THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General | 2/21/2020

Bulger all-in for senior season

Jeff Dahn
Photo: Jack Bulger (Perfect Game)

Mid-Atlantic Region Preview | High School Preview Index

There has been change at the top of the baseball program at DeMatha Catholic High School in the form of a new coaching staff, a turn of events that can often produce both excitement and anxiety in equal measures.

In DeMatha’s case, however, it seems to be a lot more of the former than the latter, and there’s a simple reason for that. While there has been a changing of the guard at the top, the players – especially one in particular – are going to be very recognizable to the DeMatha faithful when the Stags get out on the field for the first time early next month.

First year head coach Steve Miller, a 1981 DeMatha Catholic grad, and his top assistant Mike Toomey, are in the early stages of constructing a 2020 roster that could feature more than a dozen seniors who saw playing time as juniors last season.

And none will be as important to the team’s success than 2019 Perfect Game All-American catcher Jack Bulger, a dynamic 18½ -year-old prospect who is heading into his final season of high school baseball.

“We have a new coaching staff this year … and it’s a really cool, new culture,” Bulger said when speaking with PG over the phone earlier this week. “I also feel like we have a lot of really solid players with a lot of depth … and I think everybody’s just itchin’ to get outside and get the season started; we’re just really excited.”

While the Stags may or may not get outside at home in the very near future they have a very reliable back-up plan. The team will be leaving for Vero Beach, Fla., on March 4 where they’ll play as many as four scrimmage games during what Bulger described as a spring training trip. They’re scheduled to open the regular season against Archbishop Spalding in Severn, Md., on March 10.

DeMatha wasn’t included in the Perfect High School Preseason Top 50 National Rankings but it is on the cusp. The Stags are the No. 2-ranked team in the PG HS Mid-Atlantic Region behind only national No. 43-ranked Chapin (S.C.).

This is a deep and talented team that can proudly proclaim the ultra-talented Bulger as the face of the program. The 6-foot, 205-pound Vanderbilt signee is the No. 28-ranked overall prospect in the national high school class of 2020 (No. 1 Maryland) who last summer became only the fifth Maryland prep to earn an invitation to the PG All-American Classic; he is the second from DeMatha Catholic, joining Anthony Russell (2004).

What bodes well for the Stags is that Bulger won’t be the only highly regarded senior taking the field for DeMatha this season. He’ll be joined by outfielder/middle-infielder/right-hander Alex Greene, a Virginia signee ranked Nos. 97/3 and catcher/right-hander Blake Badman, another Virginia recruit ranked Nos. top-500/4.

Outfielders Jake Maske (Mount St. Mary’s, t-1000) and Donovan Teel (South Carolina-Aiken, t-1000), infielder Brendan Munnelly and catcher/third baseman James Holladay all played in at least 21 of the Stags’ 31 games last season as juniors.

“At the top with a lot of these kids, we’re close friends and we’ve been playing together for eight years, probably,” Bulger said. “We’re all just really close and we’ve been playing together for so long … we all get along with each other really well. I’m just excited to get out there and compete with them.”

Bulger and Greene – named members of the 14-player PG HS Mid-Atlantic Region Dream Team by PG VP of Player Personnel David Rawnsley – are especially close; both played on the varsity as freshman. They also attended the same elementary and middle schools before landing at DeMatha and there were occasions when they played on the same summer travel ball teams.

“I’ve been around him for as long as I can remember; it’s just kind of cool,” Bulger said of Greene. “We train together too … and obviously we hit together at DeMatha. I’m always around the kid; it’s awesome.”

Badman is a prospect who Bulger described as “kind of a late bloomer” who put together a strong junior season that carried over to a very productive summer on the PG circuit while playing with the WWBA World Championship runner-up Dirtbags.

“He’s just a really good player,” Bulger said when asked about Greene. “He ended up (signing with) Virginia, which caught us all by surprise, even Alex because he’s going to UVA, too. We were all just really happy for him and I’m excited to see what he has in store for his senior season.”

A varsity starter since he was a freshman in 2017, Bulger was never able to keep his considerable talents from plain view (why would he want to?). According to statistics published on MaxPreps, he hit .340 with team-highs of five home runs and 22 RBI as a ninth-grader and .298-4-38 as a sophomore, playing in 33 games both seasons.

Those numbers took a quantum leap last season during his junior campaign when he slashed .545/.660/.896 (1.556 OPS). He was 42-for-77 at the plate with five home runs, three triples, six doubles, 28 RBI and 28 runs scored, while also stealing 25 bases, all in 30 games. It ranks as an absolutely monster season by any measure or metric.

DeMatha Catholic, which is located in Hyattsville, Md., just minutes northeast of Washington D.C., is a member of the nationally prominent Washington Catholic Athletic Conference  (WCAC) and winning a WCAC championship is the Stags’ number-one goal every year.

They have reached the WCAC finals each of the last three seasons, only to come up short in best-of-3 series against D.C.’s St. John’s College HS all three years. DeMatha finished 23-10 in 2017, 19-14 in 2018 and 18-13 last season; St. John’s was 30-3 in 2019.

“The top of the league is always really, really strong and St. John’s has kind of been the top dog the last few years,” Bulger said. “I feel like we’ve had the same if not better talent than them all three years, but they’re just really, really consistent. They’re a very well-coached ballclub and really hard to beat if you don’t play your ‘A’ game.”

Bulger’s PG career was an extensive one, as he was able to parlay the success he enjoyed playing on the high school fields in and around the D.C. area into even more success playing on MLB-quality fields in Florida, Georgia and Arizona.

He attended 22 PG events and was an all-tournament selection in 11 of 19 tournaments. The last five selections came while he was playing with Georgia-based Team Elite in 2017-18, and two of those were at the PG WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. Bulger was also named the MV Player at the 2017 PG BCS 15u National Championship and was part of three PG tournament championship teams with Team Elite.

The summer of 2019 was an especially memorable one. He got it started at the PG National Showcase held at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix in mid-June and was able to turn an outstanding performance out there in the desert into an invitation to the PG All-American Classic, played at Petco Park in downtown San Diego in mid-August.

“Going out in the summer and competing against the best high school baseball has to offer, it’s just a great experience,” Bulger said. “When you come home, nothing can really get past you because you’ve faced all these great arms and you’ve competed against the best.”

Bulger has signed to play his college ball at defending national champion Vanderbilt which he said became his “dream school” after watching the Commodores win the College World Series championship in 2014. He became a big fan of the way Vandy head coach Tim Corbin manages the ballclub and the staff he has assembled around him, and once he made his official visit, he was sold.

But as much as Bulger loves Vanderbilt and as much as he might be looking forward to the college baseball experience, he may never step foot on campus again. He is considered a top prospect in the upcoming MLB June Amateur Draft , so it’s possible pro ball may be his next stop after DeMatha.

“I’m definitely keeping both doors open,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot to get me away from my Vanderbilt commitment … but I’ve gone through the whole process of learning about both sides of the argument this offseason after the summer I had.

“Honestly, once the (high school) season starts I just kind of want to forget about all of that stuff and just go out and enjoy my senior year.”

The entire DeMatha Catholic experience – both on the school’s baseball field and inside its classrooms – has been “incredible” Bulger told PG, and he feels like he owes a debt of gratitude to every one of the coaches, teachers, teammates and classmates he interacted with during his four years there.

He is also sincere when he speaks about the excitement he feels as his final high school season approaches. He doesn’t have one negative word to say in regard to DeMatha’s previous coaching staff but it’s obvious he is looking forward to playing for Miller and Toomey, both of whom have been around the game for decades at both the professional and amateur levels. And, his expectations for 2020 couldn’t be any higher.

“I think we’re going to get a good sense of who this team is once a few games happen and once our pitching staff gets worked out,” Bulger said. “All of our new coaching staff are baseball lifers; our head coach and our assistant coaches have been around the game forever, and it’s just a really good group and really good mix. It should be really fun, and hopefully we can come out of the season with a  WCAC championship and as few losses as possible.”

Change can be a good thing but sometimes, it’s been said, the more things change the more they stay the same.
Give us your feedback
High School | Rankings | 11/4/2026

Class of 2027 Rankings Risers
Kyler Peterson
Article Image
Complete Class of 2027 Rankings With the end of the summer and fall seasons behind us, it was time for a quick refresh of the 2027 class rankings. Below you'll be able to read about some of the biggest risers up the board, led by North Carolina outfielder John Hucko who jumped more than 110 spots to now sit at No. 20 overall.  John Hucko, OF, Charlotte, N.C. Previous Rank: 132 | Current Rank: 20 Hucko makes a huge leap into the top-20 players in the class after a dominating showing in Jupiter. It’s as good of a left-handed swing as you’ll come across with pretty easy impact to all parts. He’s a supreme athlete with all the tools to play center long term and is a present plus runner. Hucko is a name that cemented his prospect status in Jupiter and will be a name to follow for next year’s MLB Draft. Elyjah Mason, SS, Lake Forest, Calif. Previous Rank: 71 |...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 11/8/2026

14u National All State Scout Notes: Day 1

Tyler Russo
Article Image
2031 C/OF Jace Winston (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) had a really nice day at the dish as he picked up a couple hits in his first game, both well-struck, and then launched a bomb in game 2. He’s one of the more physical players here who can really impact the baseball already, and the consistency in which he’s hitting this fall is a great sign going into 2027. 2031 SS/RHP Weston Stalls (Blackstock, S.C.) came in for a couple innings of relief on the day and showed off the arm talent running the fastball up to 87. It’s a fast arm and he generates real life to the fastball, while the breaking ball is a good pitch as well.   ‘31 SS Parker Smith (NC) went 3-for-3 to open the weekend, this a line drive single the other way. 6’2/140 & can accelerate the barrel already, intriguing projection. #NatAllState @PG_Coastal https://t.co/Z7C5kDGdIM — Perfect Game...
Read More
General | General | 11/6/2026

Class of 2028 Rankings Update

Article Image
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 11/6/2026

National All State Preview: Week 1

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
This weekend, teams from all around the country in the 10U, 12U and 14U divisions will converge on the Houston area for the 2026 PG National All-State Select Championships. The 10U division will have 22 teams, 12U will have 23 and 14U will have 22. All ages have many different states represented - from Hawaii, to the Pacific Northwest, to Arizona, to New England, to Carolina to Florida and many more. “National All-State brings together the best players in the country across Houston,” national crosschecker and northeast scouting director, John McAdams, said. “It’s a fun atmosphere for ultimate bragging rights amongst all the regions the PG platform reaches domestically while serving as a good litmus test for myself, Jheremy Brown and Tyler Russo to see the players. We get another glimpse at the end of the year as we start to formulate our initial thoughts on the...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 11/6/2026

2027 MLB Draft Board Update: Top 200

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
PG Draft Content Hub With the fall season winding down and the winter months approaching, it is time for another draft board update.  After getting more live looks and gathering information from the fall action across the country, we have expanded the board to a Top-200. The class continues to feature an intriguing mix of arms from both the prep and college ranks, along with an enticing position player pool.  There is still plenty of time for new names to emerge and established prospects to continue to improve their draft stock, but here is where things stand as we head into the winter.  * denotes draft eligible sophomore Rk. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Dylan Seward H SS S-R Norco Eastvale CA Tennessee 2 Brendan Lawson C SS L-R Florida Toronto ON 3 Dax Whitney C RHP R-R Oregon State Blackfoot ID 4 Tomas Valincius C LHP L-L Mississippi State...
Read More
College | Story | 11/6/2026

College Fall Notebook: November 6

Craig Cozart
Article Image
Virginia Cavaliers  2026 In Review:  Under the leadership of first year Head Coach Chris Pollard, the Cavaliers won 37 games which was the second most victories by a first-year coach in program history.  Virginia went (37-23) finishing tied for 8th in the ACC and earned an at-large bid to the Hattiesburg Regional.  They fielded a talented offense that averaged over 8-runs per game, highlighted by AJ Gracia and Eric Becker who were both selected on Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft.  While the defensive squad wasn’t quite as elite as usual, they were ultra-competitive on the mound with a strong rotation and lock down bullpen.  With plenty of talent returning for Pollard and his staff in ’27, they should be a force on a national level once again.  Impact Returners:    Senior Antonio Perrotta (.266/.459/.431, 5 HR, 6 2B, 24 RBI) experienced...
Read More
General | General | 11/5/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 70

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
That Off-Season Program Wasn't Built for Your Son. It Was Built for Nobody. The Harsh Reality of Skill Development · Part 2 of 5 Somewhere right now, a pitcher is starting a twelve-week off-season program. It came from his travel team. Or a trainer. Or a big leaguer's Instagram. It has phases and a logo, and every kid in the building got the same one. Here is the harsh reality. That program was written before anybody looked at your son. It doesn't know he exists. It was built for the average pitcher... and the average pitcher does not exist. A Template Fixes Somebody's Problem. Maybe Not His. Every pitcher who is stuck is stuck for a reason. We call that reason his constraint... the thing that is actually limiting him right now. For one kid it is strength. For the next it is mobility. For the next it is a mechanical inefficiency, or an arm that isn't recovering, or a body that...
Read More
General | General | 11/5/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 69

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
Your Son's April Arm Injury is Being Scheduled Right Now   The Harsh Reality of Skill Development - Part 1 of 5 Let me start this series with something most people in baseball won't say out loud. In my experience, a great many of the arm problems we will see next April are being set up right now... in October, November and December. Not necessarily because a young pitcher is throwing too much. Often it's because of what happens when he stops. Here is the pattern. I have watched it for more than thirty years. The fall season ends. The arm is tired, so the family does what seems like the responsible thing.  They shut it down. No throwing. For a lot of kids, no anything. Weeks go by. The holidays come and go. Then somebody looks at a calendar in January and realizes tryouts are three weeks away. Suddenly, an arm that has done nothing since October is asked to go from zero to game...
Read More
General | General | 11/3/2026

Class of 2027 Rankings Update

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 11/2/2026

PG Partners Up with Minority Prospects

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES MEDIA RIGHTS PARTNERSHIP WITH MINORITY PROSPECTS   Sanford, Florida (Monday, November 2, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a media rights partnership with Minority Prospects, the Atlanta-based organization that has become the largest platform in the world for minority baseball and softball prospects. The partnership kicked off last month at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla., Perfect Game's premier fall event, where Minority Prospects produced content featuring some of the nation's top amateur players in front of college coaches, professional scouts and MLB legends. Under the agreement, Minority...
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.