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| 2,572 MLB PLAYERS | 16,330 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,572 MLB PLAYERS | 16,330 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | Story | 12/30/2024

Year in Review: Draft

As the remainder of 2024 winds down, we’re taking a look back at what this year has brought us with regard to the MLB Draft. While the PG Draft Team is looking ahead and well underway with the 2025 MLB Draft Cycle, there are still some things to reflect on from this year’s draft class. 

It was Travis Bazzana who cemented himself as the top pick in the draft, being Cleveland’s guy at no. 1, kicking off the 2024 MLB Draft. But it was a class that, first, overall, was uncertain for quite some time, and it took some sorting out this spring to iron out the board. It’s a talented group, with many players who have bright futures ahead, but it started out with the Australian native, Bazzana, hearing his name called first—more on Bazzana and the ‘24 class to come below.



Looking back at the 2024 class, there were a lot of Perfect Game alumni who heard their names called. Whether it was players who showed out at our National Showcases, former PG All-Americans, or guys who grinded it out and showed their best on the tournament circuit – there were plenty of Perfect Game alums. 

As we close the chapter on 2024, let’s talk about the 2024 MLB Draft one more time and look ahead for what 2025 could have in store as part of the Year-In-Review piece from the PG Draft team.

Travis Bazzana Makes History:

Before 2024, an Australian player had never been selected in the first round in the history of the MLB draft. In fact, the highest-selected Australian was Josh Spence in the third round of the 2009 draft. Travis Bazzana changed all of that this past summer. The former Oregon State second baseman not only went in the first round, he went first overall to the Cleveland Guardians. Bazzana came over to the States and immediately made an impact as a freshman for the Beavers, posting a .902 OPS in 63 games. He continued to develop and produce throughout the next two years, putting his name in the conversation with the top of the class. After a stellar junior campaign (.407/.568/.911), the profile was too enticing for the Guardians to turn down, resulting in his 1:1 selection. Bazzana now looks to be in line for a quick ascension to the big leagues, where he could be just the 39th Australian to play in the Major Leagues. It was an obvious historical pick for the country of Australia and has the chance to make a major impact on future generations to come.

2024 MLB Draft Positional Breakdown:

Position players were targeted most in the first round. Outfielders made up ten of the first 30 picks, while six total shortstops were selected. More pitchers were selected in the first round than last year, with seven pitchers picked in total. In the entire draft, the majority of selections once again were pitchers, with 58% of picks being arms. Pitchers garnered nearly $151 million in signing bonuses. While nearly 100 fewer position players were selected, bats were clearly valued more. Position players commanded nearly $63.5 million more in signing bonus money than pitchers, signing for over $215 million as a group. Outfielders commanded the highest total in signing bonuses among position players ($73.7 million) but also had the highest total numbers of players selected within the position player group (93 players). Shortstops are still the most valued position among position players. Sixty total shortstops were selected, but the group signed for nearly $68.7 million. The two-way player trend did not grow with a total of five two-way players selected compared to seven total last year. This year, the first two-way pick was higher than last year, as Jac Caglianone went 6th overall. 

PG All-Americans Get Called, Cash in : It was yet another strong year for the Perfect Game All-Americans, particularly the 2024 class. Konnor Griffin (No. 9), Bryce Rainer (No. 11), PJ Morlando (No. 16), Braylon Payne (No. 17), Theo Gillen (No. 18), Cam Caminiti (No. 24), Dante Nori (No. 27) and Slade Caldwell (No. 29) highlighted PGAAC first-round picks along with a slew of others. It was a strong group of All-Americans in yet another draft class and this particular group highlighted huge strengths in the class. Loads of position players and prep arm All-Americans were selected. 

A College-Filled Top-10 In 2024 :

Looking at last year’s draft, it certainly was collegiate-heavy at the top. Bazzana, going one made history of its own; the first prep player did not come off the board until the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Konnor Griffin at 9th overall. The Detroit Tigers grabbed Bryce Rainer at 11th overall, but it was a college-heavy Top 10, with eight college players selected in the first 10 draft picks. 

Going back to 2021, there were five prep players in the Top 10 that year, followed by four prep players in both the 2022 & 2023 Top 10 picks. With just two last year, it has been a shift over the past few years. If you go back to 2020, there were only two prep players taken in that Top 10, though scouting that year was tough given constraints and lack of baseball due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last few years, there has been a shift to organizations investing in collegiate talent at the top. Each class has been different, but it has led to fewer and fewer prep players in the Top 10, with more college players being taken in the Top 10.

Peering into the magic 8-ball for the 2025 draft, it will look more like the 2022 & 2023 classes, with a more fluid mix of college & prep, with college still likely being the majority at the top. Currently, our Top 300 Draft Board for PG has four prep players in the Top 10. There’s a lot of time and a lot of moving on the board to be done, but it seems that there could be a few more prep players taken at the top with the likes of Ethan Holliday, Seth Hernandez, Xavier Neyens, and Kruz Schoolcraft near the top of the board for the time being.

Looking Ahead to 2025:

Expect a different group of draft talent and strengths entering the new year. The 2025 class is deep in college power with potential frontline starters, as well. The Prep class brings an exciting array of athletes with up the middle defensive value and a slew of high end defenders. Ethan Holliday of Stillwater, Oklahoma leads the way as our No. 1 prospect at this point followed by Texas A&M product Jace LaViolette as the top college prospect and right behind. 

This class in particular has a chance to really shape and mold itself as the year unfolds. A number of prep players can really rise after big springs. There are several college arms in the rotation and out of the ‘pen who may be early Day 2 type upside picks when it’s all said. On the prep side, it is regionally deep in California with eight players coming in ranked inside the Top 20 of the 2025 class. The top end in the Pacific Northwest is awfully high end, as well. Similar to some of the 2024s, the prep class has a good handful of reclass talents particularly Eli Willits, Schoolcraft and Quentin Young. All three rank inside the Top 15 of our 2025 rankings. 

Be on the lookout for more PG All-Americans to headline an enticing class this upcoming year. It is a good blend of athletes and power both on the position side of things and on the bump. 2025 has the makings to be yet another big year. 

Draft | Mock Draft | 7/13/2026

2027 Mock Draft: Way Too Early Ediition

Vincent Cervino
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With the 2026 MLB Draft officially complete, let's quickly turn our eyes to the 2027 group and do a way too early mock draft. Leading the way is shortstop Brendan Lawson out of the University of Florida, setting the trend as three of the top four names all call shortstop home with Dylan Seward and Carter Hadnot. If shortstops aren't your thing for any which reason, maybe hard throwing left-handers tickle your fancy whether it be prep Connor Salerno, Tomas Valincius from Mississippi State or Dylan Volantis, a dominant arm from the University of Texas.  Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Los Angeles Angels Brendan Lawson SS Florida 2 Kansas City Royals Dylan Seward SS Norco (Calif.) 3 Colorado Rockies Landon Hairston OF Arizona State 4 New York Mets Carter Hadnot SS Aquinas (Calif.) 5 Athletics Connor Salerno LHP Sun Valley (N.C.) 6 Cincinnati Reds Tomas Valincius LHP Mississippi State 7...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/14/2026

SBA Bolts National Raise Trophy at 16u

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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

Coastal Region Scout Notes

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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

14u & 17u West Scout Notes: Days 3-5

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....
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

14u BCS Scout Note Recap

Perfect Game Staff
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Jake Karpell (2030, Holmdel, NJ) got on the barrel a couple times in game five and totaled three rbis. Started his production with a single then later on hammered a heater down the right field and flew around the bases for a three run inside the park home run. Keeps the hands inside at contact really well and got the head around on the homer. Runs well and can hit it around the yard in the approach.  Luke Sauer (2030 C, FL)  put his hit tool on display with a well-struck double, continuing to show why he is regarded as one of the top catchers in the class. Owns a big frame with present physicality and does a good job keeping the hands connected throughout the swing. The barrel works efficiently through the zone and there is a solid offensive foundation present. Currently ranked as the No. 66 catcher nationally.  Gavin Politz (2030 OF, FL) continued a strong tournament...
Tournaments | Story | 7/14/2026

15u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-3

Perfect Game Staff
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Connor Ashley (‘29, FL) has struck out six over six no hit innings thus far. Got the FB up to 87 w/ feel for a sharp two-plane slider. #PGWS @Florida_PG pic.twitter.com/M7mEmTH8pk — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 12, 2026 Connor Ashley (’29, Minneola, FL) was stellar on Sunday, striking out seven in a seven inning no hitter. He operates from a medium-to-large right-handed frame with length, room to fill, and lower half strength. Ashley works exclusively from the stretch, starting at the belt before working into a higher compact leg lift, firing down the mound via a long arm action. He releases from a high three-quarters slot, with the fastball jumping from the hand up to 87. Ashley mixed in a sharp 11-5 breaking ball with depth and late bite, a true swing-and-miss offering.  Matthew Hernandez (’29, Miami Lakes, FL) has posted strong numbers on both...
College | Story | 7/14/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 14 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
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The amateur players in the Cape Cod Baseball League 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 position player each week from the Cape. And, who knows, maybe somewhere out there Jessica Biel is reading it.    Player of the Week: Carter White – Falmouth Commodores  Talk about making a great first impression! White introduced himself in a very loud and boisterous way this past week by going 9-17 (.529 AVG) with 6 RBI...
Tournaments | Story | 7/13/2026

17u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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High speed look at the FF-SL-CH from '27 RHP Liam McGeady (OH)... #NatElite @PG_OhioValley @Cincy_Legends https://t.co/hhoDL7DBbi pic.twitter.com/Ts79GLPGoU — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 12, 2026 Liam McGeady (2027, Liberty Township, Ohio) had the stuff working on Saturday morning, getting the start for Legends Scout 2027. The uncommitted right-hander ran it up to 91 and sat 88-90 with a full starter’s mix. All three of the secondaries played well and project moving forward. The curveball worked in the mid-70s with good depth and healthy shape. The slider operated in the 79-82 range with gyro spin and short break. McGeady rounded out the repertoire with a changeup that showed big fade and depth, proving effective versus lefties. He ended the outing going five ⅔ innings, allowing no earned runs on four hits, striking out six total. The tall and long 6-foot-5,...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/13/2026

ZT Select Takes 14u WWBA West Title

Emily Hicks
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After a week of competitive baseball, the ZT Select Prospects have been crowned the 14U WWBA National Champions, completing an impressive tournament run with a championship victory over Swarm Red Elite National 2030 with a final score of 3-1. The 14U division brought together 19 talented teams for a week of high-level competition, with players from California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania battling for the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in youth baseball. Throughout the tournament, ZT Select Prospects showed consistency, resilience, and the ability to compete in close games. From the opening rounds of pool play to the championship matchup, the team continued to find ways to win behind strong pitching, timely hitting, and a complete team effort. In the championship game, ZT Select Prospects was led by standout performances from Jeremy Jimenez, who...
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2027 MLB Draft: Initial Follow List

Vincent Cervino
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With the 2026 MLB Draft in the books, our focus now shifts to a new group of players ready to take center stage as the 2027 draft cycle begins. Our initial 2027 Follow List serves as an early snapshot of the players who should draw plenty of attention over the next year. This new crop of talent features collegiate players coming off loud spring seasons, alongside prep prospects who have already flashed big upside as underclassman.  As always, this list will evolve throughout the year. Some players will continue to elevate their stock, while others will jump onto the radar and force their way into the conversation. So, without further ado, let the fun begin.  The road to the 2027 MLB Draft starts now. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment Adrian Rodriguez C 3B/OF S-R Texas Flower Mound TX Aidan King C RHP L-R Florida Bryceville FL Bino Watters C OF L-L LSU...
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