THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,625 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,625 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
High School  | General | 3/2/2023

Midwest Region Preview

Photo: Nazzan Zanetello (Perfect Game)
High School Preview Index

Regional Previews: Florida | Georgia | Pacific | Deep South | Texas | Southwest | Coastal | Mid-Atlantic | Northeast | Ohio Valley

States Represented: KS, MO, OK, AR, NE, IA, WI, MN, SD, ND



Although they have two PG All-Americans in infielder Nazzan Zanetello and right-hander Dylan Questad, the strength of the Midwest Region appears to be in their underclassmen.  The 14-player team features six juniors and a sophomore, including the top ranked pitcher in the 2024 class in Kansas right-hander Anson Seibert and the top ranked overall prospect in the 2025 class in Oklahoma third baseman Ethan Holliday.  In fact, the Region would have two of the top three 2025 prospects if Iowa middle infielder Sean Gamble wasn’t now attending IMG Academy in Florida.

Missouri’s Liberty North High School is the only school in the Region in the PG Pre-Season Top 50 National rankings, checking in at 34th overall.  The Eagles are led by senior two-way, multi-sport standout and Arkansas signee Tate McGuire and a strong junior class led by shortstop Trey Snyder (Tennessee commit) and catcher Bo Jonas (Oklahoma commit).

C –  Ty Waid (Sr., Arkansas HS, Ark.)
Waid had an outstanding late summer and fall on the PG circuit and is currently ranked 80th overall in the 2023 class.  He has the athleticism and tool set to stay behind the plate defensively and proved his offensive potential by being named the Top Offensive Player at the WWBA World Championships after hitting .556-1-10 with four doubles in seven games.

1B – AJ Evasco (Jr., Lincoln East HS, Neb.)
Evasco is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound left-handed hitter with huge power potential, perhaps the best power potential from the state of Nebraska since Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm was a prep standout in Omaha.  He hit .324-4-31 as a sophomore at Lincoln East High School and is committed to Kansas State.

MIF – Camden Kozeal (Sr., Millard South HS, Neb.)
Kozeal was named the Nebraska Player of the Year as a junior after hitting .420-5-35 for Millard South High School, then stood during the fall for the USA 18U Junior National Team, especially for his left-handed bat.  He is signed with Vanderbilt.

MIF – Nazzan Zanetello (Sr., Christian Brothers HS, Mo.)
Zanetello dominated everywhere he played last summer and fall, including being named a PG All-American, the only position player from the Midwest Region thus honored.  The Arkansas signee was named the MVP at the MLB Breakthrough Series and then came back to hit .429-1-9 with 11 runs scored and five steals for the USA 18U Junior National Team in the fall.

3B – Ethan Holliday (So., Stillwater HS, Okla.)
Holliday is much further advanced physically than his older brother, 2022 first overall pick Jackson, at the same age and is the number one ranked prospect in the 2025 class in the current PG rankings.  The left-handed slugger hit .362-11-60 as a freshman at Stillwater High School, with many of those RBI being his brother.

OF –  Slade Caldwell (Jr., Valley View HS, Ark.)
Caldwell is a very quick twitch outfielder and the 10th ranked overall player in the 2024 class.  The left-handed hitter is a very high performance player and hit .500-9-48 with 61 runs scored as a sophomore at Valley View High School and is a career .456 hitter with 60 stolen bases in 78 games in his PG career, which includes appearances at the 2020 13U Select Festival and 2021 14U Select Festival.

OF – Ashton Larson (Sr., St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Kan.)
Larson is a sweet-swinging left-handed outfielder and the topped ranked senior in the state of Kansas.  A 6.74 runner with the instincts to play center field, Larson is signed with Louisiana State.

OF – Cole Eaton (Sr., Elkhorn South HS, Neb.)
Eaton is one of the most tooled up outfielders in the 2023 class, with a 6.43 sixty and a 99 mph throwing arm from the outfield, both from the 2022 PG National Showcase.  He hit .350-4-27 for Elkhorn South High School last spring and is signed with Tennessee.

LHP –  Adam Hachman (Sr., Timberland HS, Mo.)
A 6-foot-5, 210-pound left-hander, Hachman has topped out at 95 mph at PG events and has been up to 98 mph at other times to go with a curveball and changeup.  He made very good progress through the summer and fall with his fastball command and looks poised for a big spring.  As a junior, Hachman went 2-1, 0.59 with 49 strikeouts in 27 innings.

LHP – Blake Larson (Jr., Dowling Catholic HS, Iowa)
Larson hasn’t had much national exposure as he’s continued to play summer Iowa high school baseball but has an electric arm and is ranked as the top left-handed pitcher in the 2024 class in the latest PG rankings.  The 6-foot-3, 175-pound TCU commit has topped out at 96 mph on his fastball and also features an upper 70s slider.

LHP - Kash Mayfield (Jr., Elk City HS, Okla.)
Mayfield is a very advanced and projectable left-hander with a 6-foot-4, 185-pound build.  He was absurdly dominant at three high level PG events in 2022, striking out 40 hitters in 16 innings and issuing only two walks, an extension of his spring season where he went 9-1, 0.92 with 101 strikeouts.  He’s topped out at 90 mph and has outstanding command of a mid-7s curveball and fading change up.

RHP – Dylan Questad (Sr., Waterford HS, Wisc.)
Questad is the only PG All-American on the Midwest Region’s junior dominated pitching staff.  The Arkansas signee has a four-pitch starter’s arsenal with both a curveball and a slider but relies heavily on a fastball that will top out at 96 mph with lots of riding life at the top of the zone.

RHP – Anson Seibert (Jr, Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Seibert is the highest ranked right handed pitcher in the 2024 class, checking in at sixth overall nationally.  He has an intimidating 6-foot-8, 230-pound build and a very low effort delivery that promises lots of strikes.  His fastball works in the 91-95 mph range to go with a plus low 80’s slider.

UT –  Joey Oakie (Jr., Ankeny Centennial HS, Iowa)
Oakie is a primary right-handed pitcher who works in the 90-94 mph range with his fastball and is a strike thrower with the pitch while striking out 48 hitters in 23 PG innings in 2022..  A right-handed hitting corner infielder, Oakie also led the 2022 PG Spring League in hitting last year with a .615 average.


Midwest Region Top Tools


Best Hitter for Average: Slade Caldwell (Jr., Valley View HS, Ark.)
As one can tell by his high school and Perfect Game batting averages, Caldwell has always hit, combining advanced barrel skills with 6.5 speed and a quick jump out of the left-handed batter’s box.  He was noticeably stronger at the 2022 PG National Underclass Showcase in late December and could be primed to add more power to his already high average talents.

Best Hitter for Power: Ethan Holliday (So., Stillwater HS, Okla.)
Ty Waid or AJ Evasco might have more present power but it’s only a matter of time and some mature muscles before Holliday surpass them.  His long-term power projection is pretty much top of the scale and it might not be too far into the future.

Best Runner: Nazzan Zanetello (Sr., Christian Brothers HS, Mo.)
Slade Caldwell may have a quicker first step than the long-legged 6-foot-2 Zanetello but Zanetello gets the edge on him over distances, including a 6.44 sixty time at the 2022 PG National Showcase.

Best Defensive Catcher: Eli Small (Sr., Elkhorn South HS, Neb.)
Small is an outstanding all-around athlete with the tools and arm strength to play all over the field and has the potential to become a plus defensive catcher in the future.  Combining Small’s arm strength (85 mph from behind the plate, 95 from the outfield, 92 off the mound) with teammate Cole Eaton’s gives Elkhorn South two of the best throwers not only in the region but in the country.

Best Defensive Infielder: Cal Fisher (Sr. Deerfield HS, Wisc.)
Fisher continues Wisconsin’s steady run of polished middle infielders as the Florida State signee excels on both sides of the baseball.  He is very sure handed defensively with outstanding footwork around the ball and a quick release on his throws. 

Best Defensive Outfielder: Cole Eaton (Sr., Elkhorn South HS, Neb.)
Eaton’s physical tools really play well in the outfield and will enable him to be a standout whether it be with his range in center field or his big arm strength in right field.

Best Defensive Arm: Nazzan Zanetello (Sr., Christian Brothers HS, Mo.)
Zanetello has a 93 mph hose from the infield but has also gone out to the outfield and thrown 98 mph.  He has the type of overall defensive ability that enables him to play all over the field at a high level.

Best Fastball: Adam Hachman (Sr., Timberland HS, Mo.)
In a region of hard throwers, Hachman’s ability to hit the upper 90s stands out, especially as a taller left-hander. 6-foot right-hander Dylan Questad’s mid-90s heater plays up despite his relative height because of its impressive riding life up in the zone.

Best Off-Speed Stuff: Anson Seibert (Jr, Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Seibert hasn’t developed a full repertoire of off-speed pitches yet but his slider stands out as the best single off-speed pitch in the Region.  He commands and tunnels the pitch exceptionally well and his 6-foot-8 height and reach helps the pitch play up.

Best Pitchability: Kash Mayfield (Jr., Elk City HS, Okla.)
Mayfield’s ability to mix his pitches and get swing and miss on his curveball and change up is already well established.  Wait until he fills and inevitably adds more velocity to his 90 mph fastball.

Best Multi-Sport Athlete: Camden Kozeal (Sr., Millard South HS, Neb.)
Kozeal doubles as Millard South’s quarterback and middle linebacker when not on the baseball field, although he did miss the first month of the football season last fall playing for USA Baseball.  He threw for 1,813 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games while also running for 638 yards and eight more scores.  Oklahoma outfielder Morgan Pearson enrolled early at Colorado to play football for the Buffalos, where he is a three-star linebacker.  Iowa junior shortstop Jack Miller is a standout on the basketball court, where he averaged 26 points a game this winter with a high of 50 points.

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...
Tournaments | Story | 9/14/2026

Coastal Fall Battle of the Carolinas Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Deacon Hensley (2028, Zebulon, NC) stands at 6-foot-0, 165 pounds and is a left-handed hitting and throwing right fielder. Lean frame with good athleticism and additional strength likely to come with maturity. Compact swing with quick hands and good feel for the barrel. Relaxed setup with good bat speed through the zone. Good balance in the box with a direct path and solid contact skills. Hensley went 3-for-3, scoring three runs and hitting a double. Great day at the plate. Colt Funderburk (2027, Lancaster, SC) stands at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds with an athletic frame and present strength. Bats and throws left-handed. Physical hitter with a compact swing, good bat speed, and the ability to drive the ball with authority. Good pitch recognition with a disciplined approach. Quiet lower half with a controlled load and good balance. Funderburk went 2-for-4 with one double and two RBI. Cameron...
Press Release | Press Release | 9/14/2026

PG Athletes Raise North of $138,000 in August

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 ATHLETES RAISE OVER $138,000 FOR CHARITABLE PARTNERS THROUGHOUT MONTH OF AUGUST   Sanford, Florida (Monday, September 14, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that its August premier events raised a combined $138,422 for children's hospitals and charitable organizations, with 1,112 total supporters contributing across five showcases. Since 2016, Perfect Game athletes have raised over $1.8 million for various charitable causes and organizations. The annual fundraising initiative, which runs in conjunction with several of Perfect Game's marquee events each year, gives players, families and fans the opportunity to support...
College | Recruiting | 9/14/2026

Top 500 Fresh Arrivals on Campus

Article Image
It's that time of the year where the freshmen around the country start arriving on campus. Regardless of level, here are the top 500 names to make it to their school for the 2027 season.  Rank Name School High School City ST 1 Archer Horn Stanford St. Ignatius College Prep San Mateo CA 2 Noah Wilson Vanderbilt McCallie School Ooltewah TN 3 Logan Schmidt Louisiana State Ganesha Aliso Viejo CA 4 Blake Bowen Oregon State JSerra Catholic Riverside CA 5 Cole Koeninger Tennessee Keller Keller TX 6 Joseph Contreras Vanderbilt Blessed Trinity Cath Alpharetta GA 7 Bo Holloway Vanderbilt Nolensville Nolensville TN 8 James Clark Duke St. John Bosco Riverside CA 9 Malachi Washington Louisiana State Parkview Stone Mountain GA 10 Brady Harris Florida Trinity Christian Academy St. Augustine FL 11 Grayson Willoughby Kentucky Trinity Louisville KY 12 Jorvorskie Lane Jr. Arkansas Grapevine Fort Worth...
Draft | Story | 9/11/2026

PG Draft: Potential Risers Into Top 50

Michael Albee
Article Image
We are in the early stages of the 2027 cycle and there is still plenty of time for players to make significant jumps up the board. While our current Top-100 provides an early look at the class, several players just outside that group have the upside to make a run at becoming Top-50 pick by next July. With that in mind, each member of the draft team each selected one college player and one prep player they believe could make the jump into the Top-50 over the course of the spring. These are the names to keep an eye on as the 2027 draft picture continues to develop. Joey’s Picks:   Jake Cueto (27 FL) goes oppo πŸ’£ on a mid-90s LonL heater. Performing at a very high level, hitting .464 with 5 homers. Excellent hit/run combo and here comes the juice! #PGHS #Miami commit @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/g4gtml81mm — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) April 1, 2026 Prep: OF, Jake...
Tournaments | Story | 9/9/2026

PG Wood Bat Fall Kickoff Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Evan Thompson (‘29, AZ) showcasing the all-fields power with this ground rule double the other way. Immense power upside. Really fun offensive profile #FallKickoff https://t.co/l551KirUOf pic.twitter.com/QW0AIeg59g — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) September 7, 2026 Evan Thompson (2029, Gilbert, Ariz.) put on an offensive clinic throughout the weekend, going 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits. He capped off his MVP performance with a walkoff home run to take home the championship. Thompson is one of the premier players in the 2029 class. A fluid left-handed stroke consistently finds barrels. There is all fields power present that will only continue to develop further. It would not be a surprise if Thimpson ends up the top ranked player in the class when it is all said and done.  Chase Fillman (2028, Goodyear, Ariz.) put together a loud summer circuit and...
Draft | Story | 9/8/2026

What Profiles Are Valued Most at Top of Draft

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
The landscape of the MLB Draft continues to evolve each and every year. What teams value at the top of the draft can change based on the strength of a particular class, shifts in player development philosophy, and, perhaps most importantly, the way organizations evaluate risk and upside. Some trends are subtle, while others become impossible to ignore when viewed across multiple years. For this study, I set out to answer one question: What player profiles do teams value at the top of the draft? To answer it, I analyzed the Top-100 picks from each of the last six drafts (2021-2026). That gives us 600 total selections to examine and provides a large enough sample to identify both the profiles that have remained consistently popular and those that have gained or lost significant ground. The data was broken down by position, handedness and level to create individual player profiles. While...
General | General | 9/7/2026

First Look: Class of 2031 Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Harry Chubb Jones Jr. is getting an early start on the next chapter of his baseball career. The Perfect Game All-American announced Sunday that he will enroll early at the University of Alabama, giving the Crimson Tide an early addition from one of the more intriguing two-way prospects in the 2027 class. See y’all at The Joe! πŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎπŸ‘πŸΎ pic.twitter.com/Kn0T0mJxq7 — 6._.chubbjones (@chubb_hitter) September 6, 2026 Jones, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound SS/RHP from Georgia, was ranked No. 39 in the 2027 class and came in at No. 83 on the initial Top-100 2027 Draft Board. Chubb Jones Jr (‘27 GA) smokes this one the other way for an RBI single & we’re all level in the 6th. Adv bat speed, impacts w/ authority to all fields #PGAAC@PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/FZ46IvYVp1 — Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic (@PGAllAmerican) August 16, 2026 The McEachern...
Draft | Story | 9/7/2026

2027 MLB Draft: PG Content Hub

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
No more having to search for articles pertaining to the 2027 MLB Draft as we will keep it all centrally located here, in the PG Content Hub, leading up to the first pick next July. Tyler Henninger, Joey Cohen, Michael Albee and Ryan Miller, along with the rest of the Perfect Game staff, will continue to provide you with the latest info as it pertains to this 2027 crop.  Article Date Initial Follow List July 12 Way Too Early Mock July 13 Realistic Expectations of 1:1 August 11 Preview: Collegiate RHP August 21  Draft Board: Top 100 August 28 Way Too Early 1:1 Predictions September 4 Chubb Jones Jr. Enrolls Early September 7 Preview: Collegiate LHP September 7 What Profiles are Valued Most at Top of Draft September 9 Potential Risers Into The Top 50 September 11
Draft | Rankings | 9/7/2026

2027 Draft Preview: Collegiate LHP

Ryan Miller
Article Image
2027 MLB Draft Profile Preview: Collegiate Right-Handed Pitchers The collegiate left-handed pitching class is always a popular demographic, and this year’s is no different. The group contains a mix of power pitch mixes and polished pitch-ability, with healthy representation from power four schools and a handful of mid-majors. Below we look at this year’s top college left-handers. An extended look at LHP Tomas Valincius (@HailStateBB)... 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K https://t.co/lCHgGnsdbi pic.twitter.com/Vm3nQkAukc — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 28, 2026 Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State Valincius followed head coach Brian O’Connor from Virginia to Mississippi State and immediately established himself as their ace last spring. The Illinois native posted a 3.50 ERA over 17 starts in 2026, striking out 33.5% of hitters and walking just five percent....
Loading more articles...