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| 2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,631 MLB PLAYERS | 16,402 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
General  | Top Ten | 6/9/2008

College Seniors: Draft Wild Cards

More than any demographic in the baseball draft, college seniors are viewed differently than other prospects. They often come with a negative connotation as most are seen as late-round afterthoughts, cheap signs, inexpensive roster-fillers or convenient pawns for teams to keep their signing budgets in check. Five years ago, the Kansas City Royals drafted college seniors with all their picks from the fifth- through ninth-rounds, and paid them $1,000 apiece.

There are two distinct types of “senior signs” in any draft.

There are those seniors who have some level of legitimate prospect status, often carried over from not signing after their junior season. Clubs will slot these kind of seniors prominently on their draft boards and spend a solid draft pick on them. The players cannot expect to receive slot money in the rounds they are selected and will often be offered far less (each club’s policy towards seniors differs) than a high school senior or a college junior in a corresponding slot. The bonus they can expect to receive is often about two-thirds of a conventional draft pick. But these seniors are treated as prospects, not roster fillers.

Then there are the roster fillers, players signed in later rounds for a very minimal signing bonus ($1,000-$2,500) to fill out short-season Class A or Rookie-level rosters. Teams draft these players according to their own organizational needs, many not until near the end of the draft.

True Story: Sometimes these roster-filler, senior signs turn out to be future major leaguers. When I was with the Houston Astros in 1994 as an assistant scouting director, we were at the stage of the draft where we were alternately drafting senior-fillers and draft-and-follow candidates. We had a scout in the Northeast named Bob Blair, who had yet to have one of his players drafted, just missing on a couple of very good prospects early. Noting that, and for no other good reason than Bob needed a player and 6-foot-5 lefthanders are always a good risk, I decided to draft John Halama from St. Francis (N.Y.) College in the 23rd round. It was apparent from the first time Halama pitched at Auburn (New York-Penn) that Bob, and every other scout in the area, had under-evaluated Halama and that he was a future major leaguer (88-90 mph fastball, ++ changeup, + command, unbelievable pickoff move, poise, etc.). He ended up pitching 262 games in the big leagues.--DR

In the order that we project they’ll be drafted in June, here’s the 10 most noteworthy D-I transfers:

Seniors can occasionally play an integral role early in the draft. Take the 2007 draft, when Florida first baseman Matt LaPorta was the seventh overall pick (Brewers) and was immediately followed by Vanderbilt reliever Casey Weathers (Rockies). Two other seniors, Gonzaga righthander Clay Mortensen (36th pick, Cardinals) and Louisville righthander Trystan Magnuson (56th pick, Blue Jays) were picked in the compensation round.

That scenario is not likely to be repeated this year as only one senior is projected to be selected in the first round or comp round, Georgia closer Josh Fields. That’s more in keeping with the five-year stretch from 2002-06 when only two college seniors were selected in the first round.

Since Fields, a Braves draft pick, didn’t sign last year as the 70th pick overall and has had a significantly better senior season, his selection in the first round should come as no surprise. His path parallels that of LaPorta, who was projected as a potential early first-round pick prior to his junior season before a weak spring caused him to plummet in the draft, and he returned for his senior season.

There is usually a range in each draft when the elite-level senior signs start flying off the draft board. It usually depends on the depth of signable talent in a particular draft and how pressured teams are in towing the line on bonuses. Sometimes this scenario happens as early as the fifth to sixth rounds; other years it occurs a little later.

For the purposes of Today’s Top 10, the top college seniors this year can be broken into three categories: (1.) players that were drafted a year ago, (2.) players that have never been drafted, and (3.) players that were drafted out of high school but went undrafted as college juniors. The only significant potential early-round draft that fits the latter category is Long Beach State righthander Andrew Liebel, a potential third-rounder.

We’ll identify the top 10 prospects in both of the earlier categories, starting with the college seniors who were drafted a year ago:
Rank Player Pos. College Drafted '07 Projected '08
1 Josh Fields RHP Georgia Braves (2) 1st round
2 Cole St. Clair LHP Rice Indians (7) 3rd-4th
3 Sawyer Carroll OF Kentucky Nationals (18) 3rd-6th
4 Mitch Harris RHP Navy Braves (24) 4th-6th
5 Robbie Weinhardt RHP Oklahoma State Astros (38) 5th-6th
6 Ryan Strauss RHP Florida State Twins (35) 5th-6th
7 Erik Davis RHP Stanford Rangers (21) 5th-6th
8 Dominic de la Osa OF Vanderbilt Tigers (10) 5th-7th
9 Tyler Coon LHP Southern Mississippi Diamondbacks (38) 6th-7th
10 Pat McAnaney LHP Virginia Pirates (38) 6th-8th
The top-rated college seniors in this year’s draft who have never been drafted:
Rank Player Pos. College Projected '08
1 Paul Gran 3B Washington State 4th-6th
2 Rob Musgrave LHP Wichita State 4th-6th
3 B.J. Rosenberg RHP Louisville 5th-6th
4 Ryan Kulik LHP Rowan (N.J.) 5th-8th
5 Nate Recknagel 1B Michigan 5th-8th
6 Tyson Bagley RHP Dallas Baptist 5th-8th
7 Cory Arbiso RHP Cal State Fullerton 6th-8th
8 Josh Satin 2B California 6th-8th
9 Tom Koehler RHP Stony Brook 6th-8th
10 Alan DeRatt RHP UNC Asheville 6th-8th
--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON

General | General | 10/8/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 67

Ron Wolforth
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Rethinking Baseball Warm-Ups: A Call for Innovation  Let’s kick the old warm-up tradition to the curb, shall we? Baseball has a reputation for being a sport rooted deeply in its customs, and while some traditions are worthy of preservation, one that needs a refreshing overhaul is the standard warm-up routine. Picture this: an hour before the game, players jog a lap, gather to stretch in a circle, and then stand around playing catch. Does that really prepare anyone adequately for the mental and physical demands of pitching? In my view, it falls woefully short, and I’ll explain why. The typical warm-up approach - running a lap, static stretching, and simply tossing a ball back and forth - doesn’t even scratch the surface of what’s necessary for optimal performance. This process often leaves pitchers feeling only 75% prepared, and that’s just not good...
Tournaments | Story | 10/19/2026

PG Draft: Jupiter Draft Movers

Tyler Henninger
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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...
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 | 10/15/2026

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...
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.  ...
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