THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 6/29/2019

Bruno flashes prowess at 17u WWBA

Cory Van Dyke
Photo: Ryan Bruno (Perfect Game)
Some baseball players can get past the competition on pure skills alone. Others rely on a high baseball IQ to yield the best results.

This week at the 2019 WWBA 17u National Championship, pitcher Ryan Bruno is the rare player who excels at both.

“It feels great playing with 300 some teams,” Bruno said. “Playing some of the best competition. I’m just trying to go out there and compete. We’re playing with the best in front of a lot of scouts. We have to put out and show our best.”

The East Coast Sox 17u Select southpaw continually leaves scouts and spectators with their mouths agape. That was the case once again on Saturday afternoon when Bruno fired three no-hit innings, walking just one and striking out six batters en route to the 11-1 victory over MGBA 17u. Using a fastball in the low-to-mid 90’s that touched as high as 96 mph, coupled with a plus slider and changeup, Bruno exhibited why he’s the No. 25 overall prospect in the 2020 class.

With a rangy 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame that screams projection, Bruno is so much more than the tools he demonstrates on the bump. He’s as cerebral as they come, studying the intricacies of Justin Verlander’s mechanics in his free time to apply to his own game.

And off the field? Him and his twin brother, Jaden Bruno, are exceptional students at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida. The competition between the duo doesn’t just stop on a baseball field.

“Me and him always battle it out whether it’s on the mound or personally in school,” Bruno said. “It’s great to have that kid next to you who is very similar to you and you guys can compete together.” 

It’s why both decided to commit to Stanford University all the way across the country in California. The historic baseball program combined with the academic rigor for Bruno, who plans to study Finance, was the right decision.

“We considered a balance between the academics and baseball,” Bruno said. “Stanford is a really good academic and baseball school. Ranked very highly in both, so we thought it would be a great fit for both of us. We decided to risk the travel out there for the benefits of it."

While the trek to Palo Alto certainly seems intriguing to Bruno, he may never find a home there if MLB suitors aggressively come calling in the 2020 MLB Draft. At the recent Perfect Game National Showcase, Bruno was given his chance to impress a bevy of professional scouts in Phoenix.

“It was an absolutely awesome experience at Chase Field,” Bruno said. “You feel like you’re a big leaguer standing on the mound there. You look down and see all the scouts behind home plate. It’s just awesome being there.”

Whether his time as a big leaguer comes sooner rather than later, Bruno is now attempting to bring the 17u WWBA title to the East Coast Sox who fell just short last year in the semifinals with players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Rece Hinds on that team. The Sox have jumped out to a 2-0 start in pool play. There’s undoubtedly high expectations that exist, but it’s all about how those expectations are managed.

“We had a little meeting last night and we said, ‘Hey, there’s high expectations.’ There’s no doubt,” head coach Thomas Wilson said. “But with our players, it’s no more expectations than what they put on themselves. They all put high expectations on themselves. Just go out and play the game. Relax and play the game. Play hard. We’re going to be aggressive and just play the game.”

In the opening game of the tournament, those expectations may have lingered a little too long before some late energy that allowed East Coast Sox to sneak by Home Plate Chilidogs 17u West. Aaron Downs blasted a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth and Kyle Chastine collected the save to win 2-1.

“It was pretty crazy,” said Downs, a Louisville pledge. “I love the energy. The energy is unreal. It’s just awesome playing with all these guys. We all get along really well.”

In the second game of pool play, Bruno’s brief but brilliant outing elevated the rest of the team as Wilson predicted. Slade Wilks, the No. 64 player in the 2020 class and a Southern Mississippi commit, led the offensive charge by going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.

“A lot of the guys haven’t seen him so far, but with the reputation that [Bruno] has, everybody is excited,” Wilson said of Bruno’s impact before Saturday’s game. “When you have somebody with his caliber who goes out on the mound, everybody else raises their game up too. We’re very excited about having him.”

Wilson and Co. know that they have a target on their back with the reputation that the East Coast Sox carries, but that doesn’t impact the team. Opponents may throw their best pitchers against them, but the Sox build their game on an intensity and old-school style that has stayed true to form over the years.

“We have some blue collar players who will get dirty and like to play the game,” Wilson said. “They’re always into the game. Everybody is into it, focused, and locked in.”

Win or lose, the East Coast Sox are relishing the time at the 17u WWBA knowing that it’s baseball in its finest form. Baseball, the sport that brings an unexplainable peace to so many, including Bruno.

“I feel for me [baseball is] just an obvious passion,” Bruno said. “I love the game. Coming out here is just something I want to do and I want to continue to do. I can’t really imagine it not in my life. It’s just that thing that’s a part of my life that needs to be there.”
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 1/27/2026

MLK East Scout Notes Recap
Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘28 OF Jakob Groeschel (OH) continues to impress with the bat on the circuit, picked up 2 2Bs in the first game today. Really athletic, went 4.4 on turn; easy to dream on all the traits. #MLKEast @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/wOIwnGKnkg — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) January 17, 2026 2028 OF Jakob Groeschel (Springfield, Ohio) broke out at this event last year hitting a casual .909, and although he didn’t turn in quite the same performance, he hit a strong .462 with 4 extra-base hits, 5 walks, 5 bags and only struck out once. He’s a pretty dynamic athlete who can do a lot of things well, but the bat is the calling card as he just lives on the barrel and has no problem handling all kinds of pitching. It’s a simple swing, but he’s got fast hands and he can really impact the ball without being overly physical yet.  2030 RHP Michael Vazquez...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 3/19/2026

PG Teams Up with OZ Ball Tournaments PTY

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME NAMES OZ BALL TOURNAMENTS PTY AS OFFICIAL AREA DIRECTOR IN AUSTRALIA, EXPANDING GLOBAL FOOTPRINT   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, March 19, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that it has entered into a new international partnership with Oz Ball Tournaments Pty, naming the organization as an official Perfect Game Area Director in Australia. The agreement establishes Perfect Game-licensed tournaments and showcases across major Australian markets, including Sydney, Brisbane/Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.     Australian events will operate under the Perfect Game brand, delivering the same...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 3/18/2026

PG Introduces Individual Player Entry

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME INTRODUCES INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ENTRY, EXPANDING ACCESS TO ELITE NATIONAL EVENTS   Athletes Can Now Compete in Select National Tournaments Through Structured ‘Team PG’ Rosters   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the launch of Individual Player Entry, a new initiative designed to provide athletes the opportunity to compete in select national events even if their primary team is not attending.   Through the program, players can now register individually and be placed on a structured “Team PG” roster, allowing them to participate fully in...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 3/18/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 18

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
This week brings a new top team to the rankings as Johnson County (KS), on the strength of 10 consecutive wins and a 26-2 record, claims the overall number 1 spot. The Cavaliers have made 3 consecutive trips to the JUCO World Series and have the talent to make it back there again this spring. Florida Southwestern and Chipola have seemingly separated themselves as the most consistent teams in Florida. Welcome to the top 5 to the Gaston Rhinos who will be one of the first teams to 30 wins this spring. Pearl River stays as the top NJCAA D2 team and Fresno City stays as the top Juco team in California; both are coming off undefeated 2 week stretches. Welcome back to the top 25 to John A. Logan who is now 20-7 overall and have played one of the toughest schedules of anyone. And for the first time in several years welcome to the top 25 to the College of Southern Idaho, the Golden Eagles have...
Read More
High School | General | 3/18/2026

Class of 2026: Preseason HS All-Americans

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Read More
College | Rankings | 3/18/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 18

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
In every major sport, the championship is decided in the postseason. You can lose games all year, get hot at the right time, and walk away with the hardware. The regular season is a rehearsal. The playoffs are the show.  The championship belt changes that. Borrowed from professional wrestling, boxing and ultimate fighting, the belt travels the moment the holder loses — no brackets, no seeding, no second chances. A random Tuesday non-conference game in Milledgeville, Georgia  becomes a title fight. A spring trip to Florida becomes a gauntlet. The defending national champion can lose the belt before February is over.  We’re tracking three belts this season — NCAA Division II, NAIA, and NCAA Division III — each starting with the defending national champion. The results have been exactly as chaotic as you’d expect.  Worth noting along the...
Read More
High School | Rankings | 3/17/2026

High School Top 50 Update: March 17

Tyler Russo
Article Image
We have another update to the National Top-50 after two weeks of even more games being played in the southern states along with seasons just starting to kick off across the country. We’re quickly approaching another stellar high school event, the NHSI in Cary, and with that will come even more movement in these rankings. St. John Bosco (CA) continues to hold firm at the No. 1 position after a 4-0 start to their season. Venice (FL) has been rolling throughout the early portion of the year and jumps up to No. 2 in the country. One of the biggest movers in this update is The Bennett School (TX) jumping from unranked to No. 8 in the country after beating a handful of top ranked programs to start the year. Some other big movers inside the top-10 are Barbe (LA), who jumps from No. 18 to No. 5 in this update as well as Aledo (TX) who jumps from No. 20 to No. 9. The rest of the top-10...
Read More
College | Story | 3/17/2026

College Players of the Week: March 17

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
March 17th Perfect Game/Player of the Week: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (17-3) came into the season with the highest external expectations in decades based on the anticipation of their offensive potential. To this point they have not only met those lofty expectations, but twenty games in they may have exceeded them. While there are plenty of high-level prospects up and down the lineup, with all that star power Vahn Lackey has stood out. Sure to be one of the first catchers selected in this year’s MLB Draft with his comprehensive skillset, he projects well as an everyday backstop at the next level. However, his overall athleticism stands out as we saw this week when he had a game where he played every defensive position on the field except pitcher. At the plate over four games including a series victory at Clemson last week, he went 9 for 15, scoring...
Read More
College | Rankings | 3/16/2026

College Top 25: March 16

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Collegiate Player Report Database As each week of the college baseball season passes, we continue to be entertained at an incredible level with high level drama at every turn.  Conference play is under way and the national landscape is starting to make a bit more sense.  The development and strength of individual players is on full-display and there continue to be upsets on occasion that sends the message no team can relax for one moment.  For the most part, the Top 10 remains unchanged with some reshuffling as No. 1 UCLA (17-2) holds on to the top spot with yet another perfect (4-0) week after sweeping Michigan.  The No. 2 Texas Longhorns (18-1) did drop their first game of the season in Game 1 of SEC play but won the series against Ole Miss and finished the week with a (3-1) record.  The Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (17-3) passed their first real road test of the...
Read More
Draft | Story | 3/13/2026

PG Draft: Under the Radar Preps

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
PG Draft: Under the Radar Preps As the spring season gets underway, the showcase circuit and early high-level tournaments have already provided our scouts with some intriguing first looks at this year’s crop of prospects. At the same time, we’ve been tracking the buzz among team evaluators, listening closely to the names that keep coming up in conversations and the players clubs are making sure they get eyes on this spring. Every year, a handful of prospects quietly slip beneath the radar during the fall and winter months, only to reemerge once the games start counting again. Sometimes it’s the result of a productive offseason in the weight room, a noticeable jump in velocity, or a step forward in skill development. Other times, it’s simply a player finally getting the opportunity and the stage to show what’s been building behind the scenes. The spring has a...
Read More
College | Rankings | 3/11/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 11

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
Allendale Doesn't Rhyme With Knoxville or Danville. The Baseball Does. Meet the Three Coaches Turning Small College Programs Into National Contenders. There's something happening in small college baseball right now that doesn't get nearly enough attention. Three programs — separated by hundreds of miles and spread across three different governing bodies — are in the middle of the kind of rebuilds that make you wonder why anyone ever counted them out in the first place. One is in a Michigan lakeside college town. Two are in places that end in 'ville. All three have coaches who looked at a program and saw something nobody else did. The Perfect Game small school rankings noticed. You should too. See where Grand Valley State, Johnson U, Centre and the rest of the schools are positioned in the latest Perfect Game Top 25 Small School Rankings. NCAA DII For a generation of DII...
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.