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College  | Story | 6/9/2026

Collegiate Postseason Awards

Vincent Cervino
Craig Cozart
Coach of the Year 

Dan Fitzgerald – Kansas Jayhawks 
The 2026 season has been a historic one for the Kansas Jayhawks under the leadership of head coach Dan Fitzgerald.  The Perfect Game Coach of the Year is also the Big 12 Coach of the Year as he led his team to 22-wins in conference play as they won an incredible 45-games overall.  For the first time since 1949, they took home a regular-season conference title, winning the league by one game in what was just the fourth championship in program history.  They also went on to win the Big 12 Tournament Championship, only the second time in program history the Jayhawks won the event and its first since 2006.  The 45-victories are good enough to tie the all-time single-season record and their 22-wins in conference play is a new program high.  Powered by the most homeruns in Kansas history at 111 on the year, they swept their way through the Big 12 Tournament putting them in position to host the first round of the NCAA Tournament in another program first.  From there, they would sweep the Lawrence Regional and when Oklahoma upset Georgia Tech, that cleared the way for them to host the Super Regional against those Sooners.  Ultimately, their season would end up two wins shy of Omaha and the College World Series, but this program has a massive amount of momentum under Fitzgerald.  On the heels of their incredible season, the athletic department announced plans to build a $15 million indoor player development facility which will be critical for player retention, day-in-day-out skill development and the resources to keep the Jayhawks moving in a positive direction.  Kansas, with Fitzgerald at the helm, looks like contenders at a national level for the near future. 



Team of the Year 

UCLA Bruins 
The 2026 UCLA Bruins baseball season was one of the most dominant regular seasons in program as well as college baseball history and are our Perfect Game Team of the Year.  While anything short of a National Title would have probably been a disappointment for a club with such high expectations, it would have been a miss not to recognize their greatness.  Under head coach John Savage, the Bruins compiled a staggering 51-6 regular-season record, securing the outright Big Ten regular-season championship and running through the Big Ten Conference Tournament.  For their efforts, they were rewarded the No. 1 overall nation seed in the NCAA Tournament, making it to the championship game where they would ultimately fall to St. Mary’s.  Carrying the No. 1 ranking for most of the season, the Bruins went on a program-record 27-game winning streak from February 24 to April 14 where they outscored their opponents 255-85 over that span.  They also put together a streak of 27-consecutive Big Ten victories, starting the conference slate by sweeping their first 9-series before dropping a game.  When the last pitch was thrown, the Bruins finished the ’26 campaign with a record of 52-8 overall and they went 28-2 in Big Ten play.  While there will be massive losses due to graduation and the MLB Draft, but the Bruins are here to stay and will reload for another run in 2027. 

Player of the Year 

Daniel Jackson – Georgia Bulldogs    
The Georgia Bulldogs are in the midst of the kind of season that will go down in college baseball history as one of the most impressive of all-time.  The offensive firepower is the engine that makes this machine go and junior catcher Daniel Jackson is the one that lights the fuse.  From Sandy Springs, GA, the 6-2/200 athlete is by no means your typical catcher.  He started his career at Wofford where he put together an impressive freshman campaign before deciding to hit the portal and see how his talents would play in the SEC.  The transition wasn’t seamless by any means, batting just .240 a year ago but he did collect 14 home runs and steal 14 bases, showing a bit of what was to come.  Flip the calendar to 2026 and Jackson has turned himself into the Perfect Game Player of the Year, the SEC Player of the Year and has launched his name up the draft boards.  To put his season in perspective, the easy place to start is with the fact that he is the first catcher and just the third player in SEC history to capture the Triple Crown.  His slash line heading into Omaha for the College World Series is .396/.837/.492, scoring 86 runs on the year, with 13 doubles, a triple, an incredible 31 homeruns on his way to driving in 86 runs, while stealing 26 bases in 28 attempts.  He is one of only six D1 college players in history to join the 25-25 Club for homeruns and stolen bases, while having the chance to join JD Drew as the only player in history to go 30-30.  For his efforts, he is a finalist for both the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year and the Dick Howser Trophy as well as a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.  Jackson’s herculean season helped Georgia win the SEC Regular Season as well as the SEC Tournament on their way to NCAA Regional and Super Regional titles at home.  They begin their quest for a National Title in Omaha this Saturday and if Jackson stays the course, he and the Bulldogs could make more history. 

Pitcher of the Year 

Jackson Flora – UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 
There have been very few seasons in history where a college pitcher was as consistently good as Jackson Flora was in 2026.  Putting the Gauchos on his back the opening game of every series, Flora led his club to another Big West title and to the championship game of the Austin Regional in their NCAA Tournament berth.  The 6-5/205 RHP from Pleasanton, CA is our Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year and is arguably the best pitching prospect in this year’s draft class.  Armed with a fastball that reaches 100 mph, a devastating slider and one of the more elite changeups we have seen at this level in quite some time.  Combine his elite athleticism with an easy, repeatable delivery and the ability to command the zone at an elite level, what you get is a very long day for opposing hitters when Flora toes the rubber.  Making 16 starts in ’26, he would go a perfect 12-0, meaning that Flora alone is responsible for 30% of the Gauchos 40-wins on the year.  As a testament to his durability and efficiency, he logged 2-complete games over 102.0 IP, only allowing 55 hits, good for an opponent’s batting average of .155, while accumulating an incredible 133:32 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  To go with that, he led the nation with a microscopic 1.06 ERA and went on a 38.1 scoreless innings streak across much of March and April.  A Golden Spikes Award finalist, Flora most likely will be the first pitcher taken in this year’s MLB Draft and could make a quick ascent through the minor leagues on his way to a long Big-League career. 

Two-Way Player of the Year 

Evan Dempsey – Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 
The best two-way player in the nation for the last two years has taken the field in Southwest Florida at Florida Gulf Coast University.  Evan Dempsey, the 6-2/205 junior from Tampa, FL has figured out how to be equally elite on both sides of the ball and is driving his name up the draft list with his performance.  Our Perfect Game Two-Way Player of the Year is also a finalist for the 2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, as well as a Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award semifinalist.  The physical and mental demands of playing high level D1 baseball are incredible but to handle the demands of being a two-way star is on another level.  On the mound, the righthanded Dempsey features a fastball that reaches 95 mph with incredible ride through the zone to go with an abrupt slider, sweeping curveball and the occasional changeup.  He spins the ball at a high level, with both of his breakers approaching the 3,000+ rpm mark, making him a real prospect on the bump.  As the Eagles Friday night starter, Dempsey made 15 starts, going 7-2 with a 3.15 ERA over 88.2 IP, where he accumulated an incredible 126:26 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  With the stick, he bats from the left-side and put together a slash line of .333/.536/.412, while scoring 57 runs, with 18 doubles, 10 homeruns, driving in 46 runs and he also swiped 15 bags.  It may be quite a while before we see another two-way player put together the type of career that Dempsey has for Florida Gulf Coast.  It is going to be interesting to see which direction his talent takes him at the professional level. 

Freshman Player of the Year 

Jacob Parker – Mississippi State Bulldogs 
Things were back to the way the fan base expects it in Starkville this season as the Bulldogs were back in the NCAA Tournament and hosted the first round which they won before seeing their season end in the Athens Super Regional.  One of the driving forces behind their return to the national landscape was our Perfect Game Freshman of the Year, Jacob Parker and his sweet lefthanded stroke.  The 6-3/220 outfielder from Purvis, MS was a terror in the middle of the lineup with elite level hit and power tools.  As the everyday starter in right field, Parker tied Bulldog legend Rafael Palmiero for the most homeruns by a freshman and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Starkville Regional.  On the season, his slash line was .339/.732/.449 as he scored 51 runs, collecting 10 doubles, a triple, 18 homeruns and he drove in 62 runs as well as stealing 7 bases.  His efforts in the Athens Super Regional nearly kept his teams College World Series hopes alive but ultimately, they fell just short.  There is plenty of energy and excitement surrounding the program in Starkville and with the likes of Parker returning for the ’27 season, a trip to Omaha could very well be in the mix. 

Co-Freshman Pitchers of the Year 

Sam Cozart – Texas Longhorns 
The Texas Longhorns have bounced back from a disappointing end of the 2025 season by winning the NCAA Regional and Super Regional at home in Austin to punch their ticket for their 39th trip to Omaha all time.  While the Longhorns are a well-balanced club, they have had to lean into their pitching depth throughout the year to keep their path stable.  One of the key moves to their success this season was when they moved Perfect Game Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Sam Cozart, to the bullpen and into the closer’s role.  The 6-6/260 RHP from High Point, NC has emerged as one of the top weapons in the nation out of the bullpen.  Making 3-starts in the midweek at the beginning of the year, Cozart has taken his “starters” repertoire to the back end of games with great success.  An elite strike thrower, he is armed with a fastball that reaches 98 mph, to go with an upper-80s cutter, low-80s sweeper, upper-70s curve and the occasional split finger.  The Longhorns have gone 22-0 in his 22 appearances, where he has gone 6-0 with 9 saves, compiling a 1.65 ERA over 49.0 IP, allowing just 22 hits for an opponent’s batting average of .132 and an insane 71:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  An SEC 1st Team All-Conference member, he is also one of just two freshmen to make the final cut of 14 pitchers up for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award.  Texas opens their run at a National Title in Omaha this Saturday night and if you see Cozart come into the game, it should be a good night for the Longhorns. 

Caden Glauber – North Carolina Tarheels 
Hosting both the Regional and Super Regional in the friendly confines of Boshamer Stadium, the Tarheels are headed back to Omaha for another run at a National Title.  One of the most balanced and complete teams in all of college baseball this season, they have won 50-games and carry a ton of momentum into the College World Series.  Appearing in half of those 50-wins, Caden Glauber has been arguably the most important piece of the Heels success as they have gone 25-0 in game that he pitched.  The 6-4/210 RHP from Fort Mill, SC is our Perfect Game Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year and on the mound unleashes a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and backs that up with a mid-80s sweeper, occasional cutter and a changeup when necessary.  Handling most any role from closer, to long reliever, to starter, Glauber can give his club length or eliminate the scoring threat in a short stint when necessary.  As previously stated, he has made 25 appearances, 3 of those in the starting role and he has put together a 10-0 record with 4 saves on a 2.20 ERA over 81.2 IP, allowing only 52 hits and built a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 99:38 thus far.  The ACC Freshman of the Year was a 1st Team All-ACC selection and is one of only two freshmen to be named to the field of 14 finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year list.  UNC is back in Omaha for the second time in the last three seasons and if Glauber has anything to do with it, they could win it all. 
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College | Story | 7/28/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 28 Summer Edition
John Coppolella
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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...
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Draft | Story | 7/30/2026

2026 MLB Draft Signing Deadline Recap

Tyler Henninger
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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...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Blue Wave Battle & Prevail at 14u Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Excel Leaves No Doubt at 15u Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

"Excel"ling Through the Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

16u West WS Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Quinton Hall
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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...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

SBA Sox Save Best for Last

Kinley Kitchens
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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...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

East World Series Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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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,...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

17u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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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...
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All American Game | Story | 7/29/2026

Victorino & Girardi Tabbed PGAAC Managers

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    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...
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