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Draft  | Story | 2/18/2011

Draft Overview: Class of 2013

Allan Simpson
DRAFT OVERVIEW
 Class of 2013
  
 Pair of First-Rounders Highlight
 2013 Class, Just Like This Year
  
 Major-league teams set a record for bonus money spent (almost $200 million) on drafted players for the third year in a row in 2010. But no matter how much they keep spending, it never seems to be quite enough to sign all the elite high-school talent.
 
For the second straight draft, two first-round selections from the prep ranks went unsigned. The San Diego Padres failed to come to terms with righthander Karsten Whitson (ninth pick overall), now a freshman at the University of Florida; the Milwaukee Brewers couldn’t find common ground with righthander Dylan Covey (14th overall), now at the University of San Diego.
 
The two pitchers are ineligible to be drafted again until 2013, and predictably rank 1-2 on PG CrossChecker’s list of the Top 200 Prospects in the Draft Class of 2013. The list is composed of college freshmen and high-school sophomores.
 
The decisions by Whitson and Covey to turn down ever-increasing bonus offers to first-rounders is hardly a novel concept as it happened a combined three times in the 2008 and 2009 drafts. Coincidentally, the top-rated college pitchers in this year’s draft, UCLA junior righthander Gerrit Cole and Texas Christian lefthander Matt Purke, are former unsigned first-rounders. Cole turned down an offer from the New York Yankees as the 28th overall pick in the 2008 draft, while Purke chose college over the Texas Rangers after being selected with the 14th pick in 2009.
 
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Whitson is certain to draw a lot of scrutiny this spring as Florida begins the 2011 season as the nation’s No. 1-ranked college team. For all his obvious ability, Whitson may have to wait his turn to showcase his talent as the Gators are scheduled to open the season with a three-man rotation that includes two sophomores, lefthander Brian Johnson and righthander Hudson Randall, and a junior, lefthander Alex Panteliodis. Whitson, though, will be given every opportunity to crack the rotation by the start of the Southeastern Conference schedule.
 
Whitson is a tall, projectable pitcher with top-of-the-rotation potential. At 92-94 mph, touching 95, he had the best fastball on the Florida staff in the fall. His low-80s slider was also one of the better breaking balls in the 2010 draft class, and his changeup continues to evolve into a solid third pitch. Whitson, though, has a very mature approach to pitching and can often dominate primarily with his fastball and working to locations. He gets very good sinking action on the pitch down in the zone.
 
Covey had every intention of signing with the Brewers last summer, but it was discovered shortly before the Aug. 16 signing deadline that he had Type 1 diabetes. He and his family subsequently determined that the best course of action to manage his illness would be to attend college at USD, and he has since regained about half of the 35 pounds he reportedly lost as a high-school senior.
 
Though he has rarely flashed the 97-mph velocity that he did in the fall of his senior year at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla. Covey still has the best stuff on the USD staff and will be used as the team’s Friday or Saturday starter this spring. His fastball has been consistently in the low 90s, and he continues to refine his curve and changeup.
 
The unexpected appearance of Whitson and Covey in this year’s college freshman crop gives the 2013 draft class a decided college flavor. In fact, the third- and fourth-ranked players in the class, outfielder Austin Wilson and righthander A.J. Vanegas, both currently attending Stanford, would almost certainly have been first-round picks, as well, last June, had they given a clearer indication that they were signable.
 
Wilson slipped to the 12th round, where he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, while Vanegas was claimed in the seventh round by the Padres. In all, 26 players drafted in the first 10 rounds last June went unsigned.
 
Among 103 college freshmen on the accompanying list of 200 prospects, all but 13 were drafted out of high school. Among those that went undrafted are three players (Oregon lefthander/first baseman Porter Clayton; Oregon State shortstop Kavin Keyes and Florida righthander Jeff Driskel) who finished up their high-school education in December and enrolled in college as freshmen in January.
 
Clayton may have been a first-round pick in June had he remained at an Idaho high school and completed his senior year this spring. He ranks right behind his Oregon teammate, righthander/third baseman Ryon Healy, as the nation’s highest-ranked freshmen that weren’t drafted. Healy, No. 8 on the list, reportedly scared off teams from even drafting him with a significant seven-figure asking price.
 
The tendency for a first-round pick to opt for college over pro ball, even against the backdrop of escalating bonuses, is a fairly recent trend, and stems in part from the leverage given to big-league clubs in the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement that enables them to walk away from difficult negotiations and recoup their losses with a corresponding pick in the following year’s draft. Both the Padres and Brewers will earn an extra first-round pick this year for not signing Whitson and Covey.
 
Over the 45-year life of the baseball draft, teams have failed to sign high-school players taken in the first round on 35 occasions. The practice was particularly commonplace in the draft’s first 12 years, when the average first-round bonus was less than $50,000 (as opposed to the 2010 average of about $2.2 million). The 1970, 1971, 1976, 1979 and 1989 drafts each saw three prep players drafted in the first round go unsigned, but prior to Cole in 2008, no high school first-rounder had gone unsigned in seven years. Since then, though, it’s happened five times.
 
The 2010 draft marked the first time that Florida and San Diego had secured the services of an unsigned first-round pick. Southern California holds the distinction of steering four prep first-rounders to college, though none since 1976.
 
While several prominent unsigned picks from last year’s draft dominate the preliminary 2013 draft list, a number of high-school players have begun to establish themselves as potential first-rounders two years down the road.
 
The No. 1-ranked prep player on the list, according to Perfect Game, is shortstop Chris Rivera from El Dorado High in Anaheim, Calif. Rivera, who ranks No. 5 overall, has solid tools across the board and has even been clocked up to 91 mph as a pitcher, though is being more closely pursued as an everyday player.
 
With three college and high-school seasons yet to be played until the 2013 draft is held, it’s safe to say that the list of top prospects probably will change considerably between now and then. But with players like Covey and Whitson in the mix, teams aren’t likely to stray too far from the opportunity to re-draft an ex-first rounder.
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Draft | Rankings | 6/19/2026

PG Draft: Top 500 Update
Tyler Henninger
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

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Perfect Game Staff
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Aiden Weishaar (2029, Geneso, Ill.) physical power bat put together one of the most productive offensive performances of the event, showing big impact off the barrel with advanced strength and leverage through the swing. Collected six hits including two doubles and two home runs while driving in 13 runs, consistently doing damage in run-producing situations. Creates loud contact with present pull-side juice and projects for significant power as the frame and strength continue to mature. Middle of the order offensive profile with the ability to change the game with one swing. Also stood out on the mound with a dominant 7 inning performance, punching out 11 hitters while working efficiently throughout the outing. Fastball ran up to 86 mph with good life through the zone and showed the ability to consistently attack hitters and miss bats. Highly intriguing two-way prospect whose combination...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

14u WWBA Returns to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
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One of the most anticipated events on the summer travel baseball calendar returns this week as the 2026 Perfect Game 14U WWBA National Championship gets underway in Hoover and the surrounding Birmingham area. Now in its 19th year, the tournament has established itself as the premier event for 14U players across the country, annually attracting some of the top young talent in amateur baseball. This year’s championship will feature 129 teams competing for a national title, continuing a tradition that has seen organizations such as East Cobb Astros, Team Elite, USA Prime, SBA Bolts National, and defending champion ZT National Prospects take home the trophy. As always, the field is loaded with elite prospects, many of whom are already becoming familiar names within the Perfect Game community. Starting off strong with Christopher Cabrera, the No. 1 overall player and No. 1 third baseman...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

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Perfect Game Staff
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UBC West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 | Days 3-4 Impressive performance on both sides from Cole Migaki, working 5 and striking out 3 w/o allowing a walk for the ND. FB 81-83 T85, BB 73-74 #UBCWest https://t.co/nSIx0UVQY7 pic.twitter.com/t2zXIpPLCO — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 16, 2026 Cole Migaki (2029, Vancouver, Wash.) Migaki is a high-end prospect, putting that on display with one of the more consistent performances at the 15u UBC West.  He totaled five hits, drove in four and walked six times to only two strike outs to help lead the Baum Bats to the title.  He has a projectable frame 6-foot-1, 170-pounds with strength throughout.  The right-hander made an appearance on the mound, throwing five-innings and striking out three without allowing a walk.  The fastball was up to 86 with run and coupled it with a sharp breaking ball in the...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

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Emily Hicks
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This weekend, 11 teams will take the field for the 2026 17U BCS Challenge, a three-day event that brings together programs from across the country for a full slate of pool play and bracket action. With games beginning Friday and a champion crowned Sunday, the format leaves little room for slow starts, making every inning important from the opening pitch. The field features a mix of established programs and rising teams. With so many evenly matched rosters, there’s not much separation heading into the weekend, which puts importance on pitching depth, defensive consistency, and timely hitting. Pool play will quickly determine seeding, and even one loss can shift a team’s path heading into bracket play. One of the teams expected to be in the mix is Hawaii Elite 2G 17U National, a group that is 6-3 overall and ranked as “Honorable Mention” on the Perfect Games...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

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Erica Beach
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PG Stars Over Florida Showcase Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026   CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 14U division where we had teams representing three states.     14U Division   Zoey Salas (2030, RHP/1B Windsor, CO) of the Colorado Angels 14U Breed was a standout player all weekend. She was a strong two-way player who proved to be a consistent force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, this left-handed hitter starts...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Aggieland Showcase

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PG Aggieland Showcase College Station, Texas June 13-14, 2026 Scouts: Brynn Baca & Karlie Milburn COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS- Perfect Game Softball was excited to return to College Station for the second annual Aggieland Showcase last weekend.. Some great competition was seen over the three age groups. We had two scouts on site to evaluate and highlight some of the athletes who caught their eyes. Thank you to all teams and players who competed so hard! Below we highlight those athletes who impressed our scouts. 18U Division Elizabeth Posada- Elizabeth Posada is a 2028 two-way player from Houston, Texas, competing for Aztecs Premier who brings an intriguing combination of offensive upside and athletic versatility. At the plate, Posada recently went 4-for-8 on the weekend, continuing to show consistency and offensive awareness. She sets up with a slightly open, wide stance and does a...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

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Alyssa Golden
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The fifth annual PG City of Palms Championship is set to take place in Fort Myers, Florida, from June 19-22, featuring teams from the 15U-18U age divisions. The four-day event will showcase some of the top talent in the state, including several nationally ranked prospects who have already made their presence felt this summer season. Before tournament play begins, here’s a look at some of the highest-ranked players expected to compete this weekend. Leading the group is catcher Nico Ayars in the 16U division. Ayars enters the weekend as the No. 135 player nationally, the No. 3 catcher in Florida and the No. 20 catcher in the country. Through 22 games this summer with Turn 2 Garcia, the right-handed hitter owns a .887 OPS while batting .306 with a .438 OBP and a .449 SLG. Ayars has collected 15 hits while driving in 12 runs and scoring 13 times. Ayars’ teammate, right-handed...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/17/2026

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Dave Durbala
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SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase, June 13-14, 2026. Twenty-Seven teams, representing the 14u and High School Divisions, arrived at the newly opened all turfed Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe, for the opportunity to showcase their talent in a five game guarantee format. As with anytime we bring a group of players together for competition, there will be those players that rise to the challenge and turn in performances that earn them a place on our Top Performers list.  Below are some of the players, from both divisions, that were recognized as top performers. 14U Division Kinley Abrams (2030 Bloomington, IL) is a RHH for Texas Glory IL-2030 (Wyatt). Setting up in a slightly wide parallel stance, into her back leg, Abrams gains separation with a  push back to transfer weight, and then utilizes a small stride to launch her swing. Abrams works a...
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Juco | Story | 6/18/2026

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Blaine Peterson
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Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leffel - RHP - Fresno City College 2026 Stat Line: 89.1 IP | 12-1 | 1.91 ERA | .83 WHIP | 118 K An outstanding individual pitching season in California JUCO baseball this spring. A model of consistency on the mound making starts in January through May for Fresno City. Worked over 89 innings on the mound and made 14 starts where he threw at least 5 innings. Ranked in the top 5 of California JUCO in wins, ERA and strikeouts. And one of the only pitchers in all of JUCO to reach the benchmarks of 10+ wins (12), a sub 2.00 ERA (1.91 ERA) and 100 strikeouts (118 K). A consistent and dominant presence on the mound for a team that went 40-5 this past spring. Congratulations to Nathan Leffel, 2026 Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year. Ryan Bradford | FR | OF@JCCCBaseball Everything I have from this spring starting with HR’s 31 & 32 today. This is...
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