THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,801 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,801 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
General  | General | 4/22/2020

Best of 7 Series: Midwest

Nate Schweers
Photo: Ed Howard (Perfect Game)

Each segment of the Best of 7, 10-part series has been assembled by one of PG’s scouts. The idea of this exercise is to put together a team with the best amateur players from 10 different regions from across the country in an attempt to win a seven-game series. The players are not necessarily the top prospects in each state/region, but those that have consistently proven they have what it takes to win consistently at a high level. Which region would win such a series? Stay tuned to Perfect Game and join us @PerfectGameUSA to chime in.

Best of 7 Series: Florida | Pacific | Southeast | Texahoma | Southwest

Midwest Region: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin

Dillon Dingler 

Ranked as a top 50 MLB Draft prospect for 2020, Dingler has cemented himself as one, of if not the top, backstop in the Midwest region. Dingler was hitting .340 when his 2020 campaign came to a halt, hitting five homeruns and driving in 14. The Buckeyes catcher has high-end athleticism and a history of hitting at a strong clip during his college career. With big numbers and experience, Dingler is an easy choice to captain the field for this Midwest team. 

AJ Vukovich

Though Vukovich finds himself slotted at first base on this Midwest region team, the Wisconsin native and 2019 PG All-American certainly provides some versatility to the lineup. The Louisville signee has shown the ability to play both corners in the infield and outfield in the past and has even taken the hill in some PG events. Vukovich is a sub-7.00 runner and has a strong combination of power and defense that can make an impact anywhere. 

Jack Blomgren

Blomgren and his fellow Michigan teammates bring a unique and important experience to this team, a trip to the College World Series. Blomgren hit .314 in that 2019 CWS campaign, fielding at a .965 clip and knocking in 47 RBI. Blomgren has long been a name to know dating back to his high school days and the Wisconsin native earned All-Tournament Team honors in some of PG’s most marquee events. 

Ed Howard

The No. 1 shortstop in the 2020 class, Howard is as polished as they come for a prep infielder on the defensive side of the ball. The Oklahoma signee has plenty of twitch with lightning fast hands at the ball and can be quite the table-setter near the top of the order. Howard has a career .429 on-base percentage in his PG career and brings balance and athleticism to the lineup. 

Zavier Warren 

Warren has flown up draft boards after a pair of really strong seasons at the hot corner for the Chippewas, earning MAC Player of the Year honors in 2019 and looking like he was well on his way to another All-MAC selection in 2020. Warren can really defend at third base but has made the most noise with the bat as he hit .363 in 2019, driving in 68 RBI and getting on base at nearly a .500 clip. Warren’s bat plays in any lineup and is an excellent middle-of-the-order type game changer. 

Grant Richardson

Richardson has long been known in the PG world dating back to his high school days as a top-250 prospect in the 2018 class. Richardson broke out in a big way in 2020, hitting .424 in the limited sample size while driving five homeruns and plating 17 RBI. Richardson can defend in the corner outfield and it is clear that the 2020 PG Honor Roll player can really swing it in the meat of the order. The Fishers, Indiana native will add some juice to an already stacked lineup. 

Levi Usher

Usher made his presence known in the Louisville lineup this spring, batting .411 with a pair of homeruns and double-digit RBI. A 2017 PG All-American, Usher has elite-level, sub 6.5-second speed and stole 11 bags in 12 attempts this season. Usher has always showcased a big-time arm from the outfield as well and could play any of the three outfield positions. Usher’s combination of speed and athleticism makes him a great candidate to hit near the top of any order. 

Christian Knapczyk

A secondary outfielder that defends well anywhere on the diamond, Knapczyk has long exceled in PG events during his high school career. Most recently, Knapczyk earned All-Tournament Team honors at the WWBA World Championship after hitting .389 for the Cangelosi Sparks. The Plainfield, Illinois native shines on the big stage and adds some versatility to the lineup with his speed and defense. The Louisville signee can be a great table-setter to turn over the lineup. 

Ryan Hampe 

A Freshman All-American in 2019 with Illinois-Chicago, Hampe picked up right where he left off with John A. Logan CC in 2020. A strong kid with a very present hit tool, Hampe was hitting .413 with four long balls and 24 RBI during the shortened 2020 season. Hampe puts together quality at-bats in nearly every trip to the plate and has the juice to knock balls to and through both gaps. Signed to attend Illinois in 2021, Hampe provides exactly what you’re looking for out of the DH spot. 

Alex Binelas

A Wisconsin native and the 35th round selection of the Nationals in the 2018 MLB Draft, Binelas provides plenty of versatility and experience to this Midwest team. After finishing his PG career ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Wisconsin, Binelas got acclimated to the college game quickly. The lefty hit .291 with double-digit homeruns and nearly 60 RBI in his freshman campaign and provides some serious juice to any lineup. 

Alex Mooney

One of the top players in the 2021 class as whole, Mooney has performed at every stop in his PG career. The Duke commit has the ability to play all three infield spots, runs well, and has really started to incorporate some power into his game over the last 12 months. With big arm strength and serious feel for the game, the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s product adds depth to any team as well as the ability to be plugged into the lineup nearly anywhere. 

Reid Detmers

Detmers is one of the top lefthanders at the collegiate level and features arguably the best pitch in the college game with his big curveball. Detmers went 3-0 in four starts in 2020, posting a 1.23 ERA and striking out an eye-popping 48 hitters in just 22 innings of work. Detmers serves as the pitching staff ace, competing with consistency and with his experience pitching in the ACC as well as College World Series action, Detmers is a no-brainer to lead this Midwest pitching staff. 



Jeff Criswell

Like Blomgren, Criswell brings experience in Omaha to this Midwest squad. An integral part to the Wolverines’ run in 2019, Criswell brings both starter and reliever experience to what should be a loaded pitching staff. Criswell did a little bit of everything for Michigan in 2019, going 7-1 with three saves on his way to a 2.72 ERA for the year. With his big game experience and big-time stuff Criswell adds some versatility here. 

Kyle Nicolas

Though his season stats aren’t glamorous to the naked eye, Nicolas has the stuff and experience to dominate on the mound in a seven-game set. The Ohio native finished his PG career ranked as a top-500 prospect in the 2017 class, taking the mound for Ohio Elite and cementing himself as a top prospect in the MAC from day one. Nicolas has had command issues at times in his Ball State career but the strikeout numbers certainly stand out as does his big time fastball.




Ben Hernandez

A 2019 PG All-American from Chicago, Hernandez has clean and repeatable mechanics that fit a solid starter profile on this team and at the next level. Ranked as the No. 40 player in Perfect Game’s 2020 class, Hernandez can run the fastball up to 94 mph and has really shown an ability to pitch at a high level in his last two PG events while showing one of the best changeups in the class. Though the Illinois-Chicago commit didn’t get a chance to really impress with his stuff in his 2020 high school season, the All-American is a no-brainer to add some youth to this pitching staff. 

Logan Wood 

Another member of Michigan’s loaded Orchard Lake St. Mary’s team, Wood has long dominated the PG circuit during his prep career. The lefty from Macomb, Michigan really knows how to pitch from the left side and is perfect for a left-on-left matchup in this seven-game series. Wood did not allow an earned run at PG Tournaments in 2019, striking out 19 in 16 innings of work and allow less than one baserunner per inning. 

Mason Erla

Erla was off to one of the hottest starts in country in 2020, posting a 1.04 ERA in 26 innings during the shortened 2020 campaign. A 2016 grad from Cass City, Michigan, the right-hander has good size and athleticism to go with stuff that has really made a jump in 2020. With plenty of experience, the Spartans ace has a high K/9 and low walk totals that provide some stability to this Midwest Region pitching staff. 

Luke Seed 

The second member of the top ranked John A. Logan team to make this Midwest team, Seed turned in an extremely impressive line in 2020. Seed struck out 50 hitters in just a shade under 29 innings in 2020, compiling a 4-0 record in his six starts. Ranked in the preseason as the No.  142 JUCO prospect in the country, Seed brings strikeout stuff and a history of winning to this pitching staff, adding value in late game/big situations. 

Evan Shawver

The Bearcat’s Friday night starter was off to an impressive 2020 when COVID-19 put a halt to the season. Shawver posted a 1.59 ERA and 2-0 record in his four starts this season, striking out 35 in his 22.2 innings while holding hitters to a just a .128 batting average. Shawver has pitched against big opponents in his career and took a strong outing deep into a start in Tallahassee just this past February. 

Garrett Acton

A 35th round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, Acton has been a staple in the Illini bullpen over the last two years and has cemented himself as one of the top closers in the Midwest. Acton has made 36 appearances at the Division 1 level, gathering 25 saves and posting a 1.82 ERA. In any seven-game set, back end pitching can be the key to securing victories and therefore, Acton provides the experience, skill set, and statistical history to lock down victories for this Midwest group. 
Give us your feedback
General | Blog | 12/10/2025

Youth Baseball Exec. DeDonatis III Joins PG
Jim Salisbury
Article Image
Youth Baseball Executive Don DeDonatis III Joins PG By Jim Salisbury  It’s free-agent season in baseball and Perfect Game has landed a big one. Don DeDonatis III joined PG as a consultant in November. The DeDonatis name is synonymous with youth baseball and softball. Along with his dad, Don Jr., DeDonatis helped build USSSA into a big hitter in the game. He brings decades of experience and knowledge to PG. “We all acknowledge that Donny has moved on from USSSA,” PG CEO Rob Ponger said. “This is a new chapter for him and we hope both sides take advantage of it to help youth sports in general. “The DeDonatis name has a legacy attached to it and we’re hoping that Donny is going to help us. PG is a growing brand and he’s on board to help.” DeDonatis was CEO at USSSA from 2018 until his exit from the company two years ago. “I’m...
Read More
High School | General | 12/24/2025

2025 Year In Review: High School

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
IMG Academy Takes Home the National Title Every year IMG Academy comes into the spring with top-to-bottom one of the top rosters in the country and every year have the expectation of winning the national championship. Well in 2025 they did just that after finishing the spring 24-1, winning the High School Showdown, and winning 15 straight games to end their season. Their high end offensive ability was on full display throughout the year and they will once again be one of the most talented teams in the country in ’26 as they look to go back-to-back. Two Top-10 Picks in the MLB Draft Headline National Players of the Year It was another loaded crop that took home the National Players of the Year as both Ethan Holliday, the National Player of the Year, and Seth Hernandez, National Pitcher of the Year, heard their names called within the first-10 picks in the MLB Draft. Another first...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 12/24/2025

Top 2027 Collegiate Draft Prospects

Isaiah Burrows
Article Image
With the 2025 cycle officially behind us and the calendar nearly flipping over to 2026, it is time to start looking ahead to the future. More importantly, start looking ahead to the next season of college baseball and what that may mean for draft-eligible players with big dreams of continuing their journey. While the 2026 MLB Draft is now on the horizon, we are looking ahead to the future even further – to see which players have already made impacts upon their arrival to college campuses. We have already dropped our 2028 Top 75 collegiate prospects board, but this one is our Top 100 college prospects who will be eligible for the 2027 class. These are the Top 100 players in our eyes for this group, and many of them have already shown up on campus and been impactful in many ways. Whether its our top-ranked player in Oregon State’s Dax Whitney or ninth-ranked William Schmidt...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 12/23/2025

Top 2028 Collegiate Draft Prospects

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
The college players in the 2028 draft class have yet to step on campus, but they're positioned to make an immediate impact. Several high end talents either turned down significant money last year or honored strong college commitments, resulting in their arrival on campus this fall. The class is currently led by a trio of high-upside arms in Jack Bauer, Angel Cervantes, and Cameron Appenzeller. They are followed by a deep group of bats that rounds out a strong, high end Top-10. Rk. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State 1 Jack Bauer C LHP L-L Mississippi State Frankfort IL 2 Angel Cervantes C RHP R-R UCLA Lynwood CA 3 Cameron Appenzeller C LHP L-L Tennessee Springfield IL 4 Brayden Jaksa C C R-R Oregon Fremont  CA 5 JD Stein C SS R-R Wake Forest Carmel IN 6 Mason Ligenza C OF L-L Pittsburgh Brockton PA 7 Ty Peeples C OF L-R Georgia Lavonia GA 8 Lucas Franco C SS L-R TCU Katy TX 9...
Read More
Juco | Story | 12/23/2025

2025 Year in Review: JUCO

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Looking Back at the 2025 Top 10  Matt Barr (‘25 Niagara, ‘26 Minnesota Twins) Bursting onto the scene last winter, footage of an indoor bullpen rocketed Barr onto the radar of many. Explosive fastball reaches near triple digits with incredible spin numbers across the secondaries. Huge numbers at Niagara earned him the title of the first Juco player drafted in 2025. JC Vanek (‘25 Chipola, ‘26 Kansas City Royals) Just a professional hitter. Vanek for two years at Chipola was an impossible out. While there are questions if the power will ever reach what it takes to play first base at the big league level, the bat and quality defensive skillset at first base may carry. Donovan Becerra (‘25 New Mexico, ‘26 Texas Tech) One of the more high octane arms anywhere in the country last year. Can reach back for upper 90’s and has shown serious swing and...
Read More
Draft | Story | 12/22/2025

2025 Year in Review: Draft

Isaiah Burrows
Article Image
2025 Year in Review: Draft We’ve reached the end of the 2025 calendar year, and while we’ve already jumped in on the 2026 cycle with some of the fall events and post-draft content we’ve had here at Perfect Game, there’s still one more piece on the docket, and that’s the 2025 Year-In-Review piece here from the PG Draft staff.  The 2025 MLB Draft took place in July, when many highly talented players heard their names called and continued their journey through the game to the next level. There’s already been some of those names making noise in the minors and guys who are moving up prospect lists and becoming names to know for MLB fans digging deep into the future of their organizations. While we are going to “close the book” on 2025 with this article, these players still have many years ahead of them, and many blank pages to continue...
Read More
College | Recruiting | 12/22/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 22

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
Lucien Saint Cyr, INF, Class of 2026 Commitment: Bucknell Saint Cyr announced his pledge to Bucknell, giving the Bison an interesting blend of present tools and projection. Saint Cyr stands 6-foot-1 and offers room to fill in his medium frame, profiling in the middle infield defensively. The New York product starts wide at the base in the right-handed box, keeping his hands high behind the ear. He works into a subtle outward step load, firing through a compact barrel that showcases bat speed and gap-to-gap impact. For head coach Scott Heather and Bucknell, they land a high-quality Northeast infielder in the ’26 cycle, adding to a class that takes the quality over quantity approach. Patrick Diaz ('26, NY) 102 EV off the bat. Impact to the pull side. #PGNational @PGMidAtlantic @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/NN0L3FRdO9 — PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) July 9, 2025 Patrick Diaz,...
Read More
High School | General | 12/19/2025

Huntington Beach HS World Series Recap

Steve Fiorindo
Article Image
MVPitcher: Duncan McLeod The uncommitted junior toed the slab in three of the four games for Team Mick, tossing 3 2/3 innings.  Zero walks, zero hits and 6 punchouts for the lefty who was used both as a starter in the series clinching game 4 and he closed out game 3 on Friday in quick fashion.  McLeod was very efficient as well, needing just 42 pitches over all his outings.  In the game 4 start, over two innings he punched out 3, with one strikeout with all of his offerings.  The mid 80’s fastball regularly played up, set up with efficient use of the secondaries, with the breaking ball 73/74 and fading change-up 72-74.   Owen Bone (2026) at it again... Solo shot in the 5th to tie things up. Back to back days with a home run for Bone. #PGHS pic.twitter.com/2JC9qETI5h — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) December 13, 2025 MV Hitter: ...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/19/2025

13u Tourney All-American Team

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
What a year it was in 2025 on the national landscape at the 13u level as Perfect Game continues to expand its reach around the country, providing an even bigger schedule of events coast-to-coast which has allowed players all over show out and gain their deserved recognition. Whether in Texas for the Houston 1000 or the 13u WWBA in West Palm Beach, we saw huge, eye opening performances from the players placed below, knowing that we could EASILY build a third team and likely a fourth without much effort.  As we do every year with this exercise, it's worth pointing out the trickiness of this age group and putting the teams together with the 13u group. While the players are all members of the Class of 2030, some are younger for the grade, which allowed them to play at the 12u level where's it's a smaller field, shorter mound distance and different bats, so we'll separate them out and...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/18/2025

14u Tourney All-American Team

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Player of the Year: Asher Williams It was an incredible year for Williams that was rewarded with a trip to the 14U Select Fest, before some more impressive play in the fall. He came to the plate almost 250 times in PG tournaments throughout 2025 and reached base in well over half of them, hitting to a .500 AVG while slugging a 14U circuit best 12 bombs and driving in 113 runs. The numbers on the surface are ridiculous, but when you look at the high-level events he put them up in, it makes it even more impressive. Pitcher of the Year: Tristan Blalock Blalock earns this honor after a dominant 2025 where he struck out 85 batters in just 48.2 innings of work with a minuscule 1.58 ERA. This included several strong performances at many national level tournaments and showcases where he was able to bully some of the best hitters in the country. It’s hard not to fall in love with...
Read More
Draft | Story | 12/18/2025

PG Draft: Gut Feel Guys

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
While we are nearing the turn of the calendar to the 2026 year, that means we are just inching closer to the beginning of the season for many high school players and college baseball is on the horizon. We are prepping for a reshuffle of the 2026 MLB Draft Board as well here amongst the PG Draft staff. But before we get to that, we sat down and have each picked a couple of players who are in the mix to get selected in a couple of different buckets.  We have prospects who could go into the Top 30 picks or so, prospects who could be selected in the Top 5 rounds, and prospects who could go inside of the Top 10 rounds. With the draft quite far down the road and a lot of re-shuffling to be done as these players play themselves into certain spots on the draft board, our scouts picked some players who fit into these “buckets” who are gut-feel guys. These are the guys that our PG...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2025 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.