THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,804 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,804 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Recruiting | 11/29/2021

Uncommitted Gems: Southeast Region

Jered Goodwin
Photo: Jackson Hiatt (Perfect Game)
While a good portion within the class of 2022 put pen to paper a couple weeks back during the early signing period, there are several uncommitted gems throughout the country who have the talent and tools to make an impact at the next level. Over the next week we'll take a deeper look into five different regions, beginning with the Southeast, where several of these players have made a name for themselves throughout their Perfect Game careers. 
   

Jackson Hiatt (2022, Cantonment, Fla.) has an imposing 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame but wears it easy and one can see it filling out even more to help him be the first player off the bus at the next level. It’s a bit hard to see how Hiatt is uncommitted after the 2021 circuit where he hit .365 with an 1.029 OPS. He belted nine doubles and a homer and also starred at the National Showcase. The primary corner infielder proved he has some ability on the mound as he fired upper-80s fastballs as well, while filling up the zone.



Jaxon Pastore (2022, Highland Beach, Fla.) seemed healthy and ready in Jupiter as the 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed pitcher fired heaters at 87-88 with a mid-70s curveball and low-80s changeup. Pastore presents the body and athleticism that seems to always pop when matured and gets to his senior spring. This would not be a surprise at all, and the righty could be a huge addition to a program at the next level from day one. 


Anthony "AJ" Hunerberg (2022, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) is a 6.63 runner with real burst on the bases and in the outfield. He has a strong 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame and wears the weight well. The arm plays in the outfield with good carry and he has all the tools to play anywhere in the grass. He also combines a solid hit tool, with some thump, compiling a .941 OPS in 2021. Hunerberg is also younger for the grade.

Tysen Benford (2022, Acworth, Ga.) has crazy strength in his right-handed swing and uses every bit of his powerful 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame. He isn’t a one-trick pony though, as Benford hit an impressive .372 with a .968 OPS in 2021 with 10 doubles and two home runs. There aren’t a lot of available true power threats that also create as many freebies that the Georgia native did on the regular throughout the summer and fall.

Austin Breedlove (2022, Ooltewah, Tenn.) has a quick shoulder and an over-the-top release and fires 87-90 mph fastballs. The righty can work north-to-south and mix a short slider and sinking changeup. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, he as an optimal athletic frame and he already struck out more than one hitter per inning in 2021.

Matt Dupuis (2022, Woodstock, Ga.) is a center field-type defender at the next level with his .6.62 speed and the type of first-step quickness that is desired. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, the body will still add muscle and help add pop to the .333 average and 20 stolen bases in 38 games he posted in 2021. Dupuis has a strong arm and can make all the throws as well.

Aidan Jolley (2022, Acworth, Ga.) is a good defensive catcher with solid quickness to the ground and out of the crouch. His 5-foot-9, 170-pound build produces more pop than you would think as his .889 OPS and three dingers in 2021 would attest to. To build the resume, he has 11 home runs in his Perfect Game career. This is a really balanced defensive/offensive profile at a premium position.

Ryan McTighe (2022, Dunwoody, Ga.) has an athletic 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame with intrigue on both sides of the ball.  He threw 39 innings and struck out 43 over the summer and fall and barely gave up any earned runs. There is real control here and he hides the ball well to help the fastball that runs up in the mid-80s play up even more. The 12/6 breaker plays perfectly off the over-the-top release, especially up in the zone.


Barry Manning (2022, Stone Mountain, Ga.) was fantastic at the National Showcase in June when the tools played in a big way. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound wiry athletic hit .340 during 2021 with a line drive path and lots of whip to the barrel. He has been up to 90 mph on the mound to show his arm strength, though he is a bat. Manning is also a 6.63 runner and can change the game on both ends of the diamond.

Kaden Varela Payne (2022, Wake Forest, N.C.) is a really fast shoulder right-handed pitcher that has sprightly athleticism and big upside. At 6-foot-1, 167 pounds, the body has plenty to add in terms of strength and weight. He can already rack up the strikeouts when he attacks the zone, and he is filling the zone up more than ever now. This is a super intriguing arm to follow this spring.


McKane Everett (2022, Lebanon, Tenn.), a strong framed left-handed hitter, has a sturdy 6-foot-1, 205-pound build and noticeably strong forearms. His relaxed approach helps to identify and work counts until he unleashes the barrel with big intent. The Tennessee native hit .333 with three doubles while producing enticing RBI numbers in the middle of the order. He played mostly first base in our looks but does have a catching background. 

Jean Cuello (2022, Naples, Fla.) came on strong late in the summer, finding his power stroke with 10 extra-base hits. Cuello worked nine walks, and he also stole nine bases to round out a solid summer where he hit .316. He has the actions and instincts to stay in the middle of the diamond and his 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame also has a classic look for the profile. 

Patrick Engskov (2022, Little Rock, Ark.) plays with a ton of energy coming from a motor that doesn’t stop. He is a do-it-all 6-foot, 181-pound infielder that can influence the outcome in a number of ways. The versatility on defense is a plus as he can play all over the dirt with the athleticism and IQ to play anywhere on the field. Offensively, Engskov has quick wrists and a short direct path that helps him collect hits from line-to-line. He should be an instant contributor at the next level.


Grayson Kellett (2022, Hokes Bluff, Ala.) punished baseballs during the circuit, mostly due to his really strong top hand that he punches with resolve to help an accurate and direct path. The barrel-chested 6-foot, 205-pound athlete should continue to produce in the left-handed batters box, and if he builds on the .366 average with a 1.081 OPS he produced this summer, Kellett could be a late steal. The young power bat is already displaying one-swing, game-changing ability.

Luke Thomas (2022, Climax, N.C.) was one of the impressive risers near the end of fall from both performance and for the tick up in stuff. There is a lot to like in terms of building on the wiry 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame that is already producing upper-80s velocity. Given the overall athleticism and current hand speed, the velocity should come organically as he matures. Both off-speed offerings also miss bats in bunches as the curveball has depth and the changeup has late fade. The aforementioned swing-and-miss in “bunches” includes a double-digit strikeout performance down the stretch.
Give us your feedback
College | Story | 2/6/2026

Conference Preview: Missouri Valley
Blaine Peterson
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* School W L W L Belmont 26 34 13 14 Bradley 16 35 12 15 Evansville 17 37 10 17 Illinois-Chicago 22 33 16 11 Illinois State 28 28 15 12 Indiana State 24 31 12 15 Murray State 44 17 17 8 Southern Illinois 37 20 16 11 Valparaiso 10 40 5 22 Preseason All-Conference Team  Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Ryan Bakes Illinois State Talented transfer to the MVC this season. Standout performer in the Northwoods League over the summer hitting .313 with 4 HR, 8 XBH and 24/18 BB/K. 1B...
Read More
High School | General | 2/5/2026

Georgia Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Georgia All Region Team & Top Tools Rk School Record 1 Etowah 34-4 2 Blessed Trinity 34-9 3 Parkview 26-11 4 Houston County 33-7 5 Lowndes 28-13 6 Walton 34-8 7 Buford 25-9 8 Pope 31-5 9 North Cobb Christian 24-11-1 10 Harrison 23-14 11 Newnan 32-5 12 North Paulding 28-10 13 Marist 30-7 14 Cartersville 32-10 15 Denmark 19-14 16 North Oconee 27-8 17 Loganville 29-8 18 Morgan County 32-10 19 North Gwinnett 35-5 20 Carrollton 23-12 21 Troup County 32-9 22 Hillgrove 21-13 23 River Ridge 25-15 24 Pickens 32-7 25 McEachern 24-8
Read More
High School | General | 2/5/2026

Georgia HS All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
Article Image
Georgia has its usual depth of high-level athletes and Perfect Game All-Americans, although three 2027 players did make the All-Region team.  There are an unusual number of two-way prospects among the All-Region players, a testament to the big arms that the state has right now. Two Georgia high schools are ranked in the top 10 of the PG Pre-Season High School Top 50 rankings and the Georgia high school ranks are annually among the most competitive in the country.  Etowah is the highest ranked team at 5th overall, while Blessed Trinity Catholic checks in at 8th.  Parkview is the only other Georgia team in the top 50, holding down the 34th spot.   OF-RHP Dexter McCleon Jr will be fixture on the Georgia All-Region team for the next two years but the top ranked prospect in the 2028 class will have to take a back seat to his elders this year.  McCleon’s absurd...
Read More
High School | Rankings | 2/4/2026

Florida Region Top Teams

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Florida All Region Team & Top Tools   Rk School Record 1 Stoneman Douglas 31-2 2 Tampa Jesuit 25-10 3 Trinity Christian Academy 30-5 4 South Walton 31-4 5 IMG Academy 24-1 6 Venice 29-5 7 Bishop Verot 32-3 8 American Heritage (Plantation) 29-6 9 St. Thomas Aquinas 29-6-1 10 Doral Academy Charter 27-8-1 11 North Broward Prep 23-8 12 Lincoln 24-11 13 Mater Academy 25-9-1 14 The First Academy 30-4 15 Alonso 21-13 16 St. John's Country Day 26-9 17 Bishop Snyder 23-8 18 Spruce Creek 30-4 19 Buchholz 33-3 20 Lake Mary 15-15 21 Miami Springs 28-3 22 Jupiter 25-10 23 Plant City 16-12 24 Berkeley Prep 25-10 25 Winter Park 25-6
Read More
College | Story | 2/4/2026

Conference Preview: Northeast

Jason Phillips
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* Team W L W L CCSU 23 7 31 17 Coppin State 13 17 15 34 Delaware State 6 24 7 34 FDU 16 14 16 37 LeMoyne 17 13 20 28 LIU 24 6 35 23 UMES 6 24 7 41 Mercyhurst 15 15 17 35 New Haven* 12 12 24 20 Norfolk State 4 26 4 38 Stonehill 18 12 20 32 Wagner 23 7 31 22 *Member Northeast-10 DII Preseason All Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Frankie Ferrentino CCSU .281-13-35, 9 2Bs, (Merrimack), Double digit HR all 3 years at Merrimack 1B Jayden Walker Mercyhurst .314-12-40, 10...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 2/4/2026

Baseball Meets Hollywood For Great Cause

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
BASEBALL MEETS HOLLYWOOD FOR A GREAT CAUSE    There’s no crying in baseball, but there is laughing, and there was lots and lots of it -- for a great cause -- last Saturday night in Hollywood, California. Perfect Game and its Believe in Baseball Foundation assembled a star-studded cast of comics and guests for the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner and auction. The event was held at the iconic Laugh Factory, a historic venue that, in baseball terms, would be equivalent to Dodger Stadium or Wrigley Field. Late-night superstar Jay Leno took a turn on stage. So did comedic aces Tiffany Haddish, Nikki Glaser, Dustin Ybarra and Gary Cannon. “It was 4 ½ hours of straight laughter,” said PG commissioner Dennis Gilbert, still beaming a couple of days later. “It was a really nice success.” No one kept score at the event, but...
Read More
College | Story | 2/5/2026

Conference Preview: Western Athletic

Scott Rankin
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order* Team W L W L Abilene Christian 34 23 15 9 Cal Baptist 30 27 12 12 Sacramento State 32 26 15 9 Tarleton State 24 32 12 12 UT Arlington 21 33 11 13 Utah Tech 24 31  9 15 Utah Valley 29 29 13 11 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Mason Strong Utah Valley 1st team All-WAC in ‘25 hitting .366 and leading the conference in hits.  Also hit 11 Home Runs 1B Grant Watkins Abilene Christian .292 with 14 Home Runs and drove in 48 runs in...
Read More
High School | General | 2/4/2026

West Region High School Sleepers

Joey Cohen
Article Image
Talking and debating sleeper prospects might be my favorite part of scouting. It’s where context, projection, and conviction matter most—whether it’s an underrated performer who keeps producing on the circuit, a raw but explosive athlete you can dream on, or an arm with starter traits that hasn’t quite made the stuff jump yet. These are the players who tend to separate evaluators, reward patience, and make the spring HS season really fascinating. Below are several West Region prospects outside the T100 who fit that mold and deserve serious attention as the spring unfolds. Jet Berry, Queen Creek HS, Arizona There’s a lot to like with Berry. He’s one of the more explosive, twitchy athletes in the country, and it shows consistently in all facets of his game. From a tools perspective his easy plus run and bat-to-ball ability stand out. He’s been a...
Read More
College | Rankings | 2/4/2026

Preseason NAIA Top 25

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
The 2026 NAIA Baseball Rankings arrive with the familiar weight of expectations and a few fresh storylines that make the new season feel electric from top to bottom. At the very front of the pack, perennial power Tennessee Wesleyan stands tall once again, a program that has turned sustained excellence into something bordering on routine. The Bulldogs are not just ranked highly, they set the tone. Year after year, they combine elite talent, veteran leadership, and a culture that refuses to blink under pressure. It says everything about the depth of this year’s field that it was genuinely difficult not to slide LSU Shreveport back into the top spot yet again. After all, how in the world does a team stay that good after losing so many impact players? The answer is simple and timeless. Success breeds success. Programs that live in championship air know how to reload, not reset, and...
Read More
College | Story | 2/3/2026

Conference Preview: Patriot

Anthony Gambardella
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order*  Team W L W L Army West Point 25 25 14 11 Bucknell 18 27 10 15 Holy Cross 31 27 17 8 Lafayette 14 35 9 16 Lehigh 24 26 11 14 Navy 26 25 14 11 Preseason All Conference Team Pos.  Name  School  Stats/Notes  C  Ty Deperno  Navy  Named PL Rookie of the Year & to 2nd Team All-PL in ‘25; batted .307 w/ 33 runs & 32 RBI  IF  Thomas Schreck  Army West Point  Named to 1st Team All-PL in ‘25; batted .335 w/ 40...
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.