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Tournaments  | Story | 12/23/2021

Regional Review: Texas

Photo: Jordan Lawlar (Perfect Game)
With the Perfect Game scouting staff spread throughout the country and another action-packed season in the books, we'll take a look back at some highlights from individual states over the next couple of weeks, from the 13u level all the way up through the collegiate ranks and the MLB Draft.


Biggest 13u Moment/Breakout Player
Texas is well represented in the 2026 class with an exciting up-and-coming pool of talent. Among notable performances in the 2021 circuit, the biggest moments of the year came from the state’s top two ranks. Grady Emerson and CJ Sampson were exceptional at 13u National and 13u Select Festival. Sampson was named 13u Pitcher of the Year while Emerson, the No. 4 overall 2026 prospect, helped lead a dominant championship run at the 14u Worlds with his talent at the plate. Plenty still to come from this class, but the most intriguing breakout player was Miles Young, a physical 6-foot-2, 175-pound shortstop who seamlessly impacted games on both sides with a deep tool set on display at the South Elite Championships in the 16u group no less. 


Biggest 14u Moment/Breakout Player
The 2025s in Texas competed very well on some of the biggest 14u stages of 2021. A lot of anticipation lies ahead of these prospects' prep careers after finishing the season with several enticing early verbal commitments to the country’s top programs. There were a handful of notable big moments, but few compared to Vanderbilt commit Minjae Seo tossing a hitless eight-punchout outing at the Freshman Worlds and holding his own in a short appearance in the Upperclass World Championship, striking out two more in the same week. From the start of the spring, Jack McKernan was the clear biggest breakout player, who took leaps in the rankings with dominant performances and power stuff from the left side with more to come, the recent Texas commit really molded his craft on the mound posting strong starts week to week.


Biggest College Moments
Texas had an exciting 2021 campaign, making another College World Series appearance. Though the Longhorns fell one game short of the CWS Championship to the eventual national champions, their 50-17 season highlighted having no holes in their loaded lineup with some of college baseball’s top prospects leading the way and young talent making early impact. Dallas Baptist was also a fun watch in 2021, seeking their first CWS appearance and putting together a Top 25 stature to their 41-18 season that ended after winning the series opener against Virginia in the Super Regional.


Biggest Summer Moment
The 2021 Texas summer circuit provided some fun to watch next-level baseball. Standing out immediately is the power arm from 2023’s No. 10 prospect and 2023 draft eligible prospect, Travis Sykora. The 6-foot-5 athletic and physical presence on the mound still does not prepare you for 97 mph fastballs with life downhill, and not often are rising juniors prepared to make the adjustment at the plate against it. His first start of the summer at the South Invitational was a short two-inning stint with six strikeouts and not much hope to find the barrel against him.


Biggest Breakout Player
Jett Williams was a very fun to watch two-way talent all summer who made leaps in his big summer. He plays with excellent feel for the middle infield and a plus run tool he transfers to the field effectively. He put his five-tool potential on full display week-in and week-out, consistently productive with impact in every phase of the game. Williams is an athletic, compact 5-foot-8 frame with explosive tools and advanced strength heading in the right direction, bringing some excitement to the 2022 Mississippi State recruiting class.


Biggest Draft Moment
In the 2021 MLB Draft, Colton Cowser and Jordan Lawlar exemplified Texas amateur talent at the highest level with back-to-back early first round selections. The Baltimore Orioles put their trust in Southland’s Player of the Year, Cowser, with the No. 5 overall pick out of Sam Houston providing one of the most polished bats making it easy to jump his rank after an incredible college career, piecing together quite the track record alongside a pure hit tool we should see in the Big Leagues soon. Vanderbilt recruit and five-tool shortstop Lawler was the top prep position player in the draft selected at No. 6 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Jesuit in Dallas. 

Top Texas Travel Teams

2022 Grads: USA Prime 2022 National
National Rank: 10

2023 Grads: Lonestar Baseball 2023 National
National Rank: 17

2024 Grads: USA Prime 16u National
National Rank: 1

2025 Grads: 2025 Texas Twelve Black 
National Rank: 3

2026 Grads: USA Prime 14u National
National Rank: 1

A Look Ahead


High School: The 2022 Texas high school season is getting ready for another spring of some of the nation’s best teams and players across the state. Picking up where the 2021 season left off with Rockwall-Heath, Friendswood and Lake Travis as the top-three in Texas, I look forward to Lake Travis’s season and another year with an exciting pitching rotation, including the power arm duo from two-way player and Texas signee Pierce George and Texas A&M signee Luke Jackson bringing a difficult pair of low-90s arms both with feel to spin, alongside Rhode Island signee Cole Carroll and 2023 Alabama commit Jackson Baker to go to.

College: Texas is bringing back important players to the 2022 season with some exciting transfers and freshman talent in the mix. This program has looked spring ready since the start of fall, especially their unfair pitching depth, including 2023 draft eligible RHP Tanner Witt generating buzz and looking sharp on the mound in the fall, and there will be plenty of big moments to watch for from him. And after a dominant 2021 season, the experience returns with quality depth shaped for another highly-anticipated CWS run from the Longhorns. 


Tournaments | Story | 1/27/2026

MLK East Scout Notes Recap

Perfect Game Staff
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‘28 OF Jakob Groeschel (OH) continues to impress with the bat on the circuit, picked up 2 2Bs in the first game today. Really athletic, went 4.4 on turn; easy to dream on all the traits. #MLKEast @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/wOIwnGKnkg — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) January 17, 2026 2028 OF Jakob Groeschel (Springfield, Ohio) broke out at this event last year hitting a casual .909, and although he didn’t turn in quite the same performance, he hit a strong .462 with 4 extra-base hits, 5 walks, 5 bags and only struck out once. He’s a pretty dynamic athlete who can do a lot of things well, but the bat is the calling card as he just lives on the barrel and has no problem handling all kinds of pitching. It’s a simple swing, but he’s got fast hands and he can really impact the ball without being overly physical yet.  2030 RHP Michael Vazquez...
High School | General | 2/27/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1

Tyler Russo
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High School Showdown Event Page | High School Showdown Preview ‘27 1B Frank Thomas (FL) goes liftoff once again for 2nd HR, again in the L on L. Leveraging w/ such easy juice. #PGShowdown @IMGABaseball @Florida_PG https://t.co/BgWiDyMiMo pic.twitter.com/IC6sdAkhmT — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 26, 2026 Frank Thomas III (2027, Sarasota, Fl.) was all over a breaking ball in the first inning of an IMG Academy offensive explosion, making it back-to-back-to-back homers to start the game. He did not turn back from there, homering on two more occasions. The ball explodes off the barrel with low effort strength and he showed the ability to manipulate the barrel to lift with authority. Thomas III is built strong and physical and he is just beginning to tap into that huge power upside. He showed no issues handling left on left matchups, with his first two homers coming...
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 2/26/2026

PG Draft: Early Season Underclass Performers

Tyler Henninger
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Dax Whitney (@BeaverBaseball) showed LOUD stuff. FB up to 100, cruised at 95-98. Pair of plus secondaries. CB at 77-79 (2923) with sharp, 12-6 action. Firm SL at 89-91 (2714) with bite. Flashed fading CH at 87-88 (1425). Ranked No. 1 on the ‘27 board @PG_Draft So./‘27 elig. pic.twitter.com/9PNbjJ53Zo — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 13, 2026 RHP Dax Whitney, Oregon State (‘27 elig.) Whitney may not just be the best arm in next year’s class, he may be the best arm in the entire country right now. The right-handed sits 98 mph with the heater and has been up to 100 mph. Both the slider and curveball are plus offerings that he spins extremely well. Whitney will mix in a quality Gavin changeup that sits in the upper-80’s and has also introduced a new cutter. All the pitches come from the exact same release point and jump out of the hand. He...
High School | General | 2/26/2026

PGHS Showdown: Academies Scout Notes

AJ Denny
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Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) going WAY out to right. Rhythmic approach and smooth swing get into big time power. #Mountaineers commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/qyDaIPxIol — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) First live look at the left-handed hitting West Virgina commit. The power is real, launched two long homers in game action this weekend. Easy mover with very clean path with sky high offensive ceiling if he continues to show like this. Swing is built for power and lofted pull side impacts.    CJ Alfano (‘26 NY) long PS bomb this morning. Just leaning on everything that’s thrown over the heart. #WVU commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/4lGnhOEyrl — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Cj Alfano (‘26 NY)Just an impossible out throughout the weekend....
High School | General | 2/27/2026

SoCal High School Notebook: Feb. 27

Steve Fiorindo
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5 K's over 4 hitless innings of work for Jared Grindlinger (2026), making first start as member of the 2026 class. 92-94 t95 w/ the FB, SL 80-83, CH 81-83, CB 77/78. Efficient outing, 50 pitches, 39 strikes. #PGHS @PG_scouting @PG_Draft @HBHS_basebll @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/y7jwX1oPyB — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) February 25, 2026 Jared Grindlinger, LHP, Huntington Beach High School (2026) Gringlinger’s first start as a member of the 2026 class was a good one… 4 innings of no hit ball with 5 strikeouts.  Ran the fastball to 95, lived 92-94, throwing a ton of strikes.  50 pitches on the day, 39 strikes, pretty much landing all four pitches in the zone.  Went to the slider early and often, quadrupling up on the slide piece to the first hitter of the game. The slider shows late lateral action with some vert, living 80-83.  Used...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/25/2026

Perfect Game Softball 16U Winter Elite Showcase

Dave Durbala
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SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball 16u Winter Elite Showcase, February 20-22, 2026. Twenty-Four teams arrived in Springfield for the opportunity to showcase some of the best talent in the midwest. After 3 pool play games,  the field was split and seeded into either the Platinum or Gold Division to begin bracket play.  With several highly sought after young arms on display, it was Indiana Magic Gold 16U Carroll and Indiana Magic Gold 14U National making it into the Platinum Division Championship, and through a mutual agreement, they decided to end the tournament as Co-Champions. In the Gold Division, it was Gts 16u Elite-Gonzalez with a 7-2 win over Cedar Rapids Blue Devils 14u, to earn the championship. Below are some of the players that played their way onto the top performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from both the Platinum and Gold Divisions. Earning the...
College | Recruiting | 2/25/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: Feb. 25

Nick Herfordt
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A few weeks into the season and the shape of the national picture is starting to emerge (slightly, let’s get too silly about early results). Some preseason favorites are humming exactly as advertised, a few dark horses are pawing at the gate, and a handful of early contenders are discovering that February optimism and March reality are not always the same thing. Across DII, DIII and the NAIA, pitching staffs are setting the tone, offenses are either detonating or recalibrating, and the Top 25 is already beginning to feel less theoretical and more earned.   DII UT Tyler is performing as predicted with a 12-2 start that includes a series win at Angelo State. The Patriots’ offense has not exactly been knocking the cover off the ball, but the pitching staff has been stingy, holding opponents to a .228 batting average.  They have not faced a ranked opponent yet, but...
Juco | Rankings | 2/25/2026

JUCO Top 25: February 25

Blaine Peterson
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Another strong week for many of the top teams in junior college baseball. Walters State put together another undefeated weak and sticks in the top spot for the 3rd consecutive ranking. Chipola on the strength of a 20-1 start has established themselves early as one of top teams in the country. Johnson County put together a 2nd consecutive undefeated week and moves into the top 5 with a 15-1 overall record. They will play 4 games against #22 Iowa Western this week who is also coming off an undefeated week. Fresno City (15-0) and Midland (13-0) are two undefeated programs to begin 2026. They have gone from not in the preseason top 25 to the top 15 in our rankings in less than a month. And welcome to the PG Juco Top 25 Cloud County (KS) who debuts at #23 and is coming off a huge 3 game sweep on the road in Texas of a previous top 10 program in our rankings. Plenty of good matchups ahead this...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/24/2026

Perfect Game Softball February Frenzy

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - Perfect Game February Frenzy, February 20-22, 2026.  Twenty-two teams, representing five states, rolled into town for the opportunity to compete in this pool play, then into bracket play, with four games guaranteed,  in both a 14u and 18u division. Taking home top honors in the 14u division was Midwest Sluggers 11, who held off a late charge by the Black Dragons , winning 7-5. In the 18u division, it was Nebraska Gold 319 Berning topping Iowa Gold Prospects 4-0, avenging a pool play opening, 1-0 loss. Below are some of the players that played their way onto our Top Performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from the championship bracket in each age division. 14U Division Earning the 14u division MVP award was Presley Perkins (2030 Taylor Ridge, IL) who although is listed as a switch hitting OF, was only observed hitting from the left side for tournament...
High School | General | 2/25/2026

High School Showdown Preview

Cam McElwaney
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We’re only about 24 hours away from the 14th PG High School Showdown and as we get closer to one of the premier events on the high school schedule, we look ahead to what we’ll see in Hoover. The teams and players are what make this event special along with the environment with scouts packing the stands for this event. As with every year we’ve run this event, there are sure to be names called in the upcoming MLB Draft along with big time contributors at the college level. This year’s field is loaded with five teams ranked inside the Preseason High School Top-50, headlined by a trio of top-10 teams in No. 8 South Walton (FL), No. 9 Blessed Trinity (GA), and No. 10 IMG Academy (FL). Rounding out the list of top-50 teams are No. 34 Parkview (GA) and No. 43 Hoover (AL), along with plenty of other teams that will challenge for state championships in their respective...
Juco | Story | 2/27/2026

JUCO Notebook: February 27

Troy Sutherland
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An extended look at Carson Bailey (@mccbaseball1 )…. https://t.co/TltEl9M31H pic.twitter.com/24Lv8q73Yb — Perfect Game Texas (@Texas_PG) February 7, 2026 Carson Bailey (2024, Richardson, Texas) worked up to 97 with his fastball out the gate and lived 95-96 throughout his short burst outing. Fastball got up to 2500 RPM showing subtle tail at times. It plays firm and gets in on hitters quick. Locates fastball well at times. He went to a change in the 85-88 range as his bread and butter secondary killing spin with good dive. Change produced 5 whiffs. He also mixed in a slider in the 80-85 getting upwards of 2500 RPM with it. Slider tight and sharp when around it. Also flashed a curve at 79. Bailey stands in at 6-foot-3 from a deceptive delivery that creates tough angles for hitters. He should be a big follow throughout the Spring with plenty of draft buzz surrounding him. He is...
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