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 | Corner Infield | Middle Infield
Class of 2023: Catchers | Corner Infield | Middle Infield
Class of 2024: Catchers | Corner Infield | Middle Infield
Class of 2025: Catchers | Corner Infield
Carter Smith, SS, (Fla.)
6-2/165, R-R
PG Events: 19
Key Stats: .440-12-84 career line in PG events
Short Story: Smith won the 13u Player of the Year award at last year’s 13u Select Festival and is currently ranked No. 3 in the country; a brief summary that paints a big picture. Whether he ends up as a power-hitting shortstop, hard throwing right-handed pitcher (already up to 87 mph) or even a blue-chip quarterback prospect, there’s no denying the athleticism and overall skill Smith already brings to the diamond.
Big Moment: The entire 2020 circuit was a big moment for Smith as he hit .496-5-58 with 22 stolen bases while punching out a batter per inning in 15 frames last summer as well. Already standing 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, Smith’s swing is both fluid and leveraged through the zone and he already shows an innate ability for finding the barrel. His athleticism shines just as bright in the dirt with quick footwork and soft hands, along with obvious arm strength, making him one of the most exciting prospects in the country.
Bold Prediction: It’s scary to think Smith is only going to up the ante as he continues to fill out his long-levered frame, and with the added physicality we’ll see an uptick in his power numbers, not only this summer from the start to finish of his high school career. That same strength will translate to an uptick on the mound as he again establishes himself as one of the top two-way players in the country.
Luis Ayden Almeyda, SS, (N.J.)
6-2/180, R-R
PG Events:
Key Stats: .400-2-22, 1.236 OPS
Short Story: You’d be hard pressed to find a defender in the 2025 class with better actions than Almeyda in the dirt, showing advanced tools across the board whether it’s the glove work on a routine play, range to either side, the balance and refinement of his footwork when circling the backhand, or his overall arm strength across the diamond. He’s added some noticeable strength to his frame this offseason and has made a few refinements to his swing, both of which will only further enhance his offensive performance, not that he needs it though, given his numbers from the last circuit.
Big Moment: Almeyda went 5-for-5 in all-tournament team selections to open up his season last summer (with a Top Prospect List from the 13u National Showcase mixed in) and his final two events of that stretch came in 15u tourneys, meaning he performed while playing up two grad classes. The summer as a whole was a fruitful one for Almeyda, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the country, and is already off to a hot start in 2021. And just to add to his exploits on the diamond, this past weekend Almeyda took to the mound and showed off big arm strength, running his fastball up to 87 mph while pounding the zone.
Bold Prediction: Almeyda won the 13u Defensive Player of the Year award at last year’s 13u Select Festival for good reason. This summer he’ll only further establish his presence on defense, whether it’s playing against his own competition level or up a year or two as he’s rostered for several 16u events this upcoming circuit.
Everett Johnson, 2B, (N.C.)
5-7/150, L-R
PG Events: 13
Key Stats: .500 BA/.621 OBP at WWBA Freshman
Short Story: Johnson burst onto the scene this past fall, putting up very impressive numbers at the WWBA Freshman before claiming MVP honors at the 14u WWBA. Now listed as a primary second baseman, Johnson is full of fast-twitch muscle and the combination of that, and his pure athleticism, made him a lockdown defender in center field this past fall while setting the tempo of the offense from the leadoff position. Over 11 career PG tournaments, it’s worth noting he made the all-tournament team every showing.
Big Moment: The entirety of the fall, even if just two major events, bolstered Johnson’s status amongst the top in the class. A left-handed hitter, Johnson hit .500 during the Freshman World Championships with a ridiculous .621 on-base percentage before capturing the MVP award less than a week later in Panama City with a pair of triples, nine runs scored and five stolen bases, proving to be the spark plug every coach loves to have in their lineup. While he’s not as physical as others on the list, the bat-to-ball skills are as good as any and when you factor in the speed and his ability to work the gaps, the bigger picture with Johnson becomes clear very quickly.
Bold Prediction: We’ll see how Johnson transitions to the infield, though he worked out in the dirt during the Main Event Showcase and earned praise for his athleticism and actions, but the bat should remain a constant, hitting leadoff for one of the top clubs this summer. Johnson has proven he can perform against the older competition as well as at his own level and he’ll continue to show why he’s regarded as a top-10 player in the class.
Jacob Kendall, SS, (Fla.)
5-11/155, L-R
PG Events: 31
Key Stats: .485-5-59 in '20; 30 stolen bases
Short Story: Kendall is one of the top pure bats in the class at this current juncture and the left-handed hitting Floridian is only going to up the ante as he continues to add strength to his long and lean 5-foot-11 frame. With a slew of all-tournament teams already in the bag, Kendall is currently at a .521 career batting average at PG events over the span of 303 at-bats and he’s off to a torrid start in 2021 with a .471-2-24 line over 51 at-bats, adding eight bags and four triples in the process.
Big Moment: You can take your pick and odds are you’ll land on an impressive offensive performance from Kendall from either 2020 or 2021. A 13u Select Festival alum and 13u Tourney Player of the Year, Kendall’s innate ability for finding the barrel has long been on display, showing a long, fluid and naturally leveraged path which is starting to produce some power numbers as he fills out defensively. He moves around well on his feet and has taken reps both in the dirt as well as in center field, and has even continued to make steady jumps on the mound, recently topping out at 86 mph.
Bold Prediction: There isn’t much bold predicting when it comes to his performance as Kendall has started 2021 right where he left off in 2020, squaring the ball up more often than not, and he’ll simply continue to assert himself as one of the top hit tools in the entire 2025 class while playing in all the major events.
Jack Ruckert, SS, (La.)
5-11/165, L-R
PG Events: 11
Key Stats: .429/.595/1.408 in '20
Short Story: Ruckert continues the trend of high level bat-to-ball left-handed sticks who occupy the middle infield, hitting .492 this past circuit during a host of high-end tournaments. Still highly projectable as most are at this age, Ruckert has not only shown a natural hit tool, but sharp hand-eye coordination and a refined knowledge of the zone/overall approach, all of which of course can be gleaned by simply looking at his stat line.
Big Moment: During his showing in Panama City at the WWBA 14u, Ruckert showed off his tools on both sides of the ball, and it was one play in particular on defense that stood out. On a ball hit to the 6-hole, Ruckert slid to a knee, popped and delivered a strike across the diamond without any momentum on the throw, showing the requisite arm strength to finish the play. He also hit .333 on the tournament, further showing off the left-handed hit tool while scoring a few runs and swiping a pair of bases.
Bold Prediction: The young Louisiana native comes out this summer and starts hitting for a little bit more strength as his swing is certainly geared for some juice down the road. He’ll be playing alongside some of the top-ranked outfielders in the country this summer and will be a pivotal piece in anchoring the infield.
Cole Pippenger, SS, (Tenn.)
6-0/180, R-R
PG Events: 17
Key Stats: .429-1-10 at 14u WWBA
Short Story: Pippenger hit .355 last summer in Perfect Game events, a more-than-respectable number and one that’s even more impressive when you consider he did it while playing up exclusively at the 14u level. He was instrumental in helping lead his eXposure club to a runner-up finish at the 14u WWBA World Championship last summer in Hoover, Ala., something we’ll touch on below. While the offense is the calling card for Pippenger, he shows bounce in his step defensively up the middle with softness to his hands and arm strength that plays on the mound as well.
Big Moment: The right-handed hitting Pippenger did a little bit of everything during the 14u WWBA, playing all around the field throughout the tournament while remaining a constant in the heart of the order. During his week in Hoover he slashed an impressive .429/.515/1.121 with a triple and home run while driving in 10 and scoring 10 of his own. He earned reviews for his abilities with the bat, squaring up fastballs while also showing the ability to adjust to secondary pitches, and hit safely in eight of the team’s 10 games in the tournament.
Bold Prediction: The swing itself is both direct and fast and plenty efficient through the zone and given the rate of which he finds the barrel and the physical projection of his 6-foot, 180-pound frame, don’t be surprised if the power ticks up in a notable way this summer.
Eli Pitts, SS, (Ga.)
6-0/168, R-R
College Commitment: South Carolina
PG Events: 20
Key Stats: .429/.579/1.222 to start '21
Short Story: Pitts was the first player in the 2025 class to announce his collegiate commitment, verbally committing to the Gamecocks last summer. Full of quick-twitch muscle as he already posted a 7.10 at last summer’s 13u National Showcase, Pitts moves around the infield dirt with fluidity in his actions, showing range to either side, both of which are complemented by soft hands and a strong arm. He’s a .428 career hitter at PG events which speaks to just how effectively he handles the barrel (off to a hot start in 2021 with a .429 average) while his 51 career stolen bases reiterate just how well the speed plays in game.
Big Moment: Like most of the players talked about in this exercise, you can pick any number of tournaments where Pitts did his thing offensively, as his PG profile is littered with the red letters that spell out “all-tournament team”. In fact, you’d have to go back nine tournaments to find one where he wasn’t selected as he’s currently on a streak of eight straight tournaments in which he was selected, speaking to the consistency of which the hit tool plays in game.
Bold Prediction: Pitts will continue to show why he was the first 2025 to come off the board, finding the barrel throughout the summer while putting his speed tool on display, both defensively and on the bases.
Sean Gamble, SS, (Iowa)
6-0/160, L-R
PG Events: 12
Key Stats: .304 BA in Iowa Spring League
Short Story: Gamble attended last year’s 14u National Showcase as one of the few 2025 graduates in attendance and more than held his own, ultimately earning a spot in the 13u Select Festival thanks to advanced defensive actions and a smooth left-handed stroke that was only going to jump with added strength. Well, that strength has begun to blossom, and the young Iowa native was a consistent offensive threat in the recently-concluded Iowa Spring League, whipping the barrel through the zone with extension and fluidity.
Big Moment: The previously-mentioned 14u National Showcase performance was the first on the national level for Gamble, though the moment wasn’t too big for him as the then-5-foot-11, 155-pound shortstop showed quickness to his hands offensively as he handled the barrel with comfort, while the long-term projection was clear. Like the swing, the defensive actions were clean with soft glove work out front and consistent fundamentals from his footwork to the release.
Bold Prediction: He’s rostered for several national-level tournaments this summer and given how he performed in a couple of recent showcases as well as the Spring League, the now-6-foot, 160-pound Gamble is geared up and ready to make a name for himself on the biggest of stages at the 14u level.
Coy James, SS, (N.C.)
6-0/165, R-R
PG Events: 16
Key Stats: .439 career hitter, torrid start to '21
Short Story: A 13u Select Festival alum, based on last summer’s showing it would be easy to think James’ future would be on the mound, running his fastball into the low-80s while showing one of the better curveballs the 2025 had to offer. He played up for the majority of the summer at the 14u level, playing sporadically in the field, but once the fall rolled around and he was the everyday shortstop, his talents up the middle and with the stick were clear and very well could be the future of the young North Carolina native.
Big Moment: The start of this spring has been an eye-opener of sorts for our scouts who have seen him both this year and last, as James has added noticeable strength to his frame and is impacting games in a variety of ways, whether it’s offensively, on the bases, up the middle, or on the mound where his fastball now bumps 85 mph. Over 37 at-bats in 2021, James is slashing an impressive .459/.571/1.166 with 10 stolen bases and he may just be scratching the surface of his long-term potential.
Bold Prediction: James continues to perform at the torrid pace of which he has opened the 2021 circuit, finding the barrel routinely while jumping on the mound and still showing one of the better breaking balls in the country for the age.
Gabe Boyd, SS, (Tenn.)
6-1/160, R-R
PG Events: 4
Key Stats: .478 PG career average
Short Story: It isn’t the longest of resumes when it comes to Boyd’s PG career, with just a pair of showcases and pair of tournaments to his credit, but he made the all-tournament team in both tourneys and made a vast improvement across the board from his first showcase to the 14u Southeast this past February. A primary shortstop, Boyd moves around well in the dirt, showing smooth actions, softness to his hands and whip to the arm. He’s a 7.07 runner and while there are things to like offensively, there may be even bigger potential with what he brings to the mound.
Big Moment: The long and athletic Boyd took to the mound during the 14u Southeast Showcase and in less than a year saw his peak fastball climb from 73 mph to 84 mph. Though he throws with intent, the right-hander from Tennessee also pumped the strike zone, showing solid mechanics and a fast right arm, landing his slider for strikes.
Bold Prediction: Boyd will continue to make a name for himself on the mound this summer but it won’t be at the expense of his defense up the middle, nor his offensive stroke, showing well on both sides of the ball in any event he gears up for.
The Rest of the Top 70
Jase DeSantis, SS, (Nev.)
5-9/180, R-R
DeSantis is a strongly-built right-handed stick out of Nevada who’ll look to make a splash this summer, and already has this spring, thanks to a compact-yet-strong swing with present bat speed and impact strength at the point of contact. He recently won the MVP award at the South NIT and has also been up to 84 mph on the mound.
Landon Schaefer, SS, (Ark.)
6-2/162, R-R
Schaefer’s athleticism quickly shows as he moves around with balance despite his long and lean build and he’ll only further jump off the page as he fills out physically. The right-handed swing produces nice bat speed through the zone with extension out front, making it easy to dream on the power long term.
Brenden Lewis, 2B, (Calif.)
5-8/160, R-R
Lewis may be a 2025 but he’s young for the grade, meaning he’s eligible for the 13u level this summer and is coming off a productive 2020 season in which he was the MVP of the 12u World Series. The SoCal native has adapted to the big field well already, and given his offensive skill set it’s not much of a surprise, as he has hit .500 or better in every tournament this spring.
Tate Southisene, SS, (Nev.)
5-7/125, R-R
The younger brother of two-time Select Festival alum Ty Southisene, Tate has no problem showing off his athleticism up the middle with fluid actions and soft hands. The bat has proven to be just as impressive thus far, hitting .769 at the Super Regional NIT while showing a natural feel for the barrel and plenty of balance in the box.
Paul Dominguez-Walker, SS, (Calif.)
5-10/195, R-R, College Commitment: Long Beach State
Dominguez-Walker has a strong build and the future LBSU Dirtbag knows how to incorporate that strength into everything he does on the mound. A 13u Select Festival pick from a year ago, his right-handed stroke is short and compact through the zone, showing jump off the barrel while also pumping the strike zone with a complete mix, highlighted by an 85 mph fastball.
Kayson Cunningham, SS, (Texas)
5-8/150, L-R
Cunningham has an advanced overall feel for the game, whether it’s with his left-handed stroke with which he consistently barrels up baseballs (.442 career hitter), working all around the field with budding strength or on defense up the middle. He moves around well on his feet, taking efficient angles to the ball with solid glove work out front.
Mason Pike, SS, (Wash.)
5-10/165, L-R, College Commitment: Oregon State
Already committed to the nearby Beavers of OSU, Pike’s left-handed swing has already drawn in the eyes of our scouts with a quick and whip-like stroke, showing a feel for the barrel with nice extension out front. His athleticism and footwork play well up the middle as well, showing aggressiveness in his actions with soft hands and an accurate arm across.
Jayden Stroman, SS, (N.Y.)
5-10/165, S-R
Like Lewis above, Stroman is young for the grade and is eligible to play 13u this upcoming summer after appearing in last year’s inaugural 12u Select Festival. Stroman, a switch-hitting middle infielder, has routinely played up in competition level where he has impressed with not only the bat, but also on the mound, where his arm speed and strike-throwing ability stand out.
Parker Lakey, SS, (N.C.)
5-11/170, R-R
The right-handed hitting Lakey is coming off a 2020 season in which he hit .441 with 14 RBI and 11 runs scored, though his performance on the mound was even louder. Over 31 innings last season, Lakey punched out 47 by showing a quick and loose right arm which produced a peak fastball of 84 mph with nice depth to his breaking ball.
Jackson Roper, SS, (Fla.)
5-9/150, R-R
Roper does nothing but find the barrel of the bat with seemingly every swing, coming off a .463 batting average in 2020 and has already racked up 22 base hits early this spring. He may not be the most physical of players yet, but there’s no doubting what he brings to the table offensively, on the bases, and up the middle on defense with sure, athletic actions.
Emmanuel "Manny" Lantigua, SS, (Fla.)
5-9/145, R-R
Lantigua is another “young for the class” type but don’t mistake that for a youthfulness in his skills as his actions up the middle and overall glove skill stand out, as does his arm speed which translated to the mound where his arm stroke is plenty fast through the backside. The tools continue as you look at his offensive potential, showing some strength off the barrel and lift in his path.
Danny Machado, SS, (Fla.)
5-11/175, R-R
Machado just turned 14, which means he has time to determine where he ultimately calls home. Listed as a primary shortstop where his offensive numbers have jumped off the page year after year, he was also named the 13u Tournament Pitcher of the Year after a 2020 season in which he logged 48 2/3 innings and struck out 65 batters, showing his true two-way potential.
Four More Names to Know
Osjun Rivas, SS, (Fla.)
5-9/150, R-R
Rivas stood out in all facets of his game during the 14u Florida Showcase, running a 7.19 in the 60-yard before putting the rest of his tools on display. His right-handed swing is an easy one, catching the barrel out front while working to all fields while showing quality glove skills at the ball and both quickness and mobility through his lower half actions.
Dylan Wetzel, SS, (Calif.)
5-10/160, R-R
Wetzel has some present physical strength to his frame and in his hands which aides him well in the box, showing looseness while generating separation in his swing to help drive the ball to his pull side. He moves around well in the dirt with aggressive actions to and through the ball, showing arm strength across which has also peaked at 82 mph on the mound.
Dominic Woodward, SS, (Fla.)
6-1/150, L-R
Woodward more than looks the part in the left-handed batter’s box and he’s performed each time our scouts see him, using his length well to get extended out front while showing the ability to utilize all parts of the field. He’s off to a good start in 2021 already, slashing .367/.558/1.091 and will be one to check in on throughout this summer.
Jose Perdomo, SS, (Venezuela)
5-11/155, R-R
Much like when we looked at Ethan Salas when breaking down the catchers, Perdomo doesn't technically fall within Perfect Game's rankings as a native and resident of Venezuela, but the 13u Select Festival alum's skill is simply too loud to ignore. He made the AAA stadium in Oklahoma City look small during the Festival and for as good as the bat is - and it's quite good - the defense may be even better with loose, bouncy actions, advanced glove work and a big arm. He'll be a name to know in two years when he's eligible to sign as an international free agent.