THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,497 MLB PLAYERS | 15,834 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,497 MLB PLAYERS | 15,834 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
General  | Crack The Bat | 4/19/2005

Prep Draft Risers

With less than two months until the June Amateur Free Agent Draft, there are some rising high school seniors that are generating quite a buzz in the scouting community. While the list of risers could be endless, just like any other subjective list, I'm going to limit this feature to 10 players that have created the most stir this spring and have made the biggest strides in an attempt to be selected early in the draft this June.

Reese Havens-SS-Bishop England HS (South Carolina)

Committed to play in-state for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Havens is soaring up draft charts this spring with a great baseball body and a smooth left-handed bat. There is intriguing power potential as he generates very good bat speed with some loft to his swing. Due to below average speed and range, Havens may move to third base down the road, whether it be at South Carolina or at the pro level, but he has the hands and arm strength to play anywhere on the diamond.

Tyler Herron-RHP-Wellington HS (Florida)

Herron, a right-handed pitcher, is also a talented shortstop. His projectable frame and increasing, consistent velocity makes Herron one of the more intriguing, rising young prep pitchers available for this June's draft. He flashes an improving curveball as well, and has a nice, easy arm stroke in which the ball explodes out of his hand. Herron is still growing into his body, and with increased velocity already, there's no reason to think that he won't be able to add a few more ticks to his low-90s heater. He has committed to play for Clemson.

Craig Italiano-RHP-Flower Mound HS (Texas)

Few, if any, pitchers from the prep ranks can match Italiano's 98 mile-per-hour fastball. He was already well established as a top three to five round pick entering the spring, but his consistent velocity may vault him into the first round of the draft. Italiano does have somewhat of a max-effort delivery, so there are some future injury concerns, and concerns about whether he'll remain as a starter or move to the bullpen. Regardless of those concerns, the Flower Mound, Texas resident is truly blessed with a golden arm, and that will cause him to receive an incredible amount of early interest. Italiano has committed to play for Texas Christian University.

Paul Kelly-SS-Flower Mound HS (Texas)

Italiano's teammates at Flower Mound High School, Kelly is a smaller yet rangy shortstop that resembles Texas A&M's Cliff Pennington in size, stature and the way he plays the game. He has very good bat control and covers the plate well, makes good contact and has decent power to the gaps. Defensively he has good range, soft hands and a well above average arm (throws 90+ from the mound) that should allow him to stay at shortstop. His body has plenty of room for him to add size and strength. Kelly, like his high school teammate Italiano, has committed to play for TCU.

Bryan Morris-RHP-Tullahoma HS (Tennessee)

Armed with a fastball that regularly clocks in the mid-90s, and a killer curveball, Morris has gone from virtually unknown to a possible first-round draft pick. He opened the season with consecutive no-hitters, and has been drawing bigger and bigger crowds from the scouting community in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Morris has committed to play locally at Motlow State Junior College.

Mark Pawelek-LHP-Springville HS (Utah)

No player had moved up as much as Mark Pawelek has. Pawelek has been bringing scouts in droves to Springville, Utah to watch him pitch. Like almost every other player on this list, Pawelek was well known about entering this spring, but he has pitched so well that he is being talked about as a player that could go as high as the top half of the first round of the draft. He's created that buzz with more consistent velocity on his fastball, which he throws easily in the low-90s and can touch the mid-90s. Pawelek maintains that velocity well into games. He also has a solid breaking ball and changeup, and has a nice, fluid delivery from a projectable frame. He has committed to play for Arizona State.

Colby Rasmus-OF-Russell County HS (Alabama)

Be sure to check the interview feature I conducted with Colby's father, Tony, a couple of weeks ago. The oldest of four sons, Colby has been drawing attention with his bat, with 15 home runs at last count so far in the young season. He makes consistent, solid contact that should translate well to hitting with a wood bat at the pro level, that is if he's swayed away from his commitment to play for Auburn. Rasmus is a fluid and talented, confident athlete that also closes games for the number one high school team in the country, Russell County High School in Phenix City, Alabama.

Drew Thompson-SS-Jupiter HS (Florida)

Drew Thompson is the son of former big-leaguer Robby Thompson, and he carries the big-league moxie on the field that scouts and coaches love. A natural leader, he shows graceful and natural actions in the infield, and he has the arm, hands and range to stay at shortstop. Thompson makes good contact at the plate, with a disciplined eye and he shows good power from gap to gap. He still has plenty of room to grow while getting bigger and stronger, and with his pedigree he could be a player to watch, either in the draft or at the University of Florida.

Josh Wall-RHP-Central Private HS (Louisiana)

Perfect Game USA broke a story on Josh Wall after the World Showcase in Ft. Meyers. It's not that Wall wasn't well known about, but no one had seen him throw in the mid-90s with an easy arm stroke and a dominating breaking ball. Before that he doubled as a talented and athletic shortstop prospect as well, but now with more consistency and velocity, his future without a doubt lies on the mound. A resident of Walker, Louisiana, Wall has committed to play close to home at in-state perennial powerhouse LSU.

Sean West-LHP-Captain Shreve HS (Louisiana)

West, at 6'8", 195 pounds, has one of the most intriguing and projectable of frames of any draft eligible prospect. Being a left-handed pitcher only adds to his interest. Previously a soft-tossing lefty that earned his keep by changing speeds and hitting his spots, West has started to pitch more consistently around 90 miles per hour, and he has plenty of room to add onto that as he continues to grow and hone his mechanics. Given his stature, he's always throwing on a downhill plane, and he keeps hitters honest with a big, sweeping curveball. West has committed to play for San Jacinto Junior College.

The thoughts and opinions listed here do not necessarily reflect those of Perfect Game USA. Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and Brewerfan.net, and can be contacted via email at pebert@brewerfan.net.

General | Blog | 6/16/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 66

Ron Wolforth
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  The Number That Just Killed MLB Expansion: 1,217   USA Today's Bob Nightengale dropped a bomb shell recently that the baseball world is still digesting. Major League Baseball wants to expand to 32 teams. Team executives are quietly opposing it and the reason has nothing to do with cities or money.   They cannot find enough healthy pitchers.   Between 2020 and 2024, professional baseball performed 1,026 Tommy John surgeries at the minor-league level alone. Another 191 at the Major League level. More than twelve hundred elbow reconstructions in five years on the best young pitchers in the world.   That is not bad luck. That is a system reporting a verdict on itself.   For fifteen years, the youth-baseball industry has chased one number: velocity significantly more than projectability and arm care.    Recruiters scout by it.    Social...
College | Story | 7/14/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 14 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: Carter White – Falmouth Commodores  Talk about making a great first impression! White introduced himself in a very loud and boisterous way this past week by going 9-17 (.529 AVG) with 6 RBI...
Tournaments | Story | 7/13/2026

17u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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High speed look at the FF-SL-CH from '27 RHP Liam McGeady (OH)... #NatElite @PG_OhioValley @Cincy_Legends https://t.co/hhoDL7DBbi pic.twitter.com/Ts79GLPGoU — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 12, 2026 Liam McGeady (2027, Liberty Township, Ohio) had the stuff working on Saturday morning, getting the start for Legends Scout 2027. The uncommitted right-hander ran it up to 91 and sat 88-90 with a full starter’s mix. All three of the secondaries played well and project moving forward. The curveball worked in the mid-70s with good depth and healthy shape. The slider operated in the 79-82 range with gyro spin and short break. McGeady rounded out the repertoire with a changeup that showed big fade and depth, proving effective versus lefties. He ended the outing going five ⅔ innings, allowing no earned runs on four hits, striking out six total. The tall and long 6-foot-5,...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/13/2026

ZT Select Takes 14u WWBA West Title

Emily Hicks
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After a week of competitive baseball, the ZT Select Prospects have been crowned the 14U WWBA National Champions, completing an impressive tournament run with a championship victory over Swarm Red Elite National 2030 with a final score of 3-1. The 14U division brought together 19 talented teams for a week of high-level competition, with players from California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania battling for the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in youth baseball. Throughout the tournament, ZT Select Prospects showed consistency, resilience, and the ability to compete in close games. From the opening rounds of pool play to the championship matchup, the team continued to find ways to win behind strong pitching, timely hitting, and a complete team effort. In the championship game, ZT Select Prospects was led by standout performances from Jeremy Jimenez, who...
Draft | Mock Draft | 7/13/2026

2027 Mock Draft: Way Too Early Ediition

Vincent Cervino
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With the 2026 MLB Draft officially complete, let's quickly turn our eyes to the 2027 group and do a way too early mock draft. Leading the way is shortstop Brendan Lawson out of the University of Florida, setting the trend as three of the top four names all call shortstop home with Dylan Seward and Carter Hadnot. If shortstops aren't your thing for any which reason, maybe hard throwing left-handers tickle your fancy whether it be prep Connor Salerno, Tomas Valincius from Mississippi State or Dylan Volantis, a dominant arm from the University of Texas.  Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Los Angeles Angels Brendan Lawson SS Florida 2 Kansas City Royals Dylan Seward SS Norco (Calif.) 3 Colorado Rockies Landon Hairston OF Arizona State 4 New York Mets Carter Hadnot SS Aquinas (Calif.) 5 Athletics Connor Salerno LHP Sun Valley (N.C.) 6 Cincinnati Reds Tomas Valincius LHP Mississippi State 7...
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2027 MLB Draft: Initial Follow List

Vincent Cervino
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With the 2026 MLB Draft in the books, our focus now shifts to a new group of players ready to take center stage as the 2027 draft cycle begins. Our initial 2027 Follow List serves as an early snapshot of the players who should draw plenty of attention over the next year. This new crop of talent features collegiate players coming off loud spring seasons, alongside prep prospects who have already flashed big upside as underclassman.  As always, this list will evolve throughout the year. Some players will continue to elevate their stock, while others will jump onto the radar and force their way into the conversation. So, without further ado, let the fun begin.  The road to the 2027 MLB Draft starts now. Name Level Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment Adrian Rodriguez C 3B/OF S-R Texas Flower Mound TX Aidan King C RHP L-R Florida Bryceville FL Bino Watters C OF L-L LSU...
Tournaments | Story | 7/12/2026

14u BCS Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Austin Way (2030, Yulee, FL) was 2-3 in game four, driving in a run and scoring once himself. Picked it well defensively at shortstop but really showed out in the box today. Works the barrel path to the middle of the field and whips the barrel through the zone. The RHH creates lift in the turn, and the ball jumps off the bat hot.  Sutton Walling (2029, Ponte Vedra, FL) is an athletic 5’11/160lb infielder who gets it done on both sides of the ball. Dominated at the plate right behind his teammate Way in the batting order going 3-3 with two doubles. He does a really good job with the barrel accuracy and works through contact with heavy hands. Lots of project-ability in the profile and is having a sneaky great week at the plate. Banks Kennedy (2030, Arcadia, FL) received it well behind the dish and was the leading force in this one driving in three rbis. He ended up going 2-3...
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Best Available

Tyler Henninger
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2026 MLB Draft: Best Available for Day Two  A total of 135 players heard their name called on Saturday. As always, signability, bonus pool strategy, and organizational preferences play a major role in how the board unfolds. With that being said, we saw a majority of the top half off the board get selected, but there are a number of players ranked inside our Top 150 that remain available. From high-upside prep talent to polished college performers, these are the top names still available according to our Final Top 500 Draft Board.  Top Prep Bats Available (with Top-500 Board Rankings) 38. Archer Horn, SS/RHP, St. Ignatius College Prep (CA) 58. Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic (CA) 64. James Tronstein, SS/OF, Harvard-Westlake (CA) 66. Noah Wilson, OF, McCallie School (TN) 71. Cole Koeninger, SS/RHP, Keller (TX) 77. Sean Dunlap, C, Crown Point (IN) 82. Alex Weingartner, OF//RHP,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/11/2026

17U National Elite Heads to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
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Another week, another big tournament makes its way to Hoover.  This week, 104 of the nation’s top 17U teams will make their way to Hoover for the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship.  Featuring nationally ranked teams, Division I commits, and many of the country’s top 2027 players, the tournament promises another week of elite competition as teams battle for one of the biggest championships of the summer.  With many players already committed to some of the nation’s top college programs, every game in Hoover this week offers a glimpse into the future of college baseball.  Now entering its eighth year, the National Elite Championship continues to bring in the nation’s best. Past champions include Team Elite Scout Team, Canes National, USA Prime National, Scorpions/Giants Scout Team, 5 Star Performance National, Knights Knation Scout...
Draft | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Day One Recap

Tyler Henninger
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Storylines Heavy College Run Early We came into the day knowing that there were a lot of talented college players at the top of the board, more specifically college bats. That came to light very early in the day, as we saw just two prep players selected within the first ten picks. The college preference lasted throughout most of the entire first round. Nearly 75% of the first 40 selections were college players. It is clear teams want players at the top of the draft that can quickly get through the system and help the big league club as soon as possible. Underslot Strategy Throughout this cycle, we knew that once you get past the first handful of picks the difference in value you were getting for let say pick ten was not that difference compared to pick 30. Because there was a large collection of players that are relatively close in value, teams were looking to get creative. We saw this...
Draft | Mock Draft | 7/11/2026

Final 2026 MLB Mock Draft

Vincent Cervino
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It's draft day and that means it's time for our final Mock Draft with the 2026 group. 1. Chicago White Sox | Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA It’s between Roch and Grady Emerson at this pick, though there have been heavy rumors of a very late deal potentially with another top 5 pick. This boils down to negotiations and we think that they will get there.  2. Tampa Bay Rays | Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian (Tex.) If Grady isn’t the first pick then he is almost certain to be the second pick. The Rays like to get creative but Emerson is a well worth prospect in his own right.  3.  Minnesota Twins | Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech This is likely the floor for Roch Cholowsky, though the Twins might prefer Lackey to Roch outright. They are thought to be in on the top college players with Emerson a distant third.  4. San Francisco Giants | Jackson Flora, RHP, UC...
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