Top Prospect List

2004

1. SS Eric Campbell (Indiana Yankees): The Kernels Championship MVP was outstanding in all areas, including leadership. His steal of home in the championship game, with Indiana down by 1 run and everyone knowing what was about to happen, was classic.

2. RHP Will Jostock (Wisconsin Blazers): The big 6-6 Jostock struck out 13 hitters, including 10 the last 4 innings, in a complete game victory. Jostock topped out at 88, had great life to his fastball and really got his curveball working late in the game.

3. RHP Tim Radmacher (Team Minnesota): Radmacher’s stuff was a click better than Jostock’s, especially on his curveball, and he was just as dominating. He gets edged out by Jostock on projectability, though.

4. SS Josh Flores (Top Tier): A agile fielder with a strong arm and soft hands, Flores opened some eyes by winning the Home Run contest. He swung the bat very well in game situations, too.

5. 1B Tyler Beranek (Wisconsin Blazers): The AFLAC All-American hit maybe the hardest ball many of the Perfect Game staff saw all year, a laser off the right centerfield fence that got out there almost before the outfielders could turn around.

6. RHP Dusty Brabender (Wisconsin Blazers): The 6-6 Brabender had a mid to high 80’s fastball and good curveball, but what was most impressive was the command and polish that he had in a complete game effort.

7. CF-C Edwin Roman (Indiana Yankees): Roman matches his teammate Campbell in aggressiveness, betters him in running speed and almost has as much bat speed. We like him in centerfield better than behind the plate.

8. OF Joe Dunigan (Top Tier): Dunigan suffers when he sees too much soft stuff from pitchers, but that’s what happens when you are as intimidating a hitter as Dunigan is. He surprising us by throwing 86 off the mound, too.

9. C Brandon Hall (Hitters Baseball): Hall hasn’t received the national recognition as many other catchers across the country, but the Wisconsin native can hit with anyone.

10. LHP Danny Bales (PG Navy): Along with his usual masterful pitching performance, Bales flashed another part of his game; a powerful left handed bat.

11. C Alex Hale (Wisconsin Blazers): Hale was probably the top individual defensive player at the Championship and swings a powerful bat when he gets hands extended to the ball.

12. RHP Gary Perinar (Top Tier): Pernier topped out at 89 mph on his fastball and showed us better bite on his high 60’s curveball than we’d seen before. He has very good command for a power pitcher.

13. RHP Stephen Ross (Diamond One): Ross is a projectable 6-3 pitcher with a loose, easy arm stroke. He topped out at 85-86 mph in Cedar Rapids but he came back to throw much harder in Jupiter at the World Championships, topping out at 91 mph.

14. RHP Aaron Craig (Team Minnesota): Craig was one of the hardest throwers at the event, touching 88 mph consistently with a good 74 mph curveball.

15. CF Drew Hartweck (StL Diamond Stars): Hartwick has an impressive combination of above average speed and some pop in his bat. He’s strong and athletic at 6-0, 190.

16. RHP Brent DeCoster (Diamond One): The Championship Most Valuable Pitcher had excellent control of a 83-85 mph fastball and sharp breaking ball. We’ve seen him throw harder since.

17. RHP Jordan Baughman (Top Tier): Baughman has a nice pitcher’s body at 6-4, 185 and a loose arm. He threw in the 85-87 mph range with an effective split finger change. Baughman throws a ton of strikes with both pitches.

18. OF John Lequia (Hitters Baseball): Lequia had one of the strongest arms at the tournament, along with classic right field power potential.

19. RHP Jason Laird (Wisconsin Blazers): The Wisconsin Blazers imported Laird all the way from Georgia, so you knew he’d be good. Laird threw 85-86 mph with great life and a big breaking 73 mph slurve.

20. SS Grant Berkowicz (Wisconsin Blazers): Berkowicz is one of the best defensive middle infielders in the Midwest. He has great actions and smooth hands along with a strong arm.

21. RHP David Conroy (PG Red): We’ve seen Conroy frequently and this wasn’t his best outing. He still hit 88-89 mph, though, and he has excellent natural arm strength.

22. OF Michael Harrington (PG Navy): Harrington swung the bat well, as always, and showed improvement in centerfield on defense. He also hit 84 mph off the mound.

23. CF Adam Calez (Diamond One): Calez showed us very good bat speed at the plate and solid average running speed in centerfield and on the bases. He’s also a hustler who gets the most out of his ability.

24. 3B Derrick Alfonso (Indiana Yankees): Alfonso is an excellent defensive third baseman who looks like he could play middle infield as well. He’s a good line drive hitter at the plate.

25. RHP Dale Longfellow (StL Diamond Stars): Longfellow has a strong pitcher’s body and a fastball that reaches the upper 80’s, with good sink when he’s down in the zone.

2005-2006

1. RHP-SS Jeremy Hellickson (KC White Sox): Hellickson threw his usual 89-92 mph with a plus curveball, but the treat of the tournament was to watch him hit and play shortstop in game situations. He’s a very talented athlete off the mound.

2. SS Christopher Buss (Team Minnesota): Buss is highly projectable at 6-3, 175 and showed impressive power in the Home Run contest. He has good hands on defense and an average arm right now from shortstop.

3. RHP Michael Bowden (Illinois Sports Academy): Bowden showed good arm strength in topping out at 87-88 mph and flashed a good curveball as well. He’s a pitcher to watch for the future.

4. OF-LHP Nick Nordgren (PG Red): Nordgren does a bit of everything well on the field…hit, run, field, pitch. He’s like 3 or 4 prospects rolled into one for a manager.

5. CF-LHP Jeremy Kuester (Indiana Yankees): Kuester has above average speed and excellent bat head skills. Kuester will surprise you occasionally with some pop in his bat,too. He also was impressive as a left handed pitcher.

6. SS Cody Whitehead (StL Diamond Stars): Whitehead has a well balanced set of tools for a middle infielder. His bat may end up surprising some people.

7. 3B Dan Black (Indiana Yankees): Black is a big, strong young man with some pop in his bat. He’s very agile and a good fielder for a 6-3, 210 15 year old.

8. OF Kalvin Johnson (KC White Sox): Johnson is a very projectable underclassman at 6-3, 175. He’s a good athlete with a smooth swing that just needs some more muscle to develop plus power.

9. C Zach Shy (StL Diamond Stars): Shy is a strong young player with good pop in his bat. He looks like he’s a good defensive catcher, too.

10. 2B Corey Ashner (KC White Sox): Ashner has above average actions at second base and a quick line drive bat. He’s also a very smart baseball player.