General | Blog | 6/16/2026
Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 66
Ron Wolforth
The Number That Just Killed MLB Expansion: 1,217 USA Today's Bob Nightengale dropped a bomb shell recently that the baseball world is still digesting. Major League Baseball wants to expand to 32 teams. Team executives are quietly opposing it and the reason has nothing to do with cities or money. They cannot find enough healthy pitchers. Between 2020 and 2024, professional baseball performed 1,026 Tommy John surgeries at the minor-league level alone. Another 191 at the Major League level. More than twelve hundred elbow reconstructions in five years on the best young pitchers in the world. That is not bad luck. That is a system reporting a verdict on itself. For fifteen years, the youth-baseball industry has chased one number: velocity significantly more than projectability and arm care. Recruiters scout by it. Social...
Tournaments |
Story |
6/22/2026
14u WWBA Scout Notes: Days 1-2
Perfect Game Staff
2030 SS Cash Kelly (Franklin, Tenn.) is a buzzing name this summer as someone who is off to a fast start and looks the part as one of the better pure hitters in this class. He’s very comfortable in the box, showing an innate feel to find the barrel (and limit swing-and-miss) while the hands are fast and he can really accelerate the barrel. Defensively he has been excellent making plays look easy, showing nice range and enough arm for the left side. Add in the fact that he’s a strong runner and you have someone that can impact the game a ton. 2030 SS/RHP Trey Vandergriff (Milton, Ga.) got a couple innings of work at the back end of East Cobb’s first game and looked awesome, striking out 5 of the 6 hitters he faced with big stuff. He sat 85-88, showing dynamic arm speed and a really athletic delivery, while the breaking ball feel stood out, showing he can land it in any...
Draft |
Prospect Scouting Reports |
6/22/2026
MLB Draft Reports: 400-500
Michael Albee
MLB Draft Board: Top 500 400. Michael Barnett, RHP, UCLA R-R, 6-4/210, Lafayette, CA Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Michael Barnett has started games over the last four years for the Bruins, including 44 starts over the past three seasons. The fastball does not overpower hitters, but can generate ground balls at a high rate. A heavy fading changeup is the primary secondary pitch and plus offering. Barnett will use it often and miss bats at a high clip with it. A low-80’s slider adds a third offering. Barnett does not generate a ton of strikeouts, but pounds the zone and fills innings. 401. Connor Marshburn, RHP, UNC Wilmington R-R, 6-6/240, Cary, NC Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Connor Marshburn features an XL frame at 6-foot-6, 240-pounds. The right-hander throws from a low slot and attacks hitters with an east/west mix. The fastball works up to 94 mph with armside...
Tournaments |
Championship |
6/22/2026
Hot Bats Help AZBC 2027 Take Title
Emily Hicks
After three days of competition, the 2026 BCS Challenge concluded with a championship matchup between AZBC 2027 EB and AZ Aztecs at Goodyear Ballpark. AZBC 2027 EB came out victorious with a 12-1 win for the tournament title. AZBC 2027 EB took control early, plating 4 runs in the 2nd inning after Aztecs put 1 on the board in the 1st. The offense continued to build momentum throughout the game, capitalizing on hitting and aggressive base running. Leading the way offensively was Griffin Gregory, who finished 2-3 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. He got the game started for AZBC with a double lined out to left in the top of the 1st inning, getting the crowd and dugout going. Additionally, Beau Zacher, a top 500 ranked player,d went 2-2 with 1 double and 2 runs score, though he wasn't the only one to help out the offense. Logan Sanchez went 2-2 with 2 doubles and 1 run scored and hit .714...
Tournaments |
Story |
6/19/2026
14u/15u Midwest World Series Notes
Perfect Game Staff
Aiden Weishaar (2029, Geneso, Ill.) physical power bat put together one of the most productive offensive performances of the event, showing big impact off the barrel with advanced strength and leverage through the swing. Collected six hits including two doubles and two home runs while driving in 13 runs, consistently doing damage in run-producing situations. Creates loud contact with present pull-side juice and projects for significant power as the frame and strength continue to mature. Middle of the order offensive profile with the ability to change the game with one swing. Also stood out on the mound with a dominant 7 inning performance, punching out 11 hitters while working efficiently throughout the outing. Fastball ran up to 86 mph with good life through the zone and showed the ability to consistently attack hitters and miss bats. Highly intriguing two-way prospect whose combination...
Tournaments |
Story |
6/19/2026
14u WWBA Returns to Hoover
Kinley Kitchens
One of the most anticipated events on the summer travel baseball calendar returns this week as the 2026 Perfect Game 14U WWBA National Championship gets underway in Hoover and the surrounding Birmingham area. Now in its 19th year, the tournament has established itself as the premier event for 14U players across the country, annually attracting some of the top young talent in amateur baseball. This year’s championship will feature 129 teams competing for a national title, continuing a tradition that has seen organizations such as East Cobb Astros, Team Elite, USA Prime, SBA Bolts National, and defending champion ZT National Prospects take home the trophy. As always, the field is loaded with elite prospects, many of whom are already becoming familiar names within the Perfect Game community. Starting off strong with Christopher Cabrera, the No. 1 overall player and No. 1 third baseman...
Tournaments |
Story |
6/19/2026
UBC West Scout Notes: Days 5-7
Perfect Game Staff
UBC West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 | Days 3-4 Impressive performance on both sides from Cole Migaki, working 5 and striking out 3 w/o allowing a walk for the ND. FB 81-83 T85, BB 73-74 #UBCWest https://t.co/nSIx0UVQY7 pic.twitter.com/t2zXIpPLCO — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 16, 2026 Cole Migaki (2029, Vancouver, Wash.) Migaki is a high-end prospect, putting that on display with one of the more consistent performances at the 15u UBC West. He totaled five hits, drove in four and walked six times to only two strike outs to help lead the Baum Bats to the title. He has a projectable frame 6-foot-1, 170-pounds with strength throughout. The right-hander made an appearance on the mound, throwing five-innings and striking out three without allowing a walk. The fastball was up to 86 with run and coupled it with a sharp breaking ball in the...
Tournaments |
Story |
6/19/2026
Road to the 2026 17U BCS Title
Emily Hicks
This weekend, 11 teams will take the field for the 2026 17U BCS Challenge, a three-day event that brings together programs from across the country for a full slate of pool play and bracket action. With games beginning Friday and a champion crowned Sunday, the format leaves little room for slow starts, making every inning important from the opening pitch. The field features a mix of established programs and rising teams. With so many evenly matched rosters, there’s not much separation heading into the weekend, which puts importance on pitching depth, defensive consistency, and timely hitting. Pool play will quickly determine seeding, and even one loss can shift a team’s path heading into bracket play. One of the teams expected to be in the mix is Hawaii Elite 2G 17U National, a group that is 6-3 overall and ranked as “Honorable Mention” on the Perfect Games...
Draft |
Rankings |
6/19/2026
PG Draft: Top 500 Update
Tyler Henninger
Rk. Name Lvl Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jackson Flora C RHP R-R UC Santa Barbara Pleasanton CA 5 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 6 Eric Booth Jr. H OF L-L Oak Grove Bassfield MS Vanderbilt 7 Drew Burress C OF R-R Georgia Tech Perry GA 8 Ryder Helfrick C C R-R Arkansas Discovery Bay CA 9 AJ Gracia C OF L-L Virginia Monroe NJ 10 Chris Hacopian C SS R-R Texas A&M Potomac MD 11 Gio Rojas H LHP L-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coral Springs FL Miami 12 Tyler Bell* C SS S-R Kentucky Frankfort IL 13 Cameron Flukey C RHP R-R Coastal Carolina Egg Harbor Township NJ 14 Ace Reese C 3B L-R Mississippi State Canton TX 15 Justin Lebron C SS R-R Alabama Miramar FL 16 Derek Curiel* C OF L-R LSU West Covina CA 17...
Softball |
Softball Tournament |
6/18/2026
PG Softball Stars Over Florida Showcase 14U Division
Erica Beach
PG Stars Over Florida Showcase Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026 CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 14U division where we had teams representing three states. 14U Division Zoey Salas (2030, RHP/1B Windsor, CO) of the Colorado Angels 14U Breed was a standout player all weekend. She was a strong two-way player who proved to be a consistent force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, this left-handed hitter starts...
Softball |
Softball Tournament |
6/18/2026
PG Aggieland Showcase
PG Aggieland Showcase College Station, Texas June 13-14, 2026 Scouts: Brynn Baca & Karlie Milburn COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS- Perfect Game Softball was excited to return to College Station for the second annual Aggieland Showcase last weekend.. Some great competition was seen over the three age groups. We had two scouts on site to evaluate and highlight some of the athletes who caught their eyes. Thank you to all teams and players who competed so hard! Below we highlight those athletes who impressed our scouts. 18U Division Elizabeth Posada- Elizabeth Posada is a 2028 two-way player from Houston, Texas, competing for Aztecs Premier who brings an intriguing combination of offensive upside and athletic versatility. At the plate, Posada recently went 4-for-8 on the weekend, continuing to show consistency and offensive awareness. She sets up with a slightly open, wide stance and does a...