THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
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2,396 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 7/4/2019

14u WWBA Day 6 Scout Notes

Photo: Noah Bentley (Perfect Game)

14u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

Lefthander Griffin Graves (2023, Jackson, Tenn.) came two outs away from finishing off a complete game shutout for the Dulin’s Dodgers Henson but was nonetheless impressive in what was ultimately a pitcher’s duel against the Yankees Baseball Club and fellow lefthander Jake Hembree. While Graves is listed at just 5-foot-10, 149-pounds, he did an excellent job of maintaining his velocity from the first pitch of the game until his last recorded out, living comfortably in the upper-70s and peaking as high as 81 mph. The key to Graves’ success was his ability to pound the strike zone with his heater, continuously working in attack mode and varying his slot from an extended to release to a more traditional three-quarters, keeping hitters off balance and uncomfortable. His fastball was mostly true in life, showing occasional sink when down, though he still managed to elicit a fair bit of swings-and-misses and when it was put in play it was of the weaker contact variety more often than not. Over the course of the week Graves worked 10 1/3 innings, a span in which he struck out 15 and more impressively allowed just three base hits.

Coming out of the opposing dugout was lefty Jake Hembree (2023, Hiram, Ga.), a young prospect who has been detailed in prior viewings this spring for his overall pitchability and feel on the mound. Wednesday’s outing proved to be no different for the uncommitted lefthander as he went 5 2/3 innings, and while he didn’t have his best command with four walks on the day, he did compete and showed a true three-pitch mix. There’s obvious projection for Hembree who stands at 5-foot-11, 145-pounds and showed some of the better balance overall to his delivery, projecting for more velocity with added strength and additional lower half implemented into his drive.

Hembree opened the game sitting in the low-80s with his fastball, bumping 82 mph early on with a short and quick arm action while working exclusively out of the stretch. Equipped with a longer stride and some extension out front, Hembree is able to generate some cut action to his heater though it was the feel for his curveball that truly stood out. The breaking ball working the mid- to upper-60s but showed solid depth with 12-to-6 shape to it and the comfort level of throwing the pitch was just as impressive as he missed with it on a 2-2 pitch and then proceeded to go right back to it on 3-2 to record one of his six strikeouts. He also mixed in a changeup for a complete three-pitch mix at 74 mph and though he’ll tend to drop his slot on the pitch he shows the ability to turn the pitch over well down in the zone.

Pablo Santos (2022, Jersey City, N.J.) made a name for himself last year, even at the 13u level, as he showed a quick, whip-like arm with a fastball that topped out in the low-80s, a mark he has since built off of as he topped out at 85 mph in the final day of pool play. Santos went the first four innings for Tri State and continuously worked in the low-80s, showing the same quick arm stroke with an up-tempo delivery while generating steady running life to his arm side from an extended slot. His overall command was a bit scattered as he was landing closed with his strike foot which, in this look, forced him to work across his body, missing low to his glove side, though there’s no mistaking how the ball jumps out of his right hand. Currently uncommitted, the rising sophomore mixed in a short breaking ball up to 70 mph and also swung the bat well (he is listed as a primary shortstop) as he put his team on the board early in the game with a hard line drive single into the opposite field.

Colt Emerson (2023, Cambridge, Ohio) and Easton Eibel (2023, Pleasant City, Ohio) are two players who are similarly built with loose and twitchy 5-foot-9 frames and both show nice potential with their swings from the left side.

Getting a couple of looks at Eibel throughout the weekend yielded the same result in that he found the barrel, spraying the ball all over the field with a loud double over the right fielder’s head earlier in the tournament, a well struck double to the opposite field gap day five and another barreled single over the shortstop’s head Wednesday morning, showing the same smooth stroke he has throughout the weekend, finishing the tournament with a .474 batting average.

Emerson was a late arrival to the Cincy Flames but quickly made his impact, both with his lefthanded swing and on the mound where he found himself Monday afternoon, throwing a complete game, 10-strikeout performance. It’s the swing however that will be certain to attract the attention of college coaches all across the country as it’s simply a fluid and pure stroke that’s only going to impact the ball with additional authority as he develops physically. The projection aspect of his game is important to note as Emerson is one of the youngest 2023 graduates in attendance as he has not yet turned 14, making the hit tool all the more impressive. He’s aggressive in the box and looks to do damage early in the count, going 1-for-3 Wednesday more with a line drive knock into the opposite field.

It was a quick look running from field to field, but third baseman Drew Lanphere (2022, Wendell, N.C.) took one of the more impressive swings in the morning slot of games as he dug in against lefthander Ethan McElvain and came out ahead. A lefthanded batter, Lanphere dug in and took an 80 mph fastball down and in to the opposite field gap for a triple, paving the way for a 2-for-3 day in which he plated a couple of runs, scored two of his own and also swiped two bases. He’s strongly built and a cog in the middle of the lineup for the Canes who look to make a run once again and defend their title at the 14u WWBA National Championship.

Matt Augustin (2023, Cherry Hill, N.J.) was handed the ball for MA Show 14u Select yesterday and the young righthander out of New Jersey didn’t disappoint in my first ever look at him. Checking in at a long and lean, ultra-projectable 6-foot-1, 150-pounds, the arm speed is the first thing to jump out as he was able to work in the 79-83 mph range with his fastball, topping out at 84 mph over his four innings of work against Team Louisiana. Augustin uses his length well to generate extension out front and work on top of the ball, generating short sink down in the zone. Along with the fastball he mixed in a short breaker in the mid- to upper-60s and the overall package checks a lot of boxes, even in a short look, as a young arm who will continue to light up the radar guns throughout his prep career.

Listed as a primary switch-hitting first baseman, Ethan McElvain (2023, Thompsons Station, Tenn.) got the start on the mound for Rawlings Southeast 14u and though he didn’t have his best command in this look, the operation and what he’s able to produce from the left side is more than intriguing moving forward. McElvain already stands 6-foot-1, 181-pounds and while he’s strong at present, there’s a chance for him to add significant strength moving forward which in turn will lead to a jump on the mound, though he already showed the ability to work comfortably in the 80-83 mph range.

With rhythm to his delivery, complete with a high leg lift and deeper gather on his backside, McElvain shows a quick arm through the back with present arm strength and though he’ll get misdirected coming down the mound, when he stays through the ball he was able to create solid angle when working to his glove side. Given his release, the fastball showed short running life through the zone while mixing in both a mid-70s changeup and a short breaking ball up to 69 mph that he showed the comfort to double up on early in the game. While he isn’t listed as a primary pitcher, the raw ingredients are more than enticing given the frame, athleticism, the fact he’s lefthanded and what he already brings to the table, all variables that will have college recruiters paying attention moving forward.

Joey Bogart (2022, Sicklerville, N.J.) may not be the biggest of players in stature as he’s listed at 5-foot-5, 135-pounds but he plays well beyond his listed measurables, performing well on both sides of the ball. Getting the start at shortstop for the Tri State Arsenal, Bogart quickly made his presence felt with a rangy play up the middle which looked like a single off the bat but instead resulted in an out as he picked the ball, maintained his balance through his pop-up slide and delivered an accurate throw across the diamond. As baseball seems to go, Bogart came to the plate in the bottom half of the inning in the two-hole and delivered an opposite field double that just kicked off the right fielder’s glove who was ranging back. There’s quickness to his hands offensively as he’s able to whip the barrel some and again went to the opposite field in his next trip with a deep fly out just shy of the warning track.

– Jheremy Brown


Colton Wemhoff (2023, Gladstone, Mo.) was dominant on the final day of pool play at the 14u WWBA National Championship. The long lean righthander was lights out on the mound running his fastball up to 80 mph while going five innings and allowing no hits. His curveball showed as a quality put away pitch sitting in the mid-60s with good depth. His quick arm and good extension give his ball good plane to the plate while staying online with his delivery. At the plate he continued to barrel up baseballs as he is hitting .438 on the tournament. His clean righthanded swing showed big pull-side power with a ground-rule double to the left-center. His toe tap stride and load create good separation before his strong lower half and quick hands help him drive the baseball creating backspin with his high finish. His 6-foot, 160-pound frame is projectable moving forward as he continues to grow and fill out adding to more power to his already present strength.

Ryker Edwards (2023, Smithville, Mo.) never takes a swing without the intent of doing damage. His aggressive hacks have paid off this tournament as he his hitting .455 through the first seven games. He starts with a balanced wide stance and high hands. His toe tap stride and strong load create good separation before he generates a lot of power from his lower half though his smooth lofty swing path. His speed plays on the bases allowing him to swipe bags and leg out infield hit when needed. In the field he displayed the ability to get good reads off the bat with good closing speed while running down balls in left field. His accurate arm allows him to get the ball in quickly and hold runners from advancing extra bases. His 6-foot, 155-pound frame leaves plenty of room to fill out and add more strength to his long athletic build which should only add to his power at the plate and in the field.

Rives Reynolds (2023, Flowood, Miss.) displayed his patient approach with the ability to wait for his pitch while working deep into counts. His righthanded swing starts with a narrow upright stance and high hands. His hands stay loose and free through the pre-pitch and load faze where he uses a toe tap trigger to create separation. His level bat path works short to the inside part of the ball creating a line drive type swing with gap-to-gap potential. His speed gives him the ability to put pressure on the defense out of the box and on the bases stealing bags. His speed translates to the field where he gets great jumps on fly balls with the ability to cover gap-to-gap playing center field. His quick-twitch athleticism plays a big role in his contribution to his team. With a 5-foot-9, 155-pound build, Reynolds has room to continue to add strength while filling out his frame as he mature.

Adding to the list of long, athletic outfielders at this year’s 14u WWBA National Championship is Justin Best (2023, Cornelius, N.C.). Team Elite National’s leadoff hitter started to heat up on the last day of pool play in Hoover going 2-for-3. His smooth lefthanded swing showed serious potential when he gets extension through the ball. His swing starts with a free and easy balanced stance with his loose hands. He uses a simple stride to trigger his fluid bat path while keeping his hands inside the ball allowing him to stay gap-to-gap with his approach. His high finish to the swing creates some loft in the bat path as he does a good job of keeping his front side in through the swing. His 6-foot-2 170 pound frame has plenty of projectability left in it.

Justin Smith (2022, Detroit, Mich.) has been on fire all summer hitting in the middle of the loaded Team Elite National 14u lineup and Wednesday was no exception. After going 2-for-3 on the day Smith’s now hitting .467 on the summer. His swing has serious pull-side pop with his ability to get extended through contact and his strong lower half working together to create barreled ball after barreled ball. Maybe the most impressive swing of the day was a long foul ball that Smith pulled just foul well beyond the field fence while keeping his hands and weight back on a breaking ball. He showed great mental poise getting back in the box and clearing his mind after that swing and followed it up with a rocket line drive to left-center.

Hollis Porter (2022, Hurley, Miss.) presents a big, strong, physical frame in the box. His lefthanded swing starts with a wide base, bend in the knees and high hands. His toe tap stride helps create separation before his long arms flow into a fluid bat path with some present loft. He creates good drive off his back-side working well behind the baseball and getting extended throw contact. His large 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame projects well with the ability to continue to add to already present strength.

In a tournament that has proved to be loaded with quality arms, Noah Bentley (2023, Celina, Texas) stuck his claim as part of that conversation throwing a gem in a winner-move-on game between Dallas Tigers-Autrey 2023 and Five Star National. His impressive outing consisted of six innings of one-run ball while allowing only two hits and striking out eight batters. He showed great command of his fastball that sat 81-83 mph and topped out at 85 mph by spotting it up to both sides of the plate. He backed that up with a slider that sat in the low-70s with good bite. His feel for the slider allowed him to use it in any count creating lots of swings and misses. His long lean build creates good plane to the plate form his high three-quarters arm slot with a deliberate delivery that he repeats well. Bentley will be a name to keep an eye on as he fills out his 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame.

No to be out done by his counterpart, Daniel Parris (2023, Knoxville, Tenn.) was equally as good for his Five Star National club pitching opposite Bentley. Parris twirled a gem of his own finishing with one run allowed over seven innings while striking out six and allowing just four hits. His live arm allowed him to run his fastball up to 83 mph from his high three-quarters arm slot. He backed his fastball with a steady mix of off-speed pitches. His second offering was a knuckleball that sat 63-67 mph with great life. His ability to land the knuckleball induced tons of soft contact and swings and misses.  His third offering a slider that sat 67-70 mph with some sweeping action to the break showed promise as well as he was able to pound with zone with it.

With a great defense behind him Daniel Parris didn’t have anything to worry about when it came to right field. With Andrew Dunford (2023, Centerville, Ga.) coming up with what looked to be a rally-stopping throw cutting down a potential baserunner trying to take second base with a throw on the money. His solid range and strong arm allowed him to cut the ball of going to the line a fire back in on a line to end the potential Tigers’ rally.

Caden Mitchell (2023, Celina, Texas), that battery mate of Noah Bentley, did a great job of helping out his pitcher with his quiet stance and soft hands helping present strikes on the corners. He made no bigger play then his tag at the plate to end the game. With a ground ball hit back up the middle and into center field, center fielder Harrison Rosar (2023, Prosper, Texas) got to it in a hurry and came up firing and threw an absolute dime to the plate to cut down the potential game-winning run. Mitchell received the throw and made the athletic play to apply the tag, helping secure Dallas Tigers-Autrey 2023 a spot in the playoffs.

– Colton Olinger




Tournaments | Story | 3/31/2026

14u East Spring Opener Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Roman Keister (2030, Dade City, FL) Could not miss the barrel this weekend tallying 6 hits including 2 triples and 4 RBI. Starts the load early and controls his body well, the up the middle approach really plays in game. Also worked from off the mound for an inning and picked up a punch out.  Colton Russo (2030, Coral Springs, FL) Showed off the power burning outfielders all weekend. 5 hits including two triples that carried over the CF and RF heads. Has a good understanding about using the lower half in the swing and the bat to ball skills really impressed.  Karson Blakney (2030, St. Augustine, FL) Made his impact in a big way this week, collecting the win in the quarterfinals. In his outing he went 5 shutout innings and struck out 5 while only allowing 2 hits. Worked in the mid 70s with the FB and topped out at 78. Also produced on offense driving in 5 RBI on 4 hits. ...
College | Rankings | 4/1/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 1

Nick Herfordt
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Welcome to another week of Perfect Game Small School baseball — and if you're looking for clarity at the top, you've come to the wrong place. Across all three classifications, the No. 1 spot is very much an open question, and nobody is sleeping comfortably right now. In NCAA Division II, Pittsburg State is stumbling at precisely the wrong moment, leaving the door cracked wide open for hungry challengers to come knocking. In the NAIA, defending national champion LSU Shreveport has dropped four straight and suddenly looks far more vulnerable than a program of their pedigree ever expects to be. And in NCAA Division III, the race for the top ranking is less a competition and more a ten-car pileup of elite programs, none of whom have done enough to pull away — and all of whom have done plenty to deserve it. Three classifications, three vacancies at the top, and a whole lot of...
Juco | Story | 4/1/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 1

Troy Sutherland
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Another week of JUCO baseball and another week full of wins for No. 1 ranked Johnson County . The Cavaliers have won 18 games in a row and have swept through the Jayhawk Conference to this point, setting a new school home run record along the way. Walters State returns to the top 5 this week on the strength of a 12-game winning streak. Both McLennan and Pearl River are coming off of undefeated weeks and look like strong top 10 caliber teams, while Midland (now 30-3) continues to climb in the rankings for the third consecutive week. For the first time all year this ranking will feature 4 California schools as Palomar joins Ohlone, Fresno City and Santa Ana in the JUCO rankings. Check back in next week for an update as most of JUCO baseball is now past its halfway point in the 2026 season. RK School Week Overall 1 Johnson County (KS) 4-0 34-2 2 Gaston (NC) 2-1 35-3 3 Walters State (TN) 3-0...
College | Story | 4/1/2026

Collegiate Midseason All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
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Collegiate Midseason Awards * denotes Midseason Award Winner - All-Americans chosen based on statistics, prospect status, future projection, among other factors - Only true freshmen considered for Freshmen All-American teams - All Statistics as of Monday, March 30th First Team Hitters Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB C Vahn Lackey Georgia Tech JR .423 .541 .845 36 41 9 1 10 36 7 1B Quinton Coats Cincinnati SO .360 .441 .896 38 45 8 1 19 46 7 2B Jarren Advincula Georgia Tech JR .411 .489 .563 31 46 2 0 5 30 5 3B Ace Reese Mississippi State JR .330 .417 .661 32 36 12 0 8 37 1 SS Roch Cholowsky UCLA JR .350 .493 .730 39 35 8 0 10 32 1 IF Dee Kennedy Kansas State JR .430 .549 .910 44 43 10 1 12 43 15 OF Will Gasparino UCLA JR .351 .468 .794 31 34 5 1 12 38 1 OF AJ Gracia Virginia JR .350 .504 .650 37 36 7 0 8 24 1 OF Landon Hairston* Arizona State SO .469 .551 1.027 44...
High School | Rankings | 3/31/2026

High School Top 50: March 31

Tyler Russo
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Another pair of weeks has gone by this high school season and with that we have another High School Top-50 Update. Southern states are within a few weeks of the end of the season while some northern states are just getting started this week. Through the end of the spring, we will be bringing you updates to the Top-50 along with state rankings updates coming soon. For the first time in 2026, we have a new #1 in the country as Orange Lutheran (CA) takes over the top spot after winning the NHSI. Venice (FL) came in second place at the NHSI after a thrilling game against Orange Lutheran and comes in at #2. Previous #1 team in the country St. John Bosco (CA) rounds out the top-3 and will have a big showdown against Orange Lutheran starting tonight. Barbe (LA) boasts a 26-1 record and comes in at #4 while Corona (CA) continues to string together wins and holds down the #5 spot in this update....
College | Story | 3/31/2026

PG Collegiate Midseason Awards

Vincent Cervino
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Midseason Awards  Perfect Game Midseason Player of the Year:  Landon Hairston, OF, Arizona State  The season sophomore outfielder Landon Hairston is putting together is generational, even amongst the Hall of Fame talent Arizona State has fielded over the years.  Hairston, the 5-11/195 sophomore outfielder from Queen City, AZ has his club on track for another postseason appearance and they will make plenty of noise in the Big 12 regular season.  To put things in perspective on Hairston’s season, he is currently 5th in the nation in batting average, 3rd in hits, 8th in hits per game, tied for 2nd in home runs, tied for 5th in runs scored and is 4th in runs batted in so far.  He holds a batting average of .469 while slugging 1.027 and reaching base over half the time with an OBP of .551.  Hairston walks more than he strikes out and has 12 doubles, 17...
College | Story | 3/31/2026

College Players of the Week: March 31

Vincent Cervino
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March 31st Perfect Game/Co-Players of the Week:  Landon Hairston, OF, Arizona State  The Arizona State Sun Devils (20-8) went (3-2) last week and now sit at No. 18 in our latest Top 25 poll.  They are proving that they are legitimate Big 12 contenders and Landon Hairston is making a strong case for National Player of the Year at the halfway point in the season.  The 5-11/195 sophomore outfielder from Queen City, AZ is putting up such loud numbers that they are almost hard to fathom.  In five games last week, the lefthanded hitter collected 12-hits in 19 Abs, scoring 13 runs on 6 walks, a double, 5 home runs and he drove in 11 runs on his own.  For the season, he has put together a slash line of .468/.991/.553 with 12 doubles, 15 round trippers, 45 RBIs, a 12:18 strikeout-to-walk ratio and he has swiped 8 bags so far.  It has been a special year for the...
College | Rankings | 3/30/2026

College Top 25: March 30

Vincent Cervino
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Well college baseball fans, we are officially at the half-way point of the 2026 season and what an incredible ride it has already been.  While there is some separation at the top as we start to look at programs that could be potential NCAA tournament hosts, things continue to change as clubs revitalize their seasons by winning massive series in league play.  The Top 25 seems to be getting more volatile as we reach the midway point, and the second half is setting up to be something special.  The one thing that will remain the same as it has for a month now, is that the UCLA (25-2) will still be the No. 1 team in the nation.  The Bruins are winners of 19-consecutive games and have started off Big Ten league play by sweeping 4-straight series.  The Texas Longhorns (23-4) hold tight at No. 2 this week after sweeping previous No. 11 Oklahoma (19-8) and sit atop the...
High School | General | 3/27/2026

High School Notebook: March 27

Vincent Cervino
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Hudson December (2027, Woodland Hills, Calif.) showed flashes of his upside despite a somewhat uneven three-inning outing. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound right-hander struck out three while working through a couple of tough jams, though his command was inconsistent at times. He ran his fastball up to 87 mph on a pair of occasions and generally sat in the 83–85 range. He mixed in an upper-70s slider with varying shape and execution where it was most effective when thrown with proper intent, showing shorter, tighter depth. He also flashed a changeup against a few left-handed hitters. Mechanically, there’s a blend of positives and areas for development. He incorporates his lower half fairly well and moves down the mound with some pace and intent. The arm is quick, though it can be late getting up at times, and his taller finish limits full torso extension through release. With...
Draft | Mock Draft | 3/27/2026

2026 MLB Mock Draft: V 2.0

Tyler Henninger
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The spring season is well underway and the board is starting to take shape. Last week, the draft team put together the Top-300 and this week we take a stab at our first mid-season mock draft. While there still is plenty of time for things to shake out differently, here is how we see things shaping up at this point in the draft cycle.  Pick Team Selection Position School 1 Chicago White Sox Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA 2 Tampa Bay Rays Justin Lebron SS Alabama 3 Minnesota Twins Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian 4 San Francisco Giants Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara 5 Pittsburgh Pirates Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech 6 Kansas City Royals Drew Burress OF Georgia Tech 7 Baltimore Orioles Ace Reese 3B Mississippi State 8 Athletics Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Schools 9 Atlanta Braves Eric Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove 10 Colorado Rockies AJ Gracia OF Virginia 11 Washington Nationals Gio Rojas LHP...
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