THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,490 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,490 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Showcase  | Story | 9/29/2021

Old School Meets New School with PG Tech

Blake Dowson
Photo: Dominic Hellman (Perfect Game)
Kyle Crawford was sitting in the bullpen of Tropicana Field during the Perfect Game National Showcase with his laptop open, knee deep in data he had been collecting over the course of the showcase on the top 2022 prospects in the country.
 
The data belonged to PG Tech, a company formed by Perfect Game and K-Motion to better provide unique data-based scouting and player development insights using the most advanced technologies in baseball.
 
Right beside Crawford was Bill Bavasi, former general manager of both the Anaheim Angels and Seattle Mariners. After over 40 years in Major League Baseball, Bavasi is now a member of Perfect Game’s leadership team, and lends his services in a number of ways.
 
On that day, he was simply curious about what Crawford was digging through on his laptop. So Crawford obliged, pointing to the player who happened to be pulled up at that moment and explaining how the PG Tech Cage measures data points such as kinematic peak speeds, stretch, and sequence, using a combination of technology mostly reserved for MLB teams – K-Motion 3D technology, Edgertronic high-speed video, and data collected from Pocket Radar, Diamond Kinetics, and TrackMan.
 


All this data put together, Crawford explained to Bavasi, tells the story of the hitter being tracked, in this case eventual Perfect Game All-American Dominic Hellman. It was all right there in cold, hard numbers, and in fact, Hellman’s numbers were phenomenal.
 
Bavasi was intrigued by the data itself and by Hellman, and called Bob Fontaine over to take a look. Fontaine, a long-time associate of Bavasi’s, is a former Major League scouting director, responsible for signing guys like Randy Johnson, Ozzie Smith, and Tony Gwynn in his day.
 
“Bob is clearly an old school scouting, eyeball scout,” Bavasi said of Fontaine. “He’s not an analytics guy because he never had the benefit of PG Tech or any other metric like that. The difficulty some people see in some of these metrics and the analytics in general is that no one is really trying to bridge the gap between old school, eyeball guys and the new school technology we have today. There’s been a disconnect there.”
 
Bavasi directed Crawford to wipe away all the data on his laptop screen. Blow up the high-speed Edgertronic video and have nothing else in view.
 
His ask of Fontaine at that point was simple – watch this slo-mo video and tell me what you see in this guy. What you like, what you dislike, problem areas, everything.
 




“Bill was sort of blind testing both of us to see how credible [PG Tech] is versus someone he knows and trusts, in Bob,” Crawford said. “But also, how much does Bob see what the tech is seeing?
 
“I just walked through the data and spoke about where [Hellman] was functioning really well. And then [Bavasi] had [Fontaine] come over and he asked him, just based on the video, what he thought of Hellman. Maybe the words were slightly different, but it was the same story being told.”
 
It was a moment of breakthrough. The disconnect that Bavasi spoke about, that gap no one had seemed to have bridged, now seemed…well, bridged. PG Tech proved what Fontaine saw with his eyes, and the way the long-time scout described Hellman articulated him in a way that sometimes gets lost in data.
 
“There was no prep, they just asked me to look at it and describe what I saw and tell them what I think,” Fontaine said. “I broke down the swing, and it was a kid I had watched over a three-day period.
 
“He’s a big kid with a balanced stance and a good approach to the ball…This kid has a quick bat. He generates really good bat speed. That’s what produces the power we saw during batting practice.”
 
Hellman was an obvious poster child for Crawford in the PG Tech Cage. His peak speeds were well higher than what you would expect of a fully mature, elite player. His hand speed especially, at 2366 degrees/second, was exceptionally fast compared to the 1800 deg/s marks of the “average” elite player. His speed gains were equally as impressive.
 


Pictured: Dom Hellman's PG Tech profile
 
“[Hellman] was in the top-10 in all of his different body segments,” Crawford explained. “And top 10 percent in exit velocity as well.”

| PG Tech FAQ |
 
When Fontaine looked at Hellman’s Edgertronic video, he saw a 6-foot-6, 17-year-old hitting balls off a tee at 100 mph with the fluidity typically reserved for prospects much smaller than him.
 
“Bob was looking at him based on his tools and his swing,” Bavasi said. “He didn’t really care what he did at the showcase…What he was saying about him was the exact same thing the data was saying.”
 
At the Perfect Game All-American Classic awards banquet held the night before the game at Petco Park in August, Hellman was honored on stage with the PG Tech Award, a nod to his prolific numbers in the PG Tech Cage at the National. It was an appropriate culmination to the conversation between Crawford, Bavasi, and Fontaine in that Tampa Bay bullpen the month prior.
 


It’s just the start for PG Tech, however. The PG Tech Cage is now available at every Perfect Game showcase across the country, which means coaches and scouts who are making decisions on scholarships and draft picks can now have a better understanding of each prospect who attends a PG showcase.

| Perfect Game showcase schedule |
 
The data that Crawford and Bavasi dug into is instantly uploaded to each prospect’s Perfect Game profile, and the high-speed video that Fontaine studied is on there, too. You can see old school meeting new school when you’re on those profiles, and the two are getting along brilliantly, bridging a gap that was too wide for too long.
 
“Too often when something new comes along, they don’t meet in the middle,” Fontaine said. “If you can find that middle ground, that’s where you want to be. You have to keep the human element in it, but if you can add in other things that aid that, it seems to me that you can come up with the best decision.”
Give us your feedback
Showcase | Story | 6/30/2026

2026 PG National Showcase Preview
Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
With the start of July comes the start of the 2026 PG National Showcase. Running for five days, the best of the Class of 2027 will come together in Miami’s LoanDepot Park to update their metrics and show their progress in game situations against top-tier talent.  45 out of the top-50 players in the class of 2027 will be in attendance - including all top-5 players, Dylan Seward, Chase Fuller, Kinon Bastian, Connor Salerno and Carter Hadnot.  Vice president of scouting operations at Perfect Game, Jered Goodwin, said the fact that so many of the top-ranked guys have prioritized this event is telling. "When you talk about 45 out of 50, you see how many kids across the country want to go in and compete to see where they stand and what they need to improve on," Goodwin explained. "When you have those types of numbers of kids coming in and wanting to compete at the same place...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Read More
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
Article Image
High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
Article Image
JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Texas Twelve Firing On Full Cylinders

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Every team hopes to start a tournament with momentum, but few make a statement quite like Texas Twelve Maroon 2028. Matched up against defending champion Excel Blue Wave National to kick off their debut in the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, Texas Twelve Maroon delivered a complete team performance, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory and immediately establishing themselves as one of the top teams to watch this week. The win showcased the balance that has made Texas Twelve Maroon a powerful team. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and steady defense all played a role as the team held off one of the tournament’s premier programs. Right-hander Ty Antley turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, throwing a complete game while allowing only five hits and two walks over seven innings. The High Follow prospect worked consistently between 85-89 mph and mixed in a sharp...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 6/30/2026

Flames Capture 18U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Flames Natty used timely hitting and a dominant start from Beau Collier to defeat NLB American 7-3 and capture the 18U BCS National Championship on Monday at Lee Health Sports Complex. Despite being assembled just hours before the tournament began, the Flames quickly developed chemistry throughout the tournament. “This team was put together 12 hours before this tournament, and they went on a crazy run,” head coach Adam Vasquez said. “These kids know each other locally, but they don’t play together. For them to come together last minute like that, it’s crazy. I’m proud of them for that.” The game opened as a pitchers’ duel, with David Acevedo recording the lone hit through the first two innings. NLB American starter Hayden Graham kept the Flames in check early, allowing just one hit while striking out one over 2.0 innings. The right-hander...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.