THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General | 2/10/2023

Pacific Region Preview

David Rawnsley
Photo: Cole Schoenwetter (Perfect Game)
High School Preview Index

Regional Previews: Florida | Georgia

The Pacific Region and California in particular likely boast of the most talent of any region in the country in 2023 and it doesn’t look like it’s going to drop off at all looking at the 2024 and 2025 classes, either.  California has 15 players at the 2022 PG All-American Classic and three of them couldn’t even find their way onto the All-Region team, OF Will Gasparino (Harvard-Westlake HS), RHP Justin Lee (Notre Dame HS) and SS Carl Schmidt (Marin Catholic HS). 



California also has a list leading nine teams in the pre-season Top 50 High School Team Rankings, led by number two JSerra High School, with sixth ranked Huntington Beach HS and ninth ranked Harvard Westlake HS following close behind.

Hawaii shortstop Nolan Souza (Sr., Punahou HS, Ha.) just missed inclusion on the All-Region team and the left-handed hitter and Arkansas commit is one of the best prospects to come out of Hawaii in the past decade.

Pacific Region Dream Team

C –  Raffaele Velazquez (Sr., Huntington Beach HS, Calif.)
 The left-handed hitting Velazquez made a swing adjustment late last spring that opened up his huge power, enabling him to hit .535-5-16 with seven doubles in the playoffs to lead Huntington Beach HS to a SoCal Division One championship.  He then homered at the PG National Showcase and won the Rawlings Home Run Derby at the PG All-American Classic.

1B –   Nolan Stevens (Sr., Franklin HS, Calif.)
 Stevens is a two-way standout and a PG All-American with a big left-handed bat at the plate.  He also went 9-1 on the mound for Franklin High School with a fastball that reaches the low 90’s.  Stevens is signed with Mississippi State.

MIF –   Bryce Rainer (Jr., Harvard-Westlake HS, Calif.)
 Rainer started for the powerhouse Harvard-Westlake team as a freshman and hit .393-5-21 as a sophomore while continuing to play outstanding defense in the middle of the field.  A Texas commit, Rainer is the seventh overall ranked player in the 2024 class nationally.

MIF –  Roman Martin (Sr., Servite HS, Calif.)
 Martin is the highest ranked player in California in the PG 2023 class rankings at 16th overall.  He was named the co-Most Valuable Player of the prestigious Trinity League after hitting .422 as a junior and standing out with his smooth and polished defense at shortstop.

3B –   Eric Bitonti (Sr., Aquinas HS, Calif.)
 The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Bitonti is one of the youngest top prospects in the 2023 class but is also one of the strongest and most physical.  The left-handed hitter posted .526-8-41 numbers as a junior to go with 55 runs scored and 17 doubles while also going 6-2, 0.62 on the mound.

OF –  Gavin Grahovac (Sr., Villa Park HS, Calif.)
 Grahovac was named the Player of the Year by the Los Angeles Times and the Orange Park Register after hitting .376-5-24 with 17 doubles and playing all over the field on defense.  The Texas A&M signee’s most promising future defensive position might actually be behind the plate at catcher.

OF –  Derek Curiel (Jr., Orange Lutheran HS, Calif.)
 Curiel has been the top ranked player in the 2024 class for the last two years and he hasn’t even began to tap into his big power potential at the plate.  He has an argument as the top defensive outfielder in all of high school baseball with his high-end speed and route running, with his speed also being a high impact tool on the bases.

OF –  Brandon Winokur (Sr., Edison HS, Calif.)
 The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Winokur is still listed as a primary shortstop but also plays the outfield and profiles best there in the future defensively with his 6.5 speed and 95 mph outfield arm.  Winokur’s power potential really jumped out at the PG All-American Classic and he enjoyed one of the best high profile tournament performances of the year, hitting .647-3-14 with 12 runs scored 7 games at the WWBA 17U National Championships

LHP Boston Bateman (Jr., Camarillo HS, Calif.)
 Bateman stands out for his 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame and intimidating presence on the mound.  He’s topped out at 93 mph already with plenty more there but his best pitch may be an upper 70’s curveball that he tunnels exceptionally well with his fastball.  Bateman struck out 41 hitters in 20 innings as a sophomore at Camarillo HS while going 3-1, 1.40.

RHP Gabe Gaeckle (Sr., Aptos HS, Calif.)
 Gaeckle is the opposite of Bateman, standing 5-foot-11, 185-pounds, but has an electric right arm that produces a fastball that tops out at 97 mph to go with one of the best breaking balls in the country.  He was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League MVP last year, going 4-0, 1.03 on the mound with 92 strikeouts in 40 innings while hitting .373-5-24.

RHP Aidan Keenan (Sr., Live Oak HS, Calif.)
 Keenan has one of true power arms in the 2023 class nationally, with a fastball that has topped out at 95 at PG events and up to 98 at other major events.  His curveball is a plus second offering and both pitches create tons of swing and miss.

RHP Cal Randall (Sr., De La Salle HS, Calif.)
 Randall is the third All-Region pitcher from Northern California, a rare show of talent for that often over-looked part of the state.  Randall works in the 92-94 mph range with his fastball to go with a sweeping breaking ball from a mid-3/4’s arm slot that is especially tough on right-handed hitters.  He had a dominant PG All-American Classic performance and followed that up by striking out eight in five one-hit innings at the WWBA World Championships.

RHP Cole Schoenwetter (Sr., San Marcos HS, Calif.)
 Schoenwetter is the top ranked pitcher in California and the fifth ranked right hander overall in the national rankings.  He generally works in the 91-94 mph range with his fastball, with some projection left in his 6-foot-3, 195-pound body, and has outstanding command of a big breaking curveball and solid change up.  He struck out 50 hitters in only 21 innings in PG play in 2022, including 24 in 10 innings at the WWBA 17U National Championships.

UT –  Trent Caraway (Sr., JSerra Catholic HS, Calif.)
 Caraway earned his All-American status as a strong armed shortstop/third baseman with a very mature approach at the plate but he also has a chance to step forward as a two-way prospect this spring.  He has relatively limited experience on the mound but was 90-92 with an outstanding curveball and command at the PG National Showcase.


Pacific Region Top Tools

Best Hitter for Average: Derek Curiel (Jr., Orange Lutheran HS, Calif.)
 Curiel’s left-handed swing is so smooth and low tension that more strength is really going to translate into even more bat speed.  He already has a very advanced and calm approach in the box.

Best Hitter for Power: Raffaele Velazquez (Sr., Huntington Beach HS, Calif.)
 Velazquez’s big power surge in the summer has proven to be no short-term blip on the map, as he’s already shown up big in early season California play in 2023.

Best Runner: Matthew Priest (Jr., Maranatha Christian School, Calif.)
 Priest’s 6.15 sixty mark speaks for itself but if anything that speed plays up in the games.  He’s hyper-aggressive on the bases and regularly runs about 4.05 home to first from the right side despite taking a big swing at the plate.

Best Defensive Catcher: Ryder Helfrick (Sr., Clayton Valley HS, Calif.)
 Helfrick was named the MVP of the 2022 PG All-American Classic due to his exploits as a hitter but he stands out as one of the top defensive catchers in the 2023 class as well.  A 6.77 runner who would be a top level third baseman as well, Helfrick has a plus arm behind the plate and outstanding lateral agility.

Best Defensive Infielder: Charlie Bates (Jr., Palo Alto HS, Calif.)
 Bates has a chance to become the top shortstop in the 2024 class nationally with additional strength and more national exposure.  He’s extremely athletic defensively and has all the tools to be a standout at the position for a long time.

Best Defensive Outfielder: Derek Curiel (Jr., Orange Lutheran HS, Calif.)
 Curiel is a natural center fielder who gets outstanding jumps and covers vast amounts of ground with his long and easy strides.  His arm is more solid than plus but he makes extremely accurate throws.

Best Defensive Arm: Trent Caraway (Sr., JSerra Catholic HS, Calif.)
Caraway has been gunned at 94 mph across the infield and his throws definitely pass the eye test, as he gets outstanding carry while maintaining accuracy.

Best Fastball: RHP Aidan Keenan (Sr., Live Oak HS, Calif.)
 Keenan’s fastball velocity is elite but what really sets the pitch apart is the big diving life he creates from an extended ¾’s arm slot.  His fastball picked up nine swing and misses in just two innings at the PG National Showcase due to that late life.

Best Off-Speed Stuff: Gabe Gaeckle (Sr., Aptos HS, Calif.)
 Gaeckle’s 80 mph curveball has exceptional hard biting action to go with its power velocity and regularly registers spin rates in the 2,900-3,000 rpm range.  His change up is a nice third pitch that he doesn’t often need to use in games yet and he commands both pitches well.

Best Pitchability: Cole Schoenwetter (Sr., San Marcos HS, Calif.)
Schoenwetter’s extreme strike out numbers (he also struck out 70 in 38 high school innings) are more due to his command and his ability to change speeds than from a dominating fastball.  His breaking ball doesn’t have plus power, mostly around 75 mph, but it has big vertical break and induces lots of swing and miss.

Best Multi-Sport Athlete: Will Burns (Sr., Trabuco Hills HS, Calif.)
Burns is signed to play both baseball and football at Texas Tech and it will be interesting to see which sports wins out in the end.  A speedy middle infielder with a strong arm, Burns is ranked 239th in the 2023 class in baseball.  On the football field, he threw for 2,762 yards and 25 touchdowns in 10 games as a senior along with averaging over 10 yards a rush and scoring nine times on the ground.
Give us your feedback
High School | General | 8/17/2026

Scott Wins MVP Two Ways
Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – When the folks at Perfect Game reached out to invite him to pitch in the 2026 PG All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors, Cullen Scott had one request. “You mind if I get a couple of at-bats, too?” Along with his dad, Scott traveled from the family’s home in Texas to Citizens Bank Park. The trip proved to be a huge success as he starred on the mound and at the plate and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Scott, 16, pitched a scoreless first inning and struck out two. In the fourth inning, he belted a grand slam six rows up into the left-field seats to lead the National team’s 6-1 win over the American team. “He showed us why he’s here as a pitcher and a hitter,” said Greg Sabers, PG’s vice president of scouting and showcases. "He’s one of the top pitchers here, but he’s too good a...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

Midwest Fall Championship Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Midwest Fall Championship    ‘29 LHP Jake Bzdusek (IL) Works 5.1 very strong innings from a low arm angle. Has a FB with sink in the mid 70s and T78. Has a nice E/W SL 67-68 (2nd,4th video). Struck out 7 and was efficient in the zone w/ 62% strikes. #WWBAMW @AthletesHQ2 https://t.co/th4O6pgHBs — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) October 3, 2026 Jake Bzdusek (2029, Huntley, Ill.) a left-handed pitcher works from a very low arm angle creating lots of deception to throw off hitters. The fastball was in the mid 70s, topping 78mph with good action. His slider had lots of east/west action, creating tons of swing and miss. Bzdusek pitched 5.1 innings while striking out seven, helping him earn the win. He threw efficiently, landing 62% of his pitches for strikes. He also got it done on the offensive side of the ball this weekend as well. He racked up six hits in as many...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

2026 WWBA World Championship Preview

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
2026 WWBA World Championship Preview It’s that much-anticipated time of year again for some of the country’s most promising players to gather in Jupiter, FL for the tournament that everyone will be talking about until next year when we do it all again. This year, 120 teams from 23 different states, Canada and Puerto Rico have been divided into 30 pools. The action gets rolling at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7 at the Roger Dean Complex - the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. The top-ranked player coming into the event in the 2027 class is All-American classic player Kinon Bastian. No. 7 in his class, the Florida commit boasts a .417 batting average in the calendar year. Our scouts have referred to him as the “highest level athlete with both speed and strength, big juice in the bat.” Bastian will be playing with FTB Phillies 2027....
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 10/8/2026

Perfect Game Launches "PG Moms"

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME LAUNCHES “PG MOMS”, A NEW CONTENT AND PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM CELEBRATING THE MOTHERS BEHIND THE GAME   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, October 8, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the launch of PG Moms, a new social media-driven initiative celebrating the mothers who play an essential role in the travel baseball journey. The new content platform will allow moms who are well-versed in the youth baseball space to share their lessons, insights and tips in authentic ways with fellow moms across the country. The platform will debut this week from Perfect Game’s annual WWBA World Championship event in Jupiter,...
Read More
General | General | 10/8/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 67

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
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...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 10/7/2026

Perfect Game to Debut PG Central

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME TO DEBUT NEW FLAGSHIP SHOW PG CENTRAL DURING WWBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN JUPITER   Jupiter, Florida (Wednesday, October 7, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the debut of PG Central, a new live, on-location show designed to serve as a key destination for the latest news, features and analysis from across the travel baseball landscape. The inaugural episodes will spotlight’s Perfect Game’s 2027 event schedule with guests from across the professional and youth baseball ecosystems. PG Central is powered by ZT Athletics. PG Central will make its debut today at 7:00 pm ET as part of Perfect Game’s annual WWBA...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/6/2026

Best of the West Scout Notes

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
Joshua Churchill (‘31 TX) just demolishes this ball to deep right for a 2-run double. Easy low tension juice from smooth well connected lefty swing. #BestOfTheWest @Texas_PG https://t.co/MnT0lIaGRd — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) September 27, 2026 Joshua Churchill (2031, Kingwood, Texas) had a real strong showing on both sides of the ball throughout the weekend and helped lead his team to a big championship win. Churchill finished the weekend going 5-10 with a pair of extra base hits and came up clutch in big run scoring moments. It’s a pretty physical frame for the age and showed a smooth lefty swing that works gap to gap well. He can impact the baseball well and power certainly projects in this profile. Off the bump, Churchill hurled 6.1 dominant frames and ran the fastball up to 80 while landing the breaker at will. Strong 2-way ability really showed and Churchill...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/6/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Preview

Ryan Miller
Article Image
Jupiter has long been one of the best opportunities for draft eligible players to make an impression and this year’s field should be no different. With an elite collection of prospects all competing on the same fields, the event provides a valuable opportunity for players to establish themselves against some of the best competition in the class. This week’s WWBA World Championship could be a pivotal week for several prospects looking to make an impression and elevate their draft stock. Ahead of the event, the draft team each highlighted a sleeper prospect (someone who is currently not ranked in our board) to watch, as well as a current member of our Top-100 who could make a significant move up the rankings. Keep an eye on these names throughout the week as they look to make an impact and force their way up the board on our next update.  Top-100 Risers Jake Ivey...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/6/2026

15u & 18u Best of the West Scout Notes

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Derek Graham (‘27. CO) was absolutely DOMINANT. 10 K over 4 hitless innings, 10 K. FB sat 86-89 (T90) with life. SL at 70-73 paired well. Kept hitters guessing. #WreckEm commit #BestOfTheWest https://t.co/eoo6k9VoG8 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) October 3, 2026 Derek Graham (2027, Colorado Springs. Colo.) took the hill on day one and was masterful. The left-hander did not allow a hit over four innings, while striking out 10 total hitters. The Texas Tech commit showcased an overpowering fastball. The offering worked up to 90 mph with life at the top of the zone. A slider at 70-73 mph paired well off of it. Graham kept hitters guessing throughout, allowing him to quickly get outs and avoid barrels.  Brixton Barraza (2030, Murrieta, Calif.) took home MVP honors after a ridiculous showing at the plate. The young infielder posted five multi-hit games, going...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/8/2026

Jupiter Staff Champ Prediction

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Pool Preview & Release Bragging rights are on the line here at Perfect Game as the staff takes a shot at predicting who they think will be the one hoisting the cup at the end of the event.  USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team The Tigers Scout Team brings an outstanding roster to Jupiter on both sides of the ball. The lineup has high profile names from top to bottom, including Deuce Jenkins and Graham Keen. On the mound, the staff is anchored by LSU commit Samir Mohammed, with a large group of quality options to fill the remaining innings. -Ryan Miller Franklin Scout Team/BTD- 2027 I chose Franklin Scout Team/BTD- 2027 to go all the way because of the elite talent and depth that this team possesses. With 29 Top-500 players, multiple PG All-Americans, and 17 arms that have reached 90+ mph, they have the firepower on both sides of the ball to get...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 10/5/2026

WWBA Underclass Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
WWBA Underclass Scout Notes: Days 1-2 | Day 3 Hudson Covington (2028 Aliso Viejo, CA) has had himself a weekend at the dish, hitting an even .500 going into Championship Monday including a perfect 3-3 performance in the 2nd round of playoffs for TB SoCal. In just his 5th PG event, the uncommitted prospect is certainly making a name for himself with plenty of offensive tools to like. From the left side, Covington keeps the path direct and repeatable with a pull side & middle of the field approach displayed. He flashes high contact tool and does a great job of putting something in play with two strikes, limiting the swing/miss in the stroke with evident control of the barrel. Levi Anthony x2‼️ this one longgg gone for a 3-run shot💣 showing off big time power today #WWBAWorlds @PGMidwestBB https://t.co/0Jr8QY0KFC — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 3, 2026 Creighton...
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.