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Showcase  | Story | 12/15/2021

FAQ Showcase Questions: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
Pre-Showcase FAQs Part 1

For many heading into their first Perfect Game showcase, there’s an element of the unknown for players and families as they simply haven’t experienced an event in a showcase setting before. In part 1 we looked to answer some frequently asked questions and provide players and families as much information as possible heading into the event. In part 2’s installment, we take a look at what to expect once the showcase is underway, what our scouts are looking for, and how to maximize your exposure throughout the weekend among your peers. The final piece, part 3, will break down the metrics every player will accumulate throughout the weekend from all parts of the showcase. 

With the addition of Prospect Gateways (13U/14U) to the Perfect Game showcase schedule, players now have the opportunity to attend at a younger age, post a baseline of numbers and watch their progress over the years. Whether it’s a Prospect Gateway or the National Showcase with 300 of the top rising seniors, the structure of a Perfect Game showcase remains the same, providing continuity from one event to the next. Each segment of a Perfect Game showcase is used in each player's evaluation by our scouts, from the 60-yard time to their performance throughout drills and the live action portion of the event.

This article will answer the most popular question, “what are scouts looking for?” It’s a rather simple question but the answer is not. Scouts are looking at a variety of factors throughout the event.



There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to scouts as “talent is in the eye of the beholder” and two seasoned scouts may see different things evaluating the same process. Below is a brief process of what goes into every aspect of a Perfect Game showcase and what we have seen and been asked many times by players and parents. 

All players start by running the 60-yard dash and while notes may not be taken, every time is recorded along with their 10-yard split time, allowing a quick snapshot of their athleticism and twitch. From there we move into the workout portion of the event and that’s where we can begin to break down “what scouts are looking for.” 

It’s worth noting that a player’s overall potential and what our scouts project long term is factored into all aspects of a player’s performance and evaluation. 

Outfielders: Starting in right field, players will make two throws to third base and three throws to home plate, putting their arm strength on display. One of the first things we notice is how a player fields, moves to the baseball and whether they have proper footwork on the approach, while working through their release. Both their arm speed, arm action, the release point, accuracy and carry on flight are evaluated. All of these traits, along with arm strength, can result in a beautiful throw to the intended target, checking a lot of boxes in this drill setting. 

Infielders: The PG showcase method: One ground ball at the player, two to the backhand, one forehand up the middle and a charge play on a slow roller, all from shortstop. That means we want to see your footwork, moving to the backhand, how you maintain balance and if you can turn the glove over cleanly. Does this player show lateral range, can they throw on the run or off balance? One thing we see throughout the country during showcases are players who take a few extra steps to load up for the radar gun and while that can help post a big number on your profile and show your raw arm strength, it’s not how you’d play in a game setting and takes away from your true actions. That said, still show off your arm strength as it’s a critical tool in the evaluation process, just don’t sacrifice your actions in doing so! Like any position on the field, accuracy is important. While big arm strength is impressive, without accuracy it isn’t very usable in a game setting. 

First Basemen: While the attention is on the infielders at shortstop during their drills, their throws across also allow us a quick look at the first basemen with how they adjust to throws mid-flight, their flexibility, as well as their glove skill when it comes to picking balls out of the dirt. When it comes time to fully evaluate the first basemen, we get a further look into what we already saw while adding a couple pieces to the puzzle. We look to see how they move on their feet away from the base, how they pivot when making the throw to second base and of course their arm strength, carry and accuracy to the intended base. First basemen will work through a sequence of five ground balls: the first two they play deep and showcase their arm strength to third base, then play one deep to turn a double play, hold the runner on and start a double play before standing even with the base on a slow roller charge play to third base.

Catchers: The drills provide our first look at catchers and an important one as we get to see their mechanical profile for five throws down to second base whereas in live action we may only see one or two at best. That means game-like actions, pace, and mechanics are important in evaluating. Setting up behind the plate as one would in a game during drills is critical in the evaluation process. While starting with a higher set behind the plate or partially turned with shoulders and hips pre-pitch will help quicken your pop time, the prospect isn’t showcasing their true actions which our scouts make note of. Non-game actions can result in having a higher pop time during drills but that is factored into the evaluation process by our scouts and thus the defensive grade may not fall in line with the recorded pop time. Within those five throws scouts are looking how the ball is received, the cleanliness and quickness of the transfer into throwing hand, footwork, athleticism and overall flexibility, as well as their release, arm quickness and of course arm strength, carry and accuracy down to second base. 

•            When it comes to working out at a position, showcase where you envision yourself playing at the next level. Don’t tire your arm out at a secondary position just to show arm strength and ultimately take away from your performance at your primary position.

What do scouts look for in pitchers?
•            The first thing associated with pitchers more often than not is velocity but that’s just one piece of the puzzle in the total evaluation process. Our scouts look at everything from body type, to mechanical operation and arm action, ability to replicate movement patterns and release point, mound presence, command and control, feel for secondary pitches, overall pitchability and much more. Just because a pitcher doesn’t light up the radar guns yet doesn’t mean the player won’t catch our attention, especially at the Prospect Gateway events, as no two pitchers are the same in terms of development, both physically and on the diamond. 

We’ve seen players who are near physical maturity working upper-80s or better but don’t have the ability to harness within the strike zone and they may get the same overall PG Grade as a long and loose, projectable arm working in the low-80s but shows command of the zone and the makings of quality off-speed pitches.

•            If you’re a two-way prospect but a primary pitcher first and want to work out from a position during the drills portion, you can request to pitch on Sunday so that you aren’t getting your arm hot for drills and then cooling down until game time. 

What are the Perfect Game scouts looking at in batting practice?
•            Every player will get 10 swings during their round of batting practice while switch-hitters will get six swings from each side. Just like pitchers, there are a variety of things we look at for every batter aside from the obvious, which in this case is the result off the barrel. The mechanics are evaluated during batting practice, looking at whether they can repeat them, how their balance is, and how will it translate against live pitching?

•            All the components of a swing are broken down as well, from the hand load to timing trigger, length of swing and overall bat speed, whether there’s extension out front and the ability to square the ball up regularly. Of course, these are just some examples before getting into the overall results. In a wood bat setting, it’s understood that some players may not be able to impact the ball yet. They can still show ability to the barrel while squaring up eight of their ten balls and as the player grows stronger, it’s only a matter of time before the ball starts jumping. 

•            How does the ball jump off of the barrel? Can the player work to all fields with authority or intent? Is there present power and do the swing mechanics foreshadow power to come?

Why is your Perfect Game profile important? 
•            Think of your PG profile as a baseball resume of sorts with college coaches being the job interviewer. Often when a name is passed to a college coach the first thing they do is pull up a player’s profile, review the metrics, and watch the video. This is another reason why showing your true actions, fundamentals and arm strength are important as they will be on your profile for all to see. SHOW YOUR ACTIONS, SHOW YOUR ARM, PLAY YOUR GAME! 

What are things Perfect Game scouts are looking at during live game play?
•        Live play is important as we get to see how the drills portion translate into game play. How’s the first step quickness of the infielder, can they adjust to the ball, how are their overall instincts, how does an outfielder track off the bat, can the catcher frame and present pitches all around the zone, how are their throws down to second base with a batter in the box? It also gives us plenty of looks at a player’s game swing, how they can adjust to off speed, do they have an approach/plan at the plate? While players get to showcase their speed at the start of the showcase during the 60-yard dash, scouts also mark down times from home to first, seeing how the speed translates down the line for 90 feet, so run out those ground balls!
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Showcase | Story | 6/4/2026

Soph. & Junior National Arrive in Georgia
Hannah Jo Groves
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This weekend will kick off the 2026 PG Junior National Showcase with the Sophomore National Showcase following close behind. Both in Marietta, Georgia, these showcases will feature lots of top-50 talent along with the ever-present potential for lesser-known players to turn heads.  For the Junior National Showcase, starting on June 6, 7 of the top 10-ranked players will attend - No. 2 Colin Anderson, No. 3 Cullen Scott, No. 4 Carter Shouse, No. 6 Aiden Kearney, No. 8 Keelan Zumwalt, No. 8 Landon Bonner and No. 9 Theo Swafford.  Anderson won’t have to travel far to attend, coming from Acworth, Georgia. At last year’s Sophomore National Showcase, he impressed scouts with his calm approach and explosive bat speed. Scott, a right-handed pitcher and third baseman from Melissa, Texas, has shown his arm strength getting up in the 90-mph zone....
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Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 6/25/2026

MLB Draft Reports: 200-299

Michael Albee
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2026 MLB Draft Reports: 300-399 | 400-500 200. Hudson Devaughan, RHP, Mooresville HS R-R, 6-4/195, Mooresville, IN College Commitment: Alabama Hudson Devaughan features a projectable frame at 6-foot-4, 195-pounds. The fastball works up to 96 mph with more to come. It is thrown on a downhill plane. A sharp curveball pairs well off of it and can miss bats. A cutter and changeup round out the pitch mix, but still need to be refined.  201. Cole Stokes, RHP, Florida State R-R, 6-6/230, Redondo Beach, CA Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Cole Stokes is an imposing 6-foot-6 arm with loud stuff too. The fastball works in the upper-90’s with sink. It is paired with a sweeper that can miss bats at a solid clip. Significant command issues will need to be addressed in order for the potential plus stuff to play more consistently.  For more on Stokes, read his college report...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/25/2026

PG Stars Over Florida Showcase 18U Division

Erica Beach
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PG Stars Over Florida Showcase 18U Division Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026   CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 18U division where multiple athletes stood out.     18UDivision   Oakley Riley (2027, SS/UTL, Dade City, FL) of the Lady Bombers- Bowling was a standout player all weekend. She is an athletic and versatile athlete who is a great combination of speed and power. Offensively, this right-handed hitter has an...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/25/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
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17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 An extended look at '27 LHP Connor Salerno (NC)... #WWBA @PG_Coastal https://t.co/A7OLjivIFW pic.twitter.com/rEA9pMizg8 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 25, 2026 Connor Salerno (2027, Indian Trail, N.C.) looked his usual self, dominant, in his one inning of work on Wednesday afternoon. The big-bodied southpaw got the ball in a short relief outing and continues to show why he’s ranked as the #1 pitcher in the class. The fastball has explosive life out of the hand and comes out easy, working in the 93-95 range, up to 96 mph once. He rounds out the mix with a firm slider in the mid-80s along with a changeup in the same velo range with arm-side fading action. The Mississippi State commit is a proven strike thrower with premium stuff and is one of the highest follows of the summer for professional scouts. Grant Sperandio (2027, Houston, Tx.) was...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/25/2026

The Winning Edge

Kinley Kitchens
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Gulf Coast Edge has continued to build momentum in championship play this week, advancing behind a combination of timely offense, strong pitching, and contributions throughout the lineup. After grinding out a 4-3 victory over Canes American 14U to open bracket play, Gulf Coast Edge followed with a dominant 13-1 playoff win against Knights Baseball 14U National to secure their spot in the tournament bracket. The team features nationally ranked talent throughout the roster, but its recent success has been fueled by players embracing their roles and finding ways to contribute in key moments. Two players who embody that balance are outfielder Brayden Nims and fellow outfielder Nolan Richardson. Nims has helped lead the charge offensively as Gulf Coast Edge has advanced through the bracket. One of the most highly regarded players in the country, ranked No. 9 overall nationally and the No. 4...
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College | Rankings | 6/25/2026

College Top 25: Final Update

Vincent Cervino
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With a postseason run for the ages, the Oklahoma Sooners (43-23) took home the National Championship and naturally finish the 2026 season as our No. 1 team in the land.  It is the third national title for the Sooners, playing in their 12th CWS and making their fourth championship series appearance.  They add to previous national titles won in 1951 and 1994 and did it by taking the most difficult path of any team in this year’s tournament.  In the NCAA Tournament, Oklahoma took down national seeds, No. 2 Georgia Tech twice, No. 3 Georgia twice, No. 5 UNC twice, No. 7 Alabama and No. 15 Kansas twice.  This was the second time that head coach Skip Johnson has led the Sooners to the CWS Championship Series since 2022 and the first time he has taken home the crown.  The North Carolina Tarheels (54-14) was one win away from their first national title and finish...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/24/2026

ZT Finding and Maintaining Momementum

Kinley Kitchens
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When the summer season arrives, every team is searching for momentum. For ZT National Prospects, that momentum has come from throughout the lineup. After clinching their spot in bracket play with back-to-back victories, including a 16-0 win over Team Elite Scout 14U Black and an 8-0 victory against Hawaii Elite 2G 14U Black, ZT National Prospects have continued to showcase why they entered the week as one of the premier teams in the tournament. The roster is loaded with talent, including six players ranked among the top 50 players nationally in the 2030 class, but the team’s success has come from much more than individual achievements. In the opening bracket game on Tuesday, nine different players drove in runs as ZT National rolled to a 16-run victory. The balanced offensive attack continued in the playoff game, with six different players recording RBIs in an 8-0 win that helped...
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High School | General | 6/24/2026

No Luck Needed for the Shamrocks

Cam McElwaney
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The spring has come to a close and with the summer in full swing, it’s time to crown a National Champion for the High School season. The Trinity Shamrocks out of Louisville, Kentucky had an incredible year and finished the season winning back-to-back state titles, more impressively finishing on a 24 game winning streak. The spring was filled with dominant performances from the Shamrocks, led by PG All-American Grayson Willoughby who turned in a dominant effort in the state title game, a game in which they won 12-0. They played a rigorous schedule that saw them go 2-2 at NHSI including a win over St. John Bosco (CA) as well as a win over Tampa Jesuit (FL), both of which would go on to win state titles in powerhouse baseball states. The accolades don’t stop there as they posted six no-hitters across the spring as well as 21 shutout victories, making this one of the more...
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High School | Rankings | 6/24/2026

High School Top 50: Final Update

Tyler Russo
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With the high school season being in the rearview mirror and the summer circuit firing on all cylinders at this point, we bring to you the Final High School Top 50. The familiar faces still litter the top-50 in this update we get to crown a National Champion in Kentucky’s own Trinity. They rattled off 24 straight wins to claim their second straight state title. The 2026 spring saw the Shamrocks saw them dominate in-state competition as well as beat top level talent from out of state including wins over state champions from California and Florida. It was a tough decision at the top with Trinity (KY), Tomball (TX), and Aledo (TX) all vying for the crown along with a St. John Bosco (CA) team that just made it back-to-back Trinity League titles as well as CIF-Southern titles. Magnolia Heights (MS), Norco (CA), South Walton (FL), Harvard-Westlake (CA), Stoneman Douglas (FL), and Keller...
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Press Release | Press Release | 6/24/2026

PG & Doubted Athletes Team Up

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  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 DOUBTED ATHLETES   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new media rights partnership with Doubted Athletes that will bring select Perfect Game games and events to audiences throughout the year.   Under the agreement, Doubted Athletes will broadcast a slate of select Perfect Game contests from across the organization's national schedule, providing expanded visibility for athletes, teams and events while delivering additional opportunities for fans, college recruiters and professional scouts to follow the next generation of baseball...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/24/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
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‘27 TWP Koa Romero (LA) pumping fuel early in the outing & already has 4 K’s thru 2 IP. Up to 95, mostly 91-93 & comes out easy. Spins it with conviction at 80 (~2800 RPM) & also showing mid-80s CH. Highest level two way talent. #LSU commit #WWBA @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/QenpvDvFTT — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 23, 2026 Koa Romero (2027, Des Allemands, La.) has just been flat out dominant on the offensive side throughout the summer circuit thus far, already collecting five homers through 12 games. However, on Tuesday he had the two-way ability on full display in a dominant four inning start for the East Coast Sox 2027 Franchise. The 5-foot-10, 225-pound two-way player ran the fastball up to 95 mph and it comes out of the hand easy. He pairs that with a nasty curveball at 80-81 (2800+ RPM) and mixes in a firm changeup to left-handed hitters....
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