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High School  | General | 4/16/2021

Summer Preview: 2025 Catchers

Jheremy Brown
Photo: Darren Ledford (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
Class of 2023: Catchers
Class of 2024: Catchers



Darren Ledford (Okla.)
6-2/208, L/R
PG Events: 6
Key Stats: .478-1-15; 3 triples, 1.457 OPS

Short Story: Ledford is as physical a backstop as you’ll find at this age and he knows how to use his power offensively, showing a long and strong left-handed stroke that generates plenty of impact and leverage out front. He’s sound behind the plate with a strong arm down to second, but the bat is the reason why he’s currently the top-ranked backstop in the class. 

Big Moment: During the fall of 2019, Ledford made his presence felt with a single swing and continued to draw eyes with the separation in his swing and carry to all fields, setting the stage for what was to come the upcoming summer of 2020. He hit .375 on the tournament, picked up a couple of triples and drove in eight runs on the weekend. 

Bold Prediction: Ledford comes out even stronger in terms of physicality and shows an uptick in juice from what we saw while in his home state of Oklahoma for the 13u Select Festival. As he continues to grow into his body, you can expect further refined action behind the plate as well. 

Masa Chilcutt (Texas)
5-8/155, R-R
PG Events: 25
Key Stats: .350-1-17 in ’21; 6 triples, 15 stolen bases

Short Story: In terms of defensive actions, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better set of skills behind the dish at this age, though he’s just as impressive in the dirt which speaks to the overall athleticism Chilcutt brings to the diamond. There’s bounce to everything he does and the looseness of strength in his wrists allow him to not only excel behind the plate, but also in the batter’s box, where he has been on fire early in 2021. 

Big Moment: Chilcutt, who plays for the Banditos out of Texas, played up in last summer’s 14u World Series, similar to fellow Bandito backstop Cade Arrambide, who did the same a year prior. He’s continued to showcase his skill on both sides of the ball and recently stood out at the 14u South Showcase where he popped a 1.98, showed off excellent arm strength as well as the same loose and whippy right-handed swing. 

Bold Prediction: The young Texas native will continue to establish himself as the top defensive backstop in the country thanks to his flexible actions and advanced catch-and-throw skills. The offensive is ready taking off and he’ll continue to ride that momentum into all the major events.

Xavier Neyens (Wash.)
6-0/175, L-R
College Commitment: Oregon State
PG Events: 5
Key Stats: .391 career hitter in PG events

Short Story: Neyens is one of a handful of 2025 players to already commit to a college program, deciding to stay closer to home with the Oregon State Beavers. Athletically built at 6-foot, 175 pounds, Neyens’ left-handed stick is already capable of producing high exit velocities and his career batting average in PG events shows how frequently it plays in game, against high level competition. 

Big Moment: The future Beaver hit .300 or better in back-to-back tournaments which offered rather loaded talent pools, earning All-Tournament Team honors with Trosky Baseball at both the 2020 PG Fall National Championship as well as the South MLK Championship at the start of this season. 

Bold Prediction: Neyens is rostered for several big events this upcoming summer and given his talents on the diamond, he’s ready to make a splash on the national circuit, which will only further highlight his tools that currently have him ranked No. 19 in the country. 


Taylor Belza (Ohio)
6-0/183, L-R
PG Events: 8
Key Stats: .379-2-15 in PG career

Short Story: Offensive-minded backstops who can hit for juice from the left side seem to be a strong suit for the class already as Belza joins the likes of Ledford and Neyens. He’s able to create real barrel whip and leverage in his swing thanks to his quick hands, but Belza is just as impressive behind the plate with soft hands receiving and a strong, accurate arm down to second.

Big Moment: The 2021 14u East Showcase. Already a career .379 hitter, Belza made his showcase debut this past January and really put himself on the map with a strong showing on both sides of the ball. A top prospect in the event, Belza continued to show off his left-handed stick, but also opened eyes with his athleticism and actions behind the plate. 

Bold Prediction: There’s not much of a bold prediction to be made considering he’s already ranked No. 41 in the country, but Belza will likely go up against some of the top tier arms in the class and he has the type of strength to change the course of a game rather quickly.

Carson Quillen (Tenn.)
5-10/190, R-R
PG Events:
Key Stats: 14 K in 5.2 IP/.520-1-11 w/ 11 stolen bags in ’21

Short Story: Of the top-five ranked catchers in the class, Quillen is the youngest of them all, having suited up in last year’s inaugural 12u Select Festival, but he might also be the stronger of them all despite his age. Whether it’s behind the plate, at third base or even on the mound, Quillen stands out for what he brings to the diamond both defensively and with his arm strength (75 mph from behind the plate), as well as with his right-handed swing, which is off to a hot start in 2021. 

Big Moment: Despite being 12u eligible last circuit season, Quillen played up at the 13u level for the majority of the year and is rostered to do the same again, playing against his grad year rather than his age group. That said, he was handed the ball to start the game for the East team in the 12u Select Festival, delivering the first ever pitch in an event that will only grow every year moving forward. 

Bold Prediction: Quillen is going to continue to impress all over the field this summer and despite his physicality, he’s going to surprise with his overall athleticism, already running a 7.2 in the 60-yard. He has bat speed and juice, as well as the aforementioned arm strength, to make an impact in a variety of ways, even if he’s playing up this circuit season. 

Names to Know

Trent Grindlinger (Calif.)
Grindlinger is yet another physical backstop to monitor heading into the spring as he’s already showing solid catch-and-throw skills from behind the plate, though it’s the bat that’s his loudest tool. At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds Grindlinger is off to a hot start in 2021 with a .484/.587/1.103 slash across a couple tournaments while showing off a simple, yet powerful swing during the California Workout Camp, driving balls to either gap with a balance stroke. 


Sean Ashenfelder (Fla.)
Similar to Quillen above, Ashenfelder is a 2025 graduate whose age will allow him to play at the 13u level, though his skill already has him ranked No. 65 in the country amongst ‘25s. His overall athleticism and versatility allow him to stand out all over the field defensively whether behind the plate, in the dirt or roaming the outfield. A near .500 career hitter in PG events, his innate feel for finding the barrel is evident, exhibiting quick hands and the hand-eye coordination to consistently square the ball up. 


Reagan McCluskey (Calif.)
The second California pitch-caller on the list, McCluskey is just as physical as Grindlinger at a listed 5-foot-11, 185 pounds and he knows how to incorporate his size into his offensive approach. Staying shorter and direct to the ball, the strength in his hands is apparent and allows him to drive the ball to all fields while showcasing a keen awareness of the strike zone while in the box. Behind the plate, McCluskey shows a quick release with nice carry and accuracy on this throwing, rounding out his profile. 

Jay O'Neal (Ga.)
While O’Neal’s present profile has his defense ahead of his offense, by no means does that mean he isn’t already impressing, capturing the eye of onlookers for what he brings behind the plate. At 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, O’Neal is a long and athletic backstop who shows advanced receiving and throwing skills behind the plate, standing out amongst his peers though he’s also coming off a 2020 in which he hit .344 for the East Cobb Astros. 


Omar Serna (Texas)
Serna was a star of the recent 14u South Showcase as he hadn’t previously been ranked but certainly put his name on the national scene with his overall performance. A primary catcher with big arm strength both behind the plate (77 mph), as well as on the mound (85 mph), Serna put his arm on display in Tomball alongside his right-handed swing which offers barrel whip and separation, resulting in some loud contact to his pull side. 

Ethan Salas (Venezuela)
Perfect Game’s rankings only includes players from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, but if we’re looking at some of the top backstops at the 14u level, we’d be falling short if we failed to mention Ethan Salas. A top international prospect who geared up for last year’s 13u Select Festival, Salas possesses top of the charts abilities behind the plate from his overall flexibility to the softness of his hands and high level catch-and-throw skills. On top of what Salas brings to behind the plate, he’s just as impressive with the stick from the left side with blossoming power and a loose, fluid stroke. 
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High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans
Tyler Russo
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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...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/12/2026

14u BCS Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Austin Way (2030, Yulee, FL) was 2-3 in game four, driving in a run and scoring once himself. Picked it well defensively at shortstop but really showed out in the box today. Works the barrel path to the middle of the field and whips the barrel through the zone. The RHH creates lift in the turn, and the ball jumps off the bat hot.  Sutton Walling (2029, Ponte Vedra, FL) is an athletic 5’11/160lb infielder who gets it done on both sides of the ball. Dominated at the plate right behind his teammate Way in the batting order going 3-3 with two doubles. He does a really good job with the barrel accuracy and works through contact with heavy hands. Lots of project-ability in the profile and is having a sneaky great week at the plate. Banks Kennedy (2030, Arcadia, FL) received it well behind the dish and was the leading force in this one driving in three rbis. He ended up going 2-3...
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Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Best Available

Tyler Henninger
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2026 MLB Draft: Best Available for Day Two  A total of 135 players heard their name called on Saturday. As always, signability, bonus pool strategy, and organizational preferences play a major role in how the board unfolds. With that being said, we saw a majority of the top half off the board get selected, but there are a number of players ranked inside our Top 150 that remain available. From high-upside prep talent to polished college performers, these are the top names still available according to our Final Top 500 Draft Board.  Top Prep Bats Available (with Top-500 Board Rankings) 38. Archer Horn, SS/RHP, St. Ignatius College Prep (CA) 58. Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic (CA) 64. James Tronstein, SS/OF, Harvard-Westlake (CA) 66. Noah Wilson, OF, McCallie School (TN) 71. Cole Koeninger, SS/RHP, Keller (TX) 77. Sean Dunlap, C, Crown Point (IN) 82. Alex Weingartner, OF//RHP,...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/11/2026

17U National Elite Heads to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
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Another week, another big tournament makes its way to Hoover.  This week, 104 of the nation’s top 17U teams will make their way to Hoover for the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship.  Featuring nationally ranked teams, Division I commits, and many of the country’s top 2027 players, the tournament promises another week of elite competition as teams battle for one of the biggest championships of the summer.  With many players already committed to some of the nation’s top college programs, every game in Hoover this week offers a glimpse into the future of college baseball.  Now entering its eighth year, the National Elite Championship continues to bring in the nation’s best. Past champions include Team Elite Scout Team, Canes National, USA Prime National, Scorpions/Giants Scout Team, 5 Star Performance National, Knights Knation Scout...
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Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Day One Recap

Tyler Henninger
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Storylines Heavy College Run Early We came into the day knowing that there were a lot of talented college players at the top of the board, more specifically college bats. That came to light very early in the day, as we saw just two prep players selected within the first ten picks. The college preference lasted throughout most of the entire first round. Nearly 75% of the first 40 selections were college players. It is clear teams want players at the top of the draft that can quickly get through the system and help the big league club as soon as possible. Underslot Strategy Throughout this cycle, we knew that once you get past the first handful of picks the difference in value you were getting for let say pick ten was not that difference compared to pick 30. Because there was a large collection of players that are relatively close in value, teams were looking to get creative. We saw this...
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Draft | Mock Draft | 7/11/2026

Final 2026 MLB Mock Draft

Vincent Cervino
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It's draft day and that means it's time for our final Mock Draft with the 2026 group. 1. Chicago White Sox | Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA It’s between Roch and Grady Emerson at this pick, though there have been heavy rumors of a very late deal potentially with another top 5 pick. This boils down to negotiations and we think that they will get there.  2. Tampa Bay Rays | Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian (Tex.) If Grady isn’t the first pick then he is almost certain to be the second pick. The Rays like to get creative but Emerson is a well worth prospect in his own right.  3.  Minnesota Twins | Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech This is likely the floor for Roch Cholowsky, though the Twins might prefer Lackey to Roch outright. They are thought to be in on the top college players with Emerson a distant third.  4. San Francisco Giants | Jackson Flora, RHP, UC...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Ohio Valley Regional Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘28 INF Christian Ramirez (OH) WALKS IT OFF for @CincyDBulls2028 to win the chip! Has shown impressive tools throughout the weekend and in this AB showed the ability to adjust to the offspeed and win the game. #OVElite pic.twitter.com/J3MXJXFnbM — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 5, 2026 Christian Ramirez (2028, Mason, Ohio) helped his team win the championship batting out of the two-hole. Though he didn’t win tournament MVP, Ramirez was my favorite player to watch take a plate appearance. He has an advanced feel for the zone and sees the ball out of the pitcher’s hand quicker than most. Ramirez led the tournament with eight walks, batting .375 with a .583 on-base percentage. Much more than just the approach, the swing is efficient with little wasted movement, creates quality separation, and puts him in an excellent position at contact. With such an...
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College | Story | 7/10/2026

Cape Cod Notebook No. 1

Perfect Game Staff
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Cape Cod League Scouting Notebook  Maverick Rizy | Ole Miss | RHP | Brewster Whitecaps  The towering 6-foot-9, 250-pound right-hander continues to stand out with one of the more unique looks on the Cape, pairing a massive frame with a low three-quarter slot that creates difficult angles for hitters. While his fastball velocity was down from its typical mid-90s range during this look, working mostly 90-92 mph, it still generated plenty of swing-and-miss. He paired the heater with an 81-83 mph gyro slider featuring tight bullet-spin action and mixed in an 85-mph changeup with quality separation. Rizy battled his command early in the outing I saw, before settling in to strike out five over three innings, showing the ability to adjust as the game progressed. Through 12.2 Cape League innings, he has recorded 18 strikeouts, and his combination of size, deception, and projectability...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
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16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 ‘28 C Nico Ayars (FL) coming off a monster game yesterday & comes up with the biggest swing of this one. A triple right down the LF line to drive in two. Came into today hitting .833 this week. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/Hvb7UvtkNi — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 8, 2026 Nico Ayars (2028, Fort Myers, Fla.) has just been on the barrel throughout the week so far, collecting six hits across the first four games of the tournament. That didn’t slow down on day three at Mt. Zion High School as he came up with the biggest swing of the day, hitting a triple down the left field line to drive in a pair. It’s been a standout week so far for Ayars and he’ll be a driving force behind the run through the tourney for CBU 2028 Scout Team Lawson. Rylan Jenkins (2028, Tennille, Ga.) put...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

14u & 17u West Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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Tre Hallberg (‘27, AZ) hammers this out to deep LCF for a 2-run 💣. Continues to stand out at the plate. Power will only continue to develop #WWBAWest @PG_Uncommitted https://t.co/NlWlDygpwg pic.twitter.com/RHrgYXLmwm — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 10, 2026 Tre Hallberg (2027, Mesa, Ariz.) was nearly impossible to get out over the first two days of action, going 7-for-9 with a triple and a home run. A balanced right-handed swing stays compact to contact. There is quick hand speed through the zone with feel for the barrel. Hallberg has a strong feel to hit to go with power that continues to develop. The upside is apparent.  William Garcia Falmer (2027, El Dorado Hills, Calif.) collected a pair of mulit-hit games over the course of day one and two, going 5-for-7 with two doubles, a homer, and seven runs driven in. Garcia Falmer features a physical build...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
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Windy City Invite & Open Scout Notes: Part 1 Braedon Paczocha (2028, Palmyra, Wis.), a 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame catcher for GRB STiKS 16U Black, displayed a quick bat with the ability to do damage. Showed a good feel for the barrel throughout the weekend, hitting .538 (7-for-13) with 3 doubles, 8 RBI, 2 stolen bases, and a 1.376 OPS. Also received well behind the plate with quick, efficient transfers and displayed good instincts.    ’28 1B Brock Hamilton (IL) displays some present strength, driving this ball deep into the LCF gap to leg out a triple. Creates loud contact off the bat and does damage here. #WCInvite @WhitesoxAce pic.twitter.com/6EK81gG9Wi — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 5, 2026 Brock Hamilton (2028, Flossmoor, Ill.), one of the top first basemen in Illinois, brings a physical 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame with plenty of present strength...
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