2,074 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Recruiting  | 11/2/2022

Recruiting Notebook: November 2

John McAdams      Isaiah Burrows      AJ Denny      Tyler Russo      Jheremy Brown     
Photo: Hiro Wyatt (Perfect Game)

Nicholas Bradley, RHP, Class of 2026
National Rank: 14 | Commitment: Auburn

Bradley becomes the highest ranked player to commit to Auburn in the class of 2026. This class for the Tigers looks to be loaded with a bevy of immensely projectable talent that will look to continue the success that Coach Butch Thompson and staff have built down there. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-hander has already been into the low-90s with his fastball and stands to gain more as he will certainly mature physically over the next several years. Bradley pounds the zone effortlessly despite trying to harness so much arm speed at a young age, has feel for a high spin slider that he can land for strikes and has flashed a promising changeup to complete his current three-pitch mix. The physical upside and potential velocity ceiling is sky high and it will be extremely fun to watch this young prospect for years to come.




Austin Howard, RHP, Class of 2025
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: Louisville

Howard has progressed immensely over the last full calendar year, as the physical right-hander has been into the upper-80s with his fastball as of late. He pairs it well with a promising breaking ball that has shown best when thrown with more horizontal sweep to it. He effectively uses all four quadrants of the strike zone with his fastball, creates some deception and sink with a slight crossbody release and projects to continue adding velocity over the next few years. He was stellar this fall at both the Sophomore and Freshman WWBA World Championships, showcasing his ability to miss bats against the best players within his age group. Howard will be a fun to watch grow these next few years.
 
Matthew Cruz, RHP/OF, Class of 2024
National Rank: Top 1000 | Commitment: Penn State

Cruz has been excellent throughout 2022, as the athletic right-hander has amassed a 0.80 ERA across in just over 42 innings pitched this year. He does it with a promising three-pitch mix that misses bats frequently and will continue to expand as he adds more velocity. It is a simple, repeatable operation with good lower half movements down the slope and looseness to his three-quarters arm slot. He allows the natural arm-side run on his fastball to navigate the strike zone effectively, while having a feel to manipulate both the speed and shape to his breaking ball. He completes his arsenal with a well-replicated changeup that dives upon reaching the plate and generates a ton of empty swings. He repeats well due to his athleticism and should add a few more ticks velocity-wise as he physically mature.


Jason Amalbert, RHP/INF, Class of 2026
National Rank: 149 | Commitment: Indiana

Amalbert has been someone we’ve seen numerous times throughout these past few years, as the twitchy 2026 grad continues to get better each time out. Typically lauded for his electric arm speed, the right-handed hitting infielder has taken the next step with the bat and is truly a two-way weapon that the coaches at Indiana certainly will love to deploy in multiple ways upon arriving on campus. At the plate, it is an enticing overall hit tool with in-game power and excellent feel for the barrel. He has been into the mid-80s regularly with his fastball and possesses a true swing-and-miss breaking ball. He completes his dynamic three-pitch mix with a faded changeup that he maintains arm speed on and generates plenty of swings and misses with. The New Jersey native has produced on the national stage often and will be fun to watch grow and mature these next few years.
  

Caiden White, RHP, Class of 2024
National Rank: 477 | Commitment: Memphis

White made his pact to the Tigers and new Head Coach Kerrick Jackson, as they look to rebuild a program that should see quick improvements in both the roster and facilities over the next few seasons. The uber-athletic right-hander has been up to 90 mph in previous looks and stands to continue adding more velocity now that he is fully healthy and raring to go. The frame will assuredly continue to mature, adding strength and White should see velocity gains relatively quick. He pairs his fastball effectively with a more traditional shaped breaking ball that has both vertical and horizontal tilt to it. He completes his three-pitch mix with a replicated change that generates plenty of weak contact. The overall athleticism bodes well for the future for the young 2024 grad, as he will only continue to get better as he logs more innings and could be a pick to click here over the next few seasons.
 
Henry Jackson, INF, Class of 2025
National Rank: 446 | Commitment: Connecticut

Jackson becomes just the second commit in the class of 2025 for Coach Penders and the Huskies, as he joins fellow Northeast product Logan Charboneau. The twitchy infielder has been a name we’ve been intrigued by for some time now, as he possesses immense physical projection and an interesting power, speed combination that will only continue to expand as he matures. He implores a lightning quick stroke at the plate with usable in-game power that bodes well for the future. The arm strength stands out on defense, as he can make every throw necessary seem pretty easy across the diamond. He possesses enough lateral range to play the middle for the foreseeable future but physical growth and his length may dictate a move to the hot corner eventually. It is a high upside, dynamic mix of power and speed that should fight for at-bats immediately once he arrives on campus.

-John McAdams

Rex Pendergrass, 3B/OF, Class of 2024
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: Middle Tennessee State

Middle Tennessee State grabbed one of the better in-state talents in the 2024 class with Rex Pendergrass. He’s a physical two-sport athlete with and brings some real thump to the stick. It’s a solid right-handed swing with strength and extension out front. The bat speed stands out as the hips and hands fire through the zone with intent. The power plays to the pull side and really blossoms at times in game. Pendergrass stood out as one of the better names last summer with bat-to-ball skills, and he should only develop. The arm strength can profile for a corner spot, but the bat is a real carrier to the profile. Pendergrass is a grinder who loves to work, he’s a big addition for 2024.

Riley Luft, OF/3B, Class of 2024
National Rank: 303 | Commitment: Appalachian State

Luft has been one of the more consistent two-ways in the class, and he’s found a good fit in Appalachian State. His frame is a solid blend of athleticism and physicality with a loud stick. He creates good leverage with a short, explosive swing and some viscous hips through contact. It’s loud strength at impact to all fields that projects pretty well going forward. He can also hop on the bump and run the fastball to the high-80s with a solid breaker. The arm talent plays on the grass or the dirt with good carry to his throws. It’s a solid profile and well-rounded skill set that can make an immediate impact on campus.

Makaio Cisneros, RHP, Class of 2024
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: UCF

Cisneros established himself as one of the premier international talents in the class, and UCF went into Canada to grab a big upside arm. The Whitby, Ontario native is a great athlete on the mound with a solid three-pitch mix. The fastball has been up to 89 mph and lives mid/high-80s with great life, and the changeup is a real go-to with late arm-side shape and fading action. He shows feel for a low-70s breaking ball with tight shape and depth. He mixes tempos well from a loose arm action. The upside and projection in the profile really stands out. Cisneros is a lean, athletic arm that has all the makings to take huge strides. UCF is getting a real enticing product.

Marcus Galvan, C/3B, Class of 2023
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: Grand Canyon University

Galvan has some solid traits on both sides, as GCU grabbed a pretty solid addition to its 2023 class. He’s a physical lefty stick with a short, compact swing and present bat speed. Present strength in the hands with some loud jump off the barrel. There’s some catch-and-throw skills behind the dish with softer hands and clean transfer into clean, on-line throws. Galvan has been a consistent presence at PG tournaments, and he’s a solid grab by Grand Canyon.

Thomas Young, LHP/OF, Class of 2024
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: Gonzaga

Gonzaga has steadily built a couple nice commits in its later classes, and the Bulldogs added a good one in 2024 two-way product Thomas Young. The Carson City, Nevada native has made big strides and continues to fill out a leaner build. The arm talent and presence on the mound stands out. The fastball jumps out of the hand, reaching high-80s with good arm-side run and life. He has feel to spin a quality curveball with tiger 1-7 shape and break. Young also sports a solid stick with quick hands that match plane. He’s an athletic two-way presence that adds to a solid Gonzaga class.

-Isaiah Burrows

Andreas Alvarez, RHP, Class of 2024
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: South Florida

There was a good bit of buzz around Alvarez late summer and into the fall as the stuff really made a jump into the next tier and he’s got a chance to be a pretty big addition for this South Florida staff and program if the results can match the arm talent. He’s a smaller, physical right-hander with a big arm as he’ll work in the 88-92 range for the most part right now, peaking at 93 at the Underclass, and it’s a good fastball when he’s commanding it. He’s got a good bit of sharpness to the breaking ball that he throws with good intent and has spin in the 2300s and there’s traits across the mix that can be really good with some development at the next level.


Evan Fernandez, 3B, Class of 2025
National Rank: 316 | Commitment: Mississippi State

Fernandez is a guy that didn’t play much on the national circuit this summer but came to the Class of 2025 All-American Games and impressed as one of the better prospects there. It’s a pretty powerful 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame and it allows him to work the hands out with ease and good rhythm while matching plane and generating the backspin to send balls a long way pull side. He’s a solid mover at the corner and the arm strength in the mid-80s across will let him stick over there while letting the power-profile at the dish carry the profile into Starkville.

Keegan Zinn, RHP, Class of 2023
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: San Jacinto

Zinn has had no shortage of appearances in staple events across the circuit and for the most part, he’s been good like he was in Jupiter. It’s a long, athletic 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame with loads of projection and a fast arm while the foundation of the stuff has a chance to be pretty loud at or after San Jac. He was 89-91 at Jupiter and it’s a solid fastball but the makings really show up on the slider that he spins at 79-81 with spin north of 2700 RPMs and the overall quality to profile as a bat-missing pitch long-term. He throws strikes with a fairly solid velocity ceiling and big spin numbers, it’s easy to think he’ll be a must follow name for 4-year schools.

John Abraham, RHP, Class of 2023
National Rank: 500 | Commitment: Florida State

You can’t talk about Jupiter without mentioning the performance that Abraham had in the championship game, as he tossed a two-hit shutout against a very talented Canes National lineup to take home the biggest title in the travel baseball world. He’s a big and projectable 6-foot-3 right-hander with good stuff as he lived in the 87-90 range all summer long, ramping it up to 92 at Jupiter, with plenty of feel for his secondaries. It’s a good fastball and he throws a ton of strikes while there’s huge traits on the breaking ball with spin numbers into the 2800s, good sharpness/depth and consistent feel to land/bury it with intent. It’s a big pickup for the Seminole staff and he’s got a chance to make a big impact early on when he gets to campus.
 

Kellen Smith, 3B/RHP, Class of 2026
National Rank: High Follow | Commitment: NC State

This staff at NC State has done a really good job at landing the prospects that stand out at the Freshman WWBA event and Smith is another from in the state that did just that. He’s 6-foot-3, 170 pounds and stood out both ways at the event as it’s a good left-handed swing with plenty of simplicity and looseness while he was easy to like on the mound. He was 81-84 with tons of strikes, filling the zone with intent and both the delivery and arm speed look the part. He can spin it a good bit too, throwing it with similar intent and the profile projects a ton as a whole.

Dillon Lester, C, Class of 2023
National Rank: 244 | Commitment: Baylor

Lester was one of the top-ranked uncommitted prospects left in this class until his recent in-state commitment to Baylor, now their highest-ranked player of that group. He’s long been a really talented backstop with agility behind the dish, a good arm and tons of catch-and-throw skills and it makes him an above-average defender back there now and long-term. He’s got a good bit of bat speed and makes strong impact more often than not giving him a pretty well-rounded profile that has the upside of being a steady face behind the dish once on campus.

Griffin Loy, RHP, Class of 2026
National Rank: 221 | Commitment: Louisville

With high-end prospects from the state of Kentucky, there’s usually only a couple suitors right at the forefront of the recruiting process and Louisville won out on a good one. He’s a 6-foot-4, high ceiling arm who has shown well in the couple events he has been in on our circuit, most recently the Freshman WWBA. He was 85-87 in his first outing there, showing good carry and plane from a higher release and he maintains that high window on the breaking ball, staying over the top of it and producing what projects to likely a hammer as the stuff firms up with a few years still to go until he’s on campus.
 

Matt Hoag, LHP, Class of 2024
National Rank: 56 | Commitment: Florida State

Hoag has been known as one of the top arms in the ‘24 class for a good bit of time now and is a huge addition for the new staff in Tallahassee. He’s about as projectable as anyone in this class, at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, and it’s easy upper-80s gas out of a loose and angled release that just oozes a pretty significant velocity ceiling. He throws a TON of strikes, with only two walks in 21 innings of work in PG events this year and the breaking ball has continued to take great steps forward, now throwing it in the low-80s with deep tunnel and sharp lateral sweep to miss bats.

-Tyler Russo

Jason Fultz, 3B/RHP, Class of 2025
National Rank: 281 | Commitment: Clemson

Coach Bakich has wasted no time building the Clemson program up in terms of recruiting, with ‘25 names like Peyton Miller, Skyler Hegler, Danny Nelson, and Logan Struk joining Fultz as future Tigers. Fultz excels in multiple aspects of the game, providing value at a range of positions, making him an intriguing two-way option as things currently stand. From a built 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, Fultz is constantly an offensive threat at the dish, creating leverage and power in the stroke with the ability to work gap-to-gap. He is a more than capable defender at third base with ample arm strength and fluidity that could probably translate to a college atmosphere right now if needed. Furthermore, Fultz has also displayed feel for spin on the mound with a heavy fastball up to 86 mph that should continue to see velocity development in the future. An all around beast and great get for the Clemson staff.

Joey Tonnotti, RHP, Class of 2024
National Rank: 310 | Commitment: Connecticut

After months of high profile interest and rumors, Tonnotti ultimately stays in his home state by heading to Storrs to play for Coach Penders and the crew. The sought-after ‘24 RHP has plenty of things to like in the arsenal with projectability remaining in the 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Tonnotti is able to generate effortless life and ride to the upper-80s fastball, commanding the zone well with advanced baseball IQ and sequencing on the bump. He flashes both a curveball and changeup in the offerings, the former a sharp breaker with tons of horizontal tilt that can be manipulated and morphed into a slider at times. The arm action for the righty is clean and compact with little time for hitters to pick the ball up out of the hand. Tonnotti joins fellow ‘24 names like Gabriel Tirado, Mavrick Rizy, and Drew Smith in what’s shaping up to be a loaded class for the Huskies.

-AJ Denny


Gio Rojas, LHP, Class of 2026
National Rank: 69 | Commitment: Miami

The Colorado-to-Miami connection isn’t one that comes across often, though the Canes have gone out there before, so that speaks to the talent level of Rojas and why the staff expanded their reach. Uber-projectable with long limbs, a high waist and broad shoulders, Rojas is nowhere near bumping his ceiling potential which is truly a scary thought given the ease of which he already operates while running his fastball up to 87 mph from the left side. The age/velocity combo certainly stand out, but the lower slot and life on the pitch make for an even more uncomfortable at-bat and that’s before even factoring in his changeup and breaking ball. Over 41 innings this past circuit Rojas punched out 66 and there’s no doubting it’s an exciting package and one to monitor very closely moving forward. 

Briggs McKenzie, LHP, Class of 2025
National Rank: 47 | Commitment: LSU

Another week of the Recruiting Notebook, another high-level grab for LSU on the national circuit, this time heading into North Carolina to pull away McKenzie. A long and ultra-projectable 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, McKenzie burst onto the scene just over a year ago in West Palm at the Freshman World Championships where he showed an easy low-80s heater with refined command and overall operation. Jump to present day and reports have the fastball climbing into the upper-80s and touching better with the same type of precision as he struck out 21 in 15 innings this summer compared to just 8 walks. For how low effort the heater is, McKenzie’s mid-70s breaker with tight spin is just as impressive, rounding out a profile that’ll make him a must-see come next summer.

Devyn Downs, SS/RHP, Class of 2027
National Rank: Top 1000 | Commitment: LSU

Time will tell where Downs ultimately ends up on the diamond and there’s certainly no rush as he’s just beginning his eighth grade year. And despite his grad year, the coaching staff at LSU saw something special in the young two-way as they grabbed in-state product to join shortstop Ricky Lopez (New York), who we detailed last week to give the Tigers a talented duo. Listed as a primary shortstop, it’s hard to ignore what Downs brings to the mound as he’s already upwards of 84 mph with lots of arm speed and life on the pitch through the zone. Add in a career .428 average and it’s clear why LSU went in on Downs when they did as they continue to lock up some of the best talent in-state, regardless of the recruiting cycle. 

Jaxon Matthews, OF/1B, Class of 2026
National Rank: 301 | Commitment: Clemson

Whether he ends up at a corner outfield spot or first base, you can bet that it’ll be Matthews’ left-handed swing making the most noise for the newly-tagged Clemson Tiger commit. Physically resembling that of a middle-of-the-order type bat with a long and still plenty projectable 6-foot-3, 175-pound build, Matthews proved to be a model of consistency this past summer circuit as he finished hitting to the tune of .447, though his .565 on-base percentage and 28 walks to just 11 strikeouts are even more impressive. While Matthews possesses a keen eye at the plate, he also shows plenty of quickness in his hands with obvious barrel skills, all elements of his game that will continue to develop as he reaches physical maturation. 


Luke Coll, RHP, Class of 2023
National Rank: 310 | Commitment: Appalachian State

Coll truly burst onto the scene this past winter during the Great Lakes Indoor Showcase where he came out as a relative unknown and quickly rectified that notion with a heater that bumped 93 mph while showing an athletic and projectable operation. From that showing Coll hit the ground running and never looked back, turning in a collection of quality starts, both from the 17u WWBA as well as in Jupiter, accumulating 13 innings on the circuit in which he struck out 19 to just 5 while scattering just 3 hits in the process. Following his showing at the GL Indoor, Coll earned an invite to the National Showcase as well where he got an even more in depth look at his arsenal, showing a consistent feel for his curveball which he could land in any count as well as a cutter that worked in the mid-80s and proved to be an effective offering. Coll is an outstanding get for the Mountaineers at this stage in the recruiting cycle and he’s a huge bump to the class. 

Hiro Wyatt, RHP, Class of 2023
National Rank: 140 | Commitment: Southern California

Hardly ever do we see a Connecticut prep arm travel across the country, though we did just see Matt Scott make it to Stanford this fall, and the Trojans’ coaching staff is hoping they’ll have the same luck in landing Wyatt on campus come next fall. Originally a Duke commit who recently opened up his process, Wyatt has a proven track record over the years from the 14u Select Festival to the National Showcase and most recently in Jupiter during his WWBA performance where he was up to 95 mph and struck out 5 in 4 innings of work. The velocity has continued to rise ever since the staff first laid eyes on Wyatt at the 14u Northeast Showcase back in 2018, now comfortably working into the low-90s in any given start while showing a big, sweeping slider that should prove to be an out-pitch at the next level with big horizontal life. 

Ishaan Khambal, RHP, Class of 2024
National Rank: 128 | Commitment: Southern California

Another 14u Select Festival who’s heading to the Trojans of USC, Khambal won’t have to travel quite as far as Hiro Wyatt (above), but like Wyatt, the coaching staff is getting another talented right-hander. Athletic and projectable at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Khambal shows an enticing operation on the mound and when things are firing on all cylinders he far from a comfortable at-bat for opposing hitters. Khambal is already showing swing-and-miss stuff as he averaged more than a strikeout-per-inning this past circuit season, striking out 25 in 16 1/3 innings of working, showing a slight uptick in velocity as he bumped upwards of 91 mph with quality life through the zone. Factor in a late biting slider in the mid- to upper-70s with maintained arm speed and tilting action, alongside the projectability, and it becomes clear the type of upside the young right-hander possesses. 


Johnny Carver, LHP, Class of 2026
National Rank: 296 | Commitment: Arkansas

If you’re looking for an arm who proved to be a model of consistency, look no further than Carver, and for as good as his stats were, he’s only gaining in terms of velocity, meaning big things are still in store for the newly-minted Razorback. No stranger to Perfect Game events, Carver logged 68 2/3 innings this past circuit, a span in which he struck out 70 and walked just 8, and delivered some big performances throughout. The pitchability and overall feel are clear just from looking at those numbers, but factor in the angle he’s able to generate from a lower slot, a heater that’s quickly making jumps (up to 84 mph this fall), and feel for both a changeup and breaker, and the Razorbacks are getting a potential center piece-type arm in their 2026 class of which he’s the 3rd addition to. 
 
-Jheremy Brown
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.