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2,575 MLB PLAYERS | 16,355 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
College  | Story | 2/15/2024

Wake Opens the Year at No. 1

The No. 1 team in the nation heading into the 2024 season is none other than the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, a team that came within a few breaks of earning a bid to the CWS Championship Series a year ago. Last year’s team featured two departed first rounders in Rhett Lowder (CIN Rd. 1, Pick 7) and Brock Wilken (MIL Rd. 1, Pick 18) but there is reason to be excited about this year’s version of the Deacs and what they bring to the table.

“Our guys are committed, and they’re hungry,” head coach Tom Walter says about the 2024 Deacs, a team that came so close to the ultimate goal of a national title but fell just short in 2023. The roster speaks for itself with maybe the best rotation in the sport featuring Josh Hartle, Chase Burns, and Michael Massey. There certainly is an element of unfinished business as Walter says, “We want to be back in that game again,” referring to game 3 against LSU in Omaha, an instant classic that featured Lowder matching No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes, pitch for pitch.



“Our returnees feel like there’s unfinished business.” One returnee who headlines this team in particular is Nick Kurtz, who hit over .350 with 24 homers and an OBP of .527 and is on the shortlist of Golden Spikes candidates. Kurtz and Friday night starter Josh Hartle are the team captains as Hartle pitched to an 11-2 record with a 2.81 ERA a year ago. “Those guys bleed black and gold,” Walter says about his captains who could be the leaders of Wake’s next championship roster.

They lose some guys from the 2023 roster sure, but how do the returnees feel about getting another shot at the title? “They have been thinking about Omaha for the last 15 years of their lives,” Walter says, “They’re locked in they wanna get back to Omaha.”

The transfer portal hosted some big names for the Deacs, including Tennessee RHP Chase Burns and D-II utility man Seaver King, both projected first rounders right now. King had a monster summer where he showed the athleticism and tools abound while Burns has been routinely sitting in the 99-102 mph range to start the year. “(We) did a lot of homework on the transfer portal guys,” Walter says, “first and foremost they need to fit into the team culture.” Both Burns and King, along with other transfers like Tate Ballestero, Adam Tellier, and Austin Kawke, have fit into the program really well. “We look at the transfer portal like the Yankees,” Walter says, “the crux of the team is homegrown like (Josh) Hartle, (Nick) Kurtz, (Marek) Houston and then you use the portal like free agency add a (Roger) Clemens or (Hideki) Matsui.”

The ultimate goal is obviously to get back to Omaha and to walk away with the trophy, but the CWS doesn’t start until June so how do you piece together the timeline here? “Goal number one is to host a Regional, do that and get closer to Omaha.” Easier said than done but this is a Wake Forest team that is the unanimous favorite in the ACC and the unanimous No. 1 across the college baseball preseason polls.

From the outside looking in, this team couldn’t be closer as they inch towards beginning their campaign. “It’s a team first mentality…it’s a brothers forever mentality,” Walter says, “we want our guys to love each other and to love the game of baseball.”

The roster is among the best in the sport and there’s no doubting Walter’s place atop the sport in terms of what he’s been able to do in Winston-Salem. But the 2024 Deacs have a special blend of experience and talent, both being able to have been so close a year ago while also understanding what it takes to get the job done. “Last year’s team just hated to lose more than they loved to win,” Walter says, adding that “we’ve got some veteran savvy baseball players.”

But, to quote Kobe Bryant, the job isn’t finished, mostly because the job hasn’t started for the 2024 team. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to earn that,” Walter says about his team’s No. 1 preseason ranking. And while there is work to be done ahead, what the Deacs have already done is the work. They’ve laid the foundation for success in the 2024 campaign thanks to contributions and buy-in from everyone on the roster, to everyone on the coaching staff, to everyone that enters the athletic offices on Monday mornings. It’s impossible to predict how the season plays out but there’s a lot of confidence to be had in Wake Forest thanks to the foundation that has already been laid by everyone in Winston-Salem. The Deacs open the 2024 regular season with a round robin of Fordham, Akron, and Illinois beginning on Friday, February 16th.

College | Story | 7/18/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: July 18

Perfect Game Staff
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Brandon Shannon | Fr. | RHP | Louisville | Bourne Braves  The freshman right-hander possesses arguably the most electric arm on the Cape, pairing a lean, projectable frame with plenty of room to continue adding strength. Shannon worked an effortless 96-98 mph throughout the outing with premium arm speed. His mid-80s slider generates plenty of swing-and-miss, while his 92-93 mph power changeup gives him a quality third offering to neutralize left-handed hitters. After flashing premium stuff during his freshman season at Louisville, Shannon has carried that arsenal into the summer and possesses the type of arm talent to develop into a Day 1 draft prospect as he continues refining his command and overall polish.    Another look at 1B/P Josiah Overbeek (@HailStateBB) Pull side RBI single here. @BourneBraves https://t.co/YA17RJnFo8 pic.twitter.com/Jw7iDMliZG — PG College...
Tournaments | Story | 7/18/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Perfect Game Staff
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Hudson Sage (’29, Houston, TX) had a strong start to his event, collecting three hits to drive in four including a pair of doubles. Sage operates from a medium right-handed frame with a mix of length and strength, displaying athleticism. He starts with a wide base, keeping the hands high and active, working into a deep inward leg load. The native Texan fires through a quick and compact barrel with accuracy and all fields impact. Defensively, Sage appeared in the outfield where he has proven to have a strong throwing arm. Cooper Holland (‘29, CA) deposits a solo homer to straightaway right. Upright setup from the left side, utilizing HH + an even base. Employs a hovering LL pre-launch. #WWBA @California_PG pic.twitter.com/RuPy6NR3oE — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 17, 2026 Cooper Holland (’29, Mission Viejo, CA) collected two hits to kick off pool play,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/17/2026

South Champ. & South Elite Scout Notes

Geoff Billock
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Peyton Alvarez (2029, New Braunfels, Texas) put on a display for Marucci Elite TX Ramirez. Went 4-8 with two doubles. Worked strong at bats, drawing a total of six walks. Lot of deep counts, putting stress on opposing arms. Also swiped a staggering seven bases over the span of five games. Repeatable right-handed stroke with hands that work quickly through the zone. Was an absolute force at the top of the order all weekend. Jack Simms (2028, Cypress, Texas) put together a strong showing for Texas Brigade 2028 - Konarik. Went 3-9 with a double, a home run, and five runs batted in. Showed some quick hands, working through an uphill plane, playing well to the pullside. Frame has plenty more in the tank, impact should continue to develop as he fills out. Riley Thompson (2029, Leander, Texas) had another loud weekend for Test Black. 5-9 at the plate with three doubles and no strikeouts. Super...
Tournaments | Story | 7/17/2026

BCS Midwest Championship Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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’29 INF Aarion Gould (IL) drives this ball deep to CF for a triple. Simple setup w/ a controlled load. Keeps the barrel in the zone w/ good extension through contact. Big day at the plate going 2-for-3 with 4 RBI. #BCSMW @WhitesoxAce pic.twitter.com/QL9jPCTAv8 — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 12, 2026 Aarion Gould (2029, Chicago, Ill.) earned Tournament MVP honors after helping lead Chicago White Sox ACE 2029 to the BCS Midwest Championship. The right-handed infielder displayed a direct swing path with quality barrel accuracy, using the middle of the field approach. Present strength was evident, producing two doubles, one triple, while hitting .444 (8-for-18) with seven RBI, three stolen bases and a 1.277 OPS. Gould also contributed on the mound, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out six.   ’29 RHP Xavier Alvarez (IL)...
Tournaments | Story | 7/17/2026

WWBA Midwest Regional Champ. Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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’28 OF Caleb Wilson (IN) drives this fastball into the RCF gap for a double. Quick hands and bat-to-ball skills on display. Good game at the plate. Finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. #WWBAMW @TopTierBaseball @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/IC5dmPojcz — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 13, 2026 Caleb Wilson (2028, Crown Point, Ind.) helped lead Top Tier Americans 2028 to the 16U WWBA Regional Championship and delivered one of the tournament's top offensive performances. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound left-handed outfielder displayed good plate discipline, a quick bat and barreled balls to all parts of the field. Plus speed also added another dimension to Wilson's game on the base paths, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses. The Tournament MVP saw the ball extremely well, hitting .667 (14-for-21) with two triples, six RBI, four stolen bases and a 1.588 OPS. Brennen...
Tournaments | Story | 7/16/2026

17u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Perfect Game Staff
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17u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2 '27 OF Carson Bruce (GA) sent a missile off the 400' sign in dead CF on a line & laced another hit later on. Couple of really impressive swings & has low effort barrel jump. #NatElite @PG_Georgia @Official_ECB https://t.co/lkthA2Uk1T pic.twitter.com/RimhoEzEVA — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 14, 2026 Carson Bruce (2027, Powder Springs, Ga.) showed off some real impact and looked very comfortable in the box on Tuesday. The Georgia commit collected four hits on the day out of the cleanup spot for East Cobb Astros 17U. His most impressive swing on the day came in game two, sending an absolute missile off of the 400 foot sign in dead center, strolling in for a double. The ball came off the bat screaming and reached the center field in a blink. The impact comes very easy for the left-handed stick and the ball jumps with low effort. Bruce...
Tournaments | Story | 7/16/2026

Top Talent On Display at 17u BCS

Alyssa Golden
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The 21st annual 17U BCS National Championship brings together some of the nation’s top programs and elite 2027 prospects to Fort Myers, Florida, from July 17-21. With dozens of Division I commits and nationally ranked prospects set to compete, here are some of the players expected to make the biggest impact throughout the weekend. For Florida Burn 2027 Scout, which is currently ranked #5 nationally Florida Burn will be No. 107-ranked outfielder RJ Shields and No. 129-ranked third baseman Braedon Mackay. One of the premier two-way prospects in the tournament, Shields, brings one of the strongest arms in the field. The Venice, Florida native has run his fastball up to 95 mph while also showcasing a 98 mph throwing arm from the outfield, making him a weapon on both sides of the ball. On the mound this season, the Mississippi State commit has struck out 29 batters in 15.1 innings,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

WWBA Arrives in Arizona

Emily Hicks
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After another week of summer baseball, Perfect Game action returns to Surprise Stadium as teams prepare for another exciting week of competition at the WWBA Championship. From July 14-18, some of the top programs in travel baseball will take the field looking to compete for a championship and showcase their talent against high-level competition.  The tournament will feature both the 15U and 16U divisions, bringing together talented teams and rising prospects from across the West and beyond. With several days of pool play and championship bracket action, teams will have the opportunity to test themselves against strong opponents while competing on one of the biggest stages of the summer.  Surprise Stadium will provide the setting for a week filled with competitive matchups, standout performances, and prospects looking to make an impact. From dominant pitching performances to...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/15/2026

East Cobb Go Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS

Alyssa Golden
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East Cobb Goes Undefeated, Takes 14U BCS Twenty years after winning the inaugural 14U BCS National Championship in 2006, the East Cobb Astros once again stood atop the tournament, defeating the Original Florida Pokers 7-4 at JetBlue Park. A hot, sunny afternoon set the stage for a tightly contested match between the Original Florida Pokers 2030 and East Cobb Astros 14U Orange. Although the Pokers had a two-run lead with just three innings to go, East Cobb showed their team had no quit as they pulled away with a 7-4 victory. The teams battled through a highly contested tournament field of over sixty teams from across the country, with the Pokers coming in 8-1 and East Cobb entering 8-0 in tournament play. Cohen Carter started on the mound for East Cobb, allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters over four innings. His fastball sat 71-75 mph. Silas Anstett opened the...
Tournaments | Story | 7/15/2026

Stars Marucci '27 Loaded and Poised

Kinley Kitchens
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Expectations naturally follow one of the nation’s top ranked teams. For Stars Marucci 2027, those expectations have only grown as the summer season has progressed.  Ranked No. 16 nationally and featuring a roster loaded with Division I commits and nationally ranked prospects, Stars Marucci 2027 entered the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship as one of the top teams to watch.  Through the opening two days of the tournament, they have shown why they are a team to watch, opening the week with back-to-back victories over SBA Tucci 2027 (6-1) and FC Twins Scout (5-2) to build early momentum heading into the later rounds.  The talent on the roster is undeniable.  Virginia Tech commits Chase Colangelo, Yogi Colangelo, and Teagan Leach, Maryland commit Jerome Fortier, and Youngstown State commit Sam Capuano headline a group filled with college bound...
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