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College  | Story | 5/20/2010

Model of Consistency: Christian Colon

In the past I have profiled the success of notable college performers such as Matt Wieters and Buster Posey.  Both of those players hit the ground running upon beginning their college careers at Georgia Tech and Florida State, respectively, and continue to perform at a high level in professional baseball.  Wieters is already the everyday catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, while Posey is knocking at the door at the big leagues, posting impressive numbers at the plate at the AAA level.
 
Cal State Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon is a similar prospect in regards to his initial and continued success in college.
 
He arrived at Fullerton with an already impressive resume as an unsigned 10th round pick of the Padres from the 2007 draft.  He was named the MVP of the Aflac All-American Classic during the summer of 2006 after collecting two hits, scoring three runs and swiping three bases.  He was also rated the fifth-best positional prospect at the 2006 Perfect Game National Showcase in Fayetteville, Ark.
 
Previously known as Christian Rodriguez, he was born in Puerto Rico and went to three different high schools.  He is a four-time participant with Team USA, spending the last two summers with the Collegiate National team while spending the summer of ’06 with the 18U team and the summer before that with the 16U team.  He was named the first-ever captain of the collegiate team last summer, and was the only player to start and play every game during the summer of 2008 when the team went 24-0.
 
He broke his leg in the second-to-last game last summer with Team USA but has recovered nicely, and despite a slow start, he once again is hitting much like he had during his freshman and sophomore years.
 
One area that he noticeably has improved on is his power. He’s hit 14 home runs already this season and hit five in 23 games last summer with a wood bat, tops on the team.  While he doesn’t have the ideal range to play shortstop, his leadership skills and overall baseball acumen allow him to make all of the plays and could allow him to stick at the position.  If not, he could become an All-Star caliber second baseman with the ability to hit at or near the top of a lineup.
 
Similar to his defense, while he lacks ideal foot speed, he shows good instincts on the base paths.
 
Here are his numbers from the past three years, including his two summer stints with Team USA:
 
2010, Cal State Fullerton (through 5/16):
.351/.444/.634, 11 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, 10 stolen bases in 16 attempts, 12 errors
 
2009, Team USA:
.362/.459/.617, 3 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 24 stolen bases in 26 attempts, 7 errors
 
2009, Cal State Fullerton:
.357/442/.529, 16 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 15 stolen bases in 22 attempts, 11 errors
 
2008, Team USA:
.263/.339/.313, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 stolen bases in 9 attempts, 5 errors
 
2008, Cal State Fullerton:
.329/.406/.444, 12 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts, 17 errors
 
Collectively he is hitting .338/.424/.515, which is very similar to the numbers he has posted each year at each level.  He also has managed the strike zone very well, posting a 87-to-75 walk-to-strikeout ratio.  He has been successful on 67 of his 90 stolen-base attempts (a 74% success rate), although only 43 for 64 (67%) if you take away his impressive 24 for 26 success rate from last summer.
 
Statistical success obviously does not translate to professional baseball, as the presence of the wood bat alone makes it impossible to project how well any hitter will fare at the next level.  However, the consistency of his production, his ability to manage the strike zone and his improved power output lead me to believe that few, if any, players eligible for this year’s draft are as sure of a bet to succeed at the professional level than Colon.
 
Choice’s Consistency
 
Michael Choice may not have the lengthy resume that Colon does, but he too has been impressively consistent since beginning his college career at Texas-Arlington.  David Rawnsley recently profiled Choice when looking back at some of this year’s top prospects and how they fared at Perfect Game showcase events in high school:
 
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=2294
 
Let’s jump right into the numbers:
 
2010, Texas-Arlington (through 5/16):
.401/.578/.750, 10 2B, 1 3B, 16 HR
 
2009, Team USA:
.350/.453/.550, 3 2B, 3 HR
 
2009, Texas-Arlington:
.413/.478/.695, 13 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR
 
2008, Texas-Arlington:
.376/.440/.558, 9 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR
 
Collectively he’s hitting .393/.501/.638 during his collegiate career.  His on-base percentage is skewed by the number of times he has walked this year, as he has been pitched around quite a bit in Southland Conference play.  His batting average is pretty close to what he has been doing each year at each level, with his power numbers improving since he began his college career in 2008.
 
The increase in power this year has come with increased strikeout totals as well (44 so far this year), as prior to this season he had struck out only 30 and 35 times, respectively,  during his sophomore and freshman years.  Overall, he too manages the strike zone very well, with a 127-to-122 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
 
A good overall athlete, stolen bases aren’t a big part of Choice’s game, but he has been successful on 28 of 36 attempts (a 78% success rate).  He has the ability to play center field, but may settle in at an outfield corner at the next level.
 
Not only are the results impressive, but scouting reports indicate that Choice is hitting the ball consistently hard, and he is currently leading the nation in walks.  There are rumblings that he could sneak into the top 10 overall picks, and isn’t likely to slide out of the first half of the first round of this year’s draft.
 
Like Colon, while you never know how the numbers will translate at the next level, his consistency over the years, budding power and ability to manage the strike zone should allow him to minimize the growing pains once he begins his professional career this summer.
 
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 5 Tool Talk, and can be contacted via email at pebert@5tooltalk.com.

College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 15

John McAdams
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Tucker Rice (27 MS) bumping up to 91; living hi-80s from real fast arm. Good SL @ 77-79 w/ depth & sold w/ intent. Loads of traits & strikes. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/DEjFqRcsIY — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 6, 2025 Tucker Rice, RHP, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Alabama has continued to stay red hot in the recruiting trail ever since August 1st rolled around on the calendar and have continued to stack major pieces in their ’27 class. They dip into Mississippi to land one of the premier arms and one that’s stood out on the circuit for quite some time. It’s a fast arm and the athleticism certainly shines working down the slope. The velocity has continued to tick up over the last calendar year and reached into the low-90s towards the end of the summer. He’s confident in his changeup and the breaking ball is...
Tournaments | Story | 12/15/2025

17u Tourney All-American Team

Vincent Cervino
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There’s a lot of talent throughout this 2026 class, filled with the big-name stars, to talent that spreads across the nation. It’s been a lot of fun seeing these prospects grow and develop over the years, from the days of watching some of these guys at the 13/14u days at events on the circuit, to now where they are all graduating seniors in 2026. There’s been new faces who have popped along the way over the years, even in 2026, where some players who were relatively undiscovered, have come out and made a name for themselves with a statement performance. Between the familiar and the new, there’s a lot of names on this list that are going to be quite regularly talked about on the circuit, and for good reason.  Whether it’s PG All-Americans or not, there’s a lot of names with superstar potential at the next level. We’ve got 14 PG All-Americans...
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
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