THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,401 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,401 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
General  | General | 7/4/2011

18u WWBA Day 2 Highlights

MARIETTA, Ga. -- The highlight of Day 2 at the 2011 18u WWBA National Championship was a Lance McCullers sighting. The #1 ranked player in the class of 2012 toed the rubber for FTB Louisville Slugger at the East Cobb Complex against the Prospect Stars. As per the usual with any McCullers start, he drew a crowd.

The surprise however, was that McCullers turned out to be the hard luck loser, dropping a 2-1 decision to finesse lefty
Joe Vanderplas (2011 Fairfax HS, VA). The pitching matchup featured two polar opposites who both saw similar results. McCullers, a flame throwing right handed power pitcher, drew oohs and ahhs with his consistent mid 90s heat (up to 96). Vanderplas sat in the mid to upper 80s with his fastball (up to 88).

But Vanderplas showed plus command of not only his fastball (which also had a lot of movement) but also very advanced feel for his curveball which had good depth and some bite to it. He also worked in a solid changeup in the upper 70s that was very good at times and shows a lot of potential. Not only did he throw 74% of his pitches for strikes, the crafty lefty was hitting his spots very well, living in the corners of the strike zone. Vanderplas will be heading to the University of Tennessee this fall and though he doesn't light up the radar guns he is a very effective pitcher who has some projection.


McCullers took the loss in spite of allowing just 3 hits (2 BB) and 2 Runs (1 ER) over 5 innings while striking out 5. Vanderplas went 6 1/3 innings, scattering 4 hits, giving up an earned run and striking out 7 without walking a batter.



Top Performances


-Roundtrip Baseball continued to impress, moving to 2-0 with a 7-3 win over a very talented Marucci Elite team. Roundtrip used a pair of 90+ arms to stiffle the loaded Marucci lineup. Starter Pete Nagel (2011 Metter HS, GA) was up to 91 and earned the win by going 5 2/3 and striking out 12 while allowing a pair of unearned runs. Byron Buxton (2012 Appling County HS, Baxley, GA) closed it out and showed off plus arm strength with a fastball that sat 92-94 mph.

-Chain Black SS
Matt Taylor (2012 Fitzgerald HS, Kathleen, GA) continued to impress with the bat during his first PG tournmanet, going 2-for-3 with a Double, a Run and an RBI.

-
Wyatt Mathiesen (2012 Calallen HS, Corpus Christi, TX) continues to impress with his bat this tournament, hitting a Home Run in an 8-0 win by Team Citius. Mathiesen has impressive hitting tools as well as a very strong arm from behind the plate and on the mound (was up to 87 at the WWBA South Qualifier last fall).

-Excel Blue Wave continue their dominance on the mound as they improved to 2-0 on the young tourney and have yet to allow a single run. More impressively, their second win came via a combined no-hitter from
Hunter Solymani (2012 Pelham HS, AL) and Will Brown (2012, Briarwood HS, Vestavia Hills, AL).

-3B
Travis Demeritte (2013 Winder Barrow HS, Stratham, GA) had a huge day at the plate, with a Double, a Home Run and an impressive 6 RBIs in the EC Astros 16u 13-0 blowout victory. Demeritte has been consistently ranked near the top of the class of 2013.

General | Blog | 9/21/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 68

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
Are You Fixated on the Wrong Variable? Why Pitch Count Alone Was Never Going to Prevent Arm Injuries   You know a family this happened to. You might be one. They did everything right. They followed the pitch count. They honored the rest days. They tracked innings. They sat him when the chart said sit. They were the parents who spoke up when a coach wanted one more inning in a bracket game. And he got hurt anyway. I've been working with throwers for a long time, and that conversation is the one I have quite often… A parent sitting across from me genuinely bewildered because they followed the rules and the rules did not work. They usually assume they missed something. Most of the time they didn't. They managed exactly what they were told to manage. The problem is that what they were told to manage is one variable out of four.   The Uncomfortable Part First   Throwing...
Tournaments | Story | 10/6/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Preview

Ryan Miller
Article Image
Jupiter has long been one of the best opportunities for draft eligible players to make an impression and this year’s field should be no different. With an elite collection of prospects all competing on the same fields, the event provides a valuable opportunity for players to establish themselves against some of the best competition in the class. This week’s WWBA World Championship could be a pivotal week for several prospects looking to make an impression and elevate their draft stock. Ahead of the event, the draft team each highlighted a sleeper prospect (someone who is currently not ranked in our board) to watch, as well as a current member of our Top-100 who could make a significant move up the rankings. Keep an eye on these names throughout the week as they look to make an impact and force their way up the board on our next update.  Top-100 Risers Jake Ivey...
Tournaments | Story | 10/5/2026

WWBA Underclass Scout Notes: Day 4

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
WWBA Underclass Scout Notes: Days 1-2 | Day 3 Hudson Covington (2028 Aliso Viejo, CA) has had himself a weekend at the dish, hitting an even .500 going into Championship Monday including a perfect 3-3 performance in the 2nd round of playoffs for TB SoCal. In just his 5th PG event, the uncommitted prospect is certainly making a name for himself with plenty of offensive tools to like. From the left side, Covington keeps the path direct and repeatable with a pull side & middle of the field approach displayed. He flashes high contact tool and does a great job of putting something in play with two strikes, limiting the swing/miss in the stroke with evident control of the barrel. Levi Anthony x2‼️ this one longgg gone for a 3-run shot💣 showing off big time power today #WWBAWorlds @PGMidwestBB https://t.co/0Jr8QY0KFC — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 3, 2026 Creighton...
Tournaments | Story | 10/5/2026

PG WWBA Coastal Fall World Series

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Evan Chwaszczewski (2030, York, SC) stands at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds with a tall, athletic frame and long limbs. Shows good physicality with room for continued strength and development. Bats and throws right-handed and is a catcher. Creates good leverage and drives the ball with authority. Shows good bat speed and stays inside the baseball well. Chwaszczewski went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, having a great day at the plate. Elias Jackovich (2030, Crouse, NC) stands at 6-foot-3, 175 pounds with a tall, well-proportioned frame and developing strength. Bats left-handed and throws right-handed and plays third base. Has a confident approach with good contact ability. Drives the ball into the gaps with developing power. Shows good bat speed and stays inside the baseball well. Jackovich went 2-for-3 with one double. Porter Ingle (2030, Ellenboro, NC) stands at 5-foot-10, 155 pounds...
Draft | Story | 10/5/2026

Beyond the Board: Dylan Seward

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
As the 2027 draft cycle moves through the fall and into the offseason, we kick off a new series called Beyond The Board. With each installment, we will provide an in-depth scouting report for some of the top players in the class, breaking down their tools, strengths, question marks, and overall projection. To kick things off, we let’s take a look at the current No. 1 player on our board, Norco HS SS Dylan Seward. Player: Dylan Seward Position: SS  B/T: S/R Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 177-pounds School: Norco HS Hometown: Corona, Calif. Physical Description: 6-0/177. Shorter build. Lean, athletic body. Frame has wiry strength throughout. A little bit of room for some continued strength development.  Hit: Switch-hitter. Uses an even base with a slightly closed stance from the left side and ever-slightly open stance from the right side. Hands are set at chin level. Displays a...
Tournaments | Story | 10/4/2026

WWBA Underclass Scout Notes: Day 3

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
WWBA Underclass Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Richard Cruz Iii (2028, Chandler, Ariz.) has had a good weekend offensively, driving balls to the gaps with consistency. The barrel accuracy and fast hands stand out as the swing is super direct to contact and he can whip it with consistency. It’s a solid package of offensive tools that give upside at the middle infield position.    ‘28 OF Thomas Shank (CO) comes thru again with an RBI knock to secure the run rule. Really moves the barrel around w/ excellent B2B. #WWBAWorlds @PG_FourCorners https://t.co/22TfZij9ZV pic.twitter.com/lEFBce5Zii — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 3, 2026 Thomas Shank (2028, Castle Pines, Colo.) had two more hits during the 8am slot and continues to shine in terms of the hit tool. He’s an athletic outfielder with a really pretty stroke that projects nicely. It’s an extremely...
Tournaments | Story | 10/3/2026

WWBA Underclass Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Gage McRae (‘27 NC) obliterates this ball well over the LF wall and into the top of the trees for a solo shot💣 evident power tool being put on display from the @PG_Uncommitted prospect #WWBAWorlds@PG_Coastal https://t.co/AFKGSrGz8n pic.twitter.com/RbwgsUK2yi — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 2, 2026 Gage McRae (2027 Mount Gilead, NC) certainly put his name in the conversation for longest HR during Underclass Opening Day, as the uncommitted catching prospect finished his night by simply demolishing a moonshot into the trees well above the LF wall at Fort Myers High School. Strength is clear for the coastal kid standing at 6-foot, 195 pounds with power generated from the lower half. Starting from a slightly crouched, quiet base, McRae displays dangerous barrel whip and to say he impacts it with authority would be an understatement. It’s safe to say he can put...
Tournaments | Story | 10/3/2026

14u/17u Fall National Champ. Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Kipton Vose (‘29, AZ) shows a solid 3 inning outing while striking out 4. FB up to 83mph from the left side paired w/ a confident CB. Over the top and attacks early #FallNatChamp https://t.co/y2Zy7JKanE — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) September 25, 2026 Kipton Vose (2029, Queen Creek, Ariz.) earned Most Valuable Pitcher honors after a strong weekend that included a three-inning outing with four strikeouts and a start in the championship. The left-handed pitcher worked with a fastball up to 83 mph. Vose paired it with a curveball that he landed for strikes. The pitch mix was consistently thrown for strikes, allowing Vose to attack hitters early in counts. He showed the ability to generate swings and misses while maintaining a steady rhythm and working efficiently in the zone. The 5-foot-10, 145-pound frame and consistent delivery gave him an effective presence...
Draft | Story | 10/3/2026

2027 Draft: College Demographic Breakdown

Ryan Miller
Article Image
The 2027 MLB Draft cycle is still in its early stages, but the overall makeup of the class is beginning to come into focus. With the first version of our Top-100 board out, we took a closer look at positional demographics from both college and prep players within the class.  Last week we took a look at the preps, so this week lets dive into the college class.  College Right-Handed Pitchers  Top Ranked Players: Dax Whitney, Oregon State | Chris Levonas, Wake Forest | Ryan McPherson, Mississippi State | Casan Evans, LSU | Sam Cozart, Texas Potential Sleepers: Tanner Bradley, Oregon | Austin Nye, Vanderbilt | Smith Bailey, Arizona   Dax Whitney (‘27 elig.) showing LOUD stuff in collegiate debut. FB sitting 94-97 mph (T98 mph). Upwards of 22” IVB. Can create over 21” of HB on SL at 82-84 mph (~2900 rpm). CB at 77-79 mph with sharp, 12-6 action pairs...
Tournaments | Story | 10/1/2026

MW Champions Cup Scout Notes: Part 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Midwest Champions Cup Scout Notes: Part 1 Alexander Kakach (‘27, MN) high level stuff with athleticism on the mound. 89-94 with the FB today. Two distinct breaking balls with a SL at 80-83 & over 3000 RPM at times. Another vertical depth breaking ball in the upper 70’s. Real developing arm talent. #Creighton commit.… pic.twitter.com/EUS21vI7o0 — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) September 27, 2026 Alexander Kakach (2027, Plymouth, Minn.) for pitchers from cold weather states in the fall, scouts look for who can potentially make the jump next spring and who has big stuff. And I think this one proved that he is in that category while in Chicago last weekend. He’s athletic, he moves well on the mound and rolled out throwing 90-94 for 3+ innings. Spun sharp breaking balls with distinct shapes including a couple sliders north of 3000 RPM. There’s a...
Press Release | Press Release | 10/1/2026

PG Introduces New Event Classification System

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME INTRODUCES NEW EVENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, October 1, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a reorganization of its events into five distinct classes in order to provide more clarity to families and teams across the country. PG’s event offerings – from onsite experience to DiamondKast to social media coverage – will evolve based on each event class. The five event classes are: Flagship, Premier, Signature, Classic and All-Star. All include both team and individual events except for All-Star, which are invitation-only individual events that operate at a Flagship level. The...
Loading more articles...