THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 7/20/2018

17u World Series Notes: Day 1

David Rawnsley
Photo: Cody Freeman (Perfect Game)

17u Perfect Game World Series: Event Page | Daily Leaders

One of the joys of baseball is the potential to see something you've never seen before at any time. That happened during the first time slot Thursday, an attempted triple play that ended up losing the game for the defensive team. Ostingers Baseball Academy and AZ T-Rex were tied 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning and Ostingers had runners on first and second base with no outs. The Ostingers hitter lined a ball hard at the T-Rex second baseman, who cleanly short hopped the ball, tossed to second for out number one, with the shortstop's relay throw to first getting the second out. The Ostingers runner on second made a belated sprint to third base and would have been out as well, completing the triple play, if not for a wild throw by the first baseman. That runner scored, the only run in Ostingers 1-0 victory.
 
That unearned run marred an excellent outing by T-Rex starter, righthander Chandler Murphy (2019, Peoria, Ariz.).  Murphy has really refined his mechanics well over the last year and showed very good command of a fastball that sat in the upper-80s, topping out at 89 mph. Murphy's curveball was a solid second pitch in the mid-70s. The Arizona commit threw 88 pitches in six innings, with 73 percent of those being for strikes.
 
On a day at the Mariners quad when a mid to upper 80's fastball was the norm and low-90s was not uncommon, it was a pitcher from Colorado throwing 82-86 mph that impressed this scout as much as anyone. 6-foot-5, 180-pound righthander Nathan Mitchell (2019, Englewood, Colo.) from Slammers Cronican retired nine straight hitters in his appearance, striking out five and only needing 42 pitches.  Mitchell throws from a very easy high three-quarters arm slot with big downhill angle and his best pitch was a mid to upper 70's curveball that had serious tightness and 12-to-6 biting action.  Mitchell threw at the 2017 Rocky Mountain Showcase and topped out at 78 mph with a loose mid-60s breaking ball, so he's improved tremendously in the last 14 months and there is no reason he shouldn't keep improving with his body and mechanics.  He is uncommitted at present.
 
The most impressive all around performance, especially with the bat, was turned in by another uncommitted rising senior, third baseman-right handed pitcher Terrell Hudson (2019, Phoenix, Ariz.).  Hudson is a physically imposing 6-foot-4, 230-pound athlete with outstanding raw bat speed and power from the right side.  He hit a two-run triple, showing good running speed for his size, in his first at-bat and crushed a three-run bomb that traveled well over 400 feet with the wind behind it to left-center field in his second at-bat.  He later reached base twice via walk and hit by pitch.  Hudson also picked up the win on the mound, going four innings and striking out eight hitters, working up to 91 mph with his fastball with a mid-70s curveball.  He is presently the 388th ranked player in the PG national rankings
 
Hudson's big day at the plate was matched by CCB Elite shortstop Andrew Kachel (2019, Gilroy, Calif.).  The lefthanded hitting Kachel, batting third in the CCB lineup, hit back to back triples to right-center field, the first a laser shot on a line off the base of the wall, accounting for five RBI. The Fresno State commit also singled later in the game, continuing to show a quick and deceptively strong swing.
 
The 17u PG World Series is a great event for college coaches to uncover uncommitted rising seniors and another, in addition to Mitchell and Hudson, who stood out was North East Baseball righthander Max Meier (2019, Belmont, Mass.). Meier is a solidly built 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete with an especially strong lower half. He throws with a sound low effort delivery that generates a steady upper-80s fastball that topped out at 90 mph while throwing 68 percent strikes over four innings. Meier, who is an older rising senior with excellent academics, was only throwing in the mid-80s at this time last summer but looks to have made a big jump in his overall stuff.
 
Meier was bested this game by the St. Louis Pirates righthander Evan Gray (2019, Swansea, Ill.), who threw a six-inning shutout, scattering five hits and striking out seven. An Arkansas commit, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Gray worked steadily in the upper 80's the entire outing and got many of his outs on a bit breaking downer curveball from a high three-quarters arm slot.
 
Canes National righthander Tyler Nesbitt (2019, LaBelle, Fla.) has been solid all summer, including an appearance at the PG National Showcase, and the Florida Gulf Coast commit was sharp again on Thursday, going three and a third innings in the Canes 2-1 victory.  Nesbit only need 41 pitches to retire ten hitters, working in the 88-90 mph range with his fastball and showing a late-breaking low-80s slider that he worked glove side effectively.
 
Nesbitt's teammate, outfielder Tyler Kehoe (2019, Prospect Park, Penn.) is one of the most polished lefthanded hitters in the 2019 class and a South Carolina commit. A compactly build 5-foot-10, 182-pound athlete, who projects to left field at the next level, Kehoe uses his strength and short arms to really control the bat head well and square up the ball consistently. He has gap-to-gap power and had a double to right centerfield among his three hits over two games this day. 
 
Saddleback Cowboys center fielder Mac Bingham (2019, San Diego, Calif.) bats leadoff for the Cowboys and is a compactly built 5-foot-11, 190-pound athlete with plenty of quick-twitch ability. He also showed surprising power at the plate, hitting a high home run to left field off an upper-80s fastball. Bingham is a Southern California commit.
 
Bingham's home run was the only run and only one of three hits allowed in a strong six inning performance by very projectable righthander Evan Vanek (2019, McKinney, Texas) in a 3-2 win by Vanek's USA Prime Elite over Saddleback.  The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Texas A&M commit sat in the upper-80s, touching 90 mph, for his entire 98 pitch outing in the Arizona heat, mixing in an effective mid-70's curveball and showing easy low effort mechanics that promise solid command in the future.
 
Premier Baseball righthander Josh Wolf (2019, Bellaire, Texas) impressed enough at the PG National Showcase to be ranked 126th overall currently in the 2019 class, good for 13th overall in the talent-rich state of Texas. After a slow start when he walked the first two hitters, Wolf settled down quickly and cruised through five and a third innings, striking out eight hitters while allowing only an unearned run. Wolf has a lightning quick right arm from an upright delivery that has some effort at release, but the stuff, including an 89-93 mph fastball and a curveball that reached 81 mph, is top drawer, with plenty of projection remaining on Wolf's slender 165-pound body. He is committed to Texas A&M.
 
Day one's co-top fastball velocity at the Mariners quad belonged to a very young graduated senior, righthander Hayden Juenger (2018, O'Fallon, Ill.) of the St. Louis Pirates.  The 6-foot righthander, who finished his high school career ranked 290th in the Perfect Game National rankings, went four innings for the Pirates, giving up two runs and topping out at 93 mph.  Juenger, who also throws a power curveball that will get into the low-80s, will be attending Missouri State next year.

– David Rawnsley





The 17u Perfect Game World Series got underway in a hurry on Thursday morning at the Seattle Mariners/San Diego Padres joint complex in Peoria, Ariz. GBG Marucci got off to a hot start via a 10-0 win to open their tourney play over Mountain West, but Mountain West did start one of the more intriguing arms of the day in Joseph Dixon (2020, South Jordan, Utah), an uncommitted righthander who had a bevy of college recruiters watching him as he took the mound. Dixon was pretty dominant for his first two innings before turning the loaded GBG lineup over got to be a bit of an issue in the third inning, but he still showed some extremely good stuff with high upside. 

He has good size with an athletic build, projecting well physically and looking like he’ll be capable of durability as a starter at the next level as he continues to increase his strength. He worked up to 93 mph with his fastball, sitting more in the 87-91 mph range, showing solid arm side life to the pitch at times as well. His lower half in his delivery had some inconsistency in terms of timing and direction, which did lead to some command troubles for Dixon, but it’s still an undeniably live right arm that projects for more. He worked in a breaking ball in the 73-76 mph range with 11-to-5 shape and good bite to it, showing the potential for an above average bat-misser there, and also showed a straighter changeup that he does a fair job of replicating his arm speed on. 

CBA Marucci moved to a quick 2-0 via a pair of victories on Thursday, including an 8-0 win over the Dallas Patriots and a 10-1 win over Power Baseball. Cody Freeman (2019, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), as he usually does, paced the CBA offensive attack from the leadoff spot. Freeman pretty much exemplifies the ideal leadoff hitter profile at this point, with an excellent approach, the ability to make firm contact all over the zone, good speed, and he’s developed nicely in terms of extra base power over the years as well.

Joseph Naranjo (2019, Chino, Calif.) adds a more physical element to the CBA lineup from the No. 3 spot, as the Perfect Game National Showcase veteran brings serious hit-ability from the left side along with some power there as well, doing a very good job of consistently finding the barrel with authority.

Kaden Hopson (2019, Redlands, Calif.) had one of the bigger hits of the day for CBA, muscling a two-run single through the right side in Game 2 to put CBA ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning, a lead they’d never relinquish. The CBA Marucci club is extremely balanced top-to-bottom and have to be considered one of the favorites to take home the title this week. 




Bryce Hubbart (2019, Windermere, Fla.) ended up taking the loss in the Power Baseball-CBA Marucci matchup but really pitched quite well, allowing a pair of runs (both on the aforementioned Hopson base hit), scattering three hits with no walks across four innings while picking up six strikeouts and throwing 72 percent strikes. Younger for the grade, Hubbart will not yet be 18 years old when the 2019 draft rolls around, and he’s got some projection remaining on his frame as well. Working up to 89 mph with his fastball from the left side, Hubbart sat consistently in the 85-88 mph range and showed the ability to generate angle to the plate while working the pitch to both sides. He also showed the ability to manipulate his curveball shape, thrown in the 70-73 mph range, ranging from a 1-to-7 shaped truer curveball that he could land for strikes to a sharper, more swing-and-miss offering on a 2-to-8 shape. Hubbart is committed to Florida State. 

Much like Hubbart, Davis Heller (2019, Gilbert, Ariz.) was the victim of a tough-luck loss on Thursday, as the veritable 6-foot-8 giant pitched quite well for Wilson Sandlot in their 3-0 loss to US Elite. Heller allowed one run over his four innings, racking up nine strikeouts though allowing five walks as well. As is true with 99 percent of pitchers with his length and overall height, Heller occasionally struggles to control his body enough through his movements to repeat his delivery, which can cause lapses in fastball command. He worked up to 90 mph early on with his fastball, throwing straight downhill from an elevated slot, creating as much or more plane to the plate than anyone else in the class, making the fastball impossible to lift when commanded to the bottom of the zone. He’ll yank across and cut the fastball at times as well, nothing overly problematic at this juncture but something to watch moving forward as well. His curveball was thrown mostly in the 70-73 mph range and while there are some inconsistencies, he does show the ability to generate spin and the pitch possesses solid average projection. 




One of the better games of the day took place between Baseball Northwest and the Sticks Baseball Academy, with the Sticks pulling out a 3-0 win late. Markevian Hence (2020, Pine Bluff, Ark.) was absolutely sensational in the win, throwing a complete game shutout with 12 strikeouts while allowing only 4 hits and a single walk. Hence is a bit undersized by righthanded pitching prospect standards but his athleticism on the mound as well as his arm speed both stand out, as he did a pretty solid job of holding velocity deep into the game. He worked up to 91 mph early on with the fastball, pounding the zone at 86-89 mph for most of the game, and he probably could have just dominated with his fastball given the command of the pitch as well as the life it features. He worked in quality changeup with good fade and arm speed replication, and also showed a curveball that, as he threw it harder and harder, got better and better. The best one this evaluator saw came at 75 mph with sharp, late bite; and it, along with the changeup, has a potentially above-average future as he continues to refine it. 

On the other side, Stuart Flesland (2019, Colbert, Wash.) pitched quite well before allowing the go-ahead runs in the final inning, and showed off impressive upside. In our first real look at Flesland in nearly three years since his performance at the 2015 Northwest Showcase, he’s added 18 miles per hour to his top fastball, as well as about eight inches and 40 pounds to his frame…amazing what puberty can do to a teenager. He worked up to 88 mph on at least one gun early on, settling into the 84-87 mph range for the majority of the outing, pounding the strike zone and walking no one while picking up eight strikeouts. The arm action is very clean and efficient and his body projects well moving forward, and he does a pretty solid job creating angles to the plate with his fastball when commanded down in the zone. He throws a bit of a frisbee slider that varies in both shape and effectiveness, but there is undoubtedly feel to spin the baseball there. He sort of exploded onto the draft scene in the past couple weeks as a solid follow in the Northwest area, and he’ll be monitored closely both at Area Codes next month as well as into the spring. 

– Brian Sakowski
 
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 4
Marcus Thomas
Article Image
WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 James Watson (2030, Canton, Ga.) showed the two-way upside to start bracket play for East Cobb Astros 15u. On the mound the right-handed pitcher went three innings and with three strikeouts and spread five hits and two walks for three runs. Watson works from a hybrid windup from the middle-of-the-rubber into a small heel-turn and an around-the-belt leg lift before using drop-and-drive back leg mechanics into a longer, in-line stride down the mound. Showed some feel to get extension down the mound. The hands separate into a moderate arm action before accelerating through from an over-the-top arm angle. The fastball ran up to 86 with arm-side run and life. Paired it with a curveball with 11-5 shape and solid two-plane break. Mixed in a change-up in the upper- 70s with some vertical depth. Competed at the top of the zone well. Athletic...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 4

AJ Denny
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 ‘27 Mark Susa (WI) picked up 3 Ks thru 2 inn of work. 4SFB topped at 90 mph early on; 2S lived 85-86 w/ good run & sink down in the zone. Spun a 2600 rpm SLV w/ sharp traits (clip). Got up to 7’1” of extension. 6’4/200lb frame w/ more to come. #IUBase #WWBAWorlds @PG_WiscMinn https://t.co/uXfjVSSSZF — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 11, 2026 Mark Susa (2027, Hudson, Wisc.) put together a quality outing on Sunday, striking out three batters over 2.1 innings of work. The 6-foot-4 200-pound left-hander ran his fastball up to 90 mph, pairing it with a two-seamer that lived in the 85-86 mph range with heavy sink and arm-side run. He also showed great feel for spinning and locating his slurvy breaking ball, which read spin up to 2600 rpm. Susa utilizes his length to his advantage, creating...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 3

Kyler Peterson
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘28 Alan Zimmerman (FL) racked up 5 Ks w/ just 1 H allowed thru 3 shutout frames. Lived 89-90 T91 w/ lots of life thru the zone & some ASR. Dropped in a 12/6 breaker for Ks (clip). Projectable 6’3” mold. #Uncommitted @PG_Uncommitted #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG https://t.co/KTDFpGK49y — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 10, 2026 Alan Zimmerman (2028, Winter Garden, Fla.) was dominant in his start on Saturday, collecting five strikeouts through three shutout innings while allowing just one hit. The uncommitted 6-foot-3 right-hander showed out in front of a lot of scouts, running his fastball up to 91 mph. The heater plays up with lots of life through the zone and short arm-side run. Zimmerman sat comfortably in the 88-90 mph range, pairing his fastball with a late-acting 12/6 curveball that was landed...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 3

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 Carson Garzaniti (2029, Jupiter, Fla.) showed the barrel feel all game for West Boynton Cobras. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with his weight shifted forward and in-line feet with a high handset and an even back elbow, utilizes a heel lift weight transfer trigger. Creates some separation in the back shoulder and uncoils the lower half with a short, direct hand path and extension out front from a slightly uphill bat plane. Good bat speed in the swing with some feel to impact. The catcher has shown the barrel accuracy all event with three hits, including a double and triple, to drive in four RBI and has come around to score five runs. Lean, athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame with feel to generate power working ground up from the back leg. Exciting player that has been swinging a hot stick through pool play.  ...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/10/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 ‘27 C Joshua Digulio (TX) opened the morning in Cacti Park with a bang. In his first at-bat of the morning, Digulio crushed an 0-2 fastball. The right-handed hitter powered a fly-ball through the Florida morning humidity off the back wall of the left field bullpen for a no-doubt solo shot. Everybody in the stadium knew it was gone as soon as he made contact. The catcher also worked a walk in his only other plate appearance. His home run was the only hit in the game, providing Texas Brigade 2027 a 1-0 win.  ‘27 MIF Xavier Martin (IL) woke up the stadium with an electric swing. The right-handed hitter was sitting dead-red on a 2-0 heater, got it, and torched it. Martin scorched a line drive all the way over the left field bullpen, as the ball cleared a near 20-foot wall and bounced onto the concourse. It was a two-run shot for the...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 10/9/2026

PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division

Erica Beach
Article Image
PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division Oct 3-4 Peoria, IL PEORIA, IL- It was a phenomenal weekend for softball as six teams from three different states gathered at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, Illinois for the 2026 PG Softball Illinois Scouting Showcase Series 18U Division. The competition was fierce from the first pitch to the final out, making for an action-packed slate of games. Our scouts were treated to an incredible display of talent and athleticism throughout the event, and below are the standout players who truly caught our eye. Joharah Boze (2027, Chillicothe, IL) of the Indiana Magic 18U Lewellen hit an astounding .778 on the weekend. She finished the tournament with four singles, three doubles, two walks, three runs scored, and four RBIs, proving to be the pillar of consistency for her squad. Featuring an athletic stance and a balanced...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/10/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 ’30 RHP/OF Amir Kriz-Hopkins (VA) couldn’t be touched, striking out all six batters he faced over 2 IP. Tall, projectable frame w/ a quick, loose arm. FB worked 87-91 mph w/ ASR & the SL missed bats w/ late break at 76-79. #SelectFest alum. #WWBAWorlds @PG_VirginiaWV https://t.co/mN4H64aLgo — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 9, 2026 Amir Kriz-Hopkins (2030, Chesapeake, Va.) of SBA Bolts National 15U was lights out on the mound, striking out all six batters he faced over two innings before adding a double offensively. The right-hander has a tall, projectable frame with a quick, loose arm and worked his fastball up to 91 mph with arm-side run. Kriz-Hopkins paired the fastball with a sharp slider at 76-79 mph that generated swings and miss, showing his ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball.   ’30...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
’30 OF Quintin Blackwell (CA) drives this ball deep over the RF’s head for a triple, creating loud contact. Physical, compact frame with quick hands and plenty of strength in the bat. #WWBAWorlds @California_PG https://t.co/Tyq0a0SKd2 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 8, 2026 Quintin Blackwell (2030, Hercules, Calif.) of MLB Breakthrough Series 2030 and a 2026 Select Fest participant made his presence felt at the plate. The physical outfielder displayed quick hands and strength in the bat, while showing the ability to do damage with a loud triple that got over the right fielder’s head. There is plenty of upside to come, with Blackwell showing the tools that can impact the game offensively. Miles Lockridge (2030, Swansea, Ill.) of MLB Breakthrough Series 2030 put together a quality day at the plate, collecting a double while reaching base safely...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/9/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Calum Andersen (‘27,CAN) had his A stuff working today running the FB to 96 mph with a devastating horizontal SL at 85 mph that can break bats. Mixed in a late breaking 12/6 curveball at 78 mph that induces weak contact and showed excellent feel for a CH that mimics the FB delivery. The @OU_Baseball commit struck out 8 & allowed 2H 1BB. stands on a projectable 6’5/195 frame you can dream on. @pg_int1 #WWBAWorlds @PG_Draft — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 8, 2026 Calum Andersen, RHP, Calgary, AB (CAN) Brewers/Langley Blaze Scout (2027) Andersen showed advanced present stuff and pitchability in a strong outing. The delivery is athletic and repeatable from a projectable frame, with room remaining for strength gains that should help the fastball play more consistently in the mid-90s and give the breaking balls even sharper bite. Andersen attacks with a live...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

Midwest Fall Championship Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Midwest Fall Championship    ‘29 LHP Jake Bzdusek (IL) Works 5.1 very strong innings from a low arm angle. Has a FB with sink in the mid 70s and T78. Has a nice E/W SL 67-68 (2nd,4th video). Struck out 7 and was efficient in the zone w/ 62% strikes. #WWBAMW @AthletesHQ2 https://t.co/th4O6pgHBs — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) October 3, 2026 Jake Bzdusek (2029, Huntley, Ill.) a left-handed pitcher works from a very low arm angle creating lots of deception to throw off hitters. The fastball was in the mid 70s, topping 78mph with good action. His slider had lots of east/west action, creating tons of swing and miss. Bzdusek pitched 5.1 innings while striking out seven, helping him earn the win. He threw efficiently, landing 62% of his pitches for strikes. He also got it done on the offensive side of the ball this weekend as well. He racked up six hits in as many...
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.