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Summer Collegiate  | Story | 7/15/2010

Gaedele Shines in the Northwoods

Quite often the players with the greatest upside that participate in the Northwoods League are coming off of their freshmen years, using what is usually considered the second-best collegiate summer league as a springboard to build from before moving on to the more prestigious Cape Cod League, or even Team USA in the case of Scott McGough (who I had rated as the league’s sixth-best prospect last summer).
 
First of all, don’t tell anyone associated with the NWL that they are second best to anyone.  Haven recently expanded to a 16-team league with two eight-team divisions, the league prides itself in creating an environment that closely resembles what life in the minor leagues would be like.  They draw very well at the turnstiles, boasts teams in five states/provinces (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario), which causes for a significant amount of travel, and not only do the hitters use wood bats, but the pitchers use the same balls that are used in professional baseball.
 
This year the league boasts a potential five-tool talent in Valparaiso outfielder Kyle Gaedele, currently playing for Madison.  He started his summer somewhat slow, but was inserted into the team’s leadoff spot about week before the first half of the season came to an end, and has responded very well.
 
Drafted by the Rays in the 32nd round of the 2008 draft out of high school, he currently is batting .325/.398/.513 for the Mallards.  He is tied for second in the league in both hits and runs.  He has six doubles, four triples and five home runs, and has also swiped 10 bags in 12 attempts.  Those numbers help give you an idea of what this young man is capable of.
 
And he looks the part, built at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, and he continues to add strength to his athletic, projectable frame.
 
As he continues to get bigger, he also continues to refine his baseball skills.  Ranked the second best prospect last summer in the Prospect League behind LSU and Team USA outfielder Mikie Mahtook, the only areas of Gaedele’s game that drew concern were his approach and his power.  He led the circuit in stolen bases with 30, and posted a nearly identical line during the summer (.278/.394/.439) as he did the spring before for the Crusaders (.278/.392/.414).
 
Gaedele also struck out 100 times between his spring and summer seasons, not uncommon for a freshman, but certainly an alarming figure that pointed to an obvious area for needed improvement.
 
This past year as a sophomore he drastically cut down on the Ks, whiffing 42 times in 236 at-bats.  He has continued to show a better eye this summer, striking out only 23 times in 154 at-bats so far.  There is still room for improvement in this category, but it’s encouraging to see him make the necessary adjustments at the plate.
 
And his power has also improved, slugging .610 this spring with 19 doubles, eight triples and seven home runs.  As noted above, he already has 15 extra-base hits this summer, showing no problems continuing his more potent swing with a wood bat, and was recently rewarded with a spot on the league’s all-star team.
 
Of course the speed is still there too, with 65 stolen bases overall during his college career, including his two summer stints, in 74 attempts.  For an athlete his size, that’s particularly impressive, and he also has a strong arm and good defensive instincts to be considered a true five-tool talent.
 
In addition to his physical talent, he has a very interesting family background.  His great uncle was Eddie Gaedel, who, at 3-foot-7, became the shortest player ever to bat in a big-league game when he stepped to the plate for the St. Louis Browns in 1951.  Wearing the number 1/8 on his jersey, he drew a walk on four pitches in one of the more notable public stunts in the history of baseball.
 
Feel free to come up with your own quip to compare Kyle Gaedele to his historically famous baseball uncle, but should he make it to the big-leagues one day it will be on his own merit, thanks to his natural talent and desire to improve.
 
Asche, Nyisztor also Shine
 
Two other prominent prospects were recently named to the Northwoods League’s all-star game by enjoying fine summer seasons:  Nebraska’s Cody Asche and Rutgers’ Steve Nyisztor.
 
Asche, a corner infielder, like Gaedele, is draft-eligible next June, and is currently leading the league in both home runs (seven) and RBI (37).  He had a huge game for the Duluth Huskies on Monday, going 5-for-6 with a pair of dingers and 6 RBI.  A left-handed hitter with a patient approach, Asche performed well at the 2008 Perfect Game World Showcase where he showed advanced skills at the plate.
 
Nyisztor isn’t draft eligible until 2012, but he too is no stranger to Perfect Game events, having participated at the ’09 PG National.  Like Gaedele, he is a true five-tool talent, with exciting size, speed, arm strength and overall potential at the plate.  He is coming off of a huge freshmen season at Rutgers, hitting .410 while committing only three errors at second base this season.  Playing for the St. Cloud River Bats this summer he trails only Asche among the league leaders in RBI (34), hitting .311 with nine doubles, five triples and three home runs.
 
Be sure to check back for my first-hand observations on Gaedele, Asche, Nyisztor and the rest of the Northwoods League all-stars next week.
 
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.


Summer Collegiate | Story | 9/26/2023

Cape Cod: Best of the Rest

Vincent Cervino
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Cape Cod Top 100 Prospect List | Cape Cod Top 2025 Prospects * indicates draft eligible sophomore ^ indicates incoming transfer Name Pos. Team School Hometown State Andrew Sundean C Hyannis UCF Lakeland FL Bradke Lohry^ IF Hyannis Tennessee Trinity FL Cam Schuelke^ RHP Hyannis Mississippi State Dorr MI Carter Lovasz RHP Hyannis William & Mary Midlothian VA Colby Shelton*^ IF Falmouth Florida Lithia FL Colin Tuft^ OF Orleans Tulane Vienna VA Daniel Corona^ IF Cotuit Missouri Brooklyn NY Derek Clark^ LHP Orleans West Virginia Petersburg MI Duce Gourson IF Falmouth UCLA San Diego CA Eddie Micheletti OF Orleans George Washington Wilmington DE Enzo Apodada^ OF YD Baylor Scottsdale CA Evan Truitt RHP Orleans Charleston Southern Berlin MD Finnegan Wall RHP YD UC Irvine Hesperia CA Garrett Coe RHP Falmouth Uconn Lakeside CT Ian Petrutz OF Bourne Maryland Mantua NJ Jakob Christian^ 1B YD...
Tournaments | Story | 7/5/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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Michael Wedgeworth (2030, Flomaton, AL) had put the two way ability on full display so far this week, dominating from both sides. On the mound Wedgeworth ran the fastball up to 84 (81-83) with ease to the delivery. Broke off a couple nasty curveballs that induced swing and miss, as well as freezing hitters for punch outs. Collected six in his four inning complete game. He also would not be denied at the plate going 3-5 in the first two days with two doubles. Very intriguing young player as the body continues to grow.  Tyler Bellush (2031, Summerville, SC) is a sure handed shortstop for the Canes Nation squad. Swings it from the left side of the plate and the barrel accuracy has really stuck out thus far. 3-4 through the first couple days with a double and two triples, Bellush has also walked twice and collected 3 RBI along the way. Yesterday against USA Prime with the bases loaded,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/4/2026

16u WWBA North Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Oliver Lindstrom (2028, Green Bay, WI) created some of the loudest offensive moments of the weekend while producing across the board, finishing with six hits, eight RBI, and a home run. The right-handed hitter showed the ability to stay through the baseball and drive it with authority. Creates quality leverage through the lower half while arriving in strong hitting positions early, allowing the barrel to work with intent through the zone. The blend of power, athleticism, and all-fields impact stood out throughout the event.  Dominic Haigh (2028, South Bend, IN) was one of the most productive hitters at the event, collecting 10 hits while consistently creating pressure on opposing defenses. Made life difficult on pitchers with a relentless approach, routinely extending at-bats and forcing them to work deep into counts. The operation remains simple and efficient, featuring an early...
All American Game | Story | 7/3/2026

Initial 2026 All Star Game Roster Reveal

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We are excited to announce the first selections for the 2026 PG All Star Game from both the Perfect Game Junior and Sophomore National Showcases. The PG All Star Game will be held on Friday, August 14th at Citizens Bank Ballpark, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and will feature roughly 40 of the top players, predominately from the 2028 class with a few of the very best 2029s also selected. A watchlist has been created from the Junior National Showcase and another group of players will be selected from that showcase towards the end of July as we continue to evaluate players at the major Perfect Game tournaments this summer. The final wave of selections we be made at the PG Underclass All American Games August 5-7 at the UCSD in San Diego, CA. PG Underclass All American Games   Junior National Selections Dexter McCleon Jr. OF Suwanee, GA USA Prime Cullen Scott RHP/3B Melissa,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/3/2026

13u WWBA Scout Note Recap

Jheremy Brown
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Walter Izquierdo Jr. (2031, Miami, Fla.) showed off the upside on the mound for Beast Baseball 13u. The right-handed pitcher went four innings and collected three strikeouts while spreading two hits and two walks for one run. The fastball topped out at 80 and was consistently in the upper- 70s. Showed feel for a curveball with 12-6 shape and some looser vertical depth that was able to get weak contact. Competes in the zone well and showed some feel to work on the arm-side half of the plate. Intriguing upside on the young arm.   Brett Hamlin (2031, Jupiter, Fla.) showed off the barrel feel for FTB American 13u. The left-handed hitter collected nine hits, including two doubles and a triple, to drive in seven RBI. Strong hands and flips the hips well to create good bat speed. Simple operation that gets on time consistently and impacts the ball well. Worked the pull-side well and...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
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More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
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Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
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Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
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JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
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