THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Showcase  | Story | 6/2/2014

Catchers shine at Sunshine Southeast

Photo: Tyler Andrews

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. – Playing the catcher position produces a rare breed of player. Catchers are those hard-nosed, block everything, not afraid to take one off the wrist type of players. They are known to do most of the dirty work for pitchers by blocking wild pitches, picking up on batter tendencies, and framing balls into strikes. Most of the time they are the smartest player on the field.

The first edition of the Sunshine Southeast Showcase at the Cartersville (Ga.) Baseball Complex this past weekend saw two of the top catchers in the 2015 class show off their talents. Michael Curry (No. 99 overall, University of Georgia commit) from Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Ga., and Tristin English (No. 120 overall, Georgia Tech commit) out of Willamson, Ga. and Pike County High School were on display for scouts to watch and admire.

The two did not disappoint. Curry posted a 1.85 pop time, while throwing 83 mph down to second. English was equally as impressive with a 1.87 pop time, and he threw 85 mph down to second.

Curry believes that showcases like this one have been beneficial for him in sizing up his competition, as well as, gaining exposure and refining his skills.
 
“They’re really good. It’s actually fun to see all the talent out here and compare yourself," Curry said. "A lot of people stress about it. You just got to have fun with it.”

Some may question why Curry felt the need to come to the event this past weekend considering he has already been invited to the Perfect Game 2014 National Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla. that will take place just two weeks from now. Showing his love for baseball and passion to be the best, he was simply honest about his reasoning for attending the Sunshine Southeast Showcase. 

“I’m out here to just prepare. Last year I was in the Junior Nationals, and I did well, but I just feel like I wasn’t prepared as much as I could have been. So, I’m just out, you know, seeing what I got.”

His hardworking approach to the game has molded him into a spectacular player and is seen on the field, but it is also the reason he has established a unique relationship with one of his former high school teammates.
 
Michael Gettys (No. 6, University of Georgia commit), a 2014 graduate and 2013 PG All-American, is one of the premiere high school players going into the 2014 MLB Draft. He was also a teammate of Curry’s at Gainesville High School this past year. Curry was drawn to Gettys immediately because they possess a similar approach to the game.

“I love to work every day, and I finally found Michael [who] is the same way. Every good baseball player [has] to have that grind every day. We hit a lot together. We helped each other out a lot. He’s helped me when I’m slumping. I’ve helped him. I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s learned a lot from me. He’s a great guy; fun to be around.”

Curry has also benefitted from watching Gettys go through the draft process this year. The way Gettys has handled being a top prospect in the upcoming draft is something that Curry has admired.

“Michael is an unbelievable guy. I’ve never seen anybody work as hard as he does in the weight room. [I’ve] never met a more humble guy. Just watching him handle it, I’ve learned a lot from it: how to handle it, how he’s handled it, how I could handle it. It’s a lot of fun just being there watching him every step of the way.”

English, on the other hand, believes that his growth and attitude as a player are a direct reflection of the way his summer team organization teaches the game. Having been associated with the Homeplate organization in now his eighth year, English raved about the organization as a whole and the benefits of having coaches who understand the recruiting process and know how to get their players exposure.

“They are great. I can talk forever about them. [I] went there when I was 10. Been there ever since. They have never done me any kind of wrong. When the right people were there, they put me out there to be seen. I can’t complain about anything. I love the coaches.”

English has built such a great relationship with the Homeplate coaches that his appreciation for baseball and his attitude on the field are partly due to his coaches.

He explained how they would “just [talk] to me about the game [and] how to go about the game. I used to get really upset whenever I did something wrong, and they were like, ‘this is baseball. You got a chance every single day to show what you got. Don’t get upset about one play.’”

This mindset has driven him to play the game the way it should be played. He has also developed a great deal of confidence in his play since he stopped playing football sophomore year to focus strictly on baseball. This confidence has lead him to not feel the need to try to mimic his play after anyone else.

“I just do me. I don’t watch much pro baseball; more college if anything. I just go out there and try to do my best.”

Both Curry and English have already committed to play college baseball, staying in-state to play at the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech respectively.

Curry’s recruiting process was slightly different than most kids. After his sophomore year of high school, he moved from North Carolina to Gainesville, Ga. This move gave the University of Georgia even more incentive to go after him because he was now an in-state guy.

“They saw me play last summer, but you know, I was an out of state kid in North Carolina. They had a lot of interest in me. But, then they heard I moved into Gainesville, Georgia to play, and that’s when they were like, ‘hey you’re in-state and all that good stuff,’ and that’s when they really started to stay in contact with me.”

“They finally got me on campus, and I just sat down with Coach Strickland. I fell in love with the coaches. It’s all about the coaches. They were great.”

English’s commitment to Georgia Tech may be the epitome of the phrase ‘everybody deserves a second chance.’ Coming from a small town with a population of only 297 people, the big city lights of Atlanta did not seem very appealing to him at first. But, after a second visit, he decided Georgia Tech was the place he wanted to be at.

“They watched me pitch one time, and the next week I had a visit up there. I was really questioning where to go because I didn’t really like the city. My second visit was awesome. It really made up for it.”

“I had it narrowed down to Georgia Tech and Clemson. And I really liked Georgia Tech’s coaching staff. They made me feel at home there.” 

These two are sure to be seeing a lot more of each other in the years to come whenever Georgia and Georgia Tech square off in the baseball edition of ‘Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.’ That is, of course, if they do not get picked up in the 2015 MLB Draft. For now, though, they are both eager to continue to improve to prepare themselves for the next level.

Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
Tournaments | Story | 10/21/2026

Windy City Finale Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘27 RHP Jaxson Weiss (IL) pitched well in his 5 innings and put up some eye popping strikeout numbers. He punched out 10 and allowed only 2ER. FB T86 early and flashed a BB 72-75. #WCFinale https://t.co/M8GtCUgxyS — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) October 17, 2026 Jaxson Weiss (2027, New Lennox, Ill.) a right-handed pitcher put up big strikeout numbers in his start on Saturday. He worked five innings while punching out ten opposing hitters. The fastball topped out at 86 mph and sat in the 82-85 mph range most of the game. His breaking ball was his primary off-speed, living 72-75 mph. Weiss keeps his body under control throughout his delivery, helping him with his good command on the mound. He uses his lower half well with a nice leg drive and gets his hips through, guiding his backside. He pitched with confidence and stayed ahead of hitters most of the game. Hayden...
Tournaments | Story | 10/19/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
The WWBA World Championship remains one of the premier events on the draft calendar as all 30 major league organizations descend on Jupiter to evaluate some of the top talent in amateur baseball. The event serves as a pivotal checkpoint in the scouting process, giving established prospects an opportunity to further elevate their stock while lesser-known names have a chance to put themselves on the radar of various organizations. This year was no exception, as several players made strong impressions and positioned themselves for increased attention heading into the spring. With that being said, let’s dive into a few draft risers and sleepers who stood out in Jupiter. Calum Andersen (‘27,CAN) had his A stuff working today running the FB to 96 mph with a devastating horizontal SL at 85 mph that can break bats. Mixed in a late breaking 12/6 curveball at 78 mph that induces weak...
Tournaments | Story | 10/20/2026

Jupiter Recap: Stars Being Stars

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers With the 2026 WWBA World Championship in the rearview mirror, we're going to begin our breakdowns of 4 different subcategories, beginning today with the Stars Being Stars category. Most of the players below are household names or were teetering on the edge of such recognition, using Jupiter as their launching pad. From Perfect Game All-Americans to some serious helium names for the MLB Draft, the PG crew breaks them all down below.  ‘27 Samir Mohammed (FL) racked up 11 Ks thru 5 IP on 75% strikes. FB lived 98-99, T100 w/ tons of ASR & life thru the zone. Hit 99 mph 10+ times incl his final pitch of the outing. Had his sharp vert CB on a string & faded the CHG effectively vs LHHs (clip). #LSU commit. @PG_Draft #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting)...
Tournaments | Story | 10/21/2026

Jupiter Recap: Uncommitted...For Now

Kyler Peterson
Article Image
WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers | Jupiter: Stars Being Stars Gets your reads in now because by the time you reach the end, some of the talent in this article might be giving their commitments to a college somewhere across the country. Every player below did something that caught out scout's eye and should certainly be on the radar for college coaches, if they aren't already.  Braxton Sykes (2028, Brunswick, Ga.) tossed a total of six innings down in Jupiter, collecting six strikeouts while failing to allow either a hit or earned run during his tenure on the mound. The 6-foot-2 right-hander showcased an impressive three-pitch mix with excellent feel to locate in every part of the strike zone. His fastball lived in the mid- to upper-80s mph range with more velocity to project for as Sykes continues to add strength and...
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 10/15/2026

Beyond the Board: C/UTL Gavin Kelly

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Beyond the Board: SS Dylan Seward 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. This week we are diving in West Virginia’s Gavin Kelly. The Mountaineer backstop posted a .382/.477/.725 slash line with 19 home runs, 44 extra-base hits, and helped lead WVU to Omaha in ‘26. Let’s dive in.  Player: Gavin Kelly  Position: C/UTL B/T: R/R Height: 6-foot-0 Weight: 175-pounds School: West Virginia Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pen. Physical Description: 6-0/175. Lean, athletic build. Sneaky strength throughout. Frame has room to fill out and get stronger.    Slo-mo look at the HR by Gavin Kelly (@WVUBaseball)....
Tournaments | Story | 10/15/2026

Big Offense Propels TBT/FTB to Title

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
Big Offense Wins TBT/FTB Phillies Scout WWBA Freshman Title Runs scoring in every inning led to the TBT/FTB Phillies Scout Team taking home the 2026 PG WWBA Freshman World Championship - winning over Canes National 15U 10-5. It had been a long week in West Palm Beach for the freshmen coming in from around the country to go up against the best of the best. While they had gotten to play on the backfields during the whole tournament, the players who made it to the championship game got to play it in the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches Stadium. TBT/FTB showed their defensive strength right away - executing quickly to retire each of the first three batters. With the bats in their hands, they also showed speed to deliver - with Luca Briggs batting Trey Vandergriff in for the first run of the game and Kingston George quickly plating Briggs with a double in the next at-bat. In the first at-bat of...
Tournaments | Story | 10/14/2026

Beast of the East Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
‘31 Ryan Spann (GA) obliterates this ball for a solo HR 💣. Ball jumps off barrel & shows the juice and & PS impact. 3x @PGSelectFest alum. #BeastOfTheEast @PG_Georgia https://t.co/TgVGPfDRYc — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) October 10, 2026 Ryan Spann (2031, Warner Robins, Ga.) took home MVP honors after a standout weekend and finishing as the number one player on the top performers list. The top player from Georgia and number two player in the country led all performers in home runs (2) and tallied 7 RBIs on his way to a .400 average. The overall profile on Spann is super advanced for the age with electric offensive upside and one of if not the prettiest swing in the class. This will be a fun follow for years to come and I am all in. Carlo Rivero (2031, Apopka, Fla.) checks in as the number one overall player in the class and it’s easy to see why at...
Press Release | Press Release | 10/14/2026

Perfect Game Extends Turtlebox Deal

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH TURTLEBOX AS OFFICIAL BLUETOOTH SPEAKER AND AUDIO PROVIDER   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, October 14, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Turtlebox has extended its partnership as the Official Bluetooth Speaker and Audio Provider of Perfect Game. The relationship, which began in 2023, expands to include original content, player recognition and a larger presence at Perfect Game's marquee events. At the center of the extension is "Turtlebox Cage Sessions," a new series produced and distributed by Perfect Game across all its social media platforms. The 12 short-form episodes will feature...
Tournaments | Story | 10/13/2026

East Cobb/Padres Explode Late for Jupiter Win

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
East Cobb/SD Padres ST Explode Late for WWBA Worlds Win A hard-fought, crazy ending resulted in the East Cobb/SD Padres scout team coming back and winning the 2026 PG WWBA World Championship over the SBA/Marlins Scout Team 2028. The score was 8-7 after the championship was won with a walk-off balk. After going against some of the most talented, highly-ranked players in the country for the past couple days, it was finally time for the championship game at Roger Dean Complex Stadium in Jupiter, FL. The WWBA World Championship, or, as it’s more commonly and lovingly referred to as, “Jupiter,” has become a favorite for all who have been part of its iconic, golf-cart infested, electric atmosphere. This championship game was sure to entertain. The first two innings were scoreless for both teams as they got settled. Both defenses were making plays - SBA/Marlins executed a...
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 4

Marcus Thomas
Article Image
WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 James Watson (2030, Canton, Ga.) showed the two-way upside to start bracket play for East Cobb Astros 15u. On the mound the right-handed pitcher went three innings and with three strikeouts and spread five hits and two walks for three runs. Watson works from a hybrid windup from the middle-of-the-rubber into a small heel-turn and an around-the-belt leg lift before using drop-and-drive back leg mechanics into a longer, in-line stride down the mound. Showed some feel to get extension down the mound. The hands separate into a moderate arm action before accelerating through from an over-the-top arm angle. The fastball ran up to 86 with arm-side run and life. Paired it with a curveball with 11-5 shape and solid two-plane break. Mixed in a change-up in the upper- 70s with some vertical depth. Competed at the top of the zone well. Athletic...
Loading more articles...