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All American Game  | Story | 8/17/2021

Neal Makes The Leap To The Classic

Photo: Brady Neal (Perfect Game)
Brady Neal made the five-hour move from Tallahassee to Bradenton, Fla. before his sophomore year of high school to attend IMG Academy and play for the Crusader baseball team.
 
Much has been written and said about IMG and the immense amount of talent on that roster year-in and year-out. This year alone, IMG has three Perfect Game All-Americans – No. 1 overall 2022 prospect Elijah Green, No. 6 Jackson Ferris, and Neal, who slots in at No. 52.
 
Neal didn’t exactly expect to be headed to San Diego for the All-American Classic this weekend back when he jumped in the car in Tallahassee and headed to IMG last year. Not because he didn’t think he was talented enough, because he certainly was. It was because at that point, he was a top catcher in the 2023 class, still a year away from eligibility in the All-American.
 
However, after hitting .371 over 62 plate appearances with 22 RBI and nine extra-base hits all while proving to be one of the best backstops in the country regardless of age, Neal made the decision to re-classify into the 2022 class.
 
“I had a good sophomore year at school,” he said. “And it basically gave me the confidence and it proved to people that I can play with those older guys and succeed against those older guys. It really helps my situation the younger I am in the class, so that was a big part of the decision. I really wanted to get to college or go pro, get to my next step, as soon as I could.”
 
Neal said he received help from a host of people when it came time to make that decision – his advisor, his parents, Director of Baseball Dan Simonds at IMG, and the guidance counselors all played a part in making sure he was ready to make the jump, both physically and in the classroom.
 
He also made a call to the LSU coaching staff, wanting to make sure they would have a place for him a year earlier than expected. He was basically told the earlier he could get to campus, the better.
 
At the time, that was Paul Mainieri’s staff. That’s no longer the case, with Jay Johnson replacing Mainieri after his retirement at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
 
The coaching change in Baton Rouge made Neal pause for maybe all of a few seconds, but ultimately doesn’t change a thing about how excited he is to put on the purple and gold.
 
“I took a step back and realized that it was meant to be,” Neal said. “Whatever is meant to be is going to happen. It’s meant to be for me to go and play there. You just have to sit back and let things happen and figure out what you want to do. LSU is where I want to go. I’ve always loved it. I like watching them, I like the tradition, the fans.”
 
It’s easy to see he checks all the necessary boxes to move on to the next level. At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Neal moves as athletically as anyone you’ll find behind the plate, and his left-handed stroke at the plate is a smooth one. He has the pedigree of catching some of the more talented staffs around at IMG, as well as his 5 Star teammates.

He's been rostered in 46 PG events now, notably stringing together consecutive all-tournament team performances this summer at the National Elite Championship, Ultimate Baseball Championship, Southeast Elite Championship, Southeast Memorial Day Classic, and the PG High School Showdown, where his IMG squad took home a title. 
 
With that package in tow, Neal now finds himself thrust into the travel schedule of the elite baseball prospect heading into his final year as a prep – PG National, then the Prospect Development Pipeline league, East Coast Pro after that, and finishing up with the All-American Classic in late August.
 
He will be the youngest player in attendance at the Classic, not yet 17 years old when he takes the field at Petco Park in San Diego on August 22.
 
Getting selected to play in the event is an honor, Neal said, and a validation of sorts on his decision to jump into the 2022 class. This is something he has had his mind on since 2015, when North Florida Christian alum and future first rounder Cole Ragans was selected to play in the All-American Classic. North Florida Christian, in Tallahassee, is the school district Neal was in at the time of Ragans’ selection.
 
“Since I re-classed, it really meant a lot [to be selected],” he said. “I worked really hard to get there…It’s definitely been a goal of mine. A kid at my old school [Ragans] was selected when I was in seventh grade, so it’s been a dream of mine since then.”
 
That dream has become a reality, and a year earlier than originally dreamt.
 
Neal will head to San Diego with certain goals for the game – these guys are playing with and against the best prep prospects in the country on national television, they all want to play well – but more than anything, he wants to soak it all in.
 
“There are obviously goals you set for yourself,” he said. “Catch well, get a base hit or two, maybe a double. But really I just want to have fun. There aren’t many opportunities to get to do things like this. So you just relax and do what you know how to do.”
 

All American Game | Story | 7/3/2026

Initial 2026 All Star Game Roster Reveal

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We are excited to announce the first selections for the 2026 PG All Star Game from both the Perfect Game Junior and Sophomore National Showcases. The PG All Star Game will be held on Friday, August 14th at Citizens Bank Ballpark, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and will feature roughly 40 of the top players, predominately from the 2028 class with a few of the very best 2029s also selected. A watchlist has been created from the Junior National Showcase and another group of players will be selected from that showcase towards the end of July as we continue to evaluate players at the major Perfect Game tournaments this summer. The final wave of selections we be made at the PG Underclass All American Games August 5-7 at the UCSD in San Diego, CA. PG Underclass All American Games   Junior National Selections Dexter McCleon Jr. OF Suwanee, GA USA Prime Cullen Scott RHP/3B Melissa,...
PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 7/21/2026

13u Select Festival Roster Reveal

Jheremy Brown
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With the completion of the 2026 13u National Showcase, an event that featured some of the best talent the age group has to offer, 42 players came out with the label of "Festivaler" as they received a phone call shortly after the event concluded. Moving back to the University of Tennessee after a two year stay at the University of Virginia, Ole Rocky Top will see a mixed bag of returners; three-timers, new faces and a couple who bridged the gap from the 11u game into the 13u iteration.  Of the 42 players, 9 players call Florida their home base which is the most of any state while Texas (8), California (7) and Georgia (5) are all close behind nearly three-quarters of the players selected. In total 17 different states are represented, from Hawaii to Arkansas, Washington to Maryland and everywhere in between.  Quick roster breakdown: Three-time Select Festival: 13 players ...
Tournaments | Story | 7/21/2026

16U BCS Rolls into Fort Myers

Alyssa Golden
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The 21st annual 16U BCS National Championship returns to Fort Myers, Florida from July 23-27, bringing together many of the nation’s top 2028 graduates. The tournament features 44 teams, including six nationally ranked clubs, competing for a national title across five days of high-level competition. Year after year, the event has served as a proving ground for elite talent. Defending champion Showtime Select National 16U returns after capturing last year’s championship, while a talented field from across the country will look to add its name to the event’s prestigious history. One of the premier prospects in the field, shortstop Gabriel Coupet enters as the highest-ranked player in attendance, checking in at No. 49 overall in the Class of 2028 and No. 8 player in Florida. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native has established himself as one of the country’s most talented...
College | Story | 7/21/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 21 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
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The amateur players in the Cape Cod Baseball League are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and position player each week from the Cape. And, who knows, maybe somewhere out there Jessica Biel is reading it.    Player of the Week: Coen Niclai – Wareham Gatemen  The Internet tells me that 12 MLB players have come from Alaska, 10 of whom were from Anchorage, and the best of which is Curt Schilling. Niclai, who is also...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

FTB National Completes Elite Run

Kinley Kitchens
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Championships are never won in a single game. For FTB National 2027, this one has been in the making for years. An 8-0 victory over Team Elite 17U Scout capped off an unforgettable week at the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship, but according to those inside the dugout, the championship was a product of friendships formed long before the tournament ever began. FTB took their first national elite win in team history, giving one of the nation’s top 2027 teams an elite ending to their 17U summer. “This is a homegrown group,” head coach Will Haynie said. “This team has been together for the last four or five years, and I think a lot of them have been together since the Little League World Series when they were 12. It’s been fun, and a nice little cap off to their 17U summer, especially after winning a big event like this.” That chemistry...
Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Perfect Game Staff
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16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Lucas Sullivan (2027, Winder, GA) absolutely shoved in the first round of the playoffs. He racked up a total of 13 strikeouts across his seven inning, complete game shutout performance. Sullivan worked three pitches for strikes with lots of comfort and only allowed two hits. Ran the fastball up to 86 and he got lots of swing and miss on the 11-5 curveball. Mixes speeds well and was electric to watch. Landon King (2028, San Mateo, CA) was just one of the best players on the field the first two rounds of the playoffs. Totaled four hits, two of those were for extra bases and scored three times. Has lightning quick hands in the left-handed batter's box and produced loud contact constantly. Top of the class barrel skills with twitch in the turn.  Jacob Piles (2028, Cape Coral, FL) is hitting an astounding .615 with a pair of doubles in the...
Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

Perfect Game Staff
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15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘29 RHP Bryson Auten (NJ) comes out throwing absolute flames to get out of a jam. Sitting 92-94 & does it with ease. Comes out of the hand well & challenging hitters with the FB. #WWBA @PGMidAtlantic pic.twitter.com/Tf18Rdk4mx — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 19, 2026 Bryson Auten (2029, Flemington, N.J.) came in out of the bullpen in a brutal spot and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of it. He would then register another pair of strikeouts in his second inning of work, ending the game going 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. The fastball was electric, working at 92-94 and does it super easy, coming out of the hand great. Command was excellent in this outing as well, throwing 70% strikes. It’s a power type arm with advanced arm talent for the age and any time you see 92-94 at a 15u event, it’s notable...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

Legion Captures 16u WWBA West

Emily Hicks
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After five days of competitive baseball, Legion Baseball emerged as champions at the Perfect Game WWBA Championship, completing an impressive tournament run with a victory over ‘28 San DIego Ghost 10-3 in the championship game at Surprise Stadium.  The tournament brought together talented programs from across the West and beyond, with teams competing in the 15U and 16U divisions. Throughout the week, players showcased their skills in front of coaches, teammates, and families while battling through pool play and the championship bracket for the opportunity to hoist the trophy.  From the opening day of competition, Legion established itself as one of the tournament's top contenders. The club relied on hitting, quality pitching, and consistent defense to navigate a challenging field and earn its place in the championship game.  In the title matchup, Legion received key...
Draft | Story | 7/20/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Roster Challenge

Tyler Henninger
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With the 2026 MLB Draft complete, our own draft team put together a fun exercise. Using a snake style draft format, we each had to build a roster using players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. There was one catch. Each team could select only one player from each of the first 10 rounds, plus one player from Rounds 11-20. You did not have to go in order of each round, meaning you could jump between rounds and pick which players you thought had the most value. Each team installed a different strategy, balancing between star power, positional value, and depth. You tell us, which team do you think has the most talent? Team Albee C: Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech (1st rd) 1B: Will Adams, Hoover HS (11th rd) MIF: Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights HS (2nd rd) MIF: Eric Guevara, Auburn (7th rd) 3B: Robert Omidi, Fieldhouse Pirates (8th rd) OF: Kevin Roberts Jr, Jackson Prep HS (4th rd) OF: Alex...
Press Release | Press Release | 7/20/2026

LGND Becomes Official Glove of PG

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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH MLB SUPERSTAR MOOKIE BETTS, NAMING LGND OFFICIAL GLOVE OF PERFECT GAME   Partnership Officially Kicks Off with LGND Block Party on July 27 in Fullerton, California   Los Angeles, California (Monday, July 20, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a landmark partnership with Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star and 6-time Gold Glove Award winner Mookie Betts, naming recently-announced LGND Glove the Official Glove of Perfect Game. The collaboration establishes a first-of-its-kind relationship between baseball’s most influential amateur ecosystem and an active MLB superstar at the height of his career. The...
Tournaments | Story | 7/19/2026

17u WWBA North Champ. Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Ty Teske (2027, Merrill, WI) worked a complete-game seven-inning shutout while striking out 12 and never allowed the game to speed up on him. The fastball sat 79-81 and touched 83, consistently working to both sides of the plate and getting him into favorable counts. Repeats the delivery exceptionally well and maintained command throughout all seven innings. Mixed in a 69-71 curveball with depth that he showed confidence landing for strikes early or using to finish at-bats. Did an excellent job changing eye levels and preventing hitters from sitting on one pitch.   Landon Sanderson (2027, Lake Crystal, MN) attacked hitters with an 85-87 fastball that reached 89 and showed quality arm-side movement through the zone. The ball comes out with some jump and continued to play throughout the outing. Stayed on the attack from the first inning, consistently getting ahead and forcing...
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