THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,472 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,472 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
All American Game  | Story | 7/18/2019

Dream becomes reality for Walker

Cory Van Dyke
Photo: Jordan Walker (Perfect Game)

HOOVER, Ala. – When Jordan Walker steps on the field, his 6-foot-5, 212-pound frame provides a physical presence that commands respect. The strength that he utilizes allows him to be a threat to send a ball into oblivion anytime he’s at the dish.

Apparently, that power has been there from a young age. Ask Walker his most memorable moment from his youth days of baseball and he recalls his powerful swing from tee ball.

“I hit a home run and I hit my grandmother’s car,” Walker said before taking the field for Team Elite 17u Scout Team at the 2019 WWBA 17u Elite Championship. “I think I broke a windshield or something. I don’t know why I remember that, but I just do. We were all laughing about it at the end. Just being here and getting to grow up and finally seeing where I am now, it’s unbelievable and I’m beyond blessed.”

A home run off a tee that shattered a windshield requires uber strength. Surely there was some embellishment to the story. Jordan’s father, Derek Walker, recalls the day as well, and hints that his son might have hyperbolized just a bit.

“The story grows,” Derek said with a chuckle. “I don’t think it quite hit [the car], but it was in the parking lot. They had the fence and then the grassy knoll and then up on the hill to the parking lot. The ball literally went out and bounced into the parking lot as it first touched down. 

“I think that was probably the first time where I said, ‘Wow, this kid has a lot of power.’ That was a fun day. A lot of people still come up to us nine years later and talk about that hit. That was a special one.”

Since those early days of youth baseball, Walker has transformed into the No. 13 overall player in the 2020 class and the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia. At the Perfect Game National Showcase in June, Walker continually made loud contact at the plate and ran a 6.56 60-yard dash. 

Fast forward over a month later and Walker was named to the 2019 Perfect Game All-American Classic set to take place on August 11 at Petco Park.

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” Walker said. “I remember watching it as a kid on TV and just telling my family, ‘I want to be in that game.’ … Being an All-American means pretty much everything to me because that was my No. 1 goal as a child when I grew up to be a teenager.”

This won’t be the only time that Walker has been to San Diego, though. The rangy third baseman was named to the 2017 and 2018 PG Underclass All American Games that also took place on the West Coast. 

During his time out there, Walker and his father attended the All-American Classic both years, enjoying the scene and realizing that his moment on that field could occur sooner rather than later.

“Both times at the end of the game, we just sat there and we both were visualizing ‘Man, what would it be like for you to be out on the field in this game,’” Derek said. “That was a goal of his since then. He literally has recorded the last two year’s games and watched them probably two times a week, not an exaggeration. When he got the call that he made it, it was just unbelievable.”

As one can probably ascertain, Jordan noted that his father has been the biggest influence on his baseball career. Derek has been there through the highs and the lows, along for the ride from those days in tee ball to his current position on Team Elite.

“[My dad] pushes me even sometimes when I don’t agree with him when he pushes me,” Walker said. “All in all, I know he’s trying to help me, and in the end he usually is right with the stuff he says. I really want to thank him because he’s pretty much the source of everything I do and I love him.”

Walker shot up in the rankings after the National Showcase and there’s now serious talks of him being selected in the 2020 MLB Draft. You wouldn’t know that inside the Walker household, however. There’s no discussion of the rankings or expectations. 

“I really try not to think about that at all,” Walker said. “I know that if I get too worried about that, then my game will probably start getting affected by it. I just try to have fun during the game right now and whatever happens happens.”

Instead, the talks between father and son focus on the last game or what Jordan can do to improve his game or whatever he’s thinking about. It allows the Stone Mountain, Ga. native to stay grounded and avoid the pressure that many kids put on themselves in the process of pursuing their own baseball dreams.

“In all the kids we’ve had that have had that opportunity to go on and play professional baseball, Jordan’s one who just understands the role,” Team Elite coach Jamie Crane said. “He understands what he’s here for. He’s very humble with it, but at the same time he’s here to go to work. It doesn’t affect who he is. Jordan Walker is still Jordan Walker. That’s just a tremendous human being and a great teammate and a great kid.”

When Walker isn’t playing pick-up basketball with his friends at the park or studying Chipper Jones’ righthanded swing, he’s oftentimes studying the material that helps him garner a 3.9 GPA at Decatur High School. Academics is not taken lightly for Walker and Co. 

His mother teaches at the same high school he attends, holding three degrees and graduating from Harvard. His father is an MIT grad and joked that Jordan “didn’t have a choice” about whether or not to take his academics seriously. Walker has bought into the academic expectations, and it’s why he decided on Duke University when choosing a place to play baseball at the next level.

“Academics was pretty much everything for my parents, but also for me too,” Walker said. “I really wanted to go to a good academic school and I felt like Duke would be a perfect fit because they have a pretty good baseball team and I liked the coaches there. The academics speaks for itself… I’m just excited with what the future holds for me.”

That future ahead for Walker is bright both on and off the baseball field. It’s the ineffable joy he finds between the lines that creates a mild-wide smile and will keep Walker returning to the diamond wherever that may be in the years to come.

“Just being on a baseball field makes me the happiest I’ll be, more than doing anything else,” Walker said. “I just love being on the baseball field throwing the ball, hitting the ball. I’ve loved it ever since I was three when I started playing. That’s why I play the game. It just feels right to me.”
Give us your feedback
All American Game | Story | 4/2/2026

All American Classic Heading to Citizens Bank
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME DICK’S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC HEADED TO CITIZENS BANK PARK IN 2026   Perfect Game makes debut at iconic Phillies venue during America’s 250th birthday celebration   Former Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel named Honorary Chairman of All-American Classic   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Thursday, April 2, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that the 2026 Perfect Game DICK’S All-American Classic will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, marking the first time a Perfect Game event has ever been held at the iconic home of the Philadelphia Phillies.   The game will take place on...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/13/2026

UBC South Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Quintin Blackwell (2030, Hercules, California) has, literally, been unstoppable this weekend for Premier Banditos Deleon. In six plate appearances, he has a walk and five hits. Doing it all with a double and two triples, while stealing three bags. Plenty of coil on the front side. Hands work through zone and the barrel stays on plane for a long time. High upside bat that makes an already deep Banditos lineup even deeper. Kenson Buth (2027, Trophy Club, Texas) has been an absolute weapon on both ends for Stix 2027 Scout. At the plate, he’s 6-9 with two doubles, a triple, and a home run. Linear approach with a ton of bat speed. Plenty of impact at the bottom of the zone and showing some ability to do serious damage in the middle of the field. On the mound, he went four quality innings, punching out three. The fastball lived 86-90 with carry. Good feel for the slider in the mid 70s....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/12/2026

AZ All-State Ready to Take Place

Emily Hicks
Article Image
This weekend, eight teams will head to Goodyear Ballpark for the 2026 PG Arizona All-State tournament, setting the stage for what should be an exciting few days of baseball. With teams traveling from across the city, the field will be packed with talent and plenty of championship contenders. Among the teams competing in 16U are AZ Select, Marucci Athletics 2028 Grannis, Overfly 2028, Phoenix Phillies, Team Dinger 2028, T-Rex East Valley, USA Scout Team AZ 16U, and West Coast Ghost AZ 16U. Each team enters the weekend with its own strengths and goals, creating several intriguing storylines to follow throughout pool play and bracket action. One of the biggest teams to watch this weekend will be 10-10, T-Rex East Valley. Whether it's dominant pitching, high-powered offenses, or strong defensive play, T-Rex East Valley has already shown they can compete at a high level this season. A few...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/12/2026

13/14u PG Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
13u & 14u PG Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Tucker Richardson (2030, Mobile, Ala.) has already made a name for himself and he continued to play at the expected high level during his time in Hoover, finishing the tournament with a robust .700 average, collecting at least one base hit in each of his team’s games. Now the No. 10 ranked prospect in the country, Richardson more than once showed the ability to read and react to spin out of the pitcher’s hand, barreling up baseballs for a couple of his hits on the tournament. As much as the bat stands out, the defensive actions in the dirt are even better as he’s arguably the best defender in the class, making the most difficult plays look routing, including one where he charged hard on a slow roller with momentum taking him towards the third base dugout but thanks to the big arm, he was able to make the play look second...
Read More
College | Story | 6/11/2026

Collegiate Freshman All-Americans

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Collegiate Postseason Awards | Collegiate All Americans First Team Hitters Pos. Name School Class AVG OBP SLG R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB C Alonzo Alvarez Miami FR 0.341 0.439 0.551 40 57 13 2 6 32 3 1B Ethin Bingaman Auburn FR 0.330 0.415 0.581 60 71 9 0 15 50 4 2B Ethan Ball Virginia Tech FR 0.310 0.420 0.660 43 63 18 1 17 52 3 3B Nico Partida Texas A&M FR 0.306 0.408 0.550 45 55 8 0 12 43 4 SS Jett Kenady California FR 0.320 0.350 0.573 36 66 17 1 11 34 1 IF Linkin Garcia Texas Tech FR 0.338 0.387 0.489 53 78 21 1 4 59 1 OF Angel Laya Oregon FR 0.296 0.396 0.538 49 66 10 1 14 47 5 OF Anthony Pack Jr. Texas FR 0.359 0.485 0.597 58 74 16 0 11 52 20 OF Jacob Parker* Mississippi State FR 0.339 0.449 0.732 51 57 10 1 18 62 7 OF Teddy Tokheim Stanford FR 0.352 0.414 0.704 40 70 19 0 17 47 0 UT Drew Grego Nebraska FR 0.326 0.417 0.531 33 57 13 1 7 44 5 DH Enzo Infelise Cincinnati FR 0.374...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

PG East WWBA to Get Underway

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
One of the summer’s premier events returns to the Hoover area this week as the 2026 Perfect Game East WWBA Championship gets underway. Now in its seventh year, the event has become a staple on the summer travel baseball calendar, bringing together some of the top organizations and prospects from across the country. A total of 132 teams will compete across three age divisions, including 38 teams in the 15U division, 48 teams in the 16U division, and 46 teams in the 17U division. Past champions include organizations such as Top Gun Team Alabama, EBC, USA Prime Alabama, and defending champion USA Prime Southeast 15U. As always, the tournament field features some of the nation’s top-ranked players. In the 15U division, all eyes will be on Alabama right-hander Tristan Blalock, the No. 23 ranked player nationally in the 2029 class and the top ranked player in Alabama. Blalock...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 6/11/2026

Team Elite Takes Another PG Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
After capturing last year’s championship, Team Elite Scout 14U returned to Hoover looking to prove their success was no fluke. Four days later, they accomplished exactly that. Behind strong pitching, timely hitting, and the confidence that has defined the team throughout the tournament, Team Elite Scout 14U defeated SBA Bolts National 14U to claim the 2026 PG 14U National Elite Championship and secure back-to-back titles. “It’s awesome,” Team Elite Coach Blankenship said. “This is our first event of the year, so it’s good to get it to start with them, and they won it last year, so I know they are excited to do that back-to-back, so it’s pretty awesome.” The championship game showcased many of the same qualities that carried Team Elite through the tournament. Ryan Johnson delivered 4.1 scoreless innings on the mound, allowing just two hits...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Lonestar Finds Success with the Beast

Will Dembo
Article Image
Following an exciting weekend filled with standout performances at the 17u Beast of the East Invitational, Lonestar Baseball Club National capped off its impressive run by earning co-champion honors after the championship game was cut short due to inclement weather with a 6-4 score in their favor. Lonestar's strong start to the summer was fueled by dominant pitching performances and an explosive offensive attack throughout the lineup.  “It was definitely fun to see our boys compete the way they did against solid competition and have the success they did,” Lonestar National head coach Brad Dydalewicz said. “It was a great team effort to start the summer season. This team is a special group of ball players and spectacular young men that play hard and compete their tails off. They enjoy playing together and have a ton of fun on the field. It makes it fun to coach for...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

SE Summer Showdown Preview

Will Dembo
Article Image
East Cobb will host some of the top teams from near and far as over 100 different teams spanning the 13-18u age divisions will compete for a championship at the PG Southeast Summer Showdown to help their summer start strong. The highly anticipated premier Perfect Game event will commence with pool play on Thursday, June 11th while champions will be crowned on Monday, July 15th. The 13u Major division will be the youngest age group competing this weekend, but the talent will still be on full display. Doc Baseball American headlines the 11-team tournament, entering the weekend as the top ranked team in the Southeast Region, and the No. 7 team nationally. 14u will play as another major tournament and will feature three nationally ranked teams, including the No. 8 ranked 13u squad, East Cobb Astros 13u, who will compete in an older division for the second time this year. The No. 27 and No....
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/11/2026

Midwest Elite Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Adan Rojas (2027, Streamwood, Ill.) turned in one of the more dominant pitching performances of the weekend, striking out 10 over 5 innings while consistently dictating at-bats. The fastball worked 77–80 mph, topping at 82, and he showed the ability to elevate and miss bats when needed. His slider at 67–70 mph played as a real separator pitch, generating uncomfortable swings and late decisions. Showed strong tempo on the mound and never allowed hitters to settle in rhythm. What stood out most was his ability to maintain attack mode while still showing feel for sequencing.   Cruz Jaramillo (2030, Mount Pleasant, Wisc.) brought consistent energy to the lineup all weekend and was a tough out from start to finish. Finished with 8 hits over the tournament. The swing is compact with a strong intent to impact, and he does a nice job staying on time with his stride. When he...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/10/2026

Top Prospects Set to Shine at Florida WS

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The Florida World Series returns to Fort Myers this weekend, bringing together teams from across the state for one of Florida’s premier summer events. The four-day tournament will feature competition in the 14U through 18U age divisions as teams battle for a World Series championship. From June 11-14, some of Florida’s top prospects will take the field looking to lead their teams to a title. The 18U division features some of the tournament’s top talent, including five players ranked among the top 500 prospects nationally, three of whom play for Swamp Baseball. Outfielders Nicholas Raber and Austin Schoolcraft along with right-hand pitcher Tyler Reeder will play for Swamp Baseball. Raber is a Fort Myers native and is committed to John Melvin Christian College. He has been one of Swamp’s top offensive contributors this season. The outfielder owns a .873 OPS with...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.