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High School  | General | 3/30/2020

Baumler Taking His Own Path

Photo: Carter Baumler (Perfect Game)

Carter Baumler says Iowa kids are just a little different. Players from there scrap a little more, play with a grit that isn’t seen other places, he says.

Baumler, a Grimes native who attends Dowling Catholic in Des Moines, had his chance to represent his home state on a national stage when he was selected to pitch in the 2019 Perfect Game All-American Classic out in San Diego last August.

He and fellow All-American and Iowa native Calvin Harris reveled in the opportunity to represent Iowa in the event, knowing Perfect Game got its start in the Hawkeye State, just like them.

“The Classic is something you dream about,” Baumler said. “Actually being there, things go by so quick. Thinking back to the game, it’s almost like I blacked out and played it, and then I came back to reality…Building the relationships that we built, being able to still talk to guys now that we’re away from each other is really cool. It felt like a dream.”

Baumler knows the challenges that can come with growing up in Iowa and playing baseball, too. The high school season happens during the summer. His Perfect Game resume isn’t littered with travel ball tournaments that happen between May and August.

That’s one reason he has become a regular in the Perfect Game Spring League, held in recent years in the Cedar Rapids area and now at the new Prospect Meadows Sports Complex in Marion.

For the past three years, Baumler has been one of the top players rostered in the league, which spans the months of March and April.

In each of the past three years, Baumler has also attended the Spring Top Prospect Showcase in Cedar Rapids. It is those events, plus a select number of events he plays in the fall months with the Iowa Sticks, that have earned him the exposure he has been working to achieve.

“Growing up in Iowa, I thought baseball was just a summer sport,” he said. “Once you got to pro ball or college, then it transferred over to spring ball. My freshman and sophomore years I just went about my business and played baseball. Then my recruitment took off in the fall. With Iowa baseball happening during the summer, I learned that recruitment needed to happen during the fall. So the Iowa Sticks really helped me out with getting my name out there…It really came down to doing showcases in the spring and the Iowa Sticks helping me out in the fall, going to different PG tournaments.”

Baumler, who is committed to play at TCU and is the No. 15 righthanded pitching prospect in the 2020 class according to PG, played in his first WWBA World Championship last October in Jupiter, Fla.

Before that, he had made back-to-back trips with the Iowa Sticks to the WWBA Underclass World Championships in 2017 and 2018 in Fort Myers, Fla.

Jupiter was eye-opening for him. Up until a few years ago, he didn’t know that whole world even existed. Then he was playing in the biggest tournament of the year against the best talent in prep baseball.

That includes both prospects from the United States and outside of the country. As a member of the Reds Midwest Scout Team at the event, he got to see that firsthand.

“It was my first time seeing all those scouts and the golf carts,” Baumler said. “It was a great experience. All of the high-end talent from across the country and some other countries were there. I had a kid from Cuba on our team. It almost felt like professional baseball…Everyone there benefitted from it.”

There have been prospects from Iowa and Wisconsin who have decided to forego their summer high school seasons to instead play on the travel ball circuit. Jarred Kelenic, a Waukesha, Wisc. native and sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft, made that decision.

Baumler considered it. But ultimately, the chance to win a state title with Dowling Catholic in the biggest classification (4A), while competing in the most talented conference in the state, was too enticing.

On top of that, he knows playing in the PG Spring League and attending PG showcases will do plenty to get his arm in front of scouts.

The talent in the PG Spring League this year was higher than ever, with a number of top prospects rostered and the depth of talent better than ever. Scouts in attendance were able to see plenty of talent from all over the Midwest in one place.

“I get to see high-end players,” Baumler said of the PG Spring League. “Spring League gives guys a challenge, whether that’s swinging or pitching. It really prepares you for a [summer] season or showcases where you’re going to be facing high-end, talented players. You get to see those guys’ reactions, too. Those talented players, they’re on your fastball a little more. If you hang a curveball, they’re going to be on it.”

PG Spring League was suspended along with every other sporting event in the country a few weeks ago, so Baumler isn’t able to see that competition right now.

He’s doing everything he can to keep a normal routine. Playing catch almost every day, throwing bullpens when he can, getting in his lifts. He is hopeful he can head back over to Prospect Meadows in a few weeks and continue his work in the PG Spring League.

If not, he will shift his focus to winning a state title with Dowling.

“Right now I’m continuing everything I’ve been doing,” Baumler said. “I’m throwing two bullpens a week…I’m just going to keep going from there, playing as much catch as I can, which is almost every day, and staying true to my workout plan.”




High School | General | 8/17/2026

Scott Wins MVP Two Ways

Jim Salisbury
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PHILADELPHIA – When the folks at Perfect Game reached out to invite him to pitch in the 2026 PG All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors, Cullen Scott had one request. “You mind if I get a couple of at-bats, too?” Along with his dad, Scott traveled from the family’s home in Texas to Citizens Bank Park. The trip proved to be a huge success as he starred on the mound and at the plate and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Scott, 16, pitched a scoreless first inning and struck out two. In the fourth inning, he belted a grand slam six rows up into the left-field seats to lead the National team’s 6-1 win over the American team. “He showed us why he’s here as a pitcher and a hitter,” said Greg Sabers, PG’s vice president of scouting and showcases. "He’s one of the top pitchers here, but he’s too good a...
General | Blog | 9/21/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 68

Ron Wolforth
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Are You Fixated on the Wrong Variable? Why Pitch Count Alone Was Never Going to Prevent Arm Injuries   You know a family this happened to. You might be one. They did everything right. They followed the pitch count. They honored the rest days. They tracked innings. They sat him when the chart said sit. They were the parents who spoke up when a coach wanted one more inning in a bracket game. And he got hurt anyway. I've been working with throwers for a long time, and that conversation is the one I have quite often… A parent sitting across from me genuinely bewildered because they followed the rules and the rules did not work. They usually assume they missed something. Most of the time they didn't. They managed exactly what they were told to manage. The problem is that what they were told to manage is one variable out of four.   The Uncomfortable Part First   Throwing...
Draft | Story | 9/19/2026

2027 Draft: Prep Demographic Breakdown

Ryan Miller
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The 2027 MLB Draft cycle is still in its early stages, but the overall makeup of the class is beginning to come into focus. With the first version of our Top-100 board out, we took a closer look at positional demographics from both college and prep players within the class.  Let’s kick things off with a deep dive into the prep class.  Prep Right-Handed Pitchers  Top Ranked Players: George Ferguson, Abilene (TX) | Brogan Witcher, Liberty (CA) | Ethan Gustus, Roseville (CA) | Cullen Scott, Melissa (TX) | Striker Pence, Corona (CA) | Samir Mohammed, Tampa Jesuit (FL) Potential Sleepers: Brennan Neal, Brookstone (GA) | Andrew Carlson, Trinity Classical Academy (CA) | Calum Andersen, Vauxhall Academy of Baseball (CAN) | Gavin Henderson, Boiling Springs (SC)    High speed look at the FF-CH from '27 RHP George Ferguson (TX)... #PGAAC @Texas_PG...
Tournaments | Story | 9/18/2026

Northeast Qualifier Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Another day, another Gavin Greene (‘28 GA) barrel as the @AuburnBaseball commit is now hitting well over .500 on the event #NEQ<ahref="https: pg_scouting?ref_src="twsrc%5Etfw'">@PG_Scouting @PG_Georgia https://t.co/Lf6G8AExjB pic.twitter.com/LFMueYHMxB</ahref="https:> — Perfect Game Mid-Atlantic (@PGMidAtlantic) September 14, 2026 Gavin Greene (2028 Alpharetta, GA) played a major factor in AZ Diamondbacks Scout’s Championship run, finishing his weekend with a .528 AVG and 7 RBI. The 5-foot-11, 175 pound Auburn commit was simply a hit machine regardless of who was on the mound, showcasing the ability to handle velo with ease and repeat the stroke at a high level. Starting from a narrow and upright, slightly open base, Greene does a great job of working directly to the point of impact with consistent hard line drive impact to the pull side of the field. He...
Juco | Rankings | 9/18/2026

JUCO Impact: Top 100 D1 Transfers

Troy Sutherland
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With the season upon us, let's take a minute to look at 100 of the biggest impact players who played at the JUCO level last year and have since transferred to a D1 program for the upcoming spring.  RK Name JUCO in 2025 DI in 2026 1 Ryan Bradford Johnson County TCU 2 Carson Bailey McLennan Texas Tech 3 Kameron Yearsley John A. Logan  Oklahoma 4 Holden Pantier Walters State Georgia Tech 5 Caden Davidson Gaston Florida 6 Anthony Quigley Northwest Florida Oklahoma 7 Walt Jones Weatherford Kansas 8 Colin Coonradt Johnson County West Virginia 9 Collin Smith Cochise Kansas 10 Ned Frutchey Sac City Arkansas 11 Hayden Blair Walters State Georgia 12 Parker Ishee Co-Lin Oklahoma 13 Coy Clements Pearl River Florida State 14 Griffin Rardin Shelton State Alabama 15 Jordan Martinez Gulf Coast State Florida State 16 Noah Bentley Weatherford Oklahoma 17 Kole Fenton Walters State North Carolina...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/17/2026

PG Softball Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase

Ashley Mears
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Perfect Game Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase 2026 Indianola. IA Ashley Mears What started off a perfect weather weekend, unfortunately was cut short due to thunderstorms mid-morning on Sunday. In the 18u Division, the Iowa Gold Prospects and the Midwest Speed National Kotzmacher were undefeated. In the 16U Division, 515 Fastpitch Twogood and Iowa Premier Gold- Brower. The tournament featured a ton of solid hitters and pitchers from across the state and Minnesota. Even with the poor weather on Sunday, there was still plenty to see and write about! 18u Division Lexi Adams (2028 Ankeny, IA), a catcher for Iowa Gold Prospects, had a stellar weekend at the plate. Behind the plate, Adams shows strong command of the game and does an excellent job working the zone, using her framing ability to consistently give her pitchers a chance to earn borderline calls. At the plate, Adams starts from a...
Tournaments | Story | 9/17/2026

South Underclass Qualifier Scout Notes

Geoff Billock
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Cole Marquardt (2029, Montgomery, Texas) left no doubt this weekend as he came home with Tournament MVP honors for his work with Banditos 2028 Black. Went 7-10 with a double, a home run, a pair of triples, and the walk off single in the championship game. Projectable left-handed swing with plenty of tools to dream on. Bat to ball was on point all weekend and he had plenty of chances to show off an advanced run tool. Plenty to dream on moving forward. Callen Corley (2028, Houston, Texas) put together a stellar two-way performance for Houston Wildcatters Navy 2028. At the plate, he went 5-10 with a double, triple, and home run, driving in seven runs. Sinks into his lower half well and creates strong angles for leverage. Plenty of power upside remaining in that frame, to go along with the twitch already present. On the mound, Corley went four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while...
Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Midwest Labor Day Classic Scout Notes

Brayden Powell
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Ryan Jones (2027, Tinley Park, IL) was one of the most productive hitters of the weekend, collecting six hits, including three doubles and a home run, while driving in nine runs. The left-handed hitter consistently got the barrel out front and created hard contact throughout the event. Working from an open setup with high hands, he features a compact swing that allows him to get to the ball quickly. His hand speed stood out and helped him drive the baseball to multiple parts of the field. Jones showed a strong understanding of pitches he could handle and rarely missed opportunities to do damage. The swing remains efficient through the zone and produces carry off the barrel. His combination of consistent contact and extra-base impact made him a key offensive contributor all weekend. Uncommitted  JP Elbert (2027, Dubuque, IA) put together an impressive tournament, finishing with five...
Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Southeast Qualifier #1 Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Walk. It. Off! ‘27 IF Drew Giles (GA) calls game here as he hammers a ball over the CF wall for a solo HR to win it in the bottom of the 7th. #FLQualifier pic.twitter.com/YrzspVZzUY — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) September 12, 2026 Drew Giles (2027, Brunswick, Ga.) took home MVP honors from the weekend after hitting .385 including a walkoff home run during pool play. Giles helped lead his Canes team to victory and did so with the bat. The swing is super short and simple and he gets immense jump off the barrel. It’s a level path through the zone but the blend of hit and power showed out all weekend for the MVP.  August Backman (2027, Venice, Fla.) had a solid weekend on both sides of the ball: hitting .333 over three games and also sitting 88-91 mph on the mound. Backman, a Florida commit who is nationally ranked, has a three pitch mix highlighted by a really...
Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Fall World Series Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
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Joseph Mosley 2028, Hendersonville, Tenn.) showed the upside all weekend for Southeast Rawlings Mad Mavericks. The right-handed hitter starts from a medium stance with in-line feet and a low handset with a low back elbow, utilizes a low leg lift stride. Creates separation in the back shoulder with strength through the hands into a flat bat plane and line drive lift in the swing. Stays balanced throughout the swing and showed the feel to use the whole field. The outfielder has an athletic, strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame with more gap-to-gap type power to be unlocked. Collected four hits, including two triples, to drive in an RBI and came around to score three runs. Exciting player with two-way upside. On the mound the right-handed pitcher went two innings in relief with three strikeouts and spread three hits and three walks for one earned run. The fastball ran up to 87 and paired it with...
Tournaments | Story | 9/15/2026

California Champions Cup Scout Notes

Steve Doherty
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Zain Valdiva (‘28,CA) with an absolute nuke! 💣 https://t.co/oCCIuVeNFQ pic.twitter.com/xK9sirEk64 — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) September 11, 2026 Zain Valdivia, 3B, La Quinta, CA. ZT National (2028) Physical, right-handed hitter with present strength through the lower half and a frame that already looks the part of a corner infielder. He gets into his legs and stays connected through contact. The swing is aggressive and long through the zone with real extension out front. The ball jumps off the barrel and the power is present, Primary third baseman. Moves well enough for his size with some lateral quickness and a strong arm across the diamond. Two-way value exists; the fastball has been up to the upper 80s, 90, but the bat is the reason to follow him. Noah Paek (‘27,CA) with another solid hit cashing in 2 RBI. Kid plays with infectious energy....
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