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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 | 11/20/2025

Regional Superlatives: Florida
Vincent Cervino
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Most Likely To Make a Huge Jump in the Rankings in 2026 RJ Shields (2027, Venice, Fl.) Shields took some significant strides throughout 2025, especially on the mound. The fastball reached 95 mph in recent months and he projects well with great athleticism and a sharp breaking ball. Shields is also a left-handed bat with good thump in the stick. The Mississippi State commit shot up the rankings following a loud fall and looks poised to continue to climb. -KP High speed BP swing from '27 OF Gavin Ruvalcaba (FL)... #JrNational @Florida_PG https://t.co/OwU9I0u6eY pic.twitter.com/gjYZbmCPGE — PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) June 12, 2025 Gavin Ruvalcaba (2027, Hialeah, Fl.) Ruvalcaba had a very strong 2025 and looks to be continuing on that path. The Duke commit has plenty of athleticism and is very well rounded with good tools across the board. The stroke is smooth and produces...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
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College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
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Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
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Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2026

Tyler Henninger
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The Class of 2026 is one of the deeper prep classes that we have seen in a couple of years. With that being said, there is plenty of talent on the defensive side. Let’s take a look at some of the best defenders in the class.  C: Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (Memphis, TN) Brick is a newcomer to the class after reclassifying, but immediately became the top backstop. Extremely advanced actions are shown behind the dish with impressive athleticism to go with it. Brick showcases big time arm strength and is consistently accurate on throw downs. He can make playing the position look extremely easy at times. Brick possesses all the defensive tools needed to be a premier catcher.  1B: AJ Curry, University City HS (San Diego, CA) Curry has a bigger and stronger frame with good strength throughout. He has a well-proportioned build that serves him well on the dirt. He’s...
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General | Blog | 12/10/2025

Youth Baseball Exec. DeDonatis III Joins PG

Jim Salisbury
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Youth Baseball Executive Don DeDonatis III Joins PG By Jim Salisbury  It’s free-agent season in baseball and Perfect Game has landed a big one. Don DeDonatis III joined PG as a consultant in November. The DeDonatis name is synonymous with youth baseball and softball. Along with his dad, Don Jr., DeDonatis helped build USSSA into a big hitter in the game. He brings decades of experience and knowledge to PG. “We all acknowledge that Donny has moved on from USSSA,” PG CEO Rob Ponger said. “This is a new chapter for him and we hope both sides take advantage of it to help youth sports in general. “The DeDonatis name has a legacy attached to it and we’re hoping that Donny is going to help us. PG is a growing brand and he’s on board to help.” DeDonatis was CEO at USSSA from 2018 until his exit from the company two years ago. “I’m...
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