THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,416 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,416 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Showcase  | Story | 12/29/2021

Purify back for more at Main Event

Jeff Dahn
Photo: Jarren Purify (Perfect Game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Still a little more than two months away from celebrating his 14th birthday in late August 2019, the kid from Detroit walked wide-eyed out onto the playing field at L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman and tried to soak everything in.

By that point in a Perfect Game career that was really just getting started, Jarren Purify could be excused for feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thirteen years old and long way from home, Purify had accepted an invitation to the inaugural PG 13u Select Baseball Festival where he and about three dozen other age-eligible 13u players were about to compete in an event the nation would be able to bring into its homes via live streaming.



The invitations to the PG 13u Select Festival in 2019 and the 14u Select Fest in 2020 are perhaps the most noteworthy feathers in Purify’s cap to date, at least from a PG perspective. That 13u event really rocked his world, as might be expected when a young teenager steps out on a stage as brightly lit as that one. Lights, camera, action  …

“Back then when I was 13 I was really shy,” Purify told PG Tuesday morning. “I didn’t know what it takes, I didn’t know what to do; I kind of just went and had fun. But then it made me who I am today, honestly. Now I have more confidence just playing with everybody. I made friendships there and I’m still friends with everybody.

“With the 14u, it was same thing. Right now I’m just looking at year 3 and working for the PG All-American (Classic). That’s been in my mind since the 14u, honestly.”

Purify was speaking from just outside one of the back practice fields at the jetBlue Park Player Development Complex where he is taking part in the 72-team, 600-plus player PG National Underclass Showcase-Main Event for the second time in three years.

Now a 5-foot-11, 160-pound primary shortstop (he was listed at 5-8, 140 at the ’19 13u Fest) ranked No. 95 overall nationally in the class of 2023, he is working steadily toward a Classic invite, although that won’t be determined until after the PG National Showcase is completed this summer.

A Michigan commit, Purify is here in Southwest Florida with his mom, Betty Moore, and being from the frozen north, where else would you want to be as New Year’s Day comes into clear focus.

“I just want to get exposure and also meet new people,” Purify said when asked his reasons for returning to the National Underclass-Main Event after skipping it in 2020. “I’ve met a lot of people – coaches, players – and I have a lot of strong friendships with most of the people I’ve met here. I’m really just here to have fun and just perform. …

“And it’s a little bit of a vacation,” he added with a smile. “Back home it’s snowing, it’s 20 degrees and I have a big coat at home. But right now it’s kind of warm (75 degrees), I’m kind of loose and I like that.”

His Mom shared the excitement: “We love it; we always love the weather here,” Moore said. “The snow is so cruel, we just love being in Florida, we just do; we like it a lot.”

To be sure, Purify did enjoy a strong workout session and made an impression in one of the first games of the day. He threw 89 mph across the infield (tied for 6th best effort at the event) and ran a 6.75-second 60 (t-8th). During game play, a PG scout noted the right-handed hitter “smashed one of the hardest hit balls of the day on a single that got through the left side.”

“Jarren wanted to be here and improve his numbers,” Moore said. “He felt that Perfect Game was the right fit for him to be able to express his baseball skills and abilities. That’s why he stressed, ‘Mom, we’ve got get down there this year. We didn’t come last year because we went to another event with another organization and it didn’t compare to this. So he said, Mom, let’s return back to Perfect Game because it’s quality development and exposure.”

The National Underclass-Main Event Showcase is the 21st PG event at which Purify has been rostered, a number that includes his 13u and 14u Select Baseball Festival appearances in 2019 and 2020.

He’s played most of his travel ball with the Detroit-based Little Caesars Baseball Club, an outfit with whom he earned six all-tournament citations in 2019-20. In the summer of 2022, Purify plans to play with Team Indiana alongside Maxwell Clark (No. 1-ranked ’23, Vanderbilt commit), Andrew Wiggins (No. 80, Indiana) and quite a few other top guys. He’s found his travel ball experiences to very beneficial.

“That’s how I committed to Michigan; a lot of schools came to watch us play and that’s just where it’s at, honestly,” Purify said. “When you go to these (PG) WWBAs you get to play against everybody. You get to know your opponents and you create friendships; it’s just fun.”

The showcase environment is certainly distinct from a tournament environment but Purify has thrived in those settings as well, earning Top Prospect List recognition at the 2018 National 14u Showcase-Main Event and Top Prospect Team honors at the 2019 PG National Underclass Showcase-Main Event.

Yes, there can be a lot of downtime at a showcase between the workouts and games but Purify has been able to find positives in that, as well.

“That’s where the friendships and the camaraderie comes in,” he said. “You meet new teammates you’d never played with before and you see previous teammates from previous years that you get to see again, so it’s like one big reunion. Whenever you come to these, you’re just here to have fun, play for yourself, play for your parents; just play, honestly.”

Purify, who turned 16 in November, doesn’t remember the specific details but said when he was around 3 years old his mom bought him a baseball hitting T as a Christmas gift.

From that point on, his parents began working steadily with their son and he eventually developed into one of the star players – both with the bat and out on the field – for the Grosse Pointe Woods Little League team that advanced to the 2018 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

“We had a really good coach (Kurt Barr) and really good kids and I’m still friends with a lot of those guys today,” Purify said, adding that many of them are his teammates on the Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett High School team. “I just fell in love (with baseball) and it’s been my game ever since.

“I do play basketball but I don’t like it as much. Baseball is just like ‘the game’ and I want to play it forever.”

And speaking of the Grosse Pointe Woods Liggett High School team – Purify is a junior at the school – the Knights are fresh off a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state championship after a 31-5 season and return most of their key players for 2022.

Jarren Purity has been receiving accolades for his play ever since that 2018 Little League World Series appearance. During one game that year, Purify made a sensational defensive play that ended up at No. 2 in the ESPN “SportsCenter” top-10 plays of the day.

“He’s special. He’s got speed. He’s a smart player – a high baseball IQ,” his coach Kurt Barr told the Detroit Free Press that day. “He will have value and find a way to help his team on any given night.”

While already basking in the glow of strong reviews as a 12 and 13-year-old, Purify has been pleased with the way his game keeps developing, keeps improving. Upon turning 16 in November he admitted to seeing a lot of changes in his approach.

He feels like he’s become more patient along with becoming stronger and faster. He’s being more selective at the plate, and he’s learned to embrace the game for what it is and not be so angry with himself when he fails to get the job done because it is, after all, a game of failure.

“Perfect Game has taught me that it’s not always going to be easy for you. You’ve just got adhere to the changes and be able to adapt,” he said.

“I’m proud of Jarren; he’s a hard worker,” his mom said. “One thing about him, when you tell him he can’t (do something) he internalizes it and goes out and tries to do it. He’s such a good kid. I’ve never had any issues with him as a son. He’s a very good listener to me; he’s just a good kid.”

Those selections to the 13u and 14u PG Select Festivals didn’t really get the ball rolling – that probably started with his Little League experience as 12u player. But his mom certainly believes that those appearances had everything to do with Jarren gaining confidence and nothing can be more valuable in the game of baseball than believing in one’s own abilities.

“That was a blessing,” Moore said. “We had no idea he had enough of a skillset to get him to that level. When they (announced) that he was selected to participate we were just overwhelmed. It was shocking because we didn’t think we were good enough to make it there but someone else saw that we were, and we’re very grateful.”

Oh yeah, Jarren Purify was good enough all right. And he’s still doing everything he can to get better and prepare for a future that could include a collegiate career at Michigan or maybe, just maybe a shot at professional ball.

“This is going to be my last Main Event and it’s obviously been so good to me over the years,” Purify said. “I’ve seen my progression videos, my metrics, my stats and you just see how much I’ve become a better player and I’m really happy to say that.”
Give us your feedback
Showcase | Story | 4/14/2026

PG Announces Prospect Gateway Schedule
Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
PG has announced the dates for Prospect Gateway events across the country - unique opportunities for young players to receive professional feedback and prepare for the next level. The Prospect Gateways are for players ages 13U-14U and serve as a qualifier for the National Showcase. Kevin Schuver, the senior director of showcases at Perfect Game, said these events are chances for players to step out of their comfort zone and show what they’re really made of. “Perfect Game Prospect Gateways aren’t just events. They’re doorways into something bigger. For young athletes, they serve as the first real step beyond their local fields, where raw ability begins to meet visibility and purpose.” At the event, each player is assigned a PG advisor who will watch and advise them individually. There will also be other scouts giving tips on how to enhance and develop a...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/26/2026

College Top 25: April 27

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
It was another weekend of upsets, upheaval and consequential series victories across the nation.  After the dust settled, the UCLA Bruins (39-4) remain the No. 1 team in the nation after their (3-1) week stepping outside Big Ten play, taking a series against Sacramento State.  Their perfect (21-0) start in conference play is still intact with three weekend series to go.  UNC (36-8) sticks at No. 2 this week after they went across town to take on archrival Duke, winning that series and finishing the week with a (3-1) record.  The No. 3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (36-7) showed their moxie by coming back from large deficits multiple times and swept conference foe Wake Forest, extending their lead in the ACC standings to 2-games.  The Texas Longhorns (32-9) are No. 4 in the poll this week after winning a tightly contested series on the road against Vanderbilt. ...
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 4/24/2026

2026 MLB Draft Reports: Top 100

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
PG Draft: Top-100 Reports (April Update) 1. Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA R-R, 6-2/202, Chandler, AZ Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Roch Cholowsky has consistently ranked at the top of the class throughout the cycle due to the safety and upside of the profile. Defensively, he is a plus defender at shortstop with soft hands, consistent actions, and quality range. Not only should he stick at the position long term, he should excel there at the next level. Offensively, there is a strong mix of hit and power potential from the right side of the plate. The swing is a bit unorthodox with a shorter finish, but Cholowsky consistently finds the barrel and drives the ball with authority to all fields. He has strong bat to ball skills with impact. He has walked more than stuck out during his collegiate career, giving him a high on-base ability. The run tool is the only tool that doesn’t jump...
Read More
Draft | Rankings | 4/24/2026

2026 MLB Draft Board: Top 400

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Rk. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jackson Flora C RHP R-R UC Santa Barbara Pleasanton CA 5 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 6 AJ Gracia C OF L-L Virginia Monroe NJ 7 Ace Reese C 3B L-R Mississippi State Canton TX 8 Eric Booth Jr. H OF L-L Oak Grove Bassfield MS Vanderbilt 9 Justin Lebron C SS R-R Alabama Miramar FL 10 Drew Burress C OF R-R Georgia Tech Perry GA 11 Gio Rojas H LHP L-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coral Springs FL Miami 12 Ryder Helfrick C C R-R Arkansas Discovery Bay CA 13 Chris Hacopian C SS R-R Texas A&M Potomac MD 14 Cameron Flukey C RHP R-R Coastal Carolina Egg Harbor Township NJ 15 Cole Carlon C LHP L-L Arizona State Tempe AZ 16 Jared Grindlinger H LHP/OF L-L Huntington...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/23/2026

Kash Shaikh Named Perfect Game CMO

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME NAMES KASH SHAIKH CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AND HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, April 23, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Kash Shaikh has been named the company’s new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Head of International. In this role, Shaikh will serve on Perfect Game’s executive leadership team, overseeing global marketing, brand strategy, creative, partnerships and sponsorships, while leading the company’s international P&L and expansion. Shaikh brings more than two decades of experience building brands, businesses and communities across sports, media and consumer...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 4/22/2026

PG Softball Battle for the Belt

Article Image
Perfect Game Softball Battle for the Belt April 18-19, 2026 Des Moines, Iowa It was a cold and very windy weekend, but the girls still came out and put in their best efforts. If you wanted the place to see some of the state’s top talent, this was the tournament to be at. The 18u division was quite the slugfest! The Ankeny Centennial 18U -Kennedy team took down a tough Iowa Alliance Select-Benge team in the championship. Both teams had double digit homeruns on the weekend. In the 16u division the Iowa Aries CE Fire Black took control of the game from the start and never let up on the gas, taking down a solid Alliance Select- Harper team. 18U Division Kori Lincicum (2026 Ankeny, IA) of the Centennial Jaguars- Kennedy and Drake Bulldog softball commit was the weekends MVP Pitcher. Lincicum defeated a tough Alliance team in the championship game finishing with that game with 11...
Read More
High School | General | 4/23/2026

Northeast High School Notebook

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
In a season that has already had many exciting matchups across various events, we as a staff would like to highlight or “Shout-Out” notable performers along with an Uncommitted Spotlight and Team Spotlight.  Uncommitted Spotlight: Mason Rosenberg, 1B, 2027, Bishop Eustace Prep  Uncommitted Mason Rosenberg (2027, NJ) has been an absolute force within the Bishop Eustace lineup, as the left-handed hitting slugger is hitting .481 through eleven games including six homers. The strength has vastly improved, allowing for Rosenberg to impact the baseball with authority to all fields. Couple that with improved speed and athleticism, this uncommitted 2027 can be a welcomed addition to a class looking for offense.  Team Spotlight: Northern Burlington (9-0) Northern Burlington is once again off to a hot start, as the Greyhounds sit at 9-0 thus far and have continued to...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 4/22/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 22

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Another week down and Johnson County continues their torrid run to remain at number 1. They're 46-2 on the season with multiple hitters over 25 bombs which is astonishing for the level as the Cavs have announced themselves as title favorites. Just a couple of weeks left heading down the stretch and our field remains mostly the same with the two additions of midwest powerhouse Iowa Western and the Warriors of East Central who will have a tough test Wednesday in Poplarville against fellow Mississippi adversary Pearl River in a mid-week double header.   Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 46-2 2 Gaston (NC) 47-3 3 Walters State (TN) 42-10 4 McLennan (TX) 38-8 5 Southern Nevada (NV) 33-9 6 Chipola (FL) 39-9 7 Blinn (TX) 33-12 8 Florida Southwestern (FL) 32-13 9 Florence-Darlington (SC) 42-10 10 Pearl River (MS) 39-9 11 Cloud County (KS) 40-4 12 Cochise (AZ) 39-11 13 Midland (TX)...
Read More
College | Story | 4/23/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 23 POY Deep Dive

John Coppolella
Article Image
Each week I huddle with Vinnie Cervino and Craig Cozart  to discuss Top-25 rankings and Players of the Week. In Coppy’s Corner, I dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level.     Player of the Week: Tague Davis – University of Louisville  Between 2016-2022, the University of Louisville produced 14 players taken in the Top 5 Rounds of the MLB Draft, seven of whom were taken in the 1st Round. The Cardinals haven’t produced a Top 5 Rounds pick since 2022, but that will change soon with Davis. Still only 20 years old and not draft-eligible until 2027, Davis continued his assault on college baseball this weekend with a 7-for-12 performance that included 5 HR. On the 2026 season, Davis is hitting .389 AVG / .489 OBP / .911 SLG / 1.392 OPS. That’s a 400+...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/22/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 22

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
The final weeks of the college baseball regular season have a way of separating programs that are genuinely postseason-ready from those that have simply been good enough for long enough. Conference tournaments loom, selection committees are paying close attention, and every game on the schedule carries weight that it simply didn't in February. This week's action, combined with the latest Perfect Game Top 25, paints a picture of a college baseball landscape where the top is clearly defined — and where the middle is a genuine battle. What follows is a cross-level look at teams across the NAIA, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III ranks who find themselves in that uncomfortable space: not safely in, not clearly out, but firmly on the bubble. Some have built compelling résumés that should hold up under scrutiny. Others have excellent records against soft competition...
Read More
High School | Rankings | 4/21/2026

High School Top 50 Update: April 21

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Another few weeks have wrapped up this high school season as we’re flying through the spring and most southern states are starting playoffs right around the corner. With the end of the regular season, we have another National Top 50 update to bring to you, along with this will be the start of the weekly editions of our National Top 50. We have a change at the top of the rankings as Venice (FL) takes over the top spot after just dominating their competition in the state of Florida this year. Orange Lutheran (CA) drops one spot to No. 2 after dropping a series but still holds firm at No. 2 in the country. Barbe (LA) has continued to dominate and holds onto the No. 3 spot while Tomball (TX) skyrockets in this update to No. 4 in the country, currently holding an incredible 30-0-1 record. The rest of the top-10 is names we’ve become accustomed to see with Aledo (TX) at No. 5, IMG...
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.