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2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Tournaments  | Story | 5/31/2021

Tener Back on the Bump for East Cobb

Photo: Luke Tener (Tori Heck, Perfect Game)
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Nearly a year ago to the day, Luke Tener laid alongside the road, surrounded by a mess of twisted metal and fractured glass, the smell of burned rubber in the air. Tener had just experienced a car accident that nearly claimed his life.

Once removed from the wreckage, and following initial medical assessments, it wasn’t clear whether Tener would ever walk again, let alone play baseball. Practically the entire left side of his body had been impacted from head to toe. But fast-forward to East Cobb Astros 17u Navy’s game on Sunday in the Perfect Game Southeast Memorial Day Classic, and Tener was handed the ball to start for the first time since the incident.



Although his first time back in a game, for Tener himself, there was never a doubt that he’d see the field again.

“I never thought that I wouldn’t play again,” said Tener. “The doctors just never told me that there was a chance of that, so I just always believed that I would keep playing.”

And in his return, Tener registered his first strikeout of the season, en route to a 10-9 win for the Astros. There wasn’t any ‘going easy’ or ‘feeling sorry for himself’; it was just genuine pitcher-batter competition.

“It definitely felt strange, but it’s still the same. Throwing to the catcher, that’s all it is,” said Tener. “I wish I could have done better, but it was really fun to be out there.”

The path to returning to the mound was no easy task for the junior lefty, but Tener is not one to shy away from a challenge. He described the hours and hours of physical therapy required to simply prepare him for the simple movements of everyday life. Re-learning baseball mechanics, and polishing those to the extent needed to play, was an additional challenge.

“I just had to work hard and have the trust that I was going to get back to where I was, and to remember how fun it was to play,” Tener said.

Behind the scenes and along for his journey were Tener’s parents. Surely, for any parent, to see your child in danger induces a level of trauma unmatched to almost any other circumstance, but to see them overcome adversity is priceless.

For Matt Tener and Sharon Baldwin, belief in their son never wavered, and in response to their support, neither did Luke’s end goal: stepping foot onto a field again.

“Obviously right when the wreck happened, I wanted to make sure he lived because it was a pretty serious accident,” said Baldwin. “Pretty much his whole left side was messed up, not just his shoulder, feet, legs, everything. But he kept a good attitude through it all.”

Even in the immediate aftermath of the accident, Tener’s demeanor was reassuring, almost calming, like he knew he had had a hill to climb yet was ready for the push. From that point on, Baldwin knew Luke would fight to gain even the smallest semblance of his former self.

“It was really scary. I didn’t realize that it was as serious as it was,” Baldwin said. “I thought maybe he hit somebody and they’re late to work. And as I’m driving up on it, I see the fire trucks, ambulance and everything, and he’s strapped to the stretcher and his face is purple. He’s yelling ‘Mama I’m okay, Mama I’m okay,’ but he wasn’t okay, clearly.”

Like any injury, healing takes time, but the Pope High School enrollee would have to endure the stress associated with several surgeries to repair structural damage to his body. At one point, Tener’s movement was even constrained to that only capable in a wheelchair.

That transformation made the image of Tener’s sweeping side-arm fastball even more memorable on Sunday afternoon. The fact that in under 12 months, Tener was competing in a Perfect Game event that features some of the nation’s top talent, is objectively impressive.

Through it all, that feat was never lost on Matt, Tener’s father.

“Today, [my emotions] were all over the map. Seeing him walking out there today, I was almost crying my eyes out,” said Matt Tener. “Mentally, just the fact that he’s gone through so much, and how he’s faced it, taking it head-on, I don’t know of somebody who has had to endure what he has had to endure for an entire year. So, I told him over and over that I used to think that I was kind of tough, but it’s absolutely nothing compared to what he’s done.”

Putting aside box scores and wins and losses, Tener is just grateful for the opportunity to return to baseball and to the East Cobb program. The team, the field, the dugout. Everything about the game cultivated a reason for Tener to push for a return.

“It means a lot, just so that I can play with my boys and get out there on the field,” Tener said when asked of what this journey has meant for his personal growth. “The best part is just being back out here with my friends.”

Among its most impassioned players, the sport of baseball is more than just a game. Baseball can serve as many things, but for Tener, a lust to taste the competition that only baseball seems to bring, has been a guiding light on his road to recovery.

Even at his darkest moment, when all could have been lost, that light never faded.

“I’d love do that,” Tener said when asked if his sights are still set on a baseball career at the next level. “I just want to play baseball as long as I can.”


Tournaments | Story | 10/15/2026

Big Offense Propels TBT/FTB to Title

Hannah Jo Groves
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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...
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 10/15/2026

Beyond the Board: C/UTL Gavin Kelly

Tyler Henninger
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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 | 10/14/2026

Beast of the East Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘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

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  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
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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
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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...
Tournaments | Story | 10/12/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 4

AJ Denny
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 ‘27 Mark Susa (WI) picked up 3 Ks thru 2 inn of work. 4SFB topped at 90 mph early on; 2S lived 85-86 w/ good run & sink down in the zone. Spun a 2600 rpm SLV w/ sharp traits (clip). Got up to 7’1” of extension. 6’4/200lb frame w/ more to come. #IUBase #WWBAWorlds @PG_WiscMinn https://t.co/uXfjVSSSZF — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 11, 2026 Mark Susa (2027, Hudson, Wisc.) put together a quality outing on Sunday, striking out three batters over 2.1 innings of work. The 6-foot-4 200-pound left-hander ran his fastball up to 90 mph, pairing it with a two-seamer that lived in the 85-86 mph range with heavy sink and arm-side run. He also showed great feel for spinning and locating his slurvy breaking ball, which read spin up to 2600 rpm. Susa utilizes his length to his advantage, creating...
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 3

Kyler Peterson
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘28 Alan Zimmerman (FL) racked up 5 Ks w/ just 1 H allowed thru 3 shutout frames. Lived 89-90 T91 w/ lots of life thru the zone & some ASR. Dropped in a 12/6 breaker for Ks (clip). Projectable 6’3” mold. #Uncommitted @PG_Uncommitted #WWBAWorlds @Florida_PG https://t.co/KTDFpGK49y — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 10, 2026 Alan Zimmerman (2028, Winter Garden, Fla.) was dominant in his start on Saturday, collecting five strikeouts through three shutout innings while allowing just one hit. The uncommitted 6-foot-3 right-hander showed out in front of a lot of scouts, running his fastball up to 91 mph. The heater plays up with lots of life through the zone and short arm-side run. Zimmerman sat comfortably in the 88-90 mph range, pairing his fastball with a late-acting 12/6 curveball that was landed...
Tournaments | Story | 10/11/2026

WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 3

Jheremy Brown
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WWBA Freshman Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 Carson Garzaniti (2029, Jupiter, Fla.) showed the barrel feel all game for West Boynton Cobras. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with his weight shifted forward and in-line feet with a high handset and an even back elbow, utilizes a heel lift weight transfer trigger. Creates some separation in the back shoulder and uncoils the lower half with a short, direct hand path and extension out front from a slightly uphill bat plane. Good bat speed in the swing with some feel to impact. The catcher has shown the barrel accuracy all event with three hits, including a double and triple, to drive in four RBI and has come around to score five runs. Lean, athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame with feel to generate power working ground up from the back leg. Exciting player that has been swinging a hot stick through pool play.  ...
Tournaments | Story | 10/10/2026

WWBA World Champ. Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA World Championship Notes: Day 1 ‘27 C Joshua Digulio (TX) opened the morning in Cacti Park with a bang. In his first at-bat of the morning, Digulio crushed an 0-2 fastball. The right-handed hitter powered a fly-ball through the Florida morning humidity off the back wall of the left field bullpen for a no-doubt solo shot. Everybody in the stadium knew it was gone as soon as he made contact. The catcher also worked a walk in his only other plate appearance. His home run was the only hit in the game, providing Texas Brigade 2027 a 1-0 win.  ‘27 MIF Xavier Martin (IL) woke up the stadium with an electric swing. The right-handed hitter was sitting dead-red on a 2-0 heater, got it, and torched it. Martin scorched a line drive all the way over the left field bullpen, as the ball cleared a near 20-foot wall and bounced onto the concourse. It was a two-run shot for the...
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