THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,623 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,623 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General | 3/1/2019

High School Notebook: March 1

Vincent Cervino
Greg Gerard
Photo: CJ Abrams (Perfect Game)

The high school notebook is designed to share notes and video on players that stand out during the high school season and new features will be released regularly. This will include in-game looks, reports, analysis and video from Perfect Game's scouting staff. If you have news on a player in your area that is performing at a high level that we should have eyes on please reach out to Vinnie Cervino at vincent@perfectgame.org. Also feel free to share your video highlights on Twitter @vcervinopg.

CJ Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity High School (Ga.)
Lots of heat was in attendance to see the first game for infielder CJ Abrams (2019, Alpharetta, Ga.) in the spring of his senior season. The shortstop has carried plenty of buzz around his name for quite some time now as the top position player in the hot bed of talent that is the state of Georgia. Abrams started out the season hot going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. The first pitch Abrams saw on this night was a smoked line drive to center field for his first double of the day. His quick hands and direct swing allowed him to get the barrel of the bat to the baseball quickly and drive the baseball with a high exit velocity. He sprinted down the line with a slight hesitation and still managed to turn the bag at first base for a 4.19-second home-to-first with the aforementioned turn. His next at-bat he did the exact same thing. This time he saw three pitches before jumping on a fastball over the middle of the plate and driving it off the center field wall for another double.

Abrams not only can swing the bat he can also field the baseball so cleanly with sure hands and a strong arm. His game speed is the difference maker, however. The way he moves to the ball at shortstop, the way he gets down the line and the way he moves on the basepaths to be disruptive and steal bases is what sets the Alabama commit apart. He showed that speed in this game in his third at-bat legging out an infield single, burning down the first base line posting a 4.05-second home-to-first time. He also showed it after his second at-bat that resulted in his second double of the game peppering the center field wall. A few pitches later he took off to third base and stole the bag without a throw. Abrams started off the spring of his draft year with a bang on Wednesday night and will be a fun player to track throughout the rest of this spring heading into June.




Pierce Gallo, SS, Walton High School (Ga.)
2018 PG National participant Pierce Gallo (2019, Marietta, Ga.) was also participating in this game as the opposing shortstop to Abrams. Gallo is a Clemson commit with big juice at the plate and strength in his compact swing. He utilizes a big stride into contact with a deep hand load before generating his hands quickly to the baseball. Gallo’s first at-bat of the 2019 spring campaign resulted in a home run after a pair of forgettable swings earlier in the at-bat. His lofted swing path allowed for him to elevate the pitch and drive it when squaring it up. The ball was a no-doubter to center field at Walton High School that has surely seen lots of home runs. Gallo’s bat is his carrying tool presently, but he did showcase an outstanding play up the middle making a diving stop and getting up quickly to fire to first base. The runner happened to be Abrams who beat out the bang-bang play, but any other runner would have been out on the athletic stop.


Jake Smith, IF, Blessed Trinity High School (Ga.)
Jake Smith (2019, Roswell, Ga.) was in the lineup in the high-level Georgia high school matchup between Blessed Trinity and Walton. Smith started the game at second base for the Titans of Blessed Trinity and had a huge game mustering a total of seven RBIs at the plate. Smith connected on two home runs, each to his power gap in left-center field. Smith was a participant of the PG Jr. National Showcase in 2017 and was the MVP of the PG High School Showdown last season. Smith has an easy swing at the plate with lots of strength at impact as displayed by his two homers in this contest. He is the middle infielder across second baseman from shortstop CJ Abrams on a loaded Blessed Trinity team and is one of the top uncommitted players in the state of Georgia.




Jared Jones, C, Walton High School (Ga.)
Jared Jones (2022, Marietta, Ga.) is a special young player and a 2018 PG 14u Select Festival participant. The primary catcher only saw one at-bat in his first high school game, but that lone at-bat was an impressive one. Jones saw a fastball over the middle of the plate on a 2-0 count and lined it right back up the middle for a single. The baseball was one of the hardest hit balls of the night with a high exit velocity resulting from his advanced raw bat speed. For a freshman, the bat speed Jones produces is really quite remarkable. His strength at impact is obvious as he already stands at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds. The swing is really controlled for the amount of bat speed produced and the youthfulness of his age, but Jones has shown that he can put the barrel of the bat to the baseball at a high rate. Combining his bat speed and strength at his young age, the projection is really limitless when thinking about what Jones may develop into one day.

– Greg Gerard




Brennan Malone, RHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Malone came into the spring as one of the premier MLB draft prospects of the high school class and the PG All-American has done nothing to dispel that myth throughout the early portion of the high school baseball season. The North Carolina signee showed flashes of brilliance during his start and the promise of why teams might be willing to select the flame throwing righthander in the first round of next June's draft. 

Malone is an uber-athletic prospect and though he is a bit raw on the mound in terms of command and control at times, the arm speed is very enticing as is the sound delivery. He generates good momentum toward the plate with fluidity to his motion and the ball comes out very clean. Malone was about 50/50 in terms of strikes during this look with the fastball peaking at 96 mph early and sitting mostly 91-95 mph for the rest of the start. The fastball is mostly straight but he is not afraid to elevate and expand the strike zone with two strikes which allows him to generate some swings-and-misses with the pitch.
The most positive development from last summer to this spring has undoubtedly been the development of the slider, Malone has both a curveball and slider, and the slider flashed plus early on in the game. He used it to get a strikeout in the first inning and it worked mostly in the mid-80s peaking at 85 mph. He still has his traditional over the top curveball with good 12/6 shape in the mid- to upper 70s and can land the pitch very effectively. The slider was a bit inconsistent however, despite it flashing plus early, and his the continued refinement and consistency of the pitch should continue to improve as the season goes on. 

All-in-all it was another ho-hum start for Malone as all the physical tools and stuff are there for him to be a top draft pick in June. In the meantime he serves as the defacto staff ace for No. 2 IMG Academy, along with Kendall Williams, and should have no shortage of high level scouts heading into Bradenton to see him perform. 




Joseph Charles, RHP, TNXL Academy (Fla.)
Transferring in to TNXL Academy, Charles is another PG All-American who certainly showed the stuff of a high level draft prospect with a very strong fastball-breaking ball combination. During this early season look, Charles labored through strike zone issues as what will ultimately dictate his draft stock will be his ability to not only work the strike zone but command his pitches within it as well. 

Charles is signed on with North Carolina once he graduates and has a pretty electric combination of fastball and breaking ball. The fastball peaked at 95 mph and sat comfortably between 91-94 mph, dipping below the 91 mph mark maybe once throughout his four innings on the mound. The fastball command was suspect and seemed to hinge greatly on his feel for his offspeed pitches. It almost felt like whenever he would mix pitches that he needed one or two of the initial pitch just to get the strike zone feel back. 

The breaking ball feel, much like Malone, came and went but the pitch flashed plus early in the outing. The pitch is more of a tweener slurve but he still had some troubles consistently landing the pitch though it looked like he had a bit more feel throwing the pitch for strikes as compared to the fastball. Charles also showed a firm changeup in the mid-80s that worked well against lefthanded hitters and racked up a few swings-and-misses. 




Rece Hinds, 3B, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Hinds has been dogged with hit tool questions throughout the last year but the PG All-American has the best raw power out of the prep class and he's been off to a good start this spring in terms of barreling up the opposition. Hinds is signed with Louisiana State and on a stacked IMG Academy team should have no issues getting looks from high level scouts throughout the season. 

Hinds is an immense physical presence, standing at 6-foot-4 and 210-pounds with lots of well-proportioned strength and a lean upper body indicative of further strength gains. This is a very big size for shortstop, where he will be playing defensively this spring for IMG, and most scouts agree that his professional future is over at third base where his plus-plus arm strength will have no issue playing. 

The swing gets inside at times but Hinds bat speed and hand quickness are so fast that he has no real issue getting his hands extended to drive the ball with tremendous carry. He has plus-plus raw power too and he got a chance to show off his impact with a smoked single through the left side and an opposite field triple later on. Hinds is making more consistent hard-hit contact so far this spring and that bodes well for his draft status moving forward. 

– Vincent Cervino
Give us your feedback
High School | General | 8/17/2026

Scott Wins MVP Two Ways
Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – When the folks at Perfect Game reached out to invite him to pitch in the 2026 PG All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors, Cullen Scott had one request. “You mind if I get a couple of at-bats, too?” Along with his dad, Scott traveled from the family’s home in Texas to Citizens Bank Park. The trip proved to be a huge success as he starred on the mound and at the plate and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Scott, 16, pitched a scoreless first inning and struck out two. In the fourth inning, he belted a grand slam six rows up into the left-field seats to lead the National team’s 6-1 win over the American team. “He showed us why he’s here as a pitcher and a hitter,” said Greg Sabers, PG’s vice president of scouting and showcases. "He’s one of the top pitchers here, but he’s too good a...
Read More
Draft | Story | 9/11/2026

PG Draft: Potential Risers Into Top 50

Michael Albee
Article Image
We are in the early stages of the 2027 cycle and there is still plenty of time for players to make significant jumps up the board. While our current Top-100 provides an early look at the class, several players just outside that group have the upside to make a run at becoming Top-50 pick by next July. With that in mind, each member of the draft team each selected one college player and one prep player they believe could make the jump into the Top-50 over the course of the spring. These are the names to keep an eye on as the 2027 draft picture continues to develop. Joey’s Picks:   Jake Cueto (27 FL) goes oppo πŸ’£ on a mid-90s LonL heater. Performing at a very high level, hitting .464 with 5 homers. Excellent hit/run combo and here comes the juice! #PGHS #Miami commit @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/g4gtml81mm — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) April 1, 2026 Prep: OF, Jake...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 9/9/2026

PG Wood Bat Fall Kickoff Scout Notes

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Evan Thompson (‘29, AZ) showcasing the all-fields power with this ground rule double the other way. Immense power upside. Really fun offensive profile #FallKickoff https://t.co/l551KirUOf pic.twitter.com/QW0AIeg59g — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) September 7, 2026 Evan Thompson (2029, Gilbert, Ariz.) put on an offensive clinic throughout the weekend, going 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits. He capped off his MVP performance with a walkoff home run to take home the championship. Thompson is one of the premier players in the 2029 class. A fluid left-handed stroke consistently finds barrels. There is all fields power present that will only continue to develop further. It would not be a surprise if Thimpson ends up the top ranked player in the class when it is all said and done.  Chase Fillman (2028, Goodyear, Ariz.) put together a loud summer circuit and...
Read More
Draft | Story | 9/8/2026

What Profiles Are Valued Most at Top of Draft

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
The landscape of the MLB Draft continues to evolve each and every year. What teams value at the top of the draft can change based on the strength of a particular class, shifts in player development philosophy, and, perhaps most importantly, the way organizations evaluate risk and upside. Some trends are subtle, while others become impossible to ignore when viewed across multiple years. For this study, I set out to answer one question: What player profiles do teams value at the top of the draft? To answer it, I analyzed the Top-100 picks from each of the last six drafts (2021-2026). That gives us 600 total selections to examine and provides a large enough sample to identify both the profiles that have remained consistently popular and those that have gained or lost significant ground. The data was broken down by position, handedness and level to create individual player profiles. While...
Read More
General | General | 9/7/2026

First Look: Class of 2031 Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Read More
Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Harry Chubb Jones Jr. is getting an early start on the next chapter of his baseball career. The Perfect Game All-American announced Sunday that he will enroll early at the University of Alabama, giving the Crimson Tide an early addition from one of the more intriguing two-way prospects in the 2027 class. See y’all at The Joe! πŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎ pic.twitter.com/Kn0T0mJxq7 — 6._.chubbjones (@chubb_hitter) September 6, 2026 Jones, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound SS/RHP from Georgia, was ranked No. 39 in the 2027 class and came in at No. 83 on the initial Top-100 2027 Draft Board. Chubb Jones Jr (‘27 GA) smokes this one the other way for an RBI single & we’re all level in the 6th. Adv bat speed, impacts w/ authority to all fields #PGAAC@PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/FZ46IvYVp1 — Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic (@PGAllAmerican) August 16, 2026 The McEachern...
Read More
Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

2027 MLB Draft: PG Content Hub

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
No more having to search for articles pertaining to the 2027 MLB Draft as we will keep it all centrally located here, in the PG Content Hub, leading up to the first pick next July. Tyler Henninger, Joey Cohen, Michael Albee and Ryan Miller, along with the rest of the Perfect Game staff, will continue to provide you with the latest info as it pertains to this 2027 crop.  Article Date Initial Follow List July 12 Way Too Early Mock July 13 Realistic Expectations of 1:1 August 11 Preview: Collegiate RHP August 21  Draft Board: Top 100 August 28 Way Too Early 1:1 Predictions September 4 Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early September 7 Preview: Collegiate LHP September 7 What Profiles are Valued Most at Top of Draft September 9 Potential Risers Into The Top 50 September 11
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 9/7/2026

2027 Draft Preview: Collegiate LHP

Ryan Miller
Article Image
2027 MLB Draft Profile Preview: Collegiate Right-Handed Pitchers The collegiate left-handed pitching class is always a popular demographic, and this year’s is no different. The group contains a mix of power pitch mixes and polished pitch-ability, with healthy representation from power four schools and a handful of mid-majors. Below we look at this year’s top college left-handers. An extended look at LHP Tomas Valincius (@HailStateBB)... 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K https://t.co/lCHgGnsdbi pic.twitter.com/Vm3nQkAukc — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 28, 2026 Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State Valincius followed head coach Brian O’Connor from Virginia to Mississippi State and immediately established himself as their ace last spring. The Illinois native posted a 3.50 ERA over 17 starts in 2026, striking out 33.5% of hitters and walking just five percent....
Read More
General | General | 9/6/2026

Update: Class of 2030 Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 9/4/2026

2027 Draft: Way Too Early 1:1 Predictions

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2027 Top 100 Draft Board  Current Favorite: SS Dylan Seward, Norco HS (Calif.) In our first iteration of the 2027 Draft Board, Norco shortstop Dylan Seward ranks No. 1 overall. The switch-hitter is an ultra-twitchy player with a lot to like on both sides of the ball. He is a supreme athlete that should stick up the middle. Explosiveness is shown in all aspects of his game and gives the profiles big time upside.  In the event that Seward does not go 1:1, each member of our draft team selected a player that they think could wind up in that spot. We are still nearly a full year away from draft day, but here are our “Way Too Early” predictions for the 1st overall pick next July.  Henni’s Pick: C/UTL Gavin Kelly, West Virginia    Gavin Kelly (@WVUBaseball) sends this over the wall in CF for a solo πŸ’£ (100 EV/ 416 ft). Adv. hitter with accurate...
Read More
General | General | 9/3/2026

Class of 2029 Rankings Update

Article Image
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.