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Tournaments  | Story  | 10/2/2019

World Championship Pool Preview

Patrick Ebert      Jheremy Brown      Brian Sakowski      Vincent Cervino      Greg Gerard      Jered Goodwin      Nate Schweers      Connor Spencer     
Photo: Kevin Parada (Perfect Game)

2019 WWBA World Championship: Event Page

All 23 pools, A through W, for the 2019 WWBA World Championship will be released and previewed over the span of two days on Tuesday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 2. Be sure to check out the Perfect Game homepage as well as the main event page for links to the full tournament schedule, standings, playoff bracket, daily scout recaps and feature stories leading up to and carrying through this year's WWBA World Championship to be held at the Roger Dean Sports Complex in Jupiter, Fla., Oct. 10-14.

2019 WWBA World Championship Event Schedule

Click on the team name link to view each team's schedule and roster.



Pool A
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 5 Star National 2020 Trey Carter
 99
 2020 Brodie Chestnutt 61
 2021 Warner Robins, GA
 Cangelosi Sparks 2020 Black
 Drake Wescott 181 2020 Jack Crowder 146 2020 Lockport, IL
 Louisiana Knights 2020 Drake Varnado 25 2021 Chase Allsup 116 2021 Mandeville, LA
 Ontario Blue Jays David Calabrese 459 2021 Jason Zhang 500 2020 Toronto, ON

Projected Pool Winner:  5 Star National 2020
Just take a peek at the 5 Star roster. Nearly everyone is ranked, and nearly everyone has a D-I commitment. That alone speaks to the star power the program has, and when you look at recent history at PG events, at multiple age divisions, you’ll see the 5 Star program has what it takes to win. That said, most of the star power they’re bringing to Jupiter lies in the 2021 class, but there’s so much depth, particularly on the pitching side of things. 2020 arms to watch include righthanders Carson Pillsbury, Nick Guzzi and Drew Fletcher as well as lefthander Connor O’Halloran with Brodie Chestnutt representing one of the best 2021 arms in the entire field. Dynamic two-way talent Trey Carter should be a factor on both sides of the ball while helping to lead what appears to be a deep, dangerous lineup.

 Dark Horse: Cangelosi Sparks 2020 Black
 The Sparks are coming off of a fairly convincing win at the WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship, marking the third year in a row a Cangelosi team has earned the Jupiter automatic bid out of Iowa. This is a talented team that has been playing together for a long time, and most of the players are high school seniors with plenty of experience duking it out against other high-profile national programs. Righthanded pitcher Jack Crowder can match up opposite anyone’s ace, and he could draw the assignment of facing 5 Star in pool play. Christian Knapczyk, Jack Payton, Tommy Jurack, Drake Westcott and Jared Comia help spark a deep lineup that can beat you in a variety of ways.

What To Watch For: Young Knights
 Don’t look past the Louisiana Knights, a team similar to 5 Star with plenty of talent, particularly from the class of 2021. Of the team’s seven SEC recruits, five of them are high school juniors, and four of those are primary position players. You never know what you’re going to get from a lineup with highly ranked underclassmen in Jupiter, but the quartet of Drake Varnado, Josh Pearson, Brant Smith and Brennan Holt could make this a dangerous opponent in pool play.

– Patrick Ebert
Pool B
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 RA12 Select
 Justin Javier Colon Jaime 51 2021 Henry Nunez Rijo 500 2020 San Juan, PR
 Team Indiana
 Austin Bode 87 2021 Luke Hayden 106 2021 Westfield, IN
 Texas Rangers Scout Team
 Tanner Witt 64 2020 Dalton Beck 366 2020 Arlington, TX
 Upstate Mavericks ST Treylen "TJ" White 245 2021 Cade Austin 263 2020 Lyman, SC

Projected Pool Winner: Team Indiana
Team Indiana travels south to Jupiter with ranked and committed players from the top of their lineup to the bottom. With all of their players coming from the state of Indiana, 2020 and 2021 classes as well as ranked in the Top 1000 of the PG rankings, Team Indiana has a balanced lineup of both offensive players and a solid pitching staff. Louisville commit Austin Bode and Kentucky commit Grant Trinkle are each from Columbus North High School who are highly touted players with Bode being a former participant in the 14u PG Select Festival. Team Indiana brings with them a lot of depth on the pitching mound starred by Indiana commit Luke Hayden and Notre Dame commit Ryan Lynch. They're the favorite in Pool B for the 2019 WWBA World Championship largely in part to the fact that they have as much depth as any team in the event.
Dark Horse: Texas Rangers Scout Team 
The top 2020 draft prospect in the pool is Texas Rangers Scout Team shortstop Tanner Witt. Witt has outstanding pop in his bat with loft to his plane and fast hands. The 6-foot-6 projectable infielder has a chance to really shine in the spotlight of a ton of professional scouts. Witt, along with Jett Williams – who is also ranked in the top 100 and a 2020 MLB Draft follow – make up a lineup that should surely provide elite offensive production. The pitching staff for the Rangers Scout Team is going to be the difference maker if they can win their pool. They have the hardest throwing pitcher in the pool in Wichita State commit Cameron Bye and boast numerous top 500 pitchers in Dalton Beck, Justin Lange, Brendan Girton, Khristian Curtis, Michael Colby Diduch and Ryan Ward. Look for the Rangers Scout Team to make a lot of noise in a talent filled Pool B.

What To Watch For: Regional Bragging Rights
In this pool you have a team heavily represented from Puerto Rico with a pair of players in FIU commit Justin Javier Colon Jaime and righthanded pitcher Isaias Hernandez Rosado from Florida in RA12 Select. There is the Upstate Mavericks ST who represents Georgia and South Carolina very well with a player from New York in outfielder Wade Kelly and a player from New Jersey in righthanded pitcher Story Kimura included on the roster. The Texas Rangers Scout Team is loaded from the state of Texas with two players outside of the Lone Star State in righthanded pitchers Brendan Girton from Okahoma and Jacob Kmatz from the state of New Mexico. Team Indiana has a full roster of players from Indiana and the team from the Midwest is the favorite to come away the winner of the pool and take home Midwest baseball bragging rights.

– Greg Gerard



 Pool C
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 643 DP Cougars Andruw Jones 4 2022 Reid Robertson 500 2020 Marietta, GA
 FTB Tucci 2020 Matthew Prevesk 90
 2021
 Cameron Clines 178
 2021 Orlando, FL
 North East Baseball National Garret Guillemette 211 2020 Hunter Owen 243 2020 Littleton, MA
 Team Louisiana - Sheets Brody Drost 136 2020 Hayden Durke 205 2020 Erath, LA

Projected Pool Winner: North East Baseball National
One of the more truly nationally-focused clubs in attendance, NEB has rostered players for Jupiter with players from over 15 states across the nation. There’s quality depth throughout the roster, with plenty of arms who can run their fastballs into the 90s as well as a good amount of positional depth, with quality bats throughout their roster from either side of the plate. This team should be pretty versatile as well, with plenty of opportunities for matchups in the pitching staff throughout the week, as well as good defensive versatility throughout the rest of the roster, allowing for some creativity in the everyday lineup. They’ll certainly have to be creative and use their depth, as this is one of the more intriguing pools of the event. 

Dark Horse: FTB Tucci 2020
Consisting mostly of 2020s and 2021s with select elite 2022s as well, this roster makes the case for the most talented of the pool. Nate Blasick is coming off of a Northeast Qualifier performance that shot him up the rankings, and he brings serious thunder from the left side of the plate to the middle of the FTB lineup, joined by fellow high-level bats in Edwin Arroyo-Agosto, Matthew Prevesk and Connor Morgan, among others. They’re very deep on the mound as well, with a fair number of pitcher-only type prospects, though the quality of their bullpen depth in the form of how many talented two-way players they have could give them a leg up on the competition, especially in games that come down to the wire in bullpen battles. 
 
What To Watch For: Anyone's Pool
This pool was harder to forecast than most others, just given the overall relative even standing of all four clubs. As you can read above, FTB Tucci 2020 was singled out as the pool dark horse, but in reality any club playing in this pool has a chance to win given the 643 DP Cougars' impressive level of tournament success to go along with an incredible wealth of pitching talent on Team Louisiana - Sheets. This is going to be an extremely difficult pool to come out of, but the flip side of that coin is that the team that does advance to bracket play from this pool will certainly have been potentially more battle-tested than most other potential pool winners across the rest of the event. Each matchup, regardless of team, looks to be a highly-competitive contest, and we’re especially excited to see how this one shakes out. 

– Brian Sakowski



 Pool D
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Baseball U Ethan Anderson 27 2022 Drue Hackenberg 355 2021 Howell, NJ
 Dirtbags Jake Deleo 33 2020 Koen Moreno 232 2020 Burlington, NC
 Elite Squad Alex Ulloa 17 2021 Connor Manning 335 2021 Pembroke Pines, FL
 Hunter Pence Baseball Academy Trey Rucker 163 2021 Ethan Campos 407 2020 Houston, TX

Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags
Anytime a roster features 25 Division I commits there’s no doubting the team’s ability on paper, though the Dirtbags have a core nucleus of talent that has played with the organization throughout the circuit. The likely middle-of-the-order combo of PG All-American Jake Deleo and lefthanded slugger Josh Moylan will be key to setting the pace of the offense as Deleo is an explosive athlete with loud tools and Moylan has some of the best raw power in the class. With a nice supporting cast of bats, it’s the 12 primary arms that will be most pivotal in a deep run, led by righthander Koen Moreno who seems to gain serious helium every time he toes the rubber.

Dark Horse: Baseball U
Baseball U always features a nice collection of talent from across the Mid-Atlantic, and while they may not have the depth that the Dirtbags offer, this is a club that is going to make things interesting during pool play. Righthander Drue Hackenburg offers a big arm, already topping out at 90 mph with a feel for a slider, a two-pitch combo that should prove key in Jupiter. The roster features just six additional primary arms but the offense features plenty of bats committed to the Division I level. Ultra-physical sophomore Ethan Anderson may be young but he has the strength to make a difference offensively alongside the likes of two-way talent Carter Trice and outfielder TJ Williams.

What To Watch For: Dirtbags' Talent
Perfect Game All-American Jake Deleo enjoyed a breakout summer, running a 6.38 60-yard dash while showing big arm strength and offensive tools before taking his game to the next level at the 17u WWBA National Championship. Jupiter will provide scouts an opportunity to see Deleo face high-level pitching one last time before the spring season in the Northeast kicks up, meaning scouts will most likely be lined up down the right field line with their stop watches and video cameras during every at-bat. Mentioned above, righthander Koen Moreno has had buzz surrounding his name throughout the back half of the summer circuit, showing a steady low-90s fastball with a fast arm and ample projection. The East Carolina commit offers a four-pitch mix for strikes with a couple of breaking balls, high spin on his heater and the chance for a plus changeup.

– Jheremy Brown



 Pool E
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Ohio Warhawks Alex Stone 264 2020 Logan Austin 160 2020 Fairborn, OH
 PG Navy Select Casey Saucke II 152 2021 Bobby Alcock 500 2020 Brick, NJ
 Scorpions Honor the Game Deric Fabian 74 2021 Brandon Neely
 117 2021 Altamonte Springs, FL
 South Charlotte Panthers 2020 Jacob Cozart
 179 2021 Brandon Hudson
 188 2021 Charlotte, NC

Projected Pool Winner: Ohio Warhawks
Always one of the biggest competitors this time of the year, the Warhawks come to Jupiter 2019 with a loaded roster featuring players from all across the country. Alex Stone and Luke Storm are two extremely physical power bats who should lead the charge in the heart of the lineup and there are a plethora of Power 5 committed arms such as Logan Austin, Michael Rice, Chad Rogers, Nate Thomas and Blake Purnell, among others. The depth of arms is going to be a difference maker in Pool E and could be the separator leading them to winning the pool.
Dark Horse: South Charlotte Panthers
The South Charlotte Panthers have a younger roster this year but that includes talented 2021s and a 2022 squad that won the Freshman World Championship a year ago and just finished third at the Sophomore World Championship this past weekend. With numerous Division I arms, led by underclassmen Brandon Hudson and Carson Kelly, there's a good amount of depth as they lay the foundation and provide quality innings from seniors Rhett Lowder, Cameron Arnold and Cooper King. Offensively, Jacob Cozart is a standout prospect thanks to his size, strength and raw power. The Panthers are younger but all of their young guys have been on big stages before and will look to see it translate to a competitive pool.
What To Watch For: Samuel Cozart
In what has to be the youngest player to ever grace the fields at Jupiter, Samuel Cozart is a righthanded pitcher for the South Charlotte Panthers who generated a good amount of buzz over the summer. Having just turned 13-years old, Cozart is an immense 6-foot-4, 210-pounds and can run his fastball up to 88 mph on the mound. The 13u PG Select Festival participant would have been eligible for the Little League World Series this year and he’s already throwing some serious heat. There is no denying that Cozart is a special talent and it is certainly going to be fun watching him compete on the biggest amateur stage.
– Vinnie Cervino



 Pool F

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Baseball Northwest 2020 Logan Paustian 282 2020 Jaylen Jones 147 2021 Seattle, WA
 East Coast Sox Select Slade Wilks 38 2020 Ryan Bruno 30 2020 Columbus, MS
 St. Louis Pirates Baseball Development Ariel Antigua 36 2023 Drew Gray 156 2021 St. Louis, MO
 Team Northeast Tyler Joseph 500 2020 Andrew Ward 404 2020 Erial, NJ

Projected Pool Winner: East Coast Sox Select
East Coast Sox Select is rolling into Jupiter with a plethora of riches. Nearly 30 players have committed to Division I programs, many of which will figure into high round draft talks next spring. On the bump ECS will roll out a trio of mid-90s arms in Ryan Bruno, Charez Butcher and Jackson Fristoe. Nicholas Griffin and Skylar Brown are also proven winners on the showcase circuit. Incredibly deep, the roster has 16 arms that have bumped at least 90 mph at Perfect Game events. The Sox lineup has a nice blend of speed and power from top to bottom. Robert Hassell III is as complete of a baseball player as there is at this level and his PG All-American teammate Slade Wilks ambushed baseballs all summer long. If this team can get rolling early, we might be watching them play well into Monday.
 
Dark Horse: Baseball Northwest 2020
With a roster that is filled with high-level winners, Northwest Baseball 2020 has all the ingredients to make a run at the WWBA World Championship.  Jaylen Jones made great strides this summer and has swing-and-miss stuff. Fellow lefties Anthony Figueroa, Wesley Hancock and Damien Whitfield all have upper-80s to low-90s stuff and can work through lineups quickly. Logan Paustian will anchor the lineup and take on a lot of the catching responsibilities. The former 14u PG Select Festival participant can handle the dynamic staff and also switch hits, with some pop in his bat, making him yet another young talent to follow in this pool.  
What To Watch For: East Coast Sox Arm Management
 Listing 20 arms on its roster, the East Coast Sox have plenty of pitching to get through the five-day gauntlet. The interesting things to look at is who will be pitching where and when and which arms can bounce back? Even more fun to ponder is which of the highly touted pitchers will make the biggest lasting impression in Jupiter? Lining up 20 hurlers of this caliber is a great problem to have and it will be entertaining to see them compete against other teams while also competing in a friendly way against each other in the dugout.

– Jered Goodwin



 Pool G

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Houston Astros Scout Team Coby Mayo 15 2020 Timothy Manning 60 2020 Pembroke Pines, FL
 Sandlot Scout Team Mason Neville 33 2022 Nathan Ackenhausen 500 2020 Tulsa, OK
 Team Elite 2020 Nation Benny Montgomery 65 2021 Bryce Richter 500 2020 Winder, GA
 Tri-State Arsenal 2020 National Hayden Murphy 29 2022 Robert Ready 272 2020 Voorhees, NJ

Projected Pool Winner: Houston Astros Scout Team
 The Houston Astros Scout Team comes into this year’s WWBA World Championship loaded with talent, both on the mound and at the plate. A pitching staff that has nine 90-plus mile per hour arms to showcase is led by the No. 60 player in the 2020 class, southpaw and Florida commit Timothy Manning, and complemented by others including Nick Vieira and Devin Futrell. On the offensive side of the ball, the Houston Astros Scout Team lineup will led by 2019 Perfect Game All-American Coby Mayo. The offense will be powered by nine players that made appearances at the Perfect Game National Showcase and should be able to put up a plethora of runs in Jupiter. This combination of firepower in the lineup and a deep pitching staff not only makes them the favorite to advance out of Pool G, but a threat to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Dark Horse: Tri-State Arsenal 2020 National Team
 The Tri-State Arsenal 2020 National Team features a roster that is loaded with talent in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 classes. With highly-ranked 2022s Hayden Murphy and Korbyn Dickerson making their first trips to Jupiter, they should be exciting pieces on a roster that features 19 Division I commitments. The pitching staff will have some veteran leadership in 2020 righthanders Robert Ready and Sean Duffy as they should be able to give the team a chance to win games. Outside of Murphy and Dickerson, Tri-State Arsenal should receive big contributions from a trio of hitters from the 2021 class in James Wood, Gavin Abrams and Ayden Edwards. If the talent that is spread through three classes can come together and play a clean brand of baseball they could certainly make some noise and challenge the Houston Astros Scout Team in Pool G.

What To Watch For: High-Level Offense
 With so many highly ranked hitters scattered throughout the entire pool, expect these games to be decided by the lineups that can get hot and produce the most runs. Each team has an impact position player on their roster, and in an event that can be dominated by power-arms, it will be exciting to see what these hitters can do. Looking at the Houston Astros Scout Team specifically, they should have a lineup that features six hitters ranked in the Top 200 in the 2020 class. If all the bats come ready to play we should see some of the highest scoring games of the pool play round coming out of Pool G.

– Nate Schweers



 Pool H
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 BPA 2020 Kemp Alderman 49 2020 Drew Leach 500 2020 Laguna Niguel, CA
 Dallas Patriots 18u Stout Kevin Bazzell 500 2021 Tyson Neighbors 271 2021 Dallas, TX
 Power Baseball 2020 Braden Holcomb 9 2023 Carson Montgomery 16 2020 Winter Garden, FL
 Team Elite 2020 Prime Rob Gordon 46 2021 John Rizzo 95 2021 Winder, GA

Projected Pool Winner: Power Baseball 2020
Power Baseball 2020 brings a roster that’s filled with talent throughout to the WWBA World Championship this year. PG All-American and Florida State commit Carson Montgomery looks to be the backbone of their solid pitching staff with his power fastball that has the potential to run up to 96 mph. Troy commit Takoah Roby and UNC commit Owen Flynn also highlight a phenomenal staff that will give them a chance to win in every game. Offensively, they have a great balance of power, speed and quality bats from top to bottom, as well as numerous young high ceiling talents that will look to start building their high school resumes early. No. 9 overall 2023 Braden Holcomb impressed at the 14u PG Select Festival and his present strength and plus power tool are a nice addition to a lineup that can beat teams in a number of different ways. Alabama commit Dallas Dale II is another young bat with excellent projectables that could be a difference maker for Power Baseball.
Dark Horse: BPA 2020
Pool H is one of the most competitive pools in the tournament. BPA 2020 possesses some of the most talented ballplayers from around Southern California and Texas and will give Power Baseball 2020 a dogfight for who wins the pool. Baylor commit Drew Leach has a solid developing fastball with good stuff and will most likely be the ace of the BPA staff. Bats like Mississippi commit Kemp Alderman and Texas commit Petey Halpin will give opposing staffs just about all that they can handle. BPA’s teams have had a nice summer on the PG circuit and prove to be competitive time in and time out, so don't be surprised if BPA walks away as victors of Pool H.
What To Watch For: High Quality Pitching Matchups
With so much quality pitching and high-profile arms to look out for in the pool, runs will most likely be at a premium. Scouts can be excited about possible matchups such as Montgomery against Leach or Kansas State commit Tyson Neighbors for Dallas Patriots 18u Stout going against Takoah Roby. There’s a myriad of quality pitching possibilities making any given game within the pool highly anticipated. The winner of the pool most likely will come down to who’s offense can break through the most at the right time, as the difference maker could very well be a clutch base hit. Expect heavy competitiveness and low scoring ballgames overall.
– Connor Spencer



 Pool I
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Dulin's Dodgers 2020
 Blaze Jordan 6 2020 William "Pico" Kohn 94
 2021 Cordova, TN
 GBG Marucci 2020 Navy Kevin Parada 26 2020 Lucas Gordon 172 2020 Manhattan Beach, CA
 Stars Baseball 2020 Eddie Eisert 200 2020 Logan Danzeisen 500 2020 Manassas, VA
 Team Mizuno Puerto Rico John Montes 129 2020 Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz 500 2021 Caguas, PR
 
Projected Pool Winner: GBG Marucci 2020 Navy
 You get the sense that GBG is going to break through with a championship one of these years. They’ve made the playoffs each of the last seven years, have advanced to the semifinals three of those times (including last year) and the quarterfinals once. Nearly half of last year’s team was made up of underclassmen, which included Kevin Parada, who went off at the plate and enjoyed one of the most impactful events offensively in the history of the WWBA World Championship on his way to earning co-MVP honors a year ago. This year those once-underclassmen are now seniors. With hitters (and defenders) like Parada and Devan Ornelas, two-way talents including Jack Costello, Michael Davinni and Jacob Wilson in addition to a strike-throwing staff that only allowed two runs in six games during their PG Fall National Championship run in Arizona a few weeks ago, you have as balanced of a roster as you can find in Jupiter.

Dark Horse: Dulin's Dodgers 2020
 You can never rule out long-time PG tournament participant Dulin’s Dodgers, who compete at every high-level event, at every age division, they attend. The star power is alive and well in Blaze Jordan, who was a high school sophomore in Jupiter a year ago before he re-classified to the high school class of 2020 with a unique ability for barreling the ball up consistently hard. Jordan is certain to draw a big crowd in each game he plays with interest in his defensive position as much as how well he fares with a bat in his hands. This year’s Jupiter squad has dipped into their talented 16u team that claimed titles at the 16u BCS National Championship and 16u PG World Series. How young players such as Chandler Benson, Lane Forsythe, Pico Kohn and David Jeon fare, particularly on the mound, will determine just how far this team can advance.

What To Watch For: Big Bats on Display
 Parada posted ridiculous numbers a year ago on his way to co-MVP honors, hitting .478 and driving in 13 runs in seven games played. He matched that feat statistically in Arizona this past July at the 17u PG World Series, hitting .524 with 13 more RBI, again coming in just seven games. Fellow PG All-American Blaze Jordan is making his fourth trip to Jupiter this year, first appearing in 2016 as an eighth grader. He put his name into Jupiter lore in 2017, hitting a home run as a high school freshman after hitting home runs at the 14u, 15u, 16u and 17u WWBA National Championships earlier that year. And don’t look past Stars Baseball’s Eddie Eisert, currently ranked 200th in the class of 2020, a number that is certain to improve with the next rankings update thanks to a strong surge down the travel circuit stretch, which included a two-home run performance at the recently completed WWBA Northeast Qualifier.

– Patrick Ebert



 Pool J
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Braves Scout Team/Team Elite Jordan Walker 1 2020 Ty Floyd 51 2020 Atlanta, GA
 DBacks Langley Blaze Devin Taylor 53 2022 Theo Millas 213 2020 Vancouver, BC
 Miami PG Columbia Blue Marcus Franco 120 2021 Eduardo Fernandez 129 2023 Miami, FL
 MVP Ryan Spikes 41 2021 Jaylen Paden 356 2020 Chesapeake, VA

Projected Pool Winner: Braves Scout Team/Team Elite
 With the most 90-plus mph arms, highlighted by top-ranked arm Ty Floyd, the most top 150 players with the No. 1 player in the 2020 class in Jordan Walker, the hardest throwing pitcher also in Floyd and tied at the top of the pool for the most commitments and top 500 players, it is really hard to argue with the loaded Braves Scout Team/Team Elite winning Pool J. The Braves Scout Team/Team Elite has 15 commitments on their roster with nine players ranked 150 or better and seven 90-plus mph arms that they can bring to the mound. The whole roster is committed to Division I programs and two players are committed to the defending champion Vanderbilt Commodores in one of the top prep catchers in the country in Jack Bulger and lefthanded pitcher Carter Holton. The Braves Scout Team/Team Elite are one of the heavy favorites to win the entire event, in addition to this pool, and it will interesting to see who is able to give the favorites a run for their money.

 Dark Horse: DBacks Langley Blaze
 DBacks Langley Blaze is represented from all over North America, including British Columbia and Ontario in Canada as well as from the states of Ohio, Hawaii and Georgia. DBacks Langley Blaze has as many collegiate commitments as the favorites in the Braves Scout Team/Team Elite with just as many top 500-ranked players as well. The highest ranked player for DBacks Langley Blaze comes from the state of Ohio and the class of 2022 ranks in outfielder Devin Taylor. Theo Millas, a righthanded pitcher committed to LSU, is the team’s ace on the bump with a low-90s sinking fastball, breaking ball and changeup. DBacks Langley Blaze has multiple draft prospects on the team including Millas and outfielder Hank Thomas, who will certainly help their team in claiming Pool J at this year’s Jupiter event.
What To Watch For: East vs. West
 With three of the four teams in the pool from east of the Mississippi River and DBacks Langley Blaze representing primarily British Columbia and Hawaii, there is an East-West battle in Pool J. Braves Scout Team/Team Elite, MVP and Miami PG Columbia Blue each include players primarily from the states of Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Virginia. The top-ranked players are mostly represented from the states on the East Coast including three of the four highest ranked players in the pool. The west players that are included in the top 500, however, are Theo Millas, Kala’i Rosario, Kelena Sauer, Loreto Siniscalchi, and Justin Thorsteinson, giving a cool contention of East vs. West within Pool J.

– Greg Gerard



Pool K
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Chet Lemon's Juice Jalen DeBose 245 2020 Dane Black 500 2020 Eustis, FL
 On Deck O's 2020 Joseph Rezek 500 2020 Mikey Tepper 94 2020 Pineville, NC
 Rawlings Arkansas Prospects - Platinum Cayden Wallace 14 2020 Hurston Waldrep 362 2020 North Little Rock, AR
 Slammers Baseball 2020 Brayden Taylor 171 2020 Dorsey Chatham 500 2020 Englewood, CO

Projected Pool Winner: Rawlings Arkansas Prospects - Platinum
Cayden Wallace will draw a ton of decision makers to each one of his at-bats, and he represents a true offensive presence that should have an impact in the middle of the lineup whenever the Prospects take the field. Marcus Brown, Kyle Booker, Clayton Gray and many others combine to form a deep, talented lineup for the Prospects, while pitchers like Hurston Waldrep, Brayden Sanders, Tyler Cacciatori, and Jack Dougherty, among others, make for a deep pitching staff. The Prospects also bring Kenny Levari down from New Jersey, who was just explosive in a bullpen appearance this past weekend and could be an equalizer in a closing role.  

Dark Horse: On Deck O's 2020
Mikey Tepper is the highest-ranked pitcher in this pool, and while that will obviously make his outing one of the more heavily-attended games by scouts, that also might give On Deck a leg up in terms of matchups. They could potentially line Tepper up to face whomever they want him to face, and if he throws well, could obviously give them a leg-up in that matchup. They’re deep regardless, especially on the mound with Tepper, Hayden Summers and John Miralia, among others, and have plenty of interesting bats as well. On Deck traditionally plays an extremely aggressive, team-brand of baseball and this year should be no different, making them inherently dangerous when combining that with their high-end arms.  

What To Watch For: Wallace and Tepper
With the abundance of scouts in attendance annually, Jupiter’s primary objective annually is to offer these scouts more and more looks at the high-level draft prospects every year. This year, in this pool, that’s Cayden Wallace with the bat and Mikey Tepper on the mound, along with many others, of course. Wallace is ranked as the No. 14 player in the class and could be a top several round pick in the draft next summer, and this may be the last opportunity that scouts will have to see him against consistently high-level arms, including potentially against Tepper, who is high on scout radars in his own right and could also be a high draft choice next spring. Should those two match up when the Arkansas Prospects square off against the On Deck O’s, expect an absolutely packed house. 

– Brian Sakowski



Pool L
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Knights/eXposure Baseball Cooper Kinney 155 2021 Ryan Hagenow 43 2020 Nashville/Chattanooga, TN
 Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team Michael Braswell 11 2021 Carlos Rodriguez 253 2020 Milwaukee, WI
 MLB Breakthrough Series 2020 Ed Howard 7 2020 Marquis Grissom Jr 106 2020 Vero Beach, FL
 Northeast Pride Scout Team Cameron Leary 500 2020 Braedin Hunt 500 2020 Beach Lake, PA

Projected Pool Winner: MLB Breakthrough Series 2020
A quick look up and down the MLB Breakthrough roster is a who’s who of prospects for the upcoming years, led by a trio of PG All-Americans. Shortstop Ed Howard, one of the most alluring prospects in the nation, will be followed closely by scouts while pacing both the offense and defense, while California sluggers Chase Davis and Michael Brown will be chief run producers. Both catcher Ian Moller and shortstop Noah Smith offer a glimpse into the future with the talent to stand out in a Jupiter-type setting right away while righthanders Marquis Grissom Jr. and Miles Garrett will be pivotal arms on the mound to get out of pool play and advance deep into the bracket.

Dark Horse: Knights/eXposure Baseball
Don’t sleep on the Knights/eXposure Baseball team as two powerful, national level programs have teamed up again and have plenty of talent between the duo to make a run through pool play an beyond. You can’t talk about their talent without first mentioning righthander Ryan Hagenow, an elite strike-thrower who offers limitless projection, a low-90s fastball and a complete arsenal that yielded 24 strikeouts and just four walks in 17 innings this summer. He has the arsenal and feel to shut down the MLB Breakthrough bats in pool play while shortstop Mitch Jebb offer plenty of fast-twitch athleticism and will help set the pace of the offense. Cooper Kinney and Vytas Valincius, a pair of South Carolina commits, present a pair of power threats and help round out a talented heart of the order.

What To Watch For: Next Wave of Talent
Jupiter is often viewed as the last big scouting event before player’s senior seasons, though the event has increasingly served as a look into the future as well with big underclass talent scattered around the Roger Dean Complex. The Brewers Scout Team provides a deep look into the future with several talented 2022 and 2023 commits on their roster, though they have a nice balance of 2020 and 2021 commits as well like senior righthander Carlos Rodriguez, a Miami commit, and juniors Michael Braswell, a talented two-way, and California natives Roc Riggio and Maxwell Muncy. Just because this club is young doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be considered a contender for the pool as they look to prove they’re able to compete with anybody, regardless of age.

– Jheremy Brown



Pool M
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 PG Iowa Alec Nigut T500 2020 Reece Beuter T500 2020 Cedar Rapids, IA
 Mets Scout Team/Georgia Bombers Caleb Ketchup 271 2020 Anthony DiMola T500 2020 New York, NY
 Rawlings National Scout Team - Sticks Masyn Winn 35 2020 Ethan Long 72 2020 Merrick, NY
 Scorpions Founders Club Dylan Crews 8 2020 Jackson Nezuh 360 2020 Altamonte Springs, FL

Projected Pool Winner: Scorpions Founders Club
Featuring one of the best lineups on paper, the Scorpions Founders Club enters Jupiter fresh off winning the Florida Qualifier. There are four PG All-Americans who will be suiting up for the Scorps: Dylan Crews, Zac Veen, Michael Brooks and Jack O’Dowd. Brooks and O’Dowd provide some thump from the middle infield while Crews and Veen will be patrolling the outfield and both hitters project to be day one picks in the draft next June. CJ Kayfus also deserves mention as a top 100 prospect in the class while arms such as Jackson Nezuh, Cade Udell, Brody Norris, Josh Allen and Zach Bennett give them a host of options to provide valuable innings. Their games should be heavily attended based on the sheer amount of talent on the roster as the favorites in the pool.
Dark Horse: Rawlings National Scout Team - Sticks
Star power always helps teams advance in Jupiter and the Rawlings National Scout Team has two players in the top 100 who could be in store for a big weekend in two-way prospects Masyn Winn and Ethan Long. Winn is a hyper-athletic middle infielder with excellent defensive chops and a hand cannon for a right arm while Long is a physical corner infielder who excels on the mound. Both are committed to Arkansas. Markevian Hence is a big-time prospect on the mound with excellent arm speed, feel to spin and physical projection. The bats throughout the lineup should provide some thump too and include Seth Sweet-Chick, Morgan Lunceford, Dustin Crenshaw and Ben Abernathy. The Rawlings National Scout Team has a legitimate chance to win the pool and their matchup with the Scorps will be a must-watch contest.
What To Watch For: Draft Bats
With seven hitters ranked in the top 100 for the 2020 class, there is a lot of offensive upside in Pool M. Dylan Crews and Zac Veen are both ranked in the top 20 for the class and both project to be day one picks next spring. Crews has been one of the more consistent offensive forces in the country with plus bat speed while Veen projects to hit for some serious power at maturity with a gorgeous lefthanded swing. Michael Brooks and Jack O’Dowd offer solid tools across the board with a middle infield fit while CJ Kayfus has a smooth lefthanded swing and is a consistent performer. Ethan Long and Masyn Winn have big tools for the Rawlings National Scout Team as previously mentioned and there’s a safe bet that games in Pool M will be well-covered by professional scouts.
  
– Vinnie Cervino



 Pool N

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 AZ D-Backs Scout Team Jacob Berry 104 2020 Wes Kath 396
 2021 Phoenix, AZ
 Florida Burn 2020 Platinum Tommy White 55 2021 Sam Drumheller 500 2020 Sarasota, FL
 Nelson Baseball School
 Cooper Torres 500 2020 Max Dejong 281 2020 Kennesaw, GA
 Team Citius 2020 National Joshua Baez 203 2021 Alex Santos 12 2020 Richardson, TX

Projected Pool Winner: AZ D-Backs Scout Team
The AZ D-Backs Scout Team has a deep and versatile group of position players. They have a physical group that should bang the ball around with Trevor Long, Ryland Zaborokski and Jacob Berry providing plenty of wall-banging power. Hunter Haas and Carson Tucker provide plenty of potential to set the table and are dynamic talents that should be in the middle of everything while playing at the WWBA Championship. 6-foot-8 Nathan Ward has an intimidating presence and will get attention when it’s his turn to take the ball. Wes Kath is a good two-way player that can be relied on out of the bullpen. The rest of the pitching staff has experience and the ability to make a deep run in Jupiter. This is a balanced roster that checks a lot of boxes.   

Dark Horse: Florida Burn 2020 Platinum 
The defending champs can never be ignored. The Florida Burn Platinum roster has a collection of players that just know how to win. The sum of the parts is obvious and the trust in the program and the coaches makes this team extremely dangerous in any tournament the Burn enter.  Perfect Game All-American Mac Guscette and his teammate Vince Smith are savvy veterans that can anchor any lineup. Guscette has a long resume of getting the best out of pitching staffs from his catching position. Underclassman Tommy White has enormous offensive potential and can change a game in a hurry. The pitching staff is well coached and tough as nails. The Burn are just a dangerous group.
What To Watch For: AZ D-Backs' Infield
An infield of Hunter Haas, Carson Tucker and Jacob Berry is going to draw an enormous amount of attention. Haas and Tucker can provide magician-like defensive plays with the ability to gobble up anything hit on the ground to the middle. Berry has a big arm that allows him to make all the plays at the hot corner. Take away the offensive potential, which is vast, and this should be fun to watch them play on the clay together.
– Jered Goodwin



 Pool O
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Canes National Dominic Johnson 92 2020 Maxwell Carlson 48 2020 Fredricksburg, VA
 Home Plate Chili Dogs - Searcy Jett Lovett 500 2021 Dylan Garner 500 2020 Peachtree City, GA
 Premier Baseball Futures 2020 Christopher Bernal 123 2021 Javen Coleman 500 2020 Cypress, TX
 SWFL Nation 2020 Asher Akridge  280 2020 Sammie Sloan 318 2021 Fort Myers, FL

Projected Pool Winner: Canes National
 Coming off a successful summer that featured championship runs at both the 17u WWBA National Championship and 17u PG World Series, a Canes National Team that returns much of that same star-studded roster is poised to make another deep run in Jupiter. The Canes feature one of if not the deepest pitching staff in the tournament with 18 90-plus mile per hour arms and Perfect Game All-American Maxwell Carlson. Other names to watch on the pitching staff will be top-ranked righthanders Jason Savacool and Levi Wells, as well as others including as Joseph Dixon, Drew Dowd and Nick Gorby. Canes National provides one of the deepest and most complete rosters in the entire field and the offensive firepower is nothing to scoff at either. Led by Oklahoma State commit Dominic Johnson, the Canes lineup will feature big bats that include Colby Halter, Joseph Dixon and Eddie Park. If the pitching staff performs to their potential this Canes lineup should be able to score enough runs to win plenty of games throughout the tournament.

Dark Horse: Premier Baseball Futures 2020
 With most of the Premier Baseball Futures 2020 roster coming from the Lone Star State, this group could make some noise following a solid performance at the WWBA South Qualifier. Louisiana State commit Javen Coleman is as competitive as any on the mound, and Nathan Becker and Bryce Lewis join on the offensive side after helping lead their Adidas Baseball team to a semifinal run in Tomball last month. With Becker and Lewis providing the senior leadership, the lineup will also feature PG Underclass All-American Games participants Christopher Bernal and Caiden Huber. Huber is a Southern California commit and the only member of this team from outside of Texas, and he should provide a spark in the order as well as excellent defense up the middle.

What To Watch For: East Coast vs. Texas
In a pool that features teams based in Virginia, Georgia and Florida, Premier Baseball Futures 2020 finds themselves representing the high-level baseball that comes out of the Lone Star State. Loaded with players that have dominated Perfect Game Texas events this summer and fall, it will be exciting to see how they play and compete with the boys from the eastern United States. There is also a lack of familiarity that comes into play here. While teams like Canes National and SWFL Nation 2020 compete against each other throughout the summer and fall, this Premier Baseball Futures team has the opportunity to surprise their opponents in Jupiter. 

 – Nate Schweers



 Pool P
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Banditos Scout Team    Yohandy Morales 21 2020 Xavier Perez 87 2022 Tomball, TX
 East Cobb Yankees James Tibbs III 125 2021 Logan McGuire 218 2021 Marietta, GA
 PRBAHS Sabin Ceballos 68 2020 Agnel Miranda 500 2020 Caguas, PR
 US Elite 2020 National Billy Gerlott 500 2020 Luis Guerrero 171 2020 Duncanville, PA

Projected Pool Winner: Banditos Scout Team 2020
The Banditos’ teams already have an excellent reputation on the PG tournament circuit with competitive teams that always make deep runs with talent from top to bottom. This Banditos Scout Team is no exception with great depth on the mound and plenty of seasoned athletes at the plate that are accustomed to facing top tier opponents. No. 81 overall 2022 Xavier Perez and Baylor commit Cody Howard – ranked 96th overall in the 2020 class – look to lead their strong staff to a deep tournament run. TCU Commit Murphy Brooks will also be a huge contributor to the Banditos’ success on the hill. Their squad is highlighted by No.21 overall ranked 2020 and Miami commit Yohandy Morales who has thoroughly impressed this summer in the infield with his length and present athleticism to his game. Look for the Banditos to get strong tournament performances from top tier bats like Texas A&M commit Austin Stracener and Baylor commit Tre Richardson. This team is solid all around the diamond and is poised to win the pool and make their presence known deep into the tournament.

Dark Horse: East Cobb Yankees
The East Cobb Yankees are one of the younger teams in the tournament with many of their players belonging to the 2021 class. There’s great potential in many of their arms and they bring depth and versatility in their lineup to Jupiter as well. No. 218 overall ranked 2021 Logan McGuire has a solid three-pitch mix with good feel for his arsenal and will need to be on for the East Cobb Yankees as he’s their best arm. They have excellent seasoned hitters such as Florida State commit James Tibbs III and Notre Dame commit Drew Byers. Coastal Carolina commit Brayden Brady Moore will also look to add life to their order with his speed and good hands. On paper this pool feels like Banditos is a heavy favorite to win but East Cobb will definitely surprise with their balance and quality arms as well.

What To Watch For: Unexpected Parity
US Elite 2020 possesses a ton of talent and offensive ability on their roster such as Penn State commit Billy Gerlott, VCU commit Jesse Robinson and Boston College commit Corbin Lanowitz. PRBAHS consists of players exclusively from Puerto Rico and could make a huge splash in the pool with their athleticism, fluidity and swagger. No. 68 overall ranked 2020 Sabin Ceballos will definitely help their lineup when facing deep opposing staffs like the one Banditos Scout Team possesses. There’s potential in this pool for things to get dicey and unexpected between the four teams and look for a team to surprise in this pool. Again, Banditos’ deep staff and potent offense looks to be the clear winner on paper, but baseball is baseball, and there are multiple question marks in this pool. Prepare to see parity and prepare for the Banditos to be challenged.

– Connor Spencer



 Pool Q
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 BigStix Gamers 2020 Trippe Moore 337 2020 Patrick Holloman 260 2020 McDonough, GA
 Canes American Ryan Clifford 6 2022 Myles McDermott 303 2020 Fredricksburg, VA
 Kentucky Baseball Club 2020 Samuel Tackett 464 2020 Jaxson Davis 220 2021 Nicholasville, KY
 San Diego Show 2020 Jordan Thompson 52 2020 Paulshawn Pasqualotto 127 2020 San Diego, CA

Projected Pool Winner: San Diego Show 2020
 Offensively the San Diego Show should be able to hang with anyone, led by a pair of PG All-Americans, the versatile Jordan Thompson and hard-hitting third baseman Kevin Sim. Both players also contribute on the mound, as do a lot of other players on a team that doesn’t have too many (if any) POs (pitchers only). Kyle Casper and Nathan Nankil will provide valuable veteran leadership in the lineup, and the outfield, among the players from the 2020 class. Marcelo Mayer is one of the top-ranked prospects in the nation from the class of 2021 and is one of only two juniors on the roster. Mayer more than held his own batting at the top of the Show order in Georgia during the 17u WWBA National Championship, where the team went a perfect 7-0 in pool play. How the pitching comes together, led by UCSB recruit Joseph Ingrassia and one of the top uncommitted 2020s in the nation, Paulshawn Pasqualotto, will be key for the Show to advance to bracket play.

Dark Horse: Canes American
 You wouldn’t know Canes American is the program’s B team by looking at the number of ranked and committed players on their roster. The team is made up entirely of prospects from the class of 2020, with one notable exception: Ryan Clifford, the sixth-ranked overall prospect in the class of 2022. He’s far from a rental too, as he hit .278 with a memorable bomb at the 17u WWBA National Championship as part of Canes Central earlier this summer. Similar to the San Diego Show, this Canes squad doesn’t have many POs, but the sheer depth of talent is going to make this team dangerous, and while they’re labeled the Dark Horse for this pool, they’re not going to sneak up on anyone.

What To Watch For: Pasqualotto’s Start
As noted above, Pasqualotto is one of the highest-ranked players from the high school class of 2020 that remains uncommitted, which means whenever he takes the mound in Jupiter there is going to be a large crowd watching him throw, consisting of both scouts and college recruiters. He does pull double duty, but it’s on the mound where his upside is greatest, thanks to a well-commanded low-90s fastball and a changeup that he has excellent feel for. In his last two starts at PG events – the 17u WWBA National Championship and 17u PG World Series – he combined to throw 12 innings with 19 strikeouts, tossing a no-hitter in pool play in Georgia and leading the Show to a playoff-opening win in Arizona.

– Patrick Ebert



 Pool R
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Dallas Tigers Jayson Jones
 85 2022 Trenton Shaw 24 2022 Dallas, TX
 Giants Scout Team - FTB Termarr Johnson
 2 2022 Jovan Gill 142 2020 Kissimmee, FL
 South Florida Bandits 2020
 Jayce Blalock
 248 2022 Shep Hancock 497 2020 Stamford, CT
 Team Georgia 2020 National
 Carlos Pena 50 2021 Cade Smith 88 2020 Marietta, GA

Projected Pool Winner: Giants Scout Team - FTB
It is hard to argue if there is another team in the entire event that has more talent than the Giants Scout Team – FTB. With players primarily from the state of Florida, Giants Scout Team – FTB also has an assortment of players from Texas, New York, Georgia, Delaware, California and Puerto Rico. They have the top MLB Draft prospect in outfielder Mario Zabala, the highest ranked player in 2022 shortstop Termarr Johnson and the highest 2021 graduate in the pool in catcher Jayden Melendez. Five players from the Giants Scout Team – FTB are included in the top 100 of the 2020 class and all make up names that will be intriguing to professional scouts evaluating their games. Zabala, Brandon Fields, Grayson Moore and Anthony Shaver are all MLB prospects who will be making up the highly touted outfield and Steven Ondina is the other top 100 player who will surely see time at shortstop for the club.

Dark Horse: Dallas Tigers
The Dallas Tigers enter the 2019 WWBA World Championship with a balanced lineup of 2020 MLB prospects including shortstop Cole Foster and underclassmen in 2021 outfielder Tyler Collins and righthanded pitcher Ryan Johnson as well as a pair of 2022s, lefty Trenton Shaw and third baseman Jayson Jones. The Tigers have six Division I commits along with two Junior College commits and a Division II prospect in Ryan Feddersen. That does not include Jones and Shaw who are each Division I type talents who have yet to make their collegiate commitments. The offense that the Dallas Tigers have at their disposal will be what ultimately carries them through Pool R. With enough consistency from their arms, the Tigers can be a Dark Horse in contending for the pool and it starts with Johnson and Shaw as well as TCU commit River Ridings and Oklahoma commit Hunter Marshall.
 
What To Watch For: Underclass Talent
This pool is absolutely loaded with talent among the 2021 and 2022 classes. Headlined by the No. 2 player in the 2022 class Termarr Johnson, Pool R has an impressive group of upcoming stars. The Dallas Tigers have a pair of highly touted 2022 graduates in lefthanded pitcher Trenton Shaw ranked 24th nationally as well as third baseman Jayson Jones who is ranked 85th nationally. Each team has a top 250 player in the underclass ranks. Team Georgia 2020 National is no different as they boast the top 2021 outfielder in Carlos Pena from New York while the Giants Scout Team – FTB have the highest overall ranked 2021 in FIU catcher commit Jayden Melendez. Finally, the South Florida Bandits have a young 2022 outfielder in Jayce Blalock who is ranked No. 248 per the Perfect Game national rankings.

– Greg Gerard



 Pool S

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 Canes Prospects Alex Mooney 13 2021 Rocco Reid 103 2021 Fredricksburg, VA
 Chicago Scouts Association Tre Hondras 234 2020 Holden Phelps 437 2020 Chicago, IL
 Diamond Devils Talmadge LeCroy 500 2020 Peyton Nelson 500 2021 Mt. Pleasant, SC
 San Diego Padres Scout Team Colt Keith 105 2020 Storm Hierholzer 81 2020 San Diego, CA

Projected Pool Winner: Canes Prospects
Made up almost entirely of 2021 prospects with a select few 2022's sprinkled in, this Canes Prospects team will be one of the youngest teams in attendance, as they are annually. Make no mistake, they're extremely talented, with many players who, a year from now, will be closely followed by scouts in preparation for the 2021 MLB Draft. Alex Mooney, Daniel Corona, Gavin Kash, Daylen Lile and Kurtis Reid are all ranked in the top 100 of the '21 class, while the '22 rostered is ranked in the top 30 of that class, James Triantos. The talent will certainly be on display, and while younger than a lot of the competition they'll face, there's no question that this team is in contention to win the whole thing, as they did just two years ago. 

Dark Horse: San Diego Padres Scout Team
Made up of players from nearly 10 states, the Padres Scout Team truly is nationally-focused, drawing players from all over the country. The ace should be Storm Hierholzer, the No. 81-ranked player in the 2020 class, and he's joined in the pitching staff by Collin Bosley-Smith, Luis Guerrero and Hayde Key, among others, forming a formidable rotation. Offensively, Colt Keith, Roberto Moya, Caleb Pendleton and Justin Crawford should form a strong nucleus of bats, highlighting what is a deep stable of hitters who should create a long, balanced lineup for opposing pitchers to navigate. They should be able to match their pitching up with anyone and certainly are capable of taking this pool. 

What To Watch For: Future Draft 
Much is made of how important Jupiter is on the draft calendar, really the final national event of the summer circuit, which starts with the PG National then runs through the summer with events like East Coast Pro and the Area Code Games. In this pool in particular, while the 2020 grad participants are solid, looking forward to the 2021 and 2022 drafts is especially necessary. The Canes Prospects bring a loaded roster including several potentially high-round picks in 2021 and 2022, while the Padres Scout Team and Chicago Scouts Association also bring down a good amount of those future draft prospects. With more and more major league teams placing an emphasis on building longer histories with players, starting as early as their sophomore years of high school in some cases, the games in this pool should provide an excellent glimpse ahead. 

– Brian Sakowski



 Pool T
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 East Cobb Astros 17u Kristian Campbell 44 2021 Treyton Rank 148 2021 Marietta, GA
 Richmond Braves 2020 National Tristan Shoemaker 136 2021 Trey Gibson 500 2020 Richmond, VA
 Royals Scout Team 2020 Robert Moore 18 2020 Jake Berry 61 2020 Overland Park, KS
 Stix Baseball 2020 Hunter Teplansky 68 2021 Devin Bennett 175 2021 Grapevine, TX

Projected Pool Winner: Royals Scout Team 2020
While they may be based out of Kansas City, the Royals Scout Team features players from across the country with 12 states represent coast-to-coast. PG All-American Robert Moore will be the big draw here both in terms of production and in the eyes of scouts, though this is a team that has high-level talent up and down the lineup. The catching duo of Alek Boychuk and Carter Jensen will split the receiving duties while showing big arm strength and offensive tools to make an impact from the heart of the order alongside bats like Kendall Diggs, Harold Coll and Lukas Cook. Two other bats to watch are Channing Austin and Alex Greene, primary position players who’ll likely pull two-way duty given their abilities on the bump. With six primary arms on their roster, led by lefthander Jake Berry and his low-90s fastball, expect several players to take on multiple roles in Jupiter.

Dark Horse: East Cobb Astros 17u
I don’t think it’s fair to call the East Cobb Astros a dark horse but don’t be shocked if this club comes out of Pool T.  A trio of Kristian Campbell, David Bishop, and Glenn Green will all be in the thick of things offensively as well as defensively, locking things down for their 8 primary pitchers, a group led by Florida State commit Treyton Rank.
What To Watch For: Perfect Game Select Festival Alum
With the fourth year of the PG Select Festival in the books, past participants of the game continue to make an impact on the amateur baseball world and Pool T is no exception. Royals shortstop Robert Moore is the biggest draw of this pool, showing perhaps the best defensive tools in the nation while the continued strength to his offensive tools have had him steadily establishing himself high on draft boards. The East Cobb Astros have a fascinating combo of Select Festival alum in shortstop/righthanded pitcher Christian Moore and catcher Joey Mack, a duo with some of the louder tools in the 2021 class as both show high-level bat speed and top-of-the-class arm strength. Stix Baseball brings a trio of their own in first year participants Jordan Andrade and Yanluis Ortiz alongside TCU commit and junior shortstop Hunter Teplansky, three key pieces to making the offense go while providing pivotal defense around the diamond.

– Jheremy Brown



Pool U
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 All Star Baseball Academy 2020 Michael Bello 165 2020 Shane Panzini 83 2021 West Chester, PA
 D-Bat Elite 2020 Jordan Viars 293 2021 Kyle Williams T500 2020 Rowlett, TX
 Ostingers Baseball Academy 2020 Brock Wilken
 168 2020 Cole Stallings
 327 2020 Lithia, FL
 Padres Scout Team/ECB Brad Grenkoski 96 2020 Dylan Lesko 1 2022 Marietta, GA

Projected Pool Winner: Padres Scout Team/ECB
The Padres Scout Team/ECB has been a consistent performer over the past calendar year and they enter Pool U as the projected winner. They’re well-balanced from both an offensive and pitching standpoint and they have a very deep lineup. The trio of Brad Grenkoski, John Anderson, and Alec Gonzales are all PG National participants and have been the steadying force in the lineup all summer. Joe Mack, Kristian Campbell, and Jared Jones represent some of the truly elite players for their respective classes as all are within the top 50. The pitching has been consistent too with guys like Zach Murray, Andrew Armstrong, and Colin Ahearn putting forth strong performances throughout the summer. The staff also features the No. 1 2022 prospect in Dylan Lesko, whose electric stuff has been well-documented. Padres Scout Team/ECB is an extremely well-balanced team and they have good depth, especially offensively.
Dark Horse: Ostingers Baseball Academy
With Jupiter, it always seems like the teams that have played together for a long time fare better than the scout teams and we saw that with the Florida Burn last year. Ostingers Baseball Academy fits that mold to a tee and they certainly have the talent to take down East Cobb and the rest of the pool. The Florida-based program has had a strong track record of success and they recently finished third at the Florida Qualifier. The offense runs through Brock Wilken who is a legitimate draft talent with one of the better pure bats in the country with good pop and significant upside. He’ll be joined by a number of college commits including a trio of 2022 graduates: Colby Shelton, Ethan Petry and Jack Owens. Cole Stallings is the ace and there are talented arms such as Luis Tyler Misla, Ethan Jones, Bryan Boully and Ryan Fry.
What To Watch For: Talented Sophomores
Pool U features some of the top 2022 prospects in the country and Jupiter can be a huge stage for these underclass prospects. Dylan Lesko will get the ball for East Cobb during the weekend and the No. 1 2022 prospect has a true three-pitch mix, a fastball that lives in the low-90s and a starter’s arsenal. Jared Jones is another top 10 prospect for the class as the two-sport star has massive raw power and recently committed to LSU. Colby Shelton turned heads all summer for Ostingers and the smooth lefthanded swing, along with athleticism and projection, make Shelton a very strong prospect. Ostingers’ Ethan Petry and Jack Owens along with All Star Academy’s Zach Crotchfelt represent three other 2022s who are committed to Division I schools and will be looking to make their mark on Jupiter.

 – Vinnie Cervino



 Pool V
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 CBA Marcucci 2020
 Jake Vogel 55 2020 Brock Selvidge 37 2021 Ontario, CA
 East Cobb Baseball Dylan Cupp 8 2023 Jake Hembree 73 2023 Marietta, GA
 Midland Redskins Triston Horst 26 2021 Kruise Newman 71 2021 Batavia, OH
 Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team Jackson Miller 90 2020 Mitchell Bratt 135 2021 Toronto, ON

Projected Pool Winner: CBA Marucci 2020
There is plenty of firepower in the CBA Marucci 2020 lineup coming to play in Jupiter. Perfect Game All-American Classic outfielder Jake Vogel has mesmerizing speed and should be able to provide a spark at the top of the lineup. Rocco Peppi and Alonso Richardson are sure-handed middle infielders in a very deep infield group for CBA. Ildefonso Ruiz has massive raw power and gives the middle of the order a threat to change the game with one swing of the bat. On the bump Brock Selvidge, Matthew Bardowell and Marc Kenji Pallares make a formidable rotation and can rack up zeros in bunches, which should give the offense plenty of time to get going when they are on the mound. This is a battle-tested group and will play fundamentally sound baseball. All the ingredients are here to make a deep playoff run.

Dark Horse: Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
This is a very tough pool, as you would expect at this event, but the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team has a lot of names that are on the rise. Scout teams need to build chemistry quickly, but if the Blue Jays can do that, they have a deep and talented roster that will be a force during pool play. Southpaws Mitchell Bratt and Mason Miller have upside and swing-and-miss arsenals. Righties Chase Centala and Camden Minacci can be relied upon to get through the lineup more than once and underclass righthander Karl Hartman showed swing-and-miss stuff at the WWBA Florida Qualifier a couple of weeks ago. Jackson Miller and Walter Ahuna III are excellent defenders at their respective positions and should hit near the top of the order. Sterlin Thompson has a sweet lefthanded swing with real run-producing ability. This team has the ability get going in a hurry.  

What To Watch For: Pool Depth 
Three teams in this pool – CBA, Midland and East Cobb Baseball – are titans in the travel ball world. They have long track records of having rosters with highly touted players and an equal track record of winning national championships. The Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team consistently brings players that will get first day attention in the draft and this year is no different. All four teams have legitimate No. 1 type arms, bangers in the middle and solid middle-of-the-field defenders. Every game in this pool will get a ton of golf carts watching through the fences.  

– Jered Goodwin


Pool W
 
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
 East Cobb Astros 18u
 Dylan Strickland 358 2020 Derek (DJ) Radtke 317 2021 Marietta, GA
 LVR 2020 Thomas Dilandri 22 2021 Cayden Castellanos 500 2020 Las Vegas, NV
 Palm Beach Select 2020 Joaquin Monque 500 2020 Sebastian Bentz T1000 2020 Palm Beach, FL
 Reds Midwest Scout Team Mac Horvath 56 2020 Carter Baumler 46 2020 Cincinnati, OH

Projected Pool Winner: Reds Midwest Scout Team
 The Reds Midwest Scout Team will lean heavily on a star-studded pitching staff this year, led by TCU commit and Perfect Game All-American Carter Baumler. The state of Wisconsin will also be heavily represented on the pitching staff as fellow All-American George Klassen leads the group of Tyler Chadwick, Ryan Stefiuk, Benjamin Wiegman, Vincent Trapani and Reece Lawler. Altogether, this Reds Midwest Scout Team will feature nine arms with 90-plus mph fastballs and should be able to give their team a chance to win games throughout the tournament. The Reds Midwest Scout Team is led offensively by Minnesota shortstop Mac Horvath, as well as players such as Brock Daniels, Shea McGahan and Mackenzie Wainwright. After being left out of the playoffs and giving up 25 runs over three games last season, expect this pitching staff that includes many repeat members to play with a chip on their shoulder and look to make a deep run in 2019.

Dark Horse: LVR 2020
 Thomas Dilandri will lead a LVR 2020 lineup that features a plethora of Division I commitments and some serious firepower. Outside of Dilandri, LVR 2020 has some impact players in the lineup, including Emilio Morales, Carson Wells and Garrett Cutting. This LVR 2020 lineup will be littered with quality hitters from the western United States and should be able to test the loaded pitching staff the Reds Midwest Scout Team has to offer. Though this team will only go as far as the offense takes them, LVR has some quality arms on a pitching staff that is anchored by New Mexico commit Cayden Castellanos.

What To Watch For: All-Americans' Growing Draft Stock
 As noted, the Reds Midwest Scout Team is led by PG All-Americans Carter Baumler and George Klassen. Baumler has yet to compete at a Perfect Game event this fall and Klassen is coming off an excellent outing at the Kernels Foundation Championship a few weeks ago. With this being one of the final chances to showcase their stuff before the Perfect Game Iowa Spring League starts in March, it will be interesting to see what these two do to raise their draft stock on amateur baseball’s biggest fall stage.

– Nate Schweers


Patrick Ebert’s Projected Champion: GBG Marucci 2020 Navy
 A West Coast team hasn’t won the WWBA World Championship since the mighty ABD Bulldogs of 2008, a team that included three future big leaguers in Christian Yelich, Nolan Arenado and Tony Wolters. GBG Marucci may not have that kind of star power but they’ve gotten close to the title several times over the last few years. Kevin Parada is a proven big-game performer and there’s enough talented bats, gloves and arms on the roster to make this one of the deepest teams in Jupiter. Getting to the playoffs doesn’t seem to be a problem for GBG, but playing in the championship game is the next step for this team to take.

Gregory Gerard’s Projected Champion: East Coast Sox Select
Boasted by an array of talent from top to bottom with an entire roster of big-time Division I talent, the East Coast Sox are a solid choice of a potential winner for the Jupiter crown. The Sox have two pitchers with quite possibly the hardest fastballs in the event in Charez Butcher and Ryan Bruno as well as several other high-end pitchers and hitters. PG All-Americans Robert Hassell III, Slade Wilks and Bruno are all on the team as well with star-studded talent all over the field. The combination of pitching and offense make East Coast Sox Select a solid choice to win the 2019 WWBA World Championship.

Brian Sakowski's Projected Champion: Royals Scout Team
In a tournament such as this, with as much parity of talent as will be assembled, there's really no such thing as a bad pick when projecting the champion. The Royals Scout Team brings a deep, talented roster to Jupiter next week, both in terms of pitching and hitting, but also in terms of defense and experience. The pitching staff is loaded with Jake Berry, Adrian Siravo, Avery Mabe and Rece Ritchey, among others. The offense will be led by Robert Moore, Alex Boychuck, Lukas Cook, Alex Greene and others to create a formidable and deep everyday lineup that should compete one through nine, and one has a fair amount of game-changing power potential to it as well. 
Jheremy Brown's Projected Champion: Braves Scout Team/Team Elite
While they don the name “Braves Scout Team/Team Elite,” this club has a long history of playing together which is huge in a setting like Jupiter, unlike some other scout teams that are playing together for the first time. Depth on the mound isn’t an issue, led by hard throwing righthanders Nate Wohlgemuth and Ty Floyd while junior lefthander Carter Holton has a long track record of delivering big game performances. A trio of PG All-Americans in top-ranked player Jordan Walker, physical catcher Jack Bulger and athletic switch-hitting Alex Freeland provide a nice core of talent for the offense while bats like Kellum Clark, Parkers Harber and Izaac Pacheco provide power depth very few clubs have to offer. The high-level talent stands out on paper, but the team’s familiarity with one another is just as important as their depth.

Vincent Cervino's Projected Champion: Giants Scout Team - FTB
The Giants Scout Team features one of the most well-rounded rosters in the event along with having shown they can make it to the championship game, something they did two years ago. There is significant depth to their lineup with stars almost everywhere including two PG All-Americans in Mario Zabala and Brandon Fields along with a strong core including Dante Girardi, Anthony Shaver, Bazz Jimenez, Grayson Moore and Steven Ondina. There are standout underclassmen like Termarr Johnson and Jaylen Melendez while the pitching features some power arms led by Jovan Gill. Overall, the pieces are in place for a deep run and they’ll certainly be looking to do so once play kicks off.
Jered Goodwin's Projected Champion: Houston Astros Scout Team 
There is a ton of clay in the pants of this loaded roster. Experience always plays a major role in Jupiter and this group has been involved in a ton high stress innings during Perfect Game tournaments. Many times this event comes down to who limits freebies and the Astros middle of the field is stellar. Catchers Carlos Perez and Alan Espinal have experience handling talented staffs and both have bazookas for arms. An infield of Samuel Infante, Jordan Carrion and huge hitting PG All-American Coby Mayo is as good as it gets. Enrique Bradfield has 6.26 speed and great instincts in center field. Lefthanders Timmy Manning and Nelson Berkwich have been used in many rolls over the years and both have good stuff and are battle tested. Matthew Luna is no stranger to the big stage as he flirted with a no-hitter at the 17u WWBA. A big jump is coming from Nick Vieira who will be a must see arm for the Astros. This team has all the components to take home the hardware.   

 Nate Schweers' Projected Champion: Reds Midwest Scout Team
After a disappointing trip to Jupiter last year, this Reds Midwest Scout Team and core of returners has what it takes to not only make the playoffs but go the distance in 2019. They have impressive pitching depth which is key to a deep run, and last year's experience for guys such as Tyler Chadwick, Mac Horvath and Ryan Stefiuk will give them the lessons and knowledge to maneuver the daunting lineups and high-level arms they will face. Adding PG All-Americans Carter Baumler and George Klassen to the mix will give them just what they need to take home the title.  

Connor Spencer's Projected Champion: Power Baseball 2020
Although many of their top tier hitters are young and some have yet to play in a high school game, Power Baseball’s depth on the mound simply cannot be ignored. With seven D-I commits on their staff as well as four within the top 150 in their respective classes, teams are going to have rough days trying to find offense against them. If Power Baseball’s offense can get hot and find consistency at any point in the tournament, they’ll have a good shot at making a run for the championship. Moreover, they’ll face adversity right out of the gate with BPA 2020 in their opening pool, so if they survive and move on, they’ll be a stronger and more confident squad heading into the playoff rounds.


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