THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,801 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,384 MLB PLAYERS | 15,801 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story | 7/20/2018

17u World Series Notes: Day 1

David Rawnsley
Photo: Cody Freeman (Perfect Game)

17u Perfect Game World Series: Event Page | Daily Leaders

One of the joys of baseball is the potential to see something you've never seen before at any time. That happened during the first time slot Thursday, an attempted triple play that ended up losing the game for the defensive team. Ostingers Baseball Academy and AZ T-Rex were tied 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning and Ostingers had runners on first and second base with no outs. The Ostingers hitter lined a ball hard at the T-Rex second baseman, who cleanly short hopped the ball, tossed to second for out number one, with the shortstop's relay throw to first getting the second out. The Ostingers runner on second made a belated sprint to third base and would have been out as well, completing the triple play, if not for a wild throw by the first baseman. That runner scored, the only run in Ostingers 1-0 victory.
 
That unearned run marred an excellent outing by T-Rex starter, righthander Chandler Murphy (2019, Peoria, Ariz.).  Murphy has really refined his mechanics well over the last year and showed very good command of a fastball that sat in the upper-80s, topping out at 89 mph. Murphy's curveball was a solid second pitch in the mid-70s. The Arizona commit threw 88 pitches in six innings, with 73 percent of those being for strikes.
 
On a day at the Mariners quad when a mid to upper 80's fastball was the norm and low-90s was not uncommon, it was a pitcher from Colorado throwing 82-86 mph that impressed this scout as much as anyone. 6-foot-5, 180-pound righthander Nathan Mitchell (2019, Englewood, Colo.) from Slammers Cronican retired nine straight hitters in his appearance, striking out five and only needing 42 pitches.  Mitchell throws from a very easy high three-quarters arm slot with big downhill angle and his best pitch was a mid to upper 70's curveball that had serious tightness and 12-to-6 biting action.  Mitchell threw at the 2017 Rocky Mountain Showcase and topped out at 78 mph with a loose mid-60s breaking ball, so he's improved tremendously in the last 14 months and there is no reason he shouldn't keep improving with his body and mechanics.  He is uncommitted at present.
 
The most impressive all around performance, especially with the bat, was turned in by another uncommitted rising senior, third baseman-right handed pitcher Terrell Hudson (2019, Phoenix, Ariz.).  Hudson is a physically imposing 6-foot-4, 230-pound athlete with outstanding raw bat speed and power from the right side.  He hit a two-run triple, showing good running speed for his size, in his first at-bat and crushed a three-run bomb that traveled well over 400 feet with the wind behind it to left-center field in his second at-bat.  He later reached base twice via walk and hit by pitch.  Hudson also picked up the win on the mound, going four innings and striking out eight hitters, working up to 91 mph with his fastball with a mid-70s curveball.  He is presently the 388th ranked player in the PG national rankings
 
Hudson's big day at the plate was matched by CCB Elite shortstop Andrew Kachel (2019, Gilroy, Calif.).  The lefthanded hitting Kachel, batting third in the CCB lineup, hit back to back triples to right-center field, the first a laser shot on a line off the base of the wall, accounting for five RBI. The Fresno State commit also singled later in the game, continuing to show a quick and deceptively strong swing.
 
The 17u PG World Series is a great event for college coaches to uncover uncommitted rising seniors and another, in addition to Mitchell and Hudson, who stood out was North East Baseball righthander Max Meier (2019, Belmont, Mass.). Meier is a solidly built 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete with an especially strong lower half. He throws with a sound low effort delivery that generates a steady upper-80s fastball that topped out at 90 mph while throwing 68 percent strikes over four innings. Meier, who is an older rising senior with excellent academics, was only throwing in the mid-80s at this time last summer but looks to have made a big jump in his overall stuff.
 
Meier was bested this game by the St. Louis Pirates righthander Evan Gray (2019, Swansea, Ill.), who threw a six-inning shutout, scattering five hits and striking out seven. An Arkansas commit, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Gray worked steadily in the upper 80's the entire outing and got many of his outs on a bit breaking downer curveball from a high three-quarters arm slot.
 
Canes National righthander Tyler Nesbitt (2019, LaBelle, Fla.) has been solid all summer, including an appearance at the PG National Showcase, and the Florida Gulf Coast commit was sharp again on Thursday, going three and a third innings in the Canes 2-1 victory.  Nesbit only need 41 pitches to retire ten hitters, working in the 88-90 mph range with his fastball and showing a late-breaking low-80s slider that he worked glove side effectively.
 
Nesbitt's teammate, outfielder Tyler Kehoe (2019, Prospect Park, Penn.) is one of the most polished lefthanded hitters in the 2019 class and a South Carolina commit. A compactly build 5-foot-10, 182-pound athlete, who projects to left field at the next level, Kehoe uses his strength and short arms to really control the bat head well and square up the ball consistently. He has gap-to-gap power and had a double to right centerfield among his three hits over two games this day. 
 
Saddleback Cowboys center fielder Mac Bingham (2019, San Diego, Calif.) bats leadoff for the Cowboys and is a compactly built 5-foot-11, 190-pound athlete with plenty of quick-twitch ability. He also showed surprising power at the plate, hitting a high home run to left field off an upper-80s fastball. Bingham is a Southern California commit.
 
Bingham's home run was the only run and only one of three hits allowed in a strong six inning performance by very projectable righthander Evan Vanek (2019, McKinney, Texas) in a 3-2 win by Vanek's USA Prime Elite over Saddleback.  The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Texas A&M commit sat in the upper-80s, touching 90 mph, for his entire 98 pitch outing in the Arizona heat, mixing in an effective mid-70's curveball and showing easy low effort mechanics that promise solid command in the future.
 
Premier Baseball righthander Josh Wolf (2019, Bellaire, Texas) impressed enough at the PG National Showcase to be ranked 126th overall currently in the 2019 class, good for 13th overall in the talent-rich state of Texas. After a slow start when he walked the first two hitters, Wolf settled down quickly and cruised through five and a third innings, striking out eight hitters while allowing only an unearned run. Wolf has a lightning quick right arm from an upright delivery that has some effort at release, but the stuff, including an 89-93 mph fastball and a curveball that reached 81 mph, is top drawer, with plenty of projection remaining on Wolf's slender 165-pound body. He is committed to Texas A&M.
 
Day one's co-top fastball velocity at the Mariners quad belonged to a very young graduated senior, righthander Hayden Juenger (2018, O'Fallon, Ill.) of the St. Louis Pirates.  The 6-foot righthander, who finished his high school career ranked 290th in the Perfect Game National rankings, went four innings for the Pirates, giving up two runs and topping out at 93 mph.  Juenger, who also throws a power curveball that will get into the low-80s, will be attending Missouri State next year.

– David Rawnsley





The 17u Perfect Game World Series got underway in a hurry on Thursday morning at the Seattle Mariners/San Diego Padres joint complex in Peoria, Ariz. GBG Marucci got off to a hot start via a 10-0 win to open their tourney play over Mountain West, but Mountain West did start one of the more intriguing arms of the day in Joseph Dixon (2020, South Jordan, Utah), an uncommitted righthander who had a bevy of college recruiters watching him as he took the mound. Dixon was pretty dominant for his first two innings before turning the loaded GBG lineup over got to be a bit of an issue in the third inning, but he still showed some extremely good stuff with high upside. 

He has good size with an athletic build, projecting well physically and looking like he’ll be capable of durability as a starter at the next level as he continues to increase his strength. He worked up to 93 mph with his fastball, sitting more in the 87-91 mph range, showing solid arm side life to the pitch at times as well. His lower half in his delivery had some inconsistency in terms of timing and direction, which did lead to some command troubles for Dixon, but it’s still an undeniably live right arm that projects for more. He worked in a breaking ball in the 73-76 mph range with 11-to-5 shape and good bite to it, showing the potential for an above average bat-misser there, and also showed a straighter changeup that he does a fair job of replicating his arm speed on. 

CBA Marucci moved to a quick 2-0 via a pair of victories on Thursday, including an 8-0 win over the Dallas Patriots and a 10-1 win over Power Baseball. Cody Freeman (2019, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), as he usually does, paced the CBA offensive attack from the leadoff spot. Freeman pretty much exemplifies the ideal leadoff hitter profile at this point, with an excellent approach, the ability to make firm contact all over the zone, good speed, and he’s developed nicely in terms of extra base power over the years as well.

Joseph Naranjo (2019, Chino, Calif.) adds a more physical element to the CBA lineup from the No. 3 spot, as the Perfect Game National Showcase veteran brings serious hit-ability from the left side along with some power there as well, doing a very good job of consistently finding the barrel with authority.

Kaden Hopson (2019, Redlands, Calif.) had one of the bigger hits of the day for CBA, muscling a two-run single through the right side in Game 2 to put CBA ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning, a lead they’d never relinquish. The CBA Marucci club is extremely balanced top-to-bottom and have to be considered one of the favorites to take home the title this week. 




Bryce Hubbart (2019, Windermere, Fla.) ended up taking the loss in the Power Baseball-CBA Marucci matchup but really pitched quite well, allowing a pair of runs (both on the aforementioned Hopson base hit), scattering three hits with no walks across four innings while picking up six strikeouts and throwing 72 percent strikes. Younger for the grade, Hubbart will not yet be 18 years old when the 2019 draft rolls around, and he’s got some projection remaining on his frame as well. Working up to 89 mph with his fastball from the left side, Hubbart sat consistently in the 85-88 mph range and showed the ability to generate angle to the plate while working the pitch to both sides. He also showed the ability to manipulate his curveball shape, thrown in the 70-73 mph range, ranging from a 1-to-7 shaped truer curveball that he could land for strikes to a sharper, more swing-and-miss offering on a 2-to-8 shape. Hubbart is committed to Florida State. 

Much like Hubbart, Davis Heller (2019, Gilbert, Ariz.) was the victim of a tough-luck loss on Thursday, as the veritable 6-foot-8 giant pitched quite well for Wilson Sandlot in their 3-0 loss to US Elite. Heller allowed one run over his four innings, racking up nine strikeouts though allowing five walks as well. As is true with 99 percent of pitchers with his length and overall height, Heller occasionally struggles to control his body enough through his movements to repeat his delivery, which can cause lapses in fastball command. He worked up to 90 mph early on with his fastball, throwing straight downhill from an elevated slot, creating as much or more plane to the plate than anyone else in the class, making the fastball impossible to lift when commanded to the bottom of the zone. He’ll yank across and cut the fastball at times as well, nothing overly problematic at this juncture but something to watch moving forward as well. His curveball was thrown mostly in the 70-73 mph range and while there are some inconsistencies, he does show the ability to generate spin and the pitch possesses solid average projection. 




One of the better games of the day took place between Baseball Northwest and the Sticks Baseball Academy, with the Sticks pulling out a 3-0 win late. Markevian Hence (2020, Pine Bluff, Ark.) was absolutely sensational in the win, throwing a complete game shutout with 12 strikeouts while allowing only 4 hits and a single walk. Hence is a bit undersized by righthanded pitching prospect standards but his athleticism on the mound as well as his arm speed both stand out, as he did a pretty solid job of holding velocity deep into the game. He worked up to 91 mph early on with the fastball, pounding the zone at 86-89 mph for most of the game, and he probably could have just dominated with his fastball given the command of the pitch as well as the life it features. He worked in quality changeup with good fade and arm speed replication, and also showed a curveball that, as he threw it harder and harder, got better and better. The best one this evaluator saw came at 75 mph with sharp, late bite; and it, along with the changeup, has a potentially above-average future as he continues to refine it. 

On the other side, Stuart Flesland (2019, Colbert, Wash.) pitched quite well before allowing the go-ahead runs in the final inning, and showed off impressive upside. In our first real look at Flesland in nearly three years since his performance at the 2015 Northwest Showcase, he’s added 18 miles per hour to his top fastball, as well as about eight inches and 40 pounds to his frame…amazing what puberty can do to a teenager. He worked up to 88 mph on at least one gun early on, settling into the 84-87 mph range for the majority of the outing, pounding the strike zone and walking no one while picking up eight strikeouts. The arm action is very clean and efficient and his body projects well moving forward, and he does a pretty solid job creating angles to the plate with his fastball when commanded down in the zone. He throws a bit of a frisbee slider that varies in both shape and effectiveness, but there is undoubtedly feel to spin the baseball there. He sort of exploded onto the draft scene in the past couple weeks as a solid follow in the Northwest area, and he’ll be monitored closely both at Area Codes next month as well as into the spring. 

– Brian Sakowski
 
Give us your feedback
Tournaments | Story | 12/14/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2030
Jheremy Brown
Article Image
The youngest of the classes that we'll look at for the best defenders in the country, this group is loaded with guys that play the game well better than what their age says. From athleticism to arm strength, it's quite impressive what these guys can do already. C Jhunior Jose Cordero (Boca Raton, Fla.) Cordero has all the traits imaginable behind the dish including elite strength and athleticism in his 5-foot-10 160-pound frame. The switch-hitting catcher came in at No. 3 nationally in the recently updated class of 2030 rankings. He has been clocked at 1.91 sec from home to second base with legitimate arm strength up to 78 mph. With advanced abilities at every position, the primary backstop Cordero is simply a special talent on the defensive side of the ball. He has tons of quickness in his hands and lower-half, which allows for fast and fluid transfers behind the plate. Cordero’s...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
Article Image
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...
Read More
College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
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...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
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...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
    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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
Article Image
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...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 12/10/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2026

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
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...
Read More
General | Blog | 12/10/2025

Youth Baseball Exec. DeDonatis III Joins PG

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
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...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2025 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.