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General  | General | 4/15/2020

Best of 7 Series: Southeast

Greg Gerard
Photo: Ryan Hagenow (Perfect Game)

Each segment of the Best of 7, 10-part series has been assembled by one of PG’s scouts. The idea of this exercise is to put together a team with the best amateur players from 10 different regions from across the country in an attempt to win a seven-game series. The players are not necessarily the top prospects in each state/region, but those that have consistently proven they have what it takes to win consistently at a high level. Which region would win such a series? Stay tuned to Perfect Game and join us @PerfectGameUSA to chime in.

Best of 7 Series: Florida | Pacific

Southeast Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee

 Fernando Gonzalez
At a premium position like catcher some would argue that the defensive skillset would outweigh the bat, and in this case why not have both? Gonzalez is a standout defender behind the plate with a bat that is going to play into his collegiate as well as professional playing days. Gonzalez burst onto the Perfect Game scene at the 2019 Sunshine Southeast Showcase where he earned a trip to the National Showcase and has been a big-time talent on the summer circuit ever since. The Georgia commit has a large sample size at PG events and hit .339 in 2019 in 138 plate appearances.



Blaze Jordan
There may not be a more highlighted player in the country regardless of age than corner infielder Blaze Jordan. Jordan has been committed to Mississippi State since he was 14 years old and has been hitting 400-foot home runs since that age as well. The bat speed and power play in a huge way while his defensive skillset has improved rapidly in the past calendar year showing that he can play on either side of the corner infield. Jordan. Hailing from Southaven, Mississippi and DeSoto Central High School, Jordan was a lock for this list given his track record on the PG circuit as well as his potential high-end draft status coming this year.

Austin Martin
Yes, he has made the transition to center field late in the abbreviated season, but on this team the potential 1:1 pick in this year’s draft is clearly versatile and going to be slotted at the second base position. Martin had a monster season a year ago, which followed a solid freshman campaign, and before the break this year was off to another loud season. A career .368 hitter and a key leader to the 2019 College World Series team, Martin has seen his share of amazing accolades during his time in Nashville. It is very hard to argue the production of what Martin has done in his time at Vanderbilt and was the easy first choice on this All-Southeast Team.

Jordan Westburg
Westburg is dripping in tools and is right up there with Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad for most raw power on the team. On top of Westburg’s huge power comes a plus arm at shortstop and a plus run tool. A career .285 hitter for the Bulldogs of Mississippi State, Westburg is a legitimate starting shortstop who could move to third base long term. On this Southeast team, however, Westburg will play shortstop and bat near the middle of the order given his proven SEC success as well as being a power threat at the plate. Westburg is currently the No. 43 player on the PG 2020 MLB Draft list.

Cayden Wallace
Wallace has a strong arm that will play well at third base and is also a big power threat at the plate. The righthanded hitting third baseman from Greenbrier High School in Arkansas is committed to the Razorbacks as well and was also a 2019 PG All-American. His tools are very loud as he runs a sub-6.70 60 and had an exit velocity of 103 mph at the National Showcase. The Arkansas commit is a lifetime .353 hitter on the PG circuit and has hit five bombs in his 136 at-bats.



Daniel Cabrera
Outfield was the toughest position to select for this team as there is an immense amount of talent in the Southeast. Cabrera was the first selected as a surefire choice to produce at the plate as he has done for three years playing for the LSU Tigers. The all-around hit tool along with the potential to hit for power at the plate puts Cabrera as the likely three-hole hitter on this loaded roster. Cabrera got off to a bit of a slow start to the 2020 season but picked it up rapidly before the unfortunate end to the season posting a .345-2-12 stat line in 17 games played.

Robert Hassell III
Hassell unfortunately did not get to start his senior season at Independence High School in Tennessee due to COVID-19, but considering what Hassell has proven along the summer circuit as well as in his scrimmages prior to the 2020 season, he is a certain superstar on the diamond. Hassell is the 14th-ranked player in the country and was one of the first players to be named a 14u PG Select Festival participant as well as a PG All-American giving a strong glimpse of his standout ability throughout all four years of his prep days. Hassell is projected as a first round talent in this year’s draft and has hit just under .500 in his 63 PG at-bats.

Heston Kjerstad
Picking the final outfield position on the Southeast Team was undoubtedly the toughest decision of any on this roster. Picking among a slew of names, Arkansas’ Heston Kjerstad and his nearly 80-grade power made the cut. Kjerstad is a huge performer for the Razorbacks with double-digit homers and an average above .330 in each of the last two seasons. His start to 2020 was among the best of any Division I player in the country with already six homers and a .448 batting average through 16 games. Kjerstad is the power bat in this lineup and the likely candidate to be slotted in the cleanup spot.



Jordan Walker
The No. 1 player in the 2020 class Jordan Walker is the designated hitter on this team given his track record of being able to hit for both power and average at a very high level. Walker is a primary third baseman who also bats righthanded with a strong arm, above average run tool, plenty of power potential and will likely be an early round draft pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Walker has committed to Duke and has been well-documented on the Perfect Game circuit with his rapid climb through the ranks over the past four years.

Brett McGee
We needed a sleeper on this team and none other than Southern Arkansas’ Brett McGee was selected as the lone bench player as a backup catcher. McGee is the lone Division II player on the list as his .424 batting average and nine home runs really stood out among small school players, on top of the fact that lefthanded hitting catchers are a personal favorite. A native Texan, McGee is in his sophomore season with the Muleriders and has done nothing but produce at the plate for SAU since stepping onto campus.

Emerson Hancock
The 1-2 punch of Hancock and Wilcox at UGA had the potential to be one of the best tandems of pitchers in the SEC in a long time. Hancock a projected top 5 pick before the season and Wilcox – who had about as loud of a start to the 2020 season as any arm in America – could have pitched the Bulldogs all the way to Omaha if it had not been for an awful end to the season. Hancock runs his fastball into the upper-90s with a plus slider and changeup and is coming off of a 2019 season where he posted a sub-2.00 ERA in 14 starts. Any of these pitchers listed here could be labeled as an ace on this staff, but it is pretty hard to argue with Hancock being the first pitcher selected on this list.



Cole Wilcox
Followed by Hancock is his teammate, Cole Wilcox. The large righthander has made tremendous strides with pitching coach Sean Kenny over the course of the past year as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2020. The strikes and swings-and-misses have gone up while the balls thrown have gone down, a great recipe for a guy whose fastball can reach 100 mph with a power slider and improved changeup. Wilcox has all the stuff of a first-round talent, and given his 1.57 ERA, 32-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio and microscopic WHIP (sub-1.00) Wilcox was well on his way to an improved draft stock prior to the halted season.

Garrett Crochet
A healthy Garrett Crochet can go up against anyone in the country, and while he was slowed by an injury for the better part of three-plus potential starts, Crochet will still make this list given his career and potential first round selection come (hopefully) June. Crochet, without a doubt, is the top lefthander in the region and is going to strike out more than a batter per inning as he has for the Volunteers over the past three seasons. There are some potential reliever traits for Crochet on this team as he has elite stuff and is one of just two lefthanders on the team. In his career at Tennessee Crochet has a 4.64 ERA in 132 innings with 149 strikeouts and just 48 walks.

Mason Hickman
Potentially the most successful pitcher on this list hails from Vanderbilt in righthander Mason Hickman. Starting the 2020 season with three dominant starts with an ERA below 1.00 and a 26-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 2/3 innings, Hickman may be the opening day starter for this team because you know you are likely going to walk off of the field with a win. He’s not the most glorified draft guy as his stuff doesn’t match his more well-known teammates, but the performance for the Commodores over the past three seasons speaks for itself after being named the Most Valuable Pitcher at the 2016 WWBA World Championship for the title-winning Dirtbags.

Tanner Burns
A three-year starter for the Auburn Tigers and projected first rounder come June, Burns along with Hancock, Wilcox, Crochet and Hickman are all a “take your pick” on who would start on opening day. Burns has a proven track record on the Plains of Auburn with a career 2.86 ERA in 188 2/3 innings that includes 210 strikeouts. His power stuff is going to provide lots of swing-and-miss while, if needed, could be a lethal bullpen arm for a potential one-inning stint as well. A PG All-American in 2016 and PG’s National High School Two-Way Player of the Year in 2017, Burns turned down the Yankees 37th-round selection in 2017, but in 2020 should see a lot more money thrown his way whenever the MLB Draft may take place.

Gavin Stone
A strike-throwing righthander from Central Arkansas, Stone can run his fastball into the mid-90s and would be a great bullpen arm on this squad. A pretty high projected draft name this season as well, Stone was off to a dominating start to the 2020 season. Converting from a closer in 2018 and 2019 to a starter in 2020, Stone struck out more than a batter per inning and walked just six opposing hitters in 27 2/3 innings before the cancellation of the season. His combination of a 90-95 mph fastball, average slider and above average command of the strike zone would pay dividends at the back end of a bullpen on a team like this.



Dylan Ray
Ray’s performance at the PG High School Showdown was pretty eye-opening and made him a clear first choice in the region for prep arms to be included on this prestigious roster. Ray’s fastball sits 92-94 mph with a hammer curveball that is a lethal strikeout pitch. The Alabama native and signee to the Crimson Tide would be the first arm out of the bullpen on this roster given his stuff and ability to go extended innings if needed. Ray has improved his command mightily over the course of the last year and with that his draft stock has also risen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryan Hagenow
Hagenow is a personal favorite on the mound after seeing him pitch for eXposure in the fall of 2018, leading to him being a highly recognized arm out of Farragut High School in Tennessee. Hagenow was invited to PG National and PG All-American Classic as the Kentucky commit has performed extremely well virtually every time out on the mound at PG events, including a dominant six =0batter, six-strikeout two-inning outing at PG National. Hagenow has a low-90s fastball now that could continue to climb as he matures even more physically as well as secondary stuff that creates swing-and-miss opportunities.



Hayden Durke
Durke, like Hagenow, is another personal favorite in the Southeast hailing from Abbeville, Louisiana and North Vermilion High School. Durke’s fastball can reach 95 mph and is slotted as a seventh-round pick on PG’s draft list. His performance at Perfect Game events throughout the last three years has been sensational playing for Sheets Baseball. His 8-1 record and 49 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings, including a win in Jupiter this past October, make him a solid choice for a bullpen arm on the Southeast Team.

Patrick Holloman
There is not a more consistent prep strike thrower in the region than southpaw Patrick Holloman. Why not have a pitcher who is not going to walk a lot of guys on your team? It dates back to his 14u days on the PG circuit when Holloman was a strike-throwing machine and has been that way ever since. The velocity is not going to blow anyone away in the mid- to upper-80s with solid secondaries, but the lefty just gets outs. There have been reports of Holloman also making a recent velocity jump into the low-90s, and if that is the case, then he could be a lethal arm on this loaded roster.
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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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College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 15

John McAdams
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Tucker Rice (27 MS) bumping up to 91; living hi-80s from real fast arm. Good SL @ 77-79 w/ depth & sold w/ intent. Loads of traits & strikes. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/DEjFqRcsIY — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 6, 2025 Tucker Rice, RHP, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Alabama has continued to stay red hot in the recruiting trail ever since August 1st rolled around on the calendar and have continued to stack major pieces in their ’27 class. They dip into Mississippi to land one of the premier arms and one that’s stood out on the circuit for quite some time. It’s a fast arm and the athleticism certainly shines working down the slope. The velocity has continued to tick up over the last calendar year and reached into the low-90s towards the end of the summer. He’s confident in his changeup and the breaking ball is...
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Tournaments | Story | 12/15/2025

17u Tourney All-American Team

Vincent Cervino
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There’s a lot of talent throughout this 2026 class, filled with the big-name stars, to talent that spreads across the nation. It’s been a lot of fun seeing these prospects grow and develop over the years, from the days of watching some of these guys at the 13/14u days at events on the circuit, to now where they are all graduating seniors in 2026. There’s been new faces who have popped along the way over the years, even in 2026, where some players who were relatively undiscovered, have come out and made a name for themselves with a statement performance. Between the familiar and the new, there’s a lot of names on this list that are going to be quite regularly talked about on the circuit, and for good reason.  Whether it’s PG All-Americans or not, there’s a lot of names with superstar potential at the next level. We’ve got 14 PG All-Americans...
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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

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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

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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

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Dave Durbala
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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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