The WWBA Sophomore World Championship put a spotlight on the top talent in the 2025 class, and the prospects in the class did not disappoint. Perfect Game scouts are taking a look back on the event, highlighting prospects in three different categories - The Next Wave, Breakout Stars, and Top 2026 Talent.
The Next Wave - the group of players from the event who proved to be in the top tier of prospects in the class, and represent the next wave of high-end prospects heading toward the MLB Draft or college campuses.
Taylor Tracey, LHP/1B, Artillery 2025 Scout Team
Tracey proved himself to be one of the top two-way standouts in the class. On the mound, Tracey worked in the upper-80s, featuring heavy bore on the heater while pairing it with a curveball for strikes. He really separated himself with the bat however, batting .444 with a pair of long balls during the tournament.
Billy Carlson, SS/RHP, BPA
The Vanderbilt commit is another player who has significant upside both with the bat, and on the bump. Possessing an accurate barrel, the ball jumps of Carlson’s bat, producing plenty of extra-base hits. He is also a slick defender at shortstop with plenty of arm, also evident on the mound. He has ran the fastball up to 91 with a sharp, high spin breaker.
Seth Hernandez, RHP/3B, BPA
Hernandez has solidified himself as one of the premier arms in the class early on. The right-hander uses a clean, refined delivery and has been into the low-90s with the fastball. Both the curveball and changeup are already weapons. Hernandez can also swing it, with big strength and power upside.
Colton Schwarz, C, Florida Burn 2025 Scout Team
A Florida commit, Schwarz has swung the bat very well throughout this year, batting .383 in PG tournaments. The backstop swings to do damage, with big intent and bat speed before meeting the ball with plenty of strength. He produces loud barrels at a frequent rate and the offensive potential from behind the plate is enticing.
Noah Campbell, LHP, Scorpions 2025 Scout
Campbell made his presence known during WWBA Sophomore, tossing a dominant 6 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering only two hits while punching out 15. The southpaw operated in the upper-80s with big angle, making it very difficult to square up. He paired the fastball with a sharp lateral slider that has the makings of a real swing-and-miss offering.
Jalen Foxx, OF, Scorpions 2025 Scout
Foxx absolutely scorched the ball, batting .556 throughout the tournament. With an intriguing combination of athleticism and strength, Foxx employs good rhythm to his swing along with advanced bat speed. There is a lot to like with the Florida native’s game, with a very well-rounded skillset.
Cal Johnson, SS, CBU 2025 Scout Team
With a clean stroke, quality bat speed, and legitimate switch-hitting ability, Johnson’s hit and power potential stand out. The hand speed is evident, and the parts of the swing are well-timed and functional. Johnson is also a strong defender at shortstop, using fluid and under control actions.
Riley McDonald, RHP/3B, Top Tier Roos American 2025
McDonald swung the bat well and showed off considerable upside on the mound as well. The uncommitted Florida native utilizes a smooth stroke with loud bat speed, allowing the ball to jump off his bat with ease. He worked up to 88 with his fastball, mixing in a short and tight slider to compliment.
Thomas Stewart, RHP, Slammers Holzemer
Stewart was absolutely dazzling on the hill, working in the upper-80s with good life, allowing it to play up in the zone. He paired the heater with a true 12-6 curveball with big depth, landing it on a consistent basis. The Virginia commit is very athletic and employs a smooth, repeatable delivery with a clean arm action.
Tyler Baird, RHP, South Charlotte Panthers 2025
Baird showed some great stuff and projection, throwing six innings while only allowing one run. The fastball topped out at 90, sitting mostly in the upper-80s. He utilizes a true three-pitch arsenal, with the curveball and changeup both showing swing-and-miss potential. With a quick arm and an uber projectable 6-foot-4, 165-pound frame, the right-hander’s stuff is only going to get better.
Boston Kellner, SS/RHP, Canes 16U Scout Team
A Louisville commit, Kellner had a strong tournament with the stick. The shortstop hit .417 over five games, including a home run. The Colorado native uses a smooth and under control stroke, featuring lightning quick hands. The ball carries off the bat, and the arm strength plays both at short and on the mound, as he has been into the upper-80s.
Jackson Garland, RHP, Artillery 2025 Scout Team
Garland was masterful during his outing, allowing only one run over six frames versus a strong lineup. The righty worked up to 88 with his fastball with great life, holding the velocity for the entirety of the outing. Garland mixed in a curveball that is already an out-pitch with lots of depth and bite. He competes well and the stuff still projects in a big way.
Patrick Dudley, LHP, TBT Ballers National
The 6-foot-4 left-hander operated in the mid-80s for the most part, topping at 87 with significant angle. The slider plays very well off the fastball, tunneling before darting off with late tilt in the upper-70s. Dudley pitches from a clean and repeatable delivery, producing his velocity with little effort, thanks to fast arm.
Ty Thompson, SS, Artillery 2025 Scout Team
Thompson had a huge WWBA Sophomore, batting .458 with five doubles over eight games and threw five innings of one-hit baseball. The Tennessee commit has a very accurate barrel, sending liners all over the field on a consistent basis. A good athlete at a lean 6-foot, 150-pound frame, Thompson projects well in the dirt too.
-Kyler Peterson
Breakout Stars - players from the event who really took a step forward and put themselves on the prospecting map.
Brandon De Goti, SS, BPA
De Goti earned MVP honors after hitting above .500 on the week and the quality of his at-bats from game to game definitely stood out. He also walked seven times over the course of the event and the hit tool potential coupled with the sure-handed glove make him a strong overall prospect and one that’s still uncommitted to boot.
Vaughn Coleman, OF, BPA
Coleman broke out in a big way during this event, finishing second in Top Performers in only his third PG event of his career. It’s a loose swing from the right side and the Arizona commit shows both good bat speed and the ability to create space in tight places. The hit tool looks real with a good foundation of athleticism as Coleman definitely has an up arrow next to his name.
Dylan England, 3B, Spects National Platinum
England was an extra-base hit machine as an astounding seven of his nine hits went for extra bases with six doubles and a triple. He’s physically build with strength and bat speed present and the power potential is intriguing here long term. England banged all week and the hit and power combo is enticing.
Madrid Tucker, SS, Wow Factor National
A switch-hitter with feel for the barrel from both sides, Tucker had a great week, hitting .583 and showing some game-changing athleticism. He’s a multi-sport athlete who mixed in a football game during the weekend, Tucker can run and has a clean stroke. He’s a solid defender too, and the athletic upside here is huge.
Lamar Edwards, OF, Scorpions 2025 Scout
Edwards was hitting over .700 coming into the opening round of bracket and the big left-handed hitter was crushing pitching all weekend. He’s got big power and bat speed from the left side with plenty of present physicality too. Edwards is still only fifteen and his ability to barrel the ball with impact stood out in a substantial way.
Austin Pierzynski, C, Power Baseball 2025 Marucci
Pierzynski played on varsity all spring for Florida high school powerhouse The First Academy, and he ended the weekend hitting .400. It’s a strong profile as a left-handed hitting catcher with a loose, fluid swing and obvious room for projection. There’s good barrel accuracy at present and the impact should increase as he fills out.
Mason Barth, SS, Canes 16u Scout Team
Barth was uncommitted heading into this event and then all he did was hit .500 for the week and commit to Notre Dame just a few weeks later. Barth was the heart and soul of the Canes lineup in Fort Myers, taking quality at-bats and showing a natural feel for the barrel. He provides big offensive and on-base impact from a valuable defensive position.
Ray Barwis, OF, Barwis Dragons 2025
Barwis was the leadoff hitter and spark plug for the upstart Barwis Dragons as they advanced to the second round of bracket play. He’s a sweet-swinger from the left side with a loose swing and plenty of projection here. Barwis is a good mover too, and is solid in center where he makes good reads.
Grant Wren, RHP, 3N2 Sticks Baseball/Next Level
Wren showed one of the biggest arms at the event, opening up his start at a solid 90-93 mph range. The right-handed pitcher dominated with the fastball, holding the low-90s throughout his three inning start. Wren flashed some secondaries but the fastball and fastball quality certainly made him one of the premier uncommitted arms at the event.
Evan Taylor, RHP, BPC Oilers
Taylor is another prospect who earned himself a commitment from the Sophomore World as he was pretty impressive as an uncommitted two-way prospect. Taylor showed significant power from the right side of the plate with extra-base hit potential before hopping on the mound. He worked up to 90 with good feel to spin a sharp breaking ball.
David Pina, SS, CBU 2025 United
Pina showed some loud tools and improvement at the dish from earlier in his career. He’s got great size at a listed 6-foot-1, 180 pounds with big bat speed from both sides of the plate. The power projection is substantial and he has a solid foundation of athleticism and strength to make him a must-know uncommitted prospect.
Dominic Woodward, SS, Artillery 2025 Scout Team
Woodward raked all week to the tune of eight total hits and a .333 batting average for his team that was eventually co-champions of the event. Woodward is a smooth swinging left-handed hitter with loft and looseness to go along with substantial power projection. He also pitched in the low-80s on the bump but the pure left-handed stick has a chance to be really impressive.
-Vinnie Cervino
Top 2026 Talent - the group of prospects, playing up in age class, who stood out at the event.
Brayden Harris, RHP/OF, MBA 2026 Scout Team
Harris played up and was able to hold his own, getting it done on both sides of the ball. He threw four innings, allowing just 1 earned run while punching out six opposing hitters. He was up to 87 mph on the heater and showed a good breaker in the mix. In the batters’ box he got it done too, hitting .333 with a double, and picking up 4 RBI throughout the tournament as well. Harris is a Florida State Seminoles commit.
Lorenzo Laurel, 3B/OF, 5 Star Natonal 15u Black
Laurel excelled while playing up, doing his thing, and consistently finding ways to get it done. Great feel for the barrel with bat speed to match. Laurel does a good job matching planes with pitches and flat-out hitting. He hit .545 during the 2022 WWBA Sophomore, grabbing two extra-base hits and driving in 6 runs. Laurel continues to find ways to hit against top talent.
Ford McCarthy, 3B/OF, RHP, 5 Star National 15u Black
McCarthy did his job in the batters’ box, finding the barrel and driving balls pull-side with ease. Projectable and fluid actions in the box with good size. Has a whippy barrel and strength showing. Handled playing up well, hitting .625 with a double, a triple, and 3 RBI. Drew four walks as well, to produce a .750 on-base percentage.
Ethan Wheeler, RHP, MBA 2026 Scout Team
Wheeler went out and did his thing against Artillery 2025 Scout Team during the 2022 WWBA Sophomore. Wheeler continues to define his pitch mix. His fastball was up to 87 mph from an over-the-top slot. He’s got a distinct curveball with good depth and a slider with more lateral movement. Has a changeup in the mix as well. The Florida Gators commit threw 4 innings, punching out 10 hitters while allowing just 1 earned run.
Steele Hall, SS, Aces National
Hall came down to 2022 WWBA Sophomore and consistently found himself on base. He showed off the bat. Felt like he was finding the barrel and driving balls every at-bat. The Tennessee Volunteers commit had several extra-base hits and was able to find his way on base. Plenty of good barrels, with fluid actions in the box. Projectable actions and made good adjustments to hit with two strikes, finding ways to get balls down gap-to-gap.
John Stowers, C/RHP, Aces National
Stowers played up and was able to handle his at-bats well throughout the 2022 WWBA Sophomore. He swung it from the left side with a fluid stroke and direct path. Steps and strides, being able to find the barrel and produce line drives. Stowers drove in 4 runs for his team with a .333 on-base percentage. Handled the game well behind the dish. Auburn Tigers commit.
Tyler Ellis, LHP/1B, MBA 2026 Scout Team
Ellis came out and did his thing at 2022 WWBA Sophomore, working 82-84 mph on the fastball with two distinct breaking balls. Flipped a breaking ball with good shape to it and a more lateral slider, being able to keep the opposition uncomfortable in the batters’ box. Ellis threw 4 2/3 shutout innings over 2 outings where he punched out 7 opposing hitters, allowing just 1 hit.
Connor Langdon, LHP/OF, 5 Star National 15u Black
Langdon put together an excellent outing while playing up during the 2022 WWBA Sophomore. The Mississippi State commit worked 82-86 mph on the fastball and showed a breaking ball in the low-70s to have success. He held the opposition scoreless over 3 innings of work, punching out 4 opposing hitters. Loose arm on the mound with projectable actions from the left-hander.
-Tyler Kotila