THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,397 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,397 MLB PLAYERS | 15,805 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
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. 
Give us your feedback
High School | General | 4/2/2026

High School Notebook: March 2
Steve Fiorindo
Article Image
Lennex Minor (‘28 CA) absolutely destroys this offering to the PS for a 2-run shot. 2-4 on the day w/ 4 driven in. Athletic in the box w/ a quick stroke and strength throughout the frame. Also closed out the game running the FB up to 88 in a St. Bernard win #PGHS @PG_Scouting pic.twitter.com/KF7BsKGcm7 — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) March 29, 2026 Lennex Minor, MIF/P, St. Bernard (2028) Minor had a massive day in my look this past Saturday in a game being played at the University of San Diego.  The sophomore had a pair of hits, one which was a no-doubt homer, and drove in four.  Minor’s athleticism jumps out on the field with twitchy actions both at the dish and in the dirt.  He features a 6-foot, 170-pound frame with room to add and generates from a strong lower half and exceptionally quick hands.  Showing two-way potential, he made an...
Read More
High School | General | 4/2/2026

NHSI Scout Notebook

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
An extended look at ‘26 RHP Wilson Andersen… 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 K. @HailStateBB signee. #NHSI26 @JesuitBaseball @Florida_PG @PG_Draft @PGAllAmerican https://t.co/VLwECd2qZ8 pic.twitter.com/JbTFR3Gd2l — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) March 30, 2026 Wilson Andersen, RHP, Tampa Jesuit  Andersen got the ball on day two of the event and showed a quick tempo, pounding the zone with a power mix. He ran the fastball up to 97 mph, working comfortably in the mid-90s, with a power curveball/changeup mix he showed confidence in. He’s one of the top right-handers in the class that saw his stock rise in Cary. Andersen is signed with Mississippi State.    An extended look at ‘26 RHP Cooper Sides… 5 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. @LSUbaseball signee. #NHSI26 @olubaseball @PG_Draft @California_PG https://t.co/Ag1MfBAR5a pic.twitter.com/5wSszVjBn8...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 4/2/2026

All American Classic Heading to Citizens Bank

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME DICK’S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC HEADED TO CITIZENS BANK PARK IN 2026   Perfect Game makes debut at iconic Phillies venue during America’s 250th birthday celebration   Former Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel named Honorary Chairman of All-American Classic   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Thursday, April 2, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that the 2026 Perfect Game DICK’S All-American Classic will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, marking the first time a Perfect Game event has ever been held at the iconic home of the Philadelphia Phillies.   The game will take place on...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/1/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 1

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
Welcome to another week of Perfect Game Small School baseball — and if you're looking for clarity at the top, you've come to the wrong place. Across all three classifications, the No. 1 spot is very much an open question, and nobody is sleeping comfortably right now. In NCAA Division II, Pittsburg State is stumbling at precisely the wrong moment, leaving the door cracked wide open for hungry challengers to come knocking. In the NAIA, defending national champion LSU Shreveport has dropped four straight and suddenly looks far more vulnerable than a program of their pedigree ever expects to be. And in NCAA Division III, the race for the top ranking is less a competition and more a ten-car pileup of elite programs, none of whom have done enough to pull away — and all of whom have done plenty to deserve it. Three classifications, three vacancies at the top, and a whole lot of...
Read More
Juco | Story | 4/1/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 1

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Another week of JUCO baseball and another week full of wins for No. 1 ranked Johnson County . The Cavaliers have won 18 games in a row and have swept through the Jayhawk Conference to this point, setting a new school home run record along the way. Walters State returns to the top 5 this week on the strength of a 12-game winning streak. Both McLennan and Pearl River are coming off of undefeated weeks and look like strong top 10 caliber teams, while Midland (now 30-3) continues to climb in the rankings for the third consecutive week. For the first time all year this ranking will feature 4 California schools as Palomar joins Ohlone, Fresno City and Santa Ana in the JUCO rankings. Check back in next week for an update as most of JUCO baseball is now past its halfway point in the 2026 season. RK School Week Overall 1 Johnson County (KS) 4-0 34-2 2 Gaston (NC) 2-1 35-3 3 Walters State (TN) 3-0...
Read More
College | Story | 4/1/2026

Collegiate Midseason All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Collegiate Midseason Awards * denotes Midseason Award Winner - All-Americans chosen based on statistics, prospect status, future projection, among other factors - Only true freshmen considered for Freshmen All-American teams - All Statistics as of Monday, March 30th First Team Hitters Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB C Vahn Lackey Georgia Tech JR .423 .541 .845 36 41 9 1 10 36 7 1B Quinton Coats Cincinnati SO .360 .441 .896 38 45 8 1 19 46 7 2B Jarren Advincula Georgia Tech JR .411 .489 .563 31 46 2 0 5 30 5 3B Ace Reese Mississippi State JR .330 .417 .661 32 36 12 0 8 37 1 SS Roch Cholowsky UCLA JR .350 .493 .730 39 35 8 0 10 32 1 IF Dee Kennedy Kansas State JR .430 .549 .910 44 43 10 1 12 43 15 OF Will Gasparino UCLA JR .351 .468 .794 31 34 5 1 12 38 1 OF AJ Gracia Virginia JR .350 .504 .650 37 36 7 0 8 24 1 OF Landon Hairston* Arizona State SO .469 .551 1.027 44...
Read More
High School | Rankings | 3/31/2026

High School Top 50: March 31

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Another pair of weeks has gone by this high school season and with that we have another High School Top-50 Update. Southern states are within a few weeks of the end of the season while some northern states are just getting started this week. Through the end of the spring, we will be bringing you updates to the Top-50 along with state rankings updates coming soon. For the first time in 2026, we have a new #1 in the country as Orange Lutheran (CA) takes over the top spot after winning the NHSI. Venice (FL) came in second place at the NHSI after a thrilling game against Orange Lutheran and comes in at #2. Previous #1 team in the country St. John Bosco (CA) rounds out the top-3 and will have a big showdown against Orange Lutheran starting tonight. Barbe (LA) boasts a 26-1 record and comes in at #4 while Corona (CA) continues to string together wins and holds down the #5 spot in this update....
Read More
College | Story | 3/31/2026

PG Collegiate Midseason Awards

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Midseason Awards  Perfect Game Midseason Player of the Year:  Landon Hairston, OF, Arizona State  The season sophomore outfielder Landon Hairston is putting together is generational, even amongst the Hall of Fame talent Arizona State has fielded over the years.  Hairston, the 5-11/195 sophomore outfielder from Queen City, AZ has his club on track for another postseason appearance and they will make plenty of noise in the Big 12 regular season.  To put things in perspective on Hairston’s season, he is currently 5th in the nation in batting average, 3rd in hits, 8th in hits per game, tied for 2nd in home runs, tied for 5th in runs scored and is 4th in runs batted in so far.  He holds a batting average of .469 while slugging 1.027 and reaching base over half the time with an OBP of .551.  Hairston walks more than he strikes out and has 12 doubles, 17...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 3/31/2026

14u East Spring Opener Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Roman Keister (2030, Dade City, FL) Could not miss the barrel this weekend tallying 6 hits including 2 triples and 4 RBI. Starts the load early and controls his body well, the up the middle approach really plays in game. Also worked from off the mound for an inning and picked up a punch out.  Colton Russo (2030, Coral Springs, FL) Showed off the power burning outfielders all weekend. 5 hits including two triples that carried over the CF and RF heads. Has a good understanding about using the lower half in the swing and the bat to ball skills really impressed.  Karson Blakney (2030, St. Augustine, FL) Made his impact in a big way this week, collecting the win in the quarterfinals. In his outing he went 5 shutout innings and struck out 5 while only allowing 2 hits. Worked in the mid 70s with the FB and topped out at 78. Also produced on offense driving in 5 RBI on 4 hits. ...
Read More
College | Story | 3/31/2026

College Players of the Week: March 31

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
March 31st Perfect Game/Co-Players of the Week:  Landon Hairston, OF, Arizona State  The Arizona State Sun Devils (20-8) went (3-2) last week and now sit at No. 18 in our latest Top 25 poll.  They are proving that they are legitimate Big 12 contenders and Landon Hairston is making a strong case for National Player of the Year at the halfway point in the season.  The 5-11/195 sophomore outfielder from Queen City, AZ is putting up such loud numbers that they are almost hard to fathom.  In five games last week, the lefthanded hitter collected 12-hits in 19 Abs, scoring 13 runs on 6 walks, a double, 5 home runs and he drove in 11 runs on his own.  For the season, he has put together a slash line of .468/.991/.553 with 12 doubles, 15 round trippers, 45 RBIs, a 12:18 strikeout-to-walk ratio and he has swiped 8 bags so far.  It has been a special year for the...
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.