THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,577 MLB PLAYERS | 16,376 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,577 MLB PLAYERS | 16,376 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 9/2/2019

Southeast Labor Day Scout Notes

Greg Gerard
Drew Wesolowski
Matthew Arietta
Photo: Marquis Grissom Jr (Perfect Game)



Ben Johnson (2020, Tucker, Ga.) was the pitcher of the weekend in the Upperclass tournament as he pitched eXposure Upperclass Fall Scout Team to a dominant victory on Friday night. Johnson finished off a seven-inning no-hitter totaling 17 strikeouts and just one walk. His command was outstanding as he used his fastball, curveball and changeup to carve hitters in, out, up or down in the strike zone. The Georgia Southern commit was offering up nasty stuff especially early as his fastball topped out at 90 mph and his curveball flashed above average on a professional grading scale. The changeup is still a developing pitch as he does slow his arm down on it but was also effective in keeping hitters off balance.

Johnson is an ultra-projectable righthanded pitcher with a skinny 6-foot-4 frame, clean arm action and arm speed that really projects well with continued arm strength. Johnson stays online to the plate and although the fastball is mostly straight he still produced an outstanding number of swings-and-misses with the offering. The two off-speed pitches were an added bonus to what Johnson had in his repertoire. His special performance in game one of the tournament resulted in an eventual MV-Pitcher award handed to him at the end of the event.

Kentucky commit Reuben Church (2020, Maryville, Tenn.) hit a no-doubter on Friday night that went into the trees on Field 1 at East Cobb. Trackman recorded the home run going 410 feet to the opposite field gap and leaving his barrel at 104 mph. Church has a huge frame with outstanding strength throughout. The ball comes off of his bat differently when on time and squared. The strength he has at impact is special as he provides leverage and big raw bat speed to his swing path. The bat whips through the hitting zone as he has a knack for hitting the ball on the barrel. The Maryville, Tennessee native has put together a strong performance at the plate in 2019 PG events where he has now connected on three home runs and nine extra-base hits.



Joshua Baez (2021, Boston, Mass.) really made a statement this weekend during his time in Georgia. The righthanded hitting outfielder has really come into his own in a huge way displaying power to his swing and loud contact throughout the weekend. A pair of balls he connected on in this weekend’s action went for deep home runs to his pull side showcasing his raw bat speed, leverage, extension and pure juice. Baez stays in an athletic stance to start his swing with most of his weight staying on his back leg. He strides into contact shifting that weight and looking to hit the ball out in front while extending through the baseball and doing damage to it at impact. His plate discipline is special as well with a great eye that resulted in not being overly aggressive and taking pitches when needed and drawing walks at a high rate. On top of that he showed really good arm strength running his fastball up to 89 mph on the mound as well. Baez had a huge weekend for Beast Mode Prime 2021 that resulted in four extra-base hits, two of them being home runs in nine at-bats. Baez was also named the tournament Most Valuable Player for his efforts.

PG National invitee from Decatur High Schooll in Georgia Jaylen Paden (2020, Lilburn, Ga.) was the starter for Beast Mode Prime in their first game of the day on Sunday. Paden sat 87-91 mph in his first inning before settling into an 85-88 mph range in the later part of his outing. He uses a longer arm stroke while having the ability to repeat his release point and fire strikes to the plate at a high rate. He tallied up 11 strikeouts in a five-inning start pitching team to a 6-0 victory. The Georgia Southern commit offered a three-pitch mix to hitters highlighted by his changeup that shows average on a professional grading scale and projects really well. The pitch has sinking action to it as he gets under the hands of hitters with it. He is comfortable throwing the pitch in any count and to hitters of either handedness. The slider he has is a sweeping pitch with some projection to it as well.

Jeremy Lee (2020, Valleygrande, Ala.) got the start on Sunday morning for TPL Pro Elite Blue and showed a clean arm and easy delivery to produce a fastball in the upper-80s. Early in the outing, Lee sat consistently 87-89 mph getting down the mound and creating a firm downhill plane to the plate when in the lower third of the strike zone. The verbal commitment to South Alabama displayed a really promising breaking ball with sharp, late biting action to it. The pitch shows solid average right now, but projects with continued development on the bump. He does have a tendency to become out of sync with his lower half and release point, but when on time, Lee does a great job of throwing strikes with his two-pitch combination. Lee was on a 45 pitch limit where he tossed a pair of innings punching out five and walking just one batter.

The No. 1 player in the 2022 class, Dylan Lesko (2022, Buford, Ga.), put together another strong performance on the mound sitting 88-91 mph that included a three-pitch mix. Lesko has an easy delivery with a clean arm and jump with the fastball out of his hand. The stat line may not be overly impressive from him in this stint but the start on the mound showed lots of potential for the high school sophomore. His fastball has life to it, curveball is sharp and projects as a real swing-and-miss offering, and his changeup has similar life to his arm side that his fastball does. It was a quick look at the uncommitted righthander but the ranking next to Lesko’s name is hard to argue.

Former 14u PG Select Festival participant Hank Bearden (2020, Rocky Face, Ga.) pitched really well for eXposure Upperclass Fall Scout Team going five innings with 11 strikeouts and no walks. The righthander committed to Georgia ran his fastball up to 89 mph with a long and loose arm complementing the fastball with a sweeping slider for swings-and-misses. He pounded the strike zone at an impressive rate throwing over 70 percent strike per Diamondkast. The fastball is mostly straight and will run in on righthanded hitters jamming them up and establishing the arm side of the plate. He does land closed off to the plate but showed the ability to work over his front side and get to both sides of the plate with both pitches. In doing so his angle that he creates to the plate causes additional deception to opposing hitters. Bearden dominated from start to finish during his outing and has really shown signs of improving command along this calendar year.

Jared Jones (2022, Marietta, Ga.) had a day to remember for a long time on Sunday as he hit a pair of back-side bombs as well as an opposite field ground-rule double. The righthanded hitting catcher is a physical beast at the plate with top-of-the-class strength to his swing and power to all parts of the field as shown in the game. The bat speed is real as well for Jones who has some of the best power in the entire 2022 class due to the bat speed and strength that he produces from his swing. He starts slightly closed off at the plate and looks to drive the ball to the right-center field gap. The uncommitted 6-foot-4, 230-pound catcher has big-time tools at the plate, but the projection behind the dish is certainly intriguing as well. His agility and flexibility is impressive for his size although the catch-and-throw skills are still in the works. With time and proper refinement, Jones is going to continue to become a star on both sides of the ball.



Marquis Grissom Jr (2020, Atlanta, Ga.) is a name to follow by MLB scouts out of the state of Georgia.  The son of a former big leaguer of the same name, Grissom is a righthanded pitcher who projects so well on the mound and already produces intriguing velocity. His fastball sat 88-91 mph on Monday during playoff action and touched 92 mph once as well. His feel for his secondaries is impressive as well as he offers a changeup that projects well to be an above average pitch and a slider that projects well also. The arm works through the back and he stays online to the plate as he delivers the ball. Committed to play for the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech, Grissom tossed a pair of innings in the contest striking out a batter per inning. The command did get away from him in the outing as he did walk five batters but the overall stuff along with the projection of his 6-foot-2 frame and MLB bloodlines will certainly intrigue scouts that follow him into his senior spring.

– Greg Gerard




Nolan Sliver (2022 McDonough, Ga.) has a lanky frame with a very projectable build as the righthanded pitcher went on to fill up the zone. He worked with a downhill delivery utilizing the lower half and showing more in the tank for further development down the road. Sliver mixed up his pitches well showing advanced feel for his changeup while getting swings-and-misses with it. He worked off of his fastball as it sat in the low-80s, topping out at 84. With his three-pitch mix he went on to strike out four batters during his 5 1/3-inning outing. With his build he projects well in the future.

Devin Portee (2022 Decatur, Ga.) proved to be one of the best middle infielders in the event this weekend as he made every play with ease. His range was unmatched as he flashed the leather with very fluid actions. His defensive play was not the only thing that stood out as he would go on to swing the bat with purpose as well. He showed very quick hands getting the bat head out front making loud contact all weekend. When he gets extended, he shows power potential as he knocked one off the left field wall in the playoffs. This fast-twitch ballplayer will be one who could make a leap soon and end up popping up in a big way on recruiting radars.

Austin May (2022 Gray, Ga.) made a name for himself this weekend as one of the top hitting catchers. He has a large frame and at the dish he showed advanced bat speed while creating leverage, pounding the baseball around the park. He went on to record multiple extra-base hits during the action while he legged out a few extra bases as well. His hustle stood out as he didn’t take a pitch off and constantly looked for an opportunity. He took that same grit behind the plate as he blocked up all sorts of wild pitches. He went on to throw a few runners out as well showing he is well rounded in all facets of the game.

Jayce Blalock (2022 Grantville, Ga.) travelled home after tearing up the 14u National Showcase event and continued to prove why he is one of the biggest bats in his class. He flashed an extra-large frame with broad shoulders as he looks the part of a grown man. Pitchers tended to stay away from him as he proved he could drive the baseball out of the park with ease. He smashed a couple doubles in the gaps that came off the bat with head-turning noise. With his skill-set and body type he will be fun to watch as he progresses as a hitter.



Jordan Carter (2023 Columbia, Tenn.) utilized a big, athletic frame this weekend as he proved to have the skills to go with it as well. The righthanded hitter squared up the baseball as he proved to have patience in the box as well showing a good eye. He showcased a simple swing as he took his hands to the baseball showing that he could put that strength to good use. He flashed a middle- to pull-side approach and punished baseballs while doing so. He also showed to be a very solid third baseman as he made some very nice plays coming in on the baseball and he made a great leaping play on a line drive that was smoked down the line, overall showing good feel for the position. With his skill-set and build he will be an interesting follow going forward.



Chris Smith (2023 Bartlett, Tenn.) came on the scene late in the action as he took the bump for Wow Factor Baseball in their semifinal contest. With a long, lanky frame, he went on to pound the lower half of the strike zone with a fastball that showed some sink and arm-side run in the mid-80s, topping out at 87 several times. He has a long arm action with a fluid delivery showing plenty more in the tank if needed. His slider proved to be his swing-and-miss pitch as it showed sharp bite with depth as well. He also proved he was comfortable throwing it in any count or scenario. With his mound presence in full display, he went on to dominate the opposition as he struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings.

– Drew Weslowski


We witnessed some mid-summer caliber performances this weekend at East Cobb during the WWBA Southeast Upperclass Labor Day Classic as there were a number of players who really stood out. Here are a few that turned in magnificent performances for their clubs.

Another pair of arms that were impressive at the East Cobb complex this weekend were Jaylen Paden (covered above) and his classmate Edwin Galatas (2020, Decatur, Ga.). Pitching for Beast Mode Prime 2021, the two piggy-backed their way to a one-hit performance, a 6-0 shutout. Galatas took over for Paden in the sixth and continued the dominance, fanning five batters in the process. Similar to Paden, Galatas showcased an advanced two-pitch mix of a fastball clocked in the high-80s and a curveball with good shape and depth in the low-70s. Galatas pitches with confidence and fills up the strike zone displaying good control of his repertoire.

Andreaus Lewis II (2021, Winder, Ga.) is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound catcher who is committed to attend Eastern Kentucky despite having half his high school career to go at Winder-Barrow High School. Lewis, started for his club Upstate Mavericks ST, and along with teammate Matthew Mitchell (2020, Greer, S.C.), delivered a two-hit shutout Friday night at East Cobb. Lewis was impressive in a pitch count-controlled outing going two innings while striking out four and threw almost 60 percent of his 35 pitches for strikes. He pounded the zone with fastballs recording a high at 86, yet he might not be far from 90 with further development and growth. Displaying good mechanics and pitchability, Lewis is a  high-upside talent who filled the zone and pitched with confidence.

Mitchell, relieved Lewis’ start going five strong innings on the bump where he scattered two hits and fanned five on the way to an early win for their club. Mitchell used a two-pitch mix of a fastball – that touched 76 – and a curveball with proper shape and feel for the pitch, registering in the upper-60s to low-70s. Mitchell used his repertoire in all counts and filled up the strike zone at an impressive, 75-percent clip. Mitchell did everything a coach could ask for from a pitcher in relief as he secured the early victory this weekend for his club. It is important to state that Mitchell has excelled in the relief roll this summer as he has a 0.60 ERA in 12 1/3 innings of work. Over that time, he has an 8-to-1 strikeout-to-walk rate.

Both Mitchell and Lewis had plenty of bats to thank in their lineup but one that has stood out all weekend was John Marant (2020, Tyrone, Ga.). Marant is a 6-foot-5, strong and athletically built outfielder from Sandy Creek High School. Recently starting his senior year, Marant was on a tear at the plate this weekend, heading into the semifinals on Sunday with a .625 average. Mitchell was 5-for-8 through Saturday with two singles, a double and two triples. He also walked twice, scored three runs, drove in six and stole a base to cap off a productive pool play and quarterfinal performance. The Georgia Tech commit swings from the left side and has a large step trigger as he continually shows advanced hand-eye coordination and feel for his barrel that generates consistent hard-hit contact to the gaps. He is very patient in the box and has minimal pre-pitch movement. He does a nice job keeping his hands back well and staying balanced and then shoots his hands and wrists through the hitting zone with quickness. He generates plenty of leverage and displays good rhythm and timing in the box. He has a good frame to add strength and his consistent hard contact leads one to believe that more raw power will come. A good athlete, Marant makes all the plays hit to him in the outfield and has a good arm to profile in right field. He continually gets good reads and displays sound first-step quickness in the outfield displaying good range as well.

Other notable top performers who turned in some excellent performances and showed us glimpses of high-level tools were East Cobb Astros 16u X teammates Jake Hembree (2023, Hiram, Ga.) and leadoff hitter Benjamin Hamacher (2021, Marietta, Ga.). Hembree, who isn’t even 15, was hitting .667 heading into Sunday  with four walks, four runs scored, two RBI and two swipes. Hamacher was impressive in the leadoff spot for East Cobb Astros 16u X, hitting .583 (7-for-12) with a double, two walks, four runs scored as well as one RBI and a stolen base. He plays with aggression and displays good baseball acumen in all phases of the game as he continually sets the tone for this club.

– Matt Arietta
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

A Look Ahead: 16U PG West WS
Emily Hicks
Article Image
Another exciting week of Perfect Game baseball is on the horizon as the 16U PG West World Series brings together some of the top travel baseball programs for a highly competitive tournament. Taking place July 23 - 26 at Riverview Complex in Mesa, AZ, the event will feature talented teams looking to make a statement as they compete for one of the summer's most prestigious titles. The tournament will welcome clubs from across the West, creating a talented field filled with nationally recognized organizations, rising contenders, and some of the top 16U prospects in the country. Throughout pool play and the championship bracket, every game will provide an opportunity for teams to showcase their talent while pursuing a World Series championship. With high-level competition expected throughout the week, fans can look forward to quality pitching, explosive offenses, and outstanding defensive...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

Battle For The Midwest Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Gavin Johnson (2029, De Pere, Wisc.) handled the bat pretty well this weekend for his CBT Wolfpack 15u team that made a run into bracket play. Johnson is a left-handed hitting first baseman with a physical 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, showing good physicality throughout the build. It’s a clean stroke from the left side, with feel to deliver the barrel on time and drive the ball working pull-side. He has a feel to rotate well, loading deep with the hands & turning well through contact to impact the baseball out in front. Johnson tallied four hits on the weekend, including 2 doubles and a triple. He plated 3 runs as well.   Devon Hester (2029, Chicago, Ill.) had a heck of a weekend for Chicago White Sox Ace 2029 Hunt. He showed out on both sides of the ball this past weekend, really getting it done at the plate. He finished the weekend 7-for-15, with a double and 4 RBI to...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

UBC Midwest X Atlantic Notes: Part 2

Jordan Gates
Article Image
UBC Midwest X Atlantic Notes: Part 1 ‘27 RHP Alexander Kakach (MN) displayed present arm strength and some feel to spin. The #Creighton commit was up to 93 mph with the FB (89-93), while the SL showed two plane break at 79-84 mph. Mixed in CT at 84-86 with tight action in the zone. #UBCMW @MNIcemen @PG_WiscMinn pic.twitter.com/TlrOnNDIcd — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 18, 2026 Alexander Kakach (2027, Plymouth, Minn.) of MN Icemen 17U Gominsky displayed intriguing upside on the mound, striking out five over 4.0 innings while running the fastball up to 93 mph with ride. The 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander and Creighton commit paired the fastball with a low-80s slider that flashed two-plane break and a cutter that played well off the mix. Kakach worked with a loose, quick arm from a high three-quarter slot, creating quality movement across his mix while displaying...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 6

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 Brycen Orcutt (‘29, WV) was dominant to open his outing, tossing five innings of shutout ball thus far, striking out nine. Got the FB up to 85 w/ feel to land a tight + sharp two-plane BB. #WWBA @PG_VirginiaWV pic.twitter.com/Yjm2IbufqU — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 21, 2026 Brycen Orcutt (’29, South Charleston, WV) has put together a strong event on both sides of the ball, posting a 1.458 OPS at the plate thus far, including a pair of doubles and three driven in. On the mound, Orcutt has logged a pair of starts, totaling 11.1 innings of shutout ball, striking out 15. The West Virginia native operates from a medium right-handed frame with a bit of length and lower half strength. He starts above the belt, working into an over-the-head windup before utilizing a medium direct leg lift, firing down...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/22/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 Noah Rumley (‘29 NC) has been up to 90 so far in this start w/ 8 Ks in 4 innings of work. Really jumps out of the hand at foot strike w/ some ride to it; has also mixed in a SL w/ horizontal action. #WWBA @PG_Coastal pic.twitter.com/OcU57a3Syl — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 21, 2026 Noah Rumley (2029, Summerfield, N.C.) got the ball for GBC Lopez 2029 15u in their final game of pool play and dominated, going up against a tough lineup in the East Cobb Astros. The 6-foot-2 left-handed pitcher ended up going five innings, allowing only one hit and one run, while striking out nine. It’s premium stuff at the 15u level as he worked easily in the upper-80s, topping at 90 mph in the first. The breaking ball showed two-plane shape in the upper-70s as well. There’s a ton of things to like already and even...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/22/2026

Champions Named at Southwest Select

Emily Hicks
Article Image
Another week of Perfect Game baseball concluded as champions were crowned in the 15U, 16U, and 18U divisions of the Southwest Select Championship. After several days of pool play and championship bracket action, three teams rose above the competition to capture tournament titles following a week of high-level baseball. Throughout the tournament, teams from across the Southwest and beyond competed in closely contested matchups, producing standout pitching performances, timely offense, and memorable defensive plays. As the bracket narrowed, each division featured championship-caliber baseball before the final trophies were awarded. 15U Championship The 15U division title was claimed by AZ Prodigy, who defeated Nomadic 14U Premier by a score of 2-1 in the championship game. After putting together a strong tournament run, AZ Prodigy continued its momentum in the title game with contributions...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

Battle for the Windy City Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Tyler Osmanski (2027, Frankfort, Ill.) a 5-foot-11 160-pound right-handed pitcher worked a 7 inning complete game shutout to start off Chicago Elite’s 6-0 weekend. On top of going the distance he allowed only three base runners and one hit. Osmanski has lots of athleticism in his delivery. He keeps his body under control while still being able to have good arm action and great hip to shoulder separation. He works from the third base side of the rubber with a high ¾ arm slot. His fastball was up to 84mph multiple times and sat 80-83mph. He used two offspeed pitches, a good 12-6 breaking ball 65-68mph, and a changeup in the low 70’s.     ‘27 RHP Brett Alkire (IL) punched out everyone across his 5.2 inning masterful outing. He struck out 13 batters and did it on 66% strikes. Has an active arm action and kept the ball on the corners. FB T92 early w/...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 7/22/2026

PG All-American Classic Roster Reveal

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES TEAM ROSTERS FOR 2026 DICK'S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC AT CITIZENS BANK PARK   The rosters span 20 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Canada, with California leading the way Jersey City's Finnian O'Loughlin gives the host region a player in the spotlight Field includes sons of Hall of Famer Frank Thomas & MLB All-Star Brad Hawpe   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wednesday, July 22, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the Team East and Team West rosters for the 2026 DICK'S All-American Classic, set for Sunday, August 16 at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The 60-player field represents the top...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/22/2026

Florida Burn Cruise to 17U BCS Crown

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Ranked fifth nationally entering the tournament, Florida Burn 2027 Scout left no doubt who the best team was at the 17U BCS National Championship. Burn finished a perfect 9-0 tournament, earning an 11-1 semifinal victory before defeating No. 86-ranked Original Florida Pokers 2027 National, 9-1, Tuesday afternoon at JetBlue Park. Burn seized control early and never looked back in a game that ended after the fifth inning per Perfect Game’s mercy rule. Burn carried its explosive offense into the championship game as Braedon Mackay launched a two-run home run in the first inning, giving his team an early 2-0 lead. Mackay’s home run sparked a five-run opening inning, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon. The Florida commit later earned tournament MVP honors after helping lead Burn to an unbeaten championship run. “I was just trying to get something started,”...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/22/2026

17u BCS Scout Notes: Days 2-3

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u BCS Scout Notes: Day 1 Kenniel Nieves Medero (2027 SS, PR)  Nieves Medero put together another quality offensive showing, continuing the consistent production he displayed throughout the tournament. The 8.5 PG grade shortstop features quick hands and does an excellent job creating separation with strong hip rotation, allowing him to generate easy bat speed through the zone. The swing remains balanced and efficient with present feel for the barrel. A polished offensive profile with tools that continue to translate in game action.  Oscar Cambero (2027 3B, FL)  Cambero turned in an impressive offensive performance, smoking a triple into the gap while showcasing both speed and gap-to-gap power. The right-handed hitter generates quality bat speed and consistently impacts the baseball with authority. Plays with a high motor on both sides of the ball and competes with energy...
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.