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| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
General  | General | 11/1/2022

The Lead Off: November

Photo: Perfect Game
No way it’s November! 🎃💀👻

It’s Halloween Eve and I’ve got a few things to share this month.



In order of importance, let’s start with Halloween. I’ll send you our family Halloween photo next month as the Hurdle family OWNS Halloween.

We’ve been doing this as a family for 16 years. It started with my older daughter Ashley in 1987. I’ve been dressing up for Halloween for 60 years.

Here is a throwback photo from our last Halloween in Pittsburgh.



You get the idea….😜

Let’s move on. Next topic.

MLB Playoffs! Wow. How much fun was that...Many early opinions on the format and at the end of the day, I liked it and I thought it worked well.

Dodgers - Mets - Braves maybe not so much. Three teams with over 100 wins bounced early. Padres took down two of them while finishing way behind LA.

The Phillies finished 15 games behind Atlanta and the NY Mets!🤔😳

As the Beatles sang…"Money can’t buy you love ( or playoff wins!)"

And the Astros busted the broom out on the Mariners and the Yankees. 🧹🧹🧹

(The 2007 Colorado Rockies swept their way into the World Series as well - I was there!😎)

Which brings me to my next topic…

3-2-1 CONTACT!

Can we get a little more contact on offense?????😳🤪

Wow 😮 I’ve never seen so much walking back to the dugout...Truth - hitting has never been harder. I’ll give the pitchers and the pitching coaches their share of credit and I’ll also ask the question, “Can we teach contact?” It’s not “old school hitting” vs “new school hitting”… it should be called “being in school hitting."

Yes there is a big spike in velocity and spin. You don’t match velocity with effort!

Hitters are trying harder and working the barrel uphill more than ever before and have become more vulnerable to spin.

Strikeouts matter. If your team strikes out 12 times in a game, it means you watched the other team's pitcher and catcher play catch for 4 innings!!!! That makes offense harder. Putting the ball in play makes the other team play defense.
They have to catch it clean and throw it accurately. You make them play baseball.

Here a couple of comments…

“Kids and players are getting 'lessoned up' to chase a metric. That's what they think hitting is. The game has failed these kids, so what we need is a higher level of hitting practice.”

“Another way to teach hitting is teaching how to play the game versus training toward a metric. Kids and players aren't being taught the game, they're being taught a swing. They will learn the game without realizing they're learning.”

Just my opinion.

Last topic!

Is the Fall Classic classic?

This is my most favorite time of the sporting year. No doubt. I love watching the World Series. I can remember skipping school to watch my beloved Tigers play the Cardinals in 1968.

World Series day games aaaahhhhh!

I’ve been blessed with three trips to the World Series. That's right. Uniquely enough…

Once as a player - 1980, Kansas City vs. Philadelphia
Once as a coach - 2010, Texas vs. San Francisco
Once as a manager - 2007, Colorado vs. Boston

Very small group of men have been to the World Series as a player, coach and manager...

You know what’s a smaller group?

My team finished second all three times!🤬😱😰

HaHa! 💩

So here’s to the Phillies and the Astros. The two teams that have played the best team baseball in their respective leagues when it mattered most. Yes...they both pitch it extremely well and one team catches it extremely well, however, both teams have lineups that battle you every turn they have at the plate! They make CONTACT!

So yes 🙌 The Fall Classic is still Classic.

The fans for both these teams will let you know.

Everyone HITS!

Make a difference today
Love, Clint

General | General | 10/8/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 67

Ron Wolforth
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Rethinking Baseball Warm-Ups: A Call for Innovation  Let’s kick the old warm-up tradition to the curb, shall we? Baseball has a reputation for being a sport rooted deeply in its customs, and while some traditions are worthy of preservation, one that needs a refreshing overhaul is the standard warm-up routine. Picture this: an hour before the game, players jog a lap, gather to stretch in a circle, and then stand around playing catch. Does that really prepare anyone adequately for the mental and physical demands of pitching? In my view, it falls woefully short, and I’ll explain why. The typical warm-up approach - running a lap, static stretching, and simply tossing a ball back and forth - doesn’t even scratch the surface of what’s necessary for optimal performance. This process often leaves pitchers feeling only 75% prepared, and that’s just not good...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 10/22/2026

PG Softball Chesterfield Fall Showcase High School Division

Erica Beach
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PG Softball Chesterfield Fall Showcase HS Division Oct 17-18, 2026 Chesterfield First Community Athletic Complex CHESTERFIELD, MO — It was a perfect weekend for softball, with 16 teams converging on the Chesterfield First Community Athletic Complex to compete in the High School Division. Teams from Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa were there to battle it out, and there was only one undefeated team in the tournament: the Southeast Iowa All-Stars 16U Gold Flowerbach, who went a stellar 5-0 on the weekend. We were treated to some stellar performances all weekend and below we highlight some of the standout athletes who caught our eyes.  Lucy Turner (2027, Marion, IA) of the Cedar Rapids Reds was a truly dynamic two-way player this past weekend. Offensively, she batted .444 with 5 RBIs and an impressive 6 stolen bases, which led the tournament. She also scored 6 runs for her team and...
Tournaments | Championship | 10/22/2026

Wildcatters Reign Supreme at 13u WWBA

Jheremy Brown
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After both the Best of the West and the Beast of the East wrapped up, a big conglomerate of high end talent and stacked teams descended upon West Palm for both the 13u and the 14u WWBA World Championships. While the weather threw a wrench into the plans early on and some adjustment was needed to ensure the event moved forward, it was nothing but sunshine and competitive baseball throughout Sunday and into the early morning Monday.  Kicking off with the 13u WWBA World Championship, the first thing to point out is the fact this was a wood bat tournament played on 60-90 fields and while the combo was a first for most, you wouldn't know it with their level of play throughout the weekend. In an unsurprising twist and a continuation of their 12u dominance, the 13u championship saw the #2 seeded Goldin Prospects lock horns with the top seeded Houston Wildcatters, aka the champion of the...
Tournaments | Story | 10/22/2026

17u Coastal Fall Invitational

Perfect Game Staff
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Dalton Fisher (2028, China Grove, NC) stands at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, with a lean, projectable frame and room to add strength as he develops. Bats and throws right-handed and plays the outfield. Shows a good approach at the plate with quick hands, solid bat speed, and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Fisher went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI, putting together a great day at the plate. Bradley Edwards (2028, Summerville,SC) Stands at 6-feet-5 225 strong build and the potential to generate considerable power. Bats and throws right handed is a right handed pitcher. Shows good arm strength and the ability to attack hitters while generating swings and misses. Demonstrates a competitive approach on the mound with the ability to challenge hitters in the zone. Recorded 4.2 innings pitched with 10 strikeouts, a 56% strike rate, and a fastball that topped out at 85 mph. Jackson Pierce (2028,...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 10/21/2026

PG Softball Chesterfield Fall Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
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2026 PG softball Chesterfield fall showcase 14U Division October 17th to 18th Chesterfield First Community Athletic Complex CHESTERFIELD, MO — It was a highly competitive weekend of softball as six teams battled it out on the field. In the end, the Midland Magic Wooster finished with a flawless 5-0 record, showcasing a dominant tournament performance by allowing only three runs while exploding for 65 runs of their own. Below we highlight some of the weekend’s shining stars. \ Abigail Doolittle (2030 - Edwardsville, Illinois) of Top Gun 2030-IL established herself as one of the tournament's most formidable hitters over five games, posting an astounding .727 batting average. Showcasing elite power and versatility, she racked up three singles, two doubles, two triples, and a home run. Doolittle drove in four runs, scored four times, drew a walk, and added a stolen base....
Tournaments | Story | 10/21/2026

Windy City Finale Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘27 RHP Jaxson Weiss (IL) pitched well in his 5 innings and put up some eye popping strikeout numbers. He punched out 10 and allowed only 2ER. FB T86 early and flashed a BB 72-75. #WCFinale https://t.co/M8GtCUgxyS — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) October 17, 2026 Jaxson Weiss (2027, New Lennox, Ill.) a right-handed pitcher put up big strikeout numbers in his start on Saturday. He worked five innings while punching out ten opposing hitters. The fastball topped out at 86 mph and sat in the 82-85 mph range most of the game. His breaking ball was his primary off-speed, living 72-75 mph. Weiss keeps his body under control throughout his delivery, helping him with his good command on the mound. He uses his lower half well with a nice leg drive and gets his hips through, guiding his backside. He pitched with confidence and stayed ahead of hitters most of the game. Hayden...
Tournaments | Story | 10/19/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers

Tyler Henninger
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The WWBA World Championship remains one of the premier events on the draft calendar as all 30 major league organizations descend on Jupiter to evaluate some of the top talent in amateur baseball. The event serves as a pivotal checkpoint in the scouting process, giving established prospects an opportunity to further elevate their stock while lesser-known names have a chance to put themselves on the radar of various organizations. This year was no exception, as several players made strong impressions and positioned themselves for increased attention heading into the spring. With that being said, let’s dive into a few draft risers and sleepers who stood out in Jupiter. Calum Andersen (‘27,CAN) had his A stuff working today running the FB to 96 mph with a devastating horizontal SL at 85 mph that can break bats. Mixed in a late breaking 12/6 curveball at 78 mph that induces weak...
Tournaments | Story | 10/20/2026

Jupiter Recap: Stars Being Stars

Vincent Cervino
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers With the 2026 WWBA World Championship in the rearview mirror, we're going to begin our breakdowns of 4 different subcategories, beginning today with the Stars Being Stars category. Most of the players below are household names or were teetering on the edge of such recognition, using Jupiter as their launching pad. From Perfect Game All-Americans to some serious helium names for the MLB Draft, the PG crew breaks them all down below.  ‘27 Samir Mohammed (FL) racked up 11 Ks thru 5 IP on 75% strikes. FB lived 98-99, T100 w/ tons of ASR & life thru the zone. Hit 99 mph 10+ times incl his final pitch of the outing. Had his sharp vert CB on a string & faded the CHG effectively vs LHHs (clip). #LSU commit. @PG_Draft #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting)...
Tournaments | Story | 10/21/2026

Jupiter Recap: Uncommitted...For Now

Kyler Peterson
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers | Jupiter: Stars Being Stars Gets your reads in now because by the time you reach the end, some of the talent in this article might be giving their commitments to a college somewhere across the country. Every player below did something that caught out scout's eye and should certainly be on the radar for college coaches, if they aren't already.  Braxton Sykes (2028, Brunswick, Ga.) tossed a total of six innings down in Jupiter, collecting six strikeouts while failing to allow either a hit or earned run during his tenure on the mound. The 6-foot-2 right-hander showcased an impressive three-pitch mix with excellent feel to locate in every part of the strike zone. His fastball lived in the mid- to upper-80s mph range with more velocity to project for as Sykes continues to add strength and...
Tournaments | Story | 10/23/2026

Jupiter Recap: The Next Wave

Kyler Peterson
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers | Jupiter: Stars Being Stars | Jupiter: Uncommitted...For Now | Jupiter: Breakout Prospects You don't have to look too hard into the future to see what the prep game has in store as the players below are already showing tools beyond their years. With a slew of 2028 and 2029 grads more than holding their own in Jupiter, the scene for the upcoming summer has already had some groundwork laid out for what should be an exciting couple of years to come.  ‘28 Alan Zimmerman (FL) racked up 5 Ks w/ just 1 H allowed thru 3 shutout frames. Lived 89-90 T91 w/ lots of life thru the zone & some ASR. Dropped in a 12/6 breaker for Ks (clip). Projectable 6’3” mold. #Uncommitted @PG_Uncommitted #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG https://t.co/KTDFpGK49y — Perfect Game Scout...
Tournaments | Story | 10/22/2026

Jupiter Recap: Breakout Prospects

Kyler Peterson
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers | Jupiter: Stars Being Stars | Jupiter: Uncommitted...For Now There's truly nothing better than a prospect staying fresh, making the trip to Jupiter and fully taking advantage of the opportunity to perform in front of all 30 MLB teams over the course the tournament. Some of the players below were already on the radar but took their status to the next level, while others made scout and recruiters do a double take and add themselves to follow lists.  Benjamin Faigin (2027, Monroe, N.J.) showed off some serious stuff on the mound in Jupiter, pitching with a ton of energy and confidence. The 6-foot southpaw ran his fastball up to 95 mph, sitting comfortably in the low-90s with good carry through the strike zone. He went to a more vertical curveball when ahead in counts, sequencing the...
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