THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,580 MLB PLAYERS | 16,393 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,580 MLB PLAYERS | 16,393 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General | 2/11/2026

Southwest All Region & Top Tools

David Rawnsley
SOUTHWEST REGION (AZ, NM, NV, UT, CO) 
The most dominant tool in the Southwest Region for the 2026 season is undoubtedly power at the plate, as most players featured below not only have the size and bat speed to drive the ball but have put up the numbers as well.  While that isn’t exactly surprising given that virtually the entire region plays at elevation, it certainly stands out on the individual top prospects.

The Region features four Perfect Game All-Americans in OF Ryan Harwood, IF Rookie Shepard and C Alain Gomez-Gudino and RHP Dylan Blomker.  The 2027 class is looking very promising as well, with four juniors gaining mention on the All-Region team below and Arizona in particular having a very talented class.  Keep an eye out especially for 2027 3B Colton Floyd (Corona Del Sol HS, Ariz.), one of the best and biggest power hitters in that class.



Two Region high schools start the year in the Perfect Game Top 50 national rankings.  Casteel (AZ) is the top ranked team at 15th overall, while Nevada’s Basic HS is 18th to start the year.           

C – Alain Gomez-Gudino (Sr., Saguaro HS, Ariz.)

Gomez-Gudino was a virtual unknown at the beginning of 2025, befitting of a young man who endured a multi-month trip to the United States from Venezuela.  He has quickly become one of the best catching prospects in the 2026 class with a great profile of being a switch-hitting catcher with better bat speed from the left side to go with high level defensive tools.  He hit .384-1-22 in his first year of high school baseball at Saguaro HS last spring.

1B – Kellan Tom (Sr., Corona Del Sol HS, Ariz.)

Tom is a big and strong 6-2/210 right-handed hitter who is starting to get scout attention for his power potential and overall offensive potential.  The Arizona State signee mashes with a wood bat in his hand in particular, as he hit .500-3-25 in 28 PG games in 2025 and .420-1-24 in 30 games in 2024.

MIF – Troy Southisene (Sr., Basic HS, Nev.)

Troy’s senior year at Basic HS will mark the end of the Southisene Era in Nevada high school and Perfect Game baseball, an Era that has now sent four brothers through the system and two to professional baseball.  Troy varies little from his brother, with speedy athleticism, defensive versatility and far more bat speed and pop than you’d expect from his 5-10/168 frame.

MIF – Rookie Shepard (Sr., Faith Lutheran HS, Nev.)

Shepard was one of the first recognized prospects in the 2026 class nationally and has done nothing to change that, especially as a hitter.  He’s hit over .500 three of the last five years at PG events and hit .424-7-34 as a junior at Faith Lutheran HS.  Shepard is a versatile defensive player who probably profiles best at second base at the highest levels.

3B – Anthony Del Angel (Sr., V. Sue Cleveland HS, N.M.)

The 6-4/205 right-handed hitting Del Angel was a dominant hitter on the summer circuit from a young age and has continued to develop his raw power and tools since.  The Oklahoma signee hit .534-7-28 as a junior at Cleveland HS and won New Mexico Player of the Year honors.

OF – Ryan Harwood (Sr., Casteel HS, Ariz.)

Harwood is the topped ranked 2026 player in Arizona and 32nd overall in the country.  The PG All-American is one of the strongest premium prospects in the country with a 6-3/205 chiseled build but he has a full basket of tools, including 6.65 speed in the sixty and a 95 mph outfield throwing arm.  Harwood hit .378-6-28 for Casteel HS as a junior and has hit .362 in 63 games of PG play the last two years.

OF – Cooper Goff (Jr., Mountain Ridge HS, Utah)

Goff doesn’t look like a power hitter with his slender and athletic 6-0/175 build but has very fast hands to go with plenty of lift in his swing.  He also has the numbers to back up his power, including seven home runs as a sophomore at Mountain Ridge and five more on the PG circuit.  Goff is currently ranked 29th in the 2027 class and is committed, like many in the Southwest Region, to TCU.

OF – Jake Turner (Jr., Centennial HS, Nev.)

Turner is the highest ranked player in the Southwest Region regardless of year as he checks in at 9th overall in the 2027 class.  The sweet-swinging left-handed hitter hit .438-5-26 as a sophomore at Centennial HS and .339-2-12 in 26 PG games in 2025.  A 6-3/185 TCU commit, Turner also has shown a fastball up to 94 mph on the mound.

RHP  Dylan Blomker (Sr., La Cueva HS, N.M.)

The 6-4/200 Blomker is the only PG All-American pitcher in the Southwest Region and is the 14th ranked right-handed pitcher in the 2026 class.  He generally works in the 92-94 mph range with his fastball but has bumped it up to 96 mph at times.  Blomker’s strikeout pitch is a low 80’s slider that has big sweeping life and sharp bite and is well commanded in and out of the zone.

RHP  Soreen Etheridge (Jr., Phoenix Country Day, Ariz.)

Etheridge used a fastball up to 94 mph and a hard downer curveball with big downward angle to post some of the most eye-opening strikeout numbers in the country in 2025 as a sophomore.  He struck out 136 hitters against only 20 walks in 55 innings during the spring at Phoenix Country Day, then dialed up a notch in Perfect game summer play, striking out 69 hitters in 35 innings while only allowing 11 hits.  Etheridge is a Wake Forest commit.

RHP  Devin Long (Sr., Chapparal HS, Ariz.)

Long is a very projectable 6-3/185 athlete with solid present stuff and more to come.  He features a 90-94 mph fastball to go with a very advanced change up and a solid slider and profiles as a strike throwing three-pitch starter.  The Mississippi signee struck out 75 hitters in 45 innings as a junior at Chaparral HS.

RHP  Cooper Vais (Jr., Arvada West HS, Colo.)

Vais is a superb athlete who is a two-way standout and multi-sport star but has his highest ceiling on the mound.  He’s an extreme strike thrower with a low 90’s fastball that projects to go with a mid-70’s curveball.  He went 8-1, 1.29 with 93 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 54 innings as a sophomore at Arvada West and hit .347-5-22 at the plate.  The Texas commit came back to throw 18 innings in PG play last summer, striking out 32 versus only 3 walks and throwing 69% strikes.  Vais is also a basketball standout and averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds as a junior.

RHP  Ethan Wachsmann (Sr., Grandview HS, Colo.)

Wachsmann is a big and strong 6-5/210 right-hander with a power pitcher’s body and power pitcher’s stuff.  He tops out at 94-95 mph to go with a low 80’s slider and change up and will be taking his arm to Wake Forest next year.  Wachsmann went 8-1, 1.77 with 80 strikeouts and only 24 walks in 51 innings as a junior at Grandview HS.

UT – Giovanni Guariglia Jr (Sr., Silverado HS, Nev.)

Guariglia dominates on both sides of the ball for Silverado HS.  Using a fastball that can reach the md-90’s to go with a sharp hard curveball, Guariglia struck out 92 hitters and allowed only 17 hits in 42 innings last spring on the mound while hitting .482-8-37 at the plate.  The future TCU Horned Frog wasn’t much different at PG events in short looks, striking out 18 hitters in 8 innings and hitting 4 home runs in 7 games.


Southwest Region Top Tools


Best Hitter for Average: Rookie Shepard (Sr., Faith Lutheran HS, Nev.)

Shepard has always performed on the biggest stages on the PG circuit and has been especially consistent with the bat.  There’s just enough power there but the ability to square up quality stuff is what makes the PG All-American stand out.

Best Hitter for Power: Anthony Del Angel (Sr., V. Sue Cleveland HS, N.M.)

This could really be any one of a four or five players and we could even break it up into three sections:  Best raw power (distance):  Del Angel.  Highest Exit Velos:  Ryan Harwood.  Highest Ceiling:  Jake Turner.

Best Runner: Jet Berry (Sr., Queen Creek HS, Ariz.)

The aptly named Berry definitely has the jets as he’s a 6.41 runner with a very quick first step in the middle infield on defense.  The switch-hitter also has juice in his bat, as he hit .495-8-34 as a junior at Queen Creek HS and followed that up by hitting .413-1-12 with 17 steals in 30 PG games last summer.

Best Defensive Catcher: Alain Gomez-Gudino (Sr., Saguaro HS, Ariz.)

Gomez-Gudino first gained notice and his initial invitation to the PG National as a premium defensive catcher with all the tools necessary on that side of the ball. 

Best Defensive Infielder: Troy Southisene (Sr., Basic HS, Nev.)

Southisene’s quickness and range is his best defensive asset and his instincts enable to those to play up another level.  He’s also got a low 90’s infield arm and has experience playing all over the field.

Best Defensive Outfielder: Ryan Harwood (Sr., Casteel HS, Ariz.)

Harwood’s strength and physicality stand out so much that it’s easy to overlook his big athletic tools.  He profiles as a right fielder on defense at the next level.

Best Defensive Arm: Matthew Kelly (Sr., Basic HS, Nev.)

Kelly was originally part of the 2027 class and played in the 2023 14U PG Select Festival but re-classified.  He’s a well-round prospect with a solid bat but his best tool is his arm strength and overall defensive ability at shortstop.  The Texas A&M signee threw 98 mph from shortstop at the PG National and an even 100 mph from the outfield.

Best Fastball: Dylan Blomker (Sr., La Cueva HS, N.M.)

Blomker was 92-94 mph every time out at PG events last year, including at the All-American Classic, and bumped it up to 95-96 mph at a few events.  He notably threw 70% strikes in his 2025 PG innings as well.

Best Off-Speed Stuff: Dylan Blomker (Sr., La Cueva HS, N.M.)

Blomker’s slider is the single best secondary pitch in the region.  He has an advanced ability to shape the pitch between a bigger sweeper shape and tighter true slider look and he’s also shown the ability to throw it for strikes.  Blomker also throws a firm change up that will further develop at the next level.

Best Pitchability: Cooper Vais (Jr., Arvada West HS, Colo.)

Vais’s ability to throw strikes and his high-level athleticism make him a very intriguing prospect if he can continue to add more velocity to his already low 90’s fastball.

Best Multi-Sport Athlete: Soren Etheridge (Jr., Phoenix Country Day, Ariz.)

Etheridge is a rare three-sport standout but it isn’t in the three sports that one would normally expect.  Aside from his obvious baseball talent, he’s a high-level swimmer in the fall season and plays varsity basketball during the winter before becoming a two-way baseball player during the spring. 
Give us your feedback
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans
Tyler Russo
Article Image
High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
Read More
Draft | Story | 7/30/2026

2026 MLB Draft Signing Deadline Recap

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
As of Monday at 5 p.m. ET, the 2026 MLB Draft is officially complete. The signing deadline has passed, meaning we now know every team’s finalized draft class and exactly how much each player signed for. Entering the draft, it was clear there was a distinct top tier consisting of Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, and Vahn Lackey. That separation became even more evident once contracts were signed. Cholowsky became the first player in draft history to sign for more than $10 million, agreeing to a record-setting $10,347,500 bonus with the White Sox. Emerson set a new high school signing bonus record at $9,747,500, the second-largest bonus ever awarded to a draft pick. Lackey rounded out the trio with a $9,497,500 bonus, the third-largest signing bonus in MLB Draft history. Those weren’t the only records set. Teams combined to spend $402,481,143 in signing bonuses, surpassing last...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Blue Wave Battle & Prevail at 14u Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
For Excel Blue Wave, the summer was never about being perfect. It was about getting better. After a season filled with challenges, growth, and plenty of learning along the way, Excel Blue Wave put everything together when it mattered most, defeating SBG Sox Prime, Al 9-3 to capture the 2026 14U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. For Excel Blue Wave Coach Forrest Heacock, watching the group celebrate with a championship trophy was especially meaningful because of everything it took to get there.  “It hasn’t been the easiest summer, and have battled a lot,” Coach Heacock said. “The kids have improved so much over the summer, and that is really what it’s all about at this age. It’s really just about improving at this age, and to see them be able to put it together, and just really compete together and play as a team, I couldn’t be...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Excel Leaves No Doubt at 15u Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Excel Blue Wave National wasn’t leaving Hoover empty-handed.  At least, that was the message head coach Wes Henderson gave his team.  After a summer filled with strong performances but without a tournament title to show for them, Excel Blue Wave National entered the 2026 15U Perfect Game Hoover Classic with one more opportunity to finish the season the way they wanted.  This time, they left no doubt.  Excel Blue Wave National defeated East Coast Sox 2029 Victus, 12-0 in the championship game, combining a balanced offensive attack with a strong performance on the mound to secure their first tournament title of the summer.  “It’s been a special group,” Coach Henderson said. “They fought really hard, and they played really well this summer, and this is the first championship that we’ve been able to bring home. We typically...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

"Excel"ling Through the Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
After a long summer of baseball, Excel Blue Wave National had one final opportunity to end it the way every team hopes to.  Together, having fun, and as champions. Excel Blue Wave National closed their summer with a 13-9 victory over Excel Blue Wave American – Morrison to capture the 2026 16U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. In a game that required contributions throughout the lineup and seven innings of competition, the Excel Blue Wave National relied on the same qualities and approach that had carried the group all summer. With talent, perseverance and a chemistry built far beyond the baseball field, they were unstoppable.  For head coach Brennan McCullough, there couldn’t have been a much better way for his players to finish their final weekend together .  “It’s great,” Coach McCullough said. “We’ve had a long...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

16u West WS Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Quinton Hall
Article Image
16u West World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Jason Lizotte (‘28 | NV) Smooth LHH, hunts pitches down in the zone he can rip to the middle & PS w/ a downhill & direct path. Some strength in the hands w/ feel for the barrel #PGWS pic.twitter.com/kbK5Ayvhd7 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Jason Lizotte (2028 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-9, 145-pound left-handed hitter and outfielder was a spark plug all weekend for MTBA Dawgs 2028, finishing with seven hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, four RBI, three stolen bases, and four walks without a strikeout. Lizotte refused to give away an at-bat, consistently working hitter’s counts before spraying line drives all over the field. The left-handed swing stays short and direct with plenty of feel for the barrel, and once he reached base, he immediately put pressure on the defense with...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

SBA Sox Save Best for Last

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Sometimes the best ending comes after a season of figuring things out. For SBG Sox American, the summer wasn’t always seamless. The team spent their early weeks learning where players fit best, building chemistry and searching for the combination that would allow them to play their best baseball. By the final weekend, they found it.  SBG Sox American closed their summer with a 7-5 victory over Dirtbags Midsouth 2027 Black to capture the 2026 17U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship, putting together one final winning performance in the last tournament this group would share this summer.  For SBG Sox Coach Cooper Williams, that made taking home the championship trophy even more meaningful. “It’s been great, especially for it being their last summer event,” Coach Williams said. “It’s really cool for them to kind of pull this thing out for...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

East World Series Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Evan Brand (2027, Acworth, Ga.) has been solid at the plate all summer and did not slow down late in the summer. This week, Brand was able to hit just under the .700 mark and tallied three extra base hits, including a homer. The switch hitter has a fluid barrel path with plus feel for the barrel to all fields. The lower half also moves with some rhythm, and the switch hitting ability with the accuracy to the barrel provides plenty of intrigue. The middle infielder is committed to Georgia Tech. Atley Schwarzrock (‘27 GA) catches of all of the first pitch he sees launching it over the wall in left for a 2-run 💣 sending it with some heat; stays loose in his progressing ripping the barrel thru the zone with some strength behind it and staying tall on impact. #EastWS… pic.twitter.com/oGxbPQN1W0 — Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) July 27, 2026 Atley Schwarzrock (2027,...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

17u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Lukas Waite (‘27, CA) showed LOUD stuff out of the pen. 6-2/205 frame. High-end athlete on the mound. FB sat 92-95 (T96). SL at 80-82 generated uncomfortable whiffs #PGWS @California_PG @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXaVxqA2kv — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Lukas Waite (2027, San Diego, Calif.) came out of the pen on day four and showcased the loudest stuff out of the entire event. The recently named PG All-American ran the fastball up to 96 mph and sat 92-95 mph throughout the outing. A slider at 80-82 mph was lethal. It tunnels well off the heater and gets uncomfortable whiffs often. Waite features a 6-2, 205-pound frame that moves extremely well. There is supreme athleticism throughout the delivery that stands out. The upside is extremely high and will be sure to draw heavy draft interest during this...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 7/29/2026

Victorino & Girardi Tabbed PGAAC Managers

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   SHANE VICTORINO AND JOE GIRARDI NAMED MANAGERS FOR PERFECT GAME DICK'S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC AT CITIZENS BANK PARK   Former Phillies Stars to Lead Nation's Top High School Baseball Players on August 16 in Philadelphia   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wednesday, July 29, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that former Phillies All-Star outfielder Shane Victorino and former Phillies manager Joe Girardi will serve as managers for Team East and Team West, respectively, at the 2026 Perfect Game DICK'S All-American Classic, taking place on Sunday, August 16, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.   Joining Girardi and...
Read More
College | Story | 7/28/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 28 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
Article Image
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: Blake Schaaf – Bourne Braves  Schaaf had a big week, going 12-for-22 (.545 AVG) with 3 Doubles, 4 Stolen Bases, and 9 Runs Scored. It’s been the continuation of a terrific summer for the...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.