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High School  | General | 4/14/2021

Summer Preview: Class of '23 Catchers

Drew Wesolowski
Photo: Raffaele Velazquez (Perfect Game)
As high school baseball is starting to get going across the country in most regions, with some states actually heading into the playoffs, it all means the summer circuit is right around the corner. Over the next several weeks we will look at the top-ranked players at each position, in each class, while also taking a look at some gut-feel players that could be big risers. With players having more access to individual development, things will undoubtably change at a rapid pace in the early months of the Perfect Game schedule. This provides a good look at some of the top performers coming into 2021 who look primed to continue dominance or make their mark on a national level. 

Class of 2022: Catchers


Raffaele Velazquez (Calif.)
6-1/209, L-R
Commitment: Arizona State
PG Events: 9
Key Stats: .439-1-16 / 1.206 OPS



Short Story: Velazquez had a standout summer as he flashed elite metrics at the 14u National Showcase. Legit catch-and-throw skills with a strong arm behind the dish combined with a big left-handed bat finds him atop all other catchers in the ’23 class. 

Big Moment: His performance at the 14u National Showcase was a defining moment as he was far advanced with his tool set. Had a sub-2.00 pop time and drove it for power to both sides of the field, further cementing his talents. 

Bold Prediction: The way the young man’s prep career has kicked off; you would expect him to continue to hone his defensive skills and add more strength to the frame. Don’t be surprised to see him start launching baseballs out of the yard and become a legit power hitter who can handle the staff behind the dish as well. 
 


Zion Rose (Ill.)
6-1/190, R-R
Commitment: Louisville
PG Events: 23
Key Stats: .440 avg. / 25 RBI / 31 SB 

Short Story: Rose combines a very physically mature frame with athleticism all while being fundamental behind the dish. He also swings it with authority as the baseball jumps off the barrel. 

Big Moment: He had a stellar showing back-to-back weeks at the World Championships in 2020. He tore up the Sophomore event, hitting .556 with three extra-base hits and then proved he could do the same as he played against older prospects a few weeks later. He hit .333 against the best pitching in all of prep baseball. 

Bold Prediction: Rose has all the makings of the next big prospect to come out of the Midwest. His physical stature is only going to get more filled out and he will be a legit power threat in years to come at the dish. 
 


Riley Jackson (Fla.)
6-0/197, R-R
Commitment: Florida State
PG Events: 43
Key Stats: .329-6-132 

Short Story: Jackson has long been known for his bat as he has swung it in some of the most prestigious events. Big time thump in the bat and is starting to evolve as a high-end defender as well. 

Big Moment: Was a menace at the plate in 2020 as he hit at every stop on the circuit. Accomplished all he did at the plate while doing an excellent job behind the dish handling some top-tier prep arms. 

Bold Prediction: Jackson will continue to swing a hot stick as he has done nothing but rake in the past. Look for him to grow as a defender and take his catching duties to that elite-type level. 
 


Nikolas Sanders (Texas)
6-1/185, R-R
Commitment: Texas 
PG Events: 27
Key Stats: .399-3-59 / 1.196 ops

Short Story: Sanders is a huge standout in the ever-so-loaded state of Texas. The right-handed bat has immense power and he is very athletic behind the dish. Makes everything look easy as he goes about his business. 

Big Moment: We had heard rumors of Sanders before, but it was his showing at the 14u National Showcase a few years back that sparked all of the buzz. Was head and shoulders more polished than his counterparts as he put on a show during batting practice before being a guaranteed selection to the Select Fest game. 

Bold Prediction: Sanders has all of the tools necessary to become one of the top prospects in the entire class. The bat already plays in a big way and if he is to continue to progress defensively behind the dish, he could make the argument that he is the best catching prospect in the ’23 class. 
 


Brady Neal (Fla.)
5-10/180, L-R
Commitment: Louisiana State 
PG Events: 37
Key Stats: .318-3-68

Short Story: Neal has been a standout for years now as he has a fluid left-handed stroke and is nothing short of a gamer behind the dish. Advanced receiving skills with a strong arm and a barrel-finder type swing are going to carry him far. 

Big Moment: Most recently, Neal had a great performance in Hoover at the High School Showdown. He hit an easy .333 with a loud double and had an OPS just under 1.000. He continues to impress even when playing against older prospects. 

Bold Prediction: Neal has always been fundamental behind the dish, but he shows big power potential at the dish. If he is to start generating more lift, you could see his extra-base hit numbers skyrocket in the future, making his stock raise even further. 
 

Stone Lawless (Ala.)
6-3/205, R-R
Commitment: Tennessee
PG Events: 11
Key Stats: .355-1-27 / .999 OPS

Short Story: Lawless is a physical specimen for his age at a muscled-up 6-foot-3. Big time thump in the bat as he drives it with authority. Starting to show as more refined defensively behind the dish. 

Big Moment: Had a strong showing in his home state last summer at 15u National Elite Championship. Hit .333 on the weekend with a towering home run and knocked in five runs. Cemented his spot as a top prospect in both the state and nation. 

Bold Prediction: The bat has always been there for Lawless, but if he is to continue to progress behind the dish, you can make the argument that he is one of the top prospects in the entire country. It'll be fun to watch his progressions over the next few years. 

Colton Wombles (Ala.)
5-9/180, R-R
Commitment: Auburn
PG Events: 30
Key Stats: .355-2-51 / 1.052 OPS with 78 stolen bags

Short Story: Wombles plays an extremely high-motor type game as he is all over the field. Explosive hands helping both at the plate with a quick bat and behind the dish as he uses the arm strength to keep runners where they stand. 

Big Moment: Had a stellar showing at the High School Showdown this spring as he won All-Tournament Team accolades. Hit .692 with seven base knocks and a pair of doubles as well. Impacts with authority and is a grinder behind the dish. 

Bold Prediction: You’re going to get Wombles’ full effort at all times and that is going to carry him far. Look for him to continue to just flat-out rake and handle the pitching staff with a bulldog mentality behind the dish. 
 


Conner Bennett (Texas)
5-9/160, R-R
Commitment: Vanderbilt
PG Events: 30 
Key Stats: .397-5-68

Short Story: Bennett has done nothing but find barrels at past PG events as he has over 20 doubles to his name. The refined skills behind the dish just add to the resume as well. Immense upside at the dish with easy power in the bat. 

Big Moment: Had a very good showing at Worlds last year in Fort Myers as he proved he could swing it with the best of them, even against older talent. Hit .400 on the week and had an OPS of 1.100. Further proved that he has what it takes offensively to take that next step. 

Bold Prediction: Bennett has little to prove with the bat as he puts up numbers at every event he plays in. The skills behind the dish are going to start showing as more polished and look for him to make a big jump defensively in the future. 
 


Campbell Smithwick (S.C.)
6-0/175, L-R
Commitment: Ole Miss 
PG Events: 12
Key Stats: .353-1-34 / .993 OPS

Short Story: Smithwick is one of the more defensively-refined catchers in the class. Next level catch-and-release skills already showing and combines that with pop in the left-handed bat as he sprays it to all fields. 

Big Moment: Was a standout at the 14u National Showcase as he earned an invite to the 14u Select Fest game. Had a very loud double in the game and was poised behind the dish as well. All signs pointing up for the sweet-swinging left-handed hitter who is polished behind the dish. 

Bold Predictions: The fundamentals here are going to take him a long way as he has a great structure to build off of. Look for him to continue to add strength to the equation and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him add power to his tool set down the road. 
 


Ryder Helfrick (Calif.)
6-1/190, R-R
Commitment: California 
PG Events: 4
Key Stats: .383-1-13 / 1.104 OPS

Short Story: Helfrick has been making noise for years as one of the top bats in the ’23 class as all he does is find barrels. Uber-athletic in his actions as he whips the barrel through the zone while generating loud contact. 

Big Moment: Was one of the top bats in the Underclass World Championships this past fall as he hit .400 with a couple of extra-base hits. Seemed to find a barrel with every cut. Was also a standout behind the dish as be blocked it up and left runners stranded. 

Bold Predictions: Helfrick has an unlimited ceiling from an offensive standpoint, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him become one of the top bats in the class. Look for him to continue to be a defensive guru behind the dish and continue to tear up opposing pitching. 

Gut Feel Risers
Dillon Lester (Texas)
 The Oklahoma commit generates a ton of bat speed out of his right-handed cut and seems to find more barrels than not. Athletic behind the dish and is versatile in his actions. The bat will carry him far going forward. 

Blake Mitchell (Texas)
 Huge power potential as he utilizes a strong frame. Impacts out front and knows how to create leverage. The Louisiana State commit has long been known for his offensive potential but is also solid behind the dish as well. 

George Baker (Md.)
 Has a large tool set that he puts to good use every time he steps on the field. Physical presence at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds and has a knack for finding barrels. Catch-and-release skills with a strong arm as he keeps runners honest on the paths. 

Macon Winslow (N.C.)
He's the top-ranked catcher in his state and for good reason. Fundamental behind the dish and carries a hot bat with him to the plate on offense. Overall polished prospect that is only going to continue to get better as time goes on. 

Brady Reynolds (Calif.)
 The Stanford commit is a legit backstop behind the dish as he utilizes a great set of hands. Proved to have some feel in the box as well as he sprays it around. Did a great job handling a dominant pitching staff this past year. 
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High School | General | 2/19/2026

Midwest All Region & Top Tools
David Rawnsley
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MIDWEST REGION (KS, MO, OK, AR, NE, IA, WI, MN, SD, ND) The Midwest Region featured only two 2025 Perfect Game All-Americans in catcher Carson May and shortstop Keaton Neal, both from the Kansas City area, but if the team were to be re-selected today there might be three or four more players honored.  The theme of the Midwest Region this year has been the number of players who have improved significantly during the late summer and especially the fall, which bodes well for this spring. In addition, the 2027 class in the Midwest Region appears to be solid as well and will have many All-American worthy players. St. Thomas Aquinas HS of Kansas is the top ranked school from the Midwest Region, checking in at 38th overall in the Perfect Game Pre-Season High School Rankings.  Edmond Memorial HS of Oklahoma gives the region two teams as they start 47th nationally. C – Carson May...
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Draft | Story | 2/19/2026

Then vs. Now: '26 Class Look Back

Tyler Henninger
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One constant across our scouting staff is the volume of in-person looks we get at prospects during their high school years. With assignments at national tournaments and showcases throughout the calendar, we’ve built a deep library of reports and video on many of today’s top college prospects dating back to their prep days. This week, we took a step back to revisit what those players looked like as high school prospects. Which tools stood out? What was missing from the profile at the time? And what, if anything, did we overlook that ultimately helped shape the player they’ve become? Below, we break down 10 players in a “Then and Now” reflection. Justin Lebron (23 FL) finishes off the tournament getting in on the hit parade with a single to the pullside. #PGShowdown #Bama commit pic.twitter.com/C4Irym2ZTR — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) March 4, 2023...
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High School | General | 2/18/2026

High School Notebook: Feb. 18

Cam McElwaney
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Grady Emerson (‘26 TX) laces this ball to right for a walk off single. Clean lefty stroke. Looks the part both sides of the ball. Checks all the boxes. Will be scouted heavily this Spring. #PGHS #HookEm commit. #PGDraft pic.twitter.com/wXvdHdgqME — Perfect Game Texas (@Texas_PG) February 6, 2026 Grady Emerson (2026, Argyle, Texas) had a strong showing throughout the opening week of high school baseball out here in Texas. Works good at-bats and is always a tough out in general. Makes all the plays at short and just has the look of a future big leaguer. He does all the little things right. Bat to ball will play at a high level and there is still a lot more power to project on here. There is a reason why Emerson is one of, if not the most highly coveted high school prospect in the 2026 class and it’s easy to see why. Currently committed to Texas, but has the potential to...
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High School | Rankings | 2/18/2026

Midwest Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
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Midwest All Region & Top Tools Rk Midwest 2025 Record 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (KS) 27-4 2 Edmond Memorial (OK) 30-8 3 Muskego (WI) 27-10 4 Lawrence Free State (KS) 28-2 5 Mill Valley (KS) 22-6 6 Valley View (AR) 29-5 7 Platte County (MO) 29-8 8 Liberty North (MO) 19-14 9 Millard North (NE) 23-13 10 St. John Vianney (MO) 38-2 11 Owasso (OK) 40-3 12 Olathe East (KS) 22-6 13 Staley (MO) 38-4 14 Shawnee Mission South (KS) 10-11-4 15 Blue Springs South (MO) 27-7 16 Blue Valley (KS) 21-10 17 Edmond Santa Fe (OK) 37-7 18 Skutt Catholic (NE) 24-7 19 Howell (MO) 35-4 20 Olathe West (KS) 25-3 21 Creighton Prep (NE) 16-15 22 Rogers (AR) 26-4 23 Fayetteville (AR) 26-7 24 Blue Valley West (KS) 17-10 25 Cretin Derham Hall (MN) 19-5-1
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/18/2026

PG Softball Winter One Day Tournament

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - Perfect Game Softball Winter One Day Tournament, February 15, 2026. Twelve teams, split between the 16u and 18u divisions, participated in this event.  With two pool games, and then a move into single elimination bracket play,  some players used this tournament as  their last warm-up before kicking off their high school seasons, while others were tuning up for the busy Spring and Summer travel season. In the 16u division, it was the Iowa Aries 16u Ce Fire Red taking the championship, with Southeast Iowa Allstars 18u Gold Miller earning the crown in the 18u division. Below are write-ups from observations made during the day, as due to a software glitch, there were no stats available to complete a Top Performers list. 16U Division  Earning the MV-Pitcher Award, as selected by her coaches, was Aurora Widlund (2029 Altoona, IA) of tournament champion Iowa...
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College | Rankings | 2/18/2026

DIII Rankings: February 18

Nick Herfordt
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Every spring, Division III baseball begins as a wide-open map. Cold mornings turn into long bus rides, non-conference gauntlets test resolve, and by the time the dust settles, only a few teams are still standing with a clear line to the NCAA Division III baseball tournament. The 2026 Perfect Game Division III Baseball Rankings capture that moment before the stretch run, highlighting the programs that have separated themselves through depth, durability, and an ability to win in a variety of ways. These eight teams are not simply piling up wins; they are shaping identities built to survive the grind and thrive when the margins narrow.  The destination is familiar, even if the journey never is. Once again, the final chapter will be written at Classic Park, where timing, composure, and roster balance matter as much as raw talent. The teams ranked here enter 2026 with more than ambition....
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Juco | Rankings | 2/18/2026

JUCO Rankings Update: February 18

Blaine Peterson
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Just a couple of weeks into the 2026 season, several teams have already hit the ground running, namely Walters State, Florida Southwestern, Chipola, Johnson County, Florence-Darlington, and Pearl River. A little further down the rankings, we’ve seen some significant movement. The College of Southern Nevada surged up several spots after a strong 12-2 start, while Gaston has turned heads with an unblemished 14-0 record. We also welcome a few new additions in the 20s: Fresno City and Panola. Neither program debuted inside our top 50, but both have certainly earned their place in this week’s rankings. We’re looking forward to another exciting week of early spring baseball, as teams across the country continue to find their rhythm before conference play begins. Rk. School Record 1 Walters State (TN) 11-2 2 Florida Southwestern (FL) 11-3 3 McLennan (TX) 5-1 4 Chipola (FL)...
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Showcase | Story | 2/18/2026

PG National Heading to Miami

Perfect Game Staff
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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 NATIONAL SHOWCASE TO MAKE HISTORIC  DEBUT AT LOANDEPOT PARK, HOME OF THE MIAMI MARLINS    Prestigious event brings nation’s top amateur talent to a Major League venue July 1–5    Miami, Florida (Wednesday, February 18, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that the annual Perfect Game National Showcase will be held for the first time at LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, from July 1-5.    This milestone event marks Perfect Game’s...
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High School | Rankings | 2/17/2026

Ohio Valley Top Teams

Tyler Russo
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Ohio Valley All Region & Top Tools Rk Ohio Valley 2025 Record 1 Trinity (KY) 38-3 2 Archbishop Moeller (OH) 25-4-1 3 St. Laurence (IL) 37-5 4 Center Grove (IN) 27-5 5 Brother Rice (IL) 36-5 6 Chicago Mount Carmel (IL) 23-14 7 Crown Point (IN) 27-5 8 Libertyville (IL) 37-4 9 Brother Rice (MI) 23-12-1 10 Orchard Lake St. Mary's (MI) 26-13 11 Normal Community (IL) 37-6 12 Detroit Catholic Central (MI) 20-10 13 Nazareth Academy (IL) 31-7 14 Lyons Township (IL) 22-11-1 15 Zionsville (IN) 19-9 16 St. Xavier (KY) 30-7 17 Noblesville (IN) 16-11 18 Jackson (OH) 27-4 19 Mason (OH) 22-7 20 Fishers (IN) 25-6 21 McHenry (IL) 34-5-1 22 McCracken County (KY) 24-7 23 Westfield (IN) 22-10 24 Olentangy Liberty (OH) 27-7 25 McCutcheon (IN) 16-12
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High School | General | 2/17/2026

Ohio Valley All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
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OHIO VALLEY REGION (IL, IN, KY, MI, OH) The Ohio Valley Region has a healthy amount of top-level talent, as it features five Perfect Game All-Americans in shortstop Ethan Bass, third baseman TJ McQuillan, two-way stand out Matt Ponatoski and right-handed pitchers Shawn Sullivan and Grayson Willoughby.  The 2027 class looks very strong as well, especially in Illinois. A couple of things are missing from the Ohio Valley All-Region team, though.  The first is the two best outfielders in the region, as 2027 Illinois outfielder Sebastian Wilson is attending IMG Academy in Florida and fellow 2027 outfielder Noah Goettke from Ohio is attending P27 Academy in South Carolina.  Also missing are any players from Michigan, which enjoyed a dominant run of top prospects in recent years largely behind the Lake Orchard St. Mary’s HS program.  2027 catcher Broder Katke (Brother...
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Press Release | Press Release | 2/17/2026

PG & 100% Sunglasses Team Up

Perfect Game Staff
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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 PARTNERSHIP WITH 100% SUNGLASSES   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, February 17, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with 100% Sunglasses, naming the premium performance eyewear brand an official sunglass partner of Perfect Game and the Presenting Partner of Perfect Game’s MLB Draft coverage.   As part of the partnership, Perfect Game and 100% will collaborate on co-branded sunglasses, bringing together two brands synonymous with elite performance and authenticity in the game of baseball.   In addition, 100% will provide custom sunglasses to players selected to participate in...
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