2,089 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story  | 9/29/2021

WWBA World Championship Pool Preview

Photo: Perfect Game
Pool A
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
East Coast Sox – Franchise Owen Egan 45 2023 Logan Forsythe 259 2022 Columbus, MS
Royals Scout Team 2022 Dondreone Kennedy 104 2023 Caden Marcum 191 2022 Kansas City, MO
Team Mizuno Puerto Rico Jamaliel Rosado 169 2022 Radymir Rivera 500 2022 Caguas, P.R.
Team Northeast Chris Maldonado 154 2022 Nick Biasi 422 2022 Staten Island, N.Y.

Projected Pool Winner: East Coast Sox – Franchise
A closer look at this year’s East Coast Sox - Franchise squad headed to the East Coast of Florida, the traditional home of the WWBA World Championship looks to have a good mix of juniors and seniors that have found their fair share of success in the traditional two-tone blue Sox uniform. With the 2023 group finishing 6-1 in an impressive WWBA showing this summer and the 2022 squad making it all the way to the semi-finals in this summer’s WWBA, this group is no stranger to deep tournament runs. Key returners from those rosters RJ Hamilton, Jacob Keys, Mason Morris, and Mason Swinney will highlight a talented line up. Look for newcomers Owen Egan, AJ Garcia, and Darnell W. Parker Jr. will bring an added level of depth to that already daunting Sox lineup while Logan Forsythe along with Patrick Galle and Logan Lunceford will look to lead the staff on the mound.

Dark Horse: Team Northeast
With five of the top six ranked players on this team being primary position guys it will be the bats that this senior lead group will lean on as the look to make some noise and find themselves in the 32-team bracket. With an infield that could look something to the likes of Chris Maldonado and Ryan Weingartner up the middle and Andrew Fischer at the hot corner getting a ball through the infield will be no easy task, not to mention the damage these three can bring to the plate with what is shaping up to be a well-rounded offense with a combination of athleticism and power. On the mound the look for guys like Nick Biasi, Charlie Jones, and Nick Finarelli to pound the zone with all three capable of running the fastball into the low 90s.



What To Look For: What Position Player Can Jump Start Their Draft Stock.
In a pool that finds itself with a handful of ranked draft eligible bats in the middle to back end of the rankings, is there a bat that can take a step forward and jump start his draft process? For the East Coast Sox look for the two Mason’s, Mason Morris and Mason Swinney both of whom showed flashes over the summer as high-level bats. For Team Northeast Chris Maldonado will look to build off a strong East Coast Pro while Andrew Fischer comes into this event as a career .405 hitter. For the Royals Scout team keep an eye on Jordan Austin as he will look to find the barrel consistently and allow his athleticism and 6.6 speed to impact the game. As for Team Mizuno Puerto Rico the focus will start with Jamaliel Rosado and Yahir Otero as both middle infielders have the kind of length and athleticism that project to pro ball with the chance to stick in the middle of the field long term.

-Colt Olinger


Pool B

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Georgia Bombers Riley Stanford 20 2022 Luke McNeillie 77 2023 Cumming, GA
Ontario Blue Jays  Myles Naylor  273  2023 Kansai Sugimoto 500 2022 Mississauga, ON
St Louis Pirates/ Cubs Scout Team  Edward Phelps III 31 2023 Nicholas Rovitti  163 2024 Chicago, IL
Texas Twelve  Blake Mitchell 8 2023 James Ellwanger 469 2023 College Station, TX

Projected Pool Winner: Georgia Bombers
One look at this roster and there’s a clear reason why this loaded Georgia-based squad is the favorite heading into pool play October 7. Twenty-five of the 28 players are committed for the Bombers, and 24 of those individuals are heading D-I, further emphasizing the pure talent in this clubhouse. With Francesco Capocci, Omari Daniel, and Colin Houck likely manning the infield and an all-around stud of Riley Stanford both in the outfield and touching 97 mph on the mound, the cracks are few and far between for this Goliath. Be alert here for nukes 1-9 in the lineup with multiple arms, including Luke McNeillie and Jeffrey Heuer into the mid-90s with ease. 

Dark Horse: Texas Twelve 
Even with all the star power on the Georgia Bombers, don’t sleep on the potential of Texas Twelve. Of the 21 players rostered, 15 are D-I commits headlined by stud Blake Mitchell behind the dish and Aggies outfield commit Jace LaViolette, who’s guaranteed to make some noise on the bases with a 6.50 sixty time. Similar to the pool favorites, Texas Twelve has a bunch of multi-positional talent in the form of guys like Brayden Randle and Max Belyeu, a pair of Longhorn commits looking to make their impact over the course of the weekend. As a solely Texas-based team, Twelve is without a doubt an in-house wrecking crew to be aware of come game time. 

What to Watch For: Young Guns
While most of this tournament is historically dominated by names soon to graduate, this pool is unique in the fact that a lot of high-profile players are on the younger side. Of the aforementioned guys to keep an eye on in the chart, Myles Naylor, Edward Phelps lll, Nicholas Rovitti, Blake Mitchell, James Ellwanger, and Luke McNeillie are all 2023 grads or earlier. Let’s not kid ourselves either, these gents aren’t here to mess around as they attempt to make a name for themselves sooner rather than later. The strategic depth of the roster creation from all four teams in this pool mixes experienced prospects with guys just starting to step into the spotlight, making for fun and ultra-competitive matchups. 

-AJ Denny

Pool C
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Florida Burn Scout Team Will St.Onge 197 2024 Reilly Witmer 330 2023 Sarasota, FL
Knights Knation/Dodgers Scout Team Gavin Guidry 58 2022 Wilson Woodcox 372 2022 Mandeville, LA
MVP Beat 2022 Giovanni Colasante 79 2022 Justin Leguernic
 463 2023 Commack, NY
Reds Scout Team Tommy Specht 41 2022 Zander Mueth 9 2023 Cincinnati, OH

Projected Pool Winner: Reds Scout Team
The Reds Scout Team have the designation of most talented roster in this pool, and they are our pick to come out of this pool and earn the playoff nod. The pitching the Reds can roll out is very strong and very deep, led by several higher-end seniors in David Lally, Noah Samol, Brayden Risedorph, AJ Izzi, and others. I just saw this club play at the Kernels Foundation Classic in Iowa recently, and the depth of the arms stands out. Zander Mueth is one of the more intriguing underclassmen rostered, and he can win a game by himself if needed, and the overall depth of the arms on this club is very strong. Offensively, this seems to be a streaky lineup, but one that can score runs in bunches when hot. Look for Tommy Specht, Luke Adams, and Justin Vossos, amongst others, to lead the way offensively for the Reds.

Dark Horse: Knights Knation/Dodgers Scout Team
There’s a clear offensive lean on this roster as constructed, with the potential lineup versatility and depth to do some serious damage to opposing pitchers. Gavin Guidry is a potential star and should lead the way, and he’ll be joined by Jason Torres and Charlie Keller amongst others expected to rake through the weekend. Konnor Griffin is the top-ranked player in ’25, and he might be top-ranked in several different classes given his skill set. On the mound, there’s a solid collection of arms here, but like every team, the depth will be tested. Wilson Woodcox, Haydan Toal, and Jaxon Burch, amongst several others, will be asked to carry the load.

What to Watch For: Reds Bats
The Reds Scout Team has one of the more deep and talented pitching staffs of the event and they showed off a solid dozen or so of those arms a few weeks ago in Iowa, but at the same time their bats went quiet for long stretches, including two near-shutouts in an early-exit showing at Kernels. Will these talented Reds hitters find some consistency and score enough runs to allow their pitching to stay in control? It’ll be what I’m watching closely, that’s for sure.

-Brian Sakowski


Pool D
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Team Indiana Maxwell Clark 1 2023 Andrew Dutkanych IV 14 2022 Indianapolis, IN
Canes American Cannon Peebles 255 2022 Keenan Proctor 477 2022 Fredricksburg, VA
Home Plate Chili Dogs Josh Tate 165 2022 Jaxon Walker 41 2024 Peachtree City, GA
Dallas Patriots 18U Hogan Shelby 500 2022 Zane Petty 500 2022 Frisco, TX

Projected Pool Winner: Team Indiana 
A roster that consistently features some of the top talent from parts of the Ohio Valley region, Team Indiana comes to Florida primed once again to make a run to the playoffs. The lineup is headlined by talented Indiana commit Andrew Wiggins and two Michigan commits in Jack Crighton and catcher Nate Voss. Pair that with a good handful of 90+ mph arms and a couple of Vanderbilt commits in Maxwell Clark and Andrew Dutkanych IV and you have a good recipe for success in a pool. 

Dark Horse: Canes American 
Overall, it's a strong roster for the Canes American club that should have a serious shot at taking the pool. There's a good chance that Team Indiana throws Dutkanych against them, but the roster has the offensive fire power to go up against one of the top arms in not only the tournament, but the country. Catcher Cannon Peebles (NC State commit), outfielder Keenan Proctor (UCLA) and the very versatile Jacob Jarrell (Clemson) are just three of the 19 commitments on the roster and they'll be looked to as key offensive components while in Jupiter. They also have 11 primary arms rostered and having depth on the mound is imperative in a tournament like the WWBA World Championship.  

What to Watch For: Overall Pool Depth 
Overall, this is an extraordinarily strong pool. Any team has the potential to beat anyone on a given day. Home Plate Chili Dogs are led by the incredibly talented 2023 graduate and Georgia Tech commit Tai Peele, two 2024 graduates in Georgia commit Jaxon Walker, Mississippi State commit Heath Whitlock, and Kennesaw State commit Braden Osbolt. Never underestimate a team from Texas, as the Dallas Patriots 18U are led by Stephen F. Austin commit Brock Knoerr, two Wichita State commits in Aidan Sharp and Hogan Shelby and McLennan CC commit Zane Petty. 

-Terry Wetzel  

Pool E
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
5 Star National - Black
 Riley Jackson 25 2023 Connor Crisp 108 2023 Warner Robins, GA
Iowa Select 2022 Obermueller
 Gable Mitchell 500 2022  Aaron Savary 500 2022 Cedar Rapids, IA
Sandlot Scout Team 2022
 Jackson Lovich 500 2022 Kade Shatwell 365 2022 Tulsa, OK
Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
 Aidan Miller 3 2023 Wesley Mendes 13 2023 Toronto, ON

Projected Pool Winner: 5 Star National- Black 
The 5 Star National- Black club is littered with Division-I commits up and down their roster on both sides of the ball. Filled with elite speed up the middle with center fielder Gage Harrelson and middle infielder Tanner Knowles and highly ranked backstops in Riley Jackson and Jaxson West, they should be well-equipped to play stellar defense behind a well-armed pitching staff. Consisting of a balanced staff of both right-handed and left-handed pitchers, led by right-hander Connor Crisp and left-hander Drew Nelson, they can match up against any team in the tournament. Pitching depth always plays a factor where pitch counts and multiple games per day play a major factor as teams advance deep in the tournament and 5 Star National- Black is loaded with arms and two-way talent to cover the long grind of the WWBA Championship.  

Dark Horse: Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team
The Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team can match any team in the tournament in the number of Division-I commits on their roster with highly-ranked prospects all up and down the East Coast. Led by infielders Aidan Miller and Cade Kurland, along with two-way star Wesley Mendes, they will feature one of the top offensive lineups in the tournament from top to bottom with more depth waiting to step in. Catcher Brady Neal should get a bulk of the time behind the plate in leading a staff that features left-handers Wesley Mendes and  Freddy Noel Beruvides Jr. along with right-hander Davion Hickson. If the Blue Jays can get solid outings from their starting pitching and keep games close, they have the offensive potential to slug their way deep into the tournament. 

What to Watch For: Team Chemistry 
A majority of 5 Star National- Black has played together throughout the summer and have settled in for the most part into certain roles and battled together as a unit in a number of previous PG events and tournaments. The wild card for 5 Star is the talented Drew Burress, who can play multiple positions and hit from any spot in the lineup, which gives them flexibility over a long tournament. The Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team have a number of talented players from a number of premier organizations that will be thrust in different roles and expectations that will be interesting to watch unfold as this pool seems to be a two-horse race on paper.    

-Jason Phillips

 Pool F
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Burn 2022 Chris Stanfield
 84 2022 Zachary Root 179 2022 Sarasota, FL
East Cobb Baseball Roster to be announced

Roster to be announced

Marietta, GA
eXposure West Prime
 Demetrio Crisantes
 230 2022 Caiden Wilson 500 2022 Phoenix, AZ
Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
 Sal Stewart 23 2022 Frank Menendez 51 2023 Milwaukee, WI

Projected Pool Winner: Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team
The Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team’s roster is littered with Power Five commitments (15 to be exact) and their lineup will be deadly from top to bottom, led by the power bats of Sal Stewart and Yoel Tejeda Jr. And if you somehow manage to get past those two, the likes of Bryant Zayas and Gavin Grahovac will not be a welcome sight. In addition to the powerful offensive artillery, their defense should be a strong suit, led by the talented middle infield duo of Ivan Arias and Cameron Kim. Miami commit and left-hander Frank Menendez will headline the Brewer’s pitching staff after a successful summer campaign that included a stop at the Jr. National Showcase.

Dark Horse: Burn 2022
The Burn will look to combat The Brewer’s offensive firepower with a couple of highly ranked, 90+ mph arms in Zachary Root and Aidan Knaak. Consistent defensive play will be of high importance for this squad as well, so look for 6.3 runner Chris Stanfield to lock things down in centerfield, while Florida commit Sammy Mummau patrols the middle infield. The Burn will bring along some heavy hitters of their own, as the experienced bats of Miles Curley, Michael Perazza, Logan Tribble, and Scott Edwards will seek to provide the offensive production needed to win the pool.

What to Watch For: Demetrio Crisantes
This may be a surprising pick, given the high-octane bats of Sal Stewart and Yoel Tejada Jr that are sure to make a splash in this pool, but Crisantes really turned some heads at the National Showcase in July, and his rise as of late has been somewhat meteoric. Crisantes burst onto the scene this summer after posting some ridiculous offensive numbers in PG tournaments out West, thus earning himself an invite to the National Showcase. He ran a 6.6 60 and put his advanced hit tool on display at the Trop, resulting in a big rankings boost and a commitment to baseball powerhouse Arizona shortly after. If Crisantes can continue to produce against the high level pitching that Jupiter has to offer, he will certainly generate some lofty draft buzz heading into next year.

-Cade Schares

 Pool G
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Cangelosi Sparks 2022 Black Colin Barczi 294 2023 Noah Schultz 9 2022 Lockport, IL
Dirtbags TayShaun Walton 5 2023 Bryce Dolby 156 2022 Sedalia, NC
Hunter Pence Baseball Academy 2022 Carson Queck 141 2022 Blake Binderup 229 2022 Houston, TX
PRBAHS Derek Gippson 500 2022 Jorge Sanchez HF 2022 Caguas, PR


Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags
This lineup will be exceptionally hard for opponents to navigate because it is littered with a combination of speed, power, and advanced hit tools. Alvin Keels and Ashton Larson can set the table and use their legs to disrupt. TayShaun Walton has one of the highest offensive ceilings you will find, regardless of class. Tyler Albright, Caden Bodine, Connor Fuhrman, and Max Kaufer all have serious juice with the ability to change the game with one swing. Colby Shelton is one of the more polished left-handed bats in the class and will be relied on for his usual professional approach and high-end production. The arms are game too with Bryce Dolby, Colin Linder, and Nathan Teague leading the charge. The shear balance of the roster clearly makes them a favorite to make it to Championship Monday.

Dark Horse: Cangelosi Sparks 2022 Black
This is an experienced lineup that has logged a ton of wins playing with each other. They know how to win and complement each others skills very well. There is some start power here with Noah Schultz being one of the premier arms in the class. Julius Sanchez has also shown the type of arm talent that can turn over innings in a hurry. The backstop tandem is also extremely talented with Collin Mowry and underclassman Colin Barczi. Cangelosi teams seem to always be in the mix and this roster is really, really talented.

What to Watch For: Will Noah Schultz and Blake Binderup face each other? Dirtbags?
Assuming Schultz and Binderup get to turn over some innings, what an epic matchup this would be in pool play if the stars align. Schultz's projection cannot be matched and every offering he throws borders on elite spin rates. He is a unicorn in a lot of ways. Binderup is another really projectable arm and the Texan is one of the better bets to keep his starting profile at the next level. He is undersold given his stuff and athleticism and make no mistake about it, beating Binderup is a tall task. More than likely these two will be tasked with facing the vaunted Dirtbags lineup, though. This means Pool G will be one of the most scouted, and just fun, pools in the loaded Jupiter field.

-Jered Goodwin


Pool H
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
ECB/Padres Scout Team
 Michael Gupton 33 2022 Sullivan Brackin 136 2022 Marietta, GA
LVR/TB SoCal
 Dean Curley
 173 2022 Cole Stokes 91 2022 Las Vegas, NV
Rawlings National Scout Team
 CJ Richard 302 2023 Riley Henfling 500 2023 Long Island, NY
Stix 2022 Scout
 Steven Milam 40 2023 Owen Proksch
 500 2022 Grapevine, TX

Projected Pool Winner: ECB/Padres Scout Team
The Astros will enter Jupiter as the favorites to win Pool H as they have a long track record of performing well in big events. Look for Dylan Cupp to carry the load offensively while playing one of the smoothest shortstops you will see. Florida commit Cade Fisher will also be must watch when on the hill.

Dark Horse: LVR/TB SoCal
Look for a scrappy LVR/TB SoCal team to pack a punch as they will be bringing some solid arms with them down to Florida. Arizona State commit Brandon Luu and young uncommitted arm in Cole Stokes are poised to have big outings. They will also have key offensive pieces in Roman Martin and Dean Curley. Don’t be surprised to see these guys sneak through to bracket play.

What To Watch For: What To Watch For: Underclassmen
Not to take away from some of the legit ’22 prospects in the pool but we will see some big-name underclassmen take the biggest stage in prep baseball. Dylan Cupp, John Cooper Williams, Steven Milam, Trenton Lape, Jackson McKenzie, Roman Martin, and Michael Graziano are all ranked inside the top 100 in the class of ’23 rankings and will be looking to make a statement for themselves. We will also have big ’23 arms going in Chase Meyer, Tate McKee, Chris Knier, andCole Stokes. This pool is shaping up to generate some big stories for the class of ’23 prospects.

-Drew Wesolowski


Pool I
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Elite Squad 2022 Manuelle Marin 38 2024 Player Crosby 500 2023 Pembroke Pines, FL
Ohio Warhawks Nolan Souza 55 2023 Landen Maroudis 65 2023 Fairborn, OH
Team Elite Prime
 Nicolas Senese 302 2022 Brandon Fears 500 2022 Winder, GA
Trosky National 2022
 Ely Kennel 151 2022 Mason McGwire 72 2022 Los Angeles, CA

Projected Pool Winner: Ohio Warhawks
The Ohio Warhawks pulled together a really strong squad from all around the nation. The roster features players from 17 different states and 10 Power 5 recruits. They have an arsenal of really strong junior arms Liam Peterson, Miguel Hugas, Landen Maroudis, Cole Miller, and Luke Rodriguez. All of the arms will be caught by a lockdown catch and throw backstop in Colton Wombles. The depth of bats should also be a strong suit with the likes of Nolan Souza, Zane Kelly, and the aforementioned Maroudis who is a high-level two way talent.

Dark Horse: Trosky National 2022
Loaded with plenty of high-end talent on both sides of the ball, Trosky National 2022 looks to have a strong mix of bats and arms. The pitching arsenal includes PG All-American Mason McGwire and is rounded out by the likes of Garrett Baumann and Zander Reese. Shortstop Ely Kennel is a well-rounded player who should offer impact at the plate, with the glove and on the base paths. The lineup will also have other offensive threats in Michael Paul, Mason White, and Jose Vargas.

What to Watch For: High-End Arm Talent
The pool is loaded with top of the scale arms which should make for some low-scoring and highly competitive games. Logan Saloman, Liam Peterson, Mason McGwire lead the way of power right-handers who have been into the low-90s. Ontario native Caleb Clark and Zander Reese from Colorado are two southpaws who offer advanced pitchability. The array of talented pitchers is well-balanced in terms of high octane as well as polish. There will be surely be an abundance of radar guns pointed from behind the backstop during the Pool I games.

-Kyler Peterson


Pool J
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
East Cobb Astros-Orange  Luke Orfi 350 2023 Grayson Goss T1000 2022 Marietta, GA
On Deck O’s 2022 Nicholas Noto 500 2022 Larson Scholtz 500 2022 Charlotte, NC
Power Baseball 2022 Platinum Braden Holcomb 7 2023 Elliot Sande 123 2024 Winter Garden, FL
San Diego Show Mikey Romero 31 2022 David Horn 72 2022 San Diego, CA

Projected Pool Winner: San Diego Show
Looking to stay hot off a great finish in the 17U PG Fall National Championship. The San Diego Show run ruled their way through the championship. The Show bring a loaded roster filled with some of the best talent in Southern California. They look to bring a talented group to make a successful run in the WWBA World Championship this year with a roster the features 12 D-1 commits in the 2023 and 2022 classes. They are led by UCLA commit Dean West and LSU commit Mikey Romero. West is a triple threat, he can hit for power and can drop a bunt, his speed allowed him to steal bases and run balls down in the gaps. On the mound their big arm is Vanderbilt commit David Horn.

Dark Horse: Power Baseball 2022 Platinum
Power Baseball is no team to be taken lightly they come with a loaded roster and a chance to make some noise. Their roster consists of 15 D-1 commits in the 2023 and 2022 classes with two committed young bucks in the 2024 class as well. Power House is led by Vanderbilt commit Braden Holcomb. He has all the tools to be a threat to his opponents, he can run, has shown the ability to make the routine plays and the highlight reel plays, and swings the ball well, the ball jumps off his bat. On the mound they have Miami commits Elliot Sande and Ryan Ashford, a nice little righty-lefty combo.

What To Watch For: Different Styles of Baseball
With a pool made up of teams from all over the country, it will be interesting to watch how the different styles of baseball match up against each other. Each team comes in with a talented roster filled with some of the top talent in their states. While the San Diego Show and Power Baseball are projected to take the top two seeds, all four teams come loaded with committed talent and athleticism. The Show has PG All-American Mikey Romero and David Horn. Romero is the No. 1 ranked shortstop in California, has pull side power with a plus glove. Horn has solid three-pitch mix, features a plus fastball with great command being able to locate to both sides of the plate. Works in a 12/6 curveball and a slider with good horizontal movement.

-Alexis Gonzalez


Pool K
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team Malcolm Moore 15 2022 Luke Schmolke 153 2022 Fredricksburg,VA
East Cobb Astros 18U Navy  Tysen Benford  500 2022 Jackson Steensma 500 2022 Cartersville, GA
Hawaii Elite 2G Aiva Arquette 464 2022 Zacary Tenn 500 2022 Honolulu,HI 
Team Ohio Pro Select  Eli Small 157 2022 Drew Lafferty 149 2022 Aurora, OH 

Projected Pool Winner: Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team
This year’s Canes National/ NY Mets Scout Team rendition should again be considered a favorite for the Grand Daddy of them all, as they bolster a roster stockpiled with five 2021 PG All-American Classic participants including top position player and #15 Ranked Malcolm Moore (2022, Sacramento, Calif.) , and #21 in our latest Class of 2022 Rankings Cole Young (2022, Wexford, PA). Runs should not be an issue as they lineup runs deep and has plenty of firepower to make a deep run. On the mound, Georgia Tech commit Luke Schmolke (2022, Mooresville, NC) leads the stable of arms that includes a multitude of different looks from both sides. Stalwarts Evan Siary (2022, Columbus, MS) and Trey Wheeler (2022, Indialantic, Fla.) provide big-game experience and will be counted on to provide innings as they navigate through the event. A deep run by Jeff Petty’s crew is an annual occurrence and this year should be no different.

Dark Horse: Hawaii Elite 2G
The boys from Hawaii are fresh off winning the Kernels Foundation Championship, claiming their bid for this event just a week ago. They went 6-0 in Iowa by playing clean baseball and getting timely hits up-and-down the lineup. Aiva Arquette (2022, Kailua, HI) is their top ranked position player and hits third in the lineup. Look for him to continue swinging a hot bat, as he hit .438 (7 for 16) at the Kernels event and drove in eight runs. Noah Hata (2022, Kaneohe, HI) and Kodey Shojinaga (2022, Honolulu) provide length in the lineup and should provide some protection for Arquette. University of Washington commit Zacary Tenn (2022, Kailua, HI) leads the pitching staff and could matchup against the powerful Canes National lineup in pool play. Parker Grant, Keoni Painter and Kaena Kiakona will provide the pitching staff with plenty of depth, as they look to make some noise.

What to Watch For: Potential Drew Lafferty v. Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team Matchup
Each team within the pool should give the Canes their best shot, but this matchup could very well decide the pool. Lafferty is a Kentucky commit with a full assortment of pitches including a low-90s fastball and sharp, late biting breaking ball. In what will be a packed house, could the “Bright Lights” bring out Lafferty’s best as he matches up against a loaded lineup.

-John McAdams


Pool L
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
San Diego Padres Scout Team Max Williams 122 2022 Christian Foutch 147 2022 San Diego, CA 
South Charlotte Panthers Logan Wagner 178 2022 Eli Jerzembeck 62 2022 Charlotte, NC
SWFL 2022 Nation Logan Smith 500 2022 David "Quaid" Goff T1000 2022 Fort Myers, FL
Team Georgia National Cooper Milford 169 2023 Griffin Graves 143 2023 Alpharetta, GA

Projected Pool Winner: South Charlotte Panthers 2022
With a quick look at the South Charlotte Panthers Club, this team is coming into the World Championship loaded with 24 college commits that are all talented, high-ranking players. It has been said that pitching wins championships and this ball club is definitely following that mindset. Leading the way is Eli Jerzembeck, Isaac Armstrong, Chance Mako, Samuel Cozart, Heath Anderews, Mason Murdock, Ryan White, and Max White who together form a pitching staff that will rival almost any team in the World Championship. The South Charlotte Panthers will definitely allow less than three runs a game, if that much. With that being said, we almost have to score runs to win lead behind these young men should have no problem putting up the runs to win. Logan Wagner, Ethan Wagner, and Fabian Amaro are models of consistency. These guys will give difficult at bats for the pitchers the entire tournament allowing this club to win the pool out right.

Dark Horse: San Diego Padres Scout Team
The San Diego Padres scout team has a highly talented roster of players that come from all over the United States. This is an offensive heavy ballclub and could be poised to out slug the competition and pull off some upsets led by a core group of highly talented hitters: Pierce George, Max Williams, Christian Hamilton, and Luke Guth. If all four of these hitters are in sync, pitching staffs better watch out as these young men could single handedly win ball games. With these hitters leading the way, it all comes down to timely pitching. If the pitching staff can keep the opposing team’s hitters in check, then this team could definitely make a run for it.

What to watch For: Eli Jerzembeck
When Eli Jerzembeck takes the mound, you are almost certain a victory. He shows a power fastball that he commands on both sides of the plate and mixes in a great off-speed, which shows tremendous pitching ability with an ultra-projectable 6-2, 180-pound frame. Jerzembeck brings so much more to the mound other than his low 90s fastball. His ability to really go right after the hitters and challenge them with a bulldog mindset has always been a model of consistency.

-Todd Coffey


Pool M
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
643 DP Baseball Academy Jake Streeter 500 2022 Ryan Wideman 500 2022 Marietta, GA
Chicago Scouts Association Gavin Kilen 29 2022 Julien Hachem 305 2022 Chicago, IL
Stars Baseball-Carroll Griffin Stieg 213 2022 Jack O'Connor 93 2022 Manassas, VA
USA Prime Antonio Anderson 10 2023 Calvert Clark 101 2022 Carrolton, TX

Projected Pool Winner: USA Prime 2022 National 
When you look at the USA Prime 2022 National’s roster, it is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the quality and depth of arms.  Boasting 16 primary position pitchers, 13 of which are already committed, this team has the look of a club that will make a deep run just on their arms alone.  Calvert Clark and Beau Bryans headline the staff of power arms that have the ability to match up with opponents hitters based on the mix of lefties and righties. As if the arms were not intimidating enough, 27 of the 29 players on the roster are listed at 6-foot or better.  This translates to a defense with a tremendous amount of range, and an offense that can bludgeon opponents with their big power. Wilburn Furniss and Reese Chapman will provide middle of the order type power from the left side of the plate. While Ike Irish, Alex Stanwich, Beck Milner and Dylan Dreiling will provide ample power but also have the foot speed to put pressure on opposing defenses. The most intriguing athlete on the roster is without a doubt Antonio Anderson, the switch-hitting middle infielder will impact the game in all aspects, including added depth on the mound with his 90 mph fastball.  

Dark Horse: Stars Baseball – Carroll 
Stars Baseball – Carroll plays a very specific brand of baseball and it revolves around flexibility and interchangeable parts on the roster.  Leading the way is O’Connor, who is the perfect example of the type of player that makes the Stars a force.  The physical righty is a front line arm to rely on but also provides middle of the order power with the stick. Falling in line with O’Connor are Griffin Stieg and Seth Keller who provide steady offense but play multiple roles in the field and they both jump on the mound and showcase power fastballs with quality secondary offerings. Bryson Moore and James Raidt provide the team with ultra-reliable righties with low-90s fastballs and a complete arsenal that will get them consistent quality innings. James Tallon is yet another plus arm and the lefty will surely shoulder a lot of high leverage innings during the tournament. Jonny Farmelo may be the best overall athlete on the roster and will be one of the impact bats with his well developed 6-foot-2 and 200-pound frame. The Stars are strong up the middle like all quality clubs are and with their athletic, diverse roster they are poised to play the role of spoiler when they take the field. 

What to watch for: George Wolkow, Chicago Scout Association
Not only will Wolkow be one of the youngest participants in the field (2024), he will undoubtedly be one of the most imposing figures as well listed at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds. As impressive as he is for the size, the athleticism and body control is special. He is smooth and balanced in the field, handling the hot corner with ease and the arm is strong, allowing him to make the longer throws across the diamond. His real calling card may well be his left-handed power, which is scary since his present power is elite and leaves you wondering what is ahead as he continues to develop physically. He is equally intriguing on the mound with his upper-80s fastball, using a shorter arm action to allow him to command the zone. He gets down the mound in a big way and offers a legitimate slider that sits in the upper-70's. The Chicago Scout Association will be a formidable opponent and the young Wolkow will demand everyones attention. 

-Craig Cozart

Pool N
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
3n2 Sticks Baseball-Brewster Justin Best 31 2023 Cooper Dossett 112 2023 Texarkana, AR
5 Star National-Gold Tyler Zedalis 193 2023 Austin Hunley 500 2022 Warner Robbins, GA
Boston Red Sox Scout Team Adonys Guzman 53 2022 Aidan Weaver 51 2022 Boston, MA
Scorpions Jake Richardson 478 2023 Trevor Caldwell 500 2022 Altamonte Spring, FL


Projected Pool Winner: 3n2 Sticks Baseball- Brewster
The 3n2 Sticks Baseball- Brewster has a roster loaded with talent, including 30 overall commits and 19 players ranked inside the top-500 of their respective class. The pitching staff provides a deep look into a bunch of SEC commits from the ’22 class including a trio of arms committed to Arkansas in Cooper Dossett, Colton Sims, and Parker Coil, along with South Carolina commit Blaise Grove and Tennessee commit Dylan Orr. The position player group is led by some of the top ACC commits in the ’23 class with Miami commit Nazzan Zanetello and Florida State commit Justin Best providing thump to the order. Rounding out an impressive ’23 position player group is Ty Waid, one of 10 total Arkansas commits on the roster. The 3n2 Sticks Baseball- Brewster have depth on the mound and throughout the lineup, which will make them one of the toughest teams in the pool.

Dark Horse: Boston Red Sox Scout Team
The Red Sox Scout Team brings an experienced roster that has the depth and experience needed to make some noise. The roster is filled with 24 commits from the ’22 class including four ranked within the top-100 of the class. The pitching staff is stacked and should keep them in most games. They are led by the three top-100 arms in Duke commit Aidan Weaver, Michigan commit Joe Allen, and Wake Forest commit Isaiah Lowe. The pitching staff will rely on catcher Adonys Guzman, a Boston College commit, to guide them from behind the dish. The No. 2 ranked backstop in the ’22 class possesses huge arm strength and a bat that can provide some power to the lineup.

What to Watch For: Aidan Weaver
Weaver will lead the Boston Red Sox Scout Team’s pitching staff and is a must-see arm. He turned heads at the 2021 National Showcase, as well as the 2021 Perfect Game All-American Classic, with an overpowering fastball that topped at 95 mph. The offering comes out of the hand extremely clean and possesses tons of life to the arm side. There is likely even more velocity within the right-hander’s projectable 6-foot-5 frame. It is part of a three-pitch mix that has shown the ability to get hitters out consistently. Weaver is currently the No. 10 righty in the ’22 and No. 51 overall.

-Tyler Henninger


 Pool O
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Alpha Prime 2022 Nolan Stevens 23 2023 Aidan Keenan 35 2023 San Anselmo, CA
Midland Redskins Andrew Edrington 398 2023 JoJo Overbeek 292 2024 Batavia, OH
Next Level Titans Michael O'Shaughnessy 500 2022 Jake Moss 500 2022 Mineola, NY
Texas Rangers Scout Team Giovanni Colasante 79 2022 Benjamin Abeldt 215 2022 Arlington, TX


Projected Pool Winner: Alpha Prime 2022
This California based Alpha Prime 2022 team comes into this event with more underclassmen than seniors on their roster, but the talent they have up and down it should place them as the pool favorite and among a list of teams that have the talent to win the whole thing. They start on the mound where they have an array of arms that can run it into the low-90s, including ace Aidan Keenan who has been up to 95 and dominated in a handful of events. Fellow 2023s Gabe Gaeckle, Landon Stump and Nolan Stevens give them three more strong underclass arms while Jackson Pace, Braeden Sloan and Austin Turkington have big arms as well. Nolan Stevens brings serious thump to the lineup as well while catcher Ryder Helfrick, infielder’s Joe Brown and Carl Schmidt and an array of athletes gives their lineup a combination of high-end hitters and strong depth.

Dark Horse: Texas Rangers Scout Team
The Texas Rangers Scout Team possesses a large number of prospects that will eventually call colleges across the state of Texas home with 12 players committed to play at Division-I schools in the state of Texas in the next couple years. That breadth of talent can very easily make a run at taking out the top team in the pool as we’ve seen time and time again. Talented infielders Giovanni Colasante, Jett Williams, TJ Pompey and Colter McAnelly, along with outfielder Tavion Vaughns, give them talent up the middle of the field while Jacob Rogers, Collin McKinney and Luke Jackson are all power-armed right-handers that complement the talented trio of Benjamin Abeldt, Collin Valentine and Brandon Arvidson from the left side.

What to Watch For: No Southeast Flavor
While some pools may have storylines of big matchups, must watch prospects or a look into the future with tons of underclassmen, this pool has something that no other pool does: no teams from the Southeast region of the United States. Alpha Prime 2022 brings east some of the best talent the west coast has to offer, the Midland Redskins once again are loaded up on Midwest and Ohio Valley talent, the Next Level Titans are solely from New York and come here after winning the Northeast Qualifier while the Texas Rangers Scout Team is mostly Texas-based athletes. It should be fun to watch teams from these different corners of the country come down to Florida looking to knock off many teams that are playing not nearly as far from home.

-Tyler Russo


 Pool P
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
BPA Gavin Turley 13 2022 Oliver Santos 85 2022 Laguna Niguel, CA
Canes Prospects Cole Eaton 25  2023 Tommy Roldan 84 2023 Fredericksburg, VA
FTB Tucci Stewart Puckett 307 2022 Pierce Boles 203 2023 Kissimmee, FL
KBC Prime Silas Shaffer 500 2022 Bennett Myers 500 2022 Nicholasville, KY


Projected Pool Winner: BPA
Any time BPA is in a major tournament, regardless the age group, you can typically expect them to not only make a run at getting out of bracket play, but to still be standing on the final day of said event. This roster is bigger than a typical Jared Sandler roster with 19 players listed though it's a group that has spent plenty of time together on the diamond and you better believe they'll be executing the little things that make a big difference. Gavin Turley, a PG All-American outfielder is arguably the most toolsed-up prospect in all of Jupiter with 6.29 speed and plus tools across the board, meaning he'll be the main draw of the offense though players like Cooper Pratt and Troy McCain, who are amongst the 8 committed position players, make this a well-rounded lineup. Having a polished and experiences arm like Oliver Santos (threw a complete game shutout with 14 strikeouts at the 2020 rendition of this event) at their disposal is huge for BPA as he's capable of locking horns with any team in attendance, but as we've come to know, pitching depth wins championships. Well, they have just that as Brady Disbro and Carson Turnquist both have true swing-and-miss arsenals and are capable of taking the ball deep into any given start to relieve the bullpen.

Dark Horse: Canes Prospects
Year after year at the WWBA World Championship we see an uptick in underclass talent in attendance and though this Canes club is composed exclusively of underclassmen, by no means does that mean they can be taken lightly. A likely glimpse as to what their National roster will look like in a year's time, the Canes Prospects roster is littered with impact prospects on both sides of the ball and in total boast 19 college commitments already. Cole Eaton is a dynamic outfield prospect out of Nebraska who saw his stock soar after an eye-opening performance at the Junior National while infielder Kevin McGonigle just continues to find the barrel every time we see him play. Add in two-way California product Trent Caraway, ultra-athletic backstop Campbell Smithwick, power hitting first basemen Zach Wadas and PJ Morlando alongside the athletic Georgia Tech commit Ryan Jaros and others, and this is an offense who can put up runs in a hurry. The depth of talent continues on the mound with 13 (!) primary pitchers listed, led by UVA commit and left-hander Tommy Roldan who could just as easily find himself int the thick of things offensively by the end of the tournament. They might be on the younger side for Jupiter, but they wouldn't be the first non-National Canes team to make a run. 

What to Watch For: Team Chemistry
You can go through the rosters where some teams are assembled just for Jupiter in the likes of scout teams while others pick up a host of players just for the week. What stands out about this quartet of teams though is that they have all played together, for the most part, throughout at least this past summer circuit, if not longer. That counts for something and having that camaraderie in the dugout is crucial when it comes to those late inning nail biters or where technical skills can outlast pure talent in the gauntlet that is the WWBA World Championship.

-Jheremy Brown


Pool Q
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
CBA Marucci/Red Sox Scout Team Justin Crawford 28 2022 Xavier Cardenas III 67 2022 Temecula, CA
Diamond Devils  Hogan Garner 500 2022 Owen French T1000 2022 Mt. Pleasant, SC
Houston Astros Scout Team Daniel Cuvet 17 2023 Dwayne Primeaux 500 2022 Pembroke Pines, FL 
Mid South Prospects-Platinum  Dalton Bargo 500 2022 Derrick Smith 500 2022 Little Rock, AR

Projected Pool Winner: CBA Marucci/Red Sox Scout Team 
With 21 players on their roster committed to play baseball at the next level it is easy to see the depth that CBA has to make a deep run into the tournament. Having the No. 28 player in the nation in Justin Crawford in your everyday lineup helps as well, as he brings a mixture of elite speed and a projectable frame with serious pop. They add four others in the top-100: Cutter Coffey, maybe one of the most sought-after players that is uncommitted at this point, offensive threat Brady Reynolds, Toby Twist as a two-way player, and Xavier Cardenas III as a top arm. 

Dark Horse: Houston Astros Scout Team 
Another team that is littered with D-I commits comes in as a team to keep an eye out for. Led by top prospect Daniel Cuvet, No. 17 in the 2023 class, at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds he has some of the most raw power in his class from the right side and adds a cannon across the infield from third base. He is joined by a lot of talent up the middle of the field in Wake Forest commit Jesus Pena, Tulane commit Luke Hill, and Alabama State commit Giovanni Febus. From the arm side, keep a look out for hard-throwing Francisco Minaya, as the uncommitted righty brings it up to 93 mph. From the left side of the mound they show LSU commit Dwayne Primeaux, who is up to 91 mph with big time pitch ability with a three pitch mix.

What to Watch For: Battle of the Heavyweights 
With 21 and 18 commits respectively for the CBA Marruci/Red Sox Scout Team and Houston Astros Scout Team, there are a slew of possibilities of arm matchups. Look for CBA to try and save Xavier Cardenas III, who has a big fastball up to 96 mph and had a great showing at Perfect Game National showcase, or give 2023 Toby Twist with a lightning fast arm a chance. Dwayne Primeaux is an intriguing matchup against this lineup for the Houston Astros Scout team. At 5-foot-10, 184 pounds the lefty has strikeout potential with a three-pitch mix. Fastball will be around 90 mph with a sharp slider at 79 mph and can pull the string with a changeup around 80 mph. No matter the matchup, both star studded lineups with top-ranked players will be put to the test early. Whoever plays good defense and has the pitcher that doesn’t give the other team free bases will come out on top.

-Gunnar Lambert

Pool R
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Baseball Northwest National Reece Walling 395 2022 Bryce Johnson 439 2023 Seattle, WA
FTB/Phillies Scout Team 2022 Andruw Jones 4 2022 Jurrangelo Cijntje 27 2022 Kississimmee, FL
Premier Baseball Scout Team MJ Seo 127 2023 Travis Sykora 11 2023 Tomball, TX
Upstate Mavericks ST Christian Jackson 202 2022 Tyler Hodges T500 2022 Spartanburg SC

Projected Pool Winner: FTB/Phillies Scout Team 2022
Looking over the roster there are a bevy of All-Americans who will suit up for the Phillies Scout Team including a top-5 prospect in the 2022 class in Andruw Jones (No. 4). Fellow All-Americans include HR Derby finalist Tucker Toman, PGAAC MVP Luke Heyman, both-handed pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, power right-hander Luis Rujano, and physical first baseman Carsten Sabathia. There is a lot of star power to this roster along with a dearth of arms that should do more than keep the Phillies Scout Team in games but should be a strength of the club. Expectations will be high as this is absolutely a roster that should compete for the Jupiter crown. 

Dark Horse: Baseball Northwest National
The Pacific Northwest has been a hotbed of baseball talent in recent years as there have been numerous first rounders and even more high-end prospects coming out of the region. There are 13 Division-I commits on the roster with a good blend of talent from both the 2022 and 2023 classes represented. A lot of their prospects have been represented on the national circuit or at big underclass showcase events like the Junior National (Ryan Cooney) or the Underclass All-American games (Carson Ohland). With the amount of depth on this roster the entire pool will have their hands full with Baseball Northwest as they won’t be an easy out. 

What to Watch For: Travis Sykora 
Premier rosters one of the premier prospects for the 2023 class in two-way prospect Travis Sykora. He’s got massive power from the right side but also is one of the top pitchers in the class, routinely running his fastball into the upper-90s. Not only will he be one of the top underclassmen in attendance but he also presents a matchup nightmare assuming that he’ll toe the rubber against pool favorites FTB/Phillies Scout Team 2022. Whenever Sykora toes the rubber he’ll be must-watch baseball as every time he gets the ball he seems to do something special. 
 
-Vinnie Cervino

Pool S

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
5 Star National-Midwest Samuel Hernandez 461 2022 Colin Ames 500 2022 Indianapolis, IN
Dirtbags Scout Team Samuel Stafura 160 2023 Harrison Lewis 440 2023 Sedalia, NC
Scorpions/Giants Scout Team Jackson Holliday 35 2022 Chance Fitzgerald 115 2023 Altamonte Springs, FL
US Elite 2022 National Chase Krewson 98 2023 Bryce Meccage 180 2024 Duncansville, PA

Projected Pool Winner: Scorpions/Giants Scout Team
The Scorpions/Giants Scout team is loaded with division-one commits featuring 18 players who have already committed to division-one programs. They also feature four Perfect Game top-100 players, three in the 2022 class led by Jackson Holliday, Jayden Hylton and Jordan Taylor, as well as one from the 2023 class in Jake Kulikowski which will all contribute on the offensive side of the ball. They also have depth and high-end talent on the mound led by Chance Fitzgerald and Grayson Smith which are both in the 2023 class.

Dark Horse: Dirtbags Scout Team
The Dirtbags Scout Team will come into Jupiter featuring eight 2022 Perfect Game top-500 prospects and 11 2023 top-500 players. Samuel Stafura, a Clemson commit leads the charge on the offensive side of the ball. They have a lot of depth on the mound as well, with Harrison Lewis anchoring the rotation. This squad has a shot to make a long run in the tournament because of their depth on both ends of the baseball.

What to Watch For: Pool Depth
All four of these squads feature impressive depth on both sides of the ball. There’s not a team in this pool that doesn’t have a dangerous lineup and several high caliber arms in their rotations. Watch for arms like Jacob Morrison of the US Elite 2022 National and Cooper Robinson of 5 Star National-Midwest to see if they can quiet the loud bats in this pool.

-Travis Ice

Pool T
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
East Cobb Yankees  Jared Jones  24 2022 Ryan McTighe  500 2022 Marrietta, GA
MLB Breakthrough Series 2022 Termarr Johnson  2 2022 Jaden Noot 36 2022 Vero Beach, FL
NEB National Hunter Carns 98 2024 Dakota Stone 114 2022 Littleton, MA
Slammers Baseball 2022  Dylan Carey 500 2022 Ethan Lewis  500 2022 Englewood, CO

Projected Pool Winner: MLB Breakthrough Series 2022
Can another team match the star power of the lineup MLB Breakthrough Series will throw out in Jupiter? With Perfect Game All-Americans RJ Austin, Cam Collier, Termarr Johnson, and Kaden Martin in the everyday lineup it will be a gauntlet for opposing pitchers to navigate. The balance of power and speed is obvious and all of the prospects match their vast offensive upside with tremendous defense, especially in the middle. Guzman has an absolute bazooka behind the plate and will make opposing running games obsolete. Johnson is an incredible leader and is so steady on the clay. Jaden Noot is another Perfect Game All-American on the roster and will anchor the pitching staff. This team is an absolute must watch every time they step on the field, and you can bet there will be consistent fireworks.

Dark Horse: NEB National
The depth and toughness of this roster stands out. There are players from all over the country, and Canada, that have competed against the very best over the last four years. They will not back down. Micah Bucknam, Dakota Stone, and Eliakim Stowe have all the arm talent needed to take down the top lineups in the event when they are going well. Manny Ramirez (yes, the son of) , Elijah Dukes and Alex Irizarry give the lineup a dynamic look as well. They have all the ingredients to grind out late inning wins and the depth to put together a deep run. It would not be all that surprising if that was to happen if they get out of pool play.

What to Watch For: MLB Breakthrough pitching
The lineup has been mentioned, but to win this event it all comes down to the depth and potential bounce back of the arms. That being said there is plenty of talent here. Noot throws low- to mid-90s bowling balls, perfect to go deep into games. Alton Davis has the stuff and track record to knock off any opponent with big left-handed arm talent. Two-way stars Collier and Austin will surely be relied on as well. Who else will step up? If the Breakthrough coaches, who are all former big leaguers with loads of knowledge, push the right buttons during the event the rings could be right on the fingers of the players on this loaded roster.

-Jered Goodwin


 Pool U
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
AZ T-Rex Scout Team Easton Talt 500 2022 Jace Smith 500 2022 Phoenix, AZ
Banditos Scout Team Conner Bennett 110 2023 Murphy Brooks 290 2022 Tomball, TX
Knights/eXposure Baseball Demitri Diamant 106 2022 Miller Green 89 2023 Nashville/Chattanooga, TN
Miami PG Columbia Blue Michael Torres 18 2025 Frank Menendez 51 2023 Miami, FL

Projected Pool Winner: Banditos Scout Team
Banditos Scout Team brings a very well-rounded threat. They are led by six future Big 12 impact players with 17 total college commitments rostered, covering the state of Texas with the addition of excellent pitching, including two ACC-bound arms out of Pennsylvania: Nick Finarelli and Nick Biasi giving this staff a pair of 90 mph fastballs from each side. This pitching depth certainly deserves its credit where it's due with Michael Benzor, JC Gutierrez, Holden Harris, Thomas Lyssy all having the ability to execute big spots on the mound. As much excitement as the several standouts on this team, eyes will anticipate big performances by Vanderbilt commit Conner Bennett, who has some of the most explosive tools in the class, as well as powerful right-hander Murphy Brooks committed to TCU. This team can swing it with the best of them from top-to-bottom, impact the basepaths, and beat you with outstanding defensive talent. This culture of aggressive baseball is a tough matchup with seemingly no holes in their lineup with intriguing pitching depth to be watchful of.

Dark Horse: Knights/eXposure Baseball
The Knights/eXposure Baseball club brings an abundance of Division-I talent across the roster with plenty of offensive upside to compete with. The pair of Georgia Tech commits, Demitri Diamant and Miller Green alongside Louisville commit Patrick Forbes and Samford commit Jayden Davis bring huge two-way production to this team. The pitching will reply on notable strong arms in Justin Battle, AJ Russell, Nolan Silver, Brady Smith and Jordan Woods. This entire staff has established themselves at the top of their states and verbal commitments to high-level programs. This is not a line-up to bring any mistakes against or they will be sure the capitalize against.

What to Watch For: Frank Menendez Start
Miami commit Frank Menendez will be an important look for scouts watching his rise on the mound. Ranked the No. 5 LHP in the 2023 class, Menendez is lighting the gun up to 94 and showing impressive feel spinning advanced secondary offerings. In a pool of heavy experience and powerful bats, a likely matchup against the Banditos will highlight just how special and ready-now this southpaw is.

- Billy Cruz

Pool V
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Baseball U Prospects
 Wyatt Peifer
 500 2022 Blake Dickerson
 193 2023 Howell, NJ
CBA Marlins Manoah Chapman
 270 2023 Jesse Gutierrez HF 2022 Fresno, CA
Dulin's Dodgers Cade McGarrh
 129 2022 Zach Erdman
 500 2022 McKinney, TX
Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout
 Nolan Schubart
 26 2022 Matthew Hoskins 108 2022 Atlanta, GA

Projected Pool Winner: Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team
Built heavily around quality bats and highly touted arms Team Elite has plenty of depth and talent all around. Led by a core of heavy power bats in Nolan Schubart and enticing athletes in Korbyn Dickerson and Landon Russell, Team Elite is loaded from top-to-bottom. Matthew Hoskins and Manning West are a pair of dominant right-handers with low-to-mid-90s velocity and hard breaking off-speeds. They have a mix of up-the-middle athletes and arms who are more than serviceable to come in relief if need be. Sammy Leis mans the backstop with swift movements and a strong arm behind the dish. Simply put, Team Elite is loaded on paper and has chemistry over the summer after a solid showing at 17u WWBA.

Dark Horse: Baseball U Prospects
Baseball U Prospects may not have the heavy top-end talent on paper, but the amount of quality arms at their disposal is something to take note of. Virginia Tech commit Blake Dickerson, a 6-foot-6 lefty up to 89 mph on the bump, leads the staff with a polished mix and is one of the better arms in the 2023 class. Aaron Winzinger is another solid right-hander to watch closely. Trace Florio and Richie Kerstetter are another pair of enticing lefties to matchup against opponents. On the position player side of things, up-the-middle talents Bryce Molinaro and Wyatt Peifer can string together solid barrels with the athleticism to match. Baseball U Prospects have the arms to make a potential deep run in this tournament.

What to Watch For: Enticing 2023 Prospects
A bevy of talents from the 2023 class will make an appearance throughout the WWBA World Championship. San Diego State commit Manoah Chapman stands out for CBA Marlins. He is smooth with the glove and showed a good feel for the barrel throughout the summer. Dulin’s Dodgers have a pair of intriguing top-tier ‘23s with right-hander and Arkansas commit Barrett Kent along with outfielder and Mississippi State commit Aidan Smith. Virginia commit Antonio Perrotta has plenty of size and strength with a powerful left-handed stroke. He’s another impact bat to keep an eye on for Baseball U Prospects. Overall, there’s a good amount of underclass prospects who will make quite an impression in Jupiter.

-Isaiah Burrows


Pool W
Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
CBU 2022 Scout Team Cade Climie 200 2022 Brandon Barriera 8 2022 Pompano Beach, FL
GBG Navy 2022 Payton Gubler 131 2022 Cristien Banda 238 2022 Manhattan Beach, FL
Team Citius 2022 National Adonys Guzman 52 2022 Sterling Bigley 341 2022 Richardson, TX
Team Elite National  Dillon Lester 141 2023 Thorpe Musci 45 2023 Winder, GA

Projected Pool Winner: CBU 2022 Scout Team
CBU is absolutely loaded with high level pitching with five top-200 arms, plus talented two-way talent Chris Arroyo.  Of course, the big arm for CBU is PG All-American left-hander Brandon Barriera, who has been virtually unhittable in PG tournament games the past two years, allowing only 15 hits in 55 innings while striking out 78.  Jake Clemente, Zachary Showalter, Ryan Denison and Evan Dobias, all right-handers, round out the top arms on the staff.  Along with Arroyo, the CBU offense will be led by slugging third baseman Cade Climie and outfielder AJ Nessler, who has hit .636 (WWBA 17U National Championship) and .476 (BCS 17U National Championship) at his last two tournaments.  All in all, CBU’s roster is all 2022’s who are Division I commits, a sure sign they are in it to win it.
 
Dark Horse: GBG Navy 2022
Not much respect here for the defending WWBA World Champions but to be honest the 2020 GBG team wasn’t highly heralded headed into their 8-0 championship run either and the 2020 event served as a coming out party for players such as MVP Carson Williams and MVPitcher Dennis Colleran.  GBG is very strong up the middle, with top-200 players Payton Gubler, Jet Gilliam and twin brothers Jered and Jordan Lewis figuring to man the key defensive positions and drive the offense.  Coach Michael Garciaparra’s teams always score runs and defend at a high level; the big question will be who on the pitching staff will emerge with quality outings.
 
What to Watch For: CBU Depth
In addition to all their power arms, CBU’s pitching staff is deep in accomplished and experienced strike throwers, especially lefty Christopher Scinta, and it will be interesting to see how they manage their pitching staff through pool play heading into the playoffs.  Two-way players such as Arroyo, who just turned 17 years old as an exceptionally young 2022, and Florida two-way commit Erik Blair could emerge as MVP candidates by chewing up pool play innings while leading the CBU offense, just as GBG’s Williams did in 2020.

-David Rawnsley

Pool X

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
East Cobb Astros Ethan Murray 27 2024 Isaiah Mamea 275 2023 Marietta, GA
MVP Elgin Bennett 223 2022 Devin Mason  T1000 2022 Chesapeake, VA
NorCal U Henry Bolte 38 2022 Sam Tookoian 232 2022 Pleasanton, CA
Ostingers Baseball Ethan Petry 63 2022 Blaine Rowland 202 2024 Lithia, FL


Projected Pool Winner: NorCal U
NorCal has one of the more exciting prospects in the entire event on their roster in Henry Bolte, a legitimate 5-tool threat standing 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with plus body control and strong hands. He possesses two tools that cannot be taught; speed and arm strength and he'll certainly have plenty of eyes on him throughout pool play. Bolte is just one of 10Division-I commits on the NorCal roster, meaning they have several bats who can change the outcome of a game quickly with a single swing, including Stanford commit Sebastian David. Uncommitted right-hander Sam Tookoian will be an arm for scouts and college recruiters alike to watch, showing pitchability with which he can throw any pitch in his arsenal at any point in the count for strikes, including a fastball that'll run into the low-90s. While he's the top ranked arm for NorCal, the club has plenty of options to help them navigate a rather challenging pool.

Dark Horse: East Cobb Astros
The Astros are composed almost entirely of underclassmen and though they might be young, this is a team that is capable of putting up a crooked number on the scoreboard any given inning. Shortstop Ethan Murray has continued to blossom into a legitimate power threat while the surrounding cast is equally as talented, from Jax Phillips to Ira Jefferies Harris, Isaiah Drake and Dimitri Angelakos. The young talent continues onto the mound with South Florida commit Isaiah Mamea and left-handed Georgia recruit Jake Hembree who knows how to pitch and can work some of the potent bats in pool play backwards with intent. Don't sleep on the Ostingers either who play a quality brand of baseball and have a duo of power threats in the middle of their order with Ethan Petry and Arjun Nimmala. 

What to Watch For: Young East Cobb Commits vs. Seasoned California Club
The young recruits scattered throughout the East Cobb lineup will be on the same field at the same time facing some seasoned California guys. Sprinkle in 5-tool prospect Henry Bolte in this pool and you have one of the top MLB Draft prospects in the 2022 class. Looking forward to the NorCal U squad match up Vs. the East Cobb Astros and how Sam Tookoian matriculates the young lineup of the East Cobb Astros. It will be another excellent measuring stick for Tookoian after a great performance at the 2021 Area Code Games. If he throws well and progress has occurred since the AC Games, there is no doubt he will come out of Jupiter with offers on the table.


 Pool Y

Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location
Brewers Langley Blaze Devin Taylor 128 2022 Zeph Arnold 278 2022 Vancouver, BC
Canes Florida 18u Prime Sebastian Pisacreta 322 2023 Logan Plasencia 229 2022 Vero Beach, FL
Dallas Tigers Jayson Jones 5 2022 Trenton Shaw 80 2022 Dallas, TX
Richmond Braves 18u Platinum Jacob Kendro 500 2022 Levi Huesman 81 2022 Richmond, VA

Projected Pool Winner: Dallas Tigers
The Tigers have an incredibly deep roster with quality depth all around and are loaded with D-I commits. On the position player side, they are led by Jayson Jones (ranked 5th overall in the 2022 class) and Travis Sanders, both ranked in the top 100 for the 2022 class. Jared Thomas and Walker Polk are also standout bats that help anchor the middle of the Tigers’ lineup. Trenton Shaw, Lucas Davenport and Gabe Davis can match just about any team’s top three pitchers in the tournament. They should be considered one of the favorites to win the whole thing with this talented roster.

Dark Horse: Brewers Langley Blaze
The team from British Columbia has assembled an intriguing roster from all over North America for Jupiter. They will have players from Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, New York, British Columbia and Ontario among other places. Devin Taylor is a well-known talent on the position player side that will be the main guy to watch for this squad. Hayden Miller and McKay Whitaker are also key bats in this lineup. They have strong pitching depth lead by Louisiana RHP Zeph Arnold and he is followed up with Washington commit Zacary Tenn and 2023 Louisville commit Colton Hartman.

What to Watch For: Jayson Jones
Jones is a top-5 player in the 2022 class and has done nothing but hit all summer long. The Arkansas commit is incredibly tooled up and posted a 105 MPH exit velo, 6.59 60-yard dash and his arm clocked at 93 MPH in the infield at PG National. He has smooth actions in the infield and profiles as a major impact player at the next level on the left side of in the infield. His raw bat speed is among the best you’ll ever see and he’s likely going to put on a show here.

-Joe Saunders
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.