THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,497 MLB PLAYERS | 15,833 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,497 MLB PLAYERS | 15,833 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 7/14/2018

Big League dads pass the torch

Nate Schweers
Photo: Joe and Dante Girardi (Perfect Game)

EMERSON, Ga. – At this week’s 16u WWBA National Championship, stars of tomorrow arrived from all over the country to test their skills against the best of the best. We saw triumph, heartbreak, walk-off home runs and no-hitters. The game molds young men into the ballplayers and people they will one day become.

Year in and year out, travel ball coaches are tasked with providing guidance and direction to players with dreams of playing at the next level and beyond. For two emerging talents – Dante Girardi and Jackson Werth – their coach was their father, and their mentor was the man who had provided them insight to playing at the next level for their entire lives.

When Dante Girardi and his FTB – Tucci Berryhill teammates looked down into the third base coach’s box this week, they were greeted with a smile and fist pump from Dante’s father, Joe Girardi.

Girardi, who won three World Series Championships as a player and one as a manager with the New York Yankees, is using his time away from Major League Baseball to watch his son grow and develop in the same game he grew up playing. As someone who has such an abundance of knowledge in the game, he is providing Dante with many of the ideas and keys to success he has learned at the major league level.

“I have just had a lot of help over time from him and where he has been,” Dante said after a game on Thursday. “Being with the Yankees for 10 years and all the coaching, I think it is the mental advice that he gives me is what is so great.”

Dante has blossomed into a phenomenal baseball player over his career, and is currently ranked as a Top 500 player in the talented class of 2020. According to national scouting coordinator Brian Sakowski, “Dante Girardi has shown high-level hitting tools and defensive abilities all week long, and made one of the plays of the tournament on Thursday afternoon.”

The play that was being talked about so highly was one that forced Girardi to range far up the middle and make a diving stop on a sure hit. Girardi was then able to make a strong throw to get a runner at first, impressing many of the scouts and fans in attendance.

Dante also put on an impressive display at the plate in this week’s tournament, and fellow national scouting coordinator Vinnie Cervino believes there is significant upside with his hitting tool. While Dante’s fluid swing paid dividends at LakePoint, his father has taught him that what is more important is managing the failure the game is bound to bring.

“I think that trying to stay up when things are bad is the hardest part of the game. It’s easy when things are going good, but it is just about staying true to yourself when things are going bad.”

While every father wants to be the greatest role model possible for their son, many agree that being there when your son succeeds can be the most rewarding. Joe Girardi is no longer managing for the Yankees, but it has provided him with an excellent opportunity to see Dante develop into an outstanding ballplayer himself.

“It is really enjoyable because over the last 10 or 11 years I haven’t had a chance to watch my son play a lot of baseball,” Girardi said. “I’ve probably seen him play as much this spring and this summer as I did in the last 10 years combined, so its been a real treat for me to be around these boys and watch them progress.”

Not only does Girardi get to see this FTB team progress, but also he gets to do it one of the premier events in travel baseball. This year’s tournament welcomed nearly 400 teams to the Atlanta area, and Dante couldn't have been more excited about the opportunity to compete.

“Coming to WWBA, it is just the powerhouse for summer baseball,” said Dante Girardi. “To come back again in a week [to the Perfect Game World Series] is another honor and we are just happy to be here.”

Dante Girardi wasn't the only player to enjoy having his father coach the team this week. Jackson Werth competed for Canes North during the event, and his father Jayson Werth was also in the third base coach’s box giving signs and encouraging the team.

Jayson Werth enjoyed 15 seasons in Major League Baseball before hanging up the cleats for good last month. Playing his final seven full seasons with the Washington Nationals, Werth tormented National League pitchers, driving balls deep into the seats of Nationals Park.

It is now Jackson’s turn to torment pitchers, and while Jackson is still a few years away from being done with high school, he is quickly becoming a top prospect in the state of Virginia. Jackson is ranked as the eighth-best player in the state, and is also a top three shortstop.

Not many players get to have their dad as a coach at this level, and Jackson couldn't be happier to have his dad giving him the guidance to be great.

“Not too many people get to experience having a dad that played a lot of years in the big leagues,” said Jackson, who was also had nothing but good things to say about his Canes program. “They take really good care of their players, we have some good coaches, and they are just really great.”

Like Joe Girardi, Jayson Werth has missed some of Jackson’s baseball due to life as a big leaguer. For Jayson, the opportunity to coach his son is one he certainly doesn't take for granted.

“He [Jackson] is 16 now, and I haven’t really had a chance to see him play a whole lot, especially during the summer,” said Werth before the Canes’ game on Wednesday. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve missed a lot, but there is still a long way to go for him. It has been exciting. We have played some good games and I have gotten a chance to coach third and first and I’ve never really done a whole lot of that. You get to see the game from a different perspective.”

Speaking of different perspective, Jayson Werth acknowledged that the game has changed since he was 16. The recruiting process is different, and tournaments like this couldn't be found everywhere.

“Its really interesting because when I was going through at 16, which doesn't seem that long ago, there was nothing like this. We played in a lot of tournaments and we traveled, but they were a fraction of this event. The competition is really good for the kids.”

Though at times it feels like these four lead different lives than the rest of the people at WWBA Events, they are truly enjoying the chance to compete at the highest level. For Dante and Jackson, their fathers are there to cheer them on every step of the way.

For Joe and Jayson, they get to fulfill every father’s dream of watching their son succeed.
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 7/12/2026

14u BCS Scout Notes
Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Austin Way (2030, Yulee, FL) was 2-3 in game four, driving in a run and scoring once himself. Picked it well defensively at shortstop but really showed out in the box today. Works the barrel path to the middle of the field and whips the barrel through the zone. The RHH creates lift in the turn, and the ball jumps off the bat hot.  Sutton Walling (2029, Ponte Vedra, FL) is an athletic 5’11/160lb infielder who gets it done on both sides of the ball. Dominated at the plate right behind his teammate Way in the batting order going 3-3 with two doubles. He does a really good job with the barrel accuracy and works through contact with heavy hands. Lots of project-ability in the profile and is having a sneaky great week at the plate. Banks Kennedy (2030, Arcadia, FL) received it well behind the dish and was the leading force in this one driving in three rbis. He ended up going 2-3...
Read More
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Best Available

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft: Best Available for Day Two  A total of 135 players heard their name called on Saturday. As always, signability, bonus pool strategy, and organizational preferences play a major role in how the board unfolds. With that being said, we saw a majority of the top half off the board get selected, but there are a number of players ranked inside our Top 150 that remain available. From high-upside prep talent to polished college performers, these are the top names still available according to our Final Top 500 Draft Board.  Top Prep Bats Available (with Top-500 Board Rankings) 38. Archer Horn, SS/RHP, St. Ignatius College Prep (CA) 58. Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic (CA) 64. James Tronstein, SS/OF, Harvard-Westlake (CA) 66. Noah Wilson, OF, McCallie School (TN) 71. Cole Koeninger, SS/RHP, Keller (TX) 77. Sean Dunlap, C, Crown Point (IN) 82. Alex Weingartner, OF//RHP,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/11/2026

17U National Elite Heads to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Another week, another big tournament makes its way to Hoover.  This week, 104 of the nation’s top 17U teams will make their way to Hoover for the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship.  Featuring nationally ranked teams, Division I commits, and many of the country’s top 2027 players, the tournament promises another week of elite competition as teams battle for one of the biggest championships of the summer.  With many players already committed to some of the nation’s top college programs, every game in Hoover this week offers a glimpse into the future of college baseball.  Now entering its eighth year, the National Elite Championship continues to bring in the nation’s best. Past champions include Team Elite Scout Team, Canes National, USA Prime National, Scorpions/Giants Scout Team, 5 Star Performance National, Knights Knation Scout...
Read More
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Day One Recap

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Storylines Heavy College Run Early We came into the day knowing that there were a lot of talented college players at the top of the board, more specifically college bats. That came to light very early in the day, as we saw just two prep players selected within the first ten picks. The college preference lasted throughout most of the entire first round. Nearly 75% of the first 40 selections were college players. It is clear teams want players at the top of the draft that can quickly get through the system and help the big league club as soon as possible. Underslot Strategy Throughout this cycle, we knew that once you get past the first handful of picks the difference in value you were getting for let say pick ten was not that difference compared to pick 30. Because there was a large collection of players that are relatively close in value, teams were looking to get creative. We saw this...
Read More
Draft | Mock Draft | 7/11/2026

Final 2026 MLB Mock Draft

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
It's draft day and that means it's time for our final Mock Draft with the 2026 group. 1. Chicago White Sox | Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA It’s between Roch and Grady Emerson at this pick, though there have been heavy rumors of a very late deal potentially with another top 5 pick. This boils down to negotiations and we think that they will get there.  2. Tampa Bay Rays | Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian (Tex.) If Grady isn’t the first pick then he is almost certain to be the second pick. The Rays like to get creative but Emerson is a well worth prospect in his own right.  3.  Minnesota Twins | Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech This is likely the floor for Roch Cholowsky, though the Twins might prefer Lackey to Roch outright. They are thought to be in on the top college players with Emerson a distant third.  4. San Francisco Giants | Jackson Flora, RHP, UC...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Ohio Valley Regional Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘28 INF Christian Ramirez (OH) WALKS IT OFF for @CincyDBulls2028 to win the chip! Has shown impressive tools throughout the weekend and in this AB showed the ability to adjust to the offspeed and win the game. #OVElite pic.twitter.com/J3MXJXFnbM — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 5, 2026 Christian Ramirez (2028, Mason, Ohio) helped his team win the championship batting out of the two-hole. Though he didn’t win tournament MVP, Ramirez was my favorite player to watch take a plate appearance. He has an advanced feel for the zone and sees the ball out of the pitcher’s hand quicker than most. Ramirez led the tournament with eight walks, batting .375 with a .583 on-base percentage. Much more than just the approach, the swing is efficient with little wasted movement, creates quality separation, and puts him in an excellent position at contact. With such an...
Read More
College | Story | 7/10/2026

Cape Cod Notebook No. 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Cape Cod League Scouting Notebook  Maverick Rizy | Ole Miss | RHP | Brewster Whitecaps  The towering 6-foot-9, 250-pound right-hander continues to stand out with one of the more unique looks on the Cape, pairing a massive frame with a low three-quarter slot that creates difficult angles for hitters. While his fastball velocity was down from its typical mid-90s range during this look, working mostly 90-92 mph, it still generated plenty of swing-and-miss. He paired the heater with an 81-83 mph gyro slider featuring tight bullet-spin action and mixed in an 85-mph changeup with quality separation. Rizy battled his command early in the outing I saw, before settling in to strike out five over three innings, showing the ability to adjust as the game progressed. Through 12.2 Cape League innings, he has recorded 18 strikeouts, and his combination of size, deception, and projectability...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 ‘28 C Nico Ayars (FL) coming off a monster game yesterday & comes up with the biggest swing of this one. A triple right down the LF line to drive in two. Came into today hitting .833 this week. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/Hvb7UvtkNi — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 8, 2026 Nico Ayars (2028, Fort Myers, Fla.) has just been on the barrel throughout the week so far, collecting six hits across the first four games of the tournament. That didn’t slow down on day three at Mt. Zion High School as he came up with the biggest swing of the day, hitting a triple down the left field line to drive in a pair. It’s been a standout week so far for Ayars and he’ll be a driving force behind the run through the tourney for CBU 2028 Scout Team Lawson. Rylan Jenkins (2028, Tennille, Ga.) put...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

14u & 17u West Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Tre Hallberg (‘27, AZ) hammers this out to deep LCF for a 2-run 💣. Continues to stand out at the plate. Power will only continue to develop #WWBAWest @PG_Uncommitted https://t.co/NlWlDygpwg pic.twitter.com/RHrgYXLmwm — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 10, 2026 Tre Hallberg (2027, Mesa, Ariz.) was nearly impossible to get out over the first two days of action, going 7-for-9 with a triple and a home run. A balanced right-handed swing stays compact to contact. There is quick hand speed through the zone with feel for the barrel. Hallberg has a strong feel to hit to go with power that continues to develop. The upside is apparent.  William Garcia Falmer (2027, El Dorado Hills, Calif.) collected a pair of mulit-hit games over the course of day one and two, going 5-for-7 with two doubles, a homer, and seven runs driven in. Garcia Falmer features a physical build...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 1 Braedon Paczocha (2028, Palmyra, Wis.), a 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame catcher for GRB STiKS 16U Black, displayed a quick bat with the ability to do damage. Showed a good feel for the barrel throughout the weekend, hitting .538 (7-for-13) with 3 doubles, 8 RBI, 2 stolen bases, and a 1.376 OPS. Also received well behind the plate with quick, efficient transfers and displayed good instincts.    ’28 1B Brock Hamilton (IL) displays some present strength, driving this ball deep into the LCF gap to leg out a triple. Creates loud contact off the bat and does damage here. #WCInvite @WhitesoxAce pic.twitter.com/6EK81gG9Wi — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 5, 2026 Brock Hamilton (2028, Flossmoor, Ill.), one of the top first basemen in Illinois, brings a physical 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame with plenty of present strength...
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.