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PG Select Baseball Festival  | General | 1/16/2023

Festival Alums Ink Contracts

Jheremy Brown
Photo: Luis Almeyda, Ethan Salas, Angel Cepeda
January 15, 2022 marked the opening day for the international signing period, meaning a whole new crop of prospects from abroad were set to make a splash for all 30 big league organizations. With international stars attending Perfect Games events over the years in the likes of Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers and Cuban right-hander Yasiel Sierra who signed a 6 year, $30 million contact in 2016 following an outing at the WWBA World Championship, to some more recent names since the first pitch of the PG Select Festival back in 2016, we've see some electric young prospects at the early stages of their national exposure and that was certainly the case back in 2020 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

You can follow the link for more on the international history within Perfect Game: PG's International Platform.



Given the rules and regulations set in place throughout the country following quarantine, the 13u and 14u Select Festival, as well as the PG All-American Classic, were held in succession over the course on an elongated weekend which gave baseball fans and scouts alike a true look at the future of the game with some of the best 2021, 2024 and 2025 graduates the country had to offer, as well as a couple potential international free agent signing in a couple years time. Well, the calendar has flipped through enough and the time has come for two of those 13u players and one 14u player to put their name on the dotted line and sign their first professional contracts. 

Teammates on the East team in the second ever 13u Select Festival, Venezuelan backstop Ethan Salas and shortstop Luis Ayden Almeyda, who at the time was a resident of New Jersey prior to moving to the Dominican where he trained and ultimately signed out of, both ranked amongst the best prospects in attendance and you truly didn't have to project all that hard to see what the ultimate ceiling may just be. 

The younger brother of Miami Marlins top prospect and 14u National Showcase alum Jose Salas, Ethan was a clear standout at the inaugural 13u National Showcase where everything he did was refined, from the catch and throw skills that have him regarded as one of the top catching prospects in recent memory, to his left-handed swing with burgeoning power and the overall way in which he approaches the game given his age at the time. His showing in Oklahoma City was no different as he continues to swing the bat well, showing a smooth and fluid stroke which translated into live action as he barreled a triple into the pull side corner. And of course everything he did on the defensive side of the ball lived up to what we had come to expect, setting the bar for what an elite defender at that age looked like which still holds true in his skillset present day. The consensus top prospect in this year's international class, Salas signed with the San Diego Padres Sunday afternoon for a reports $5.6 million. 

Almeyda's case coming into the Festival was a little different as he had been living in New Jersey and was a regular face on the national circuit that summer, attending all the major events (which included the 13u National Showcase) and was continuously a name you walked away wanting to see more of. He debuted at No. 4 in the class and safely sat in the top 10 until his move to the Dominican, brining with him the 13u Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year hardware which he was awarded for his defensive acumen during the Festival. A long and strong shortstop, Almeyda has continued to grow into his very real power and though it's one area of his game that had always been prevalent, so too has his defense in the dirt which was almost impossible to ignore. His internal, in game notes from the National Showcase paint the perfect picture: "Plus instincts on defense, reads and gets + jumps, likes to play and is in the game, type who wants every ball hit at him". Ranked as a top 20 prospect in this year's class, Almeyda signed for an Orioles franchise record for an international prospect at $2.3 million. 

Similarly to Almeyda, Angel Cepeda lived in New Jersey at the time of the 14u Select Festival and played in the major national circuit events, drawing interesting from Power 5 programs, prior to his move to the Dominican which allowed for him to sign this past weekend, ultimately with the Chicago Cubs for $1 million. Even at 14 years old Cepeda sported advanced physical strength which translated into some of the better bat speed in attendance, barreling baseballs with authority to all parts of the field on a rather consistent basis. His round of batting practice drew remarks like "serious juice and bat speed" and "ball comes off differently" and those incapsulated what he brings to the offensive side of the ball rather. He's was just as intriguing in the dirt given the fluidity and overall footwork in his defensive actions as well as the bazooka of a right arm he possessed, all of which led him to a top 15 national ranking at the time of the Festival and shortly thereafter. 

A lot can change over the course of two years as players are constantly evolving, both physically and from a skills perspective, but even at 13 and 14 years old, the skill of this trio of prospects was hard to miss, hence their spots in the Select Festival. A fourth member of the 2020 family of games, Venezuelan infielder Jose Perdomo (13u Select Festival) is already being tabbed as one of the top international prospects for the 2024 class, a year in which we should hear the name of a few 14u alums hear their names called in the first round. 
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PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 4/21/2026

Select Festival Dates/Locations Announced
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES DATES AND VENUES FOR   2026 SLATE OF SELECT FESTIVALS    Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced dates and venues for its 2026 Select Festivals, a premiere series of invitation-only events showcasing many of the nation’s top young prospects at the 11U, 12U, 13U and 14U levels.    The Select Festivals provide elite players with a unique opportunity to compete alongside and against the best talent in their age group while experiencing a...
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Tournaments | Story | 5/30/2026

WWBA South Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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Jarrett Pierson (2027, Spring, Texas) was sharp in his start on Thursday. Went four hitless, surrendering just one walk, and punching out seven. Fastball was consistently 81-83 with a low approach angle to let him beat up the top of the zone with carry. Really strong feel for both the slider and change. Filled up the zone with a 70% strike rate. Closed, downhill delivery made it a really tough look for opposing hitters. Substantial amount of room in the frame for him to tick up in the future. One of the more fun watches to start the tournament. Landon Martinez (2027, Spring, Texas) has put on a display to start the tournament. 3-7 at this point, with a double, a walk off home run, and driving in two. The Stanford commit is one of the most tooled up players in this event, and he has been putting each of those on display throughout the opening two days. Super fluid mover, a high level...
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Tournaments | Story | 5/30/2026

Southeast Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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And here’s a look at the top of the class strength from ‘27 grad Sullivan Reed, this one going halfway up the trees to dead center…. @HailStateBB Commit #SEElite https://t.co/YvdrbS3bcL pic.twitter.com/qBzoOapJzJ — Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) May 29, 2026 Sullivan Reed (2027, Meridian, Miss.) has put together some monster swings in his first PG event of the summer, just picking up right where he left off last summer. The ultra-physical 6-foot-2, 220-pound corner infielder has top of the scale power and showed it on Friday afternoon, going into the trees above the batter’s eye on field one. He’s as good of a power bat as you’ll find across the country that continues to put up gaudy numbers. The Mississippi State commit is currently hitting .667 across two games with a pair of doubles as well.  ‘27 C CJ Wall (GA) just absolutely...
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Tournaments | Story | 5/29/2026

AZ Summer Kick Off Set to Begin

Perfect Game Staff
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As another competitive weekend approaches on the Perfect Game circuit, teams from across the region are preparing to battle for championships, rankings, and momentum heading into the summer season. The event is expected to bring a high level of talent, energy, and competitive baseball all weekend long. Coming into the tournament, Biscuits Elite holds a record of 17-7-0 and has been showing strength in their hitting and their bullpen. The team will look to carry momentum from their recent performances into bracket play as they compete for a championship run. Whether it’s strong pitching depth, explosive offense, or tough defensive plays, several teams in the field can make noise this weekend. Matchups against teams like Biscuits Elite and Canes AZ 2027 could end up being some of the most competitive games of the tournament. Players to watch for this tournament include JJ Utash, a...
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Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

14u Windy City Classic Scout Notes

Donovan May
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’30 Kingston Dumes (IN) barrels a line drive up the middle. Strong, physical athlete with bat speed. Does a nice job staying in the lower half with quick hands through contact. PG High Follow. #ILMemorial @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/LfQ6T9WqZn — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) May 23, 2026 Kingston Dumes (2030, Indianapolis, Ind.) put together a solid performance for Filthy Ellis this past Memorial Day weekend. The physical 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-handed prospect displayed present bat speed with strength in the swing, finishing with a .500 average across three games while collecting three hits and driving in two runs. He also showed intriguing upside on the mound, running his fastball up to 79 mph while mixing in a slider and changeup. Currently a PG High Follow and the No. 2-ranked player in Indiana, Dumes remains one of the more projectable long-term profiles in...
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Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

BCS Qualifier Event Preview

Alyssa Golden
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The sixth annual Perfect Game BCS Qualifier will bring nearly 60 teams from across the region to Fort Myers, Florida from May 29-June 1 as programs battle for championship titles and coveted bids to the BCS National Championship tournament.   Shortstop Jayden Portes will be the highest-ranked player in attendance. Ranked No. 45 nationally, Portes enters the event as one of the premier young prospects to watch and will look to continue building on an already impressive resume. The Fort Myers native will compete in his hometown in the 14U division as a member of CBU North Nation Alpha. At 5-foot-8, 145 pounds, Portes is the No. 1 ranked shortstop in Florida and the No. 7 player overall in the state.   Portes brings an impressive blend of athleticism and offensive ability, highlighted by an 86 mph exit velocity and 78 mph infield velocity. This season, he has posted a...
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Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

Hoover Invitational Set to Kick Off

Kinley Kitchens
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The 4th annual Hoover Invitational is set to bring another loaded weekend of travel baseball to Hoover, Alabama, as more than 120 teams from across the Southeast will compete from May 28 through June 1. With talent spread across all four age divisions, the event continues to establish itself as one of the premier early-summer tournaments in the region. The tournament will feature 22 teams in the 14U division, 36 teams in 15U, 34 teams in 16U, and 28 teams in 17U play. Several nationally ranked prospects and highly competitive organizations are expected to make noise throughout the weekend, with many players already drawing significant attention on the recruiting and showcase circuits. The 14U division enters its second year as part of the event and will feature several intriguing young prospects. Birmingham Stars infielder Caden Kappler headlines the group as the No. 110 ranked player...
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High School | General | 5/28/2026

Ohio Valley High School Notebook

Jordan Gates
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‘27 LHP Max Phillips (@TrinityHSBBall) settled in after a busy 1st frame. FB lived 87-89/90 & flashed 91 (3x) during his 4 innings. Sweeper @ 76-79 ~2400 rpm was a constant & flipped for Ks. CH (82-84) missed a lot of bats. Immense two-way upside for the top ranked player in the… pic.twitter.com/Vly2ebwxTU — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) May 15, 2026 Max Phillips, 2027, LHP/OF, Trinity (KY) checks in as the number one player in the Kentucky class in the most recent update. It’s easy to see why as he has arguably the highest ceiling in the class, both on the mound and as a bat. In my look, a few backs, Phillips got the start on the mound during his team’s last regular season game. The Wake Forest commit in four innings, saw his FB up to 91 a handful of times, while living 87-89 for the majority. The changeup sat in the low 80s while he...
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Tournaments | Story | 5/28/2026

PG SE Elite Championship Preview

Will Dembo
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More than 100 of the Southeast’s top teams across the 13u-18u age groups will travel to East Cobb this weekend with hopes of showcasing their talents and competing for a championship in the PG Southeast Elite Championship. This premier event will get underway on Thursday, April 28th with each division battling through bracket play before eventually crowning a champion on Monday, June 1st. 13u will host 17 teams including two nationally ranked squads in a silver and gold bracket setting for the major draw. Amongst the notable clubs are the East Cobb Astros who enter the weekend ranked No. 8 in the country as well as the West Boca Panthers White (No. 53) who will be traveling from Boca Raton, Florida in hopes of winning their second Perfect Game tournament in a row. The 14u division is loaded with talented rosters as seven of the 28 teams are in the top 100 rankings for their age,...
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Tournaments | Championship | 5/28/2026

ZT Doubles Up at Best of the Best

Hannah Jo Groves
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ZT Run-Rules for First-Ever 14u Best of the Best Championship The 14U ZT National Prospects sealed their title as the Best of the Best in a run-rule, 10-2 victory over East Cobb Astros 14U. The championship game was played on the A-Quad of Boombah Sports Complex in Sanford, Florida. After a long, hot weekend, there was some relieving cloud coverage and soft breezes as family members cheered on their kids for the final game of the tournament. East Cobb struck first, able to come in off a wild pitch. Despite that miscue, ZT showed its defensive strength and fluidity right away with Tucker Richardson making smooth plays at shortstop. In the bottom of the first, Bryant Ju gave a needed jumpstart to ZT’s offense by blasting a 2-run triple to give his team the lead. “I was just looking for my pitch and I got behind in the count 1-2,” Ju explained. “I was jumping on the...
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Tournaments | Championship | 5/28/2026

TG DBacks Take Home SE Memorial Title

Will Dembo
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As summer baseball got underway, East Cobb Baseball welcomed some of the top 16u teams in the nation for the highly anticipated annual PG Southeast Memorial Day Classic. TG DBacks 16u National exited the weekend victorious, going 6-1 en route to defeating ECB Astros 16u Navy in the championship game by a final score of 9-3 to open their summer with a statement win. “It was just a team effort,” DBacks head coach Scott Collett said. “We needed all 16/17, guys to contribute. You know, we shift the guys around, playing different positions they normally don't do in high school, so it was just a great team effort. Everybody did their job at the right moment in the right game. So, kudos to those kids who just competed all weekend, going from a 10 seed, barely making bracket, to running and making it all the way to the championship and dominating.” The DBacks came out of...
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