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Tournaments  | Story | 12/11/2023

Scout Stories: Part 5

Steve Doherty
Joey Cohen
This year's baseball season delivered unforgettable breakout performances, showcasing an impressive display of talent and aptitude at all levels. Standout moments included clutch home runs, wipeout pitching, and remarkable defensive plays. The athleticism and skill exhibited by both seasoned upperclassmen and emerging talents were truly exceptional, leaving a lasting impression on the California baseball community. The season became a canvas for extraordinary feats, highlighting the diverse strengths of players and contributing to baseball’s timeless appeal.

Best Game I Saw:

Harvard Westlake Vs. Notre Dame | March 15, 2023
I witnessed an unforgettable clash between two fierce rivals that left fans on the edge of their seats. The game unfolded with a nail-biting pitching duel between ‘23 Justin Lee of Notre Dame HS, and current UCLA Bruin who was up to 94 on this night, and ‘24 Tommy Bridges of Harvard Westlake HS, TCU commit. There were breathtaking offensive displays all-around and tensions escalated as both teams vied for supremacy. The defining moment was delivered by ‘24 Bryce Rainer of Harvard Westlake HS, a Texas commit, with a dramatic home run that echoed through the stadium and landed on top of the parking structure in right field. However, Notre Dame sealed the victory 2-1 and etched this game into baseball lore. The atmosphere, the skillful plays, and the sheer unpredictability made it a standout, solidifying its place as the best baseball game I saw in 2023.



Best Tournament Performance I Saw:


Donald Murray | PG Showdown | March 10, 2023
Donald Murray’s pitching performance in the annual PG Showdown tournament at Great Park was nothing short of mesmerizing. Murray, out of La Mirada HS, CA. dominated the game with pinpoint accuracy, striking out eighteen (18) opposing batters from a stacked Oaks Christian HS squad and flawlessly executed crucial pitches in high-pressure situations, showcasing a mastery of the craft that etched an unforgettable chapter in the tournament's history.

Favorite Single Game Moment:
PG All-American Raffaele Velazquez Home Run @ Boras Classic - South | April 12, 2023
Velazquez’s dramatic, clutch home run in front of an abundant amount of MLB decision makers not only secured the lead and put the game out of reach, but also etched his name in the annals of unforgettable moments at the Boras Classic, South tournament. Three months later, Velazquez was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 1st round (16th pick) in the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft.

Biggest Showcase Breakout Performance:

Ty Southisene | PG All-American Game | August 20, 2023
Ty Southisene's breakout performance in the All-American game was nothing short of spectacular, eclipsing all others with his exceptional defensive chops on display (seen here). His timely hitting and precision in the field, showcased a level of talent that left spectators in awe. Ty's outstanding showing undoubtedly marked him as the standout player of the All-American game, making a lasting impression on scouts and fans alike.

Pick to Click:
Braylon Doughty’s consistent performances this summer have solidified in my mind that he belongs in MLB draft discussions. Strong pitching mechanics combined with two MLB ready pitches in the fastball and slider scream there's more in the tank and potential for future growth. Evaluating his track record, scrutinizing his adaptability on the mound, and weighing the overall impact he could bring to a MLB team are all factors that will aid in making a well-rounded assessment of Doughty's draft consideration.

-Steve Doherty

Best Game I Saw 

The best tournament game I saw this year was also the game that I felt had the best collection of talent on one field, which was the playoff matchup of 15u Canes National vs. USA Prime 15U at the WWBA Freshman World Championships out in West Palm. This matchup included close to twenty players that are ranked nationally in the ‘27 class, many I’ve already seen out at some regional tourneys in Arizona and others I was just seeing for the first time. Some of the bigger names included Chase Fuller, Jordin Griffin, Landon Green, Conor Rae, Griffin McKain, Christopher Wall, Colton Christman and I could go on and on. The game had a bit of everything whether that was high octane pitching, some exciting clutch hitting, and probably the most dramatic home run I saw during the tournament circuit by Chase Fuller. The competitive energy from the players was palpable throughout and there was this feeling that whoever won that game was going to end up winning it all, which USA Prime ended up doing. 

Best Tournament Performance I Saw 


The best tourney performance I took in this year was Derek Wilson’s MVP run at the 15U AZ Fall State Championship. I hadn’t seen Wilson before then and he made his presence known in a big way where he was an absurd 9-for-14 which included six XBHs and thirteen runs batted in. His performance stands out to me because I took in almost all of those nine hits and there were no cheapies mixed in there as all of them were loud barrels. The type of hitterish confidence he was exuding in the box that whole weekend was something I haven’t seen many times before. Wilson is now very much on our radars in Arizona and I’m excited to see his continued development. 

Favorite Single Game Moment 

My favorite game moment wasn’t anything that pertained to a single clutch moment, but it was simply something I had never seen before, an incoming freshman touching 94 mph on the mound. In Landon Green’s start at the WWBA Freshman World Championships against R3 2027 there wasn't a single open seat as players and parents collected from all over to watch him pitch. He ended up throwing four shutout innings and besides his electric low 90s fastball it was his low 80s slider that just made it unfair for opposing hitters. Younger players are continuing to throw harder and harder nowadays, but I think Green’s sheer arm talent at that age will continue to hold as an outlier moment many years down the road. 

Biggest Showcase Breakout Performer 

I’ve written about Colten Bott a couple times now but the unique backstory of how he got on our radar which allowed him to have his breakout showcase performance is why I chose him here. It was at PG National where we had a couple pitchers drop from the event late. I was going through my social media feed at the time, and I had seen a recent UCLA commitment announcement from CJ. Roch Cholowsky (UCLA) was sitting next to me, and I decided to ask him about CJ. Roch said he had heard some really positive things and that he was a guy that would be an intriguing emergency addition. Long story short we were able to get him to Chase Field on a whim where he ended up impressing in his one inning of work running his fastball up to an easy 92 mph while mixing in a depthy fading changeup he has advanced feel for and also landing his larger breaker. Since that outing CJ has really exploded onto the national scene and has made himself an intriguing draft follow headed into next spring. 

Picks to Click

When looking at players that I think could really elevate their stock in 2024, ‘25 Ethan Porter and ‘25 Jack Lafflam are the first two that come to mind. I got eyes on Porter early in his HS career where he checked a ton of early boxes. He then had an injury setback that cost him his freshman year and part of his sophomore year but after seeing him a bunch this past summer and fall I think he’s going to have a monster 2024 spring and he will take it into the summer circuit. It’s a sneaky athletic profile, real hitterish traits and impact along with serious arm strength. 

With Lafflam, I just don’t think there are many other arms in the class with his type of upside. It’s simply a combination of the considerable projection in his 6-foot-4 170-pound frame, the ease of the operation where it generates a minimal effort low 90s fastball, and his outlier ability to really spin a breaking ball. A year from now I think we will be looking at a Top 15 type arm in the class. 

-Joey Cohen
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Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend
Alyssa Golden
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More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
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All American Game | Story | 7/3/2026

Initial 2026 All Star Game Roster Reveal

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We are excited to announce the first selections for the 2026 PG All Star Game from both the Perfect Game Junior and Sophomore National Showcases. The PG All Star Game will be held on Friday, August 14th at Citizens Bank Ballpark, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and will feature roughly 40 of the top players, predominately from the 2028 class with a few of the very best 2029s also selected. A watchlist has been created from the Junior National Showcase and another group of players will be selected from that showcase towards the end of July as we continue to evaluate players at the major Perfect Game tournaments this summer. The final wave of selections we be made at the PG Underclass All American Games August 5-7 at the UCSD in San Diego, CA. PG Underclass All American Games   Junior National Selections Dexter McCleon Jr. OF Suwanee, GA USA Prime Cullen Scott RHP/3B Melissa,...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
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Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
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High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
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High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
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Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
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JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
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Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
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Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
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17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
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