THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,596 MLB PLAYERS | 16,395 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
All American Game  | Story | 1/6/2020

Finest in the Field: Drew Romo

Blake Dowson
Photo: Drew Romo (Perfect Game)



2019 PG/Rawlings Finest in the Field: 2020 Class | 2021 Class | 2022 Class | 2023 Class

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – There is so much that goes into the catching position. There’s blocking, which becomes more and more important as more and more breaking pitches are implemented across the game. There’s throwing, which remains a weapon that needs to stay sharp even if the running game has been deemphasized in recent years. There’s framing, which is emphasized more than ever these days. And that’s before you even start to think about the mental aspects of catching, of which outnumber any other position on the field.

Drew Romo has made a name for himself as a 2020 catching prospect because of all those things, all while calling every pitch that’s thrown to him, a responsibility not doled out lightly to high school catchers. It’s a lot to handle, especially with the enormous number of pitchers he works with on the showcase circuit each summer.

“I call all of my own games, especially over the summer,” he explained. “At these showcases, we don’t really have coaches. You’re put out there with other guys, and you’ve just got to know their pitches. It can be tough at times. And in high school, I’ve been catching since sophomore year, so my coaches have trusted me with calling games.”

Romo handles a lot. He also switch-hits, taking twice the time to hone his craft in both batter’s boxes. Spreading himself a little too thin? Baseball is the biggest thing in Romo’s life, so no, he’s not going to worry himself with thoughts like that.

He handles all of it because it has come naturally since he was 10 years old, when he caught for the first time in Little League. Now, he’s not just the best defensive catcher in the 2020 class, Perfect Game has named him the best overall defensive player across all PG age divisions. That’s catchers, infielders, outfielders, everyone.

No one stacks up to Romo.

“I always had a feeling I was one of the better defensive guys,” Romo said. “I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my defense. I didn’t set this goal for myself to be named Defensive Player of the Year or anything, I just put in a lot of hard work and things played out.”

The way Romo goes about his business tells a lot of why he’s so elite behind the plate. He and his dad developed a practice routine years ago that includes a lot of barehand work, weighted balls, tennis balls, footwork, you name it.

He has added weight room work and an arm care routine to that in more recent years, and the results speak for themselves. Romo was a Perfect Game All-American this past summer, is the No. 1 catcher in his class, has made a commitment to play college ball at Louisiana State, and now the most recent PG honor.

Romo is proud to be a catcher. He wears the mask, the chest protector, and the shin guards with honor. The way he talks about playing the position is like listening to someone explain how they painted a work of art.

“There’s a lot that goes into it, on the physical side of it and the mental side,” he said. “It’s a grind back there when it’s hot in the middle of the summer. It can be taxing. So you have to train, get in the gym, make sure you’re in really good shape. That way you can not only just play the position, but play it effectively…The mental part is as much of a grind. You’ve got to make sure you and your pitcher have a game plan. You have to know about other hitters.”

It’s been a steady progression for Romo. It was a Little League game when he was 10 years old when he strapped on the gear for the first time. It wasn’t until he was about 13 years old that he realized he was really developing into a good backstop, and that it was a bit of a lost art.

The mental side – the handling of the pitching staff and calling a game on his own – have developed since then, but with the same results.

Reps, which Romo has no problem cranking out at an uncommon rate, help with all that.

“It comes with experience and repetition,” he said. “At first, you don’t really understand the importance of [calling pitches]. After a while, I got the hang of it and started to see things in hitters. I’ve also had a bunch of good coaches that have taught me about things…I want to call pitches more to the pitcher’s strengths rather than to the hitter’s weaknesses. Make sure the pitcher is comfortable with what you’re calling. That’s just building chemistry with your pitchers.”

Countless elite pitchers have benefitted from having Romo crouching behind the plate for them. From the All-American Game this past August, to the National Showcase earlier in June, with showcase stops at the Junior National in 2018 and the PG Underclass All-American Game in 2017, he has seen most of the best pitchers in his class throughout his time at PG events.

He has proved to be the No. 1 catcher through all of that. And an elite catcher that switch-hits – and switch-hits well – is worth his weight in gold.

Romo will see that moving forward, whether that’s in Baton Rouge with the Tigers or some professional organization lucky enough to grab him in the draft this spring.

It’s nose to the grindstone until then, though, with a brief pause to appreciate what he accomplished as a prep prospect.

“Definitely a big honor [to be named Defensive Player of the Year],” Romo said. “Thank you to Perfect Game for that. It means a lot to be recognized for this, especially being a catcher, because defense is the most important part of the game for catchers. So to be recognized for it, it’s a huge honor.”
Give us your feedback
All American Game | Story | 8/16/2026

Romero Slams His Way to Classic MVP
Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Sunday’s DICK’s Perfect Game All-American Classic was a pitching-dominated affair until the bottom of the eighth inning when the rain started to fall at Citizens Bank Park and Koa Romero stepped to the plate and did his best impression of Kyle Schwarber. Romero wears No. 12, just like Schwarber. He bats left-handed, just like Schwarber. He’s got big power, just like Schwarber. And at 5-10 and a rock-solid 225 pounds, he’s even built like Schwarber. Needless to say, Schwarber is Romero’s favorite player. So, it was all kind of storybook when Romero belted a grand slam to dead center to cap off the scoring in the West team’s 8-3 win over the East club in the 24th annual Classic. “This is a dream come true,” said Romero, who was named MVP of the game. “It’s amazing to be able to put a ball like that out of a...
Read More
High School | General | 8/17/2026

Scott's Eye Popping Two-Way Earns MVP

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – When the folks at Perfect Game reached out to invite him to pitch in the 2026 PG All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors, Cullen Scott had one request. “You mind if I get a couple of at-bats, too?” Along with his dad, Scott traveled from the family’s home in Texas to Citizens Bank Park. The trip proved to be a huge success as he starred on the mound and at the plate and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Scott, 16, pitched a scoreless first inning and struck out two. In the fourth inning, he belted a grand slam six rows up into the left-field seats to lead the National team’s 6-1 win over the American team. “He showed us why he’s here as a pitcher and a hitter,” said Greg Sabers, PG’s vice president of scouting and showcases. "He’s one of the top pitchers here, but he’s too good a...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 8/15/2026

A Philly Dream for Steingall

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PHILADELPHIA – Carson Steingall had been to Citizens Bank Park many times over the years. After all, he hails from Nazareth, Pa., about 90 minutes up the road from the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and he counts himself as a big fan of the team. Zack Wheeler is his favorite. Steingall realized a dream when he pitched from the same mound that Wheeler does in Perfect Game’s fourth annual All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors on Friday. The dream got even better when Steingall, a 16-year-old right-hander, was named Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in the third inning of the National team’s 6-1 victory over the American team. “It’s just an honor to be here,” Steingall said after receiving his trophy. “This event is the best of the best. It’s really cool to win something like this.” Steingall, who’ll...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
Read More
General | General | 8/13/2026

PG All-Star Game Heads to Philly

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
For the fourth time since its inception in 2023, two rosters comprised of the best rising juniors (and a handful of rising sophomores) will step out onto the field Friday afternoon, kicking off the All-American weekend. While the Perfect Game All-American Classic is slated for a 1:35 first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, 36 future hopefuls of the Classic will go up against one another in an American vs National clash at 11 AM Eastern, Friday morning.  With 36 players from across the country descending on Philadelphia, there will be plenty of familiar names in attendance as 24 of the 36 played in at least one PG Select Festival and all 36 attended either the he Sophomore National, Junior National, or the PG Underclass All-American Games this summer. Leading the charge are a pair of No. 1s in 2028 dynamic talent Dexter McCleon Jr and 2029 Macgraw VanWormer, a do-it-all...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 8/12/2026

Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title A hot afternoon at JetBlue Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida ended in a 9-1 victory for the Original Florida Pokers 2028 National, defeating SBA Bolts Florida 2028 National on Monday to capture the 16U BCS National Championship. A pitchers’ duel kept the game scoreless through four innings before the Pokers broke it open with a five-run fifth inning. The title marked the Pokers’ second 16U BCS Championship, adding to the championship they won in 2022. Despite a slow start to the summer, the Pokers found their stride at the right time. “We struggled a lot early in the summer, but the past few tournaments we really started turning it on,” Pokers head coach Will McCrimon said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.” Max Maynes started the game on the mound for the Pokers. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks...
Read More
Draft | Story | 8/11/2026

Realistic Expectations of a 1:1 Pick

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Over the 2026 draft cycle, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the projected No. 1 pick throughout the entire cycle. White Sox fans began #RochWatch and were already talking about when he will make it to Chicago. Now that he has been selected, Cholowsky has immediately become a Top-10 prospect in all of baseball. There is no denying the hype, and the pressure, for Chowlosky to get to the big leagues and produce at a high level.  But how realistic is that? Let’s take a look back at past 1:1 selections and see what you can expect from a No. 1 overall selection.  For this exercise, we’ll look at No. 1 overall picks from the bonus pool era, excluding Eli Willits from 2025 since this is his first full year of pro ball. That gives us 13 players selected from 2012 through 2024.  Almost All Become Big Leaguers The first thing that stands out is how successful No. 1 picks...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 8/11/2026

Perfect Game & Goat'd Come Together

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME AND GOAT'D PARTNER TO BRING PREMIUM PROTECTIVE GEAR TO THE NATION'S TOP AMATEUR BASEBALL PLAYERS   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, August 11, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with Goat'd, a premium protective gear brand focused on developing innovative products for athletes. The partnership will bring Goat'd's premium protective equipment to some of the nation's top amateur baseball players and families across Perfect Game's premier national events. The partnership will debut at several of Perfect Game's marquee events, including the 13U Select Fest, 14U Select Fest, Perfect Game All-Star Game and...
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

12U Game Time: 8/9/2026 1PM Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Sunday August 9th, 2026 1:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
Read More
General | General | 8/8/2026

11U Game Time: 8/8/2026 Noon Eastern

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Saturday August 8th, 2026 12:00PM Eastern DICK'S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb West vs. East Follow and watch the game
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.