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High School  | General | 2/26/2025

High School Showdown Preview

As we get to less than 24 hours away from the start of the 13th PG High School Showdown, we get to look ahead to one of the premier events on the high school schedule. The combination of players and teams in attendance always make this one of the best events in the spring. As there has been in almost every year prior, there’s sure to be guys that play this weekend that will hear their names called in the upcoming MLB Draft along with big contributors in the college ranks.

This year’s field of teams is one of the stronger that we’ve put together with countless state title contenders from each state. We have six teams ranked inside of our National Top 50, including #2 IMG Academy (FL), #16 Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC), #27 North Broward Prep (FL), #29 Blessed Trinity Catholic (GA), #35 Bob Jones (AL), and #46 Thompson (AL). Beyond this list, we also bring in some of the best programs throughout the Southeast who, with a good weekend in Hoover, could find themselves ranked inside the National Top 50.



Looking at the list of players who will be in attendance, we have an impressive five PG All-Americans, including two of the top-10 players in the 2025 class. All in all, 27 players ranked inside the top-500 of the class of 2025 are going to take the field in Hoover as well as some of the brightest stars from the 2026 and 2027 classes as well. It’s another strong crop of talent at the High School Showdown this year, as we’ll get a look at the future of baseball in Hoover this weekend.


Blue Bracket


It should be no surprise who comes in as the favorite in this bracket as IMG Academy (FL) is our #2 team in the country. The boast two of the top-10 players in the country along with a host of other high-end talent as shown in our top prospects below. They’ve got three PG All-Americans in Sean Gamble, Dean Moss, and Kelvyn Paulino Jr, giving them one of the stronger offenses in attendance. Nathan Eisfelder is another top-150 prospect in the country on the offensive side for them and they’ll headline their staff with two SEC arms in Parker Jennings and Chase Bentley. This isn’t an easy bracket for them to navigate however with The First Academy (FL), who brings in one of the better rosters in Hoover. Lewisburg (MS) is one of the top programs in the Southeast, who continuously churns out Power-5 talent. Loganville (GA) has won three straight state titles in Georgia and Blessed Trinity Catholic (GA) is another loaded team from the Peach State coming in as a Top 50 team in the country. Don’t forget about Hoover (AL), they’re playing on their home turf and are historically one of the best programs in the state of Alabama.


Red Bracket


This bracket has as much balance from top-to-bottom as any coming into the event. The two top-50 teams in the country in this one are North Broward Prep (FL) and Thompson (AL) but there’s also some formidable opponents along the path to the championship for those two programs. Parkview (GA) has won about as many games as any school in the country in the last 10 years and once again have a strong team coming into this event. T.C. Roberson (NC) is one of the top schools in North Carolina with a serious chance to make a run in Hoover this weekend. IMG Academy Gray (FL) has some of the top underclassmen in the country on their roster and they’re liable to get hot and make a run. Desoto Central (MS) is already off to a hot start early in the year and are looking to pull off the upset early in the tournament. Don’t forget about Chelsea (AL), they have one of Alabama’s top pitching staffs that they’ll look to ride through this bracket. This bracket is a toss-up in the best sense of the phrase with countless contenders and teams looking to make some real noise early in the event.


White Bracket


Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC) comes into this bracket as the favorite by a slim margin as a top-20 team nationally. They have one of the best one-two punches on the mound in the country in Sam Cozart and Josh Hammond and a powerful offense to go along with it. The other major factor in this group is Bob Jones (AL), a team that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the country last year beating IMG Academy in the championship and rolling to a state title and a top-5 finish in the country. They bring back some main contributors and seem to be primed for another big season ahead. Cartersville (GA) is one of the main powers in Georgia year in and year out and they have another strong group coming to Hoover this year. Mountain Brook (AL) is headlined by PG All-American Caleb Barnett who has some of the biggest power in the class and is also one of their best arms too. Houston County (GA) is one of the better programs in the state of Georgia and they always seem to make some noise in Hoover. John Carroll (MD) and Brandon (MS) can’t be forgot about either as two of the best programs in their respective states that will look to push for a Showdown title this weekend.


Top 30 Class of 2025 Prospects Attending

Nat'l Rank Player Pos Team Commitment
6 Sean Gamble OF IMG Academy Vanderbilt
8 Dean Moss OF IMG Academy LSU
24 Caleb Barnett 3B Mountain Brook Alabama
49 Sam Cozart RHP Wesleyan Christian Texas
50 Kelvyn Paulino Jr 3B IMG Academy Florida State
61 Eric Hines OF American Christian Academy Alabama
84 Josh Hammond RHP Wesleyan Christian Wake Forest
117 Terrance Bowen SS Blessed Trinity Oklahoma State
133 Nathan Eisfelder OF IMG Academy Tennessee
198 Parker Jennings RHP IMG Academy Oklahoma State
201 Ma'Kale Holden RHP Thompson Alabama
226 Joshua Campbell OF IMG Academy Michigan
228 Talon Haley LHP Lewisburg Vanderbilt
238 Tanner Beliveau C Petal Mississippi State
244 Will Rhine SS John Carroll Alabama
246 Peyton Miller 3B IMG Academy Clemson
269 Remo Indomenico OF The First Academy Oklahoma State
313 Will Allen RHP Houston County South Florida
320 Dillon Adkins OF Bob Jones Uncommitted
373 Chase Bentley RHP IMG Academy Texas A&M
376 Aiden Zagryn 3B Blessed Trinity Gulf Coast State
385 Blake Fields OF The First Academy Uncommitted
399 Austin Pierzynski C The First Academy UAB
426 Domaine Vann OF Wesleyan Christian Miami
435 Caiden Combs 1B Gardendale Auburn
478 Matt Evans SS Redan East Tenn State
491 Dallas Brooks C John Carroll Uncommitted
500 Cameron Novak RHP Blessed Trinity Miami (OH)
500 Zackary Johnson C Bob Jones Alabama
500 Porter Berryman LHP Parkview Brown

Top 15 Class of 2026 Prospects Attending

Nat'l Rank Player Pos Team Commitment
52 Dillon Moss C IMG Academy Stanford
55 Malachi Washington OF Parkview LSU
59 Jaxson Wood SS Hoover Tennessee
81 John Stowers C St. Paul's Episcopal Auburn
126 Will Adams 1B/LHP Hoover LSU
186 Joseph Contreras RHP Blessed Trinity Uncommitted
209 Charles Messina C IMG Academy Northwestern
243 Dylan Messina SS IMG Academy Pennsylvania
279 Johnson Dubose SS IMG Academy Indiana
344 Ethan Stipp OF IMG Academy Siena
387 Parker Allman LHP IMG Academy Miami
396 Tai Jones OF Brandon Uncommitted
407 Pierce Quinn RHP John Carroll Virginia
435 Emani Ford SS Parkview Kennesaw State
500 Brayden Loquasto LHP Blessed Trinity Uncommitted

Top 10 Class of 2027 Prospects Attending

Nat'l Rank Player Pos Team Commitment
3 Caden Dawson OF Blessed Trinity
4 Max Hemenway SS IMG Academy Tennessee
11 Sebastian Wilson OF IMG Academy Tennessee
13 Kyler Meccage OF IMG Academy
69 Frank Thomas III 1B IMG Academy
70 Rocco Maniscalco SS Oxford
84 Aiden Pack 3B/RHP Blessed Trinity
100 Logan Bristol RHP North Broward Prep
118 Holt Gaston RHP T.C. Roberson
148 Isaiah Galason SS Houston County


High School | General | 2/27/2026

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1

Tyler Russo
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High School Showdown Event Page | High School Showdown Preview ‘27 1B Frank Thomas (FL) goes liftoff once again for 2nd HR, again in the L on L. Leveraging w/ such easy juice. #PGShowdown @IMGABaseball @Florida_PG https://t.co/BgWiDyMiMo pic.twitter.com/IC6sdAkhmT — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 26, 2026 Frank Thomas III (2027, Sarasota, Fl.) was all over a breaking ball in the first inning of an IMG Academy offensive explosion, making it back-to-back-to-back homers to start the game. He did not turn back from there, homering on two more occasions. The ball explodes off the barrel with low effort strength and he showed the ability to manipulate the barrel to lift with authority. Thomas III is built strong and physical and he is just beginning to tap into that huge power upside. He showed no issues handling left on left matchups, with his first two homers coming...
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PG Draft: Early Season Underclass Performers

Tyler Henninger
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Dax Whitney (@BeaverBaseball) showed LOUD stuff. FB up to 100, cruised at 95-98. Pair of plus secondaries. CB at 77-79 (2923) with sharp, 12-6 action. Firm SL at 89-91 (2714) with bite. Flashed fading CH at 87-88 (1425). Ranked No. 1 on the ‘27 board @PG_Draft So./‘27 elig. pic.twitter.com/9PNbjJ53Zo — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 13, 2026 RHP Dax Whitney, Oregon State (‘27 elig.) Whitney may not just be the best arm in next year’s class, he may be the best arm in the entire country right now. The right-handed sits 98 mph with the heater and has been up to 100 mph. Both the slider and curveball are plus offerings that he spins extremely well. Whitney will mix in a quality Gavin changeup that sits in the upper-80’s and has also introduced a new cutter. All the pitches come from the exact same release point and jump out of the hand. He...
High School | General | 2/26/2026

PGHS Showdown: Academies Scout Notes

AJ Denny
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Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) going WAY out to right. Rhythmic approach and smooth swing get into big time power. #Mountaineers commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/qyDaIPxIol — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Jordan Burwell (‘26 NJ) First live look at the left-handed hitting West Virgina commit. The power is real, launched two long homers in game action this weekend. Easy mover with very clean path with sky high offensive ceiling if he continues to show like this. Swing is built for power and lofted pull side impacts.    CJ Alfano (‘26 NY) long PS bomb this morning. Just leaning on everything that’s thrown over the heart. #WVU commit. @PGMidAtlantic #PGShowdown pic.twitter.com/4lGnhOEyrl — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) February 22, 2026 Cj Alfano (‘26 NY)Just an impossible out throughout the weekend....
High School | General | 2/27/2026

SoCal High School Notebook: Feb. 27

Steve Fiorindo
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5 K's over 4 hitless innings of work for Jared Grindlinger (2026), making first start as member of the 2026 class. 92-94 t95 w/ the FB, SL 80-83, CH 81-83, CB 77/78. Efficient outing, 50 pitches, 39 strikes. #PGHS @PG_scouting @PG_Draft @HBHS_basebll @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/y7jwX1oPyB — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) February 25, 2026 Jared Grindlinger, LHP, Huntington Beach High School (2026) Gringlinger’s first start as a member of the 2026 class was a good one… 4 innings of no hit ball with 5 strikeouts.  Ran the fastball to 95, lived 92-94, throwing a ton of strikes.  50 pitches on the day, 39 strikes, pretty much landing all four pitches in the zone.  Went to the slider early and often, quadrupling up on the slide piece to the first hitter of the game. The slider shows late lateral action with some vert, living 80-83.  Used...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 2/25/2026

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Dave Durbala
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SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball 16u Winter Elite Showcase, February 20-22, 2026. Twenty-Four teams arrived in Springfield for the opportunity to showcase some of the best talent in the midwest. After 3 pool play games,  the field was split and seeded into either the Platinum or Gold Division to begin bracket play.  With several highly sought after young arms on display, it was Indiana Magic Gold 16U Carroll and Indiana Magic Gold 14U National making it into the Platinum Division Championship, and through a mutual agreement, they decided to end the tournament as Co-Champions. In the Gold Division, it was Gts 16u Elite-Gonzalez with a 7-2 win over Cedar Rapids Blue Devils 14u, to earn the championship. Below are some of the players that played their way onto the top performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from both the Platinum and Gold Divisions. Earning the...
College | Recruiting | 2/25/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: Feb. 25

Nick Herfordt
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A few weeks into the season and the shape of the national picture is starting to emerge (slightly, let’s get too silly about early results). Some preseason favorites are humming exactly as advertised, a few dark horses are pawing at the gate, and a handful of early contenders are discovering that February optimism and March reality are not always the same thing. Across DII, DIII and the NAIA, pitching staffs are setting the tone, offenses are either detonating or recalibrating, and the Top 25 is already beginning to feel less theoretical and more earned.   DII UT Tyler is performing as predicted with a 12-2 start that includes a series win at Angelo State. The Patriots’ offense has not exactly been knocking the cover off the ball, but the pitching staff has been stingy, holding opponents to a .228 batting average.  They have not faced a ranked opponent yet, but...
Juco | Rankings | 2/25/2026

JUCO Top 25: February 25

Blaine Peterson
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Another strong week for many of the top teams in junior college baseball. Walters State put together another undefeated weak and sticks in the top spot for the 3rd consecutive ranking. Chipola on the strength of a 20-1 start has established themselves early as one of top teams in the country. Johnson County put together a 2nd consecutive undefeated week and moves into the top 5 with a 15-1 overall record. They will play 4 games against #22 Iowa Western this week who is also coming off an undefeated week. Fresno City (15-0) and Midland (13-0) are two undefeated programs to begin 2026. They have gone from not in the preseason top 25 to the top 15 in our rankings in less than a month. And welcome to the PG Juco Top 25 Cloud County (KS) who debuts at #23 and is coming off a huge 3 game sweep on the road in Texas of a previous top 10 program in our rankings. Plenty of good matchups ahead this...
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Perfect Game Softball February Frenzy

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - Perfect Game February Frenzy, February 20-22, 2026.  Twenty-two teams, representing five states, rolled into town for the opportunity to compete in this pool play, then into bracket play, with four games guaranteed,  in both a 14u and 18u division. Taking home top honors in the 14u division was Midwest Sluggers 11, who held off a late charge by the Black Dragons , winning 7-5. In the 18u division, it was Nebraska Gold 319 Berning topping Iowa Gold Prospects 4-0, avenging a pool play opening, 1-0 loss. Below are some of the players that played their way onto our Top Performers list, including the MVP and MV-Pitcher from the championship bracket in each age division. 14U Division Earning the 14u division MVP award was Presley Perkins (2030 Taylor Ridge, IL) who although is listed as a switch hitting OF, was only observed hitting from the left side for tournament...
High School | General | 2/25/2026

High School Showdown Preview

Cam McElwaney
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We’re only about 24 hours away from the 14th PG High School Showdown and as we get closer to one of the premier events on the high school schedule, we look ahead to what we’ll see in Hoover. The teams and players are what make this event special along with the environment with scouts packing the stands for this event. As with every year we’ve run this event, there are sure to be names called in the upcoming MLB Draft along with big time contributors at the college level. This year’s field is loaded with five teams ranked inside the Preseason High School Top-50, headlined by a trio of top-10 teams in No. 8 South Walton (FL), No. 9 Blessed Trinity (GA), and No. 10 IMG Academy (FL). Rounding out the list of top-50 teams are No. 34 Parkview (GA) and No. 43 Hoover (AL), along with plenty of other teams that will challenge for state championships in their respective...
Juco | Story | 2/27/2026

JUCO Notebook: February 27

Troy Sutherland
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An extended look at Carson Bailey (@mccbaseball1 )…. https://t.co/TltEl9M31H pic.twitter.com/24Lv8q73Yb — Perfect Game Texas (@Texas_PG) February 7, 2026 Carson Bailey (2024, Richardson, Texas) worked up to 97 with his fastball out the gate and lived 95-96 throughout his short burst outing. Fastball got up to 2500 RPM showing subtle tail at times. It plays firm and gets in on hitters quick. Locates fastball well at times. He went to a change in the 85-88 range as his bread and butter secondary killing spin with good dive. Change produced 5 whiffs. He also mixed in a slider in the 80-85 getting upwards of 2500 RPM with it. Slider tight and sharp when around it. Also flashed a curve at 79. Bailey stands in at 6-foot-3 from a deceptive delivery that creates tough angles for hitters. He should be a big follow throughout the Spring with plenty of draft buzz surrounding him. He is...
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