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2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
College  | Story | 7/8/2020

8 For Omaha

Photo: Doug Nikhazy (Ole Miss Athletics)

Let’s be frank: it feels incredible to be thinking about the 2021 College World Series right now!  These way too early predictions are precarious at best but anything that gets us visualizing Omaha is a win right now.  So let’s take our annual run at predicting next year’s Eight for Omaha.

Arkansas



The lineup screams strength up the middle with centerfielder Christian Franklin, middle infielder Robert Moore, and catcher Casey Opitz.  Braydon Webb and Matt Goodheart make for an excellent “tier two” in this position player group.  On paper, this pitching staff offers tremendous depth yet the rotation is unsettled.  Connor Noland appeared to be making a jump but missed his final start due to a mild oblique strain.  Lefthander Patrick Wicklander struggled in 2020 and his rebound will be a key.  Newcomer Nate Wolgemuth is a righthander who probably wouldn’t make it to campus in a normal draft year.  His upper 90s fastball should make an immediate impact.  

Florida

The Gators utterly demolished the draft this year and they were already the reigning No. 1 ranked team in the country.  A rotation of Tommy Mace, Jack Leftwich, and Hunter Barco grabs the headlines but the depth on this pitching staff is obscene.  Returning freshmen Josh Rivera (shortstop) and Nathan Hickey (catcher) established themselves in short order in 2020 and centerfielder Jud Fabian is a five-tool athlete with first round upside.  On paper, this roster has no holes.  

Louisville

It seems crazy that the Cardinals could lose two first rounders on the mound (Reid Detmers, Bobby Miller) and still have pitching be a strength of this club.  But that is the case because Luke Smith has returned along with bullpen aces Adam Elliott and Michael Kirian.  Smith has a Friday night mentality if not quite the usual stuff for that role and the rest of the rotation is a question mark.  The position player group looks like an Olympic Decathlon team as it might be the most athletic group in the country.  Alex Binelas adds a pure and proven middle of the order bat.  


Ole Miss

The Rebels made a loud statement in 2020 and that team had Omaha written all over them.  Anthony Servideo and Tyler Keenan are huge losses but the entire rest of the roster returns.  The rotation matches up with anyone.  Lefthanded gunslinger Doug Nikhazy is a proven commodity and vastly improved righthander Gunnar Hogland might be the best Saturday guy in the SEC in 2021.  What the lineup lacks in star power, it makes up for with depth and versatility.  Returning freshman Peyton Chatagnier and Hayden Dunhurst are middle of the field defenders who could emerge as top of the league offensive pieces.

Texas Tech

It is amazing to observe the frequency with which the Red Raiders have made this list under Tim Tadlock.  It is easy to forget that Texas Tech’s first ever CWS appearance occurred in 2014.  This club returns the makings of an elite pitching staff starting with Micah Dallas, Hunter Dobbins, Mason Montgomery, and Jakob Brustoski.  The position player group will be typically athletic and tough-minded led by Jace Jung, Dylan Neuse, and Cal Conley.  Returning freshman Nate Rombach is the most unique player in this lineup as he offers 20 plus homerun potential.

UCLA

Ace Zach Pettway’s stuff made a jump in 2020 and he already offers elite pitchability.  The bullpen remains a huge strength despite the loss of Holden Powell to the draft as veterans Kyle Mora and Michael Townsend bring over 130 career appearances to the party.  Matt McLain shows signs of becoming the star his pedigree suggests and this is a deep position player group.  In fact, this may be the deepest roster in College Baseball.

Vanderbilt

Never before have two college teammates gone first and second overall in the MLB Draft.  Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter could conceivably change that in 2021, thus forming the Commodores’ Omaha case for next season.  The pitching staff also shows great depth as Ethan Smith, Thomas Schultz, Michael Doolin, and Sam Hliboki all turned in outstanding performances in 2020.  While this should be one of the nation’s best run prevention outfits, the offense is a real concern with no proven middle of the order bats returning.  

Virginia

After a very brief departure, the Cavaliers are back to being a national factor in College Baseball.  The returning sophomore duo of Nic Kent and Zack Gelof play with the competitiveness of the old school Virginia teams that frequented Omaha.  Getting high leverage reliever Andrew Abbott back was a surprise that changes the equation.  And the rest of the roster is littered with high end talents like centerfielder Chris Newell and lefthander Nate Savino.  Rotation arms Griff McGarry and Mike Vasil appear to be right on the verge of making a big jump.  

8 for the Supers

Arizona: The Wildcats are a trifecta of a draft gone well, a returning pitching staff on the rise, and their signature explosive offense.  

Georgia Tech: Luke Waddell started for the 2019 College National Team and Kevin Parada might be the best true freshman hitter in America next year.

Mississippi State: Rowdey Jordan and Tanner Allen are the signature lineup pieces here while Christian MacLeod has solidified himself as a bona fide Friday night arm.

South Carolina: The draft literally could not have gone any better for the Gamecocks and returning freshman third baseman Brennan Milone is a star in the making.

TCU: The Horned Frogs return an outrageously experienced club as both the entire lineup and rotation are back.  Lefthander Russell Smith broke out in 2020 and righthander Charles King has excelled in a variety of roles.  

Texas: Veteran middle of the order bat Austin Todd will lead a young but very talented position player group while Ty Madden and Pete Hansen front a pitching staff with a depth of premium arms.  

Tulane: The Green Wave ran out to a 15-2 record in 2020 and the majority of that squad is back.  This is a high-scoring, veteran offense and ace Braden Olthoff posted an astounding 47:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  

UCSB: The Gauchos went 13-2 in 2020 and return the entire roster including a weekend rotation (Rodney Boone, Michael McGreevy, and Zach Torra) that pitched to a combined ERA of 1.22.

 

College | Story | 11/13/2026

College Fall Notebook: November 13

Craig Cozart
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UCF Knights  2026 In Review:  The Knights recorded their best finish of the Big 12 era tied for 3rd place in the regular season with a (19-11) record and (32-23) overall.  Their resume would earn them an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons under Head Coach Rich Wallace in what would be the 14th all-time postseason appearance.  The 19 conference wins were the most by a UCF team since 2005 as they won 7 of their 10-conference series.  UCF was a consistent on the offensive side batting .289 as a team and averaging almost 7-runs per game.  They also took another step forward on the mound, with a team ERA of 4.61 while registering an impressive 6-shutouts on the year.    INF Austin Jacobs (@UCF_Baseball)turns on this heater and deposits it over the LF wall for a 3 run HR (96 EV/ 364 FT). Nice job pulling the...
Tournaments | Story | 11/13/2026

National All State Preview: Week 2

Hannah Jo Groves
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The second week of of PG All-State National Championships starts this weekend - this particular one featuring the 9U, 11U and 13U age groups. Last week, the 10U, 12U and 14U divisions got their chance to represent their states and compete in the Houston, Texas area. This weekend, there will be 23 teams competing in the 13U and 11U divisions and 15 teams competing for the 9U title. “For Tony [Harper] and I, it’s an early glimpse of guys yearning to impress as we head to the new year…for those seeking consideration for the Select Festival,” National Cross-Checker and Northeast Scouting Director, John McAdams, said. For those competing in the 11U division, this event marks their first opportunity to show out, get some recognition and potentially receive a coveted invitation to the 2027 11U Select Festival. Some names that have already stood out to PG’s scouts...
College | Recruiting | 11/12/2026

Head of the Class: No. 4 Arkansas

Jordan Gates
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Complete 2027 Arkansas Recruiting Class No. 4 Arkansas Head Coach: Dave Van Horn | Recruiting Coordinator: Nate Thompson Total Signees: 18 | Top 100 Signees: 3 Top 5 Recruits: Rk. Name Pos. HT WT B-T High School Hometown ST 42 Christopher (CJ) Wall C 6-1 195 L-R Georgia Premier Academy Statesboro GA 52 Jake Ivey LHP 6-3 200 L-L Gunter Gunter TX 91 Conor Rae SS 6-1 170 R-R Corona Del Sol Gilbert AZ 102 Charlie Sarsfield OF 5-10 170 L-R Linn-Mar Cedar Rapids IA 107 Bear Calvo SS 6-1 200 R-R Orange Lutheran Fullerton CA Over the last decade, Arkansas has found themselves ranked inside the top ten in recruiting classes eight of the last ten years. They are no stranger to being ranked towards the top either with a handful of top five finishes, with their 2027 class checking in at number four. While the transfer portal has had the largest impact on college baseball and sports in general, the...
College | Recruiting | 11/12/2026

Head of the Class: No. 3 Texas A&M

Vincent Cervino
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Complete 2027 Texas A&M Recruiting Class  No. 3 Texas A&M Head Coach: Michael Earley | Recruiting Coordinator: Nolan Cain Total Signees: 17 | Top 100 Signees: 6 Top 5 Recruits RK. Name Pos. HT WT High School Hometown State 11 Striker Pence RHP/1B 6-6 215 Santiago Corona CA 15 Brady Cunningham 3B/RHP 6-3 225 Brother Rice Mokena IL 40 Isaiah Snavely SS 6-3 195 Zionsville Community Zionsville IN 77 Jordan Ayala RHP 6-1 185 Norco La Habra CA 88 Clyde Williams III OF 5-11 178 Magnolia Magnolia TX The Aggies jumped into the top 10 with their 2026 high school recruits and in his third season Michael Earley has achieved a the highest ranked recruiting class of his career at No. 3 for the 2027 class. Credit due as well to RC Nolan Cain who rejoined the Aggies just this past summer.  There’s star power littered throughout this class including four PG All-Americans, led by...
Tournaments | Championship | 11/12/2026

Texas Defends Home Turf at All State

Hannah Jo Groves
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Texas American Dominates for the 12U All-State Select Championship A run-rule, 11-3 victory over California National sealed the deal for Texas American’s 12U PG National All-State Select Championship win. 6 different players combined for Texas American’s 11 total runs - Ishmael Ruiz knocked in 2 runs with a double in the bottom of the second, Cannon Hughes knocked in 5 runs with 2, 2-run home runs in the first and second innings and an RBI walk to seal the game. Though it’s clear Texas American’s offense was explosive, right-handed pitcher Martin Vazquez did his part on the mound, striking out 6 batters and only dealing 1 walk in his 4 innings and 61 pitches of work. Earlier in the tournament, Lucas Bingham, the tournament’s MVPitcher, struck out 11 batters over 6.1 innings in his outing - and despite that impressive stat line - Bingham said he was not...
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 11/12/2026

2027 Draft Board Update: Biggest Risers

Tyler Henninger
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2027 MLB Draft Content Hub With our latest draft board update, several prospects have made significant moves up the rankings following strong performances throughout the fall. From prep talent finishing off the circuit to college players ramping up for the spring, the latest update features plenty of new names and notable jumps. Here we will take a closer look at some of the biggest risers, highlighting the players who have done the most to improve their draft stock and have positioned themselves well heading into the winter.  Biggest Riser John Hucko (‘27 NC) lifts this one into RF for an RBI 2B, does a nice job of recognizing off speed w/ good adjustment; athletic frame w/ strength present. @AuburnBaseball commit #WWBAWorlds @PG_Coastal https://t.co/GXnZlsMidh — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 8, 2026 OF John Hucko, Charlotte Catholic | Pres. Rank: 23...
College | Recruiting | 11/13/2026

Head of the Class: No. 1 Louisiana State

Jheremy Brown
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Complete 2027 LSU Recruiting Class No. 1 Louisiana State Head Coach: Jay Johnson | Recruiting Coordinator: Josh Jordan Total Signees: 17 | Top 100 Signees: 12 RK Name Pos. HT WT B-T High School Hometown ST 6 Samir Mohammed RHP 6-5 240 R-R Tampa Jesuit Trinity FL 13 Sebastian Castillo SS 6-0 195 R-R Byron Nelson Justin TX 16 Graham Houston SS 6-1 175 S-R Venice Nokomis FL 22 Drake Hawpe OF 6-4 215 L-R Liberty Christian Argyle TX 32 Jordin Griffin OF 5-10 190 L-R Barbe Lake Charles LA Wash. Rinse. Repeat. The 2027 recruiting cycle saw Jay Johnson and his staff pull in the top class in the country, something we've come to almost expect as of late, and though they have some names to monitor heading into next year's MLB Draft, the depth of this group is unreal and one of the best we've seen in some time. Just how good is this class as a whole? Of their 16 commits, 12 are ranked within the top...
College | Recruiting | 11/11/2026

Head of the Class: No. 5 Vanderbilt

Kyler Peterson
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Complete 2027 Vanderbilt Recruiting Class No. 5 Vanderbilt Head Coach: Tim Corbin | Recruiting Coordinator: Scott Brown Total Signees: 16 | Top 100 Signees: 5 Top 5 Recruits RK Name Pos. HT WT B-T High School Hometown ST 21 Ethan Gustus RHP 6-6 192 R-R Roseville Roseville CA 55 Broder Katke C 6-2 205 R-R Brother Rice Bloomfield Hills MI 61 Graham Keen 3B/RHP 6-4 185 R-R Mt Lebanon Pittsburgh PA 63 Stephen Bobo OF 5-11 175 L-L Shelbyville Central Shelbyville TN 85 Derek Yormack RHP 6-3 220 R-R Bellmore JFK Merrick NY The Dores check in at No. 5 in the recruiting rankings with a loaded 2027 class. The class holds five players currently ranked in the top 100 and ten total ranked within the top 200. Coach Corbin and his staff dipped into the west coast to head their class with one of the best arms in the country, California native Ethan Gustus. The 6-foot-6 right-hander has touched triple...
College | Recruiting | 11/11/2026

Head of the Class: No. 6 Alabama

Jay Vossler
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Complete 2027 Alabama Recruiting Class Head Coach: Rob Vaughn | Recruiting Coordinator: Jason Jackson Total Signees: 17 | Top 100 Signees: 4 Top 5 Recruits RK Name Pos. HT WT B-T High School Hometown ST 29 Finnian O'Loughlin OF 6-2 200 R-R Delbarton Jersey City NJ 31 Mac Morris SS 6-0 187 R-R Dorman Taylors SC 47 Harry Chubb Jones Jr. * SS 6-4 190 R-R McEachern Douglasville GA 86 Anderson Lambert OF 6-0 180 R-R McDonogh Laurel MD 108 Jude Carter RHP 6-5 210 R-R Alexander Central Taylorsville NC * denotes enrolling early for upcoming spring After three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to Omaha in 2026, Rob Vaughn and the Alabama Crimson Tide have seen their recruiting class skyrocket in the rankings. After checking in at 24 in 2024, they took a huge leap up to 8 in 2025, stayed close to that at 13 in 2026, and now sit at 6 in 2027, the highest under Rob Vaughn....
Tournaments | Championship | 11/11/2026

Florida Offense Paces All State Crown

Hannah Jo Groves
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Florida National got off to a hot start in Monday’s championship game against Texas National. Scoring all their runs in the first and second inning, Florida National held off Texas National and won 5-3 for the 14U PG National All-State Select Championship title. An electric and fun-filled weekend all led up to this final game on Field 3 at Premier Baseball of Texas. The players geared up under the lights for what would surely be another great meeting between stacked teams. Texas National was up to bat first, but Florida’s pitcher, Lucas Diaz, struck out 2 batters in a row before fielding a ground ball for the third out. Though the bottom of the first started with a strikeout for Florida National, Diaz reached first base on a dropped passed ball and Jayden Portes got on with a walk. With two on and only one out, Florida National was primed to pounce. Lucas Viera singled to...
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