THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,590 MLB PLAYERS | 16,394 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,590 MLB PLAYERS | 16,394 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Minors  | General | 12/17/2018

PG in the Pros: AL West

David Rawnsley
Photo: Jo Adell (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 | NL West


Houston Astros
Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Carlos Correa, Mark Appel, Mike Foltynewicz, Lance McCullers
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Brett Phillips, Colin Moran
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Alex Bregman
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Derek Fisher
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Kyle Tucker

 Forrest Whitley, RHP

Whitley's path to being perhaps the top pitching prospect in baseball today was likely very difficult in execution but very simple in its method.

The summer before his senior year, Whitley checked in at 6-foot-7, 250-pounds and it wasn't good weight. He was up to 95 mph on his fastball and his slider was sharp and big and he threw it often. However, this scout wrote this in his notes from the 2015 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars: “Below average command and it is hard to project it with his athleticism and size, impossible to avoid future reliever projections."

Whitley did make the USA 18u National Team out of the Tournament of Stars and struck out 18 in 10 innings in four outings to go with a 1-1, 0.87 record.



During the fall and winter Whitley dedicated himself to losing weight and increasing his athleticism and Texas area scouts were amazed when they first saw Whitley, minus about 30 pounds, in early season scrimmages. He missed time early in his senior year with a broken left hand but picked up right where he left off with a much-improved delivery, tremendously different athleticism and four pitches for strikes, including a fastball that was touching 97 mph consistently.

Perfect Game had Whitley ranked 15th in the final class rankings and Whitley went 17th overall to the Astros, signing for a $3,148,000 to buy him out of a Florida State scholarship. Whitley, who is now listed at a slender 6-foot-7, 195-pounds, may have served as an example for 2018 first round pick and fellow righthander Grayson Rodriguez from Nacogdoches, Texas, who improved his body and stuff in similar manner last year and went from a potential non-draft to 11th overall.


Los Angeles Angels

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Kaleb Cowart, Randal Grichuk
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Nick Tropeano, Cam Bedrosian
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Joe Gatto
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Matt Thaiss
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Jahmai Jones

 Jo Adell, OF

Jordon "Jo" Adell was one of the most polarizing high school prospects to come along in the last generation. On one side of the coin, he was an exceptional baseball athlete, one of the best raw athletes one can imagine stepping on a baseball field. Adell's 6-foot-3, 205-build was wiry and strong and projectable all at the same time. He ran a 6.19-second 60-yard dash at the 2016 PG National Showcase and could throw 96 mph off the mound and 97 mph from the outfield, which he patrolled with easy grace. Adell's raw power from the right side was easily top of the scale.

On the other side of the coin was the huge question of whether Adell would ever hit. He was frequently mistimed at the plate, struck out often and didn't make much hard contact save for his world class batting practice displays. During the middle of the summer, one particularly meticulous scout remarked "Adell is now 1-for-41 in his career in my presence." This scout couldn't argue the statement, as I had only seen him get one hit in about a dozen games myself and it was probably the same hit.



Adell's report from the 2016 PG National Showcase summarized it as follows:

Tall, long-limbed athletic build, has good strength with room for more. Extraordinary athlete, can do all the physical things on the baseball field with easy plus speed and explosion. 6.19 runner, best speed after a couple of steps. Easy outfield actions with outstanding raw arm strength, pure center field tools and the arm strength will just be a plus at that position. Righthanded hitter with a big leg lift load, really torques his lower half to create bat speed, easy plus bat speed with huge raw power, can hit the ball places that his peers can't reach and put on a BP show. Also threw one inning and topped out at 95 mph, some effort to his delivery with a long arm action, flashed four pitches in a short outing, curveball has tight spin when not overthrown and cutter was interesting as well. The big key will be the hit tool and how it develops but the rest of the tools are top of the scale. Plays with enthusiasm and likes to be on the field.

That performance led to him being an easy selection for the 2016 PG All-American Classic. And with that honor Adell had a much stronger August, as many young hitters do, as pitchers are getting tired and they are beginning to make adjustments. He hit a line drive 400-foot home run that was the swing every scout had been waiting for all summer and one of the loudest and most violent collisions between ball and bat this scout has ever seen. Almost predictably, Adell's next at-bat was another laser for a hit. The light switch had gone on.

Adell's senior year was superlative, one of the best ever by a high school hitter. In 35 games for Ballard High School, Adell hit .562-25-61, with 21 stolen bases. He drew 35 walks and only struck out 10 times. There were still some cynics in the scouting community but they were more and more a whisper amongst the shouting.

Perfect Game had Adell second behind righthander Hunter Greene in the final class rankings. The Angels selected Adell with the 10th overall pick and signed him to a $4,376,800 bonus.


Oakland Athletics

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Addison Russell, Michael Choice, Bobby Wahl, Daniel Robertson
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Matt Olson, Chad Pinder
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Casey Meisner
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Jharel Cotton
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – A.J. Puk

 Jesus Luzardo, LHP

Luzardo, both of whose parents were born and raised in Venezuela, was one of the more polished pitchers on the 2015 summer circuit. A physically mature 6-foot-1, 205-pound southpaw with three solid pitches in his fastball, curveball and changeup, to go with a sound and repeatable delivery, Luzardo wasn't especially easy to project but it was very easy as a scout to appreciate his present skills and tools. His report from the 2015 PG National Showcase read:

Large, well-built athletic frame. Simple delivery with good balance, arm action showed quickness from a high three-quarters slot. Fastball in the upper-80s to low-90s topping at 93 showed good arm-side run when down in zone. Creates good angle to plate from release point. Solid three-pitch mix within strike zone. Curveball has great 1-to-7 shape with big depth, had quality feel for changeup with fading life. Pounded the zone with all pitches.



Luzardo, who had pitched through the fall the previous two seasons, decided to spend the fall of his senior year working out and the results were immediately obvious at the start of the following spring. Instead of working 89-91 mph and occasionally touching higher, Luzardo was consistently throwing in the 93-97 mph range. With his already established three-pitch mix and ability to throw strikes, he quickly moved into first round territory after just a few starts.

Unfortunately, Luzardo's elbow popped early in his fourth start of the season and he almost immediately went on to have TJ surgery. Stoneman-Douglas High School, behind his teammate and fellow top prospect Colton Welker, impressively won the Florida 9-A state title even without their ace lefthander.

While teams have shown little hesitance in picking college pitchers coming off TJ surgery in recent years, they generally haven't shared the same approach with high school pitchers. The Nationals, seeing the chance to get a first round value in the third round, decided to take a chance on Luzardo's return to health, signing him with the 94th overall pick for a well over slot $1.4 million bonus.


Seattle Mariners

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Taijuan Walker, Edwin Diaz, Tyler Marlette
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – D.J. Peterson, Austin Wilson
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Drew Jackson
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Tyler O'Neill
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Kyle Lewis
Joe Rizzo, 3B

Rizzo was the 2015 Virginia 4-A Player of the Year after hitting .606 with seven home runs and had a textbook summer circuit in 2015 prior to his senior year at Oakton High School in Virginia. He started it off with a strong Perfect Game National Showcase, spent July playing for Canes Baseball, including appearances at the 17u WWBA National Championships and 17u PG World Series, then hit up the East Coast Pro and Area Code Games before ending up in San Diego at the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

A strong and mature 5-foot-11 lefthanded hitter, Rizzo was one of the top hitters on the circuit, consistently producing quality at-bats and hard contact against the top high school pitchers in the country all summer. His PG National report read:

Strong and compact athletic build, fairly mature physically. Lefthanded hitter, very polished and mature at the plate, big leg raise trigger but gets his foot down in time and shows consistent quality time. Short and quick swing with very good strength at contact, drives normal ground balls through the infield with top spin and bat speed, has natural lift and loft out front for gap power, will hit to all fields and is balanced enough to drive the ball the opposite way, high end hitting prospect. 6.96 runner, active feet at third base, has quickness and lateral range, good raw arm strength with carry, smooth hands at the ball, no reason athletically he couldn't play second base at the next level. Baseball player who has played lots and plays with energy.



Scouts appreciated Rizzo's lefthanded bat and his mature approach to hitting along with his dirtbag, high energy style of play but also spent plenty of time pondering his future position. He was closer to 5-foot-9 than his listed 5-foot-11 and scouts hoped that he could play second base at the professional level, while others even brought up the possibility of moving behind the plate.

Rizzo, who was signed with South Carolina, eventually went in the second round, 50th overall, to the Mariners and signed for a $1,750,000 bonus.


Texas Rangers

Before They Were Pros, 2013-14 – Roughned Odor, Luis Sardinas, Nick Williams, Joey Gallo
Before They Were Pros, 2014-15 – Alex Gonzalez, Lewis Brinson, Travis Demeritte
PG in the Pros, 2015-16 – Luis Ortiz
PG in the Pros, 2016-17 – Josh Morgan
PG in the Pros, 2017-18 – Willie Calhoun

 Bubba Thompson, OF

Thompson, whose given first name is Leslie, was a primary football player in high school as a quarterback and was recruited by numerous SEC schools as a 3-Star recruit to play football, although he eventually signed with Alabama for baseball. He threw for 3,173 yards and 38 touchdowns and rushed for 507 more as a senior.

Thompson was very active during his junior summer, participating in the PG National Showcase along with the East Coast Pro and Area Code Games and giving scouts more confidence that he was going to pursue a baseball career after high school. His athleticism was obvious, including 6.35 speed in the 60-yard dash but his righthanded hitting approach was not as developed. Thompson hit from a very still start with a short, downward upper body swing and any projection of his offensive game had to include plenty of mechanical adjustments. He did show patience at the plate and the ability to handle the barrel against 90-plus mph pitching as two strengths to build on moving forward.



More strength combined with some mechanical changes put Thompson in position for a big senior year at the plate and he followed through, hitting .429-11-35 to go with 18 stolen bases while being named Alabama's Mr. Baseball and 7A Player of the Year.

Not considered a potential first round pick prior to the spring, Thompson quickly rose up scouting boards in the months leading up to the draft with the Texas Rangers picking him with the 26th overall selection and signing him for a $2.1 million 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
General | General | 8/8/2026

12U Game Time: 8/9/2026 1PM Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Sunday August 9th, 2026 1:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

11U Game Time: 8/8/2026 Noon Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Saturday August 8th, 2026 12:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/7/2026

2026 MLB Draft Team Reports: NL West

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Team Report Cards: AL West With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL West Arizona Diamondbacks  Grade: 50 Risk: High Notable Selections: C Ryder Helfrick (1st rd) | RHP Blake Bryant (CB-A rd) | SS Carson Kerce (2nd rd) | OF Brayden Dowd (3rd rd)  Ryder Helfrick (@RazorbackBSB ) different AB; same result. He goes dead central for a solo šŸ’£ this time. Threw a runner out earlier; 1.98 pop. #PGCollege @PG_Draft https://t.co/kW7wraqExJ pic.twitter.com/SARYKxd0oE — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 14, 2026 The Diamondbacks started their...
Read More
College | Story | 8/7/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: August 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
RHP Jason Flores (@BaseballUGA) Showed some electric stuff, up to 98 several times CT, SL, CH to round out the arsenal in his 5IP 9K performance. @HarwichMariners So./‘27 elig pic.twitter.com/p2nTvkFnWh — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) August 5, 2026 Jason Flores | RHP | University of Georgia | Harwich Mariners  Flores heads to Georgia this fall looking to reestablish himself as one of the premier arms in the 2027 draft class after showing significant promise during his freshman season at Texas. Flores posted a 2.78 ERA over 32.1 innings as a freshman before a limited sophomore campaign in which he logged just 12 innings. The stuff was on full display this summer, highlighted by a dominant five-inning, nine-strikeout playoff performance in which he touched 98 mph five different times. His fastball averaged nearly 96 mph throughout his time on the Cape, pairing the...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 8/6/2026

643 DP Last Team Standing at East WS

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following a dominant week at the 17u PG East World Series, No. 34 ranked 643 DP Cougars 17u capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating No. 2 ranked East Cobb Astros 17u, 3-2, in the championship game to claim the title. The Cougars earned the tournament's No. 1 overall seed after outscoring opponents by an absurd 59-6 throughout the week before completing their championship run with a hard-fought victory in the finale. “Always feels great to finish the year playing your best ball, especially when going up against strong competition,” 643 Head Coach Danny Pralgo said. “We did so many of the little things right: on the mound with location, clean on defense, bunting, 2 strike approach leading to long at bats, getting hit-by-pitches, and we had so many good outs offensively that led to moving a runner or scoring a runner. And when those things all come together in...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 8/6/2026

PG Extends Partnership With Yeti

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH YETI   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, August 6, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced an extension of its existing partnership with YETI, the premium outdoor gear brand and the Official Cooler and Drinkware Provider of Perfect Game Baseball and Softball. The partnership between Perfect Game and YETI began in 2021.   The expanded partnership will bring YETI’s products and brand to Perfect Game athletes, families and fans through a variety of activations across Perfect Game’s events and digital platforms. YETI will have a prominent presence both on-site and online, including exposure...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 8/7/2026

Tournament of Champion Notes: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Tournament of Champions Scout Notes: Part 1 ‘27 LHP Jaylan Hortenbury (KY) @JHortenbury X @PG_Uncommitted FB 85-89/ touched 90. Arm-side life w/ some ride. SL in mid 70s (depth). CH showed as a weapon in the upper 7s. Some sweep to BB in low 7s. Athletic w/ two-way capabilities as well. #TOC šŸ‘€ @USAPrimeScout27 pic.twitter.com/vyj1Tb9nBN — Jordan Gates (@JGatesPG) July 30, 2026 Jaylan Hortenbury (2027, New Castle, Ky.) Hortenbury was probably one of my personal favorites, as this was my first time seeing it in action. It’s an athletic two-way profile that has a chance to do both at the next level. But what stood out to me, was his potential on the mound. The left-handed pitcher moves very well and is comfortable there. Has the mound presence Supplemented with a free-flowing and loose arm from a higher ¾ slot, he pounded the zone in his lone appearance. He went...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 8/6/2026

Tournament of Champions Notes: Part 1

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘27 RHP/SS Carson Hailey (KY) Dominant 5.1 IP + 14 K’sā€¼ļø 2 ER on 3 H + 1BB. 69% strikes. FB lived 88-89 T92 w/ ASR + maintained velo. SL 77-80 w/ late sharp break. Throws downhill w/ good extension. Pitches tunnel well out of 3/4 slot. #TOC @carsonhailey_8 @2027TTKY @JGatesPG pic.twitter.com/UoL7newgi6 — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 29, 2026 Carson Hailey (2027, Louisville, Ky..) turned in a dominant outing, striking out 14 across 5.1 innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits and one walk. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-hander owns an athletic frame and worked with a controlled tempo on the mound. Hailey used a big leg kick and long stride with an easy lower half, creating downhill action and good extension toward the plate. He finished through his pitches well and maintained his velocity deep into the outing. The fastball lived at 88-89 mph...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 8/6/2026

East Coast Pro All Prospect Teams

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
1st Team C: Quincy Pratt (‘27 MS)-Max EV: 92- Put together a strong showing with multiple knocks; exits of 92/88/88. In-game pops right around 2 flat, 2.01 on a caught stealing and a 1.97. Swing plays and still a bunch of room to add muscle mass. Trending really nicely. 1B: Teagan Leach (‘27 VA)-60-yard: 7.02 Max EV: 105-On the barrel throughout ECP. Everything comes off hard and doesn't whiff much for a power led profile. 101 F8, 99 double left on left with a 4.72 turn, 105 double through the gap, and a 96 exit knock to his credit. Certified hitter that has plus strength now. IF: Isaiah Snavely (‘27 IN)-60-yard:6.71 Max EV: 96-Early attendance for the draft cycle rocket ship is always appreciated and Snavely is on it. 96/366 shot on a breaking ball to go with an 89 exit double and his other couple of hits on the week. 4.26 down the line and a 4.47 turn. Should stick in...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 8/6/2026

Canes Walk Off In Florida Elite Champ.

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
A tightly contested battle between Canes Florida 2029 and Florida Flames 16u capped the 16U Florida Elite Championship, with the Canes earning a 6-5 walk-off win on Monday at JetBlue Park Stadium. “It means a lot to this team specifically because this is their first win as a group,” Canes head coach Alec Bettinger said. “We’ve come up short a couple times, so seeing one go through the hoop here is really nice for the boys.” The Canes defense came out hot, led by Cannon Tyler who started on the mound for the Canes. Tyler set the tone from the start, opening the game with a strikeout. He allowed no hits while striking out three over five innings. His fastball sat 77-82 mph. Another strikeout and a pickoff at second base ended the inning. Race McDaniel started on the mound for the Flames. The left-hander pitched six innings, striking out seven batters. 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.