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Draft  | Story | 7/30/2026

2023 Draft: Late Round Georgia Look Back

Michael Albee
I have a soft spot for the under the radar high school preps that go in the 11th-20th rounds and sign. It’s not only a nice story, but it’s a show of faith from an organization in their area scout who put the time in, scouted the player and got a feel for the makeup on a guy that wasn’t a consensus “dude”. 2023 was my first year going out to high school games for Perfect Game in Georgia, so I wanted to go back and highlight the late round guys from the ‘23 class that were popped and signed to pursue their dreams of becoming a professional baseball player right away. Here’s a review of those four players from what they were in high school, and where they are at currently in their careers. 


RHP Andrew Dunford, Bonaire, GA - Detroit Tigers (12:350), $367,500



The Tigers dipped into South Georgia and nabbed Dunford, giving him a nice over slot bonus deal to sign him away from his Mercer commitment. It’s hard to draw up a more physical and lean frame, as he stands 6’7/235 with lots of strength in his lower half and the long limbs you’d expect given the height. As a prep, he was sitting in the low 90’s with heavy life on his fastball and showed the ability to creep up to 94-95 with it. The delivery was well synced for his age and class, getting to strikes often thanks to a pretty compact and inline motion while showing some capacity to spin the baseball in the low 80’s, albeit with inconsistent shape. The arm would get long on occasion, but it didn’t inhibit his strike throwing ability. You didn’t really have to squint too hard at the time to project out the operation, velocity and secondaries all having projection to give him a path to the major league level. In my eyes at the time, I saw this long-term as a reliever prospect that was going to be a sinker/slider guy that needed to mold the slider a bit to make it a usable big league offering one day. Once he reported to rookie ball, however, Dunford was unable to stay healthy for what was essentially two straight years, throwing just 4.1 innings from 2023-2025 before the Tigers cut him loose earlier this year. The Astros would throw him a lifeline just five days later however, signing him to a minor league deal. He has managed to log meaningful innings over the course of the summer for the first time since he was a senior. Dunford posted a 6.41 ERA over 19.2 innings, working back into pitching shape and staying healthy. He would get a lot of ground ball contact, but his stuff really struggled to miss bats and induce any kind of chase. The path for Dunford remains unclear, but if his bill of health can remain clean, it will be interesting to see what a 100% version of himself could look like in ‘27.


OF Kyle Henley, Cumming, GA - Cincinnati Reds (14:408), $395,000
 
Henley was a slam dunk centerfielder and the best runner in this ‘23 Georgia class, so it made sense why the Reds were bullish late in the draft and signed him away from his Georgia Tech commitment. The swing was mechanically solid and projected well to handle better velocity as he got stronger, and he paired that with 80-grade run times and what many likely projected to be a plus glove. It was (and still is) comfortably below average game power, as Henley has put over just five baseballs in 947 professional AB’s to this point in his professional career. However, he did peak at 109.2 off the bat this year and his 50/90th percentile EV numbers are not anything to scoff at. What is pulling down his power output is bottom scale PullAir%. Realistically, it doesn’t matter. If Henley makes it to the major leagues, power will not be why he is there. He is one the fastest and best base stealers in all of minor league baseball, having 30 bags to his credit this year in A-ball and 124 in his career to just 16 caught stealing. Safe to say, Henley is an impact runner and defender. The contact skills have played in game enough to this point, letting him get on base at a career .340 clip. He does strike out a lot, and the approach will have to improve moving forward if he wants to stay afloat. Whiffing against spin is still an issue for Henley at this stage in his career. There have been marginal improvements in his chase/whiff%, but it is still developing. Just days before this article was thought of and typed out, Henley was promoted to the High-A Dayton Dragons. The athlete has certainly panned out. It remains to be seen how the bat will continue to develop, but he has tools going for him with promising progression.


SS Bernard Moon, Redan, GA - Cincinnati Reds (16:468), $150,000
 
Moon was the most under the radar prospect for us taken in this draft, signing him late out of Redan High School and giving him $150k to get him out of his commitment to Troy. He presented himself as a safer floor prospect with some tools that projected between fringe and average that could carry him to the big leagues in a small role. Entered in the draft as a shortstop, the Reds quickly shifted him to second base where he has garnered the large majority of his innings during the course of his career. After hitting .310 in the complex league during ‘24 without a ton of impact, he was promoted to low-A Daytona for the ‘25 campaign. The offensive numbers took an understandable step back, hitting .236 with an OPS of .689 in a full season’s share of at bats. Naturally, he would run it back in Daytona to start 2026, and the results have taken a leap across the board. Moon looks noticeably stronger, translating that into tangible game impact that has increased his SLG to .438 (up from .367) and the BA/OBP currently stand at .267/.366. It’s still comfortably below average pop, but he is pulling the ball in the air much more often than a year prior. It's a good step in the right direction. These were the strides he needed to take in his second stint of full season ball in low-A. To go along with that, his whiff is down. A glaring hole in his offensive game remains in his inability to handle left-handed pitching. He currently is sporting a .503 OPS against southpaws, a number that is essentially unplayable at the higher levels. Despite this, the under the hood data for Moon across the board has trended in the right direction in ‘26. If he can provide serviceable defense and continue to refine the contact skills and swing decisions, he could carve a path to the majors as an organizational depth piece. 


OF Raudi Rodriguez, Statesboro, GA - Los Angeles Angels (19:564), $150,000 

Rodriguez has easily been the biggest riser amongst this crop once they hit the minors. Committed to South Carolina and playing with GBSA, the Angels took him late and gave him a slot bonus to get him in their system. As a prep, he was highly ranked nationally as a projectable athlete with a plus arm, good athlete, feel to hit and some budding impact to project upon once the body filled in. There were plenty of pro tools here, and the Angels bought in. After a pair of rather unassuming half seasons in the complex league, he’d start ‘25 in then Angels affiliated A-ball club Inland Empire 66ers (now the Mariners affiliate). He’d then proceed to have a massive breakout campaign, slashing .281/.372/.470 with 14 homeruns, 83 RBI and 38 stolen bases. To go along with that, he’d take home 5x MiLB player of the weeks, 2x player of the months, the post-season MVP award and made the AFL Rising Stars roster to go along with that game’s MVP award. Safe to say, Rodriguez shot up some boards and got much more national attention. Playing a quality centerfield with plus speed and good arm strength, this offensive uptick across the board instantly credited him with a ceiling much higher than most previously thought. He’d get the chance to start this year in AA, and after a slow start, he got settled in and has had a solid campaign with an .804 OPS to this point in the season. He blends impact and swing decisions well, giving way to big league viability on the hit/power. Being a tad older at draft than most (20), he is currently 23 years old, so he isn’t 21 like the rest of his peers in this article. He’s had more time to develop physically, but he is still about two years younger than the average player in AA right now. It’s a promising trajectory with a real chance to impact at the big league level for Raudi.
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Draft | Story | 8/11/2026

Realistic Expectations of a 1:1 Pick
Tyler Henninger
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Over the 2026 draft cycle, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the projected No. 1 pick throughout the entire cycle. White Sox fans began #RochWatch and were already talking about when he will make it to Chicago. Now that he has been selected, Cholowsky has immediately become a Top-10 prospect in all of baseball. There is no denying the hype, and the pressure, for Chowlosky to get to the big leagues and produce at a high level.  But how realistic is that? Let’s take a look back at past 1:1 selections and see what you can expect from a No. 1 overall selection.  For this exercise, we’ll look at No. 1 overall picks from the bonus pool era, excluding Eli Willits from 2025 since this is his first full year of pro ball. That gives us 13 players selected from 2012 through 2024.  Almost All Become Big Leaguers The first thing that stands out is how successful No. 1 picks...
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High School | General | 8/17/2026

Scott's Eye Popping Two-Way Earns MVP

Jim Salisbury
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PHILADELPHIA – When the folks at Perfect Game reached out to invite him to pitch in the 2026 PG All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors, Cullen Scott had one request. “You mind if I get a couple of at-bats, too?” Along with his dad, Scott traveled from the family’s home in Texas to Citizens Bank Park. The trip proved to be a huge success as he starred on the mound and at the plate and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Scott, 16, pitched a scoreless first inning and struck out two. In the fourth inning, he belted a grand slam six rows up into the left-field seats to lead the National team’s 6-1 win over the American team. “He showed us why he’s here as a pitcher and a hitter,” said Greg Sabers, PG’s vice president of scouting and showcases. "He’s one of the top pitchers here, but he’s too good a...
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All American Game | Story | 8/16/2026

Romero Slams His Way to Classic MVP

Jim Salisbury
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PHILADELPHIA – Sunday’s DICK’s Perfect Game All-American Classic was a pitching-dominated affair until the bottom of the eighth inning when the rain started to fall at Citizens Bank Park and Koa Romero stepped to the plate and did his best impression of Kyle Schwarber. Romero wears No. 12, just like Schwarber. He bats left-handed, just like Schwarber. He’s got big power, just like Schwarber. And at 5-10 and a rock-solid 225 pounds, he’s even built like Schwarber. Needless to say, Schwarber is Romero’s favorite player. So, it was all kind of storybook when Romero belted a grand slam to dead center to cap off the scoring in the West team’s 8-3 win over the East club in the 24th annual Classic. “This is a dream come true,” said Romero, who was named MVP of the game. “It’s amazing to be able to put a ball like that out of a...
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All American Game | Story | 8/15/2026

A Philly Dream for Steingall

Jim Salisbury
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PHILADELPHIA – Carson Steingall had been to Citizens Bank Park many times over the years. After all, he hails from Nazareth, Pa., about 90 minutes up the road from the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and he counts himself as a big fan of the team. Zack Wheeler is his favorite. Steingall realized a dream when he pitched from the same mound that Wheeler does in Perfect Game’s fourth annual All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors on Friday. The dream got even better when Steingall, a 16-year-old right-hander, was named Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in the third inning of the National team’s 6-1 victory over the American team. “It’s just an honor to be here,” Steingall said after receiving his trophy. “This event is the best of the best. It’s really cool to win something like this.” Steingall, who’ll...
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Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
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Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
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General | General | 8/13/2026

PG All-Star Game Heads to Philly

Jheremy Brown
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For the fourth time since its inception in 2023, two rosters comprised of the best rising juniors (and a handful of rising sophomores) will step out onto the field Friday afternoon, kicking off the All-American weekend. While the Perfect Game All-American Classic is slated for a 1:35 first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, 36 future hopefuls of the Classic will go up against one another in an American vs National clash at 11 AM Eastern, Friday morning.  With 36 players from across the country descending on Philadelphia, there will be plenty of familiar names in attendance as 24 of the 36 played in at least one PG Select Festival and all 36 attended either the he Sophomore National, Junior National, or the PG Underclass All-American Games this summer. Leading the charge are a pair of No. 1s in 2028 dynamic talent Dexter McCleon Jr and 2029 Macgraw VanWormer, a do-it-all...
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Tournaments | Championship | 8/12/2026

Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
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Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title A hot afternoon at JetBlue Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida ended in a 9-1 victory for the Original Florida Pokers 2028 National, defeating SBA Bolts Florida 2028 National on Monday to capture the 16U BCS National Championship. A pitchers’ duel kept the game scoreless through four innings before the Pokers broke it open with a five-run fifth inning. The title marked the Pokers’ second 16U BCS Championship, adding to the championship they won in 2022. Despite a slow start to the summer, the Pokers found their stride at the right time. “We struggled a lot early in the summer, but the past few tournaments we really started turning it on,” Pokers head coach Will McCrimon said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.” Max Maynes started the game on the mound for the Pokers. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks...
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Press Release | Press Release | 8/11/2026

Perfect Game & Goat'd Come Together

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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 AND GOAT'D PARTNER TO BRING PREMIUM PROTECTIVE GEAR TO THE NATION'S TOP AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYERS   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, August 11, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with Goat'd, a premium protective gear brand focused on developing innovative products for athletes. The partnership will bring Goat'd's premium protective equipment to some of the nation's top amateur baseball players and families across Perfect Game's premier national events. The partnership will debut at several of Perfect Game's marquee events, including the 13U Select Fest, 14U Select Fest, Perfect Game All-Star Game and...
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General | General | 8/8/2026

12U Game Time: 8/9/2026 1PM Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
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Sunday August 9th, 2026 1:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
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General | General | 8/8/2026

11U Game Time: 8/8/2026 Noon Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
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Saturday August 8th, 2026 12:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
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