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| 2,494 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS

2,494 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS

Draft | Story | 11/21/2025

MLB Draft Rewind: #1 Pick Last 5 Years

Tyler Henninger

Isaiah Burrows

Tyler Kotila

It’s fun to reminisce. The last five MLB Amateur Draft classes have brought a bevy of incoming talent to the big leagues. As always, hindsight is 20/20 and some picks nailed and some picks have been underwhelming of sorts. This piece highlights the last five No. 1 overall picks from 2021-2025 and if we had a redo, what would each member of the draft team do and why? Although the 2025 class has yet to really begin, it promotes an interesting dynamic to see who each member favored if they had the choice.

You may be surprised at some of the selections below. We hope you enjoy it. Let’s dive in.

2025 Original Pick: Washington Nationals - Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Okla.)

Henninger's New Pick: Washington Nationals - Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State

The 2025 draft class has not had a ton of experience in pro ball so there is a lot to still sort out here, but if we were to redo the first selection I lean toward taking Kade Anderson. The left-hander put together a monster sophomore campaign for LSU, recording 180 strikeouts over 119 innings to go with a 3.18 ERA. The performance was impressive, but the stuff is even better. The fastball can get into the upper-90’s, both breaking balls have extremely impressive metrics, and there is a changeup in there too. The stuff misses bats and is thrown from strikes. Anderson should stick as a starter and should be a real good one.

Kotila's New Pick: Washington Nationals - Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (Calif.)

While the 2025 MLB Draft is still pretty fresh and there’s still a lot to be seen from this crop of talent, however, why not have some fun and project on some of the talent in this class? With that in mind, it still feels pretty fresh that some folks were shocked when Oklahoma native Eli Willits went 1:1, even with some of the best bat-to-ball skills and athleticism in the class. It felt like there were about 5-6 players who could profile as the Nationals' selection on draft day (including Willits), though they ended up taking Willits. But in this re-draft, I’ve got the Nationals taking Seth Hernandez with the first overall selection. Hernandez has some of the loudest stuff in the profile, from the frame to the pitch mix; it’s going to be a notable name for prospect followers for years to come. Hernandez flirted with triple digits in his prep days and recently threw 101 at the Pirates Academy in the Dominican Republic. Time will tell, and this class will take shape, but I’ve got the Nats taking Hernandez 1:1 in our first-overall pick re-draft.

Burrows' New Pick: Washington Nationals- Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Okla.)

With so little sample size, no need for a major hindsight pick this early and Willits has the complete tool set and instincts worthy of a first overall pick in this particular class. If the power improves as a young-for-grade shortstop it’s true five-tool upside and Willits simply does it all with ease. He handled his own during his first professional Single-A stint, hitting .300 with a .757 OPS over 58 plate appearances.

2024 Original Pick: Cleveland Guardians - Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

Henninger's New Pick: Cleveland Guardians - Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (MS)

You will not find a bigger fan of Travis Bazzana than me and I still think he will go on to have a very successful big league career, but the stuff Konnor Griffin has done since entering pro ball has been absurd. In his first full year, Griffin played his way through three different leagues, posting a .333/.415/.527 slash line with 21 bombs and 65 stolen bases. The power potential, the feel to hit, the speed on the base paths all make for a potential superstar profile. Griffin is likely to make his big league debut next year at just 20 years old. Looking back now, it is hard to believe he feel all the way to the 10th pick, but that would surely change with a redraft.

Kotila's New Pick: Cleveland Guardians - Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

There were a lot of fans in the Travis Bazzana camp when he went 1:1 to the Guardians in 2024. He put together a great season for the Beavers and showed some seriously impressive tools on the college stage. But in our re-draft, I’ve got the Guardians taking Nick Kurtz with the first overall pick. Kurtz took home American League Rookie of the Year honors, a Silver Slugger award, and even received some MVP votes. He made the most of his first year in the bigs, slugging .619 with 1.002 OPS as he clubbed 36 homers and legged out 26 doubles. It was a heck of a rookie campaign for the big left-handed hitter. For that reason, I’ve got him going first overall in this re-draft.

Burrows' New Pick: Cleveland Guardians- Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

There are dozens of names atop top prospect lists on publications, but it's hard not to think Kurtz here with one of the most dominant rookie stretches we’ve seen in some time. The Athletics’ sensation and AL Rookie of the Year is carving himself amongst some of the best bats in the majors, clubbing a staggering 36 homers and 1.002 OPS in just 117 games. Despite what the rest of this class can amount to, Kurtz seems like a slam dunk at this point.

2023 Original Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

Henninger's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

This may be the easiest pick to make of them all. Skenes has quickly become one of, if not the best pitcher in the big leagues. Skenes took home the Rookie of the Year and followed it with a NL Cy Young trophy in year two. The pure stuff is absolutely dominant and the performance has matched it from the jump. The Pirate right-hander has posted a ridiculous 1.98 ERA over 320 2/3 career innings and has amassed nearly 11 fWAR already. In a class that had some debate as to who should go 1:1 at the time, Skenes has left no doubt that the Pirates got it right in real time.

Kotila's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

Looking back on the 2023 draft class, there’s a lot of talent at the top of the draft board and throughout the entire class. There could be a litany of future big-leaguers across the board in just a few years, and while it's still early, Paul Skenes is still the first overall pick in my eyes. It’s really hard to argue with Skenes being anything but 1:1, even with just two years under his belt. He’s taken home NL Rookie of the Year honors and was crowned the NL Cy Young Award winner earlier this month. Skenes has a career 1.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over his 320.2 career innings. He’s managed 386 career strikeouts already and continues to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He’s continued to make strides and improve his stuff. In our re-draft, Skenes remains the slam-dunk 1:1 pick in my book.

Burrows' New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates- Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State

Going with consensus here and the 2023 class is shaping out to be one of the best classes with the likes of Kevin McGoningle, Max Clark, Walker Jenkins and several others making their highly anticipated debuts very soon. Skenes is simply in a class of his own right now and is stacking up one of the best two-season stretches the game has seen in centuries. He’s the obvious choice and coming off his first NL Cy Young campaign, which could be the first of many at the trajectory he is currently on.

2022 Original Pick: Baltimore Orioles - Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (Okla.)

Henninger's New Pick: Baltimore Orioles - Roman Anthony, OF, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla).

The 2022 draft class has a couple guys that you could make the argument should have gone 1:1 when looking back, but the guy I’m going with is Roman Anthony. Anthony originally came off the board at pick 79, but has quickly outplayed that selection. The outfielder skyrocketed up prospect boards before making his big league debut this year. The bat has a chance to be special. There is a feel to hit to go along with big power potential. His debut season was impressive and has the underlying metrics to match. It would not be a surprise if Anthony is one of the premier outfielders in the game very soon, thus is a guy I would take 1:1 if given the chance again.

Kotila's New Pick: Baltimore Orioles - Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Crowder College

The 2022 draft class has its fair share of big leaguers already, guys who are establishing themselves as starters at the next level and finding their roles. The Milwaukee Brewers found a diamond in the rough in the second round. While it may be a stretch to suggest that he go 1:1, the JuCo fans will be cheering as I’ve got the Orioles selecting Jacob Misiorowski in our re-draft. The massive 6-foot-7 righty has some of the best stuff in the league and showed up, taking the league by storm as part of the Brewers' 2025 run. He was the All-Star Game starter this year and has the stuff that should only continue to improve as he finds his groove and settles into his role with the Brewers' pitching staff. But, looking back on the 2022 draft, I’ve got the Orioles taking a chance and grabbing Misiorowski with the first overall pick, betting on the outrageous stuff with his long and lean frame.

Burrows' New Pick: Baltimore Orioles- Zach Neto, SS, Campbell University

Plenty of options to go here, but the 13th overall pick in this draft has turned into a high quality offensive shortstop coming off his best year. Neto has accumulated a career 11.8 WAR and is coming off a career-best 26 homers and .793 OPS. He’s a consistent speed and power threat penned into the Angels’ lineup for the past two seasons. Neto has room to grow on both sides too and can blossom into another career year.

2021 Original Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Henry Davis, C, Louisville

Henninger's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - James Wood, OF, IMG Academy (Fla.)

Wood is one of only a few players that have made a legitimate impact at the big league level from the 2021 draft class. The big left-handed hitting outfielder did not come off the board until pick 62, although he got first round money with a signing bonus of $2.6 million. Either way, the pick number and bonus are both drastically low compared to his production thus far into his pro career. Wood compiled a career OPS+ of 129 and posted a 31-homer season this year in his first full season in the big leagues. Not only are the overall stats good, Wood has the components under the hood to be successful for a long time. He posted a 98th percentile hard-hit rate and barrel percentage. His bat speed ranks in the 95th percentile and he walks at an extremely high rate. Wood looks to be a budding superstar and is a guy I would take 1:1 if we did the 2021 draft over again.

Kotila's New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates - Jackson Merrill, OF, Severna Park HS (Md.)

When Henry Davis was selected first overall, some folks were shocked as the Pirates got Davis on an under-slot deal with the first overall draft pick. However, in this re-draft, we’re just looking at the talent of the class, not necessarily at slot value or what could or couldn’t have happened on the financial front. That being said, I’ve got prep outfielder Jackson Merrill going to the Pirates as the first overall draft pick. Merrill had a big-time rookie performance with 31 doubles, six triples, 24 home runs, and 90 RBI while settling into the Padres outfield quite well. He also took home a Silver Slugger award in his rookie campaign. He returned in 2025 and battled injuries but still performed as a quality big league outfielder. There’s plenty to like in Merrill’s profile moving forward, and for that reason, I’ve got the Pirates taking Merrill with the first overall selection in the PG re-draft of first overall picks.

Burrows' New Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates- Mason Miller, RHP, Gardner-Webb University

Let’s have fun on this pick. As the original third-round pick by the Athletics, Miller has transformed into one of the league's most dominant closers equipped with a routine triple-digit fastball and wipeout slider. He has collected 50 saves over his career with a career-best 15.2 strikeouts-per-nine between the Athletics and Padres. He’s a former All-Star and may be stretched into a larger role if the stuff and control holds over multiple innings. He’s a worthy No. 1 pick with a sky-high ceiling at a premium valued position.

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Draft | Mock Draft | 7/6/2026

MLB Mock Draft: 4.0

Tyler Henninger

MLB Draft: Top 500 Update Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Chicago White Sox Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA 2 Tampa Bay Rays Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian 3 Minnesota Twins Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech 4 San Francisco Giants Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Schools 5 Pittsburgh Pirates Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara 6 Kansas City Royals Drew Burress OF Georgia Tech 7 Baltimore Orioles Eric Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove 8 Athletics Chris Hacopian SS Texas A&M 9 Atlanta Braves Ryder Helfrick C Arkansas 10 Colorado Rockies Tyler Bell* SS Kentucky 11 Washington Nationals Jared Grindlinger LHP/OF Huntington Beach 12 Los Angeles Angels Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina 13 St. Louis Cardinals AJ Gracia OF Virginia 14 Miami Marlins Derek Curiel OF LSU 15 Arizona Diamondbacks Gio Rojas LHP Marjory Stoneman Douglas 16 Texas Rangers Liam Peterson RHP Florida 17 Houston Astros Justin Lebron SS Alabama 18...

Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

Two Day Rewind at 15u National Elite

Kinley Kitchens

Two days into the 2026 Perfect Game 15U National Elite Championship, the storylines are already beginning to take shape. As one of the summer’s premier invite-only events, the tournament annually brings together many of the nation’s top 15U clubs, with 100 elite teams traveling to Hoover in pursuit of a championship. While there is still plenty of baseball left to play, the opening rounds have already produced breakout performances, dominant team victories, and plenty of excitement heading into bracket play. Several nationally recognized organizations entered the week as favorites, including MTBA Dawgs, ranked No. 3 nationally, Wildcatters Baseball at No. 10, and 5 Star Mafia, ranked No. 12. Meanwhile, newer programs like Jason Kidd Select Team have quickly shown they are capable of making noise against the nation’s best. One of the biggest storylines through the first...

Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Jason Phillips

Nolan Ash (2028, Ashland, Mo.) showed off the power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a leg lift stride. Creates separation and uses a direct hand path with a slightly uphill bat plane and some feel to generate lift from the lower half. Quick hands and stays in-sync with a rotational lower half and solid bat speed. Showed the power belting a solo bomb over the left field fence. Long and lean 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with wiry strength present and more room to fill. The shortstop has a high ceiling and feel for the barrel. Colton Dodds (2028, Columbia, Mo.) showed off the barrel feel and power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a no stride trigger. Direct hands...

College | Story | 7/7/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 7 Summer Edition

John Coppolella

It’s an exciting time for College Baseball. Not only do potential and proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) elevate the game, but we are coming off a thrilling College World Series and less than a week away from Major League Baseball’s 2026 Amateur Draft. In the middle of it all is the Cape Cod Baseball League. The amateur players on the Cape 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...

Tournaments | Story | 7/6/2026

16u WWBA Rolls Into Marietta

Will Dembo

More than 300 of the nation’s top 16u teams will meet in East Cobb, Georgia this week as the 16u WWBA Championship gets underway. Over 50 ranked teams from across the country will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in travel baseball, drawing scouts and fans from all over. Pool play will commence on Monday, July 6th with the championship game set for July 13th at the storied East Cobb Baseball Complex. Canes National 16u will hold honors of being the top ranked team entering the event as they have earned a No. 2 national ranking following a dominant 17-2-1 start to their season. The highly touted program is home to many of the top ranked prospects from the 2028 class including talented two-way athlete, Grant Arnold (No. 12 overall) who lives in the 90’s from the mound as well as middle infielder, Bryan Mesa (No. 14 overall) who will draw lots of attention this...

College | Story | 7/6/2026

USA Collegiate National Team: Stars

Craig Cozart

Quick Hits Each year at the end of June and beginning of July, top collegiate baseball talent from around the nation arrives in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Typically, the rosters are filled with top underclass, non-draft-eligible talent but this year, we will see a sprinkling of upper-classmen as the coaches evaluate just under 60 players to get to their final 28 roster spots. For a total of two weeks, the Stars Squad and the Stripes Squad will compete against outside competition in North Carolina as well as Virginia before finishing their slate with 5-games against each other at the NTC Complex. Once the final roster has been announced the team will depart for Taiwan to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Championships, July 11-15. CNT Stars Position Players Anthony Pack Jr. FR / OF / University of Texas ...

Tournaments | Story | 7/5/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff

Michael Wedgeworth (2030, Flomaton, AL) had put the two way ability on full display so far this week, dominating from both sides. On the mound Wedgeworth ran the fastball up to 84 (81-83) with ease to the delivery. Broke off a couple nasty curveballs that induced swing and miss, as well as freezing hitters for punch outs. Collected six in his four inning complete game. He also would not be denied at the plate going 3-5 in the first two days with two doubles. Very intriguing young player as the body continues to grow. Tyler Bellush (2031, Summerville, SC) is a sure handed shortstop for the Canes Nation squad. Swings it from the left side of the plate and the barrel accuracy has really stuck out thus far. 3-4 through the first couple days with a double and two triples, Bellush has also walked twice and collected 3 RBI along the way. Yesterday against USA Prime with the bases loaded,...

Tournaments | Story | 7/4/2026

16u WWBA North Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff

Oliver Lindstrom (2028, Green Bay, WI) created some of the loudest offensive moments of the weekend while producing across the board, finishing with six hits, eight RBI, and a home run. The right-handed hitter showed the ability to stay through the baseball and drive it with authority. Creates quality leverage through the lower half while arriving in strong hitting positions early, allowing the barrel to work with intent through the zone. The blend of power, athleticism, and all-fields impact stood out throughout the event. Dominic Haigh (2028, South Bend, IN) was one of the most productive hitters at the event, collecting 10 hits while consistently creating pressure on opposing defenses. Made life difficult on pitchers with a relentless approach, routinely extending at-bats and forcing them to work deep into counts. The operation remains simple and efficient, featuring an early...

Tournaments | Story | 7/4/2026

West Region Rankings Risers: Class of 2028

Joey Cohen

After a heavy stretch of early summer looks, our scouting staff felt confident rolling out an updated ‘28 national ranking a couple weeks ago. The evaluation window was packed whether it was with our Memorial Day and Summer Kickoff tournaments, UBC action, Sunshine Showcases, and of course the Junior National Showcase which all provided a deep and diverse look at the class against strong competition. Between fresh game evaluations and updated showcase data, we were able to get a clearer picture of where players stand and more importantly how they’ve progressed. Improvements in strength, athleticism, and overall skill were evident across the board giving our staff real conviction when it came time to shuffle the board. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight a handful of west region prospects who made a strong impression on me this summer and earned a well-deserved jump in...

All American Game | Story | 7/3/2026

Initial 2026 All Star Game Roster Reveal

We are excited to announce the first selections for the 2026 PG All Star Game from both the Perfect Game Junior and Sophomore National Showcases. The PG All Star Game will be held on Friday, August 14th at Citizens Bank Ballpark, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and will feature roughly 40 of the top players, predominately from the 2028 class with a few of the very best 2029s also selected. A watchlist has been created from the Junior National Showcase and another group of players will be selected from that showcase towards the end of July as we continue to evaluate players at the major Perfect Game tournaments this summer. The final wave of selections we be made at the PG Underclass All American Games August 5-7 at the UCSD in San Diego, CA. PG Underclass All American Games Junior National Selections Dexter McCleon Jr. OF Suwanee, GA USA Prime Cullen Scott RHP/3B Melissa,...

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