Perfect Game/Pitcher of the Week:

Riley Huge, Winthrop

A testament to work ethic, tenacity, selflessness, and talent, of course, Riley Huge is putting together a career year in his senior season for the Winthrop Eagles. The 6-3/240 lefthanded pitcher from Davenport, FL signed with Liberty out of high school, transferred to the College of Central Florida and has spent the last two seasons in Rock Hill. All his experiences have culminated into a single-game 20 strikeout performance last Saturday that hasn’t even been approached since Stephen Strasburg struck out 23 in 2008. Seamlessly using his 3-pitch mix that includes a riding 88-92 mph fastball, a low-80s slider and late fading changeup, Huge carried a no-hitter into the 8th inning. He tunnels his repertoire at a high level and presents major problems for opposing hitters. Over his 124-pitch outing he went 7.2 IP only allowing the one hit, no runs, 2 free passes while striking out 20 batters. In three starts this season, Huge is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA as opponents hit just .157 against him to go with his insane 37:3 K-to-BB ratio.

Perfect Game/Co-Players of the Week:

Jac Caglianone, Florida

We knew it was just a matter of time before Caglianone found his way onto our Player of the Week list and he picked a pivotal week to do so. The Gators had a tough 5-game week that concluded with them taking 2 out of 3 against the Miami Hurricanes. Widely considered the best two-way prospect in the college, the All-American 6-5/250 lefty has the distinction of having registered a 100-mph fastball and exit velocity in excess of 118 mph off the bat. With the bat, he went 10 for 24 with a slash line of .471/.792/.440 including 3 home runs, 5 RBI and 5 runs scored. On the bump he got the start in Sunday’s rubber match and stifled the Hurricanes over his 6.0 IP. Needing only 91 pitches he scattered 3 hits, surrendered no runs, allowing just 2 walks while striking out a total of 11 batters. Caglianone should hear his name called very early on Day 1 of this year’s MLB Draft and be a part of another deep run in the postseason with the Gators.

Drew Burress, Georgia Tech

Accomplishing something that has now only been done eight times since 2015, freshman Drew Burress hit four home runs in his club’s mid-week contest with Georgia State. Putting together what looks like an All-American season so far in the first month of the season, the 5-9/185 outfielder leads the Yellowjackets in virtually every major offensive category. A plus runner with elite arm strength, Burress is tooled up and while he is well-rounded talent wise, it’s his bat that separates him from the crowd. He has amazing timing, uses a compact, direct stroke, and gets the ball in air with authority naturally. For the week, he went 7 for 13 batting .538 with 3 walks, 5 runs scored, hitting those 4 home runs, and collecting 6 RBI. On the young season, his slash line is .432/1.351/.522 with 5 doubles, a triple, 9 home runs and 20 RBI. Georgia Tech may be primed to make a run in the ACC and no doubt, Burress with be leading the charge.

February 27

Perfect Game/Pitcher of the Week:

Hagen Smith, Arkansas

Dominating, overwhelming, masterful; you could go on and on with adjectives to describe the outing that Smith put together in his start on Friday. Facing one of the most complete offenses in all of college baseball in the Oregon State Beavers, the 6-3/225 junior lefthander put together one of the most epic starts in recent memory. Using his lively fastball that sat in the upper-90s and peaked at 99 mph, he attacked hitters with the heater and set the stage for his wipeout slider. The fastball is elite in both velocity and spin (2,400+) RPMs but the slider proved to be virtually untouchable as it cruised in the mid-to-upper 80s with late, abrupt bite. The Bullard, TX native would retire the first 15 outs of the game via the strike out and except for a ground out in the 6th inning, 17 of his 18 outs were recorded by punch out. Smith would only need 78 pitches to navigate his 6.0 IP, allowing 3 hits, no runs, 1 walk to go with his 17 strike outs. He would leave the game leading 4-0 but ended up with a no-decision as the Beavers put up some runs later in the game. The Razorbacks look like true national title contenders and it’s obvious they have an ace to run out every Friday night going forward.

Perfect Game/Player of the Week:

Jackson Ross, Ole Miss

The Ole Miss Rebels were in the midst of an early season 4-game losing streak heading into Saturday during their home series, and the team was in desperate need of a spark. That spark came in the form of an offensive outburst and Jackson Ross played a significant part. The 6-2/210 senior from Lakeland, FL transferred from FAU during the offseason and has quickly found a home in Oxford. His team went on a tear and scored 37 runs in 14 innings over the final two games of the series that would both be won via the run-rule. For the weekend, Ross went 8 for 11 with 4 home runs, 5 walks, scored 8 runs and collected 11 RBI. This brings his season batting average to .471 with a SLG% of .917 and an impressive OB% of .588 mainly due to his control of the strike zone as seen with a 9:3 BB-to-K ratio. If the Rebels are going to continue to right the ship and make a return to the postseason, you can be sure Ross will play a major role.


February 20

Perfect Game/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week:

Cam Leiter, Florida State

It looks like the Florida State Seminoles may have struck gold in the transfer portal with the arrival of Cam Leiter as he dazzled in his debut. Taking the ball in the starting role on Opening Day, the sophomore right-hander from Bayville, NJ showed an electric arsenal as he mowed down opposing hitters. The 6-5/218 prospect unleashed a riding fastball that lived in the mid-90s and peaked at 98 mph, generating plenty of swing and miss. He also featured a devastating slider that would find its way into the low-90s with late two-plane tilt. Leiter would work 5.0 IP on 89 pitches, allowing only 1 hit, no runs, 2 walks and led the nation with 13 strikeouts as he qualified for the win in his team’s 11-0 victory.

Perfect Game/Rawlings Co-Players of the Week:

Travis Bazzana, Oregon State

One of the most exciting all-around players in the nation, the Sydney, NS native is a sure-fire Day 1 prospect in the coming MLB draft. The centerpiece of one of the best lineups the Oregon State Beavers have fielded in years, Bazzana got the new year off in style. The 6-0/200 lefthanded hitter is a tremendous blend of speed and power at the plate and his strike zone discipline allows him to reach base at an impressive rate. In his team's (4-0) start so far this season, he is batting .563 as he has already collected 9 hits and scored 6 runs. Slugging an impressive 1.313, he has a double, a triple, 3 home runs and driven in 7 runs on his way to on OBA% of .650 so far. The Beavers have the look of a national title contender and Bazzana will lead the way.

Caleb Cozart, University of North Carolina, Greensboro

The University of North Carolina, Greensboro Spartans got off to their best start since 2019 with a three-game sweep and designated hitter Caleb Cozart played a big role. His club scored a total of 30 runs Opening Weekend and the 6-5/250 righty was responsible for 18 of those runs as he drove in 11 and scored 7 on the weekend. Cozart is a two-way player who will see time on the mound, at first base and most of his time as DH. He finished the series with a SLG% of 1.727 on a double and 4 home runs producing those 11 RBIs. He also walked twice and was hit by pitch once to produce on OBA% of .643 all told. The Spartans have an explosive offense and should be a factor in the SOCON race this year.