THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,803 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,803 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 2/13/2023

2023 PG Staff College Predictions

Jheremy Brown
Brian Sakowski
Vincent Cervino
Tyler Russo
John McAdams
Jason Phillips
Tyler Henninger
Craig Cozart
Photo: Dylan Crews (LSU Athletics)
Preseason Top 25 Rankings | Preseason All-Americans | College Content Preview Index

Every spring, the Perfect Game staff puts forth some of their picks for several categories across the board, some of which hit and others just miss. With the D1 opening day right around the corner, our scouts put their opinions out there on how the season could possibly unfold. And with a unanimous polling across all publications we ask; are you taking LSU or the field when it comes to the last team standing in Omaha?



Impact Freshman
They may be young, but these prospects have continued to shine since arriving on campus and look to make an impact immediately this spring while providing an early look at some of the top talent in each of the next two draft cycles. 

Cameron Smith, 3B, FSU
Smith arrived in Tallahassee with a lot of notoriety as he was a well circulated name during the 2022 draft cycle and if the early report hold true into the spring, teams will be racing to grab Smith following his sophomore season. Physically imposing in the box, Smith's right-handed swing is capable of losing baseball to any part of the yard, showing as much quickness as he has strength in hands while playing a solid third base with athleticism and fluidity. -Jheremy Brown

Ike Irish, C/DH, Auburn
There was a tremendous amount of speculation as to whether Irish would make it to campus and the Tiger faithful will be glad that he did. The 2021 Perfect Game All-American participant is one of the most polished freshman sticks in the nation and he backed it up with his performance this fall. He is physically advanced at 6-2/202 and well balanced at the plate before attacking pitches with elite bat speed. The ball gets off his barrel quickly and he shows uncanny barrel control for a hitter his age. He is slotted to be their Opening Day designated hitter on the heels of being voted fall MVP by his teammates. He will be in the mix behind the plate and will take over full time once Nate LaRue graduates. By the way, Irish is a well above average runner, completing his rare power/speed offensive skillset. -Craig Cozart

Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford
 Moore was a first-round talent coming out of high school but remained firm on his commitment to the Cardinal and there’s an argument that he might be the best hitter on the roster. He’ll get a chance to play right away and has an excellent combination of hit and power tools. He might not catch everyday being just a freshman but he’s going to force his way into the middle of the lineup sooner rather than later. -Vinnie Cervino

Blake Gillespie, RHP, Georgia
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher was selected as a Perfect Game Underclass All-America Honorable Mention from Canada for two years and is ready to impact the Bulldogs rotation. Gillespie has only been playing baseball for five years after growing up playing soccer and is just starting to showcase his potential on the mound. He thrived in the Sunbelt Summer League with two hits allowed in 12 2/3 innings over three starts for the Atlanta Blues. The Bulldogs and Head Coach Scott Stricklin are counting on their incoming pitching class to provide quality innings in the tough SEC East, and Gillespie will get his share of those innings. -Jason Phillips
 
Cam Leiter, RHP, UCF
Leiter is a budding star with Friday Night stuff, as the 6-foot-4 right-hander routinely works into the mid-90s now with his fastball and shows excellent feel for two starkly different secondaries. He will man a rotation spot for The Knights right away and should provide an ample look to the future for the staff. The immense physical upside and overall picture of what Leiter may become is certainly intriguing. Look for him to take AAC by storm this season, as he should garner plenty of opportunities to impress. -John McAdams

Gavin Turley, Oregon State
Turley broke the Arizona High School home run record a year ago and looks to be in-line to take over a starting job as a freshman. The right-handed slugger possesses massive power, plus speed, and a plus arm, making for a loud profile. Turley has the ability to impact games in a multitude of ways and should be a key piece for the Beavers. -Tyler Henninger

Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
LaViolette was talented as a prep bat with a good combination of hit and juice before and some draft discussions before making it to campus as an Aggie and there was a LOT of noise made by him this fall in College Station. If he continues to hit baseballs any bit like he did, launching some monster home runs against a variety of talented arms, then he’s in for a huge freshman campaign in the SEC, something we’ve certainly not seen a shortage of in some recent years. -Tyler Russo

Nolan Schubart, OF/1B, Oklahoma State
Following a storied prep career that included nods to both the 14U Select Fest as well as the PG All American Classic, Schubart, who was committed to Michigan for years, headed to Stillwater following the Michigan coaching change. He had a monster fall, hitting for consistent power and doing as much damage as anyone on the team throughout the fall, and is in line for significant, immediate playing time. His ceiling is through the roof as a lefthanded power bat. -Brian Sakowski
 


Impact Transfer
Given that players were granted an extra year of eligibility, several prospects were on the move, whether it be from JUCO to four-year schools or graduate transfers who look to make an instant impact on their new campus. 
 
Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
One of the biggest names in the transfer portal this offseason, the Gators got themselves a premier starting arm with the type of stuff that can flummox any lineup in the country. The arm speed Waldrep possesses is absolutely electric and it's capable of producing a heater that'll flirt with triple digits while spinning a hard, ferocious slider in the mid- to upper-80s that's proven to be a true out pitch. -Jheremy Brown

Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU
The nation’s premier two-way talent transfers from Air Force and lands in Baton Rouge. The interesting thing is that Skenes spent quite a bit of time behind the plate during his high school days but outgrew that position and his elite arm talent took over. At 6-6/235 he is a hulking presence on the bump and in the box, with excellent dexterity and ability to repeat mechanically. In his first two collegiate seasons, he has a combined BA north of .360 with 31 doubles, 24 home runs and 81 RBIs. On the mound he has a career ERA under 3.00 and has punched out 126 batters while only walking 39 to date. He is slotted to be the Tigers game one starter with his mid-to-upper 90’s FB that has grabbed 99 several times. His slider is elite, showing late, abrupt bite and sits in the 85-87 mph range. His CH is a distant third pitch currently but is making progress. If all goes as expected, Skenes should be going off the board very early in the 2023 MLB Draft. -Craig Cozart

Colton Ledbetter, OF, Mississippi State
Ledbetter heads to Starkville by way of Samford for the previous two years, and all indications are that he’ll be a breakout SEC star. Ledbetter had a monster summer in the NECBL and is an excellent athlete who should be able to man centerfield. Ledbetter hit over .300 with 16 home runs in 2022 and the last Samford to SEC transfer ended up with Sonny DiChiara winning the SEC Player of the Year. -Vinnie Cervino
 
Justin Kirby, OF, Auburn
A First Team All-MAC selection at Kent State in 2022, Kirby joins the Tigers as a graduate student for a club that looks for a return trip to Omaha. The Tigers needed to add a proven power bat with the loss of Sonny DiChiara and Kirby has the pedigree to fill that role. The right-handed hitting outfielder will slot into the middle of the lineup after a .323-15-45 slash line a year ago for the Golden Flashes. Kirby also brings a speed element with 24 stolen bases in 30 attempts over the last two years and the arm strength to play all three spots in the outfield. -Jason Phillips

Carter Trice, OF, NC State
Trice was an offensive machine for Old Dominion for two seasons, as the right-handed hitting OF amassed 143 hits, 31 HRs and drove in 103 Runs. He will now bring that run producing swing to the ACC, as he looks to replicate his performance for the Wolfpack. Trice should get plenty of opportunities in a deep lineup and fully expect him to hit the ground running despite the move to another conference. The multi-dimensional athlete can affect the game in so many ways including the base paths and should fill the stat sheet in 2023. -John McAdams

Thatcher Hurd, LSU
The Tigers put together the best transfer class in the nation. Amongst the new names on campus is Thatcher Hurd. The right-hander possesses big-time stuff with a mid-90’s fastball, wipeout slider, and hammer curveball with spin rates over 3000 rpm. Hurd posted a 1.06 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 34 innings last year at UCLA and should be an immediate impact arm for the Tigers in ‘23. -Tyler Henninger

Maui Ahuna, Tennessee
Transferring from Kansas to Tennessee, Ahuna stands as one of the more highly rated college bats in this year’s draft class and he’s coming off a spring where he hit .396 with almost double digit home runs in the Big 12. He’ll have some adjustments to make as SEC pitching will not be easy sledding, and his strikeout numbers were a touch high, but he’s a dynamic talent plugging right into one of the more fun rosters in the country; he’s got a chance to make a run to Omaha. -Tyler Russo

Tommy White, 3B, LSU
In the age of the transfer portal there are no shortage of options for this section, but there's no way I could pass over Tommy Tanks, who the rest of the world finally acknowledged is really good last spring, though we'd been saying that since before COVID. White should jump right into the middle of the LSU lineup and while he will certainly be challenged against SEC pitching, should be extremely impactful nonetheless. -Brian Sakowski



Impact Senior
The senior tag for this category was expanded a bit to all four-plus year players as they were awarded an extra year of eligibility after last year's shortened season. The names below will play pivotal roles for their respective teams in 2023, both from a talent standpoint as well as providing invaluable experience. 
 
Quinn Mathews, LHP, Stanford
Mathews did a little bit of everything last spring for the Cardinal with 9 of his 22 appearances coming as starts. In totality he logged 99 1/3 innings and his presence at the forefront of the rotation is imperative in Stanford's 2023 success as his 111 strikeouts led the club, as did both his 9 wins and 9 saves while limiting opponents to a mere ..213 batting average against. -Jheremy Brown

Andrew Walters, RHP, Miami
It feels a little like cheating, picking Walters here because he is simply a sure thing when he takes the mound. This is the height of luxury for the Canes to be getting this type of weapon back for another season. The 6-4/220 righty made 24 appearances with a 1.65 ERA, accumulating 14 saves, and only surrendered 13 hits in 32.2 IP. The mind-blowing thing is that he has arguably the best FB in the college game today as it sits in the upper-90’s with elite induced vertical break and he only walked 6 batters while striking out 62. He really had no need for secondary pitches in his role but did spend the fall touching up his slider and developing a changeup. Give the Canes the lead with 6 outs to get and you can put it in the books with the ball in Walters’ hand. Hard to believe he’s back for another year and it’ll be fun to watch. -Craig Cozart

Jonathan Fincher, LHP, Louisiana Tech
Fincher has thrown just under 200 innings in his career for the Bulldogs and he’ll be back once again on Friday nights. A sixth year senior, Fincher certainly has the experience, being named to multiple all-conference teams. He’s an upper-80s strike thrower with excellent feel for his secondaries and should be in store or another strong season. -Vinnie Cervino

Zeke Wood, RHP, Texas State
Wood will have to deliver for the Bobcats after just missing out a year ago. He will get the ball against every ranked opponent and if Texas State is going to make another run in 2023, the senior right-hander will have a hand in it. -Jason Phillips

Evan Sleight,1B, Rutgers
Look for Sleight to be even better in his second year with the Scarlet Knights, as the left-handed hitting OF is part of a lineup that should score plenty of runs in 2023. Sleight offers a solid combination of barrel skills that should hit for a high average and power projection that should continue to rise this year. He should have plenty of opportunities, as the depth within the Scarlet Knights is near the top of the Big 10 in-terms of depth and potential star power. -John McAdams

Grant Taylor, Washington State
The Cougars may be a sleeper team out west and a big key to their success will be ace Grant Taylor. The right-hander features a strong, physical frame at 6-foot-4, 225-pound with experience and stuff that plays on Friday nights. His ability was on full display in the Cape this past summer, where Grant struck out 42 hitters over 28 innings of work. Look for that success to continue into this spring. -Tyler Henninger

Brandon Sproat, Florida
It’s been an interesting career to say the least for Sproat thus far as he was drafted well out of high school and then was a third-round selection a year ago before deciding to return to Florida for another campaign. He’s got a fastball that flirts with triple digits and the secondaries to really turn in big strikeout numbers; there’s no question he possesses some of the best pure stuff out of the seniors across the NCAA and he’ll play a big factor in the rotation of a team that’s plenty good enough to make it to Omaha. -Tyler Russo

Kendall Ewell, OF, Kentucky 
Ewell is a redshirt junior but in his 4th year so he qualifies for this section, a transfer to UK following a .361/.482/.607 line at EKU last year. He should jump right into the mix in Lexington, where the Wildcats can use his offensive prowess and overall athleticism right away. His line from a year ago might be hard to replicate in the SEC, but he should be an immediate impact and major piece for Kentucky in 2023. -Brian Sakowski



Sleeping Giant: MLB Draft
To qualify for this category, all prospects below rank outside of PG's most recent Top 50 draft list, though that doesn't mean we won't be hearing some of these names called early, especially with big spring seasons. 

Christian Little, RHP, LSU
Another transfer to grace this list, Little never truly broke out during his first two years at Vanderbilt, though he did get a start in Omaha and it's important to remember he's still only 19.7 years old as he arrived on campus as year early, foregoing his senior spring of high school. The Tigers brought in a variety of high-end arms and it's a collection Little is a part of as he could truly break out this spring with an offense capable of putting up double digit runs while showing a variety of offerings of which he can miss bats with. -Jheremy Brown

Magdiel Cotto, LHP, Kentucky
Cotto bounced between the bullpen and rotation in 2022 for the Wildcats. He only pitched 33 innings last spring, did strikeout 36 but his 19 free passes got him into trouble too often. However, he seemed to really put things together in the summer where he dominated in the Cape. He finished his stint at Hyannis with a 2.67 ERA, accumulating a 29:8 strikeout to walk ratio. At 6-4/250 he is powerfully built, turns well in his core, and creates explosive arm speed. With a FB that sits 94-97 and peaks at 99 mph, he really doesn’t need much more in his repertoire. But he does have the makings of a wipeout mid-80’s slider and the occasional changeup to right handers if desired. He basically rested and refined his delivery this fall and looks like a candidate to close this spring. Cotto should be a dominant force at the end of games and will be watched very closely by MLB Scouts. -Craig Cozart

Joseph Gonzalez, RHP, Auburn
Gonzalez was very successful as a sophomore for the Tigers last season, running an ERA of 3.22 in around 78 innings. The velocity has ticked up and Gonzalez looks like he’ll be more of a mid-90s starter who will be getting the ball on Fridays. He’s always had an advanced mix and very good feel to pitch but with improved fastball velo the strikeout numbers could rise in a big way. -Vinnie Cervino

Cole Carrigg, OF, San Diego State
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior can play all over the diamond with his athleticism and high baseball IQ. A primary catcher out of Turlock High School in Modesto, California, Carrigg flourished for the Aztecs as a sophomore with a .388/.426/.509 slash line. He received First-Team All Mountain West recognition as an infielder and will move to the outfield in 2023. A Cape Cod Baseball League All Star in the summer of 2022, Carrigg is primed to lead the Aztecs with his 6.64 speed and the ability to impact a game in many ways. -Jason Phillips

Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers
Lasko was special in 2022, as the twitchy centerfielder for the Scarlet Knights was a Golden Spikes semifinalist after hitting .349 with 24 doubles, 16 homers and 51 RBIs. A similar performance coupled with another good year for his team will only enhance his draft stock in 2023. Expect Lasko to take another step and be someone that could sneak into Day 1 discussion with his exciting blend of tools. -John McAdams

Alonzo Tredwell, UCLA
Tredwell has all the characteristics you could want in a starting pitcher. The right-hander features an imposing 6-foot-8, 230-pound frame with an impressive pitch mix and advanced command. Tredwell will make the transition to the rotation this year and could skyrocket up draft boards if he can continue his dominance in the new role. -Tyler Henninger

TJ Nichols, Arizona
Nichols is no major sleeper when it comes to draft discussions as he’s been talked about a lot early in his career at Arizona given he stepped into an ace role as an underclassmen, but he’s got a chance to springboard a good bit with a good spring. He’s a long and athletic righty with projection, already working into the upper-90s with the fastball and showing a mid-80s slider. It is a good mix and he looks the part of a highly sought after arm; he’ll just need to be consistent. -Tyler Russo

Matthew Etzel, OF, Southern Miss 
Etzel comes into the spring in the 3rd-4th round range on our board with all kinds of upside and early helium already. He's a plus athlete who can burn, and has elite bat to ball skills, giving him two impact tools right off the bat. He's added strength and reports say he's going to have serious power this spring which, combined with his already standout toolset, could see him rocket up draft boards if he performs. -Brian Sakowski



Golden Spikes
Whoever takes home the 2023 Golden Spikes will be more than worthy of the award, especially when considering the sheer depth of talent in collegiate baseball this spring. 

Vance Honeycutt, UNC
Honeycutt hit 25 bombs as a true freshman and was absolutely electric throughout 2022, bringing a combination of skill, athleticism and production you don't often find in college baseball, let alone your first year on campus. The way-too-early favorite to hear his name called in next year's MLB Draft, expect Honeycutt to somehow up the ante even more as we'll be hearing about him more often than not in 2023.  -Jheremy Brown

Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
 There may not be a more complete example of a 5-tool player in the college game today than Langford. His toolset is so impressive there have even been some back-channel rumblings that if he puts together another monster season, he could be the first pick in this year’s MLB Draft. In 2022, he batted .355, SLG% .719, while leaving the yard 26 times, driving in 63 and swiping 7 bags. His bat-to-ball talent is special as proven by the fact that he walked and got hit by pitch the same number of times as he punched out. He displays mature instincts in the field and on the bases, getting great jumps in both areas. Plus, the make-up is off the charts with his tireless work ethic and tenacious competitive spirit. Add all that up with the fact that he has even more protection in the lineup in ’23 and it makes sense that Langford will make a run for college baseballs version of the Heisman. -Craig Cozart

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
We think that the Deacs are in store for a big 2023 and if they live up to their lofty expectations, then Nick Kurtz is going to be right in the middle of that. He hit over .330 with 16 home runs and more walks than strikeouts as a true freshman which is a wild season in and of itself. He also draws rave reviews for his glove but Kurtz has a chance to explode this spring. -Vinnie Cervino

Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
If the No. 2 ranked Vols are going to make a run this year to the World Series, they will need Dollander to anchor the rotation and lead the starting staff. Dollander is a potential 1/1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and can set the tone for the Vols in their drive toward Omaha. The 2022 SEC Pitcher of the Year went 10-0 in 14 starts with a 2.39 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 79 innings. The Friday night starter sets the tone for the series and if the Vols get to the College World Series, Dollander will be the Golden Spikes winner in 2023. -Jason Phillips

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Kurtz was an offensive force in 2022, as the hulking 6-foot-5 first baseman produced one of the better freshman campaigns in Wake Forest history. The left-handed hitting Pennsylvania native hit .338 with 16 HRs and drove in 56 runs. He received every postseason freshman accolade and should continue his offensive onslaught in 2023. Look for Kurtz to take another step for a Wake Forest squad that is primed for a deep postseason run. Due to the depth of the Demon Deacons lineup and Kurtz’s immense power, we could see homerun totals in the 20’s this year for the Preseason All-American. -John McAdams

Dylan Crews, LSU
Crews has done nothing but hammer baseballs and impose fear on pitchers since he’s stepped on campus. The potential first overall selection in this year’s draft has slashed .356/.458/.677 with 40 home runs and 73 extra-base hits over his first two years in Baton Rouge. That dominance should only continue in ‘23, as Crews is the best player in college baseball with very little holes in his game. -Tyler Henninger

Dylan Crews, LSU
There’s not much that needs to be said about the player that Dylan Crews is given he’s our top rated draft prospect for this year’s draft and he’s already got a storied career at LSU with what looks to be his best year ahead of him. He’s a generational type talent on the offensive end with elite level aspects to so many parts of his game, all while still being impactful in a number of other areas outside of the bat. He’s going to be nitpicked all spring long given his real potential to go 1:1, but he’s one that certainly should live up to the hype and bring LSU back to Omaha. -Tyler Russo

Vance Honeycutt, OF, UNC
Honeycutt set the world on fire a year ago as a true frosh, OPS'ing 1.081 with 25 bombs and 29 bags, showing a power/speed profile that was immediately amongst college baseball's best. He can improve upon his swing and miss, as he did strike out 90 times in 2022, but if he cuts that down even by 10%, the rest of his offensive numbers should jump even more, giving him a huge resume for the Golden Spikes. -Brian Sakowski
Outside T25 Omaha
Every team opens the year with renewed hope, but this is a group of teams entering the season outside of the Top 25 but with legitimate reasons to believe they could be playing for it all at the end of the season.

Rutgers
Head Coach Steve Owens built up the Bryant Bulldogs during his tenure into an NEC powerhouse and he's wasted little time since taking over the Scarlet Knights, transforming his time into a real contender in the Big 10 this spring. Having an All-American type bat like Ryan Lasko returning to the middle of your offense alongside a slew of experienced pieces across the roster certainly helps as the club looks to better their impressive showing in 2022 (44-15) and make a run into the postseason. -Jheremy Brown

Georgia
The Dawgs can flat out launch baseballs as we saw last year when they accumulated 89 doubles, 81 home runs and averaged over 7 runs per game. They scored 27 runs in a 3-game sweep of the Florida Gators and put up 24 runs in a game against Hofstra in the NCAA Tourney. The problem was that they surrendered almost the same number of doubles and home runs and carried a team ERA of 5.65 in 2022. This year’s offense will be even deeper and more potent, especially with the return of 6th year sluggers, Ben Anderson, and Connor Tate. The good news in Athens is that the pitching is significantly improved as they have LHP, Jaden Woods, as potential first rounder and his mid-to-upper 90’s FB setting the tone of Friday nights. There is good length in the bullpen and this club returns a quality defensive core that fielded .978 last year. This team has the pieces to punch a ticket to Omaha in June. -Craig Cozart

Texas State
The Bobcats won 47 games in 2022 and were a very competitive 2 seed out in the Stanford Regional. They lose a pair of their best hitters from the 2022 team but they might have the best 1-2 punch on the bump in a very good Sun Belt conference. Levi Wells and Zeke Wood combined for about 180 innings last season and both have the stuff and capacity to deliver the results again. -Vinnie Cervino

Florida State
The Seminoles will feature a young roster this year with a ton of talented recruits on campus led by freshman shortstop Cameron Smith. The pitching staff with be loaded with underclassmen and they will get meaningful innings early on to get acclimated. If the adjustment period of the staff moves quickly, Florida State has the talent and young depth to get to Omaha. -Jason Phillips
 
Alabama
Could this be the year that the Crimson Tide and Coach Bohannon put it all together and burst through to Omaha? Potential breakout star Grayson Hitt looks primed to take the next step for the Tide, as the left-hander is running his fastball into the mid-90s now. Ben Hess was outstanding in the SEC tournament and should become a household name in 2023. The lineup will be an enticing mix of veteran holdovers and newcomers via the transfer portal. They should score plenty of runs and the potential stars in the pitching staff make the Crimson Tide my pick to break through and get to Omaha. -John McAdams

Arizona
Arizona made a regional appearance in year one under head coach Chip Hale and could very well make the jump to Omaha this season. The Wildcats have all the components needed to make a run. The roster has veteran depth with intriguing young talent. TJ Nichols has ace potential and Chase Davis is a legitimate draft prospect. It would not be a surprise if Arizona found their way to the CWS. -Tyler Henninger 

East Carolina
The Pirates were a game away from reaching Omaha a year ago as they fell to Texas is really dramatic fashion in the Super Regional and they lose some key pieces from that talented club, but Cliff Godwin has built a program that competes every year now and they’ve got the kind of grit to make yet another run in 2023. Josh Moylan looks like a breakout candidate, they’ve got experienced arms with dynamic additions and now the overall depth throughout the roster that makes them built to win games; if they can get to a point of hosting, they’re a dangerous club. -Tyler Russo

Campbell 
Campbell has been turned into a player development factory and consistently churns out high end MLB draft talent while at the same time maximizing the abilities of everyone on their roster, regardless of draft stock. They are in an enviable spot as one of the kings of the mid majors, and in my view this is the year they push even further and make it through to Omaha. -Brian Sakowski
 


Super Regional Cinderella
 All of the teams listed here were not among PG's Preseason Top 40 teams, most having just missed, but our team of experts has reason to believe they could rise to the occasion and quickly break into the PG rankings.

Clemson
The 2023 season marks the first for Clemson baseball with Erik Bakich at the helm and while the coaching staff is new, there are plenty of returning faces throughout the lineup, from catcher Cooper Ingle to the middle infield of Benjamin Blackwell and Blake Wright, as well as left-handed slugger Caden Grice. The pitching staff also returns valuable innings to the rubber while some key transfers and true freshmen are expected to make an instant impact from day one as the Tigers look to climb the rankings right out of the gate. -Jheremy Brown

College of Charleston
You may recall the Cougars have been to the Super Regional twice in program history. The first time was in 2006, then again in 2014 and they have the roster to punch that ticket once again in ’23. This club is strong up the middle with JT Marr behind the dish, Joseph Mershon and Cam Dean at 2B/SS respectively and Tyler Sorrentino patrolling CF. Ty Good, Daniel Brooks and Trey Pooser are all power RHP’s that make up the rotation and will hand the ball off to arguably the nation’s best closer in William Privette. The roster is deep and experienced and can match up very well with most any club across the nation. They open up with a 3-game home series against the Virginia Tech Hokies, so they’ll have the chance to make a statement the first weekend of the season. -Craig Cozart

Liberty
In terms of both depth and recruiting, Liberty has the talent on their roster that competes with Power 5 schools annually. There’s lots of firepower on the mound led by star sophomore Garrett Horn who was sensational as a true freshman. The Flames are favorites in the ASUN once again and have a pretty straight forward path to shocking a 1 seed in a Regional. -Vinnie Cervino
 
UCONN
Calling them a Cinderella may not be the right word in describing the Huskies, but this year’s rendition will have some expectations set forth after traveling out to Stanford in last year’s Super Regionals. Gone is ace Austin Peterson and a bevy of stalwarts within this lineup. Ian Cooke is back and will man Friday Night’s for the Hook C. Gr. RHP Justin Willis returns to lock down the late innings and provides valuable experience for what could be a youthful pitching staff. Hulking 6-foot-3, 245-pound first baseman Ben Huber is back and will provide the thump within the lineup. Look for him to take the next step in offensive production, as he should be a focal point within the lineup. Freshman Niko Brini looks to be a potential star and should be a spark plug within this young lineup. A large majority of the roster is freshman, who do not know any better than to win games. Look for them to potentially be a surprise Super Regional squad this season and could become a stalwart starting with this year’s squad. -John McAdams

Grand Canyon
The Lopes have been sneaky good over the last few years. GCU is coming off a 41-win season and a regional appearance and should make another push toward the postseason. Shortstop Jacob Wilson is a potential Top-10 pick, while Daniel Avitia and Connor Markl make for an intriguing 1-2 combo in the rotation. Keep an eye on the Lopes, as they will field yet another competitive, under-the-radar team. -Tyler Henninger
South Carolina
It was a dramatic turnaround at the end of 2022 for South Carolina as they had a great year turn bad in the span of a few games, missing the postseason altogether. This year’s team has many talented pieces and while the SEC is in one of its strongest years in recent memory, they’ve got the group to win enough games to get back to a regional and make a super. Will Sanders looks like he could be a Day 1 pick, Mahoney and Hall could fill out a lot of rotations and star-studded freshman Eli Jerzembeck is as good a freshman as any on the mound, while they added some bats from the portal which could give them more juice in the lineup; this is a team with some real upside. -Tyler Russo

Iowa
Speaking of developmental factories, Iowa has become known for truly cutting edge pitching development and #HellerBall is always impactful as an offensive system. They're picked to finish 3rd or 4th in the Big Ten depending on where you read, and my projection is that not only do they reach the postseason, but that they'll also push through to a Super for the first time in awhile. -Brian Sakowski



CWS Champion
 Who's going to win it all!? With college baseball rosters as deep and talented as they've ever been thanks to the current transfer rules and players retaining eligibility, this spring will be nothing short of fascinating as the action continues to unfold all the way to Omaha.
 
Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons have a lot of the right pieces in place to make a deep run this spring and if things are firing on all cylinders, they're a team that'll be difficult to slow. The combination of Rhett Lowder and Teddy McGraw at the forefront of their rotation give the club a chance to win any weekend series before reaching Sunday while the offense boasts some of the more feared bats in the country with the likes of Brock Wilken and Nick Kurtz. They're the only club who can lay claim to having 5 PG Preseason All-Americans, though it's what happens in season that truly matters. -Jheremy Brown

Stanford
It’s always a difficult task to be the man that replaces “the man” in a program that has aspirations of winning a national title year in and year out. Dave Esquer was given the keys to the castle that Mark Marquess built, and he has continued to push the Cardinal to the pinnacle of the college baseball world. He has a quiet confidence that is infectious and his continued focus on his players and what happens inside the program seems to shield his club from the external pressures that surround. It doesn’t hurt to be supremely talented either and the 2023 roster is just that. The junior class is loaded with stars, the pitching staff has length and there is tremendous balance in the lineup. Having been to Omaha the last two years in a row; they should have an edge on most opponents just from an experience standpoint. The Pac-12 looks very strong this year, it will harden the Cardinal even more competitively and set them up for another run at the National Title. -Craig Cozart

Tennessee
It’s really hard to win the CWS as the No. 1 overall seed, in fact no one has done it this century, but teams seem to find success in the Year After. Tennessee loses roughly two-thirds of their offense but a lot of those replacements are players who performed in limited samples or veteran transfers. Their rotation is going to be the strength, led by 1:1 candidate Chase Dollander, and the program that Tony Vitello and company have built has them in Omaha or Bust mode every year moving forward. -Vinnie Cervino

Oregon State
Never count out the Beavers and with a schedule that allows them to get hot before the grueling conference schedule, Oregon State has a chance to roll into the College World Series. After a year where they were expected to be in Omaha, the Beavers will capitalize on the under-the-radar vibe and bring the National Title back to Corvallis. -Jason Phillips

Auburn
Coach Butch Thompson and his staff do such a god job of getting the very best out of his squad and this year should be no different. An exciting combination of veteran leadership and potential star newcomers should have the Tigers lurking for another outstanding season. Joseph Gonzalez provides a battle-tested arm on Friday Nights, who has seen his velocity uptick and should go toe-to-toe with the SEC’s best. Freshman Ike Irish is a potential star right away and was outstanding this fall. After appearing in two out of the last three College World Series, this is the year that Coach Thompson puts another notch in his illustrious career and the Tigers take home the crown in Omaha. -John McAdams

Stanford
 Stanford is coming off of back-to-back trips to Omaha, but have yet to push across the finish line. Look for that to change this season, as the Cardinals have the roster to finally take home the title. The lineup is filled with experienced bats like Tommy Troy, Drew Bowser, and Carter Graham. Braden Montgomery may be the best two-player in the country and Quinn Mathews is a potential Pac-12 pitcher of the year candidate. The talent is there and the roster has experience playing in big games late in the year. -Tyler Henninger

LSU
There’s not much more that needs to be said about the team that Jay Johnson and his staff will put on the field for 2023 other than that it has a chance to be one of the best we have seen in a long time. Dylan Crews is the top player in the country and Tre’ Morgan is another potential first rounder that returns, alongside so many other stars on both sides of the ball, but then they went and added Paul Skenes and Tommy White, the top two transfers in the country, along with two more highly coveted right-handers with Christian Little and Thatcher Hurd. This team on paper is nothing short of special; all they’ll have to do is go out and live up to the hype and they’ll win it all. -Tyler Russo

LSU
If the option is "LSU or the field", I'd take the field since the College World Series is often such a crapshoot. But in this exercise we're projecting a champion, and I'll always bet on the side of talent and ability. LSU has assembled one of the most talented teams of all time this year in Baton Rouge, so they are my pick to click and win it all. -Brian Sakowski
Give us your feedback
College | Story | 1/26/2026

Conference Preview: Big South
Blaine Peterson
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order*  Team W L W L Charleston Southern 31 22 14 10 Gardner-Webb 17 36 6 18 High Point 39 19 18 6 Longwood 14 38 8 16 Presbyterian 17 35 9 15 Radford 28 28 13 11 UNC-Asheville 15 35 8 16 USC-Upstate 36 25 19 5 Winthrop 31 29 13 11 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C  Preston Lucas USC Upstate 1st Team All-Big South performer in 2025. Hit .337 with 25 XBH and the 5th most RBI (63) in the conference. 1B Landen Johnson High Point 2nd Team All-Big South...
Read More
High School | Blog | 1/26/2026

High School Content Index

Tyler Russo
Article Image
With the High School season about to pick up and kick off in the warmer states in the not-so-distant future, make sure to bookmark this index with all the dates of upcoming content so you can be in the know, beginning with a breakdown of every team in our Top 50 countdown.  Date Content Monday, January 26 HS Team Breakdowns: 50-41 Tuesday, January 27 HS Team Breakdowns: 40-31 Wednesday, January 28 HS Team Breakdowns: 30-21 Thursday, January 29 HS Team Breakdowns: 20-11 Friday, January 30 HS Team Breakdowns: 10-1 Friday, January 30 National High School Top 50 Monday, February 2 HS Top 50 All Prospect Team Monday, February 2 Top Team in Each State Tuesday, February 3 Florida Region Top Teams/Prospects Tuesday, February 3 Florida Region Preview Wednesday, February 4 Georgia Region Top Teams/Prospects Wednesday, February 4 Georgia Region Preview Thursday, February 5 Pacific Region Top...
Read More
High School | General | 1/26/2026

High School Top 50: 50-41

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
50. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) 2025 Record: 19-12 Head Coach: Gary Remiker Notable Prospect(s): SS Alex Harrington (Stanford), OF Hunter Harrington (Stanford), RHP Kaden Kuhn (Cornell), OF Xavier Nady (NYU), RHP Shoei Darvishsefat, SS Trey Kotsay (Princeton), OF Nick Ruder (University of Chicago), SS Jonas Nalu (Colorado School of Mines), OF Joshua Priest (Arizona State), LHP Jose Partida (Arizona State), 1B Maxwell Stewart, OF Dj Sweeney Cathedral Catholic has been one of the top programs in the San Diego area over the past handful of years and brings back not only one of the best rosters in their area, but one of the top rosters in the country. Headlining the group is twin brothers Alex and Hunter Harrington, both Stanford commits and bring dynamic athleticism mixed with a good bit of experience. The Dons also return seniors Xavier Nady, Trey Kotsay, Nick Ruder and Jonas...
Read More
College | Story | 1/23/2026

Conference Preview: American

Craig Cozart
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order*  Team W L W L UBA 24 30 8 19 Charlotte 36 22 18 9 East Carolina 35 27 13 14 Florida Atlantic 37 21 15 12 Memphis 22 33 8 19 Rice 17 40 10 17 South Florida 31 25 16 11 UTSA 47 15 23 4 Tulane 33 25 13 14 Wichita State 19 35 11 16 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Andrew Stucky UTSA .324/.514/.467 with 6 HRs, 40 RBI; durable 6-0/192 backstop with elite defensive skills and a wealth of experience, returning 1st team all-conference member 1B Cody...
Read More
College | Story | 1/22/2026

Conference Preview: Big 10

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order*  Team W L W L Illinois 30 24 14 16 Indiana 32 24 16 14 Iowa 33 22 21 9 Maryland 27 29 12 18 Michigan 33 23 16 14 Michigan State 28 27 13 17 Minnesota 24 28 10 20 Nebraska 33 29 15 15 Northwestern 25 27 13 17 Ohio State 13 37 5 25 Oregon 42 16 22 8 Penn State 33 23 15 15 Purdue 31 23 11 19 Rutgers 29 28 15 15 UCLA 48 18 22 8 USC 37 23 18 12 Washington 29 28 17 13 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Mason Eckelman Ohio State Taken steps forward--...
Read More
General | Blog | 1/21/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 61

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
Demystifying the Curveball, Pitch Counts, and Weighted Balls- Part 1 You know what I love about the holidays? Good food, time with family, and the unspoken rule that nobody brings up religion or politics at the dinner table.   Why? Because they're powder kegs. Topics that bring out deep-seated beliefs and strong emotions.  Well, I accidentally lit one of those powder kegs recently, except it wasn't at the dinner table. It was on social media.   Our team posted a short clip of me at Boot Camp making what I thought was a pretty straightforward point: simply avoiding the curveball is far from a guarantee of arm health.   I wasn't trying to be provocative. I was just stating what I believed to be obvious after 30 years of doing this work.  But boy, did a few people have problems with it.   It became one of the most discussed posts in Ranch history....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 1/20/2026

Back-to-Back MLK East for Phillies

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
TBT Phillies Scout run rules for second straight MLK East Championship The 14U TBT Phillies Scout Team overtook A3 Academy Futures 14-6 in the final game to win their second straight 2026 MLK East Championship. Though the skies were blue and the sun was out in Fort Myers, Florida, the air was very chilly. The wind whipped through the palm trees as players, parents and friends piled into the 5-Plex Player Development Complex bundled up in blankets, hoodies and beanies.  The A3 Academy Futures were first up to bat - and the TBT Phillies struggled through the first frame. The first run came across on a balk; the second came soon after off a double from Gabriel Messing. “I was surprised that they scored right away off the jump,” Kingston George said, an outfielder for TBT Phillies Scout and this year’s MVP of the 14U East MLK championship. “We were kind of quiet...
Read More
College | Story | 1/21/2026

Conference Preview: Big 12

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order*  Team W L W L Arizona 44 21 18 12 Arizona State 36 24 18 12 Baylor 33 22 13 17 BYU 28 27 10 20 Cincinnati 33 26 16 14 Houston 30 25 12 17 Kansas 43 17 20 10 Kansas State 32 26 17 13 Oklahoma State 30 25 15 12 TCU 39 20 19 11 Texas Tech 20 33 13 17 UCF 29 26 9 21 Utah 21 29 8 22 West Virginia 44 16 19 9 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Jackson Natili Cincinnati .338/9/53; well-rounded bat with bat to ball skills and strong catch and throw 1B Brady...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 1/20/2026

A New Path to the Next Level

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
A New Path to the Next Level: Inside Perfect Game’s College Instructional Series An important new PG event will help aspiring college players grow, get noticed COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The changing environment of college baseball has led to an innovative new event at Perfect Game, one that will connect high school players looking for an opportunity at the next level with the coaches who may be able to provide one. On top of it all, there will be plenty of expert instruction along with the spirited, tournament-style competition that PG is known for. The College Instructional Series will take place at six regionalized venues starting this summer. “This event will serve an important purpose for players and coaches,” said Adam Revelette, PG’s senior director of events. “Everybody we’ve talked to is very intrigued about the platform.” The event is geared...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 1/20/2026

MLK West Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Steve Fiorindo
Article Image
MLK West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Markus Chandler, RHP, Westside HS Class of 2027 A little on the undersized side as a sub 6 footer, but Chandler can generate some velo and spin.  Spun 3 frames of hitless ball for Spects National with zero walks and 6 strikeouts.  Committed to Kansas State, the righty ran the fastball to 92, living 89-92 pumping the zone with 75 percent strikes.  Looked like two different breaking balls, with the SL 80/81 (spin in 2500’s) and curveball 75/76.  No hard contact, little contact at all off the righty in this dominant outing. To follow up the pitching performance, Chandler swung the bat well on Championship Monday (Trademark Pending) with 5 RBI and three hits on the day, regularly on the barrel.  Trevor Alons, RHP, Centennial HS Class of 2028 Lean framed sophomore with a quick, whippy arm.  Playing up a few classes, you might...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.