Briarcrest Christian Saints (Eads, Tenn.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Hugh Fisher (LHP, 2017, 74)
- Trey Harrington (SS, 2017, Top 1000)
- Connor Shamblin (RHP/IF, 2018, 183)
- Jack Fite (1B/3B, 2018, N/A)
- Juston Mask (IF/OF, 2018, N/A)
- Chase Martin (OF/LHP, 2018, N/A)
Hitting
Senior shortstop Trey Harrington leads the Saints offensively. The leader of the team, Harrington has sound tools both in the box and at shortstop with great athleticism (he was a three-year starter on the basketball team). Juston Mask and Jack Fite should provide most of the offense for the squad and the intriguing piece is Connor Shamblin. The two-way talent should see time in the infield with good pull-side power.
Pitching
The prize of the starting staff for Briarcrest is lefthanded Vanderbilt commit Hugh Fisher. He is extremely competitive on the mound with excellent athleticism as well. The southpaw has a free and easy arm with the ability to throw three-pitches for strikes and has one of the most projectable frames in the class. Shamblin will see time on the mound as well and has been up to 90 mph in the past with a potentially above average slider.
Synopsis
Fisher and Shamblin provide quality arms for the first two games of the tournament and Shamblin provides value on the offense as well. The collection of power hitters with two lights out hitters makes them one of the top teams in the event on paper. The pitching depth will determine how far they make it but as of now the Saints are definitely a team to watch out for.
Cullman Bearcats (Cullman, Ala.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Jacob Heatherly (LHP/OF, 2017, 15)
- Owen Lovell (OF, 2017, 147)
- Carter Bowen (RHP/2B, 2017, Top 500)
- Noah Fondren (3B, 2017, Top 1000)
- Levi Thomas (RHP/UT, 2017, Top 1000)
- Caleb Lipsey (OF/DH, 2017, Follow)
- Will Morrison (RHP, 2017, Top 500)
Hitting
The Bearcats return for the PG Rawlings Select Classic #1 after their third-place finish in the PG High School Showdown two weeks ago. Lovell again will lead the offense while Noah Fondren and Caleb Lipsey will also add quality depth to the lineup.
Pitching
The strong suit of the Bearcats, their pitching staff is loaded and extremely deep. Jacob Heatherly is a dominant lefthander in the low-90s while Levi Thomas will touch 90 mph and threw a one-hit shutout just two weeks ago. Will Morrison is committed to Mississippi State and Carter Bowen is going to Auburn so that gives the Bearcats three SEC arms to limit offenses with.
Synopsis
Cullman, after climbing into the top 10 in the latest Perfect Game High School Top 50, has all the makings of a contender for this event. With depth both in the pitching staff and lineup the Bearcats look like a force to be reckoned with and, should everything break right and they play to the best of their abilities, could be hoisting the trophy come Saturday.
DeMatha Catholic Stags (Hyattsville, Md.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Marcus Brown (RHP, 2018, Top 1000)
- Trendon Carig (OF, 2018, Top 1000)
- Thomas Keehn (SS/RHP, 2019, 74)
- Clark Burroughs (C, 2019, 440)
- Alex Greene (RHP/OF, 2020, 30)
- Jack Bulger (C/RHP, 2020, N/A)
Hitting
One of the younger teams in the event, the Stags will rely heavily on their talented sophomores and freshmen. Thomas Keehn is a very talented two-way player who provides athleticism at a premium position up the middle while fellow sophomore Clark Burroughs will also swing the bat well. Jack Bulger is a name to watch here as the talented freshman was extremely impressive at the Northeast Indoor Showcase – NY just a few months ago.
Pitching
Keehn will be the main draw of the pitchers as his fastball will already run up in the high-80s and touching 90 mph. The Duke commit will be joined by another potential 90-mph arm in freshman and Virginia commit Alex Greene. Marcus Brown is one of the older players on the team, a junior, and will look to provide leadership and quality innings for the team.
Synopsis
They may be young but DeMatha has all the makings of a talented squad that could be making a run at a state championship this year and for years to come. DeMatha is a quality program and has been the home to current MLB players such as Toronto Blue Jays lefthander Brett Cecil. It’s tough to peg where they will end up this weekend but they will surely be exciting to observe.
Ensworth Tigers (Nashville, Tenn.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Chandler Schultz (RHP, 2017, Top 1000)
- Rudy Maxwell (C, 2018, 481)
- Christian Dixon (RHP/SS, 2018, Top 500)
- Garrett Schultz (OF/RHP, 2019, 436)
- Patrick Vandenbergh (2B, 2019, High Follow)
Hitting
All-state catcher in 2016 and future Duke Blue Devil Rudy Maxwell leads the offense for the Tigers. The junior has a lot of raw power in his frame and swing that translates well with sound lower half drive and lift in his swing. Garrett Schultz and Patrick Vandenbergh are two other players who should contribute on offense with Schultz showing two-way potential.
Pitching
Chandler Schultz leads the way on the mound and will start game one for the Tigers. There is a lot of physical projection on the frame and he works in the mid- to high 80s with a tight slider. Garrett Schultz has a very high offensive ceiling but shows quality tools on the mound as well. Christian Dixon is another two-way player who will see time on the mound.
Synopsis
The first thing that jumps out about Ensworth on paper is their versatility. Loaded with two-way and multi-positional talent from top to bottom, they present many matchup challenges for opposing teams. They have good depth throughout and should be interesting to watch as the weekend progresses.
Enterprise Wildcats (Enterprise, Ala.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Santiago Garcia (C, 2017, Top 1000)
- Koty Fulton (RHP, 2018, N/A)
- Nathaniel Light (LHP, 2018, N/A)
- Cole Smith (RHP, 2018, N/A)
- Chance Warren (SS, 2018, N/A)
- Grant Thornton (3B, 2019, N/A)
Hitting
Two of the big names leading the Wildcats early in the year are Alabama State commit Santiago Garcia and third baseman Grant Thornton. Garcia, the team’s starting catcher, already has four home runs and is hitting well above .400. Thornton is also leading the team in average. Shortstop Chance Warren is a sparkplug near the top of the lineup and does a good job getting on base with his contact skills and speed.
Pitching
The ace of the staff is lefthander Koty Fulton. He has advanced pitchability and does an excellent job at working his pitches to all corners of the plate and mixing speeds to keep hitters guessing. Cole Smith has a very low 1.02 ERA to start the season and Nathan Light is a college-caliber pitcher who should be strong on the mound.
Synopsis
Enterprise may not have the star-power that some of the other teams do but they have had a very good start to the year with some quality players. They have three quality starting pitchers in Fulton, Smith, and Light to go along with strong hitters led by future Hornet Garcia.
Greenwood Bulldogs (Greenwood, Ark.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Cooper Van Kooten (RHP/IF, 2018, Top 1000)
- Connor Noland (RHP/3B, 2018, 175)
- Peyton Holt (SS, 2019, High Follow)
Hitting
Connor Noland and Peyton Holt lead the way for the Bulldogs offense and Noland is a particularly interesting case. The extremely physical junior is committed to Arkansas for both baseball and football and shows serious power at the plate. Holt is a toolsy shortstop who should provide good value and on-base skills near the top of the lineup.
Pitching
Noland, again, is the main draw on the mound for the Bulldogs. He works with a fastball that will sit 88-90 mph and can overpower hitters at times. Cooper Van Kooten, an Arkansas Little Rock commit, will also throw and has not participated in a Perfect Game event in nearly two years. He will also see time at second base and will be an important piece for the team.
Synopsis
Greenwood has depth throughout the lineup and star-power in Noland. This combination usually works well for most teams and the Bulldogs will be going up against quality competition. Their team has their strengths that should play well throughout the three-day event.
IMG Academy Blue (Bradenton, Fla.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Will Simeone (RHP, 2017, High Follow)
- Sebastian Jaget (3B/1B, 2017, N/A)
- Jake Waxler (DH/3B, 2018, N/A)
Hitting
The two bats that stand out in the IMG lineup are designated hitter Jake Waxler and third baseman Sebastian Jaget. Both players are hitting above .300 to start the season with Waxler showing solid power in the box. IMG traditionally brings very talented teams to PG events and there’s no reason to think the Blue team won’t hit well.
Pitching
The pitching rotation boasts two Division I commits in JT Turley, Butler, and Alston Pough, Tulane. Pough will run his fastball up to the high-80s and Turley has sound pitchability and mixes speeds well. The one name that jumps out, however, is senior righthander Will Simeone. The 6-foot-7 pitcher is a projection dream for a pitcher and will be fun to see how well he repeats his mechanics and his overall effectiveness.
Synopsis
This is not the same IMG team that came to the PG High School Showdown two weeks ago but the Blue team is talented in their own right. The pitching staff has a dearth of arms to provide quality innings with numerous pitchers able to ramp up the velocity to at least the mid-80s. The depth of the lineup will be a question mark but the pitching will be a strength.
Lone Peak Knights (Highland, Utah)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Seth Corry (LHP, 2017, 34)
- Payton Barney (3B/RHP, 2017, N/A)
- Eli Norman (1B, 2017, N/A)
- Colton Easton (C, 2018, N/A)
- Kobe Freeman (OF, 2018, N/A)
Hitting
The lineup for the Knights boasts numerous All-State and All-Region selections and will be led by a collection of players. First baseman Eli Norman, catcher Colton Easton, and third baseman Payton Barney will all see time with outfielder Kobe Freeman being a consensus top player in the state of Utah.
Pitching
Perfect Game All-American Seth Corry is the name to watch on the mound for the Knights. Sitting in the low-90s and pitching well in the All-American Classic, Corry works extremely well with a good tempo and will be a name to watch for the MLB Draft in June as well. Payton Barry will see time on the mound as well.
Synopsis
Overall the Knights are a top team and have talent throughout their entire roster. Coming in at no. 49 in the Perfect Game High School Top 50, the Knights have only had a few games up to this point and will look to explode onto the national stage in a big way during the PG Rawlings Select Classic #1.
O’Fallon Township Panthers (O’Fallon, Ill.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Jordan Richardson (1B/OF, 2017, Top 500)
- Hayden Schaefer (OF, 2017, High Follow)
- Joe Guithues (DH/1B, 2017, N/A)
- Chase Hackstadt (C, 2017, N/A)
Hitting
The spark of this team and one of the better hitters is senior outfielder Hayden Schaefer. He hit .400+ as a junior last season and is looking to build on that. Jordan Richardson has a cannon from right field while showing promising tools in the box. Brayden Arnold is an exciting name to watch and third baseman Jacob Dreyer has the tools to be very successful at the plate.
Pitching
Logan Boente, Hayden Juenger, and Brayden Arnold will be the primary starters for the Panthers. Boente has sound command and good pitchability while Juenger and Arnold will work in the mid- to upper 80s, with Arnold touching 90 mph, and will be formidable opponents for hitters who step into the batter’s box.
Synopsis
The season is just getting started for the Panthers and will kick off the high school season at the PG Rawlings Select Classic #1. The team has a lot of high ceiling players with a talented trio of starting pitchers. The challenge for the Panthers will be if they can shake off the rust of the winter and come into Thursday ready to play.
Savannah Christian Raiders (Savannah, Ga.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Zack Brockman (RHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Ben Jackson (C, 2017, Top 500)
- Jarrett Brown (RHP/IF, 2019, High Follow)
- Kyle Hilton (C, 2020, High Follow)
Hitting
East Tennessee commit Ben Jackson leads the way for the Raiders offensively. He has advanced actions behind the plate with very good athleticism for the position. He is also physically strong and that plays well into his overall offensive profile. Kyle Hilton is a younger player, a freshman, but should receive looks in big spots at the plate.
Pitching
The big ticket for the Raiders on the mound is righthander Zack Brockman. The Liberty commit has been up to 90 mph in the past and will look to set the tone early on in the event should he get the ball for game one. Sophomore Jarrett Brown is an intriguing arm that has worked in the mid-80s previously and will be relied upon both on offense and on the mound.
Synopsis
The Raiders have a lot of talent on their current roster including leaders on offense and pitching with Ben Jackson and Zack Brockma, respectively. There are a lot of underclassmen on this squad so it will be interesting to see how they respond to being tasked with big responsibilities.
Signal Mountain Eagles (Signal Mountain, Tenn.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Jackson Etter (RHP, 2017, Top 1000)
- Grant Galbraith (OF, 2017, Top 1000)
- Seth Wicker (LHP, 2017, High Follow)
- Alexander Woollums (OF, 2017, Follow)
- Drew Lowry (SS, 2019, Top 1000)
- Mark Jones (LHP, 2019, High Follow)
Hitting
The lineup will feature a lot of seniors in outfielders Grant Galbraith and Alexander Woollums. Both players should be anchors for the Eagles offense and sophomore shortstop Drew Lowry is a high-end player who can handle the responsibility of a starting role with ease.
Pitching
Senior talent again takes the headline for the pitching staff as righthander Jackson Etter and southpaw Seth Wicker lead the way. Sophomore lefthander Mark Jones is an intriguing arm who has a very high-ceiling and should receive quality innings for the Eagles.
Synopsis
The theme of the Eagles up to this point has been about their senior leadership both in terms of intangibles and on the field production. Those seniors will ultimately decide how far Signal Mountain makes it over the course of the weekend but they are a must-watch,
St. Rita of Cascia Mustangs (Chicago, Ill.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Killian O’Hanlon (RHP, 2017, Top 1000)
- Stenen Washilewski (LHP, 2017, Top 1000)
- Matt Verdun (SS, 2017, High Follow)
- Keegan O’Hara (RHP, 2017, Follow)
- Jalen Greer (SS, 2019, High Follow)
Hitting
The Mustangs’ roster is loaded with Top 1000 players and those who are on High Follow and Follow lists. Matt Verdun and Jalen Greer are the two position players who stand out on the initial roster and the likely double play combo will provide quality value both in the field and at the plate.
Pitching
Three senior pitchers will toe the rubber for the Mustangs in Killian O’Hanlon, Steven Washilewski, and Keegan O’Hara. The three pitchers are experienced leaders of the team and will be confident heading into the weekend with the goal of shutting down opposing offenses and keeping St. Rita of Cascia in the game the entire way.
Synopsis
Another Illinois team, St. Rita of Cascia will escape the cold of the Midwest and head south for the PG Rawlings Select Classic #1. Similar to O’Fallon, the challenge will be able to quickly pick up the pace of the climate and let their true talent shine through.