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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 | 2/6/2026

California All Region & Top Tools
David Rawnsley
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The 2026 class is one of the best in recent memory for the state of California, with 18 players ranking among the top 100 in the Perfect Game national rankings.  Three PG All-Americans, IF Trey Ebel, OF Isaiah Hearn and RHP Logan Georges were all edged out of places on the California All-Region Team as a result.  And although the 2027 class doesn’t look as deep, it does feature three Top Six players in SS Dylan Seward, LHP Jared Grindlinger and SS Carter Hadnot. Not surprisingly, California high schools are very well represented in the Perfect Game Pre-Season Top 50 rankings, particularly with 2025 Trinity League champion St. John Bosco beginning the season as the top ranked team in the country.  A very deep Orange Lutheran squad holds down the third spot in the rankings, with 12th ranked De La Salle being the top team from Northern California.  Corona (17th),...
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College | Story | 2/6/2026

Conference Preview: Ohio Valley

Kyler Peterson
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order Team  W  L  W  L  Eastern Illinois  17  77  31  22  Lindenwood  14  12  30  30  Little Rock  8  16  27  34  Morehead State  4  23  14  39  SIUE  18  8  26  28  Southeast Missouri  16  11  30  25  Southern Indiana  15  12  27  29  Tennessee Tech  18  9  37 ...
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College | Story | 2/6/2026

Conference Preview: Atlantic 10

Marcus Thomas
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order Team W L W L Davidson  19  12  28  29  Dayton  14  16  27  31  Fordham  15  15  25  33  George Mason  20  10  40  21  George Washington  14  16  27  27  La Salle* - - - - Rhode Island  23  8  39  20  Richmond  14  16  33  19  St. Joseph’s  17  13  24  28  St. Louis ...
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High School | General | 2/5/2026

Georgia Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
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Georgia All Region Team & Top Tools Rk School Record 1 Etowah 34-4 2 Blessed Trinity 34-9 3 Parkview 26-11 4 Houston County 33-7 5 Lowndes 28-13 6 Walton 34-8 7 Buford 25-9 8 Pope 31-5 9 North Cobb Christian 24-11-1 10 Harrison 23-14 11 Newnan 32-5 12 North Paulding 28-10 13 Marist 30-7 14 Cartersville 32-10 15 Denmark 19-14 16 North Oconee 27-8 17 Loganville 29-8 18 Morgan County 32-10 19 North Gwinnett 35-5 20 Carrollton 23-12 21 Troup County 32-9 22 Hillgrove 21-13 23 River Ridge 25-15 24 Pickens 32-7 25 McEachern 24-8
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Draft | Story | 2/6/2026

PG Draft: Mid-Major Picks to Click

Tyler Henninger
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While Power 4 prospects tend to soak up the bulk of the industry buzz, there’s plenty of legitimate talent lurking at the mid-major level. These are competitive programs that are loaded with players who have real tools, physicality, and performance track records that translate beyond their conference. Below are nine mid-major prospects we expect evaluators to be in early and often on this spring. Ethan Norby, LHP, East Carolina (Rank: 155) Norby is an undersized left-hander, but has produced strong numbers over two years at ECU. The left-hander has produced a 3.80 ERA with 182 strikeouts over 149 1/3 innings. While the velocity does not stand out, Norby can still miss bats with the heater. It works in the low-90’s and creeps towards 95 mph at times. Quality extension for his size and high spin allow that offering to get on hitters, resulting in weak contact as well as whiffs....
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High School | General | 2/5/2026

Georgia HS All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
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Georgia has its usual depth of high-level athletes and Perfect Game All-Americans, although three 2027 players did make the All-Region team.  There are an unusual number of two-way prospects among the All-Region players, a testament to the big arms that the state has right now. Two Georgia high schools are ranked in the top 10 of the PG Pre-Season High School Top 50 rankings and the Georgia high school ranks are annually among the most competitive in the country.  Etowah is the highest ranked team at 5th overall, while Blessed Trinity Catholic checks in at 8th.  Parkview is the only other Georgia team in the top 50, holding down the 34th spot.   OF-RHP Dexter McCleon Jr will be fixture on the Georgia All-Region team for the next two years but the top ranked prospect in the 2028 class will have to take a back seat to his elders this year.  McCleon’s absurd...
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High School | Rankings | 2/4/2026

Florida Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
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Florida All Region Team & Top Tools   Rk School Record 1 Stoneman Douglas 31-2 2 Tampa Jesuit 25-10 3 Trinity Christian Academy 30-5 4 South Walton 31-4 5 IMG Academy 24-1 6 Venice 29-5 7 Bishop Verot 32-3 8 American Heritage (Plantation) 29-6 9 St. Thomas Aquinas 29-6-1 10 Doral Academy Charter 27-8-1 11 North Broward Prep 23-8 12 Lincoln 24-11 13 Mater Academy 25-9-1 14 The First Academy 30-4 15 Alonso 21-13 16 St. John's Country Day 26-9 17 Bishop Snyder 23-8 18 Spruce Creek 30-4 19 Buchholz 33-3 20 Lake Mary 15-15 21 Miami Springs 28-3 22 Jupiter 25-10 23 Plant City 16-12 24 Berkeley Prep 25-10 25 Winter Park 25-6
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College | Story | 2/4/2026

Conference Preview: Northeast

Jason Phillips
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* Team W L W L CCSU 23 7 31 17 Coppin State 13 17 15 34 Delaware State 6 24 7 34 FDU 16 14 16 37 LeMoyne 17 13 20 28 LIU 24 6 35 23 UMES 6 24 7 41 Mercyhurst 15 15 17 35 New Haven* 12 12 24 20 Norfolk State 4 26 4 38 Stonehill 18 12 20 32 Wagner 23 7 31 22 *Member Northeast-10 DII Preseason All Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Frankie Ferrentino CCSU .281-13-35, 9 2Bs, (Merrimack), Double digit HR all 3 years at Merrimack 1B Jayden Walker Mercyhurst .314-12-40, 10...
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Press Release | Press Release | 2/4/2026

Baseball Meets Hollywood For Great Cause

Jim Salisbury
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BASEBALL MEETS HOLLYWOOD FOR A GREAT CAUSE    There’s no crying in baseball, but there is laughing, and there was lots and lots of it -- for a great cause -- last Saturday night in Hollywood, California. Perfect Game and its Believe in Baseball Foundation assembled a star-studded cast of comics and guests for the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner and auction. The event was held at the iconic Laugh Factory, a historic venue that, in baseball terms, would be equivalent to Dodger Stadium or Wrigley Field. Late-night superstar Jay Leno took a turn on stage. So did comedic aces Tiffany Haddish, Nikki Glaser, Dustin Ybarra and Gary Cannon. “It was 4 ½ hours of straight laughter,” said PG commissioner Dennis Gilbert, still beaming a couple of days later. “It was a really nice success.” No one kept score at the event, but...
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College | Story | 2/5/2026

Conference Preview: Western Athletic

Scott Rankin
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* Team W L W L Abilene Christian 34 23 15 9 Cal Baptist 30 27 12 12 Sacramento State 32 26 15 9 Tarleton State 24 32 12 12 UT Arlington 21 33 11 13 Utah Tech 24 31  9 15 Utah Valley 29 29 13 11 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Mason Strong Utah Valley 1st team All-WAC in ‘25 hitting .366 and leading the conference in hits.  Also hit 11 Home Runs 1B Grant Watkins Abilene Christian .292 with 14 Home Runs and drove in 48 runs in...
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