THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,804 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,804 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General | 2/19/2019

Regional HS Preview: Midwest

Photo: Quinn Priester (Perfect Game)

For all of Perfect Game's regional previews as part of the 2019 high school baseball preview content, the Dream Team is available for free. The region top tools can be viewed with an Insider subscription. To learn more about Perfect Game's subscription packages and to sign up today please visit this link.


2019 Perfect Game High School Preview Index

Midwest Region: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin

Top 10 Midwest Region High Schools
Rk. Nat'l School '18 Rec. '18 Finish
1 33 Marist (Ill.) 29-9 IHSA 4A Sectional Finals
2 42 St. Laurence (Ill.) 30-8 IHSA 4A Sectional Round
3 48 Orchard Lake St. Mary's (Mich.) 28-13 MHSAA Division 2 State Semifinals
4 NR St. Xavier (Ky.) 37-2 KHSAA State Champs
5 NR Fishers (Ind.) 29-7 IHSAA 4A State Champs
6 NR Olentangy Liberty (Ohio)
 30-4 OHSAA Division 1 State Champs
7 NR Detroit Country Day (Mich.)
 21-8 MHSAA Division 2 District Finals
8 NR Brother Rice (Ill.)
 27-13 IHSA 4A Super-Sectionals
9 NR Andrean (Ind.) 31-6 IHSAA 3A State Champs
10 NR Mason (Ohio) 24-6 OHSAA Division 1 State Semifinals




Midwest Region High School Dream Team

C - Nathan Stevens, Sr., Waunakee HS (Wis.)
Stevens earned an invite to the Perfect Game All-American Classic following an outstanding showing at PG National last June, where he showed really good defensive tools behind the plate to go along with pretty substantial raw power from the left side of the plate. Lefthanded power-hitting catchers are rare commodities at any level of baseball and Stevens' tools give him a chance to be an impactful one, be it at Arkansas, where he's signed, or professional baseball. 

1B - Matt McCormick, Sr., St. Laurence HS (Ill.) 
McCormick is a catcher by trade, but has shown the ability to play some corner infield as well, so he's a good fit at first base on this list. A lefthanded hitter with a lot of physical strength, McCormick has shown intriguing raw pop to go along with advanced hitting tools. Defensively, he's a solid defensive catcher whose athleticism has noticeably improved throughout his development and he now has the potential versatility of playing in several spots for West Virginia next year. 

2B - Dillon Kark, Sr., Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep (Mich.)
A Michigan State signee, Kark offers intriguing upside primarily based on his two best tools, his power and his arm strength. A quality defensive infielder who could potentially play anywhere around the infield, Kark's arm could be a plus tool and an obvious defensive asset, while his raw power from the right side of the plate gives him a second above average tool. He's got a chance to hit and hit for power at the collegiate level while playing steady defense at a number of infield spots. 

SS - Ed Howard, Jr., Mount Carmel HS (Ill.)
One of the few underclassmen on this list, Howard earns the nod at the shortstop position due to his advanced abilities both offensively and defensively. One of the most impressive hitters in the 2020 class, Howard had a really loud fall in PG events, OPS'ing around 1.000 both at the Underclass World Championship as well as the big one in Jupiter. He handles the bat extremely well and makes consistent hard contact and projects in a big way for power in addition to being an athletic, rangy middle infielder with plenty of athleticism. 

3B - AJ Vukovich, Jr., East Troy HS (Wis.)
Vukovich could be a candidate for the UT spot on this list as he's a legitimate two-way prospect who could absolutely do both at Louisville, where he's committed. A big, physical righthanded hitter, Vukovich has shown off tremendous power to this point in his development and looks to be one of the best power prospects in the class. He has also been up to 90 mph on the mound, where he's shown really good ability, and that arm strength obviously plays well from the third base spot. 

OF - Jason Hodges, Sr., Marist HS (Ill.) 
Hodges really exploded in Jupiter this past October, where he OPS'd 1.297 while showing off some of the best raw power in the class. A corner outfielder by trade, Hodges likely fits best in left field long term, where he's a solid athlete with a solid arm, but his biggest impact will come in the batter's box. He has plenty of bat speed from the right side of the plate to go along with extreme physical strength, giving him plus raw power right now with the potential for even more. He's a close MLB draft follow this spring. 

OF - Jase Bowen, Sr., Toledo Central Catholic (Ohio) 
A tremendous athlete, Bowen is signed with Michigan State to play both baseball and football where he's a dynamic wide receiver and kick returner. He's a plus runner as well, and his athleticism/speed both play extremely well in center field, where he has a chance to be a dynamic defender to go along with an above average arm. Offensively, he possesses top-of-the-order tools with good contact skills and developing power and he's a threat to run any time he's on base. 

OF - Kendall Ewell, Sr., Marist HS (Ill.) 
Ewell, an Eastern Kentucky signee, has pretty significant upside coming out of the Midwest, mostly in the power department. A quality athlete who likely fits best in an outfield corner, Ewell has a really projectable frame that scouts are optimistic will allow him to develop both more arm strength and more raw power. He has quality pop right now from the right side of the plate and is an intriguing projection-follow for the draft this spring. 

UT - Luke Leto, So., Portage Central HS (Mich.)
One of the more impressive prospects in the country regardless of age, Leto earns the nod on this list at the UT spot given his abilities as a two-way player. An outstanding athlete who plays a really good shortstop, Leto also swings it well from the left side and has tremendous power projection. He's also easily into the 90s on the mound with a sharp, swing-and-miss breaking ball. The upside is supremely vast in Leto's case, who is committed to LSU. 

P - Quinn Priester, Sr., Cary-Grove Community (Ill.) 
One of the top arms in the class, and one of the arms who could be poised for a huge spring, Priester offers some of the more intriguing projection in the 2019 class. With excellent size, long limbs and good athleticism, it's easy to dream on what Priester could end up being at maturity. At present he works comfortably in the low-90s with his fastball, ramping it up to 93-94 mph pretty often, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see that velocity increase right away this spring to pair with his power curveball, a pitch that already shows plus. 

P - Michael Prosecky, Sr., Nazareth Academy (Ill.)
Prosecky took a pretty intriguing step up the draft board back in Jupiter in October when he worked 89-93 mph with his fastball, flashed an above average slider and threw a lot of strikes. The good-framed lefthander is going to be an especially interesting follow this spring as scouts will look to see if he can be more consistent with his stuff and command while also looking out for any further potential growth of his stuff. He's signed with Louisville. 

P - Avery Short, Sr., Southport HS (Ind.)
Really bursting onto the radar with an eye-opening performance at USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars, Short earned big-time reviews from scouts for his pitchability, deception and overall feel. He's not overpowering, usually working in the 87-90 mph range and touching higher, but does show off an above average slider that features excellent spin and late bite, and he gets a good amount of swings-and-misses on that pitch. He's signed with Louisville where he has a chance to be an immediate impact arm. 

P - Michael Doolin, Sr., Andrean HS (Ind.)
Perhaps the best strike-thrower in the country, Doolin has impressed evaluators with his ability to pound the strike zone for some time now. A good-sized righthander, Doolin's athleticism and ease of operation mechanically allow him to seamlessly repeat his delivery from pitch-to-pitch, and therefore have that aforementioned command. He generally works in the 87-91 mph range or so and has flashed an average curveball before, so scouts will definitely have him high on their lists to see in the early going this spring. Doolin is signed with Vanderbilt. 

P - Mack Anglin, Sr., Highland HS (Ohio) 
Anglin performed extremely well at the Perfect Game National last June, earning an invite to the Perfect Game All-American Classic as a result. With excellent size, projection and arm speed, Anglin evokes some comparisons within the PG scouting staff to fellow former PG All-American Zack Hess, who is now pitching at LSU. Anglin has been up to 93 mph with his fastball and will assuredly throw harder given his projection and arm speed, and has also shown the ability to spin a plus breaking ball at times. 


Midwest Region Best Tools

This is PG 'DiamondKast' Level content.
You must be either an DiamondKast, Crosschecker Rankings & Scouting Reports, or Scout subscriber to read the rest.
Sign in Subscribe Now
Give us your feedback
High School | General | 2/26/2026

PGHS Showdown: Academies Scout Notes
AJ Denny
Article Image
Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) going WAY out to right. Rhythmic approach and smooth swing get into big time power. #Mountaineers commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/qyDaIPxIol — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) First live look at the left-handed hitting West Virgina commit. The power is real, launched two long homers in game action this weekend. Easy mover with very clean path with sky high offensive ceiling if he continues to show like this. Swing is built for power and lofted pull side impacts.    CJ Alfano (‘26 NY) long PS bomb this morning. Just leaning on everything that’s thrown over the heart. #WVU commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/4lGnhOEyrl — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Cj Alfano (‘26 NY)Just an impossible out throughout the weekend....
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 2/26/2026

PG Draft: Early Season Underclass Performers

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Dax Whitney (@BeaverBaseball) showed LOUD stuff. FB up to 100, cruised at 95-98. Pair of plus secondaries. CB at 77-79 (2923) with sharp, 12-6 action. Firm SL at 89-91 (2714) with bite. Flashed fading CH at 87-88 (1425). Ranked No. 1 on the ‘27 board @PG_Draft So./‘27 elig. pic.twitter.com/9PNbjJ53Zo — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 13, 2026 RHP Dax Whitney, Oregon State (‘27 elig.) Whitney may not just be the best arm in next year’s class, he may be the best arm in the entire country right now. The right-handed sits 98 mph with the heater and has been up to 100 mph. Both the slider and curveball are plus offerings that he spins extremely well. Whitney will mix in a quality Gavin changeup that sits in the upper-80’s and has also introduced a new cutter. All the pitches come from the exact same release point and jump out of the hand. He...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/25/2026

Perfect Game Softball 16U Winter Elite Showcase

Dave Durbala
Article Image
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball 16u Winter Elite Showcase, February 20-22, 2026. Twenty-Four teams arrived in Springfield for the opportunity to showcase some of the best talent in the midwest. After 3 pool play games,  the field was split and seeded into either the Platinum or Gold Division to begin bracket play.  With several highly sought after young arms on display, it was Indiana Magic Gold 16U Carroll and Indiana Magic Gold 14U National making it into the Platinum Division Championship, and through a mutual agreement, they decided to end the tournament as Co-Champions. In the Gold Division, it was Gts 16u Elite-Gonzalez with a 7-2 win over Cedar Rapids Blue Devils 14u, to earn the championship. Below are some of the players that played their way onto the top performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from both the Platinum and Gold Divisions. Earning the...
Read More
College | Recruiting | 2/25/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: Feb. 25

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
A few weeks into the season and the shape of the national picture is starting to emerge (slightly, let’s get too silly about early results). Some preseason favorites are humming exactly as advertised, a few dark horses are pawing at the gate, and a handful of early contenders are discovering that February optimism and March reality are not always the same thing. Across DII, DIII and the NAIA, pitching staffs are setting the tone, offenses are either detonating or recalibrating, and the Top 25 is already beginning to feel less theoretical and more earned.   DII UT Tyler is performing as predicted with a 12-2 start that includes a series win at Angelo State. The Patriots’ offense has not exactly been knocking the cover off the ball, but the pitching staff has been stingy, holding opponents to a .228 batting average.  They have not faced a ranked opponent yet, but...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 2/25/2026

JUCO Top 25: February 25

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Another strong week for many of the top teams in junior college baseball. Walters State put together another undefeated weak and sticks in the top spot for the 3rd consecutive ranking. Chipola on the strength of a 20-1 start has established themselves early as one of top teams in the country. Johnson County put together a 2nd consecutive undefeated week and moves into the top 5 with a 15-1 overall record. They will play 4 games against #22 Iowa Western this week who is also coming off an undefeated week. Fresno City (15-0) and Midland (13-0) are two undefeated programs to begin 2026. They have gone from not in the preseason top 25 to the top 15 in our rankings in less than a month. And welcome to the PG Juco Top 25 Cloud County (KS) who debuts at #23 and is coming off a huge 3 game sweep on the road in Texas of a previous top 10 program in our rankings. Plenty of good matchups ahead this...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/24/2026

Perfect Game Softball February Frenzy

Dave Durbala
Article Image
BURLINGTON, IA - Perfect Game February Frenzy, February 20-22, 2026.  Twenty-two teams, representing five states, rolled into town for the opportunity to compete in this pool play, then into bracket play, with four games guaranteed,  in both a 14u and 18u division. Taking home top honors in the 14u division was Midwest Sluggers 11, who held off a late charge by the Black Dragons , winning 7-5. In the 18u division, it was Nebraska Gold 319 Berning topping Iowa Gold Prospects 4-0, avenging a pool play opening, 1-0 loss. Below are some of the players that played their way onto our Top Performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from the championship bracket in each age division. 14U Division Earning the 14u division MVP award was Presley Perkins (2030 Taylor Ridge, IL) who although is listed as a switch hitting OF, was only observed hitting from the left side for tournament...
Read More
High School | General | 2/25/2026

High School Showdown Preview

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
We’re only about 24 hours away from the 14th PG High School Showdown and as we get closer to one of the premier events on the high school schedule, we look ahead to what we’ll see in Hoover. The teams and players are what make this event special along with the environment with scouts packing the stands for this event. As with every year we’ve run this event, there are sure to be names called in the upcoming MLB Draft along with big time contributors at the college level. This year’s field is loaded with five teams ranked inside the Preseason High School Top-50, headlined by a trio of top-10 teams in No. 8 South Walton (FL), No. 9 Blessed Trinity (GA), and No. 10 IMG Academy (FL). Rounding out the list of top-50 teams are No. 34 Parkview (GA) and No. 43 Hoover (AL), along with plenty of other teams that will challenge for state championships in their respective...
Read More
College | Story | 2/24/2026

College Players of the Week: Feb. 24

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
February 24 Perfect Game/Player of the Week: Will Gasparino, OF, UCLA After playing 117 games, launching 27 doubles and 25 home runs in Austin, TX for the University of Texas, Will Gasparino decided it was time to head back to his hometown of Los Angeles, CA. Based on his performance in the first two weeks of the season for the Bruins, he looks very comfortable and ready to push his name up the Draft Board. UCLA (6-1) enters 2026 with incredibly high expectations, jumped to No. 3 in our Top 25 poll with their 3-game sweep of previously ranked TCU and Gasparino provided much of the offensive firepower. For the week, the 6-6/220 outfielder went 7 for 13 good for a .538 BA, with a double, 5 home runs and 13 RBI. That brings his slash line through 7-games to .391/1.304/.548 with a double, a triple, 6 home runs and he has driven in a total of 15 runs. The scary thing is that Gasparino is just...
Read More
High School | General | 2/23/2026

Northwest Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Northwest All Region & Top Tools Rk Pacific NW (+ Hawaii) 2025 Record 1 Puyallup (WA) 28-1 2 Kamehameha Kapalama (HI) 19-5 3 South Salem (OR) 30-2 4 Lake Washington (WA) 21-11 5 Bainbridge (WA) 24-4 6 St. Louis (HI) 15-6 7 Iolani (HI) 11-11-1. 8 Eastlake (WA) 23-9 9 Summit (OR) 24-6 10 Sumner (WA) 18-8 11 Sunset (OR) 23-9 12 Punahou (HI) 7-10-1. 13 Mount Vernon (WA) 28-4 14 Jesuit (OR) 26-8 15 Tahoma Senior (WA) 13-9-1 16 Blanchet Catholic (OR) 31-2 17 West Linn (OR) 22-8 18 Woodinville (WA) 13-12 19 Eagle (ID) 15-13 20 Central Catholic (OR) 23-6-1 21 Service (AK) 20-6 22 Meadowdale (WA) 10-4 23 Waiakea (HI) 10-4-1. 24 Liberty Christian (WA) 24-3 25 Madison Senior (ID) 19-11
Read More
General | General | 2/23/2026

PG Salutes Chet Brewer, a Youth Baseball Pillar

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PG Salutes Chet Brewer, a Youth Baseball Pillar A few weeks ago, Perfect Game and its Believe in Baseball foundation held a fundraising event in Los Angeles. The “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner and auction brought in thousands of dollars, all of which will go toward providing deserving youngsters an opportunity to play and grow in the game. Chet Brewer was not at the event – the former Negro Leagues star died at age 83 in 1990 – but his spirit was. Big time. “That night was all about Chet,” PG commissioner Dennis Gilbert said. “He was all about giving kids chances to play the game, especially kids from underprivileged backgrounds. “When you’re 15, 16, 17 years old – those years are the basis of your life. Chet helped put a lot of kids on the right path through the game of baseball.” Brewer’s impactful life has...
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.