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College  | Story | 2/2/2022

Top 25 JUCO Team Breakdowns

Brian Sakowski
Colton Olinger
Photo: Thomas DiLandri (Perfect Game)
READ: Iowa Western Opens Atop PG JUCO Poll
Rk. Team City ST '21 W-L
1 Iowa Western Council Bluffs IA 50-10
2 San Jacinto Houston TX 51-15
3 McLennan Waco TX 47-16
4 Crowder Neosho MO 55-8
5 LSU-Eunice Eunice LA 51-7
6 Central Arizona Coolidge AZ 51-9
7 Chipola Marianna FL 34-17
8 Johnson County Overland Park KS 43-10
9 Weatherford Weatherford TX 37-20
10 Pearl River Poplarville MS 36-9
11 Northwest Florida State Niceville FL 32-17
12 Cowley Arkansas City KS 47-10
13 Wabash Valley Mount Carmel IL 53-5
14 Walters State Morristown TN 61-7
15 Florence-Darlington Florence SC 46-8
16 Orange Coast Costa Mesa CA 20-7-1
17 John A. Logan Carterville IL 42-18
18 Florida SouthWestern Fort Myers FL 44-16
19 San Joaquin Delta Stockton CA N/A
20 Midland Midland TX 29-16
21 Pima Tucson AZ 36-14
22 State College of Florida Bradenton FL 34-21
23 Kellogg Battle Creek MI 37-13
24 Shelton State Tuscaloosa AL 40-17
25 Riverside Riverside CA N/A




1. Iowa Western

The Reivers enter 2022 our top-ranked club in the nation, and for obviously very good reason. In our preseason conversation, Head Coach Marc Rardin told PG that IW has over 20 pitchers who have at least touched 90 mph, more or less unheard of arm strength depth in an era of baseball where velocity is still king, though far from the whole picture. The top end is very strong, with the pitching staff led by the likes of returners Evan O’Toole, Ernie Day and Brant Hogue, with newcomers Tyler Chadwick, Daniel Wright, and Cooper Crompton all expected to be big pieces on the mound. Offensively, the Reivers expect to be especially deep and athletic in the outfield, where they have a bunch of players they’d feel comfortable with in the lineup. Freshman Brady Christensen drew rave reviews for his tool set and the overall projection of that tool set, he’s joined by lineup mainstays in catcher Carter Wright and the middle infield pairing of Dylan Robertson and Trenton Harris, all three of whom are committed to D-I schools already. There’s a lot of talent in JUCO baseball and there’s a handful of schools who we considered for the preseason No. 1 slot, but in the end the pitching depth of Iowa Western was the separator. 
 
2. San Jacinto
 
San Jac was, per usual, right there in the mix for our preseason No. 1 spot and certainly is in the very top tier of teams heading in 2022, absolutely loaded with talent as they always are. Perhaps a little different than in years past, while this iteration of the Gators is certainly stocked with high-end pitching, this group of position players is very talented and very deep, giving San Jac one of their more well-rounded clubs in recent memory. Sabin Ceballos and Harold Coll headline the position player group, as both will start in the infield and should comprise a significant portion of the middle of the lineup. Mason Lytle returns to anchor the outfield, with mid-year transfers Camden Jordan and Thomas Dilandri also scheduled to see quite a bit of time. On the mound, lefties Chris Stuart, Hunter Hollan, JJ Sanchez and Evan Godwin are all expected to see major innings, with righties Dillon Janac and Matthew Tieding also major points of emphasis on the pitching staff. It’s potentially one of the more left-handed-dominant Gator pitching staffs in recent memory as well, and the versatility will give Head Coach Tom Arrington a lot of ways to deploy his arms. Per usual, scouts will be flocking in to Houston to see San Jac play early and often and you can expect a fair number of draft picks off of this roster in July. 
 
3. McLennan
 
The reigning NJCAA DI National Champions, McLennan had a storied and well-documented run to the title a year ago, changing gears midseason and more or less just beating people to sleep over the last month-plus of the campaign. Head Coach Mitch Thompson is back for more, with another very talented roster replete with high-end pitching and a deep stable of position players. Veterans Will Carsten and John Wyatt Cheney are penciled in to lead the rotation, with freshman Devin Bennett looking like he’ll start out of the gate, too. Gray Harrison and Will Clements are expected to be huge pieces of the pitching staff as well and could be deployed in a variety of roles; there’s a good bit of depth and versatility on this staff overall. The Highlanders will also bring back a good number of veterans offensively, with catcher Hank Bard and shortstop Izzy Lopez both being in their third years. Newcomers Cole Fontenelle (second base) and Hunter Grimes (center field) both look like higher-end, immediate-impact pieces in their respective slots, with any number of talented pieces jockeying for spots in the everyday lineup joining them. This is an exciting team with the ingredients to repeat as champs. 
 
4. Crowder
 
The Roughriders of Crowder College can enter 2022 knowing that they’ll be able to enter every weekend series with a chance to dominate, as that’s how exciting the pitching staff under Head Coach Travis Lallemand looks in the early going. Jacob Misiorowski is one of the top JUCO draft prospects in the country, and continued refinement of his command will take him over the top in terms of ability to dominate. He’s joined in a very strong rotation by Maddox Thornton and Cody Adcock to give Crowder a potentially dominant rotation. The bullpen should be very strong too, with returning closer Conner Floyd joined in the backend by Reed Metz and Jace Presley. Freshman Riely Hunsaker is expected to be a key piece as well. Offensively, Crowder brings back Landrey Wilkerson, a left-handed power bat who will anchor the offense from the middle of the lineup. Freshman Josh Livingston is making a ton of noise early at third base, and Crowder should be pretty loaded overall with Jackson Cobb at shortstop and Player of the Year candidate Peyton Holt in the infield as well. Fellow returner Clayton Gray will start in the outfield, and on the whole this team joins the three above them in the upper tier as we see it, all with National Title aspirations. 

5. LSU-Eunice

Having taken somewhat of a strangle hold on Division II for the past three years, it’s no surprise that Coach Willis and the Bengals are the top-ranked Division II team. With 14 third-year guys back on campus, this is likely the deepest team they have had at Eunice with plenty of talent back from last year’s National Championship team. On the mound, this team is more than 10 deep with arms that will run it into the low-90s with the heater, and the rotation figures to be a combination of Patrick Vienne, Dalton Burrell, Luke McGibboney, and Cade Hart, with plenty of others ready to fill a role if needed. Vienne has the best stuff with a fastball that will get into the mid-90s as well as a curveball and changeup to round out his three-pitch mix. At the backend of the bullpen, Brock Barthelemy and Jackson Fraser will be two guys they count on to get key outs late in games.
 
Getting back guys like Peyton Lejeune, last year’s MVP of the National Championship, and Beau Kirsch will give the lineup experience at the top, as will the return of Carter Quinn in center field. All signs point to Quinn being joined in the outfield by a combination of Kole Myers and Bryce LaRocca, who both figure to see more at-bats after hitting over .320 in half the games a year ago. Look for freshman Reed Eason to also challenge for innings out there with his 6.3 speed that can affect the game on both sides of the ball.

6. Central Arizona
 
The Vaqueros head into the 2022 season very athletic, very versatile, and very deep – both positionally and on the mound. The offense stars with Dusty Garcia, a toolsed-up left-handed hitting outfielder with speed to burn as well as substantial power. Freshman Chase Valentine is as premium a shortstop defender as there is in JUCO baseball, and he’ll be joined up the middle by Ryan Ball at second base, a talented hitter and defender who is headed to Texas Tech. Veteran Kiko Romero returns to continue showing his versatility all over the field, and the catching duo of Trey Newman and Devon Dixon (a converted shortstop) gives CAC tremendous offensive and defensive upside. The pitching staff is likewise deep, with veterans Tyson Heaton and Tyler Woessner leading the way along with lefty Drew Sommers, an Arizona commit, out of the bullpen. Freshmen Patrick Steitz and Jasiah George are two electric-armed young guys, both of whom will be counted on immediately to provide key innings. CAC won a national championship in 2019, coming out of Arizona extremely battle-tested given the depth of the league on an annual basis, and this year is certainly no exception in that regard. They’re our pick to emerge from the pack in Arizona again in 2022. 
 
7. Chipola
 
Chipola is home to the No. 1 prospect in all of JUCO baseball this spring in Cam Collier, a power-hitting third baseman/power-armed right-handed reliever who enrolled at the semester break and is still just 17 years old. Collier will play third, hit third, and do some relief work on the mound and projects as a first rounder this summer. The offense around him features Tucker Flint likely at first base, Cesar Franco somewhere in the outfield, and newcomer Brad Grenkoski in the mix somewhere as well with middle infielders Brando Leroux, Peter Vazquez, and Taylor Clapp. Head Coach Jeff Johnson told me he expects this team to defend at a high level, potentially one of his better defensive teams of recent memory. Cédric De Grandpré likely leads the pitching staff and heads into the season as the No. 1 in the rotation, with an improved breaking ball and better command allowing him to really come into his own. Dylan Eskew is back healthy following surgery a year ago, and he’s expected to be a key piece of the rotation, and make sure you watch out for Kenya Huggins, a power-armed right-hander who will handle key innings and get a lot of work right away. 
 
8. Johnson County
 
It always seems to come down to a battle between Johnson County and Cowley in Kansas, and this year we’re giving the nod to Johnson County, but only by a nose. As you’ll see shortly, we think quite highly of Cowley this year as well. JCCC has a bona fide ace on the hill in righty Hayden Minton, a top-10 overall JUCO prospect with an advanced four-pitch mix and command who should dominate more or less every time he takes the hill. Joining Minton as key arms are freshman Cole Koonce, sophomores Hunter Edwards and Danny Trehey, and veteran Rene Ramos. Lefty Max Chapman should see quite a few vital innings as well, and will likely be in the rotation. This is expected to be a premium offensive club in addition to that pitching depth, and that offense is further boosted by the mid-year return of Nick Iannantone. Quinton Hall and Blake Mozley are also huge offensive pieces, and the coaching staff is ecstatic about what freshmen Cooper Combs and Colin Brueggemann can bring to the table from a power perspective as they continue to refine their approaches. Look for Johnson County to be an explosive club, and if the pitching depth comes along, this is a World Series-caliber club. 

9. Weatherford

The Coyotes come into 2022 with the type of top-tier talent it will take to win a loaded Region 5 title and punch a ticket to Grand Junction. The real depth starts on the mound with guys like Adrian Siravo, Kade Braggs, Jack Stroud and Owen Woodward amongst a slew of others who promise to give hitters across the Lone Star State fits. Blake Mayfield looks to be set up for a strong season as a potential big bullpen arm as he brings solid swing-and-miss stuff to the mound as does freshman Nuno Parache.
 
The offense looks to be in good hands with guys like Noah Boughton, Austin Green and Kameron Weil in everyday roles getting the chance to drive in guys like Alex Vergara, Alexis Gravel and Cal Stark. Robin Villeneuve could be a freshman to keep an eye with his opportunity to get chances at the plate as well as on the mound.
 
10. Pearl River
 
After finishing last year in the top-10 for both home runs and slugging percentage, this year’s Wildcat team appears to be a bit more batting average-oriented with guys up and down the lineup that are capable of matching or bettering last year’s team average of .309. The middle of the order will get back three of last year's key contributors in NJCAA Division II Player of the Year Tate Parker as well as Matt Mercer and John Griffin Bell. After a strong 2021 recruiting class, the lineup should see key freshmen Gabe Broadus, Preston Soper and Ian Montz all get regular time early in the year as they look to be the next in a rich tradition of Pearl River bats.
 
On paper the rotation looks like one of the better ones across the country. Getting back right-hander Leif Moore, who was in line to be last year’s ace, will be a big help, as will Turner Swistak after he saw a velocity bump over the offseason and is now capable of running it up to 95 mph with the heater. Sophomores Sam Hill and Dakota Lee will round out the top-four starters for this year’s club after each logged over 30 innings a year ago with Hill going six innings, allowing one hit and striking out 10 in his final start of 2021. Out of the bullpen, Byrion Robinson and Will Passeau should see a good number of high-leverage situations.

11. Northwest Florida State

Much like their Panhandle counterpart Chipola, Northwest Florida rolls into 2022 with one of the premier JUCO prospects in the country in right-hander Jake Madden. Madden is the high-end prospect, but make no mistake, this Raider pitching staff is very deep even without him, with Caleb Reis and Joel Sarver figuring to also start in the rotation. Will Cannon is a power arm in the backend, and transfer Brandon Smith should also help in that bullpen. Offensively, the Raiders bring back both Austin Kelly (catcher) and Tyler Kehoe (outfield) as veterans who have been there, done that, and been successful along the way. Carlos Guzman and Cherokee Nichols should both hit in the middle of the lineup and bring needed thump to the equation, and Brant Smith has looked good at third base and should be counted on for significant offensive output as well. There’s a good bit of power in the lineup and solid pitching depth throughout the staff, though the team defense will need to continue refining itself throughout the course of the season. Regardless, this is a potential Grand Junction club. 
 
12. Cowley

As we alluded to earlier, we think Cowley is very strong and absolutely a Grand Junction contender in 2022. This projection is buoyed by the return of Janson Reeder, a power middle-order bat who transferred in from Wichita State after one semester there. He’ll stabilize what is already a talented offense, and take it to another level. Bryce Madron is back in center field and likely leads off most days, and the Tigers bring back David Herring at shortstop as well, giving them three very good pieces in three very important spots. J’Briell Easley and Grant Adler got a lot of experience pitching as true freshmen a year ago and both have taken jumps, and they are expected to have monster years atop the Cowley rotation. The bullpen looks very deep too, with potential draft pick Miguel Fulgencio in there along with veteran Isaac Stebens and power-armed JJ Tylicki. The freshmen are talented too, and the coaching staff has their eyes on Chance Condit and Aaron Weber as freshmen arms, amongst others. 
 
13. Wabash Valley

It’s no surprise to see Wabash Valley featuring a couple of the premier prospects in JUCO, with right-hander Kaleb Applebey and left-handed bat Ryan McCoy leading that charge, both expected to anchor the rotation and the lineup, respectively. The pitching staff looks quite deep, with Jacob Bimbi, Beau Coffman, and Alex Rodriguez all projected to be above-average starters for Head Coach Rob Fournier, along with Ryan Sleeper and Merek Sears in the backend amongst others. McCoy and Jonathan Hogart should lead the way offensively, especially in terms of power, along with third baseman Brian Kalmer. The wild card here is center fielder Myles Austin, an utra-toolsy right-handed bat who has been on the prospect radar for the better part of a decade now. If he’s come into his own offensively, he can take this club as well as his own prospect stock to a whole new level. Expect Wabash Valley to be there at the very end with Iowa Western, with our projections thinking one of those two will earn the Grand Junction nod. 

14. Walters State

A program that has become nationally known for their ability to win with the long ball will look to pair their power offensive numbers with a deep pitching rotation. Kohl Drake is back at the top of the rotation as the big lefty continues his strike-throwing ways that he started as a youngster back in Texas. Behind him, Wesley Scott and Nolan Letzgus make up the other two-thirds of one of the country’s top starting trios. Jake Knapp, Geo Rivera, and Joey Mitchell will be the next three in line for extended innings.
 
Tasked with carrying on the Walters offensive tradition, Caleb McNeely, Noah Gent, Colby Backus and Corbin Shaw are all entering their sophomore years and will find themselves with plenty of opportunities to put up run support. Kruise Newman appears to have carved out a starting role for himself in left field and will be a freshman to keep an eye on in the experienced lineup.
 
15. Florence Darlington

Coming off their second trip to Grand Junction, the Stringers land at No. 15 in this year’s preseason poll. Much like last year’s team, this year’s squad will lean on its starting pitching, a strong suit to carry them. Nathan Williams and Matt Poston make a strong one-two punch at the top of the rotation, while Collin Welch and Kameron Dunlap will make up the third and fourth starter spots. In the bullpen, freshman Landon Gaddis is in line for the ninth inning, while sophomores Drake Thames and Austin Windham will bring some experience to the later innings.
 
Offensively, Scott McDonough will take a spot in the middle of the order as a run producer with some juice in the swing. Freshman Anderson Fulk and transfer Noah Stout should be two other key bats in the lineup as they look to put up the necessary run support for their talented pitching staff. Patrick Matthews will be counted on to set the table at the top of the order with his ability to work counts and find a way on base.
 
16. Orange Coast

The Bucs are ready for their first full season since 2020 and even more excited to defend their new home diamond, John Altobelli Park. You can expect Brett Soulages and Jake Covey to each give the club competitive innings in their starting roles, while Coach Johnson and his staff are excited about what closer Matthew Maloney, a New Mexico State commit, can bring for them late in games with a fastball up to 93 mph. The staff will also get back a big piece in youngster Zach Garber, who appears ready for a big freshman year with his fastball reaching low-90s from the left side.
 
Everything at the plate starts with Cary Arbolida, last year’s conference MVP after hitting .420. Tyler Weaver, Jordan Ku and Isaiah Morales will make up a talented infield with lineup flexibility in their abilities to switch hit. Sophomores Konner Kinkade and Logan Jackson are each coming off strong years and should be big parts of the offense, adding run production up and down the lineup.

17. John A. Logan

It’s not exactly a secret that regardless of depth or overall talent, coaching staffs love having a bona fide ace atop a starting rotation, and Logan certainly has that in Ole Miss commit Tommy Henninger, a guy who can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country and, more importantly, toe-to-toe with the big boys of the Midwest. He’ll be the hoss of a talented staff, which includes hard throwers Terry Busse and Benny Thompson, both D-I commits, along with returners Nate Thomas and Mitchell Hemmen. The offense runs 11-12 deep as far as plug-and-play guys, with Tre Hondras and Tyler Heckert leading the way in that regard, both playing premium defensive spots as well. Cole Christman and Jacob Schroeder combine to form a tremendous backstop duo, with Christman’s bat keeping him in the lineup at first base or DH on days when Schroeder, a tremendous catch-and-throw guy, gets the nod behind the plate. Watch out for Missouri transfer Nathan Chester here too, he’s shown pretty substantial power and could be a wild card in the middle of the order. 

18. Florida Southwestern

As has become expected at Florida Southwestern under Head Coach Ben Bizier, this year’s team comes with loud tools at each position around the field and some jet fuel on the mound. At the top of the order, leadoff man Kendry Noriega has an interesting combination of power and speed that should provide those behind with plenty of run producing chances. Infielder Jose Izarra will also find himself toward the top of the order as a table setter with a high on-base percentage. Others that should see regular time are Matthew Corpas and Paul Winland Jr, while giving the Bucs some defensive versatility.
 
On the mound there is no shortage of arms as this year's staff goes deep with guys who will run it into the low-90s. Ben Peterson appears to have front line stuff while Chase Chatman, Magnus Ellerts, Frank Elissalt and Ronaldo Fernandez all have what it takes to take over a starting spot. Ben Petschke will be a busy arm out of the bullpen with his ability to come in throwing strikes and shut down situations.
 
19. San Joaquin Delta

You’ll find very few teams inside the Top 25 as excited for the 2022 season as Coach Peters and his squad. Like most of the California junior colleges, they didn’t get a chance to play in 2021, causing the desire to compete to boil over as things get ready to kick off here in 2022. Offensively, they saw this competitiveness result in two double-digit run outputs in their preseason scrimmages. Kemet Brown appears to be ready to set the table at the top of the order while anchoring the defense at shortstop. In the middle of the order, Zach Meddings and Cole Santander will be looked to for big run producing numbers. Jack Tomlinson and Kieran Davis are two more veterans that the Mustangs will look to, to bring depth to the lineup.
 
On the mound, it’s not only the depth but the talent that has Coach Peters excited heading into 2022. Andrew Morones will lead the staff, getting the ball in game one of most series while Seth Tomczak, Nathan Hansen, and Fidel Ulloa round out a talented rotation with power, stuff and command. At least to start the year, Nate Morris, Connr Semone, and Jace Root are the ones that will get the call to the 'pen for high-leverage innings.
 
20. Midland

The Chaps like what they have going on at the top of their rotation heading into the 2022 season with a three-headed monster they think will be able to carry them through the thick of Region 5 play. Luke Young has taken over the top spot in the rotation with a mid-90s fastball, while Luis Rodriguez and Derek Klosowski will give them more than a chance in games two and three.
 
With the stick, it will be a balanced attack with speed and power that will keep Midland putting runs up on the board. Guys that should figure to set the tone as far as their ability to create scoring are Tyler Wulfert, Jarek Wells and Luke Bumpus, who are capable of setting the table while Ryan Blackwell hit .400 a year ago and will look to build on that in his sophomore campaign.
 
21. Pima

The Aztecs come in as the No. 2 team from Region 1 in the preseason rankings as they will be looking to unseat perennial power Central after their recent dominance over the region. The unique stable of arms they have loaded up on in Tucson seems to be what’s responsible for most of the buzz heading into the 2022 season. Aiden May should receive plenty of buzz throughout the season with his fastball reaching the upper-90s. Jaren Jackson and Darius Garcia should also see starting time on the mound with an upper-80s/low-90s fastball and good feel for their secondary stuff.
 
While Bradon Zastrow will find his way to the rubber throughout the year as well, he also appears to be penciled in as an everyday bat at this point with high-level athleticism that he can bring to the lineup. Up the middle will be a strong point defensively, with Preston Clifford and Romeo Ballesteros seemingly interchangeable at short and second while still contributing to the offensive output with gap-to-gap power.

22. State College of Florida-Manatee

Another of the clubs we’ll see right away at the Panama City Beach College Baseball Classic, SCF is annually a very strong club replete with D-I talent, and this year is no exception. It’s a deep, but younger, pitching staff that will count on a lot of freshmen right away, including righty Gavin Adams and lefties Jacob Dorn and Josh Beck. Nick Cosentino has big stuff and will see his role expand to start some this spring, he’s a key cog that should make a huge impact. Lefties Nick Gorby and Ryan Stefiuk will also be counted on. Offensively, former PG All-American Brandon Fields will be a huge piece in the middle of the order as well as in the outfield, as well as Kevin Karstetter, a right-handed bat committed to Houston who can flat out rake. Look for the catching duo of Tayden Hall and Owen Ayers to be key pieces, as both can defend and hit, while Ayers brings a decent bit of defensive versatility to the table and can be moved around. 
 
23. Kellogg

An NJCAA D-II World Series participant a year ago, Kellogg is a perennial power in the Midwest, operating out of south central Michigan. The coaches there are very excited about the pitching depth of the staff, and power-armed righty Keegan Batka likely leads the way in that regard. Western Michigan commit James Geshel will be a key piece of the rotation, along with Wayne State commit Ashton Potts. True freshmen Sean Knorr and Sam Bassett-Kennedy are very talented, and both will be counted on right away. Offensively, Tate Peterson returns to lead off and play center field, he can really put bat to ball and defend the alleys and will be the catalyst to the offensive attack. Transfer Brett Stanley likely slots in at third base, he’s a ball of twitchy muscle who can hit for power and really run as well. Freshman outfielder Noah Warren is someone the coaches are high on, and we were told to watch out for freshman catcher Cooper Middleton as a potential riser this spring. It’s a young team, but a very talented team. 

24. Shelton State

Fresh off last season’s trip to Grand Junction after claiming the Region 22 title, the Bucs find themselves back inside the preseason rankings at No. 24. Drake Logan will return as the top bat from last year’s offense that caught fire and allowed the Bucs to make their way back through the loser’s bracket in Ozark and punch their ticket to the World Series. In the outfield, Jalen Parker and Corbin Grantham will cover more than enough ground as well as affect the game on the bases by putting pressure on the defense. Walt Bailey and Zeke Bishop look like two likely candidates to man the corners of the infield, with each being counted on to be big-time run producers in the middle of the lineup.
 
On the mound, replacing last year's ace Garrett McMillian will be no easy task but freshman Kyrin Long has shown signs throughout the fall of being a guy that could lead the rotation. Long will run the fastball into the low-90s, topping out at 94 mph during his time at Perfect Game events and striking out well over a batter an inning. The return of two of last year’s better freshmen in right-handers Ty Hutto and Grant Hickman will give the staff some stability. Filling the fourth spot in the rotation could be any number of guys, speaking to the depth of the arms, but some names to keep an eye on will be Sawyer Toney, Tate Robinson, or left-hander Hunter Merrick.
 
25. Riverside

While the lineup will see a good mix of freshmen and sophomores, it will be a young rotation that Coach Rudy Arguelles and his staff turn the ball over to at the beginning of games. Jon Mocherman will be the Opening Day guy to the mound with a low-90s fastball to go along with good feel for his firm breaking ball and changeup. David Butler, Caleb Anderson and Gioncarlo Flores will round out the rotation while Sakemi Sato is penciled in as the closer to start the year.
 
Julian Alvarez will start things off for the offense as they look to set up third baseman Ignacio Alvarez with runners in scoring position, expecting big things out of the freshman. Matthew Bardowell will be tasked with hitting behind Ignacio, providing some protection to make sure opposing pitchers can’t work around him.
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Kinley Kitchens
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Some moments set the tone for an entire game. For Jackson Nave, it happened in his very first trip to the plate. The Sevierville, Tennessee native stepped into the batter’s box looking for a pitch he could drive. A few moments later, the ball was flying over the fence, giving FTB Phillies 13U an early boost and igniting what would become a dominant offensive performance. “I was feeling good,” Nave said. “I was just trying to find a pitch I could hammer. I kept my eye on it, took it down the middle and that felt good.” That swing was only the beginning. Nave finished the game with a home run, four runs scored, and four RBI as FTB Phillies 13U rolled to a 27-4 victory on the opening day of the 2026 PG 13U National Elite Championship. For Nave, getting the offense started early is an important part of helping his team succeed. “I think it is really...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Reed Continues to Prove He Belongs

Kinley Kitchens
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For many young players, competing alongside some of the top talent in the country can be intimidating. For Chris Reed, it is simply another opportunity to prove he belongs. The Conyers, Georgia native has established himself as one of the premier players in the 2030 class, currently ranking No. 24 nationally and No. 7 among shortstops according to Perfect Game. Reed’s game has consistently stood out against elite competition thanks to his athleticism, instincts, and all-around skill set. That ability was on full display during the 2025 Perfect Game 13U National Showcase, where Reed earned his invitation to the PG Select Festival, one of the most prestigious events available to players his age. “It showed that I can play with the best of the best, and that I belong,” Reed said of the experience. The event provided more than just exposure. It also reinforced an important...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Beast of the East Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
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‘29 SS Chase Hallett (NJ) drops the bat head on this one & lifts it out to the PS for a solo HR. Free and easy LH swing w/ present strength & more to dream on. #BeastOfTheEast @PGMidAtlantic pic.twitter.com/Ym9LFg05tx — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 4, 2026 Chase Hallett (2029, Pennington, N.J.) came up with a loud swing on Thursday morning, dropping the barrel on one and lifting it out to the pull-side. It’s an intriguing profile overall with the young left-handed hitting middle infielder and the power projects in a big way. The swing is short and simple, he finds the barrel at a high clip, and is a sure handed defender up the middle. This has all the makings of a high-end prospect in a few years and is certainly a name of note in the ‘29 class. Canon Day (2028, Germantown, Tenn.) put together a great day on the offensive side of things,...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/5/2026

Arizona Desert Classic Gets Underway

Emily Hicks
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After another busy week of baseball, attention now turns to the 2026 PG 14u Arizona Desert Classic tournament as teams prepare for a weekend of competition on the Perfect Game circuit. ATB 13U enters the event looking to continue building on its season so far. The team comes into the weekend with a record of 5-4 and has shown strengths in their offense and defense. As the schedule gets tougher, this tournament presents another opportunity to test themselves against quality opponents. The field features teams from across Arizona, setting up several intriguing matchups throughout pool play. Key games against AZ Premier Prospects and Maverix could provide an early look at where the team stands heading into bracket play. A few players to keep an eye on this weekend include Reece Neely and Gavyn Jupp from Maverix and Jakob Couto from USA Scout Team AZ 14u. Whether it's producing at the plate,...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/4/2026

California Kickoff Scout Notes

Joey Cohen
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Jayce Dejong (‘27, CA) finished 6-for-14 on the weekend which included a big HR in the championship game. Intriguing @PG_Uncommitted player to monitor this summer. #CAKickoff https://t.co/UbuSQxNalf pic.twitter.com/kjVcyiG8km — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 1, 2026 Jayce Dejong (2027, Yorba Linda, Calif). Really strong weekend at the plate, going 6-for-14 with multiple line-drive barrels, including a no-doubt pull-side HR. Medium, lean, athletic frame with room to add. Hits from a wider base from the left side, starts early and consistently gets to launch on time. Loose barrel turn with adjustability and length through the middle, showing the ability to create lift and impact out front. Coming off a strong junior season at Crean Lutheran and should be a priority uncommitted follow this summer. Evan Stroner (2027, Huntington Beach, Calif). Impressive...
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Showcase | Story | 6/4/2026

Soph. & Junior National Arrive in Georgia

Hannah Jo Groves
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This weekend will kick off the 2026 PG Junior National Showcase with the Sophomore National Showcase following close behind. Both in Marietta, Georgia, these showcases will feature lots of top-50 talent along with the ever-present potential for lesser-known players to turn heads.  For the Junior National Showcase, starting on June 6, 7 of the top 10-ranked players will attend - No. 2 Colin Anderson, No. 3 Cullen Scott, No. 4 Carter Shouse, No. 6 Aiden Kearney, No. 8 Keelan Zumwalt, No. 8 Landon Bonner and No. 9 Theo Swafford.  Anderson won’t have to travel far to attend, coming from Acworth, Georgia. At last year’s Sophomore National Showcase, he impressed scouts with his calm approach and explosive bat speed. Scott, a right-handed pitcher and third baseman from Melissa, Texas, has shown his arm strength getting up in the 90-mph zone....
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