THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General | 3/25/2020

Hopeful Harris ready to dive-in

Jeff Dahn
Photo: Calvin Harris (Perfect Game)

A year ago at this time, Perfect Game All-American catcher Calvin Harris was ratcheting up his game while on the way to an MVP season playing in the long-running Iowa-based PG Spring League (PGSL).

And he had actually gotten one weekend of play in at the start of this year’s PGSL season before all team sports activities across the country were brought to a halt by the novel coronavirus global pandemic.

It’s a difficult, uncertain time for everyone, even for an 18-year-old athlete like Harris, an all-state performer in both baseball and football at Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, Iowa.

With the PG Spring League now suspended, Harris is doing his best to stay in baseball-ready shape. He’s treating the hiatus as an extended offseason, which involves weight-lifting four days a week, and hitting and throwing six or seven days a week.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has faced criticism in the past for sanctioning only a summer baseball season – the first legal day of practice for the 2020 season is May 4 – but in this case the state might actually be ahead of the curve.

Harris is missing out on the PGSL but he’s staying busy and keeping things positive while holding out hope that he will still be able play his senior season of high school baseball.

“I’m feeling good,” he told PG during a telephone conversation last week, speaking from his home in the small northeast Iowa town of Peosta because his school has been shut down. “I’m just hoping we can get out on the field as soon as possible.”

Fields of play, both the baseball and football versions, have proved to be a comfortable home for Harris. Playing at an athletic 6-foot-1, 200-pounds on the diamond, Harris possesses a strong left-handed swing, a strong right-handed arm and legs that can propel him to a sub-6.7-second clocking in the 60-yard dash.

He is ranked the No. 81 overall national prospect in the 2020 class and No. 2 overall in Iowa behind only PG All-American right-hander/third baseman Carter Baumler out of West Des Moines Dowling Catholic HS.

An Ole Miss signee, Harris participated in nearly 30 PG events between the summers of 2015 and 2019 and stood out at each one. A 6.68-second runner in the 60 with a 92 mph arm, he has been included on seven PG showcase Top Prospect Lists, including at both the 2018 and 2019 PG National Pre-Draft.

He doesn’t play much travel ball because of Iowa’s summer high school season, but was named all-tournament at three fall events, including at the 2017 PG WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla

One of the crowning achievements of Harris’ PG career came early on when he was invited to take part in the inaugural 2016 PG 14u Select Baseball Festival in Fort Myers, Fla., which included 40 of the top 14u age-eligible players in the country. Harris smacked a two-run single in the West’s 3-1 victory over the East and was named the game’s MVP.

He was one of a half-dozen 2019 PG All-Americans who also played in the Select Festival, and he said that being a part of both events did feel a bit like coming full-circle.

“Coming in first before my freshman year in high school (at the Select Fest) and then before my senior year in high school there at the end, it did kind of feel that way,” Harris said. “It was really kind of neat to see that develop and get that phone call (for the Classic).”

The 2019 spring, summer and fall sports seasons were especially gratifying for Harris, as he emerged as one of the top athletes in the state of Iowa.

It started in the spring when Harris was named the MVP of the Iowa Spring League – it was his second ISL season – while playing for Iowa Select 2019 Sole/Frazier, the league champion. He then attended the PG National Pre-Draft Showcase in Cedar Rapids where he earned Top Prospect List recognition, which in turned earned him an invitation to the PG National Showcase in Phoenix.

“The National Showcase was unbelievable, and it was pretty eye-opening to see all that talent from across the country,” Harris said. “I met a lot of really good guys and I learned a lot from some really, really good, intelligent coaches. I thought it was a tremendous experience all-around. …

“You can build relationships that will last a lot longer than the game of baseball will for you,” he added. “That’s really special because you can learn a lot from that, too; it’s just really neat.”

The 2019 Iowa high school season was already about two weeks old when Harris attended the National Showcase and once he re-joined his Western Dubuque teammates he was really ready to go. He played in 40 games for the 32-10 Bobcats – they lost in the quarterfinal round of the Iowa Class 4A state tournament – and slashed .408/.593/.709 with seven home runs, 10 doubles, 40 RBI and 19 runs scored.

Harris’ next and last baseball stop in 2019 was at the PG All-American Classic in San Diego, where he was joined by 50 other top class of 2020 prospects for the nationally televised prep all-star game. That experience was also second-to-none for the talented athlete and this time it served as a springboard into his senior football season at Western Dubuque. And what a season it was.

The team’s quarterback, Harris led the Bobcats to the Iowa Class 3A state championship with a perfect 13-0 record. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,246 yards and 29 touchdowns (only two interceptions) and rushed for another 12 TDs; he was named The Cedar Rapids Gazette’s Player of the Year.

“Words can’t describe it, to be honest with you,” Harris said of the thrill winning the state championship brought. “It was really special for us and the neat thing was that we had a whole community behind us all season – that’s what small-town football is all about.”

It’s worth noting that the Bobcats played for a football state championship in 2018, too, but lost in the title game. Harris, who also started at quarterback as a junior, suffered a concussion in that game but didn’t think twice about returning to the football team for the 2019 season.

“I love the game of football,” he said. “I’d do anything to get another shot out there.”

That said, Harris has no plans to play football at Ole Miss for new coach Lane Kiffin. Instead – depending, of course, on what happens with the MLB Amateur Draft – he’ll do everything he can to help head coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels’ baseball program.

“The biggest thing for me (about Ole Miss) is the people they have in the program; they have phenomenal people,” he said, specifically citing coaches Bianco, Carl Laffery and Mike Clement. “Those guys were all catchers, too, so that was really great and they’ve been churning out some tremendous catching prospects. …

“The types of people that they invite to be around their program are first-class people and that was really special for me,” he added. “And then the atmosphere, the fans, were unbelievable; it’s second-to-none.”

As a youth, Harris played some shortstop and first base, and even did a little pitching, as well, but he’s been a primary catcher since he was a seventh-grader. So here he is, both a catcher and a quarterback, two of the most important positions in two very different team sports.

“(When catching) you’re involved with every play and, yeah, you’re kind of the quarterback of the baseball team; I just love it, everything about it,” Harris said before noting that there aspects of the two positions that translate well with one another.

“The big thing is learning leadership. Especially in football, being the quarterback, you really have to direct everybody and let everybody know what’s going on. And the same goes with baseball. So the biggest things are leadership and communication.”

Leadership and communication skills have worked well for Calvin Harris and he looks forward to being able to exhibit those solid character traits throughout whatever transpires during the remainder of 2020.

The PGSL may have been suspended but there is still a chance his senior baseball season at Western Dubuque HS will be played. There’s still a chance he could hear his name called whenever Major League Baseball decides to hold its Amateur Draft and he can still anticipate being in Oxford, Miss., for the start of classes at Ole Miss in the fall.

In the meantime, Harris will continue to do what he does best, and that’s to keep working hard toward achieving his goals. And make no mistake, those goals are still firmly in place.

“Keep your head down and keep working and keep getting after it,” he said, “and hope that some opportunities pop up and we can get back out on the field.”
Give us your feedback
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans
Tyler Russo
Article Image
High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 7/3/2026

Initial 2026 All Star Game Roster Reveal

Article Image
We are excited to announce the first selections for the 2026 PG All Star Game from both the Perfect Game Junior and Sophomore National Showcases. The PG All Star Game will be held on Friday, August 14th at Citizens Bank Ballpark, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and will feature roughly 40 of the top players, predominately from the 2028 class with a few of the very best 2029s also selected. A watchlist has been created from the Junior National Showcase and another group of players will be selected from that showcase towards the end of July as we continue to evaluate players at the major Perfect Game tournaments this summer. The final wave of selections we be made at the PG Underclass All American Games August 5-7 at the UCSD in San Diego, CA. PG Underclass All American Games   Junior National Selections Dexter McCleon Jr. OF Suwanee, GA USA Prime Cullen Scott RHP/3B Melissa,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
Article Image
Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
Article Image
JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
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.