THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,404 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,404 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Minors  | General | 12/14/2018

PG in the Pros: NL West

David Rawnsley
Photo: MacKenzie Gore (Perfect Game)

As part of Perfect Game's recurring PG in the Pros series David Rawnsley will take a look at some of the top prospects in minor league baseball and their impact on the sport prior to their professional careers. This will be done in a six-part series, one feature for each division in Major League Baseball while identifying one of the top prospects for each team. Links are provided below to past installments of the PG in the Pros series for other reports on prospects, both past and present.

Previous 2018-19 PG in the Pros features: AL Central | NL Central | NL East | AL East


Arizona Diamondbacks

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Archie Bradley, Chris Owings, Stryker Trahan
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15– Braden Shipley, Aaron Blair, Brandon Drury
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Pete O’Brien
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Anthony Banda
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Marcus Wilson

 Jon Duplantier, RHP

Duplantier was a primary football player in high school in the Houston area and between injuries (wrist, collarbone, knee) and playing football all summer and fall, never appeared in any national level events in baseball. Texas area scouts knew of Duplantier but his lack of experience on the mound, plus his status as an elite level student going to Rice, meant that he went undrafted out of high school. Duplantier did throw at the post-draft 18u WWBA National Championship for the Houston Banditos and was outstanding, showing a heavy sinking 90 mph fastball, power curveball with late biting action plus an effortless and easy arm action.

Duplantier showed his rawness as a freshman at Rice, walking 38 hitters in 59 innings in a swing role but his stuff shot forward now that he was away from football, with a fastball that now reached the mid-90s and a potential plus breaking ball. A draft-eligible sophomore, Duplantier entered his sophomore year as a potential Day 1 draft if he continued to improve. That sophomore year was a wash, though, as Duplantier missed the entire season with a shoulder impingement that did not require surgery.



Healthy again in 2016, Duplantier went 7-7, 3.24 in 111 innings, striking out 148 hitters and allowing only 77 hits. Teams still worried about Duplantier's command, as he still walked 47 hitters, and were equally worried about his health due to Rice's long history of sending injured pitchers to professional baseball. He lasted until the third round, where he signed with the Diamondbacks for a $686,000 bonus.

Notably, Duplantier reported to Arizona with a sore elbow after throwing a full college season and only threw one professional inning during his rookie summer.


Colorado Rockies

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Eddie Butler, David Dahl, Kyle Parker, Trevor Story
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Jonathan Gray, Ryan McMahon
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Forrest Wall
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Ryan Castellani
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Brendan Rodgers
Colton Welker, 3B

Welker was a regular on the WWBA tournament circuit with Elite Squad Prime and played in many national level showcases, including the 2015 Perfect Game National Showcase. A righthanded hitter with a strong and mature 6-foot-2, 195-pound build, Welker's best tool was always his bat and especially his ability to consistently square up good pitching hard to all fields. He played shortstop in high school, and while solid at that position, often played third base during the summers and it was always his likely future position. His report from the PG National read:

Big and strong athletic build. Looks too big for a middle infielder but has surprising athleticism and mobility and makes plays at both second base and shortstop. Agile lower half, 6.99 runner, fields the ball out front and has actions, can charge the ball and maintain balance, very strong arm with carry, if he does move out of the middle of the field he will be a top level defensive third baseman. Righthanded hitter, wide base with a early shift to contact, fluid easy swing with good separation and extension, barrels the ball up and hits it hard, more line drive than lift now but the ball carries. Loose and strong athlete who projects.



Welker had a very strong senior year, leading Marjory Stoneman Douglas to the Florida State 9A state title even though his teammate, lefthander Jesus Luzardo, now the A's top prospect, missed most of the season with an elbow injury. He hit .500-6-24 in 29 games with 15 walks and only seven strikeouts and ended his four-year varsity career as a .414 hitter. He was ranked 65th in the final Perfect Game class rankings.

Scouts recognized Welker's advanced bat and there was plenty of talk that he could sneak into the back of Day 1 if his projected average future defensive tools didn't stand in the way. That didn't happen, as Welker, a Miami signee, lasted until the fourth round and the 110th overall pick, where Colorado selected him and signed him for $855,000.


Los Angeles Dodgers

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Corey Seager, Joc Pederson, Zach Lee
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Chris Anderson, Scott Schebler
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Cody Bellinger
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Alex Verdugo
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Walker Buehler

 Gavin Lux, SS

Lux is part of a growing number of national level prospects that have come out of Wisconsin in recent years. He comes from an athletic background as his uncle, Augie Schmidt, was the 1982 Golden Spikes Award winner and the second overall pick in the 1982 draft.

A lefthanded hitter, Lux first made his national mark early in his junior year playing for the Midland Redskins at the 2014 WWBA World Championship where he showed surprising power for his slender young build and an advanced hitting approach. Lux was invited to the 2015 Perfect Game National Showcase and had a strong event and was named to play in the 2015 PG All-American Classic. His National report read:

Long, lean, athletic build with young look, plenty of room to fill out and get stronger. Good athleticism and foot speed, ran a 6.88 60-yard dash. Stays low to ground, moves with ease to both sides while playing infield. Soft hands, good overall actions and quick release with solid arm strength, accurate throws. Lefthanded hitter, high hand-set, slight open stance with knee raise trigger. Line drive swing plane, short efficient path to ball, very quick hands and impressive bat speed. Good feel for the barrel, projects to hit for high average at next level, shows developing raw power, strength.



Lux dedicated himself to getting stronger during the Wisconsin winter and came back in the spring having added 15 pounds of strength, filling out his 6-foot-2 frame to 190-pounds. That showed in his raw bat speed as Lux hit .524 with six home runs, 23 stolen bases and 31 walks as a senior, but it also showed in his arm strength. Lux's arm had previously profiled him as a likely future second baseman but the extra grade of carry on his throws, together with his quickness and athleticism, gave scouts more hope that he could stay at shortstop long-term.

The Dodgers, who had drafted another lefthanded hitting high school middle infielder with a promising bat with the 18th pick in 2012 in Corey Seager, decided to try that formula again with Lux, picking him with the 20th overall selection and signing him away from Arizona State with a $2,314,000 bonus.


San Diego Padres

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Austin Hedges, Matt Wisler, Max Fried, Joe Ross
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Hunter Renfroe, Taylor Lindsey
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Colin Rea
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Josh Naylor
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Logan Allen

 MacKenzie Gore, LHP

Gore was a legendary pitcher during his years at Whiteville (N.C.) High School (Whiteville’s population is 5,000-plus), leading the school to four consecutive state championship games, winning three, and being named Most Valuable Player for those three championships. He went 12-1, 0.08 as a junior, striking out 174 hitters in 88 innings, and was named the Gatorade Male National High School Athlete of the Year as a senior.

In the summer between his junior and senior years, Gore, then listed at a slender 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, generally worked in the 88-91 mph range, occasionally touching higher, and had advanced pitchability with command of three solid secondary pitches. His delivery was highly athletic and a bit deceptive, with a very high leg raise and tuck and an unusually long stride out front. Despite his only average fastball velocity, Gore was selected to play in the 2016 PG All-American Classic.



Gore had a growth spurt early in his senior year and filled out to 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. Early reports out of North Carolina were that he had significantly improved his raw stuff and was heading towards the top half of the first round. On a Monday during spring break in early April, scouts were able to double up on equally fast-rising North Carolina high school outfielder, Austin Beck (eventually the A's pick at number six), in the morning/early afternoon then drive an hour and a half through rural North Carolina to watch Gore pitch in the evening. Easily 125 scouts, including general managers, special assistants and a quorum of scouting directors, took advantage of the unique opportunity.

Gore was stunningly good, working 92-94 mph and touching 95 the entire game and showing three plus secondary pitches in his curveball, slider and changeup. His velocity and command never waivered the entire outing and when an opposing hitter sliced an opposite field base hit in the sixth inning of a 1-0 game, Gore was 94-95 to spots to the next hitter. It was one of those rare high school performances that even veteran scouts can count on one hand where it looked like a teenager could have successfully pitched to big league hitters.

High school pitchers went second and third in the 2017 draft behind top pick Royce Lewis, with Hunter Greene going second to the Reds and the Padres selecting Gore with the third overall pick. An East Carolina commit, who had probably looked like a great get for the ECU staff when he was throwing 85-87 mph as a sophomore, Gore signed for $6.7 million.


San Francisco Giants

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Andrew Susac
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Christian Arroyo, Steven Okert, Clayton Blackburn
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Tyler Beede
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Chris Shaw
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Austin Slater

 Shaun Anderson, RHP

Anderson was one of the top performance pitchers nationally in the 2013 class pitching for the South Florida Elite Squad in the summer and fall and for American Heritage High School in the spring. With a big and strong 6-foot-5, 235-pound build, an easy delivery and arm action and an advanced ability to throw strikes, Anderson was a bulldog innings eater on the mound. His report from the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase read as follows:

Big strong athletic build, young look, still projects, Josh Johnson/Brad Penny type big. Slow-paced delivery, full clean arm action, three-quarters to high three-quarters arm slot, can improve consistency and balance. Fastball to 91 mph, very good fastball life, both runs it and cuts it at different times. Potential plus curveball, throws it hard with big depth and bite, swing-and-miss pitch at times, 11-to-5 shape, developing changeup. Very good present stuff and projects well even at his size, has gained 3-4 mph in last year and not done.

Anderson went 12-1, 1.10 in 70 innings as a senior at American Heritage, but with a fastball that sat around 90 mph, wasn't considered a serious draft prospect out of high school, although the Nationals did spend a 40th round pick on him.



Anderson was buried for two years on the exceptionally deep Florida pitching staff, working only 39 innings between those two seasons with an ERA barely below 5.00.

With a Florida starting rotation featuring Logan Shore, A.J. Puk and Alex Faedo, Anderson, now armed with a 92-95 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider, was given an extended chance in the bullpen as a junior. He ended up as one of the top closers in the country, going 3-0, 0.97 with 13 saves in 36 games, including striking out 60 and only walking seven in 46 innings. Scouts remember Anderson's days as a high school starter, and noting that he still sometimes broke out his changeup, considered Anderson a starter for the draft even though he'd only started one game in three years.

The Red Sox picked Anderson in the third round with the 88th overall pick, signing him for a $700,000 bonus.



Give us your feedback
Minors | General | 12/13/2024

PG Down on the Farm: NL West
David Rawnsley
Article Image
It’s the time of the year again (i.e. the off-season) for the annual PG Down on the Farm feature.  We identify a top prospect in each of the 30 Major League organizations with as much Perfect Game background as possible and delve into that PG history for some insight into his development as a prospect.  Some of them might be high profile, high draft pick, ex-PG All-American talents who fans have been long familiar with.  Others might be more obscure prospects who have significantly improved either in college or as professionals.  Note that players who have used up their rookie eligibility are not considered. The idea isn’t to necessarily pick the best PG background prospect in each organization but the one who might be closest to the big leagues.  Sometimes that is the same player, other times not. And there is plenty of variation among organizations...
Read More
Draft | Story | 4/10/2026

PG Draft: Favorite Position Group

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

Perfect Game and vivenu Partner Up

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

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common? By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on. Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread? The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching. Most of you probably got there immediately. The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development. Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article. The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently. Don't rush past that....
Read More
College | Story | 4/9/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 6 POY Deep Dive

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
I’m beyond thrilled to be a contributor to Perfect Game, widely recognized as the premier organization for amateur baseball. Working in baseball operations for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves for nearly 20 years, the importance of amateur baseball cannot be understated. Nobody does it better and I am honored to be working with great baseball people like Jered Goodwin, Vinnie Cervino, Craig Cozart, and many others.  Each week I huddle with Vinnie and Craig to discuss Top 25 rankings and Players of the Week. In "Coppy’s Corner", I will dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level. My hope is that you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.  Player of the Week: Andrew Williamson – University of Central Florida (UCF)  Williamson can flat-out hit. While...
Read More
High School | General | 4/10/2026

High School Notebook: April 10

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
You like 6-foot-9 lefties up to 100 mph? 2026 Brody Bumila (MA) was electric in season opener, super easy upper-90s, multiple 100s. Easy operation w/ simple delivery despite size. Punched out 9 over 3, double digit whiffs. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/BChMhKIIhO — Perfect Game New England (@PG_NewEngland) April 2, 2026 Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan (MA), Class of 2026 He's 6-foot-9, 18 years old, left-handed and was up to 100 mph (upwards of 3 times on some guns) in his first start of the year in low-30 degree temperatures. That's really all you need to know. Oh, and the opposing team arrived 40 minutes late. Coming off a state-championship run in basketball, Texas signee Brody Bumila made his first start of the spring on April 2nd and didn't disappoint in front of at least 40 scouts packed tightly together behind the backstop.  Knowing it was going to be a quicker look given...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 4/9/2026

Don't Boot the Loot Scout Notes

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
‘30 UTL Chase Jelks (GA) lifts this one deep into the gap & rolls around the bags for a triple. Loose LH swing w/ feel to lift. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/leF4GMTawJ — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) April 4, 2026 Chase Jelks (2030, Atlanta, Ga.) put together a great weekend for The Dream 14u Black in their run to a championship game appearance, hitting .444 with two triples and a double along with three RBI. He controlled the zone throughout the event in the box and finished with a 6:1 BB:K ratio because of it while also swiping five bags as well. It was a strong showing for Jelks, something that’s becoming common this spring in PG events.    ‘30 MIF Cohen Carter (TN) hits this one on the screws into the gap for a triple. Functional & compact swing. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Tennessee pic.twitter.com/YVUfxbHBxx — Perfect Game...
Read More
Juco | Story | 4/8/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 8

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Another week of conference play down and Johnson County continues there tear through the spring of 2026, they retain the top spot with Gaston nipping their heels at number 2 for the third consecutive week. McLennan jumps up to number 3 with a big series sweep over rival Texas powerhouse, Weatherford. Out west, Cochise just keeps rolling in the desert and California looks to be hotly contested all the way down the final stretch. A couple of debut appearances down the board with Harford, CCF, and Linn Benton all earning their spot on our top 25 for the first time in the first week of April. So many great records out there it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out with so many teams vying for seeding and conference championships on this final stretch run. Rank Team Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 38-2 2 Gaston (NC) 38-3 3 McLennan (TX) 29-7 4 Chipola (FL) 34-7 5 Walters State (TN)...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/8/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 8

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
We are past the midpoint of the college baseball season and the stakes are rising by the week. Conference races are tightening, schedules are getting harder, and the résumés that will matter in the selection room are being written right now — one series at a time. This week's most significant development came in Division II, where North Greenville swept Young Harris in three consecutive one-run games to claim the top spot for the first time this season, knocking Tampa from a perch they've held most of the year. It's a genuine changing of the guard at the top, and it's exactly the kind of shakeup that makes this stretch of the season worth paying close attention to. Across all three divisions the picture is coming into focus. In Division I NAIA, Georgia Gwinnett remains the standard while Taylor and Cumberlands continue to make their cases from behind. In Division III,...
Read More
High School | General | 4/7/2026

Iowa Spring League Notes: Week 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Brooks Mitchell-Birdsell (2027, Atkins, Iowa) was solid on both sides of the ball this weekend. He was able to show a clean move working into it, with the feel to impact it out in front and drive hard through contact. He had good barrel accuracy with feel to drive the ball well, especially working pull-side. He was 4-for-8 on the weekend with a double to his credit, driving in 7 runs as well. Mitchell-Birdsell also put together a good outing on the mound, delivering 2 innings of scoreless work with 3 punchouts. He worked the low 80s with some run, flashing a mid-70s curveball with good 11-5 shape and depth.  Maddux Mueller (2026, Amana, Iowa) LH bat with plenty to like in the batter’s box, and he put together a solid showing this weekend. He finished 2-for-3 with a double, demonstrating both contact ability and the capacity to drive the baseball for extra bases. Mueller...
Read More
College | Story | 4/7/2026

College Players of the Week: April 7

Craig Cozart
Article Image
April 7th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Andrew Williamson, OF, UCF  The UCF Knights (20-9) are coming off one of their biggest series victories in years when they went to Morgantown and took down the Mountaineers to take control of the Big 12 regular season standings.  The offense put on quite the performance and Andrew Williamson set the tone by leaving the yard in his first at-bat of the weekend launching a towering home run over the centerfield wall.  The 6-0/195 lefty from St. Petersburg, FL has one of the sweetest strokes in the college game today and when he goes, so do the Knights.  In the 3-game series, the junior collected 6 hits in his 10 at-bats, scoring 6 runs, on 5 walks, a double and he launched 3 home runs all told.  While he had a stretch earlier in the season where he was searching for his stroke a bit, he is getting locked in at the...
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.