THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,619 MLB PLAYERS | 16,397 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,619 MLB PLAYERS | 16,397 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | Rankings | 2/22/2021

Regional HS Preview: Northeast

David Rawnsley
Photo: Benny Montgomery (Perfect Game)
For all of Perfect Game's regional previews as part of the 2021 high school baseball preview content, the Dream Team list is available for free. The Dream Team reports, top tools list and corresponding top tools breakdowns can be viewed with an Insider subscription. To learn more about Perfect Game's subscription packages and to sign up today please visit this link.

2021 High School Baseball Preview



Regional Previews: Florida | Pacific | Southeast | Texahoma | Southwest | Midwest | Mid-Atlantic

Only one region in the country has four players among the top-12 prospects in the 2021 class and it’s not the Southeast, Florida or the Pacific Coast; it’s the Northeast Region. Outfielders Joshua Baez (6th) and Benny Montgomery (8th) lead with way, with right-handed pitchers Chase Petty (10th) and Shane Panzini (12th) following close behind. And the region is deep in high-level talent, with every player in the starting lineup ranking at least 75th or better in either the 2021 or 2022 classes.
 
Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) is the highest ranked team nationally in the region, starting the season in the 14th slot. Don Bosco doesn’t feature any All-Region players but has nine Division-I commits on their roster. Phillips Academy (Mass.), led by two-way standout Jonathan Santucci, begins the season ranked 25th, while Bergen Catholic gives New Jersey two Top-50 teams, checking in 36th in the country.
 
C – Joe Mack (Sr., Williamsville East HS, N.Y.)
 Some national baseball prospect fans might be surprised that Mack hails from New York, as he has played his entire travel ball career for the East Cobb Astros and is signed with Clemson. A 2017 PG 14U Festival and 2020 PG All-American Classic veteran, Mack has made his reputation with his left-handed bat and is a career .375-11-113 hitter in 134 PG tournament games. He’s been named to 20 all-tournament teams and played for eight PG East Cobb Astros tournament champions.

1B – Carlos Pena (Sr., Salisbury HS, N.Y.)
 Pena is a primary outfielder but has played first base in the past and profiles well at that position despite an outstanding arm that has reached 92 mph from the right side. A left-handed hitter, Pena has big bat speed with natural lift in his swing and hit .420-4-21 in 21 PG tournament games in 2020. A Missouri signee, he is currently ranked 52nd in the 2021 class rankings.

MIF – Cole Young (Jr., North Allegheny HS, Pa.)
 Young is the eighth-ranked player in the 2022 class nationally and the third-ranked shortstop. While he’s received most of his attention for his left-handed hitting ability, Young has a strong chance to stay at shortstop in the future with his athleticism and arm strength. He’s also an elite-level student who has committed to Duke.

MIF – Christian Moore (Sr., Suffield Academy, N.Y.)
 Moore has a big and strong 6-foot-1, 200-pound build for a middle infielder but is light on his feet for his size moving laterally and also has 6.55 speed in the sixty to go with a low-90s arm off the mound. He dominated the PG travel circuit offensively last summer, hitting .377-8-51 in 53 PG tournament games while being named to six all-tournament teams. He is signed with Tennessee.

3B – Casey Saucke II (Sr., Athena HS, N.Y.)
 Saucke was one of the big surprises at the 2020 PG National Showcase, standing out on both sides of the ball and earning an invitation to the PG All-American Classic, where he followed up by showing lots more raw power than he’d previously shown. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Virginia signee is a right-handed hitter with 6.8 speed and middle-of-the-field athleticism and also throws 93 mph with good command on the mound.
 
OF – Joshua Baez (Sr., Dexter Southfield HS, Mass.)
 Baez is a physical presence on the baseball field, with a 6-foot-3, 220-pound build that appears even bigger and an outstanding combination of raw power and impressive speed and athleticism. His 97 mph arm from the mound is almost an afterthought. The sixth-ranked player in the 2021 class, Baez is signed with Vanderbilt.
 
OF – Paxton Kling (Jr., Central HS, Pa.)
 A rangy 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete with lots of physical projectability, Kling is a 6.4 runner in the sixty with impressive present bat speed at the plate. He’s a .444-4-32 hitter in 42 career PG tournament games with 40 stolen bases and 50 runs scored. A Louisiana State commit, Kling is a pure center fielder on defense.

OF – Benny Montgomery (Sr., Red Land HS, Pa.)
 The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Montgomery is the unicorn athlete in the 2021 class, with 6.32 speed in the sixty, a 97 mph throwing arm from the outfield and elite level power and raw bat speed. A Virginia commit, Montgomery is ranked seventh in the 2021 class rankings.

P – Roman Kimball (Sr., P27 Academy, N.Y.)
 Kimball was dominant all summer pitching mostly for the East Coast Lumberjacks, going 5-0 with 57 strikeouts in 33 innings, capped off with a three-inning, eight-strikeout outing at the WWBA World Championships while pitching for Canes Baseball. Kimball, who is signed with Notre Dame, works in the 90-94 mph range with his fastball and throws both a curveball and slider.
 
P – Anthony Solometo (Sr., Bishop Eustace Prep, N.J.)
 Solometo has an outstanding combination of a lively fastball that will touch 94 mph to go with one of the best sliders in the class. His deceptive delivery makes him one of the most uncomfortable at-bats in the high school ranks and Solometo has struck out 81 hitters in 44 career PG tournament innings while allowing only 18 hits. The 50th-ranked player in the class, he is signed with North Carolina.

P – Chase Petty (Sr., Mainland Regional HS, N.J.)
 Petty has a middle infielder’s 6-foot-1, 185-pound build but is perhaps the premier power pitcher in the 2021 class, with a fastball that reached 100 mph at the 2020 WWBA 17U National Championships, a first-time achievement for a PG event, and a record 99 mph at the PG All-American Classic. Petty also throws an upper-80s slider and changeup and has surprisingly good command for a young power pitcher, having walked only one hitter per three innings in his PG career.

P – Shane Panzini (Sr., Red Bank Catholic HS, N.J.)
 Panzini has “workhorse middle-of-the-rotation starter” written all over his baseball scouting report. He’s 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and looks bigger on the mound, with an easy delivery and advanced command of a full four-pitch arsenal, including a fastball that tops out at 95 mph. The 12th-ranked player and third-ranked right-handed pitcher in the 2021 class, Panzini is signed with Virginia.

P – Dennis Colleran (Sr., North Attleboro HS, Mass.)
 Colleran was the biggest surprise at the 2020 WWBA World Championships, a previously unranked pitcher with a ride to Northeastern who ended up winning the Most Valuable Pitcher trophy for the champion GBG team. Colleran struck out 12 hitters in six scoreless innings over three outings, topping out at 96 mph to go with a darting low-80s slider.

UT – Nazier Mule (Jr., Passaic County Tech, N.J.)
 The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mule is still a primary shortstop, where his combination of light-footed athleticism at his size and a strong right-handed bat make him a high ceiling talent. But Mule has also been up to 96 mph on the mound with a swing-and-miss slider and many evaluators see his future as a right-handed pitcher. He is the 19th-ranked player in the 2022 class.

Northeast Region Top Tools
Best Hitter for Average: Cole Young (Jr., North Allegheny HS, Pa.)
 Young has hit .443-8-76 in his 88 game Perfect Game tournament career and that might even understate his hitting ability. He has the ability to square up almost everything and is a rare young hitter who is just as comfortable driving a ball to the opposite field gap as he is turning on the ball with intent. 
 
Best Hitter for Power: Joshua Baez (Sr., Dexter Southfield HS, Mass.)
 There are a number of hitters in the Northeast Region with both present and projected future plus power but Baez clearly stands out, especially given that he is very young for the class and won’t turn 18 until this summer. 

Best Baserunner: Paxton Kling (Jr., Central HS, Pa.)
 Kling has the requisite speed to both steal bases and take the extra base but really impresses with his instincts, even as a junior. He’s got some pop in his bat with more to come but his base running ability will likely always keep him at or near the top of the lineup.

Best Defensive Catcher: Joe Mack (Sr., Williamsville East HS, N.Y.)
 Mack is best known as a left-handed hitter but he has really improved his defensive skills behind the plate in the last year, especially in his receiving abilities. He already had one of the top arms in the class, reaching 85 mph during catching drills, and has plenty of lower half athleticism.

Best Defensive Infielder: Tommy Tavarez (Sr., Grand Street Campus HS, N.Y.)
 Tavarez has all the tools and skills to play shortstop up to the highest levels of the game. He has outstanding lower-half actions, balance and quickness to go with an arm that reaches 94 mph in drills. Tavarez also plays defense with a confident flair that many top defenders seem to have. He is signed with Pittsburgh.

Best Defensive Outfielder: Benny Montgomery (Sr., Red Land HS, Pa.)
 When you have 6.32 speed, a 97 mph arm and the length that comes with being 6-foot-4, the defensive ceiling is extremely high. All Montgomery needs is more repetitions and experience so that his skills catch up to his tools.

Best Defensive Arm: Jonathan Santucci (Sr., Phillips Academy, Mass.)
 Santucci’s arm strength matches Montgomery’s and he has more sound fundamental footwork through his throws, giving him better present accuracy. His outfield drill at the 2021 World Showcase last month was one of the best this scout has ever evaluated.

Best Fastball: Chase Petty (Sr., Mainland Regional HS, N.J.)
 Petty has rock star status in the 2021 class for his 100 mph fastball that will sit 95-97 comfortably. Woe be it, though, to the hitter who gears up for the fastball, as one almost has to, and gets a slider instead.

Best Off-Speed Stuff: Roman Kimball (Sr., P27 Academy, N.Y.)
 Anthony Solometo’s slider might be the best single breaking ball in the region in his slider but Kimball throws both a mid-80s slider and a hard downer curveball as two distinct potential plus pitches, a rarity in a prep pitcher.

Best Pitchability: Shane Panzini (Sr., Red Bank Catholic HS, N.J.)
 Panzini’s changeup is one of the best such pitches in the high school ranks and he has well-deserved confidence in it. He also has feel for changing the shape and velocity of his two breaking balls, although scouts feel he’ll eventually prioritize a harder, true slider. Combined with his fastball command, that’s a potential first round combination.

Best Multi-Sport Athlete: Lonnie White (Sr., Malvern Prep, Pa.)
 White is a four-star wide receiver who is committed to play both football and baseball at Penn State should he make it past the professional baseball draft. The MVP of the 2020 WWBA 17U National Championships, he was also recruited as a quarterback and a safety by other Power 5 schools and also is a standout on the basketball court.

 
Give us your feedback
High School | General | 8/17/2026

Scott Wins MVP Two Ways
Jim Salisbury
Article Image
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...
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 9/4/2026

2027 Draft: Way Too Early 1:1 Predictions

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2027 Top 100 Draft Board  Current Favorite: SS Dylan Seward, Norco HS (Calif.) In our first iteration of the 2027 Draft Board, Norco shortstop Dylan Seward ranks No. 1 overall. The switch-hitter is an ultra-twitchy player with a lot to like on both sides of the ball. He is a supreme athlete that should stick up the middle. Explosiveness is shown in all aspects of his game and gives the profiles big time upside.  In the event that Seward does not go 1:1, each member of our draft team selected a player that they think could wind up in that spot. We are still nearly a full year away from draft day, but here are our “Way Too Early” predictions for the 1st overall pick next July.  Henni’s Pick: C/UTL Gavin Kelly, West Virginia    Gavin Kelly (@WVUBaseball) sends this over the wall in CF for a solo 💣 (100 EV/ 416 ft). Adv. hitter with accurate...
Read More
General | General | 9/3/2026

Class of 2029 Rankings Update

Article Image
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/3/2026

Iowa City Scouting Showcase 14U &16U Divisions

Dave Durbala
Article Image
IOWA CITY, IA - Perfect Game Softball Iowa City Scouting Showcase, August 29 - 30, 2026. Fifty-Four teams, competing across three divisions in the 14u - 18u age classifications opened up our Fall schedule playing in a five game showcase style format. For the several college coaches in attendance, they were able to get quality looks at numerous uncommitted 27’ and 28’ graduation year class athletes, as well as having the opportunity to watch some of the quality younger athletes as they put their talent on display. Below are write-ups of some of our top performers over the weekend in the 14 & 16u age divisions. 14U DIVISION Josie Moen (2031 Urbandale, IA) is an athletic OF for TN Mojo 2030 Evans. Working from the left side, Moen was nearly unstoppable while showing defenses her slapping abilities. With great barrel awareness and footwork, Moen utilized the bunt, soft slap...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/3/2026

Iowa City Scouting Showcase 18U Division

Ashley Mears
Article Image
Perfect Game Iowa City Scouting Showcase August 29-30 Ashley Mears It was a great weekend to kick off the Fall 2026 tournament campaign in Iowa City. The fields were packed with college coaches from across the Midwest, providing a great opportunity for players to showcase their talents. Both hitters and pitchers put on quite a show, and there were plenty of standout performances to take note of. We are excited to continue following these players and see what the rest of the fall has in store! Gillian Hansen (2028 New Brighton, MN) of the 18u MN Force Impact Standering was an absolute force to be reckoned with at the plate this weekend. Hansen possesses a strong, athletic build that translates into impressive power. Standing parallel to the plate, she utilizes her lower half effectively and does an excellent job of staying through the ball and extending through the zone. Hansen led the...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 9/3/2026

PG Launches Global Country Partner Program

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME LAUNCHES NEW GLOBAL COUNTRY PARTNER PROGRAM TO EXPAND INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PATHWAYS   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, September 3, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the launch of its new Country Partner Program, an initiative designed to expand Perfect Game’s international presence while creating new opportunities for aspiring athletes around the world.  Through the Country Partner Program, select organizations will become the exclusive Perfect Game partner within their respective countries through annual licensing agreements. Each Country Partner will be responsible for managing local...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 9/1/2026

PG Hires Nuovo-Golden in South Carolina

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME SOFTBALL EXPANDS REGIONAL TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS WITH KEY HIRE IN SOUTH CAROLINA   Greenville, South Carolina (Monday, August 31, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced an addition to its Southeast tournament operations team with the hiring of Michelle Nuovo-Golden as Operations Director.   In her role, Nuovo-Golden will oversee regional venue management, team relations and event logistics across South Carolina focusing on expanding Perfect Game’s fastpitch footprint within the core markets which include Columbia, Lexington, Greenville, Anderson and the surrounding regions.   Nuovo-Golden transitions to...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 8/28/2026

2027 MLB Draft Board

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
The 2026 MLB Draft is official in the books as those players have been signed and have begun their pro career. That means it is time to turn the page and dive into the 2027 class. This class features an intriguing mix of arms both from the prep and college ranks, along with an enticing position player pool. Today, we unveil our first 2027 MLB Draft Board, ranking the Top-100 prospects in the class. There is still plenty of time for new names to emerge and established ones to rise or fall, but here is where things stand as we begin this cycle.  Rk. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Dylan Seward H SS S-R Norco Eastvale CA Tennessee 2 Brendan Lawson C SS L-R Florida Toronto ON 3 Dax Whitney C RHP R-R Oregon State Blackfoot ID 4 Gavin Kelly C C/UTL R-R West Virginia Presto PA 5 Tomas Valincius C LHP L-L Mississippi State Lockport IL 6 Malachi Butler H SS L-R...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 8/26/2026

Underclass Area Codes: Standout Arms

Joey Cohen
Article Image
Year in and year out when the best young talent from across the country is packed into one national-level event the arms tend to win the week. That feels especially true in today’s amateur game where velocity, pitch design and high-level training in general are being introduced earlier than ever, allowing young pitchers to develop impactful stuff at a faster rate than younger hitters can consistently catch up to it. The Underclass Area Code Games are no exception and this year there was no shortage of arms that made you stop and take notice. Narrowing it down to 10 was difficult, but I focused on the pitchers who either displayed starter-type traits, brought something genuinely different from a delivery standpoint whether it was slot, height, crossfire or deception or simply possessed an outlier element of stuff that separated them from the pack. These are the 10 arms that stood...
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/23/2026

2026 MLB Draft Report Cards: NL East

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL East Atlanta Braves  Grade: 55 Risk: High Notable Selections: OF AJ Gracia (1st rd) | OF Carter Beck (PPI) | RHP Kaiden McCarthy (2nd rd) | RHP Jensen Hirschkorn (3rd rd)   OF AJ Gracia (@UVABaseball) is seeing the ball really well & picked up a couple of hits, including a 2B into RCF. Smooth LH stroke & easy impact. Showed + pwr in BP, 46 BB: 36 K. Jr./'26 elig. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/C4rSc0ZNIc — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 30, 2026 Atlanta had $15,870,800 to spend in this year’s draft,...
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/22/2026

2026 MLB Draft Report Cards: AL East

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. AL East Baltimore Orioles Grade: 50 Risk: High Notable Selections: OF Eric Booth Jr. (1st rd) | OF Ty Head (2nd rd) | OF Kevin Roberts Jr (4th rd)  Eric Booth Jr. (26 MS) goes big fly 💣 that carried out oppo. Explosive athlete w/ huge LH juice & tools. Big time in several facets. #NatElite #Vandy commit. @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/kXl7ZVyD9G — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 12, 2025 Baltimore was about middle of the pack in terms of money available this year, having $13.1m to spend on their class. Booth Jr. is a...
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.