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High School | General | 2/24/2021

Regional HS Preview: Great Plains

David Rawnsley

Photo: Ian Moller (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 | Northeast

The Great Plains Region features a strong core of senior talent, including three PG All-Americans in catchers Ian Moller and Carter Jensen and right-handed pitcher Drew Christo. The aberration of having two of the country’s top catchers from this northern tier region is a bit ironic. Still, the most interesting thing about this region may be in following some of the high-end talent as it develops over the next three or four years, as All-Region players such as Chase Mason, CJ Hood and Brody Brecht have all played multiple sports at a high level and have little or no national-level baseball experience.

While there are no schools in the region ranked in the Perfect Game Preseason Top 50, there are a pair of schools that feature two of the All-Region honorees. Wahlert High School (Iowa) claims Moller and 2022 outfielder Tommy Specht, while Blue Valley Southwest (Kan.) has balance on both sides of the ball in right-hander Ben Kudrna and slugging infielder Carson Hornung.

C – Ian Moller (Sr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
Moller is one of the rare catching prospects who stands out not only for his defensive tools behind the plate but also for his offensive potential, as the right-handed hitter has consistently shown his power and barrel skills at high level events. A Louisiana State signee, Moller is ranked fifth overall in the 2021 class nationally.

1B – Carter Jensen (Sr., Park Hill HS, Mo.)
The Great Plains Region is blessed with two PG All-American catchers in Jensen and Ian Moller. As they are also the two highest-ranked position players in the region, both will make the team, with Jensen and his plus power left-handed bat shifting over to first base, although he is a lock to continue catching far into the future.

MIF – Brock Daniels (Sr., St. John Vianney HS, Mo.)
Daniels is a very polished left-handed hitting middle infielder with a combination of barrel skills and some real extra-base power. He brings the same type of polish defensively, where he projects as a second baseman in the future. An Oklahoma signee, Daniels is ranked 95th in the 2021 class nationally.

MIF – Carson Hornung (Sr., Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Hornung has lept up the national rankings already this year with a very strong performance at the 2021 World Showcase along with hitting .556 at the PG East MLK Championships playing for US Nationals. A Missouri signee, Hornung is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-handed hitter with easy bat speed and lots of power potential. He plays shortstop now and runs a 6.95 sixty but will likely move to third base at the next level.

3B – Kendall Diggs (Sr., St. Thomas Aquinas HS, K.C.)
A strongly-built athlete with an easy left-handed swing, Diggs has always raked at PG tournaments and is a .381 career hitter in 64 games and has also notably drawn 48 walks in those games, giving him a .542 on-base percentage. The seventh-ranked third baseman in the senior class, Diggs is signed with Arkansas.

OF – Chase Jans (Sr., Blue Valley HS, Kan.)
Jans is a dynamic athlete with 6.42 speed in the sixty who has split his time between the baseball field, where he is signed with Kansas, and the football field, where he rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior. A primary center fielder with a strong arm, Jans also has played some middle infield and could get a look there again at the next level.

OF – Chase Mason (Sr., Viborg-Hurley HS, S.D.)
Mason is a precocious 6-foot-4, 210-pound four-sport athlete from tiny Hurley, S.D. (pop. 354) and is relatively unknown nationally except to baseball scouts and football recruiters, where he is a three-star dual threat quarterback. He’s a left-handed hitter with huge raw bat speed and has a low-90s arm on the mound. Mason is signed with Nebraska for baseball.

OF – Tommy Specht (Jr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
Specht is one of the best pure baseball athletes in the 2022 class, with a lean and projectable 6-foot-3, 195-pound body and a sweet left-handed swing that made him an all-tournament selection at both the WWBA World Championships and WWBA World Junior Championships this spring. He recently ran a 6.46 sixty and threw 96 mph from the outfield at the 2021 National Indoor Showcase. Specht is committed to Kentucky.

P – Brody Brecht (Sr., Ankeny HS, Iowa)
Brecht is signed with Iowa for football but plans on playing both sports in college. A 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver with 4.45 speed in the sixty and a 3-star rating by the major recruiting services, Brecht has also been into the mid-90s on the mound with big spin on his breaking ball.

P – Drew Christo (Sr., Elkhorn HS, Neb.)
Christo is the only non-catcher from the region who was honored as a PG All-American and is the 48th-ranked player in the senior class. A big and physical 6-foot-4, 225-pound athlete who received plenty of D-I football interest as a linebacker, Christo works in the 91-95 mph range with his fastball and has a full arsenal of off-speed pitches that he commands well. He is signed with Nebraska.

P – CJ Hood (Sr., Norris HS, Neb.)
Hood is another Great Plains Region athlete who has received very little exposure nationally but who could explode this spring when scouts get in to see him throw. A long and projectable athlete at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Hood was up to 95 mph in his only PG tournament appearance in 2020 to go with a low-80s breaking ball that was a plus pitch at times. He is signed with Nebraska.

P – Ben Kudrna (Sr., Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Kudrna is the 65th-ranked player in the senior class nationally and the 16th-ranked right-hander. He has a power pitcher’s arsenal with a fastball that works 91-94 mph to go with low- to mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup that is very advanced for a high school power arm. Kudrna is signed with Louisiana State.

P – Jackson Wentworth (Sr., Waukee HS, Iowa)
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Wentworth had an excellent fall, throwing a complete game four-hitter with nine strikeouts at the WWBA Kernels Foundation Championships and following that up with a nice four-inning outing at the WWBA World Championships. The Kansas State signee worked 92-94 mph at the latter event with an upper-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup.

UT – Caden Marcum (Jr., Paola HS, Kan.)
Marcum is a long and very lean 6-foot-5 athlete who has always been a primary outfielder but who has made significant improvement on the mound as he’s got stronger and likely projects a higher ceiling as a right-handed pitcher. He was up to 91 mph to go with a 80 mph slider at the 2020 WWBA World Championships and struck out six in 2 2/3 innings in an outing against the eventual champions, GBG, during pool play. Marcum is committed to Tennessee.

Great Plains Region Top Tools

Best Hitter for Average: Brock Daniels (Sr., St. John Vianney HS, Mo.)
Watching Daniels take batting practice and game swings is a pleasure as he has such a professional approach at the plate, with very quick hands and the ability to adjust his swing to different pitch locations and speeds.

Best Hitter for Power: Chase Mason (Sr., Viborg-Hurley HS, S.D.)
Tails of Mason’s 500-foot home runs up in South Dakota aren’t hard to find. Carter Jensen, Ian Moller and Carson Hornung are all worthy candidates for this distinction as well.

Best Baserunner: Chase Jans (Sr., Blue Valley HS, Kan.)
While Jans and Tommy Specht have matching 6.4 speed in the sixty, Specht is more of a long strider with top end speed. Jans' quick burst speed will be a big plus for him on the bases. His 1.41 10-yard split at the 2020 World Showcase is one of the best times ever recorded at a PG showcase.

Best Defensive Catcher: Ian Moller (Sr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
Many consider Moller to be the best defensive catcher in the country, although he still needs plenty of game repetitions, as many young catchers do, to polish off his receiving skills with high-level pitchers. He has easy athleticism shifting and blocking and an easy plus throwing arm.

Best Defensive Infielder: Brock Daniels (Sr., St. John Vianney HS, Mo.)
Daniels’ skill stands out on defense as well. He has nice footwork that really puts him in position to get rid of the ball quickly and makes very accurate throws as a result as well.

Best Defensive Outfielder: Tommy Specht (Jr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
A combination of 6-foot-3 length, 6.46 speed and a 96 mph throwing arm seems like a blue print for an outstanding defensive outfielder.

Best Defensive Arm: Tommy Specht (Jr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
There are plenty of strong arms in the region but Specht can already throw 96 mph from the outfield and is only a junior. Shortstop Adam Ebling (Sr., Westminster Christian Academy, Mo.) is a strong candidate here who warrants mention.

Best Fastball: Drew Christo (Sr., Elkhorn HS, Neb.)
While CJ Hood and maybe even Brody Brecht may end up with higher velocity heat, Christo’s fastball not only can register 95 mph but he has next-level command of the pitch already and can move it around the strike zone effectively, making the already impressive velocity play up.

Best Off-Speed Stuff: Ben Kudrna (Sr., Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Kudrna’s changeup is an impressive pitch for a high school power pitcher and his mid-80s slider has serious power with good feel in the strike zone.

Best Pitchability: Drew Christo (Sr., Elkhorn HS, Neb.)
It would be surprising to see Christo have any issues throwing strikes at the next level. His delivery is simple and athletic and, if anything, he has better present command of his slider than fastball.

Best Multi-Sport Athlete: Chase Mason (Sr., Viborg-Hurley HS, S.D.)
It’s a function of high school sports in the Upper Midwest, where the best athletes, especially in smaller communities, usually play multiple sports. Mason may be the best pure athlete among many multi-sports standouts (he was also Third-Team All-State in basketball) but Brody Brecht, Drew Christo, CJ Hood and Chase Jans are also standouts.

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High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo

High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos. Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...

College | Story | 8/5/2026

Coppy's Corner: August 5 Summer Edition

John Coppolella

The amateur players in the Cape Cod Baseball League are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role. It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and position player each week from the Cape. And, who knows, maybe somewhere out there Jessica Biel is reading it. Player of the Week: Armani Guzman – Chatham Anglers Guzman went 8-for-20 this week with 9 Stolen Bases. If that seems like a lot for one week, it is. Guzman has 18 Stolen Bases in the Cape, so half that total came this...

Tournaments | Story | 8/5/2026

17u South World Series Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff

Alex Hernandez (‘27 TX) sends a rocket to the gap for a double. Now 6-7 on the week with 4 XBH’s. Certainly looks the part out at short; has made it look easy. #SouthWS @PG_Uncommitted https://t.co/xPXL42Y3WU pic.twitter.com/xKmJS9u01l — Perfect Game Texas (@Texas_PG) July 31, 2026 Alex Hernandez (2027, Cypress, Texas) closed out the Summer with a bang and looked like one of the best players out there on the week. Hernandez put on a clinic on both sides of the ball throughout the week. A mainstay out at short, Hernandez made every play look easy moving to his left and right. Lateral range was on full display paired with footwork, arm strength, and a clean slot. He can really do it all on the dirt and made a statement this week making a plethora of ridiculous plays. There is no doubt that Hernandez can play short at the next level and should be getting a ton of interest....

Press Release | Press Release | 8/4/2026

PG & Dick's Expand Partnership

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College | Story | 8/3/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: August 3

Perfect Game Staff

Angel Cervantes | RHP | UCLA | Chatham Anglers Angel Cervantes has lived up to the hype since arriving at UCLA after turning down a second-round selection (50th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2025 MLB Draft. Following a strong freshman campaign that helped power the Bruins to the No. 1 ranking in the country for much of the season, Cervantes has taken another step forward this summer, emerging as arguably the Cape Cod League's top arm. Through 23.2 innings with the Chatham Anglers, he owns a 1.14 ERA with 24 strikeouts and just five walks. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-hander attacks hitters with a polished five-pitch mix featuring a low-90s fastball, an 86-88 mph cutter, a low-80s slider and changeup, and a 78-80 mph curveball. He pounds the strike zone, sequences his arsenal with advanced feel, and consistently keeps hitters off balance, giving him the profile of a...

Tournaments | Story | 8/2/2026

Battle For The Midwest Scout Notes

Brayden Powell

Bryce Urban (2027, Kaukauna, Wis.) An athletic 5-foot-9, 175-pound right-handed hitter, who handled the bat well throughout the weekend while showing feel for the barrel and quality bat speed. Stays balanced throughout the operation while showing direct hands to the baseball. There is feel to rotate through the zone and keep the barrel working for an extended period, helping him consistently produce hard-hit contact. He showed the ability to impact the baseball to all fields and remained productive throughout the event. Urban finished the weekend with five extra-base hits and continued to be a reliable offensive contributor whenever his club needed him. He is currently uncommitted. Landon Clements (2027, McHenry, Ill.) University of Illinois-Chicago commit put together an outstanding weekend at the plate, finishing 10-for-15 while drawing five walks and consistently finding ways to...

Tournaments | Story | 7/30/2026

16u South World Series Scout Notes

Jay Vossler

Kai Anderson (2028, Missouri City, Texas) continued his breakout stretch over the past couple of weeks with 2028 South Texas Sliders 16U Pierce. Compiled a 7-15 week with two doubles, a triple, and two home runs, driving in nine runs. Parlayed that into winning Tournament MVP. Physical presence in the box that is starting to tap into a ton of juice offensively. Tight rotation on an uphill plane with loose actions in the barrel. Doing all of this with very little swing and miss while holding it down in center field. One of the louder stretches of the summer. Trent Costales (2028, San Antonio, Texas) was excellent this week for Texas Angels 2028 Libson. Went 4-11 with two doubles and a home run. Was one of the best run creators in the tournament, driving in ten. Extremely physical frame, projecting as a big time power bat. Coils the hips effectively and creates an uphill plane to maximize...

Draft | Story | 7/30/2026

2023 Draft: Late Round Georgia Look Back

Michael Albee

I have a soft spot for the under the radar high school preps that go in the 11th-20th rounds and sign. It’s not only a nice story, but it’s a show of faith from an organization in their area scout who put the time in, scouted the player and got a feel for the makeup on a guy that wasn’t a consensus “dude”. 2023 was my first year going out to high school games for Perfect Game in Georgia, so I wanted to go back and highlight the late round guys from the ‘23 class that were popped and signed to pursue their dreams of becoming a professional baseball player right away. Here’s a review of those four players from what they were in high school, and where they are at currently in their careers. Andrew Dunford (‘23 GA) throwing some gas, up to 95 & sitting 92-93 with heavy life (clip), shown comfort going to big sweeping SL; big...

Draft | Story | 7/30/2026

2026 MLB Draft Signing Deadline Recap

Tyler Henninger

As of Monday at 5 p.m. ET, the 2026 MLB Draft is officially complete. The signing deadline has passed, meaning we now know every team’s finalized draft class and exactly how much each player signed for. Entering the draft, it was clear there was a distinct top tier consisting of Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, and Vahn Lackey. That separation became even more evident once contracts were signed. Cholowsky became the first player in draft history to sign for more than $10 million, agreeing to a record-setting $10,347,500 bonus with the White Sox. Emerson set a new high school signing bonus record at $9,747,500, the second-largest bonus ever awarded to a draft pick. Lackey rounded out the trio with a $9,497,500 bonus, the third-largest signing bonus in MLB Draft history. Those weren’t the only records set. Teams combined to spend $402,481,143 in signing bonuses, surpassing last...

Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Blue Wave Battle & Prevail at 14u Classic

Kinley Kitchens

For Excel Blue Wave, the summer was never about being perfect. It was about getting better. After a season filled with challenges, growth, and plenty of learning along the way, Excel Blue Wave put everything together when it mattered most, defeating SBG Sox Prime, Al 9-3 to capture the 2026 14U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. For Excel Blue Wave Coach Forrest Heacock, watching the group celebrate with a championship trophy was especially meaningful because of everything it took to get there. “It hasn’t been the easiest summer, and have battled a lot,” Coach Heacock said. “The kids have improved so much over the summer, and that is really what it’s all about at this age. It’s really just about improving at this age, and to see them be able to put it together, and just really compete together and play as a team, I couldn’t be...

Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Excel Leaves No Doubt at 15u Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens

Excel Blue Wave National wasn’t leaving Hoover empty-handed. At least, that was the message head coach Wes Henderson gave his team. After a summer filled with strong performances but without a tournament title to show for them, Excel Blue Wave National entered the 2026 15U Perfect Game Hoover Classic with one more opportunity to finish the season the way they wanted. This time, they left no doubt. Excel Blue Wave National defeated East Coast Sox 2029 Victus, 12-0 in the championship game, combining a balanced offensive attack with a strong performance on the mound to secure their first tournament title of the summer. “It’s been a special group,” Coach Henderson said. “They fought really hard, and they played really well this summer, and this is the first championship that we’ve been able to bring home. We typically...

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