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High School  | Rankings | 11/16/2021

2023 Rankings Risers: Pitchers

Jason Phillips
Photo: Zander Mueth (Perfect Game)


Zander Mueth (2023, Swansea, Ill.), No. 6 overall: Mueth has done nothing but impress against older competition without missing a beat. Super projectable frame, already running the fastball up to 95 mph while sitting in the low-90s with a wipeout slider from a tough angle. Sky is the limit for the Mississippi commit, as he finished off the summer circuit with three no-hit innings in Jupiter on just 40 pitches with three strikeouts and zero walks.





Bryce Eldridge (2023, Vienna, Va.), No. 11 overall: Another power right-handed pitcher, Eldridge uses his big 6-foot-7 frame to get down the slope, creating a steep angle for hitters from his higher slot release point. The ball jumps out of his hand, consistently sitting 92-95 mph with the fastball, a curveball in the low-80s and a useable changeup around 85 mph. The Alabama commit has plenty of room to fill out his frame as he just turned 17 years old.



James Hays (2023, Hawkinsville, Ga.), No. 18 overall: Hays is a right-handed pitcher with a physical build that throws really hard. The Georgia commit has increased his fastball velocity over the summer from 93 mph to 97 mph while improving the command of his secondary offerings. Not just a hard thrower, Hays is pitching to contact with quality pitches early in the count before reaching back for more when a strikeout is needed. Big strides in his pitchability as he is commanding the zone with all of his pitches and going deeper into games.



Aiden Keenan (2023, Morgan Hill, Calif.), No. 25 overall: There aren’t many high schools in the country that can say they have a potential first round pick taking the mound, let alone two that are starting both games of a doubleheader. Then there’s Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, California that can say just that. Keenan, a right-handed pitcher and Stanford commit, runs the fastball up to 95 mph with a tight curveball in the mid-70s. He struck out 10 batters over a three-game span in Jupiter with two walks and no hits allowed. His teammate at Live Oak High School and Alpha Prime 2022 is our next riser, Landon Stump.



Landon Stump (2023, Morgan Hill, Calif.), No. 36 overall: Stump is the other half of that potential first round duo. The Oregon commit struck out six over 5 2/3 innings in Jupiter and ran his fastball up to 94 mph with a breaking ball in the 74-78 mph range. A good problem to have as a coach, as both right-handed pitchers are rising up the ranks and both are still only juniors.



Landen Maroudis (2023, Largo, Fla.), No. 47 overall: The highest ranked two-way player in the 2023 class, Maroudis is asserting himself as a power right-handed pitcher that can hit for himself in the lineup. The North Carolina State commit is a legit three-pitch guy with a fastball up to 94 mph, a curveball up to 78 mph, and a disappearing changeup in the low-80s. A shortstop when not on the bump, Maroudis displays athletic actions which carry over in the box as a right-handed hitter, with barrel awareness and ability to use the whole field.



Francesco Capocci (2023, Cumming, Ga.), No. 56 overall: The Georgia Bombers have been developing Division-I pitchers now for years, and add Capocci to that growing list. The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher and North Carolina commit has steadily increased his velocity and command of his curveball while coming up the Bombers ranks. He culminated his summer circuit for the Bombers with four scoreless innings at the WWBA World Championship on one hit with four strikeouts and an All-Tournament Team selection. He has increased his fastball velocity up to 94 mph over the summer, with a sharp curveball in the 78-80 mph range and changeup in the low-80s as a third offering. A rise up the rankings is merited with some physical and pitch projection remaining.



Cameron Johnson (2023, Upper Marlboro, Md.), No. 62 overall: 6-foot-4 left-handed pitchers that throw 94 mph? Sign me up please. Johnson is just breaking the surface on his potential with increased velocity in a short period of time and performing against top-notch competition. The exciting part of his game is the added strength in the lower half and the ability to maintain his velocity deeper into games. The uncommitted Johnson has increased his velocity from 87-91 mph in June, to 91-94 mph in October from the left-side, ensuring his name will definitely shoot up the rankings.



Liam Peterson (2023, Palm Harbor, Fla.), No. 73 overall: A long and lean right-handed pitcher that keeps improving every time he takes the bump. The Florida commit runs the fastball up to 93 mph with a curveball, slider and changeup. Put up huge numbers during the 2021 season and looks to continue his growth on the mound as he matures into his young 16 year-old frame.



Chance Fitzgerald (2023, Sanford, Fla.), No. 78 overall: Fitzgerald is a right-handed strikeout pitcher and Florida State commit. His 10 strikeouts over six scoreless innings at the WWBA Underclass in Fort Myers will make anyone take notice. Then turn around and a week later punch out seven more in three innings at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter and you can’t deny his strikeout abilities. His 17:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in consecutive outings against quality hitters is a warranted riser in the rankings.



Tucker Holland (2023, Burlington, N.C.), No. 85 overall: Big left-handed pitcher that is still only 16 years old with plenty of physical maturity coming. All-Tournament Team selections at both WWBA World Championship and WWBA World Junior Championship with the ability to repeat his delivery and tunnel the slider off the fastball for swings and misses. There is a lot to be excited about from the Arkansas commit.



Grant Smith (2023, Phoenix, Az.), No. 107 overall: Smith cemented his name as a right-handed pitcher to watch back in May at the 16U WWBA West Memorial Day Classic with a one-hit effort over six innings with eight strikeouts. The uncommitted 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander earned All-Tournament Team honors with a clean delivery while commanding the zone with a fastball up to 90 mph, curveball in the mid-70s and flashed a changeup at 75 mph. Smith is another two-way guy with a frame that has room to fill with leverage and barrel awareness in the box.



Miller Green (2023, Nashville, Tenn.), No. 111 overall: Big left-handed pitcher that has increased his velocity from 85 mph to 91 mph in the past year as he fills out his 6-foot-5 frame. An All-Tournament Team selection at the WWBA World Championship with four strikeouts over four innings to go along with a .333 average in 17 plate appearances in the box. Two-way player with upside on both sides of the ball as a Georgia Tech commit.



Mikhai Grant (2023, Stockbridge, Ga.), No. 119 overall: One of the biggest risers in the 2023 pitching class is Grant. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-handed pitcher ran the fastball up to 93 mph with two scoreless innings and a pair of strikeouts in Jupiter. The uncommitted junior has quickly shown his ability to match up against any pitcher in the class and execute his three-pitch mix with quality outings. A name to monitor moving forward on the circuit and at Dutchtown High School as not only a pitcher, but as an outfielder with some pop in his right-handed bat.



Jeffrey Heuer (2023, Greensboro, Ga.), No. 122 overall: Another right-handed power pitcher from the Georgia Bombers pitching pipeline, Heuer has burst onto the circuit this summer with a fastball up to 94 mph and a curveball in the mid-70s with depth. The uncommitted 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander threw two scoreless innings at the WWBA World Championship with one hit and three strikeouts after dominating at the WWBA Underclass the previous week. Heuer struck out nine batters in three scoreless innings at the WWBA Underclass with one hit allowed en route to a well-deserved All-Tournament Team selection.



Brady Louck (2023, Plainfield, Ill.), No. 140 overall: Louck has been named to the All-Tournament Team at the last two Perfect Game events he has participated in. The left-handed pitcher threw four scoreless innings at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. with four strikeouts and gave up only two hits. The Notre Dame commit was up to 90 mph in Jupiter, less than three weeks after throwing 86 mph in Iowa at the WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship. Louck knows how to pitch regardless of his velocity on any given day, with the command of his fastball, slider and changeup and the ability to throw any one of them in any situation.  
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High School | General | 6/10/2026

Ohio Valley High School Notebook
Jordan Gates
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‘26 RHP Jack Ryan (@StXBall) w/ an absolute masterclass in the region semis. CG/Shutout, 4 BB & 9 Ks & a No Hitter ‼️ FB worked 89-92, flashed a 93 1x. Velo held in the later innings 88-90. SL was plus @ 81-82 (2400+)/tight, while CH flipped in the low 80s, bottom of the zone.… pic.twitter.com/pdYaEqHmx5 — Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) June 3, 2026 Jack Ryan, 2026, RHP, St. Xavier (OH) JR is finishing his senior campaign off in high fashion. Ryan threw a no-hitter in the Region Semifinals and now the bombers find themselves in the D1 State Final Four. The Boston College commit has taken home numerous awards this season, including conference & city player of the year in Cincinnati, OH. One last award left and that is to will the bombers to a state championship. Ryan has impressed all year and with one week to go, he is leaving it all on the field...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

Road to the 2026 17U BCS Title

Emily Hicks
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This weekend, 11 teams will take the field for the 2026 17U BCS Challenge, a three-day event that brings together programs from across the country for a full slate of pool play and bracket action. With games beginning Friday and a champion crowned Sunday, the format leaves little room for slow starts, making every inning important from the opening pitch. The field features a mix of established programs and rising teams. With so many evenly matched rosters, there’s not much separation heading into the weekend, which puts importance on pitching depth, defensive consistency, and timely hitting. Pool play will quickly determine seeding, and even one loss can shift a team’s path heading into bracket play. One of the teams expected to be in the mix is Hawaii Elite 2G 17U National, a group that is 6-3 overall and ranked as “Honorable Mention” on the Perfect Games...
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Draft | Rankings | 6/19/2026

PG Draft: Top 500 Update

Tyler Henninger
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Rk. Name Lvl Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jackson Flora C RHP R-R UC Santa Barbara Pleasanton CA 5 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 6 Eric Booth Jr. H OF L-L Oak Grove Bassfield MS Vanderbilt 7 Drew Burress C OF R-R Georgia Tech Perry GA 8 Ryder Helfrick C C R-R Arkansas Discovery Bay CA 9 AJ Gracia C OF L-L Virginia Monroe NJ 10 Chris Hacopian C SS R-R Texas A&M Potomac MD 11 Gio Rojas H LHP L-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coral Springs FL Miami 12 Tyler Bell* C SS S-R Kentucky Frankfort IL 13 Cameron Flukey C RHP R-R Coastal Carolina Egg Harbor Township NJ 14 Ace Reese C 3B L-R Mississippi State Canton TX 15 Justin Lebron C SS R-R Alabama Miramar FL 16 Derek Curiel* C OF L-R LSU West Covina CA 17...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Softball Stars Over Florida Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
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PG Stars Over Florida Showcase Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026   CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 14U division where we had teams representing three states.     14U Division   Zoey Salas (2030, RHP/1B Windsor, CO) of the Colorado Angels 14U Breed was a standout player all weekend. She was a strong two-way player who proved to be a consistent force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, this left-handed hitter starts...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Aggieland Showcase

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PG Aggieland Showcase College Station, Texas June 13-14, 2026 Scouts: Brynn Baca & Karlie Milburn COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS- Perfect Game Softball was excited to return to College Station for the second annual Aggieland Showcase last weekend.. Some great competition was seen over the three age groups. We had two scouts on site to evaluate and highlight some of the athletes who caught their eyes. Thank you to all teams and players who competed so hard! Below we highlight those athletes who impressed our scouts. 18U Division Elizabeth Posada- Elizabeth Posada is a 2028 two-way player from Houston, Texas, competing for Aztecs Premier who brings an intriguing combination of offensive upside and athletic versatility. At the plate, Posada recently went 4-for-8 on the weekend, continuing to show consistency and offensive awareness. She sets up with a slightly open, wide stance and does a...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

Big Talent on Display at City of Palms

Alyssa Golden
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The fifth annual PG City of Palms Championship is set to take place in Fort Myers, Florida, from June 19-22, featuring teams from the 15U-18U age divisions. The four-day event will showcase some of the top talent in the state, including several nationally ranked prospects who have already made their presence felt this summer season. Before tournament play begins, here’s a look at some of the highest-ranked players expected to compete this weekend. Leading the group is catcher Nico Ayars in the 16U division. Ayars enters the weekend as the No. 135 player nationally, the No. 3 catcher in Florida and the No. 20 catcher in the country. Through 22 games this summer with Turn 2 Garcia, the right-handed hitter owns a .887 OPS while batting .306 with a .438 OBP and a .449 SLG. Ayars has collected 15 hits while driving in 12 runs and scoring 13 times. Ayars’ teammate, right-handed...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/17/2026

Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase

Dave Durbala
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SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase, June 13-14, 2026. Twenty-Seven teams, representing the 14u and High School Divisions, arrived at the newly opened all turfed Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe, for the opportunity to showcase their talent in a five game guarantee format. As with anytime we bring a group of players together for competition, there will be those players that rise to the challenge and turn in performances that earn them a place on our Top Performers list.  Below are some of the players, from both divisions, that were recognized as top performers. 14U Division Kinley Abrams (2030 Bloomington, IL) is a RHH for Texas Glory IL-2030 (Wyatt). Setting up in a slightly wide parallel stance, into her back leg, Abrams gains separation with a  push back to transfer weight, and then utilizes a small stride to launch her swing. Abrams works a...
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Juco | Story | 6/18/2026

PG JUCO Awards & Final Top 25

Blaine Peterson
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Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leffel - RHP - Fresno City College 2026 Stat Line: 89.1 IP | 12-1 | 1.91 ERA | .83 WHIP | 118 K An outstanding individual pitching season in California JUCO baseball this spring. A model of consistency on the mound making starts in January through May for Fresno City. Worked over 89 innings on the mound and made 14 starts where he threw at least 5 innings. Ranked in the top 5 of California JUCO in wins, ERA and strikeouts. And one of the only pitchers in all of JUCO to reach the benchmarks of 10+ wins (12), a sub 2.00 ERA (1.91 ERA) and 100 strikeouts (118 K). A consistent and dominant presence on the mound for a team that went 40-5 this past spring. Congratulations to Nathan Leffel, 2026 Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year. Ryan Bradford | FR | OF@JCCCBaseball Everything I have from this spring starting with HR’s 31 & 32 today. This is...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

150 Teams Set to Battle at SE Select

Will Dembo
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As summer travel season continues to ramp up, more than 150 teams from 13-17u from all over the nation will meet in East Cobb as they look to showcase their talents and compete for a trophy in the PG Southeast Select Championship. The tournament will kick off with pool play on Thursday, June 18th, and champions will be crowned following bracket play on Monday, June 22nd. The 13u division will host 23 teams from four different states in the major style tournament. The East Cobb Astros and Ninth Inning Royals will share the spotlight as the only nationally ranked teams in the field as the Astros enter the weekend as the No. 45 ranked squad and Ninth Inning falls at the No. 31 spot. 14u will also play as a major tournament for the weekend and contains 31 teams looking to compete for a trophy. Although there are currently no nationally recognized teams in the pool, PFA Regional will be a...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/17/2026

UBC Midwest Scout Notes

Blaine Peterson
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Braydon McMillen (2029, Downers Grove, IL) an athletic MIF with a top of the order skill set at the plate. Reached base in all 5 games played at UBC this week. Including a 3 hit game in bracket play. Shows a balanced and compact swing at the plate with quick wrists and the ability to get the barrel to the baseball regularly. A quick first step defensively with clean glove actions and a quick release from the shortstop position. Made several athletic plays defensively this past week. Lot of promising impact traits and a real skill set to build on.  Paris Head | IF/OF/RHP | 2029 | IL@WhitesoxAce FB: 86-90 | CB: 73-75 SL: 77-79 | CH: 78-82 One of the best pitching performances of the tournament so far. High level athlete with an advanced pitch mix for the age. #UBC @PG_Scouting | @WhitesoxAce https://t.co/V3leWaCBSM pic.twitter.com/EDBvjpgI3p — Perfect Game Illinois...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/17/2026

Windy City Elite Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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28 LHP/OF Rex Johnson (CO) was impressive on the mound today. Quality FB/SL mix. FB(80-85) showed heavy arm side run, generating s/m. Good feel to spin, landing the low-70s SL for strikes, while keeping hitters off balance. 5.0IP, 9K, 3H #WCElite @PG_FourCorners pic.twitter.com/q459oPmXzW — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) June 14, 2026 Rex Johnson (2028, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) turned in one of the more impressive outings of the weekend for Canes Denver South 2028 Gold. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound left-hander worked 5.0 innings, striking out 9 while allowing just 3 hits and no earned runs. The fastball worked 80-85 with arm-side run and got on hitters quickly, generating both swing-and-miss and weak contact. He mixed in a slider with sharp action and showed feel to land it for strikes. Currently ranked the No. 5 outfielder and No. 8 overall prospect in Colorado, Johnson displayed...
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