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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 | 1/20/2026

MLK West Scout Notes: Days 3-4
Steve Fiorindo
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MLK West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Markus Chandler, RHP, Westside HS Class of 2027 A little on the undersized side as a sub 6 footer, but Chandler can generate some velo and spin.  Spun 3 frames of hitless ball for Spects National with zero walks and 6 strikeouts.  Committed to Kansas State, the righty ran the fastball to 92, living 89-92 pumping the zone with 75 percent strikes.  Looked like two different breaking balls, with the SL 80/81 (spin in 2500’s) and curveball 75/76.  No hard contact, little contact at all off the righty in this dominant outing. To follow up the pitching performance, Chandler swung the bat well on Championship Monday (Trademark Pending) with 5 RBI and three hits on the day, regularly on the barrel.  Trevor Alons, RHP, Centennial HS Class of 2028 Lean framed sophomore with a quick, whippy arm.  Playing up a few classes, you might...
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College | Story | 1/20/2026

Conference Preview: Oregon State

Tyler Henninger
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Record W L T Oregon State 48 16 1 Impact Player: Easton Talt, OF Impact Pitcher: Dax Whitney, RHP Impact Freshman: Mason Pike, RHP/MIF 2026 MLB Draft Prospects 1. Ethan Kleinschmit, LHP 2. Eric Segura, RHP 3. Zach Edwards*, RHP 4. Easton Talt, OF 5. Jacob Kreig, 1B 6. Wyatt Queen, RHP 7. AJ Singer, IF 8. Eli Gries-Smith, OF 9. Noah Scott, RHP 10. Paul Vazquez*, IF 11. Nyan Hayes, OF 12. AJ Hutcheson, RHP 13. Tyler Inge*, 3B 14. Bryson Glassco, IF 15. Jacob Galloway, C 2027 MLB Draft Prospects 1. Dax Whitney, RHP 2. Adam...
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Tournaments | Story | 1/18/2026

MLK West Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Steve Fiorindo
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Cole Migaki (‘29 WA) w/ one of his 5 K’s thru 2-innings. FB 84-86 coupled w/ a firm BB that has 11/5 shape sitting 77-77. Balanced operation w/ a live, loose arm. Athletic frame at 6-ft, 170 that projects #MLKWest @PG_PacificNW pic.twitter.com/iBgAoajNUM — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) January 16, 2026 Cole Migaki (2029 Vancouver, WA) Was lights out in his start on Friday at MLK West, only needing 42 pitches to get thru three-innings and did not allow a hit or run while punching out 8.  Migaki overwhelmed opposing hitters, running his fastball up to 86 and mixing in a firm breaking ball at 75-77 with 11-5 shape and depth.  The athletic 6-foot, 170-pound right-hander is the top ranked third base prospect in the state of Washington for the class of 2029, collecting a couple of hits in his five at-bats and drove in a run.  Excellent start to...
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Press Release | Press Release | 1/16/2026

Perfect Game Hires Blakeley As Regional Dir.

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    PERFECT GAME HIRES ERIC BLAKELEY AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR    Sanford, Florida (Friday, January 16, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the hiring of Eric Blakeley as a Regional Director. Blakeley brings more than two decades of experience in elite baseball and softball events, along with an accomplished background as both a collegiate and professional player.    Blakeley joins Perfect Game after building the highly respected Crossroads Baseball Series, where for more than 20 years he developed and operated baseball...
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College | Story | 1/16/2026

Conference Preview: ACC

Kyler Peterson
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order*  School  W L W L Boston College 28 29 11 19 California 24 31 9 21 Clemson 45 18 18 12 Duke 41 21 17 13 Florida State 42 16 17 10 Georgia Tech 41 19 19 11 Louisville 42 24 15 15 Miami 35 27 15 14 North Carolina 46 15 18 11 NC State 35 21 17 11 Notre Dame 32 21 14 16 Pitt 28 27 10 20 Stanford 27 25 16 15 Virginia 32 18 16 11 Virginia Tech 31 25 12 18 Wake Forest 39 22 16 14 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Vahn Lackey Georgia Tech...
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College | Story | 1/19/2026

Conference Preview: SEC

Vincent Cervino
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2026 College Preview Index | Preseason Top 25 | Preseason Collegiate All-Americans For all of Perfect Game's conference previews as part of the 2026 college baseball preview content, the 2025 records and all-conference teams are available for free. The conference top prospects and individual team breakdowns can be viewed with a subscription. 2025 Records Teams are listed in alphabetical order*  Team W L W L Alabama 41 18 16 14 Arkansas 50 15 20 10 Auburn 41 20 17 13 Florida 39 22 15 15 Georgia 43 17 18  12 Kentucky 31 26 13 17 LSU 53 15 19 11 Ole Miss 43 21 16 14 Mississippi State 36 23 15 15 Missouri 16 39 3 27 Oklahoma 38 22 14 16 South Carolina 28 29 6 24 Tennessee 46 19 16 14 Texas 44 14 22 8 Texas A&M 30 26 11 19 Vanderbilt 43 18 19 11 Preseason All-Conference Team Pos. Name School Stats/Notes C Carson Tinney^ Texas .348-17-53; power hitting RHH...
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College | Story | 1/14/2026

2026 College Preview Index

Perfect Game Staff
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From Preseason All-Americans to a Top 25, make sure to check back daily as we will continue to pump out content as a staff. Every conference preview will include a Preseason All-Conference Team as well as Draft/Prospect lists for each of the next 3 years (2026, 2027, 2028) while also breaking down every team within each conference. Publish Date Content Wednesday January 7 Preseason All-Americans Thursday January 8 Preseason Top 25 Friday January 9 No. 1 Feature: LSU Monday January 12 Top 100 Freshmen Tuesday January 13 Top 100 Sophomores Wednesday January 14 Top 100 Juniors Thursday January 15 Top 100 Seniors College Conference Previews Publish Date Conference Friday January 16 Atlantic Coast (ACC) Monday January 19 Southeastern (SEC) Tuesday January 20 Oregon State Preview Wednesday January 21 Big 12 Thursday January 22 Big 10 Friday January 23 American (AAC) Monday...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 1/14/2026

Perfect Game Softball Turf Wars

Ashley Mears
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2026 Perfect Game Softball Turf Wars January 9-11 Ashley Mears   The 2026 season kicked off in impressive fashion at the Fun City Dome in Burlington, Iowa, featuring a highly competitive field across both age groups. The 18U division was loaded with talent, including over 20 Division I and II commits and several high-upside prospects, leading to intense bracket play and multiple walk-off finishes. Iowa Nationals claimed the championship over a well-rounded Iowa Prospects Gold team. The 14U division brought together quality programs from Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. The tournament championship was an exciting matchup where Southeast Iowa Swarm edged a tough Black Dragons squad. 18u Lauren Hagedorn (2026, Adel, IA) of Iowa Nationals and future Iowa State Cyclone earned weekend MVP honors after a strong two-way performance. In the circle, she consistently kept hitters off balance...
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College | Rankings | 1/15/2026

Top 100 Collegiate Seniors

Vincent Cervino
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Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen | Top 100 Collegiate Sophomores | Top 100 Collegiate Juniors This senior board is one of the deepest we’ve assembled in years. From experienced weekend arms with power stuff, to proven position players coming off loud 2025 spring seasons, to former prospects returning from injury and looking to reestablish their status, impact players are scattered throughout the group. Headlining the board is Maika Niu, now at Arkansas after a strong season at Marshall and an MVP summer on the Cape. Nui is a high-level athlete in center field and a legitimate offensive force who should slide seamlessly into the heart of the Razorbacks’ lineup. Close behind are two premium arms in Ole Miss’s Hunter Elliott and Kentucky’s Jaxon Jelkin. Elliott is coming off a monster 2025 spring, going 10–3 with a 2.94 ERA and 104 strikeouts, and...
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College | Rankings | 1/14/2026

Top 100 Collegiate Juniors

Vincent Cervino
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Top 100 Collegiate Freshmen | Top 100 Collegiate Sophomores As we look ahead to another season of college baseball and continue our week of class-by-class lists, we look at the Junior class and we’ve got our Top 100 Juniors in the 2026 college season. This list aligns with the PG Draft lists we compiled at the top, with Roch Cholowsky, Drew Burress, and AJ Gracia rounding out the top three. There’s a litany of storylines to follow this year, with players who have tons of draft upside or players looking to be impactful players among their respective programs. These are the players who we feel are in a position to make some serious noise during the 2026 season. Talent is present all across the board, with players who could make some serious statements this year. Looking all the way up and down the board, there are impact bats, players primed for a breakout, Friday...
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