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Draft  | Story | 5/3/2010

When Top College Prospects Were Young

David Rawnsley
I was looking at Patrick Ebert’s mock first-round draft that was posted late last week and started thinking about how many of the 32 players I had seen and how many had been to Perfect Game events. By my count I had seen 26 of the 32 players in person, with only college pitchers Jesse Hahn, Alex Wimmers, Brandon Workman, Ashur Wojciehowski and Rob Rasmussen, plus college OF Gary Brown, missing. Of those remaining six players, only UCLA’s Rasmussen, a Southern California native, did not attend a Perfect Game event as a high school player. So there is an incredibly varied and deep amount of scouting information on these top prospects from their developing years.

I started to look at some of the top college players to see what they were doing when they were 16 or 17 years old. People often wonder how a first-round pick out of college goes undrafted out of high school or is at best drafted in a low round as an afterthought. The answer is simply “Some players get better, significantly better!”
It’s not that the players below were unknown to scouts; the five players listed below were all ranked nationally by Perfect Game going into their senior years in high school. But each of these five top college prospects improved significantly in different areas while in college, just as many other players do over that period of time..
Here are some of our earlier scouting reports on those players:

2006 Southeast Top Prospect Showcase

Mike Choice is a 2007 2B/P/OF with a 6'1'', 180 lb. frame from Arlington TX, who attends Mansfield Timberview HS. He has a strong, loose body, especially in his lower half, and looks bigger than his listed 180 pounds. Choice listed himself as a primary 2B but that's probably the last position we would considered him at. Choice is a 7.02 runner who showed very good arm strength in drills and during the games from shortstop. As an infielder Choice profiles at third base, but if you'd had no background and just saw him and his tools on the field you'd think he should be catching. He has athletic actions at any position. Offensively, Choice hits out of an exaggerated pre-load, no stride approach, which doesn't do him any favors. He manages to generate very good bat speed and stays on the plane of the ball for a long time, with nice extension out front. The ball jumps off his bat and he has quick, strong hands. Give Choice a trigger and some rhythm to the ball and he could really develop. To show he had the full package of tools, Choice also took the mound and threw a very heavy 83-87 mph fastball with a big sweeping 72 mph curveball and a very nice changeup, all from a rather raw delivery. Overall, Choice has a strong set of tools and once he defines his position and batting style a bit better, has a very high ceiling. He played hard and really enjoyed himself on the field. Choice is also a very good student. PG Grade: 8.5, 7.02 (60), 85 mph (IF)

To tell you the truth, I didn’t remember seeing Choice play until I looked up this report and realized that I had written it almost four years ago. It’s easy to see why Choice wasn’t considered a top prospect at that point. He was playing a position (2B/SS) that wasn’t appropriate to his skills and tools, not to mention future build, and he was using a hitting approach that, as I stated at the time, “doesn’t do him any favors.” Even with that hitting approach, his raw hitting skills were obvious at that time and they’ve blossomed since. Choice’s speed also has improved over the past few years to where he’s a fringy plus runner (6.6 to 6.7 in the 60 according to reports) instead of a below-average runner.

2006 Sunshine East Showcase

Christopher Sale is a 2007 LHP with a 6'5'', 170 lb. frame from Lakeland FL, who attends Lakeland HS. He has a very long and loose pitcher's body that is highly projectable. Sale has a balanced delivery and does a good job hiding the ball during his delivery and providing a bit of deception to the hitter. His arm works smooth and loosely out front. Sale's fastball was 83-86 mph and had occasional explosive life at the plate. He maintained his velocity well and threw strikes with an idea. Sale's curveball was 68 mph and his changeup 77 mph, both were secondary pitches to his fastball but showed promise. Sale does lots of things well now and he's a very good bet to keep improving as he gets stronger. It wouldn't be surprising to see him take a nice step forward before next spring and see him getting some attention from the scouting community. Sale is also a good student. FB 83-86, CB 68, CHG 77 PG Grade: 9

In the interests of keeping scouting reports positive, what I didn’t write on this report on the Florida Gulf Coast southpaw was that he was painfully thin and had what could be generously called an awkward multi-piece delivery. The telling thing was that even with a lack of strength and a less than classic delivery, Sale threw consistent strikes and had a loose and easy arm out front. He still has an unconventional delivery and release point, but he has some of the best command of any pitcher in the draft and a couple of present plus pitches to go with it. In fact, as many of the top college pitchers have their minor struggles with injuries or performance, Sale keeps on cruising along this spring and may have pitched his most impressive game this past weekend, an eight-inning domination of Clemson.
2006 National Showcase

Deck McGuire is a 2007 righthand pitcher from Deep Run HS, residing in Richmond, VA. He is big and completely noticeable when you walk into a yard, with that big, long body and wide shoulders that set atop his 6'6" 225 lb. frame. He throws hard now and even at 6'6", he still has some projection left. Realistically he could be 6'6" 245-250 someday and blow 93-94 mph. McGuire pitches from a 3/4 slot, somewhat lower than you might expect from a 6'6" pitcher. His arm works pretty well and he works with pretty minimal effort. His arm speed is good and the ball comes out pretty easily. For such a large young pitcher, he does a nice job of keeping his delivery on line and stays balanced. McGuire has good command and a good idea of how to pitch and approach hitters. He gets downhill with his stuff and did a nice job of mixing pitches. His upper 80s fastball can be heavy, capable of getting a lot of ground balls. He topped out at 91 so there is clearly some arm strength there. Of his two breaking balls, his big 77-79 mph slider is the better of the two. It has big sweeping action and with his slot, he can start it at a RH hitter’s hip and still sweep it down and away or off the plate, depending on where he starts on the rubber. His 11/5 shaped curveball was 69-71 mph. His slot is simply better for the slurvy slider. He is a top D1 program prospect and will be on the follow lists of his area scouts this spring. If he starts pitching in the 90-92 range this spring, look for him to go in the early part of the first day of the draft. PG Grade: 9.5, FB 87-91, SL 79, CB 71

McGuire hasn’t done anything exceptional since 2006 such as adding 8 mph like Sale, he’s just added some power to all three pitches that he threw pretty well back then, plus added a nice changeup while at Georgia Tech. The thing about McGuire even back in high school was that he was an advanced pitcher with the ability to repeat his delivery and throw multiple quality pitches to spots. He’s stayed healthy in the past 3 ½ years, matured physically and incrementally got better the entire time. That’s a good recipe for success.

2006 Northeast Top Prospect Showcase

Jesse Hahn is a 2007 RHP with a 6'4'', 170 lb. frame from Groton, CT who attends Fitch HS. Jesse has a tall projectable build that profiles very well for a pitcher. He plays on the same high school team as Matt Harvey so he should get plenty of chances to impress scouts this spring. On the mound Jesse throws from a 3/4 arm slot with good arm speed and stays around the plate with his pitches. He showed a sharp CB with good depth and a nice straight changeup. Jesse does a good job of staying on top of his breaking pitches and projects quite well in the future. He is a player that should attract attention from some scouts this spring while also being a highest-level college prospect. PG Grade 9, FB 85-89, FB 71, Chg 74
Hahn’s struggles with, of all things, kidney stones, have hampered his spring but he still easily could be a top 10 pick. He’s grown from 6-4, 170 lbs in high school to 6-5, 200 lbs as a college junior and seen his raw stuff improve by a good 8 mph. In case you think that’s a classic projection for a Northeast pitcher, remember that Chris Sale (above) has experienced a similar improvement in raw stuff over the same period of time living in south Florida. Where Hahn was perhaps behind many of his peers was in his ability to pitch, as it’s taken him three years in college to learn how to get hitters out.

2006 Northeast Top Prospect Showcase

Anthony Ranaudo is a 2007 RHP from St Rose HS in Jackson, New Jersey, with a 6'8"/225 pound frame. 3/4 arm slot, big tall body, long loose arm action, good arm speed, slightly across body, easy arm action, tight 11-5 CB, good run on CH with late life, CH has potential to be plus pitch, projectable body and velocity, topped out at 89. PG Grade 9, FB 85-89, CB 70, Chg 77

The 2006 Northeast Top Prospect Showcase must have been some event, as Ranaudo and Hahn were just two of the top prospects that also included SS Derek Dietrich (Georgia Tech), RHP Matt Harvey (North Carolina), OF/LHP Ryan Westmoreland (Boston Red Sox), RHP Keith Moran (Boston College) and 3B Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt). Ranaudo also pitched at numerous WWBA events for the New Jersey Super 17’s while in high school and was very consistent at those events, throwing primarily in the upper 80’s with very athleticism and command for a 6-foot-8 young pitcher. His improvement as a prospect is much like Deck McGuire’s. Ranaudo gained some strength and moved his already solid stuff forward a notch while retaining his ability to pitch.
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Draft | Mock Draft | 7/13/2026

2027 Mock Draft: Way Too Early Ediition
Vincent Cervino
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Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA Midwest Regional Champ. Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Tournaments | Story | 7/16/2026

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Alyssa Golden
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Emily Hicks
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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...
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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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Jordan Gates
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‘28 OF/LHP Carson Tabler (OH) Rips one deep into the pull side gap for an inside-the-park HR. Athletic in the box w/ a projectable frame. Utilizes a toe tap on a fluid stroke w/ good bat speed. Good runner in stride + efficient around the bases. #MineWS @Carson_T7 @PFFlyers2028 pic.twitter.com/IVfICPg4qV — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 10, 2026 Carson Tabler (2028, Cincinnati, Ohio) Tabler was probably the most pleasant surprise when it comes to names from this weekend. A rather unknown for me and my staff going into the event, Tabler managed to cement himself by event’s end. It’s a true two-way projection at this stage, while he has the size in the 6-foot-3 long and loose frame, the strength will continue to add on to the 175-pound stature. While he only had two extra-base hits (triple, home run), the bat-to-ball skills were the calling card, and...
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Will Dembo
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After an action-packed week at the 16u WWBA Championships, the tournament came down to two of the nation’s top teams battling for one of travel baseball’s most prestigious titles. No. 5 ranked SBA Bolts National faced No. 60 Alpha Prime 2028 after both teams reached the championship undefeated, but the SBA Bolts were the sole team to exit without a loss, defeating Alpha Prime 10-2 in mercy rule fashion and capture the national title behind dominant pitching and explosive offensive performances. The SBA Bolts were perfect throughout their week, running the table and going 11-0 while outscoring their opponents by an impressive margin of 108-25. “It was awesome,” SBA Head Coach Travis Thompson said on the mercy rule victory. “It just kind of culminated our week. It's been a long week. I can't even remember our first game, which felt like three weeks ago. The...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

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Perfect Game Staff
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Ridge Whitfield (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot, 158 pounds with an athletic build that should allow him to maintain his mobility and quick-twitch actions as he continues to develop. He bats and throws left-handed. Whitfield locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, mixes his pitches effectively, and keeps hitters off balance. He competes on every pitch and doesn’t back down in big situations. Whitfield threw 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out three on 75 pitches (58% strikes). He attacked the zone with a fastball that sat 73 mph and topped out at 78 mph, mixing in a 67 mph breaking ball and a 68-70 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance. Sam Jobe (2029, Charlotte, NC) stands at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, with a lean, athletic frame and plenty of projection. He bats and throws right-handed. Jobe shows good feel for the...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

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Perfect Game Staff
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14u & 17u WWBA West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Adryan Zaragoza (‘30 | CA) turns on this one, sending it down RF line for a 2B. Finished 2-for-3 w/ 2RBI, 2R, BB. PS approach, bat speed, raw strength #WWBAWest @California_PG pic.twitter.com/V6Ctus4CX1 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 13, 2026 Adryan Zaragoza (2030, Lake Elsinore, CA) The 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed hitter and infielder had a great weekend for ZT Select Prospects, finishing with five hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, six RBI, one stolen base, and two walks during the 14U WWBA West National Championships. Zaragoza consistently ignited the offense from the top of the lineup, with a disciplined approach and the ability to create scoring opportunities. He can drive the baseball into the gaps while producing in big situations, combining quality contact with aggressive baserunning....
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