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Tournaments  | Story | 9/30/2021

WWBA Underclass Uncommitted: Part 2

Jheremy Brown
Photo: Yahil Melendez (Perfect Game)
WWBA Underclass Uncommitted: Part 1

John Abraham (2023, Tampa, Fla.)
The 6-foot-3 right-hander out of the Florida certainly opened eyes this summer, running his fastball up to 90 mph at the Junior National while routinely operating in the upper-80s throughout the summer circuit. He’ll take the mound for the Top Tier Roos at some point during the Underclass Championship and while the velocity stands out on paper, the overall cleanliness of his arm stroke stands out, as does his ability to spin an upper-70s with late two-plane tilt and bite. 

Yahil Melendez (2023, Guanica, P.R.)
Looking for a slick fielding shortstop who hits from the left side who’s still available? Melendez might be your guy and his best days are still ahead of him as he continues to fill out his long and lean 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame. Amongst his peers from around the country Melendez’s defensive actions stood out during the Junior National Showcase, putting his soft hands and fast transition on display, moving just as cleanly to his backhand as he does his forehand while showing plenty of arm strength across the dirt. The defense is the standout part of his game right now but the young shortstop from Puerto Rico also hit .360 on the summer with 13 doubles while swiping 17 bags. 



John "Alex" Walsh (2023, Alexandria, La.)
Strongly built with a durable 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, Walsh looks the part of a power arm and he showed just that during the Top Prospect Games at Texas A&M where he ran his fastball up to 90 mph with a rather low effort release. He struck out 19 over 16 innings this last summer circuit with Knights Knation, who he’ll once again be suiting up for this upcoming tournament. Walsh’s performance at the 16u WWBA earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team for both hitting and pitching, though it’s the fastball velocity and ability to spin a breaker that stand out the most. 

Tommy Turner (2023, Coventry, R.I.)
You might not think of Rhode Island when it comes to hard throwing underclassmen but that’s where Turner calls home and he’s one of the more established arms in the Northeast amongst his peers already. A sub-7 runner who’s athletically built, Turner is already running his fastball into the low-90s with a long and quick arm stroke, generate hard running life to his arm side. He has a full three-pitch mix and is just beginning to scratch the surface of his long-term potential. Turner will suit up for NEB and is currently scheduled to throw their second game of the tournament on October 1 at 12:30 pm. 


LJ Mercurius (2023, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Mercurius certainly looks the part whenever he toes the rubber, standing at a long and athletic 6-foot-3, 170 pounds and there’s no denying what he’s capable of generating with his lightning-fast right arm. His most recent PG outing, the 16u WWBA West in July, saw Mercurius take home MV-Pitcher honors as he punched out 13 over 8 innings, walking just 2. The fastball has been up to 92 mph this summer, logging 10 2/3 innings in which he struck out 18 to a mere 3 walks on the year. The arm speed, physical projection and summer production are all reasons for college recruiters to lock in on this uncommitted arm out of Nevada. 

Evan Miranda (2023, Fontana, Calif.)
Miranda goes to national powerhouse Orange Lutheran in California, meaning he’ll face plenty of quality opponents throughout his career and though he had a limited sample size at PG events this summer in just 7 innings pitched, the results speak for themselves as he punched out 13, three of which came during his 2-inning stint at the PG Underclass All-American Games. While the velocity may not jump off of the page for Miranda, there’s something to be said for his ability to pound the strike zone with a fastball that currently peaks in the upper-80s, showing command of the zone while mixing an 11-5 shaped curveball for strikes. 

Oliver Service (2023, Detroit, Mich.)
You’ll be able to find the physically-built Service in Wow Factor’s lineup this upcoming tournament and he’s certainly no stranger to Perfect Game events. He’s a career .366 hitters and is coming off a summer season in which he hit .360, connecting for 4 doubles and 3 triples, generating quality bat speed through the zone while implementing the strength in his hands at the point of contact. He’s worked mostly as an outfielder prior to this year, where he shows range, and he’s currently making the transition to behind the plate. 

Dylan Lapointe (2023, Valrico, Fla.)
You don’t have to scroll too far back in Lapointe’s profile to find some recent high praise from the PG scouting staff as he stood out during the Florida Qualifier just the other week. He’s physically built at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds and both his strength and athleticism play well on both sides of the ball, making him a prime target for schools looking for a backstop. Amongst the write up from the Qualifier was “it’s the innate ability to adjust in the box and manipulate the barrel that allows him to consistently strike the ball well while being a gamer behind the dish”. 

Hideki Prather (2023, Oakland, Calif.)
Uncommitted catchers who can make an impact on a game usually aren’t available this late in the process, but Prather has earned praise of his defensive abilities for quite some time now. He’s no stranger to receiving high-end arms playing for the Alpha program, handling low-90s velocity with ease as you can see in the tweet above. As the stick continues to make headway, keep eyes on this NorCal product. 

Andy Hernandez (2023, Hialeah, Fla.)
Versatility is the name of the game for Hernandez as his athleticism allows him to excel all over the diamond, whether in the dirt, outfield, behind the plate or on the rubber. The arm speed speaks for itself as he routinely works into the upper-80s with his fastball, but his right-handed swing will be just as imperative for the 5 Star Outlaws to make a run this upcoming tournament. On the year he hit .403 with a .531 on-base percentage, swiping 14 bags while coming around to score another 20 times. 


Cason Engert (2023, Cumming, Ga.)
There’s a lot to be enamored by when it comes to the right-handed throwing Engert, beginning with his long and lean, but athletic, 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. Athletic enough to play around the diamond while showing some pop in his swing, Engert’s future is on the mound and he was rather consistent throughout the summer, averaging just over a strikeout-per-inning while walking just 10 in 35 innings pitched. The velocity slowly crept up his last few starts on the circuit as well, running his fastball up to 89 mph while showing nice depth on the breaker. 

Adam Katz (2023, Bellaire, Texas)
There’s plenty to be intrigued by when it comes to the uncommitted Texas native, whether it’s his athleticism (6.89 in the 60-yard this past December at the Main Event), the quickness to his left-handed stroke at the plate, or the fact that he can run his fastball into the upper-80s from the left side. The arm strength plays all over the diamond and the athleticism allows him to find success on both sides of the ball, making several All-Tournament Teams this year for either hitting or pitching and finished the summer with a robust .481 average and 1.322 OPS.

Fletcher Hislop (2023, St Petersburg, Fla.)
Hislop found himself on the Top Prospect List from this year’s Florida Top Prospect Games where he stood out on both sides of the ball, though his performance throughout tournaments this summer prove he’s more than just a showcase player. Possessing plenty of quick-twitch as evidenced by his 6.77 in the 60-yard, Hislop knows how to utilizes that speed both on the bases and in the outfield while showing solid hand-eye coordination at the plat which yields plenty of line drive contact around the yard. 


Rowan Donels (2023, Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
If you want to talk about production, take a look at the numbers Donels put up on the mound during the 2021 calendar year at Perfect Game events. Over his 34 1/3 innings the ultra-projectable 6-foot-5 right-hander punched out 64 while surrendering just 10 base hits despite just beginning to scratch the surface of his long-term potential. The fastball works in the mid-80s (for now) but it’s impossible not to dream on what the Iowa right-hander could look like at the end of the day, especially given his ability to already shoot the knees consistently with his heater. 


Cameron Grindle (2023, Mansfield, Mass.)
Grindle will follow Tommy Turner and come out of the bullpen during NEB’s second game of pool play and it’s an arm college recruiters will want to see, especially given what we just saw from him at the Fall Connecticut Showcase just over a week ago. The arm action is plenty smooth and fluid on the mound, generating some whip while running his fastball up to 89 mph before settling comfortably into the mid-80s with the same loose and easy release. Along with his ability on the mound, Grindle was a barrel machine, impacts baseballs to all parts of the field for extra-base hits. 
 
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Blue Wave Battle & Prevail at 14u Classic
Kinley Kitchens
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For Excel Blue Wave, the summer was never about being perfect. It was about getting better. After a season filled with challenges, growth, and plenty of learning along the way, Excel Blue Wave put everything together when it mattered most, defeating SBG Sox Prime, Al 9-3 to capture the 2026 14U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. For Excel Blue Wave Coach Forrest Heacock, watching the group celebrate with a championship trophy was especially meaningful because of everything it took to get there.  “It hasn’t been the easiest summer, and have battled a lot,” Coach Heacock said. “The kids have improved so much over the summer, and that is really what it’s all about at this age. It’s really just about improving at this age, and to see them be able to put it together, and just really compete together and play as a team, I couldn’t be...
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Draft | Story | 7/30/2026

2026 MLB Draft Signing Deadline Recap

Tyler Henninger
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As of Monday at 5 p.m. ET, the 2026 MLB Draft is officially complete. The signing deadline has passed, meaning we now know every team’s finalized draft class and exactly how much each player signed for. Entering the draft, it was clear there was a distinct top tier consisting of Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, and Vahn Lackey. That separation became even more evident once contracts were signed. Cholowsky became the first player in draft history to sign for more than $10 million, agreeing to a record-setting $10,347,500 bonus with the White Sox. Emerson set a new high school signing bonus record at $9,747,500, the second-largest bonus ever awarded to a draft pick. Lackey rounded out the trio with a $9,497,500 bonus, the third-largest signing bonus in MLB Draft history. Those weren’t the only records set. Teams combined to spend $402,481,143 in signing bonuses, surpassing last...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Excel Leaves No Doubt at 15u Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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Excel Blue Wave National wasn’t leaving Hoover empty-handed.  At least, that was the message head coach Wes Henderson gave his team.  After a summer filled with strong performances but without a tournament title to show for them, Excel Blue Wave National entered the 2026 15U Perfect Game Hoover Classic with one more opportunity to finish the season the way they wanted.  This time, they left no doubt.  Excel Blue Wave National defeated East Coast Sox 2029 Victus, 12-0 in the championship game, combining a balanced offensive attack with a strong performance on the mound to secure their first tournament title of the summer.  “It’s been a special group,” Coach Henderson said. “They fought really hard, and they played really well this summer, and this is the first championship that we’ve been able to bring home. We typically...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

"Excel"ling Through the Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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After a long summer of baseball, Excel Blue Wave National had one final opportunity to end it the way every team hopes to.  Together, having fun, and as champions. Excel Blue Wave National closed their summer with a 13-9 victory over Excel Blue Wave American – Morrison to capture the 2026 16U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. In a game that required contributions throughout the lineup and seven innings of competition, the Excel Blue Wave National relied on the same qualities and approach that had carried the group all summer. With talent, perseverance and a chemistry built far beyond the baseball field, they were unstoppable.  For head coach Brennan McCullough, there couldn’t have been a much better way for his players to finish their final weekend together .  “It’s great,” Coach McCullough said. “We’ve had a long...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

16u West WS Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Quinton Hall
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16u West World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Jason Lizotte (‘28 | NV) Smooth LHH, hunts pitches down in the zone he can rip to the middle & PS w/ a downhill & direct path. Some strength in the hands w/ feel for the barrel #PGWS pic.twitter.com/kbK5Ayvhd7 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Jason Lizotte (2028 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-9, 145-pound left-handed hitter and outfielder was a spark plug all weekend for MTBA Dawgs 2028, finishing with seven hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, four RBI, three stolen bases, and four walks without a strikeout. Lizotte refused to give away an at-bat, consistently working hitter’s counts before spraying line drives all over the field. The left-handed swing stays short and direct with plenty of feel for the barrel, and once he reached base, he immediately put pressure on the defense with...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

SBA Sox Save Best for Last

Kinley Kitchens
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Sometimes the best ending comes after a season of figuring things out. For SBG Sox American, the summer wasn’t always seamless. The team spent their early weeks learning where players fit best, building chemistry and searching for the combination that would allow them to play their best baseball. By the final weekend, they found it.  SBG Sox American closed their summer with a 7-5 victory over Dirtbags Midsouth 2027 Black to capture the 2026 17U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship, putting together one final winning performance in the last tournament this group would share this summer.  For SBG Sox Coach Cooper Williams, that made taking home the championship trophy even more meaningful. “It’s been great, especially for it being their last summer event,” Coach Williams said. “It’s really cool for them to kind of pull this thing out for...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

East World Series Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Evan Brand (2027, Acworth, Ga.) has been solid at the plate all summer and did not slow down late in the summer. This week, Brand was able to hit just under the .700 mark and tallied three extra base hits, including a homer. The switch hitter has a fluid barrel path with plus feel for the barrel to all fields. The lower half also moves with some rhythm, and the switch hitting ability with the accuracy to the barrel provides plenty of intrigue. The middle infielder is committed to Georgia Tech. Atley Schwarzrock (‘27 GA) catches of all of the first pitch he sees launching it over the wall in left for a 2-run 💣 sending it with some heat; stays loose in his progressing ripping the barrel thru the zone with some strength behind it and staying tall on impact. #EastWS… pic.twitter.com/oGxbPQN1W0 — Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) July 27, 2026 Atley Schwarzrock (2027,...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

17u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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17u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Lukas Waite (‘27, CA) showed LOUD stuff out of the pen. 6-2/205 frame. High-end athlete on the mound. FB sat 92-95 (T96). SL at 80-82 generated uncomfortable whiffs #PGWS @California_PG @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXaVxqA2kv — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Lukas Waite (2027, San Diego, Calif.) came out of the pen on day four and showcased the loudest stuff out of the entire event. The recently named PG All-American ran the fastball up to 96 mph and sat 92-95 mph throughout the outing. A slider at 80-82 mph was lethal. It tunnels well off the heater and gets uncomfortable whiffs often. Waite features a 6-2, 205-pound frame that moves extremely well. There is supreme athleticism throughout the delivery that stands out. The upside is extremely high and will be sure to draw heavy draft interest during this...
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All American Game | Story | 7/29/2026

Victorino & Girardi Tabbed PGAAC Managers

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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   SHANE VICTORINO AND JOE GIRARDI NAMED MANAGERS FOR PERFECT GAME DICK'S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC AT CITIZENS BANK PARK   Former Phillies Stars to Lead Nation's Top High School Baseball Players on August 16 in Philadelphia   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wednesday, July 29, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that former Phillies All-Star outfielder Shane Victorino and former Phillies manager Joe Girardi will serve as managers for Team East and Team West, respectively, at the 2026 Perfect Game DICK'S All-American Classic, taking place on Sunday, August 16, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.   Joining Girardi and...
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College | Story | 7/28/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 28 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: Blake Schaaf – Bourne Braves  Schaaf had a big week, going 12-for-22 (.545 AVG) with 3 Doubles, 4 Stolen Bases, and 9 Runs Scored. It’s been the continuation of a terrific summer for the...
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