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2,497 MLB PLAYERS | 15,833 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
College  | Story | 6/2/2011

Preview: Houston Regional

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REGIONAL COVERAGE: SCHEDULE/RESULTS | REGIONAL BREAKDOWN | PAIRINGS MESSAGE BOARDS


The Road to Omaha has begun and 64 teams around the country are vying for the eight lucrative spots in the first College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

As part of our extensive NCAA postseason coverage, we take an in-depth look at each of the 16 NCAA Regionals.

THE TEAMS
Team Conference Record Berth Last NCAA appearance
1. Rice Conference USA 41-19 Auto bid 2010
2. Baylor Big 12 29-26 At large 2010
3. California Pac-10 31-20 At-large 2010
4. Alcorn State SWAC 27-28 Auto bid Never
THE BREAKDOWN
The favorite: Rice
1. Rice

2. Baylor

3. California

4. Alcorn State
The Owls are playing a very solid brand of baseball at the right time and enter the weekend with high hopes. Though the Owls are only hitting .285 as a team, they're better offensively than the stats indicate. Rendon obviously leads the way at the plate, but infielder Michael Ratterree is hitting .322 with 17 doubles, six home runs and 51 RBIs. Also keep an eye on J.T. Chargois, who has had some big hits this season and is hitting .306 with two home runs and 31 RBIs. Pitching-wise, starting pitcher Austin Kubitza is the key cog. Kubitza has had a fantastic freshman campaign. He has started 14 games and has a 2.33 ERA in 92 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 93 and walked 21 and teams are hitting .255 against him. Abe Gonzales, who has a 3.03 ERA in 65 1/3 innings, will start the opener against Alcorn State, while Matthew Reckling has a 3.07 ERA in 73 1/3 innings. The Owls should get through this NCAA Regional with the way they're playing.
The dark-horse contender: California
The Golden Bears have had solid pitching throughout the season, but tend to go through some offensive lulls at times. The Bears only are hitting .284 as a team with Tony Renda and Austin Booker leading the way at the plate. Renda is hitting .330 with 13 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 38 RBIs, while Booker is hitting .318 with a home run and 22 RBIs. Pitching-wise, the Bears have an excellent ace in Erik Johnson, while they also have high hopes for Justin Jones and Dixon Anderson. Jones has a 3.33 ERA in 105 1/3 innings and teams are hitting him at a .281 clip, while Anderson has a 4.04 ERA in 62 1/3 innings and teams are hitting him at a .268 clip. The Bears should make plenty of noise this weekend if their offense rises to the occasion.
Best hitter: 3B Anthony Rendon, Rice
Rendon hasn't tallied the incredible batting average everyone thought he would this season, but he's still having a solid campaign. Rendon leads the Owls with a .327 batting average, 20 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 35 RBIs. He also has a .535 slugging percentage and a fabulous .523 OBP. Also impressive is the fact Rendon has drawn 78 walks (many of them intentional) and struck out on just 32 occasions. Look for the talented junior, who could play second or designated hitter this weekend, to have a strong weekend.
Best pitcher: RHP Erik Johnson, California
It was difficult to pass over sensational Rice freshman pitcher Austin Kubitza in this category, but Johnson, the veteran hurler for the Golden Bears, has had a fantastic season. He has started 14 games and has a 2.03 ERA in 90 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 91 and walked 41 and teams are hitting him at an incredibly low .184 clip. It's also worth noting that Johnson has only allowed three home runs this spring. The Bears need him to start the weekend on a positive note.
Best prospect: Anthony Rendon, Rice
After putting together a mammoth sophomore campaign for the Owls last season, it was assumed Rendon was the slam-dunk top pick in this year's MLB draft. Some still believe Rendon will go No. 1 overall, while others believe UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole or Virginia pitcher Danny Hultzen could be the top overall picks. At any rate, despite his taking a step back this season, Rendon is a pure player and will be fantastic at the next level if he can stay healthy. Rendon has all the tools you'd want, including a good clubhouse personality.
The buzz
Much has been said about the job Austin Kubitza has done as the Rice staff ace this season, but plenty of love also needs to be given to the bullpen, which possesses several quality arms, including Tony Cingrani, Tyler Duffey, Jeremy Fant and Taylor Wall. Cingrani has transformed into a fantastic reliever this season and has a 1.76 ERA in 56 1/3 innings with 12 saves, Duffey has appeared in 29 games and has a 2.50 ERA, Fant has 3.71 ERA in 26 2/3 innings and Wall has a 3.60 ERA in 35 innings ... The Golden Bears are led on the mound by Erik Johnson and Justin Jones, but they have plenty of other quality arms to watch this weekend. Key relievers include Kyle Porter, Kevin Miller, Matt Flemer and Logan Scott. Porter has a 1.87 ERA in 43 1/3 innings, Miller (who also might start) has a 2.27 ERA in 75 1/3 innings, Flemer has a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings and Scott has a 3.37 ERA in 34 2/3 innings ... Baylor can win this NCAA Regional if it gets hot this weekend. Max Muncy, who's hitting .329 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs, leads the way at the plate. But the weekend rotation is the key to the weekend with Logan Verrett, Josh Turley and Brooks Pinckard leading the way. Verrett has a 2.81 ERA in 93 innings, Turley has a 3.63 ERA in 86 2/3 innings and Pinckard has a 3.81 ERA in 52 innings. Also keep an eye on reliever Max Garner, who has appeared in 27 games and has a 2.74 ERA in 42 2/3 innings ... Alcorn State is one of the nation's most improved teams and is in its first NCAA tournament. The Braves don't have a great offense -- hitting just .276 -- but Kilby Perdomo and Eduardo Gonzalez definitely are worth watching. Perdomo is hitting a team-best .357 with 17 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 49 RBIs, while Gonzalez is hitting .348 with 23 doubles, three home runs and 46 RBIs. Also keep an eye on Angel Rose, who has stolen 37 bases this season.


Kendall Rogers is the college baseball editor for Perfect Game USA and has covered the sport for over 10 seasons. He can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org


College | Story | 7/10/2026

Cape Cod Notebook No. 1

Perfect Game Staff
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Cape Cod League Scouting Notebook  Maverick Rizy | Ole Miss | RHP | Brewster Whitecaps  The towering 6-foot-9, 250-pound right-hander continues to stand out with one of the more unique looks on the Cape, pairing a massive frame with a low three-quarter slot that creates difficult angles for hitters. While his fastball velocity was down from its typical mid-90s range during this look, working mostly 90-92 mph, it still generated plenty of swing-and-miss. He paired the heater with an 81-83 mph gyro slider featuring tight bullet-spin action and mixed in an 85-mph changeup with quality separation. Rizy battled his command early in the outing I saw, before settling in to strike out five over three innings, showing the ability to adjust as the game progressed. Through 12.2 Cape League innings, he has recorded 18 strikeouts, and his combination of size, deception, and projectability...
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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,...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 7/10/2026

Ohio Valley Regional Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘28 INF Christian Ramirez (OH) WALKS IT OFF for @CincyDBulls2028 to win the chip! Has shown impressive tools throughout the weekend and in this AB showed the ability to adjust to the offspeed and win the game. #OVElite pic.twitter.com/J3MXJXFnbM — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) July 5, 2026 Christian Ramirez (2028, Mason, Ohio) helped his team win the championship batting out of the two-hole. Though he didn’t win tournament MVP, Ramirez was my favorite player to watch take a plate appearance. He has an advanced feel for the zone and sees the ball out of the pitcher’s hand quicker than most. Ramirez led the tournament with eight walks, batting .375 with a .583 on-base percentage. Much more than just the approach, the swing is efficient with little wasted movement, creates quality separation, and puts him in an excellent position at contact. With such an...
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