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Tournaments  | Story | 11/21/2025

Regional Superlatives: West Coast

Steve Fiorindo
Steve Doherty
Scott Rankin
Photo: Logan Schimdt (Perfect Game)
Most Likely To Make a Huge Jump in the Rankings in 2026
Julian Garcia, RHP, San Pedro, CA. St. John Bosco HS (2026)
Garcia, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander, is poised for a significant leap in the 2026 rankings despite coming off an arm injury last season that limited his exposure. His recent performance showcased a fastball that consistently touched 91-93 mph with exceptional riding life, complemented by a mid-70s curveball with spins north of 2800 RPM. The arm action suggests untapped potential, positioning him as a name to watch closely as he continues to refine his command and secondary offerings. Garcia's recent commitment to Long Beach State further underscores his upside, as he fits the mold of a high-ceiling college arm with the tools to ascend rapidly in the prospect hierarchy. -SD

I guess I kinda teased this in the Jupiter preview when I brought up Taden Krogsgaard as a potential breakout guy that gains some helium down at our biggest tournament (WWBA), and it looks like that’s kinda what happened.  He flipped commitments shortly after the event, now committed to UCLA, and it feels like he could really take off once the calendar turns to 2026.  A two way player, he’s really impressed and made strides, especially on the bump.  At The All American scrimmage, it wasn’t great, but you could see the athleticism and projection, and then we saw a little velo jump in scout ball and we could see even more in ‘26.  Currently ranked 47th in the state (after a sizable recent jump), we could see him jumping significantly as the typical athletic So Cal righty that moves well that scouts can dream on. -SF



The buzz around Kensen Johnson started to be heard in the spring of 2025 and continued to grow over the summer.  At 6-foot-4, 180-pounds with room to add and athleticism, Johnson has the frame that scouts drool over.  His performance at the WWBA in Jupiter earned him All-Tournament team honors, collecting five hits in twelve plate appearances with a couple of triples and a game in which he drove in four.  Already hitting 91 on the mound going into his sophomore season at Bonita Vista, along with developing secondary offerings and big-time projection.  Kensen had a recent jump in the rankings and I feel he could go even higher in 2026. -SR

Most Likely To Hit .500 at PG Events in 2026
Evan Thompson, OF, Gilbert, AZ. Casteel HS (2029)
The athletic 6-foot-2, 180-pound outfielder embodies the model of a future star with his sweet left-handed swing and obvious intent at the plate. As the No. 2 overall prospect in-state nationally in the ‘29 class and the top outfield talent in Arizona, his combination of raw power and refined mechanics suggests he’s primed for a breakout 2026, where a .500 batting average isn’t just possible, it’s probable. -SD

Dylan Seward out of Norco High School is probably the chalk pick here, as I have a pretty long history in seeing, going back to 8th grade when he was a bit undersized, but showed a strong foundation of a swing from both sides of the plate.  Since then, he has hit a growth spurt and filled out and has developed in to quite a burner.  Added strength has introduced some power in to the equation as well, but the hit tool has especially blossomed with the maturation.  Benefitting from hitting from both sides, it’s easy to put him as the safest bet to really hit in 2026.  Since I went with the chalk pick here, I’ll throw another, lower ranked guy in to the fold, Joaquin Covarrubias is currently ranked 39th in the state, and has been a guy that consistently performs for me, both at PG events and at Bonita High School.  The total package is very similar to Matthew Acosta (2016, Ayala HS), who was also committed to USC. Both a little on the shorter side at 5-foot-11 and both swinging it from the left side (and both pitch). Both pests in the box at the top of the lineup that regularly work good at bats.  Just a lot of parallels here. In 2025, Covarrubias hit .455 for BPA, and I can see him taking that to another level. -SF

I didn’t have to think long and hard about this one as Joel Vargas has been as steady of a performer in PG events as you will find.  Vargas landed on six All-Tournament teams in 2025, hitting .437 over 34 games played. The WWBA Underclass World Championship in Jupiter was Joel’s most impressive performance, collecting a hit in all six games played, including two-multiple hit games, finishing with a .533 average.  He also hit .500 in the inaugural Pacific Baseball Championship in August. -SR
 
Most Likely To Make a Velo Jump Into the Mid-90s in 2026
Noah Hunter, RHP, Huntington Beach, CA. Edison HS (2026)
Hunter stands out as a prime candidate to elevate his game in 2026. Already touching 93 mph with a fastball that boasts impressive carry, Hunter's projectable 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame suggests untapped potential for velocity gains. His polished mechanics, combined with a slider that tunnels effectively at 84-86 mph and a wipeout changeup, position him as a breakout prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class. As he continues to refine his delivery and build strength, expect Hunter to not only maintain his current effectiveness but also push into the mid-90’s in the spring when the weather warms up. -SD

Can I say Striker Pence? Probably not, so I’ll go with his high school teammate at Santiago, Ben Lewis. It may not be next year, but there’s more velo to come from the projectable righty, and you could probably say his heater already looks like it’s mid 90s to opposing hitters, as he hides the ball well and shows some invisible traits as it really gets on hitters with quality life. With a lean, 6’2” frame, Lewis has plenty of room to add strength, so we could see some steady increase in velocity going into 2026 for a Santiago team that has a sneaky good rotation (and 'pen). -SF

I’m not going too far out on a limb when taking Eli Herst out of the state of Washington. Standing 6-foot-5, 205-pounds with room to add, the projection is off the table. Herst is a fluid mover with a low effort delivery and has touched 93 at the 17u UBC West in Irvine. He has a compact arm stroke, throwing out of a low ¾ arm slot and creates vertical qualities with the fastball that consistently misses the barrel. A steady velocity increase in the spring will not come as a surprise from the Vandy commit. -SR

Most Likely To Back Up a Breakout in 2025
Daunte Bell II, LHP, Bellflower, CA. Millikan HS (2026)
Bell, a 6-foot-3 projectable left-handed pitcher from Millikan High School, is poised to solidify his breakout 2025 campaign with a combination of elite stuff and projectable arsenal. His 13 strikeout performance we witnessed underscores his ability to dominate at the high school level. Bell's athletic delivery, slight crossfire action, and 91 mph fastball, coupled with his mid-70’s breaking ball, suggest a high ceiling as he continues to add strength. As a recent Houston commit, Bell's rapid rise of 167 spots in the California state rankings position him as a prime candidate to back up his breakout with sustained excellence in 2026. -SD

Logan Schmidt didn’t really ‘Break Out” in 2025, as he’s been a pretty high profile guy for a few years now, winning MVP’s of tournaments going in to his freshman year (UBC West), but that was more of a hitter than an arm, and he really put things in a new gear over the summer of 2025 that now sees him ranked as the top arm in California. After PG National, he went on to dominate in every look, from the All American Game, to the Area Code Games, and then the Champions Cup up at Westmont, he’s been purely dominant. The heater is now up to 97 and he showed the ability to land the secondaries to get whiffs on all offerings. Ganesha will have plenty of scouts in attendance when he’s on the bump, and we are expecting a huge year from the PG All American. -SF

I’m going to go with a pair of High School teammates out of University City in AJ Curry and Jayden Parker. Curry is coming off of a 40 hit junior season that resulted in a .417 batting average. The two-way star is dominant on the mound as well, posting a 1.14 ERA in 2025 over 61+ innings pitched, recording 111 punchouts.  The sky is the limit for the Tennessee commit. Parker is a standout defensive presence at short and a massive threat at the plate. Jayden followed up a big spring season with a strong showing over the summer in Perfect Game events. He has the ability to completely take over games on both sides and watch out when the power potential is unlocked. Big things to come for the Indiana commit. -SR

Most Likely To Lead the Region in Home Runs in 2026
Tyler Spangler, SS, Danville, CA. De La Salle HS (2026)
Spangler stands out as a prime candidate to lead the region in home runs next season due to his combination of size, strength, and swing mechanics. His ultra athletic frame and well-balanced swing allow him to consistently impact the ball, with projections for above-average power as he matures. Spangler’s ability to make quality contact, coupled with his dynamic tools and athleticism, positions him as a formidable presence at the plate. His offensive upside is undeniable, cementing his status as a top prospect in the class. -SD

If my memory serves me correctly (prob 50/50 chance), Chaminade is a very friendly place to hit, especially for lefties with a short porch in left field. Not like he needs a short porch, but it should help Isaiah Hearn out quite a bit, playing half his games there. The PG All American has arguably the most juice from the left side in SoCal, so it’s easy to see big power numbers for the Oregon commit. Opposing pitchers may pitch around him a bit, but that may be a fools errand as he also has the speed to steal bases. So pick your poison, but if they pitch to him, the ball may be leaving the yard. -SF

I didn’t have to do a deep dive for Judah Ota to come to mind. At 6-5, 210-pounds, the left-handed hitter was built in a lab, regularly flashing 100+ exit velo. The Arkansas commit has the strength to go deep to any part of the field and is on the barrel with regularity. The do it all outfielder can hurt you in a variety of ways with superior speed and athleticism to go along with huge power that he is still tapping into and this could be the year we see it all come together. -SR
 
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Tournaments | Story | 12/14/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2030
Jheremy Brown
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The youngest of the classes that we'll look at for the best defenders in the country, this group is loaded with guys that play the game well better than what their age says. From athleticism to arm strength, it's quite impressive what these guys can do already. C Jhunior Jose Cordero (Boca Raton, Fla.) Cordero has all the traits imaginable behind the dish including elite strength and athleticism in his 5-foot-10 160-pound frame. The switch-hitting catcher came in at No. 3 nationally in the recently updated class of 2030 rankings. He has been clocked at 1.91 sec from home to second base with legitimate arm strength up to 78 mph. With advanced abilities at every position, the primary backstop Cordero is simply a special talent on the defensive side of the ball. He has tons of quickness in his hands and lower-half, which allows for fast and fluid transfers behind the plate. Cordero’s...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
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College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
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Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2026

Tyler Henninger
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The Class of 2026 is one of the deeper prep classes that we have seen in a couple of years. With that being said, there is plenty of talent on the defensive side. Let’s take a look at some of the best defenders in the class.  C: Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (Memphis, TN) Brick is a newcomer to the class after reclassifying, but immediately became the top backstop. Extremely advanced actions are shown behind the dish with impressive athleticism to go with it. Brick showcases big time arm strength and is consistently accurate on throw downs. He can make playing the position look extremely easy at times. Brick possesses all the defensive tools needed to be a premier catcher.  1B: AJ Curry, University City HS (San Diego, CA) Curry has a bigger and stronger frame with good strength throughout. He has a well-proportioned build that serves him well on the dirt. He’s...
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General | Blog | 12/10/2025

Youth Baseball Exec. DeDonatis III Joins PG

Jim Salisbury
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Youth Baseball Executive Don DeDonatis III Joins PG By Jim Salisbury  It’s free-agent season in baseball and Perfect Game has landed a big one. Don DeDonatis III joined PG as a consultant in November. The DeDonatis name is synonymous with youth baseball and softball. Along with his dad, Don Jr., DeDonatis helped build USSSA into a big hitter in the game. He brings decades of experience and knowledge to PG. “We all acknowledge that Donny has moved on from USSSA,” PG CEO Rob Ponger said. “This is a new chapter for him and we hope both sides take advantage of it to help youth sports in general. “The DeDonatis name has a legacy attached to it and we’re hoping that Donny is going to help us. PG is a growing brand and he’s on board to help.” DeDonatis was CEO at USSSA from 2018 until his exit from the company two years ago. “I’m...
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