectable 6-foot-3, 165-pounds, Black features an upper-80s fastball while peaking at 91 mph early and projects for plenty more moving forward and already maintains his upper-80s velocity well. Black has a quick and compact arm stroke and exceptional command. On this day he did not find a barrel, pitched six three-hit innings and struck out nine while not walking a batter. Black worked all four corners of the strike zone with his fastball and kept his big breaking ball down in the zone. Black could work on maintaining the same arm speed that he produces on his fastball on his breaking ball, but still showed some of the top pitchability so far seen in this tournament.

Nolan Crisp (2019, Locust Grove, Ga.) has shown outstanding velocity for his size for several years now at Perfect Game events and Friday night was no different. In the late 9:45 pm slotted game, Crisp got the ball and was electric for his two-inning stint. Pounding 90-93 mph with his fastball and continuing to fill up the zone with his power diving slider up to 86 mph, Crisp needed just 25 pitches to retire all six batters he faced and three via the strikeout. The University of Florida commit throws with a lot of effort, but he uses it well and fills up the zone. Crisp gets outstanding use of his lower half as well as extremely fast arm speed to produce the fastball that jumps out of his hand. Crisp will likely throw again in this event at some point, but if what he showed in the first two innings of the Canes National 17u’s four-inning run-rule the next outing is for sure going to be must see.

A pair of Canes National 17u bats got things rolling for Crisp’s offensive run support. Anthony Volpe (2019, Watchung, N.J.) and Chris Newell (2019, Newtown Square, Pa.) both knocked high exit velocity extra base hits to their pull sides with Volpe’s going down the left field line for a double and Newell’s hitting the base of the wall on the fly in the power alley for a long triple. Volpe has shown bat speed at events in the past and tonight was no different ripping his quick hands through the hitting zone and getting the barrel of the bat to the baseball. Newell, in a quick look, has outstanding feel for the barrel with plenty of bat speed as well. He just missed a home run on this swing in particular and really turned some heads of the heat that was in attendance Friday night.

– Greg Gerard



In the morning’s first time slot, Banditos Florida Prospects trotted out Wilberto Febles (2020, Miami, Fla.) in relief. Febles turned in a strong outing Friday, tossing three shutout innings to seal a victory. Febles had a lively fastball that he ran up to 90, but sat 87-89 for most of the day. Febles was all over the strike zone, and the fastball really jumped out of his hand, getting on hitters quick. Febles was also able to spin a breaking ball in the mid-70s on Friday, using it as more of a show pitch to get back to his fastball.

Febles is an intriguing arm in the 2020 class, as there is definitely more velocity to come as he becomes more athletic. Febles is a physical 6-foot, 190-pounds, and has room to improve in his lower half. The arm action is incredibly quick, and if he can learn how to maximize the power from his legs, his ceiling will continue to climb.

In the next time slot, Texas commit Travis Sthele (2020, San Antonio, Texas) tossed three hitless innings in the South Texas Sliders victory. Sthele sat in the low-90s with his fastball, topping at 93. Sthele also showed great feel for a mid-80s breaking ball he was able to throw in any count. After hitting the first two batters he faced on Friday, Sthele settled in and retired the next nine batters to step in the box. Sthele had seven strikeouts on the day and was pounding the zone with both pitches.

Sthele is a physical 6-foot, 185-pound righty. He was able to hide the ball well with quick, short arm action, and he had very repeatable lower half mechanics. He does an outstanding job of using his lower half to drive down the mound and get the most out of his delivery.

US Elite Florida Scout Team showcased a pair of high-level arms out of the bullpen on Friday night. Luke Schiltz (2019, Cartersville, Ga.) was up to 89 with his fastball, sitting anywhere from 85-88. Schiltz has a low three-quarters arm slot that stays loose and free through the delivery. Schiltz had great feel for a breaking ball in the low-70s, and he was able to use it as a put away pitch late in counts. At 6-foot-5, 192-pounds, Schiltz has room to fill out and add strength that could lead to a jump in velocity. Definitely a 2019 arm to keep an eye on.

Schiltz was followed by big right hander Geo Rivera (2019, Williamsburg, Va.). Rivera ran a fastball up to 93 on Friday night, sitting anywhere from 88-92 during his one inning of work. Rivera is a physical kid that stands 6-foot-3, 220-pounds, and was able to use his body well to gain momentum down the mound. Rivera was able to show a tight slider at 78, striking out a batter looking. Rivera works quickly and the ball absolutely jumps out of his hands. The Old Dominion commit is also an arm to look out for through his senior year.

In the nightcap, Jayson Hoopes (2019, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) turned in a strong performance in his two innings of work. Hoopes was 89-92 with his fastball, topping at 93. Hoopes had feel for a tight slider at times, but he had a tendency to lose command of the slider when the timing of his delivery was off. Hoopes has a projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame, but will need clean up the delivery to maximize his potential. Hoopes flashed some late run on fastballs to the arm side, and that can be a weapon if he learns to command it to both sides of the plate. As Hoopes cleans up his delivery and continues to grow, expect him to progress nicely as the year goes on.

– Nate Schweers



On the first day of the 17u WWBA National Championship, several uncommitted prospects stood out in a big way in the morning/afternoon sessions. 

We only got a quick look at Ben Harris (2019, Crystal Lake, Ill.) but the young, highly-projectable righthander was intriguing nonetheless. With coat hanger shoulders and a very slender build, Harris has the type of physicality one can dream about putting a significant amount of weight on moving forward in the weight room, and he’s already got pretty solid arm speed. He worked up to 87 mph with his fastball from a compact, quick arm, and shows the athleticism necessary to repeat his delivery long term. He came in to close out a Pro Player Canes victory and did so throwing exclusively fastballs, working up to 87 mph and showing the ability to work down in the zone. He’s an interesting one to follow in the Midwest and will likely have a significant amount of college interest this summer. 

Though he ended up being saddled with the loss, uncommitted righthander Magnus Ellerts (2019, Woodbridge, Va.) still showed a lot of things to like in his first Perfect Game event. The physical, broad, well-built Ellerts came out firing early, working up to 88 mph with his fastball and creating good angle to the plate. There is some deception there as well, allowing his fastball to play up a bit in terms of effective velocity, and he also showed very good feel to spin a sharp slider. The pitch definitely has sharpness to it, but it does break early at times, though with more refinement the pitch has all of the upside of a true bat-misser long term. 

The Bo Jackson Elite squad got off to a good start in this event by taking a first game victory, and uncommitted lefthander Rigo Ramos (2019, Stryker, Ohio) got the win on the mound. Ramos is an extremely slender athlete, listed at 6-foot-5, 170-pounds, with seemingly limitless physical projection. He worked in the 80-84 mph range with his fastball, showing some deception through the arm stroke via hiding the ball pretty well, and also showing very good feel to spin the baseball, working in a breaking ball in the 70-72 mph range that showed flashes of being a very good pitch. He tunnels the pitch well out of his hand and can vary the shape of it a bit, giving him a good weapon both now and in the future. The mechanical profile is very raw right now, but there is a lot to like in terms of upside with Ramos moving forward. 

As far as committed guys go, recent Michigan commit (for football and baseball) Joey Velasquez (2019, Lewis Center, Ohio) stands out immediately upon exiting the bus due to his advanced physicality, absolutely looking the part of college athlete right now. An outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Velasquez has a significant combo of bat speed and strength right now, and looks like he’ll be an impactful offensive force for the Wolverines in the future. He got the scoring started for Bo Jackson by turning on a fastball and launching a homer over the right-center field fence, a long ways from home plate. There is significant leverage there and his strength plays inherently well when impacting the baseball. Also a very good athlete as one would expect a Jim Harbaugh-recruited defensive back-to-be, Velasquez profiles very well in any of the three outfield spots long term. 




Over at Campbell High School, the Canes American club started off their tournament run with a victory. Blake Bennett (2019, Haleyville, Ala.) got the start and the win, though he’d likely be the first to tell you that he didn’t quite have his A+ command. Bennett worked up to 89 mph in the first inning per my gun, settling into the 84-88 mph range for most of his start, hiding the ball well through the back of the arm stroke and showing pretty good extension through release as well. The fastball is on the straighter side but he does create plane to the plate, and showed the ability to consistently work down in the zone at times. He’s got a weapon of a curveball that, once harnessed fully, has a chance to be one of the better breaking balls in the SEC eventually. It’s a true curveball with downer 1-to-7 shape, with plenty of spin and good sharpness, and he shows the ability to move it to both sides of the plate and is comfortable throwing it in any count. 

Hayden Travinski (2019, Shreveport, La.) was the offensive force for the Canes, as he usually is, going 3-for-3 on this day with a double and a walk. He’s extremely physical for his age, looking like a weight room-seasoned college veteran physically, and that strength plays in a big way offensively. He certainly swings the bat with intent, but does so under control, with better barrel control than what mashers typically get credit for. He can move the bat around the zone while still retaining balance as well as that extreme intent, giving the ability to not only hit for a significant amount of power—which he will—but also hit for a good average while controlling the zone enough to get on base at a high clip. He EH’d in this game so we didn’t get another read on his defensive ability behind the plate, but he certainly looks to be a potential immediate impact offensive force for LSU. 




In the nightcap back at LakePoint, the Scorpions Founders Club got off to a hot start with a 7-1 win, with Tyler Owens (2019, Ocala, Fla.) earning the victory on the bump. Owens is an extremely well-built righthander who is uncommitted at this moment after decommitting from FSU recently, and though he’s undersized in terms of height, he’s extremely physically strong. Owens touched 96 mph early on and struggled to find his command in the early going, but did settle in and turn into the dominant force we’ve seen him consistently be. The fastball worked mostly in the 90-94 mph range, straighter in terms of life but exploding out of his hand, and his Trackman data was off the charts in terms of extension and effective velocity. His delivery is a bit restricted but when he’s timed up his body with that extremely fast arm, he can blow fastballs by most prep hitters in the country right now, and his physicality gives him the look of being very nearly college-ready right now. 

– Brian Sakowski
 
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The 2027 MLB Draft cycle is still in its early stages, but the overall makeup of the class is beginning to come into focus. With the first version of our Top-100 board out, we took a closer look at positional demographics from both college and prep players within the class.  Let’s kick things off with a deep dive into the prep class.  Prep Right-Handed Pitchers  Top Ranked Players: George Ferguson, Abilene (TX) | Brogan Witcher, Liberty (CA) | Ethan Gustus, Roseville (CA) | Cullen Scott, Melissa (TX) | Striker Pence, Corona (CA) | Samir Mohammed, Tampa Jesuit (FL) Potential Sleepers: Brennan Neal, Brookstone (GA) | Andrew Carlson, Trinity Classical Academy (CA) | Calum Andersen, Vauxhall Academy of Baseball (CAN) | Gavin Henderson, Boiling Springs (SC)    High speed look at the FF-CH from '27 RHP George Ferguson (TX)... #PGAAC @Texas_PG...
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Juco | Rankings | 9/18/2026

JUCO Impact: Top 100 D1 Transfers

Troy Sutherland
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With the season upon us, let's take a minute to look at 100 of the biggest impact players who played at the JUCO level last year and have since transferred to a D1 program for the upcoming spring.  RK Name JUCO in 2025 DI in 2026 1 Ryan Bradford Johnson County TCU 2 Carson Bailey McLennan Texas Tech 3 Kameron Yearsley John A. Logan  Oklahoma 4 Holden Pantier Walters State Georgia Tech 5 Caden Davidson Gaston Florida 6 Anthony Quigley Northwest Florida Oklahoma 7 Walt Jones Weatherford Kansas 8 Colin Coonradt Johnson County West Virginia 9 Collin Smith Cochise Kansas 10 Ned Frutchey Sac City Arkansas 11 Hayden Blair Walters State Georgia 12 Parker Ishee Co-Lin Oklahoma 13 Coy Clements Pearl River Florida State 14 Griffin Rardin Shelton State Alabama 15 Jordan Martinez Gulf Coast State Florida State 16 Noah Bentley Weatherford Oklahoma 17 Kole Fenton Walters State North Carolina...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/17/2026

PG Softball Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase

Ashley Mears
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Perfect Game Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase 2026 Indianola. IA Ashley Mears What started off a perfect weather weekend, unfortunately was cut short due to thunderstorms mid-morning on Sunday. In the 18u Division, the Iowa Gold Prospects and the Midwest Speed National Kotzmacher were undefeated. In the 16U Division, 515 Fastpitch Twogood and Iowa Premier Gold- Brower. The tournament featured a ton of solid hitters and pitchers from across the state and Minnesota. Even with the poor weather on Sunday, there was still plenty to see and write about! 18u Division Lexi Adams (2028 Ankeny, IA), a catcher for Iowa Gold Prospects, had a stellar weekend at the plate. Behind the plate, Adams shows strong command of the game and does an excellent job working the zone, using her framing ability to consistently give her pitchers a chance to earn borderline calls. At the plate, Adams starts from a...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/17/2026

South Underclass Qualifier Scout Notes

Geoff Billock
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Cole Marquardt (2029, Montgomery, Texas) left no doubt this weekend as he came home with Tournament MVP honors for his work with Banditos 2028 Black. Went 7-10 with a double, a home run, a pair of triples, and the walk off single in the championship game. Projectable left-handed swing with plenty of tools to dream on. Bat to ball was on point all weekend and he had plenty of chances to show off an advanced run tool. Plenty to dream on moving forward. Callen Corley (2028, Houston, Texas) put together a stellar two-way performance for Houston Wildcatters Navy 2028. At the plate, he went 5-10 with a double, triple, and home run, driving in seven runs. Sinks into his lower half well and creates strong angles for leverage. Plenty of power upside remaining in that frame, to go along with the twitch already present. On the mound, Corley went four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Midwest Labor Day Classic Scout Notes

Brayden Powell
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Ryan Jones (2027, Tinley Park, IL) was one of the most productive hitters of the weekend, collecting six hits, including three doubles and a home run, while driving in nine runs. The left-handed hitter consistently got the barrel out front and created hard contact throughout the event. Working from an open setup with high hands, he features a compact swing that allows him to get to the ball quickly. His hand speed stood out and helped him drive the baseball to multiple parts of the field. Jones showed a strong understanding of pitches he could handle and rarely missed opportunities to do damage. The swing remains efficient through the zone and produces carry off the barrel. His combination of consistent contact and extra-base impact made him a key offensive contributor all weekend. Uncommitted  JP Elbert (2027, Dubuque, IA) put together an impressive tournament, finishing with five...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Best of the Midwest Invitational Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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’27 OF Jazarris Mackmore Jr. (IL) gets all of this pitch, barreling it deep over the RCF fence. Strong lower half with good separation in the load while staying inside the ball. One of the top uncommitted players in the 2027 class. #BestofMW @ChiScoutsAssoc @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/9OPg902tZX — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) September 12, 2026 Jazarris Mackmore, Jr. (2027, Crete, Ill.) of the Chicago Scouts Association stood out with a physical offensive profile and the ability to impact the game in multiple ways. The uncommitted 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed hitter displayed a balanced approach in the box, showing bat speed, natural strength, and a repeatable swing. Mackmore Jr. produced four hits over the weekend while showing the ability to do damage to all fields, including an opposite-field home run. He drove in seven runs while adding three stolen bases....
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Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Southeast Qualifier #1 Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Walk. It. Off! ‘27 IF Drew Giles (GA) calls game here as he hammers a ball over the CF wall for a solo HR to win it in the bottom of the 7th. #FLQualifier pic.twitter.com/YrzspVZzUY — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) September 12, 2026 Drew Giles (2027, Brunswick, Ga.) took home MVP honors from the weekend after hitting .385 including a walkoff home run during pool play. Giles helped lead his Canes team to victory and did so with the bat. The swing is super short and simple and he gets immense jump off the barrel. It’s a level path through the zone but the blend of hit and power showed out all weekend for the MVP.  August Backman (2027, Venice, Fla.) had a solid weekend on both sides of the ball: hitting .333 over three games and also sitting 88-91 mph on the mound. Backman, a Florida commit who is nationally ranked, has a three pitch mix highlighted by a really...
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Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Fall World Series Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
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Joseph Mosley 2028, Hendersonville, Tenn.) showed the upside all weekend for Southeast Rawlings Mad Mavericks. The right-handed hitter starts from a medium stance with in-line feet and a low handset with a low back elbow, utilizes a low leg lift stride. Creates separation in the back shoulder with strength through the hands into a flat bat plane and line drive lift in the swing. Stays balanced throughout the swing and showed the feel to use the whole field. The outfielder has an athletic, strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame with more gap-to-gap type power to be unlocked. Collected four hits, including two triples, to drive in an RBI and came around to score three runs. Exciting player with two-way upside. On the mound the right-handed pitcher went two innings in relief with three strikeouts and spread three hits and three walks for one earned run. The fastball ran up to 87 and paired it with...
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