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High School  | Rankings | 11/16/2021

2023 Rankings Risers: Pitchers

Jason Phillips
Photo: Zander Mueth (Perfect Game)


Zander Mueth (2023, Swansea, Ill.), No. 6 overall: Mueth has done nothing but impress against older competition without missing a beat. Super projectable frame, already running the fastball up to 95 mph while sitting in the low-90s with a wipeout slider from a tough angle. Sky is the limit for the Mississippi commit, as he finished off the summer circuit with three no-hit innings in Jupiter on just 40 pitches with three strikeouts and zero walks.





Bryce Eldridge (2023, Vienna, Va.), No. 11 overall: Another power right-handed pitcher, Eldridge uses his big 6-foot-7 frame to get down the slope, creating a steep angle for hitters from his higher slot release point. The ball jumps out of his hand, consistently sitting 92-95 mph with the fastball, a curveball in the low-80s and a useable changeup around 85 mph. The Alabama commit has plenty of room to fill out his frame as he just turned 17 years old.



James Hays (2023, Hawkinsville, Ga.), No. 18 overall: Hays is a right-handed pitcher with a physical build that throws really hard. The Georgia commit has increased his fastball velocity over the summer from 93 mph to 97 mph while improving the command of his secondary offerings. Not just a hard thrower, Hays is pitching to contact with quality pitches early in the count before reaching back for more when a strikeout is needed. Big strides in his pitchability as he is commanding the zone with all of his pitches and going deeper into games.



Aiden Keenan (2023, Morgan Hill, Calif.), No. 25 overall: There aren’t many high schools in the country that can say they have a potential first round pick taking the mound, let alone two that are starting both games of a doubleheader. Then there’s Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California that can say just that. Keenan, a right-handed pitcher and Stanford commit, runs the fastball up to 95 mph with a tight curveball in the mid-70s. He struck out 10 batters over a three-game span in Jupiter with two walks and no hits allowed. His teammate at Live Oak High School and Alpha Prime 2022 is our next riser, Landon Stump.



Landon Stump (2023, Morgan Hill, Calif.), No. 36 overall: Stump is the other half of that potential first round duo. The Oregon commit struck out six over 5 2/3 innings in Jupiter and ran his fastball up to 94 mph with a breaking ball in the 74-78 mph range. A good problem to have as a coach, as both right-handed pitchers are rising up the ranks and both are still only juniors.



Landen Maroudis (2023, Largo, Fla.), No. 47 overall: The highest ranked two-way player in the 2023 class, Maroudis is asserting himself as a power right-handed pitcher that can hit for himself in the lineup. The North Carolina State commit is a legit three-pitch guy with a fastball up to 94 mph, a curveball up to 78 mph, and a disappearing changeup in the low-80s. A shortstop when not on the bump, Maroudis displays athletic actions which carry over in the box as a right-handed hitter, with barrel awareness and ability to use the whole field.



Francesco Capocci (2023, Cumming, Ga.), No. 56 overall: The Georgia Bombers have been developing Division-I pitchers now for years, and add Capocci to that growing list. The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher and North Carolina commit has steadily increased his velocity and command of his curveball while coming up the Bombers ranks. He culminated his summer circuit for the Bombers with four scoreless innings at the WWBA World Championship on one hit with four strikeouts and an All-Tournament Team selection. He has increased his fastball velocity up to 94 mph over the summer, with a sharp curveball in the 78-80 mph range and changeup in the low-80s as a third offering. A rise up the rankings is merited with some physical and pitch projection remaining.



Cameron Johnson (2023, Upper Marlboro, Md.), No. 62 overall: 6-foot-4 left-handed pitchers that throw 94 mph? Sign me up please. Johnson is just breaking the surface on his potential with increased velocity in a short period of time and performing against top-notch competition. The exciting part of his game is the added strength in the lower half and the ability to maintain his velocity deeper into games. The uncommitted Johnson has increased his velocity from 87-91 mph in June, to 91-94 mph in October from the left-side, ensuring his name will definitely shoot up the rankings.



Liam Peterson (2023, Palm Harbor, Fla.), No. 73 overall: A long and lean right-handed pitcher that keeps improving every time he takes the bump. The Florida commit runs the fastball up to 93 mph with a curveball, slider and changeup. Put up huge numbers during the 2021 season and looks to continue his growth on the mound as he matures into his young 16 year-old frame.



Chance Fitzgerald (2023, Sanford, Fla.), No. 78 overall: Fitzgerald is a right-handed strikeout pitcher and Florida State commit. His 10 strikeouts over six scoreless innings at the WWBA Underclass in Fort Myers will make anyone take notice. Then turn around and a week later punch out seven more in three innings at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter and you can’t deny his strikeout abilities. His 17:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in consecutive outings against quality hitters is a warranted riser in the rankings.



Tucker Holland (2023, Burlington, N.C.), No. 85 overall: Big left-handed pitcher that is still only 16 years old with plenty of physical maturity coming. All-Tournament Team selections at both WWBA World Championship and WWBA World Junior Championship with the ability to repeat his delivery and tunnel the slider off the fastball for swings and misses. There is a lot to be excited about from the Arkansas commit.



Grant Smith (2023, Phoenix, Az.), No. 107 overall: Smith cemented his name as a right-handed pitcher to watch back in May at the 16U WWBA West Memorial Day Classic with a one-hit effort over six innings with eight strikeouts. The uncommitted 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander earned All-Tournament Team honors with a clean delivery while commanding the zone with a fastball up to 90 mph, curveball in the mid-70s and flashed a changeup at 75 mph. Smith is another two-way guy with a frame that has room to fill with leverage and barrel awareness in the box.



Miller Green (2023, Nashville, Tenn.), No. 111 overall: Big left-handed pitcher that has increased his velocity from 85 mph to 91 mph in the past year as he fills out his 6-foot-5 frame. An All-Tournament Team selection at the WWBA World Championship with four strikeouts over four innings to go along with a .333 average in 17 plate appearances in the box. Two-way player with upside on both sides of the ball as a Georgia Tech commit.



Mikhai Grant (2023, Stockbridge, Ga.), No. 119 overall: One of the biggest risers in the 2023 pitching class is Grant. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-handed pitcher ran the fastball up to 93 mph with two scoreless innings and a pair of strikeouts in Jupiter. The uncommitted junior has quickly shown his ability to match up against any pitcher in the class and execute his three-pitch mix with quality outings. A name to monitor moving forward on the circuit and at Dutchtown High School as not only a pitcher, but as an outfielder with some pop in his right-handed bat.



Jeffrey Heuer (2023, Greensboro, Ga.), No. 122 overall: Another right-handed power pitcher from the Georgia Bombers pitching pipeline, Heuer has burst onto the circuit this summer with a fastball up to 94 mph and a curveball in the mid-70s with depth. The uncommitted 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander threw two scoreless innings at the WWBA World Championship with one hit and three strikeouts after dominating at the WWBA Underclass the previous week. Heuer struck out nine batters in three scoreless innings at the WWBA Underclass with one hit allowed en route to a well-deserved All-Tournament Team selection.



Brady Louck (2023, Plainfield, Ill.), No. 140 overall: Louck has been named to the All-Tournament Team at the last two Perfect Game events he has participated in. The left-handed pitcher threw four scoreless innings at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. with four strikeouts and gave up only two hits. The Notre Dame commit was up to 90 mph in Jupiter, less than three weeks after throwing 86 mph in Iowa at the WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship. Louck knows how to pitch regardless of his velocity on any given day, with the command of his fastball, slider and changeup and the ability to throw any one of them in any situation.  
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High School | General | 11/20/2025

Regional Superlatives: Florida
Vincent Cervino
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Most Likely To Make a Huge Jump in the Rankings in 2026 RJ Shields (2027, Venice, Fl.) Shields took some significant strides throughout 2025, especially on the mound. The fastball reached 95 mph in recent months and he projects well with great athleticism and a sharp breaking ball. Shields is also a left-handed bat with good thump in the stick. The Mississippi State commit shot up the rankings following a loud fall and looks poised to continue to climb. -KP High speed BP swing from '27 OF Gavin Ruvalcaba (FL)... #JrNational @Florida_PG https://t.co/OwU9I0u6eY pic.twitter.com/gjYZbmCPGE — PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) June 12, 2025 Gavin Ruvalcaba (2027, Hialeah, Fl.) Ruvalcaba had a very strong 2025 and looks to be continuing on that path. The Duke commit has plenty of athleticism and is very well rounded with good tools across the board. The stroke is smooth and produces...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2026

Tyler Henninger
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The Class of 2026 is one of the deeper prep classes that we have seen in a couple of years. With that being said, there is plenty of talent on the defensive side. Let’s take a look at some of the best defenders in the class.  C: Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (Memphis, TN) Brick is a newcomer to the class after reclassifying, but immediately became the top backstop. Extremely advanced actions are shown behind the dish with impressive athleticism to go with it. Brick showcases big time arm strength and is consistently accurate on throw downs. He can make playing the position look extremely easy at times. Brick possesses all the defensive tools needed to be a premier catcher.  1B: AJ Curry, University City HS (San Diego, CA) Curry has a bigger and stronger frame with good strength throughout. He has a well-proportioned build that serves him well on the dirt. He’s...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Scout Stories: Part 3

Tyler Kotila
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Best Game I Saw: The 17u Ultimate Baseball Championship featured a thrilling matchup between the ZT National Prospects and the Trosky Brewers 2026, with the winner claiming the trophy. Both teams showcased their talent, boasting a combined 15 players committed to Division I programs. In a back-and-forth contest that highlighted standout pitching against potent lineups, ZT National ultimately held off a late comeback to secure a 5-4 victory. Justin Lopez shone for ZT National with three hits and two RBIs, while University of North Carolina commit William Myhand added two hits and two runs batted in. On the Trosky side, UCSB commit Noah Dabela kept his team competitive with an impressive performance out of the bullpen, tossing 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings. However, time ran out with ZT on top. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Noah Jarolimek delivered an outstanding performance at the 14U...
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Draft | Story | 12/10/2025

PG Draft: Post-Lottery Draft Targets

Tyler Kotila
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On Tuesday night, the MLB Draft Lottery took place, and the draft order has officially been set for July. With draft slots finalized, teams can now begin narrowing in on the prospects most likely to be available when they are on the clock. From polished college players to high-upside preps, several potential targets are already emerging as ideal fits based on past draft philosophy and finalized draft position. Let’s take a look at potential targets for the six teams that were awarded a lottery pick.  1. Chicago White Sox Potential Targets:  -Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA -Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (Tex.) -Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.) The White Sox took home the top spot at the MLB Draft Lottery, staying true to their spot, with the highest odds to earn the first-overall draft pick amongst lottery-eligible teams this year. This will only...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/9/2025

Scout Stories: Part 2

Kyler Peterson
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Scout Notes: Part 1 Best Game I Saw: '27 OF Finnian O'Loughlin (NJ) singled oppo & came up big to walk it off w/ a 2B in B7 to complete the comeback victory. Good pwr projection & been hitting the ball hard w/ regularity. @PG_Uncommitted #UBCEast @PGMidAtlantic @TheCanesBB pic.twitter.com/wm4yrDp4SF — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 18, 2025 The first game that I saw this year was probably at 16U UBC- East down in West Palm Beach, Florida when Wow Factor National and Canes National faced off in an afternoon match. Both lineups were absolutely loaded up and down, but it was the pitching performances that really stood out. Both starters, Texas commit Grant Sperandio (Wow Factor) and Tennessee commit Brady Buenik (Canes) came out pumping octane, each touching 94. They both held that velocity and Sperandio neutralized the opposing order with high level stuff, holding the...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/8/2025

Scout Stories: Part 1

Steve Fiorindo
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Best Game I Saw:  Feel like I may put this every year (don’t fact check me), but the PG All American Classic is always up there, I’m sure I could pick a game where I saw Seth Hernandez shove for Corona here too, but the All American Classic is always just loaded with talent and it pretty well wraps up a long summer of baseball.  Being back at Petco Park makes it even more special as it’s simply one of my favorite venues to watch a game, and seeing a group of the top high school players in the country in that yard is simply awesome.  And to have the West squad win, just makes it that much better (Yes, I’m a left coast homer).  The Underclass All Star Game kicking things off has made the event even better the last few years, and gave us a taste of what to look forward to down the road.  I’m sure Kinon Bastian will have numerous big...
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College | Recruiting | 12/8/2025

The State of Recruiting in the Northeast

Ryan Miller
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Cold weather states face unique obstacles when producing baseball talent and none persevere better than those in the Northeast. States such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, among others have annually funneled high-level recruits throughout the country to college baseball’s premier destinations. New England has specifically made a name for themselves, in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and occasionally Vermont or New Hampshire. Below, we look at the programs who annually land top talent from the East Coast, showcasing the vast spectrum of area competitors.   Top ACC Bidders Maintain Grasp on the Northeast    An extended look at '27 RHP Enmanuel Acevedo (NY)... @PG_Uncommitted #WWBAWorlds @PGMidAtlantic https://t.co/8uH6Lg95OL pic.twitter.com/vpQdG0G7qI — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) October 21, 2025 Duke and Virginia will be tied to the hip for the...
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College | Story | 12/5/2025

College Notebook: December 5

Craig Cozart
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Memphis Tigers 2025 Highlights: Head coach Matt Riser began to put his stamp on the program in his first year as skipper after leaving Southeastern Louisiana where he won over 300 games in 10 seasons. He is a proven winner and while they took their lumps at times last year, they did beat Ole Miss at home for the first time since 2001 and achieved their first conference road sweep in over a decade at Rice. Under his direction there was a significant uptick in offensive production as they slugged 68 home runs (fifth most in program history) and walked 284 times (third most in program history). They also saw massive improvements on the mound, putting together a sound rotation and the back end of the bullpen was excellent securing 16 saves. Ultimately, they would miss the American Athletic Conference tournament, but the foundation is in place for 2026 to be one of the best in recent history....
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General | Blog | 12/5/2025

Down on the Farm: NL West

David Rawnsley
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It’s the time of the year again (i.e. the off-season) for the annual PG Down on the Farm feature.  We identify a top prospect in each of the 30 Major League organizations with as much Perfect Game background as possible and delve into that PG history for some insight into his development as a prospect.  Some of them might be high profile, high draft pick, ex-PG All-American talents who fans have been long familiar with.  Others might be more obscure prospects who have significantly improved either in college or as professionals.  Note that players who have used up their rookie eligibility are not considered. The idea isn’t to necessarily pick the best PG background prospect in each organization but the one who might be closest to the big leagues.  Sometimes that is the same player, other times not. And there is plenty of variation among organizations...
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Draft | Story | 12/4/2025

PG All-Americans: Where are they now?

Tyler Kotila
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PG All-Americans - Where are they now? Every year, Perfect Game hosts its All-American Classic, one of the most prestigious honors for high school players across the country. It’s a storied event with 23 years of rich history — between the countless big leaguers who have gone on to produce incredible big-league careers, to future World Series champions, and players from more recent years who still have a whole road ahead of themselves. This week, our PG Draft Team has decided to take a look back at the history of this event over the years. Our scouts on the draft team went through and selected a PG All-American Classic from the past to discuss across three different eras. Over its 23-year history, we have divided it into three eras: the 2000s, the 2010s, and the 2020s. Our Scouts take a look at some of the noteworthy performers from the years they chose, and give a little...
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General | Blog | 12/3/2025

Down on the Farm: NL Central

David Rawnsley
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It’s the time of the year again (i.e. the off-season) for the annual PG Down on the Farm feature.  We identify a top prospect in each of the 30 Major League organizations with as much Perfect Game background as possible and delve into that PG history for some insight into his development as a prospect.  Some of them might be high profile, high draft pick, ex-PG All-American talents who fans have been long familiar with.  Others might be more obscure prospects who have significantly improved either in college or as professionals.  Note that players who have used up their rookie eligibility are not considered. The idea isn’t to necessarily pick the best PG background prospect in each organization but the one who might be closest to the big leagues.  Sometimes that is the same player, other times not. And there is plenty of variation among organizations...
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