THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
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
 
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 1/27/2026

MLK East Scout Notes Recap
Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘28 OF Jakob Groeschel (OH) continues to impress with the bat on the circuit, picked up 2 2Bs in the first game today. Really athletic, went 4.4 on turn; easy to dream on all the traits. #MLKEast @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/wOIwnGKnkg — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) January 17, 2026 2028 OF Jakob Groeschel (Springfield, Ohio) broke out at this event last year hitting a casual .909, and although he didn’t turn in quite the same performance, he hit a strong .462 with 4 extra-base hits, 5 walks, 5 bags and only struck out once. He’s a pretty dynamic athlete who can do a lot of things well, but the bat is the calling card as he just lives on the barrel and has no problem handling all kinds of pitching. It’s a simple swing, but he’s got fast hands and he can really impact the ball without being overly physical yet.  2030 RHP Michael Vazquez...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 3/25/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 25

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Another strong week of Juco baseball for teams in our Top 25, and as you may see, our field is the same from a week prior with each and every team handling business in their weekend sets to hold fast to their spots on the board. Some notable movement though inside the Top 5 with Gaston jumping up to number 2 after a 33-2 start to the 2026 season as well Cloud County cracking the Top 15 for the first time all year. Looking forward to watching conference play around the country as we approach the final stretch of the regular season. Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 30-2 2 Gaston (NC) 33-2 3 Florida Southwestern (FL) 26-7 4 Walters State (TN) 26-6 5 Chipola (FL) 29-5 6 Florence-Darlington (SC) 29-6 7 Blinn (TX) 22-8 8 McLennan (TX) 20-7 9 Cochise (AZ) 28-6 10 Pearl River (MS) 25-7 11 Georgia Highlands (GA) 30-8 12 Southern Nevada (NV) 24-6 13 Northwest Florida (FL) 21-12 14 Cloud...
Read More
College | Rankings | 3/25/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 25

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
Every preseason, analysts and voters pour enormous effort into ranking the small college baseball landscape — poring over returning rosters, transfer additions, coaching changes, and historical trends to assemble the most accurate picture they can of who will be contending when the postseason arrives. And most years, they get it largely right. But the nature of college baseball, with its massive rosters, unpredictable development arcs, and ever-churning transfer portal, guarantees that a handful of genuinely elite programs will slip through the cracks every spring. A team loses too many seniors. A key transfer hasn’t yet suited up. A new coaching staff hasn’t had the chance to prove itself. The voters see the question marks and leave the blank space, and then the season begins and the blank space starts filling itself in — loudly. As the 2026 season heads into its...
Read More
College | Story | 3/24/2026

College Players of the Week: March 24

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
March 24th Perfect Game/Player of the Week: Quinton Coats, IF, Cincinnati The Cincinnati Bearcats (19-7) are on the cusp of the Top 25 and are playing their best ball of the season. The offense has been the driving force behind their success, and it has been incredibly consistent having averaged 8.5-runs per game. In the middle of it all, Quinton Coats, is on pace for a historic season both within the program and on a national level. The 6-3/225 infielder from Olathe, KS has been launching home runs at a record pace and opponents seem to be powerless to stop his onslaught. With incredible strength in his hands, Coats creates easy loft and in 5 road games last week he collected 9 hits in 20 at-bats, with 4 home runs, 9 runs scored, and he drove in a total of 9 runs as well. As for his pursuit of history, the modern day BBCOR bat standard single season home run record is 34, set back in...
Read More
College | Recruiting | 3/23/2026

Recruiting Notebook: March 23

Ryan Miller
Article Image
High speed look at the FF-SL from '27 SS/RHP Harry Chubb Jones Jr. (GA)... #BeastoftheEast @PG_Uncommitted @PG_Georgia https://t.co/zXWgDJjU0y pic.twitter.com/GUIUN4tWmw — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 25, 2025 Harry Chubb Jones Jr., RHP/SS, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Jones recently flipped his commitment from Clemson to Alabama, landing Rob Vaughn and staff a high-end two-way talent in the ’27 class. The Georgia native possesses tremendous upside on the mound, working from a long and lean right-handed frame that displays projection and athleticism. Jones starts over the face before working to the belt and into a higher pronounced leg lift. He fires down the mound via a standard-length arm action and high three-quarters slot. Chubb’s fastball/slider combination and feel for the zone, with the heater showcasing run/ride traits and power into the high-90s....
Read More
College | Rankings | 3/22/2026

College Top 25: March 23

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Time flies when you are having fun and the fact that we are almost to the halfway point of the 2026 season, proves just how entertaining things have been to this point. In what was an ultra-impactful week on the national landscape, there are some clubs fading out of the limelight while others are emerging from the shadows and showing they are a force to be reconned with. Conference play always makes the big picture come into view and we are now getting a feel for who the true contenders may be as the grind begins. The UCLA Bruins (21-2) keep their stranglehold on the top spot in the land as they remain unchallenged since the start of Big Ten play and finished the week with a (4-0) record. The Texas Longhorns (20-3) did lose back-to-back games this week but showed their resilience by winning an intense road series against now No. 7 Auburn (19-4). Georgia Tech (19-5) also had a (2-2) week...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 3/20/2026

2026 Draft Board: Top 300

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
The 2026 MLB Draft class is shaping up to be one of the better in recent memory and, potentially, the best class in the last decade. It’s led by UCLA superstar shortstop Roch Cholowsky, a true five-tool prospect who’s the early favorite for 1:1. One of the most popular pieces of industry feedback when constructing this list was some variation of “Roch is too low” or “go up on Roch” and he’s the best college prospect since 2019 when Adley Rutschman (Oregon State, Orioles) was the consensus No. 1 prospect. Similarly to 2019, there’s a superstar Texas prep shortstop at No. 2, in 2019 it was Bobby Witt Jr. (Colleyville Heritage, Royals) and this year it’s Grady Emerson. Both Emerson and Alabama’s Justin Lebron would have been solid 1:1 candidates in years where Roch Cholowsky is not eligible and both have All-Star potential....
Read More
High School | General | 3/23/2026

High School Notebook: March 23

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Talon Brown (‘29 CA) showing some intriguing stuff over 2.1 IP running the FB up to 89, living 86-88 while mixing in a BB at 77. FB heavy on the day w/ a limited pitch count. 6-4, 205-lb w/ an athletic operation working down the bump #PGHS pic.twitter.com/HkLmJHrB1W — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) March 14, 2026 Talon Brown 2029 RHP, Christian Brown features an advanced 6-foot-4, 205-pound, athletic, projectable frame.  The freshman has made two appearances on the young season working four-innings without allowing a hit or run and has struck out seven opposing hitters.  It’s an easy, downhill operation and the ball jumps out of the hand, using the four-seam often that has ride through the zone, sitting 85-88 and topping out at 89.  The breaking ball showed 11-5 shape with depth spinning it at 1900 RPM+.  Brown features an athletic...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 3/19/2026

PG Teams Up with OZ Ball Tournaments PTY

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME NAMES OZ BALL TOURNAMENTS PTY AS OFFICIAL AREA DIRECTOR IN AUSTRALIA, EXPANDING GLOBAL FOOTPRINT   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, March 19, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that it has entered into a new international partnership with Oz Ball Tournaments Pty, naming the organization as an official Perfect Game Area Director in Australia. The agreement establishes Perfect Game-licensed tournaments and showcases across major Australian markets, including Sydney, Brisbane/Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.     Australian events will operate under the Perfect Game brand, delivering the same...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 3/18/2026

PG Introduces Individual Player Entry

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME INTRODUCES INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ENTRY, EXPANDING ACCESS TO ELITE NATIONAL EVENTS   Athletes Can Now Compete in Select National Tournaments Through Structured ‘Team PG’ Rosters   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the launch of Individual Player Entry, a new initiative designed to provide athletes the opportunity to compete in select national events even if their primary team is not attending.   Through the program, players can now register individually and be placed on a structured “Team PG” roster, allowing them to participate fully in...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 3/18/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 18

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
This week brings a new top team to the rankings as Johnson County (KS), on the strength of 10 consecutive wins and a 26-2 record, claims the overall number 1 spot. The Cavaliers have made 3 consecutive trips to the JUCO World Series and have the talent to make it back there again this spring. Florida Southwestern and Chipola have seemingly separated themselves as the most consistent teams in Florida. Welcome to the top 5 to the Gaston Rhinos who will be one of the first teams to 30 wins this spring. Pearl River stays as the top NJCAA D2 team and Fresno City stays as the top Juco team in California; both are coming off undefeated 2 week stretches. Welcome back to the top 25 to John A. Logan who is now 20-7 overall and have played one of the toughest schedules of anyone. And for the first time in several years welcome to the top 25 to the College of Southern Idaho, the Golden Eagles have...
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.