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
Tournaments  | Story | 7/14/2019

14u, 16u West Scout Notes

Connor Spencer
Andrew Jenkins
Photo: Ozzie Pratt (Perfect Game)
The 14U and 16U WWBA West National Championships continued to build on the rigorous desert schedule many of the top high school ball players across the country have to face each summer. Day 1 and 2 saw scorching heats on the thermometer as well as on the radar gun as many young power arms emerged for multiple teams.



In the 16U division on Day 1, Texas Trappers 16U Black started the tournament with righthander John Gonzales (2021, Houston, Texas) who impressed with his quick actions down the hill. Gonzales starts upright with his hands high, and he keeps his hands in the same high position until separation. He stays tall throughout his motion with linear drop and drive actions, and his quick arm action pairs with a three-quarters to high three-quarters arm slot. His quickness is deceptive at times and he shows the ability to get his 83-86 mph fastball in on hitters. Moreover, it looked like he threw a two-seam fastball with intent finding solid run especially when locating arm side. His best secondary pitch is his changeup and periodically he flashed plus ability with it. It sits around 69 mph and has strong sink when thrown with conviction down in the zone. Gonzales also throws a slider that sinks more than it bites with side to side action. Its high 11-to-5 shape does not miss many bats but keeps hitters on their toes with his changeup. He has a gritty feel about his pitching style on the mound and competed hard through his 3 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed only two hits while fanning five.



Gonzales’ opposing pitcher in the same game, Jeremy Tilby (2023, Draper, Utah) also threw a gem throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings for Mountain West. Tilby has a long and lengthy frame but doesn’t use it all as leverage down the bump. He kind of slings the ball to the plate from a three-quarters arm slot, yet his arm is still strong enough to sit 80-84 mph. There’s raw potential with his arm speed, and there’s still much to be unlocked in his low leg lift delivery. His slider is a good pitch sitting around 73 mph with a 10-to-4 shape and late sharp bite down. The pitch shows promise as he looked comfortable with it throughout his outing. His short arm action also has some deception to it, and as his arm matures that deception will only get better.

Despite getting roughed up late in his outing, Will Glatch (2021, Frisco, Texas) showed potential with his strong arm, topping out at 85 mph. Glatch has a large build and a long arm with an over the top arm slot that is Iron Mike-like. At times there’s some pronation to his release as the arm slot is that over-the-top. There’s some violence late to his drop-and-drive actions and he does get some downward angle thanks to his slot and size. His 12-to-6 curveball sits around 71 mph and can be an out pitch when located down in the zone.



BYU commit Ozzie Pratt (2021, Oxford, Miss.) showed off in front of his future coaches going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Pratt has an upright conventional stance at the plate and his swing stays simple throughout. He’s not a guy that’s really going to get into a ball, but his approach feels naturally handsy and that will always play at the next level. Moreover, the simplicity in his load, stride, and launch cannot be understated. He’s quiet with his hands and there’s a small linear weight shift in the box. He has a strong understanding of what he’s trying to do at the plate every time he walks up, and he possesses some above-average speed on the basepaths and in the infield.

In what was the most hard-fought pitching duel of Day 1, which ultimately ended in a 0-0 tie, Michael Kasik (2021, Chandler, Ariz.) continued to build upon his strong PG resume going seven full innings, striking out 11 and only allowing three hits. Kasik’s large frame is really starting to flourish as he topped out at 85 mph, which is a PG personal best for the southpaw. His delivery is violent down the hill and his three-quarter arm slot paired with his size gives lefthanded hitters nightmares. For scouts and coaches, watching Kasik progress as the summer rolls on is extremely promising and shows that he works hard on his craft.



For MBA Utah 2021 Westin Corless (2021, Salem, Utah) threw five innings of scoreless baseball against Kasik, helping force the 0-0 tie. Corless uses a short and quick arm action from a high three-quarters arm slot. He spots up well and his quickness tends to get in on hitters. He has a mid-high leg lift with a low front side that shoves hard down the mound. Corless shows an above-average ability to locate his 80-82 mph fastball, and he complements it nicely with his 70-71 mph breaking ball.

On Day 2 in the 16U division USA Prime Colorado 2021 had a tough game against CBA Nevada 2021 but center fielder Connor Camden (2021, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) continued to hit for USA Prime, going 2-for-2 with a triple while driving in the teams’ only run of the game. Camden has a lengthy athletic frame that feels projectable in the outfield and he looks strong in the box. He uses a crouched, slightly open stance with a quiet load and great hands. He stays tall on the backside throughout and he gets great extension through the zone. A definite must follow athlete.



Top ranked 2021 outfielder in the state of Arizona Jake King (2021, Buckeye, Ariz.) didn’t have the biggest day at the plate, but impressed with his awareness in the outfield and middle-away approach. King has solid speed that helps him adjust on initial reads in the outfield, however, his routes to the baseball feel polished and his overall feel for the game in left field is excellent. In the third inning he took what should have been a double down the left field line and cut it off quickly, then made a hard and accurate one-hop throw to second base, holding the runner to a single. At the plate, King has a solid middle to middle-away approach with good hands that consistently work in to out. He’s still working on his timing and rhythm with the pitcher and at times it felt like he was guessing with his leg kick trigger. When he’s on time and balanced his swing looks fluid and flat through the hitting zone.



William "Dub" Gleed (2021, Ladera Ranch, Calif.) came in to close for the West Coast Braves-Rawlings 2021 and blew hitters away with his strong fastball. Through his quick outing he sat around 86-88 and comfortably elevated his fastball with intent. His longer arm action from a high three-quarters slot looked extremely free and easy down the mound. Truthfully, it looks like Gleed is simply throwing BP at times, and yet, he lived in the high-80s throughout the entirety of his outing. He uses simple drop-and-drive actions and works straight down the mound. His 11-to-5 shaped curveball was lethal down in the zone when paired with his elevated fastball. His strong, maturing arm along with his keen understanding of how to pitch to his strengths suggests that Gleed could get a chance not only in the field but also on the bump at the next level.

The late morning slots on Day 2 continued on with more power arms showcasing their abilities. Levi Tucker (2021, Commerce City, Colo.) touched 87 mph with a loose and free delivery paired with a quick arm action from a three-quarters arm slot. His strong arm leaves scouts and coaches intrigued about his ability on the mound, however, he has a tendency to close himself off down the mound and frequently misses arm side. Although he struggled with command throughout his outing, he flashed glimpses of pitchability.



Connor Dougal (2021, Surprise, Ariz.) had his day cut short due to an injury in the second but showcased his quick and efficient drop and drive motions through his 1 1/3 innings of work. He has a high leg lift paired with a high glove arm that slings down the mound. He has a longer arm that works quickly with an over-the-top to high three-quarters arm slot. His fastball sat around 82-85 and he touched 86 mph. His quick motion down the mound finishes hard towards the first base line. As he continues to develop, his fastball needs to gain action as it’s currently pretty flat and straight from his over the top slot. However, he showed maturity on the mound and is a step away from being a serious prospect consideration.



Facing Dougal was Stanford Cardinal commit Jake Sapien (2021, Atwater, Calif.) who also had a short day on the mound going just 1 2/3 inning while fanning two. He has a longer arm that works quickly, and he reaches far behind his back into separation then brings his arm across into a three-quarters arm slot. He’s a primary infielder who definitely has a lot of feel on the mound, however, he picks and chooses when he wants to unload his arm as he would sit 81-83 on occasion, then shove out 88 mph out of nowhere. His straight change sat around 79-80 mph and has the ability to be a plus pitch. It’s a straight change that floats across the strike zone and is especially deadly when he sells his arm action. His high 10-to-4 shaped slider is also a good pitch that can miss bats. Sapien feels raw on the bump and is still working on command of his arsenal, but when he masters it, he’s going to have scary potential. At the plate, he has an upright stance with a heavy over-the-head bat wag and a ton of moving parts into his load. He creates a massive amount of whip with his barrel thanks to his heavy hand coil. Moreover, his large stride towards the mound from a simple leg lift trigger creates a heavy linear weight shift in the box and he consistently works his hands down through the hitting zone.

-Connor Spencer

Righthanded pitcher Brandon Swanson (2023, Las Vegas, Nev.) took the mound for LVR, allowing two hits and zero walks, striking out five batters in five innings of work. Swanson worked consistently in the 72-75 mph range with his fastball and complemented that with a 60-62 mph curveball. He has a simple, online delivery with a high-three quarters arm slot. Swanson worked both sides of the plate at the knees and with added velocity could be someone to watch down the road.



Standing at 6-foot-4, Duce Robinson (2023, Phoenix, Ariz.) has room to fill out his 210-pound athletic frame. Starting with a slightly open, upright stance, the young prospect employs a leg kick trigger, gains ground with a linear swing path and clears his backside well upon his finish. Robinson does a good job of meeting the ball out front while making hard and consistent contact to his pull side. Through three games, he has driven in six in eight at-bats. With present bat speed, he should add more power as he matures into his already projectable frame making him a possible true middle-of-the-order hitter. In the outfield, he takes proper routes and can track down balls in the gap with help from his long strides. He has good arm strength and currently profiles as a right fielder in the future. There is a lot to like about Robinson, and this well-rounded athlete should soon be catching the eyes of many colleges around the country.



Leighton Mercurius (2023, Las Vegas, Nev.) is a very talented 6-foot-2, two-way player for LVR. Mercurius has showcased his skills on both sides of the ball throughout the first two days at the WWBA 14U West National Championship. Offensively, he has gap-to-gap pop and can execute bunts with good placement when needed. Through three games, Mercurius is hitting .500 with two triples and four runs scored. At the plate, he begins with a lower hand set that he takes back into his load creating good tension and separation.  He showed his pull-side pop with a deep triple into the left-center field gap along with his second triple that was a laser down the third base line. Mercurius started in center field and displayed his good speed, proper footwork and athletic ability to stay there in the future.

On the mound, Mercurius has pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, has a loose arm action and creates good angle. Living mainly off his fastball that is 77-80 mph, he works well to his arm side with some late life and was consistently in the strike zone. At this moment, Mercurius currently projects as a two-way player at the next level and will be an interesting follow over the next few years with development.



Anthony Marnell, IV (2023, Las Vegas, Nev.) has had an impressive two days to open tournament play. Marnell is hitting .375 with one double, three RBI with three stolen bases and two walks. He is a switch-hitting primary catcher that was successful from both sides of the plate. Marnell creates some lift in his swing, has a sound approach and can drive to ball deep into the gap. He starts with a high hand set and a semi-high back elbow, transfers his weight through his swing and makes solid contact out front. In one of his most impressive at-bats, he hit a rocket to the right-center field gap that jumped off his bat with a high exit velocity. Behind the dish, Marnell has raw footwork, a serviceable arm with online throws. He has a chance to continue to get better over the next four years and should develop nicely.



Dante Nori (2024, Northville, Mich.) has been the hottest hitter of the tournament thus far. Through 10 plate appearances and seven at-bats, Nori is slashing .857/.900/1.000 with four RBI and a stolen base, along with two walks.  Nori starts with a wide base, a low hand set and a simple, line drive swing plane. Hitting from the left side, he beat out multiple infield singles with good speed down the first base line along with line drive singles over the infield. He has good control of the barrel, makes contact often with a leadoff hitter approach and can hit to all parts of the field. Nori will be entering his eight-grade year and has plenty of years to keep developing and to become a complete baseball player.



Tyler Ridley (2023, Springdale, Ark.) pitched for 3n2 Warriors striking out 3 batters in 2 2/3 innings. Ridley worked consistently in the 78-80 mph range that had some slight run and sink and a curveball and slider mix that was 70 mph that he was able to tunnel. Ridley had a high leg kick, controlled his front-side well and with a long, quick arm action that was from a high-three quarters arm slot. Ridley has a good feel on the mound and projects for more velocity over the next four years and should turn an interesting prospect to follow.



Austin Haley (2023, Sherman, Texas) is young, two-way player for Texas Oilers-Hamblin/Hancock. Listed as a primary third baseman and righthanded pitcher, Haley started at the hot corner to start the tournament and showed good arm strength, above-average footwork and the ability to pick it. The righthanded hitter has a smooth, compact swing and stays inside the ball well. He can hit to all parts of the field, has a quick bat and creates some leverage in his swing. He barrels up the baseball with ease and should add more strength to his frame that will allow for more power in his swing. On the mound, he throws a two-seam and four-seam fastball, has a developing feel for a tight slider and shows signs of a potential out pitch with his changeup. Haley is a very athletic prospect and has a chance to be a very good player with continued growth at Howe High School over the next four years.



Seth Lyons (2023, Las Vegas, Nev.) is a lefthanded pitcher that came in to relief for LVR in game three action. Lyons allowed two hits and two walks, striking out four batters in 2 1/3 innings. He threw from an over-the-top arm slot, had a max effort delivery and got downhill with good extension. He pitched effectively up in the zone and kept his 12-to-6 curveball low, changing eyes level well against opposing hitters. Lyons also has four hits and four RBI and three runs at the plate.

-Andrew Jenkins
Give us your feedback
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
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
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
Draft | Story | 8/7/2026

2026 MLB Draft Team Reports: NL West

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Team Report Cards: AL West With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL West Arizona Diamondbacks  Grade: 50 Risk: High Notable Selections: C Ryder Helfrick (1st rd) | RHP Blake Bryant (CB-A rd) | SS Carson Kerce (2nd rd) | OF Brayden Dowd (3rd rd)  Ryder Helfrick (@RazorbackBSB ) different AB; same result. He goes dead central for a solo 💣 this time. Threw a runner out earlier; 1.98 pop. #PGCollege @PG_Draft https://t.co/kW7wraqExJ pic.twitter.com/SARYKxd0oE — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 14, 2026 The Diamondbacks started their...
Read More
College | Story | 8/7/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: August 7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
RHP Jason Flores (@BaseballUGA) Showed some electric stuff, up to 98 several times CT, SL, CH to round out the arsenal in his 5IP 9K performance. @HarwichMariners So./‘27 elig pic.twitter.com/p2nTvkFnWh — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) August 5, 2026 Jason Flores | RHP | University of Georgia | Harwich Mariners  Flores heads to Georgia this fall looking to reestablish himself as one of the premier arms in the 2027 draft class after showing significant promise during his freshman season at Texas. Flores posted a 2.78 ERA over 32.1 innings as a freshman before a limited sophomore campaign in which he logged just 12 innings. The stuff was on full display this summer, highlighted by a dominant five-inning, nine-strikeout playoff performance in which he touched 98 mph five different times. His fastball averaged nearly 96 mph throughout his time on the Cape, pairing the...
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.