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| 2,496 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,496 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | Story | 2/29/2024

MLB Draft: Early Season Helium?

We are only two weeks into the season, so we can't put too much stock (just yet) into performances one way or the other, but the players below are certainly trending in the right direction come our next board update. Arkansas's Hagen Smith already delivered what will likely go down as one of, if not the best, single pitching performance while Oregon State's Travis Bazzana is playing a real life equivalent of MLB the Show, only it's on rookie mode as he's put himself as an early season favorite for that No. 1 pick.




Hagen Smith, Junior, LHP, Arkansas
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 13

Smith had a rough first outing vs. James Madison but bounced back in resounding fashion during his start against Oregon State. He threw 6.0 innings of shut-out ball, allowing just 3 hits and walking only one. More notably, on 18 outs recorded, Smith punched out 17 opposing hitters, tying a Razorbacks single-game record. Smith’s LHP-1 on our board and for good reason. In his masterful outing, he was into the upper-90s and up to 99 mph with his usual three-pitch mix, using that devilish slider to put away the Beavers hitters. Straight-up dominant stuff from the southpaw.

Kaelen Culpepper, Junior, 3B/SS, Kansas State
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 61

Culpepper was one of the names who stuck out to me as a draft prospect to keep eyes on this spring. He’s come out of the gates and shown some really impressive swings, including a really nice home run that was all over X (formerly Twitter) in their series last weekend. It’s an athletic and strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame. He swings it with a ton of intent and bat speed, being able to get some jump off the barrel. Culpepper has used that bat speed and strength well, clubbing three homers on the year already and a triple. He’s driven in nine runs for Kansas State’s offense, managing 6 walks to 5 punchouts over 29 at-bats.

Zachary MacDonald, Junior, OF, Miami (OH)
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: NR

MacDonald has been a fixture in the RedHawks outfield for the last two seasons after a heralded career on the Michigan prep scene. He kicked things into gear this past weekend against Middle Tennesee, going 5-for-12 on the weekend with 2 homers and 5 runs driven in along the way. He’s a right-handed bat with power upside, utilizing a simple & fluid stroke, with some real loud results when he’s on the barrel. MacDonald is an uber-athletic 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame with tons of range and speed in the outfield. He’s made some eye-popping catches, running down balls in the gap and making the tough plays on the grass.

Tyler Cerny, Sophomore, SS, Indiana
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: NR

Cerny has been seeing beach balls at the plate this year for the Hoosiers offense. The draft-eligible sophomore has stepped into the role as the team's shortstop this year, looking the part defensively to this point, and the bat has been crazy good to this point. Cerny’s hitting .406 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 7 runs driven in through his first 32 at-bats with the Hoosiers. He’s a 6-foot-2 frame who swings it from the right side with a really simple and balanced stroke. He’s shown a really innate feel for the barrel this year, being able to stay short with the swing and get the job done time and time again for the Hoosiers.

Cam Leiter, Sophomore, RHP, Florida State
Draft Eligible: 2025 | Draft Board Rank: 37

Leiter’s another name that has plenty of helium early this spring after transferring in for FSU after beginning his collegiate career with UCF. He’s thrown 10.0 innings this spring, with 5 hits, 5 walks, and 21 punchouts to his credit. He’s been up to 98 mph on the fastball with a hammer of a curve, a tighter slider, and a changeup to make up his four-pitch arsenal. The 6-foot-5, 218-pound frame just leaves a ton of room to dream. While he’s on the 2025 Draft Board, he’s someone that folks should get to know pretty well this season as he pitches for a freshly ranked Seminoles team.

-Tyler Kotila

Travis Bazzana, Junior, 2B, Oregon State
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 3

Bazzana entered the year as a candidate to go 1:1 and has somehow exceeded expectations. Through eight games the Beavers second baseman has posted a .438/.526/1.031 slash line. The continued development of the power has taken the offensive profile to the next level. Bazzana has consistently posted triple digit EVs this year and has launched five homers already after hitting just 11 last spring. At this point, Bazzana is the likely favorite to go first overall. 

Braden Montgomery, Junior, OF/RHP, Texas A&M
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 5

Montgomery began his Aggie career with a bang, launching a home run in his first at-bat. He has continued that torrid start through seven games, posting a .393/.514/.857 slash line with more walks than strikeouts. The power has been shown from both sides of the plate, posting big time EVs regularly. Montgomery’s ability to generate massive power while staying balanced and showing patience is what makes him a potential Top-5 selection this summer. Montgomery jumped on the mound for the first time this week and cruised through a clean inning while showing a fastball in the upper-90’s to go along with a potential plus fading changeup. 

Charlie Condon, RS-Sophomore, OF/CIF, Georgia
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 8

Condon has put up video game numbers through his first seven games this year. The slugger has posted a .625 average with ten extra-base hits and more walks than strikeouts. Condon has posted some of the highest EVs early in the season, including multiple balls over 115 mph, while showing plus bat to ball skills. The power is some of the best in the country and will continue to carry the profile, but Condon has also flashed solid defense both in the outfield and at the corner spots on the infield. Continuing to answer the questions on the defensive side could result in an easy Top-10 selection this summer. 

Jonathan Santucci, Junior, LHP, Duke
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 21

Santucci has yet to surrender a run this season, posting 11 shutout innings while striking out 17 total hitters. The left-hander features a prototypical starter profile that can dominate lineups with a quality three pitch mix. The fastball works in the mid-90’s with big carry that explodes through the zone. The slider flashes as a plus pitch at times and can generate tons of whiffs when it is working well, while a plus changeup consistently has late tumbling action. The athleticism, pitch mix, and ability to start at the next level should allow Santucci to be one of the first arms off the board this summer. 

Caleb Lomavita, Junior, C, California 
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 47

Lomavita entered the year a Top-50 prospect and has continued to make the case as the best college backstop in the class. An explosive swing has tons of torque and generates 70-grade power to the pull side. Lomavita has posted a .788 slugging percentage so far this season, including four homers. The middle of the order bat stands out, but Lomavita has shown strong tools on the defensive side and should stick behind the plate long term. 

Isaiah Jackson, Sophomore, OF, Arizona State
Draft Eligible: 2025 | Draft Board Rank: 23

Jackson’s loud tools drew significant interest as a prep out of Arizona, but stuck to his commitment to Arizona State and has continued to show development throughout his game. The young slugger is seemingly putting it all together this year, posting a .364/.450/.788 slash line through eight games. The power stands out from the left side of the plate and can leave the yard at any moment. On the defensive side, Jackson has tons of range into both gaps and has made a habit of robbing home runs regularly. If the hit tool continues to make strides, Jackson could wind up a Top-10 selection in next year’s class. 
 
-Tyler Henninger

Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 4

Honeycutt is slashing .310/.487/.828 with five homers already in eight games. This was 5-tool potential if the hit tool progressed, and it’s done that thus far as the swing decisions have tightened. The power output has been more than present now, and the plus defender he is in center already gives this profile so much to like in a Day 1 pick.

Ryan Johnson, RHP, Dallas Baptist
Draft Eligible: 2024 | Draft Board Rank: 82

Johnson has logged some good innings and the strikeout stuff coming into 2024 has been on display.  He’s racked up 20 strikeouts to just one walk over 12-plus innings. The fastball has been settling more mid-90s to start but his plus slider is one of the better put away pitches in the class with viscous action and bite.

Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
Draft Eligible: 2025 | Draft Board Rank: 1

LaViolette is off to video game numbers this year. He’s slashing .433/.514/1.167 with six home runs already. He’s No. 1 on our upcoming 2025 board for good reason, as the array of tools are clearly high end and his left-handed bat has real hit/power upside at the highest level.

-Isaiah Burrows

Draft | Mock Draft | 7/6/2026

MLB Mock Draft: 4.0

Tyler Henninger
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MLB Draft: Top 500 Update Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Chicago White Sox Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA 2 Tampa Bay Rays Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian 3 Minnesota Twins Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech 4 San Francisco Giants Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Schools 5 Pittsburgh Pirates Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara 6 Kansas City Royals Drew Burress OF Georgia Tech 7 Baltimore Orioles Eric Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove 8 Athletics Chris Hacopian SS Texas A&M 9 Atlanta Braves Ryder Helfrick C Arkansas 10 Colorado Rockies Tyler Bell* SS Kentucky 11 Washington Nationals Jared Grindlinger LHP/OF Huntington Beach 12 Los Angeles Angels Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina 13 St. Louis Cardinals AJ Gracia OF Virginia 14 Miami Marlins Derek Curiel OF LSU 15 Arizona Diamondbacks Gio Rojas LHP Marjory Stoneman Douglas 16 Texas Rangers Liam Peterson RHP Florida 17 Houston Astros Justin Lebron SS Alabama 18...
College | Story | 7/7/2026

USA Collegiate National Team: Stripes

Craig Cozart
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Collegiate National Team: Stars Notes Quick Hits  Each year at the end of June and beginning of July, top collegiate baseball talent from around the nation arrives in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.  Typically, the rosters are filled with top underclass, non-draft-eligible talent but this year, we will see a sprinkling of upper-classmen as the coaches evaluate just under 60 players to get to their final 28 roster spots.  For a total of two weeks, the Stars Squad and the Stripes Squad will compete against outside competition in North Carolina as well as Virginia before finishing their slate with 5-games against each other at the NTC Complex.  Once the final roster has been announced the team will depart for Taiwan to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Championships, July 11-15.    CNT Stripes Position Players  Nico Partida ...
Tournaments | Story | 7/8/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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13u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Chaysten Fuentes (2030, Ewa Beach, HI) worked really well from the right side of the plate ending up with five hits and a double in the last two days. The right handed hitting Hawaiian has a ton of strength to the body. The hands work directly to the ball and can hit to all fields in the approach. Has done an incredible job getting the barrel to almost everything and gets on plane in the turn.  Triston Valdez (2031, Castaic, CA) was electric on day four batting .500 with a double, triple, and five rbis. The barrel is really quick to the ball and works with a level path. Against NY Gotham 13u Ghost, Valdez would not be denied demolishing the bases clearing triple way back into the RCF gap. Stays inside the baseball consistently with the hands and torques it hard.  Christopher Julian Leija (2031, Weslaco, TX) really showed out the last two...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

Two Day Rewind at 15u National Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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Two days into the 2026 Perfect Game 15U National Elite Championship, the storylines are already beginning to take shape. As one of the summer’s premier invite-only events, the tournament annually brings together many of the nation’s top 15U clubs, with 100 elite teams traveling to Hoover in pursuit of a championship. While there is still plenty of baseball left to play, the opening rounds have already produced breakout performances, dominant team victories, and plenty of excitement heading into bracket play. Several nationally recognized organizations entered the week as favorites, including MTBA Dawgs, ranked No. 3 nationally, Wildcatters Baseball at No. 10, and 5 Star Mafia, ranked No. 12. Meanwhile, newer programs like Jason Kidd Select Team have quickly shown they are capable of making noise against the nation’s best. One of the biggest storylines through the first...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

15u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Troy Sutherland
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Tristan Barton (‘29, TX) has struck out three over three scoreless innings of work, getting a lively FB up to 89. Mixed in a sharp vt CB w/ late bite. Operates from a projectable RH frame w/ length + room to fill. #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/LXfkLOtxdo — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 5, 2026 Tristan Barton (’29, Gunter, TX) turned in a strong start on Sunday, lasting four innings of one run ball, striking out four. Barton operates from a bigger lengthy right-handed frame with considerable room to fill. He starts with a mid-body handset before working to the belt and into a high compact leg lift. Barton fires down via a compact arm action and high three quarters slot. The Texas native got a run/ride fastball up to 89, living in the mid-80s throughout the outing. He mixed in a sharp 12-6 curveball with vertical depth and late bite. Jack Graviss...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Jason Phillips
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Nolan Ash (2028, Ashland, Mo.) showed off the power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a leg lift stride. Creates separation and uses a direct hand path with a slightly uphill bat plane and some feel to generate lift from the lower half. Quick hands and stays in-sync with a rotational lower half and solid bat speed. Showed the power belting a solo bomb over the left field fence. Long and lean 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with wiry strength present and more room to fill. The shortstop has a high ceiling and feel for the barrel. Colton Dodds (2028, Columbia, Mo.) showed off the barrel feel and power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a no stride trigger. Direct hands...
College | Story | 7/7/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 7 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
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It’s an exciting time for College Baseball. Not only do potential and proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) elevate the game, but we are coming off a thrilling College World Series and less than a week away from Major League Baseball’s 2026 Amateur Draft. In the middle of it all is the Cape Cod Baseball League.  The amateur players on the Cape are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th  through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and...
Tournaments | Story | 7/6/2026

16u WWBA Rolls Into Marietta

Will Dembo
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More than 300 of the nation’s top 16u teams will meet in East Cobb, Georgia this week as the 16u WWBA Championship gets underway. Over 50 ranked teams from across the country will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in travel baseball, drawing scouts and fans from all over. Pool play will commence on Monday, July 6th with the championship game set for July 13th at the storied East Cobb Baseball Complex. Canes National 16u will hold honors of being the top ranked team entering the event as they have earned a No. 2 national ranking following a dominant 17-2-1 start to their season. The highly touted program is home to many of the top ranked prospects from the 2028 class including talented two-way athlete, Grant Arnold (No. 12 overall) who lives in the 90’s from the mound as well as middle infielder, Bryan Mesa (No. 14 overall) who will draw lots of attention this...
College | Story | 7/6/2026

USA Collegiate National Team: Stars

Craig Cozart
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Quick Hits  Each year at the end of June and beginning of July, top collegiate baseball talent from around the nation arrives in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.  Typically, the rosters are filled with top underclass, non-draft-eligible talent but this year, we will see a sprinkling of upper-classmen as the coaches evaluate just under 60 players to get to their final 28 roster spots.  For a total of two weeks, the Stars Squad and the Stripes Squad will compete against outside competition in North Carolina as well as Virginia before finishing their slate with 5-games against each other at the NTC Complex.  Once the final roster has been announced the team will depart for Taiwan to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Championships, July 11-15.    CNT Stars Position Players  Anthony Pack Jr.  FR / OF / University of Texas ...
Tournaments | Story | 7/5/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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Michael Wedgeworth (2030, Flomaton, AL) had put the two way ability on full display so far this week, dominating from both sides. On the mound Wedgeworth ran the fastball up to 84 (81-83) with ease to the delivery. Broke off a couple nasty curveballs that induced swing and miss, as well as freezing hitters for punch outs. Collected six in his four inning complete game. He also would not be denied at the plate going 3-5 in the first two days with two doubles. Very intriguing young player as the body continues to grow.  Tyler Bellush (2031, Summerville, SC) is a sure handed shortstop for the Canes Nation squad. Swings it from the left side of the plate and the barrel accuracy has really stuck out thus far. 3-4 through the first couple days with a double and two triples, Bellush has also walked twice and collected 3 RBI along the way. Yesterday against USA Prime with the bases loaded,...
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