THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
College  | Story | 3/19/2021

Weekend Preview: Week 5

Photo: Jack Leiter (Vanderbilt Athletics)
Things remained pretty standard near the top of the rankings, but a total of five new teams entered the Top 25 heading into Week 5. This is the first weekend of SEC play, and the first full week of Pac-12 play, so the glut of SEC teams near the top of the Top 25 should break up over the course of the next few weeks once conference play gets into the weeds. Conference play will headline this week but it’s certainly not the only story as we dig into what we’ll be watching for in Week 5.

Top 25 in Action

Rank Team Opponent Location
1 Arkansas vs. Alabama Fayetteville, Ark.
2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 21 South Carolina Nashville, Tenn.
3 Mississippi State at No. 13 LSU Baton Rouge, La.
4 Florida vs. Texas A&M Gainesville, Fla.
5 Ole Miss vs. Auburn Oxford, Miss.
6 Miami vs. Florida State Coral Gables, Fla.
7 Louisville at North Carolina State Raleigh, N.C.
8 Texas Tech vs. No. 24 Oklahoma State Lubbock, Texas
9 East Carolina vs. Illinois State Greenville, N.C.
10 Indiana vs. Purdue Bloomington, Ind.
11 Arizona State at No. 17 Oregon Eugene, Ore.
12 Arizona at No. 20 UCLA Los Angeles, Calif.
13 LSU at No. 19 Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn.
14 Georgia Tech at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C.
15 Texas at Baylor Waco, Texas
16 Michigan vs. Illinois, Michigan State Ann Arbor, Mich.
17 Oregon vs. No. 11 Arizona State Eugene, Ore.
18 Notre Dame vs. Duke Notre Dame, Ind.
19 Tennessee vs. No. 13 LSU Knoxville, Tenn.
20 UCLA vs. No. 12 Arizona Los Angeles, Calif.
21 South Carolina at No. 2 Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn.
22 North Carolina at No. 25 Boston College Brighton, Mass.
23 TCU at Louisiana Lafayette, La.
24 Oklahoma State at No. 8 Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas
25 Boston College vs. No. 22 North Carolina Brighton, Mass.




SEC, Pac-12 Start Conference Play

From the moment the 2020 season was canceled up through the beginning of the 2021 calendar year, one question persistently was brought up in conversations with industry sources and fellow peers: what is the season going to look like in 2021? For a while it looked like the Big Ten’s plan was going to be consensus around the country in terms of conference-only slates with four-game conference weekends and no midweeks. Fortunately, the season looks a good bit like a normal season, but with increased depth across the country, the SEC gauntlet is shaping up to be an absolute battle. There are three ranked matchups in the SEC and Pac-12 this week with Friday night aces dueling it out, and how the conference unfolds will be an intriguing storyline to follow throughout the year.

Arms Off to Hot Starts

Some MLB Draft names near the top of team's boards have been off to fantastic starts and will be names to monitor heading into Week 5. The reigning pitcher of the week, McCade Brown of Indiana, is off to a fantastic start over his first two appearances as he’ll be looking to stay hot against Purdue. Ty Madden has been stellar for three straight weeks now, and that included his part in a sweep over a ranked South Carolina team. Vanderbilt’s duo of Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter have been well-documented now, whereas closely-monitored LSU ace Jaden Hill has been pristine outside of one dud of a start against Oral Roberts. Other names have made their mark too, like Florida’s Tommy Mace and Arizona’s Chase Silseth, but I might be most intrigued by Miami’s duo of true freshmen Alejandro Rosario and Victor Mederos, as both have been nails through the start of ACC play.

Bruins Get Tested

The UCLA Bruins entered the season as a consensus preseason top-five team and have since dropped two series to unranked, smaller conference schools in San Francisco and Cal Poly. In terms of the good news, Kevin Kendall’s return after missing 2020 has been a revelation both from an offensive and defensive perspective, while projected first-rounder Matt McLain has been as advertised thus far with a high average and more walks than strikeouts. The rest of the offense has been anemic at times, with the third-highest batting average being only .259, while the offense on the whole has only five home runs on the spring. Ace Zach Pettway hasn’t been sharp to start the year but the offense is the main storyline here, as the Bruins will need to pick up the slack offensively to make it back to Omaha.

Mid-Majors to Watch

Some smaller school series are very impressive at least on paper with Liberty-VCU leading the way in that regard. VCU was one of the conference favorites in the Atlantic 10 and their roster is chock full of talent. After an opening season sweep by UNC-Wilmington, they’ve won a ton of games recently, including splitting a midweek and fighting tooth and nail with Virginia Tech. Star Tyler Locklear is currently hitting .355 with nine home runs. Liberty has a number of dominant arms on the bump including fireman reliever David Erickson, who has an ERA of just 1.96 and leads the team in strikeouts. Louisiana Tech and Tulane is another extremely fun series amongst in-state clubs as Louisiana Tech is coming off wins over Arkansas and Ole Miss in their last two games, while Tulane was a conference favorite led by staff ace Braden Olthoff. Keep an eye on Coastal Carolina at West Virginia and Louisiana hosting TCU while Indiana State was close to the Top 25 last week and heads to UAB.

Other Ranked Matchups

The Pac-12 features two ranked matchups to start play in earnest with No. 12 Arizona heading to No. 20 UCLA and No. 11 Arizona State heading to No. 17 Oregon. Arizona and UCLA tell the story of two teams who have stumbled at times early and are looking to right the ship, while the injury-riddled Sun Devils travel to take on the upstart Ducks, whose offense has led the way with two straight weekend series victories over ranked opponents. A key early season Big 12 matchup will get underway in Lubbock as No. 24 Oklahoma State heads to No. 8 Texas Tech, as the Cowboys are working to rebound after dropping a home series to Vanderbilt. In the ACC, the lone ranked matchup sees No. 22 North Carolina head north to take on No. 25 Boston College, who is missing some key pieces from an injury perspective after getting swept by Louisville, but have been led by star Sal Frelick.

College | Rankings | 6/25/2026

College Top 25: Final Update

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
Article Image
Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
Article Image
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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
Article Image
JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Texas Twelve Firing On Full Cylinders

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Every team hopes to start a tournament with momentum, but few make a statement quite like Texas Twelve Maroon 2028. Matched up against defending champion Excel Blue Wave National to kick off their debut in the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, Texas Twelve Maroon delivered a complete team performance, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory and immediately establishing themselves as one of the top teams to watch this week. The win showcased the balance that has made Texas Twelve Maroon a powerful team. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and steady defense all played a role as the team held off one of the tournament’s premier programs. Right-hander Ty Antley turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, throwing a complete game while allowing only five hits and two walks over seven innings. The High Follow prospect worked consistently between 85-89 mph and mixed in a sharp...
Loading more articles...