Browsing: perfect

Eddie Kingston is not exactly one to accept positive feedback from others and this has shone through for him amid his recent comeback trail. During an episode of Close Up w/ Renee Paquette, the inaugural AEW Continental Champion was speaking with the titular figure of the show. When Paquette mentioned how it was hard to imagine a wrestling world without Eddie Kingston in it, Kingston said,

“What are you talking about? There was one 25 years before without me and it did fine… You guys got to stop with this bulls**t.”

When the AEW broadcaster mentioned this was classic Eddie Kingston where he doesn’t want to have the spotlight on him where he is adored and loved, Kingston responded,

“Adoring what though? Here’s the thing. Adoring what? I am flawed. Why the f**k should I be adored? Hold on. Let me finish. Now we’re shooting. Hey, you knew this was coming. Here we go… Here’s the thing. I’m not perfect.”

“I’m f***ing flawed. I make f**king mistakes every day. Do you understand? I must have quit this company eight times when I was out because of my own mental s**t.”

Eddie Kingston “I am not a good employee”

As the former ROH champion expounded upon his additional thoughts in this regard, Eddie Kingston continued,

“I am not a good employee. I’m not. I’m a pain in the f**king a** because I’m passionate about it. But I don’t want to be here s**t because guess what? I can still walk through the airport and catch a domestic flight.”

“I’m trying to get this place to a level where we can have private flights where we have to fly; whatever what is it? We do have private flights. Whatever. You know what I’m talking about, right?”

“That’s when I’ll tell you and everyone else. Yes. I did good. I’m over. But until then, no, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear s**t because it’s not happening.”

“Until that happens, until everyone’s eating like that, then I’ll tell you, yes, I’m over. Yes, I’m this. Yes, I’m that. But until then, no… This is the reality of it.”

Kingston made his return to the ring in September when he bested Big Bill at AEW All Out in Toronto.

Source link

Image credit:
Tony Vitello (Danny Parker/Four Seam Images)

Shock isnâ€t rare in college baseball, but this was different. When word broke that Tony Vitello had emerged as the leading candidate to manage the Giants, the reaction from coaches, agents and scouts was immediate and unanimous: disbelief.

Phones were abuzz within minutes in a cascade of texts from people trying to process how the sportâ€s most magnetic figure could suddenly be headed for a major league dugout.

But the disbelief didnâ€t last. It never does when the logic is this clear. Soon after the uproar, the tone shifted from confusion to clarity.

Of course itâ€s Vitello. Of course it makes sense.

“Itâ€s brilliant,†one SEC coach told Baseball America.

The more you think about it, the more obvious it becomes.

Vitelloâ€s charisma, relentlessness and player-first intensity have long belonged to a higher tier. He built Tennessee like a pro franchise, recruited like a front office with ample financial backing and coached like he was sure college baseball was merely the sportâ€s next great developmental frontier.

And maybe thatâ€s exactly what it is. In an era when college players reach the majors faster than ever and with the draft possibly shrinking again in 2027, the distance between the SEC and the show has never been smaller. Someone was bound to cross it. Itâ€s fitting that the one to do it is the coach who blurred that line more than anyone else.

Vitello will get his chance now. He’ll replace Bob Melvin as the Giants’ manager, becoming the first skipper ever to job directly from college to the pros.

From the moment he arrived in Knoxville in the summer of 2017, Vitello began building Tennessee as if it were a major league organization disguised as a college program. His first step was assembling a staff fluent in analytics and data—long before that became standard across the college game. Tennesseeâ€s recruiting classes were sculpted with information and precision, and the results spoke for themselves: high-round draft picks, immediate contributors and a roster that played with the polish of a professional system.

The success came fast and kept building.

After taking the Volunteers to Omaha in 2021 and 2023, he captured the first national championship in program history in 2024 and won Baseball America’s College Coach of the Year Award. He was rewarded for his accomplishments with a record five-year deal that made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the game.

During his rise to success, Vitello’s rosters werenâ€t just talented, they were balanced, modern, built through every avenue available. From prep recruits and portal transfers to returning veterans who believed in his vision, Vitello gathered like minds and talented players. That blend became his blueprint, proof that Tennesseeâ€s rise wasnâ€t accidental or cyclical. It was structural.

At the American Baseball Coaches Association convention this January, Vitello addressed a packed ballroom of coaches from every level of the game. He told them Tennesseeâ€s transformation wasnâ€t just about better players or sharper data—it was about belief. Buy-in, he said, grew slowly and deliberately, first from his staff, then from his players and then from an entire community. Anyone whoâ€s been around Tennessee knows who set that tone.

Vitello was the fulcrum. The energy, the conviction, the unrelenting insistence that Tennessee could play, act and win like a professional outfit.

Vitelloâ€s style wasnâ€t for everyone. His Tennessee teams carried themselves with the same edge he did—self-assured to the point of arrogance and unapologetic about it. As such, the Volunteers became college baseballâ€s lightning rod. They were brash, emotional and occasionally excessive, but always impossible to ignore. To critics, they were over the top. To everyone inside the program, they were simply reflecting their coach.

Vitello never hid behind diplomacy. He said what others in his position preferred to tiptoe around.

Heâ€s spoken candidly about the damage tampering has done to the transfer portal, a subject many high-major coaches have treated as radioactive. And in April, he offered one of his more memorable swings—a not-so-subtle jab at former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who left Knoxville amid an NIL-fueled storm.

“All I want every year when we come to work is a bunch of guys that want to be at our place, and if they donâ€t, thatâ€s fine,†Vitello said. “Thatâ€s just the world we live in now. And if youâ€re a Vol football fan, just watch the movie Friday.â€

He was referring, of course, to the movieâ€s famous “Bye Felicia†line.

Thatâ€s Vitello in full—unfiltered, confident and utterly uninterested in managing his image. And maybe thatâ€s exactly what the Giants see. Someone willing to be bold, to lead with conviction, to do it his way even when it risks making people uncomfortable.

Vitello’s players never seemed to mind. In fact, they adored it.

“Heâ€s the best coach Iâ€ve ever played for,†former Volunteer outfielder Hunter Ensley told Baseball America earlier this year. “You always know where you stand with him. And you always want to prove him right.â€

If the fit still sounds unconventional, take a closer look at the Giants†roster construction.

Fifteen of the organizationâ€s 18 draft picks in 2025 came from four-year or junior colleges. The year before, 17 of 18 did. San Francisco has spent two straight drafts mining the college ranks as aggressively as any club in baseball, valuing polish, maturity and competitive edge over projection. In other words, the very traits Vitello has spent his career developing.

That trend isnâ€t limited to the draft, either. Several of the Giants†cornerstone players—and even a handful of their highest touted international signees—are still college age. Itâ€s a roster that could skew younger over the next few years, filled with players who came up through the same environments Vitello mastered. The Giants donâ€t need someone to teach professionalism so much as they need someone who understands what modern player development looks like at its most efficient level.

And Vitello is fluent in that language.

Really, this is a no-risk move for Vitello. He could go to San Francisco and be wildly successful, proving right the chorus of voices calling the hire brilliant.

Or it could unravel. This kind of leap is unprecedented. Never has a college coach jumped straight into a major league dugout with no professional experience, no minor league stops and no apprenticeship under a big league manager. It will test every part of his adaptability.

Thatâ€s the reality of managing at the major league level: Respect isnâ€t granted by resume. Itâ€s earned daily in a clubhouse filled with men who have spent years, sometimes decades, in the game. Vitello will have to prove himself all over again. Not to fans, but to players who may be 10 or 15 years older than the ones heâ€s used to coaching.

But even in failure, thereâ€s no real downside. If it doesnâ€t work out, Vitello could return to college baseball as the most coveted free agent coach in the country. Unless someone like LSUâ€s Jay Johnson were to move in the same offseason, no hire in the sport would draw more attention.

Vitello has already reached the summit of college baseball. Heâ€s built a national champion, reshaped an SEC cellar-dweller into a giant and changed the way programs think about building rosters.

When youâ€ve done all that, why not take a risk-free swing at the next level?

Maybe thatâ€s what makes this so compelling. Vitello isnâ€t chasing relevance. Heâ€s redefining it.

The sport is changing, the boundaries are blurring and for the first time, college baseball has produced a coach too dynamic to stay contained by it. Whether this works or flames out, it says something about where the game is headed.

The Giants are betting on the future. Vitello, in many ways, is already there.

Source link

Think one hole-in-one is impressive? Try two holes-in-one, on the same day, on the same hole.

That’s exactly what Sewanee sophomore Niel Phillips did Monday at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational in Rome, Georgia.

With the tournament’s 36-hole day requiring back-to-back shotgun starts, Phillips, a New Orleans native competing on the Tigers’ B-team, began his first round on Stonebridge Country Club’s par-3 eighth hole and holed a 6-iron from 182 yards for an ace, according to his head coach, Keenan Hickton.

Phillips followed by playing his next four holes in a combined 5 over, but birdies on Nos. 15-17 and a slew of pars allowed him to polish off an even-par 72.

Then Phillips headed back to No. 8 to start his second round. With the hole locations remaining the same, Phillips took one less club, a 7-iron, and again jarred his tee shot.

“Watched them both,†Hickton texted Golf Channel. “… Both were perfect shots all the way.â€

“PERFECT SHOTS ALL THE WAY!”

A D3 golfer aced the same hole twice on the same day Monday at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational in Rome, Georgia.@SewaneeTigers sophomore Niel Phillips began his first round with a hole-in-one (6-iron from 182 yards) on the par-3 eighth hole at… pic.twitter.com/KLeBShUZVm

— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) October 20, 2025

It’s believed to be the first time that any college player, at any level, has aced the same hole in back-to-back rounds on the same day.

This is Phillips’ third start of the fall. He finished 82nd out of 96 players at Sewanee’s fall opener, the Gate City Invitational (Phillips recorded two eagles during that event), and he most recently placed last in the 87-man Tartan Invitational, withdrawing during his second round. He is ranked No. 831 by Scoreboard while Sewanee is fifth nationally as a team.

With the likes of Rory McIlroy, eventual winner Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry teeing it up at the 2025 DP World India Championship, another PGA Tour star in the field flew under the radar: Brian Harman.

But the 2023 Open champion is receiving plenty of attention after the tournament. That’s because Harman uncharacteristically lost his cool and violently smashed a club in disgust during the final round… only to watch his ball end up right near the hole.

Harman contends at India Championship before Sunday swoon

Despite receiving second billing this week, Harman looked like he might win for much of it. At the halfway point, Harman had strung together a 68 and 65 to get to 11 under. That put him in a tie for second with Lowry, one shot behind Fleetwood with 36 holes to go.

But Harman, who won the 2025 Valero Texas Open in April for his first victory since the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, took a step back in Saturday’s third round.

Two bogeys and only four birdies left him with a 70, putting him four shots behind 54-hole leader Keita Nakajima.

The biggest change on Harman’s scorecard from the first two rounds came at the par-5 1st hole. Harman birdied the narrow, tree-lined hole on Thursday and Friday. But on Saturday, Harman was forced to hit three tee shots at the 1st. He hit his first tee shot into the trees. When his provisional tee shot also found the trees, a mad search ensued.

Eventually, Harman found both balls. So he took an unplayable on the first ball, then zipped back to the tee on a golf cart to hit a third tee shot. Somehow, he came away with a bogey-6.

On Sunday, it would get worse.

Brian Harman sticks tee shot, smashes club in disgust

Four shots back to start the final round, Harman still had a chance to pull off a come-from-behind victory. But only if he went low early and often.

Unfortunately, those chances blew up at the 1st hole, where Harman hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker, then his second shot into the bushes to incur another penalty. A double-bogey 7 was the result.

Tour Confidential: Is Tommy Fleetwood primed for a huge 2026?

By:

GOLF Editors

Harman is known for his calm demeanor, rarely letting positive of negative emotions overtake him on the course. But the frustration from the 1st hole eventually boiled over on the par-3 5th.

The 161-yard 5th requires another careful tee shot through a gauntlet of trees beyond the tee. Making matters nervier on Sunday was a difficult pin cut close to the front of a tilting green. A bad tee ball could easily lead to a big number.

One over on the day and well off the lead, Harman chose his iron, stepped up and took a swipe at his ball.

In a video of the shot, Harman momentarily holds his finish, but then turns and violently tomahawks his iron into the ground, sending the club bouncing across the tee box.

A TV analyst can be heard saying, “I’ve never seen him do that before.”

Harman was apparently convinced that he’d hit another squirrelly tee shot. But he was wrong. Very wrong. Just after Harman smashed his iron, the camera cut to his ball, catching the end of its flight as it crashed down on the green, coming to rest 6’10” from the pin.

Check it out below.

In fact, it was Harman’s best shot on the hole all week. He hit it to 36 feet at in the 5th in Round 1, 18 feet in Round 2 and 23 feet in Round 3.

But Harman couldn’t sink his short birdie chance, settling for a par. He would trade three birdies for four bogeys the rest of the way, eventually signing for a two-over 74. His Sunday struggles dropped him into a T26-finish, 11 shots behind Fleetwood.

The New York Islanders got an early contender for win of the year on Saturday, defeating the Ottawa Senators late in a matinee contest. New York came from behind three times in the victory, with Anders Lee scoring the game-winner with just over a minute to play in regulation.

However, not to be lost in the effort was a timely performance by Ilya Sorokin. While he wasn’t at his sharpest, allowing four goals on 33 Ottawa shots, he made several big saves late, including a penalty shot save on Shane Pinto, to give his team a chance to rally late.

Sorokin stops Pinto’s penalty shot pic.twitter.com/bFmf3deV37

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 18, 2025

His stop on Pinto continued his success on penalty shots in his career. Per MSG Network’s Eric Hornick, Sorokin is a perfect four-for-four on such opportunities. His stops came against Michael Bunting and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Jan. 2023, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins April 2024, Jason Zucker and the Buffalo Sabres in Nov. 2024. Two of those three stops have led to Islanders wins.

While both sides can be heard of Sorokin’s struggles to open the campaign and the Islanders’ struggles structurally, the goaltender made the big saves when needed to give them a chance to pull off the comeback.

The Islanders return to action against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday at UBS Arena, puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Source link

The Perfect Game WWBA World Championship is one of the best—if not the best—high school baseball showcases on the circuit each year. The annual event gives scouts one last look at a plethora of top prospects all under the same roof, so to speak, before winter and the heart of the offseason.

As with our previous two pieces, please note that our list is alphabetized and not a ranking. Also, not every player listed is draft eligible this July.

Griffin Boesen, 1B

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

From a sheer statistical standpoint, itâ€s hard to argue against Boesen being one of the top performers in the entire event. Across Canes Midwest Nationalâ€s run to the semifinals, Boesen went a video game-like 13-for-18 (.722) with a double, 10 RBIs and five walks against a pair of strikeouts.

A 6-foot-4, 190-pound lefthanded hitter, Boesen has a potential middle-of-the-order frame. He can impact the baseball now, but itâ€s not hard to envision Boesen adding more strength.

For someone of his size, Boesen does a nice job of staying synced up throughout his swing. Heâ€s shown the ability to create leverage by dropping his back knee, and this summer he flashed above-average bat-to-ball skills. Boesenâ€s power is geared more towards extra-base hits than home runs at this point, but look for him to start to put more balls over the fence as he continues to mature physically.

Connor Comeau, INF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Texas A&M

A member of the loaded USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, Comeau collected four hits—including a double and three-run home run in consecutive games—and drove in eight runs. He has a long, lanky frame—with particular length in his lower half—and plenty of physical projection remaining.

Comeau stands fairly tall in the box with a slightly-open front side and shoulder-high handset. He has a simple operation without a whole lot of moving parts, and he deploys a small leg lift that gives way to a normal stride. Though he’s a bit lacking in the physicality department, he still has solid bat speed and is able to generate quality contact on a regular basis.

Comeau put good swings on the ball all week. As I alluded to earlier, he hammered a backside double in one of my looks and belted a home run a game later. He has present power, but itâ€s not all that difficult to envision him growing into above-average or plus game power down the line.

While his power upside is tantalizing, Comeau also has a feel to hit. He flashed a good feel for the strike zone with polished swing decisions. The swing that perhaps stood out to me the most was a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Comeau let the ball travel, got his barrel to it and shot a hard-hit ground ball through a vacated six hole.

Comeauâ€s defensive profile is somewhat murky. He played both corner infield spots last week and got some run at shortstop over the summer, but I think his overall defensive skill set will profile best in a corner outfield spot when all is said and done. His movement profile and level of athleticism likely fit better on the grass than it does on the dirt.

Comeau will still be 17 years old at the draft, and he has an exciting blend of a body to dream on, “now†tools and plenty of upside.

Trevor Condon, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

Condon was one of my favorite position players I saw last week in Jupiter. A sparkplug in every sense of the word, he scattered seven hits—including a double—and four RBIs across five games.

At 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Condon has an athletic frame with strength and impact, particularly to the pull side. A prototypical top-of-the-order tablesetter with an explosive and twitchy operation in the box, he shows no-doubt plus bat speed to go along with a feel for the barrel and high-level bat-to-ball skills. Condon controlled the zone well and demonstrated advanced swing decisions in my looks last week.

While he tends to hit the ball on the ground—Iâ€d like to see him turn some of his ground balls into line drives—Condon gets out of the box unbelievably quick and regularly turned in double-plus run times. He projects as a hit-over-power profile whose vast majority of home run power will likely come to the pull side.

Defensively, Condonâ€s tantalizing combination of speed and athleticism translates well to center field. He has plenty of gap-to-gap range and can really go and get the baseball. If he can shore up his routes by taking a more efficient and crisp path to the baseball, he has a chance to become an impact defender.

As a nice cherry on top, Condonâ€s on-field makeup is outstanding. His baseball sense is advanced, and he plays the game with his hair on fire. A prime example of this last week came when he stole second on a great dirt ball read and later swiped third on a well-executed shuffle lead. He has an unbelievably high motor and does not take a single pitch off. It feels like heâ€s always involved in some capacity and, like the Energizer bunny, is always ready to go, go, go. Condonâ€s love for the game is evident, and itâ€s a quality that rubs off on those with whom he shares a dugout.

If youâ€re looking for a couple of players with a similar archetype as Condon, think along the lines of Sal Frelick and Slater de Brun. De Brun was a better defender at this stage with more of a physical, barrel-chested look, but there are still some similarities.

RJ Cope, 1B/LHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Cope enjoyed one of the best performances of any player in the tournament, going 12-for-20 (.600) with a pair of doubles, a home run, five RBIs and seven walks to three strikeouts. He was a key reason why his East Cobb/San Diego Padres Scout Team club made a run to the championship game, and Cope took his play to another level in bracket play.

A 6-foot-8, 250-pound mountain of a human being, itâ€s hard to miss Cope on the diamond. He has an extra-large, high-waisted frame with plenty of physicality throughout. Cope used to devote most of his time to pitching—and will still toe the rubber—so heâ€s still learning how to hit. You can see it in his swing, as itâ€s not the most rhythmic or aesthetically pleasing operation in the world, but it clearly worked last week. Cope gets a little bar-armed at times and his bat will lag, but last week he was an auto-barrel.

Copeâ€s power upside is immense. He flashes big-time juice already, but there’s a chance he grows into double-plus power if he can clean up his operation and get more into his legs. In what is the case for most players of similar size, it will be important for Cope to keep his long levers connected and in-sync throughout his swing. Defensively, Cope is relegated to first base. Undoubtedly a power-over-hit profile, you are betting on Copeâ€s power upside.Â

All week, Cope brought the juice. He was a vocal leader both on the field and in the dugout, and after every big play you could set your watch to Cope being fired up for his teammates. This is a cold take, but without him, there is zero chance East Cobb would have been playing on Championship Monday.

Sean Dunlap, C

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

Of Dunlapâ€s six hits last week, five went for extra bases. Across five games, the 6-foot-3 backstop tallied a pair of doubles, a pair of triples and one home run.

Thereâ€s plenty to like with Dunlap. He has a lean, athletic frame with some length in his lower half to go along with present strength and physical projection remaining. Dunlap moves well in the batterâ€s box and has a minimal load with big-time bat and hand speed. His swing can get long at times, which leaves him susceptible to swing-and-miss, so making enough contact to tap into his power on a regular basis will be key. Dunlap steps in the box with the intent to do damage and does not get cheated.

Though heâ€s slightly tall for the position, Dunlap has a solid defensive skill set behind the dish thatâ€s headlined by his athleticism and arm strength.

Dylan Fairchild, SS

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Cincinnati

Fairchild was the best hitter on the SmarTense/ZT National Prospects team, and he parlayed his solid showing at East Coast Pro into a strong week in Jupiter.

The “how he does it†with Fairchild is unorthodox. He drops his hands a considerable amount in his load and sits a bit deeper in his base, but he was able to make it work and collected a trio of extra-base hits with five RBIs. Fairchild moves well both in the box and on the dirt, and heâ€s a Midwest name on which to keep tabs this spring.Â

Matthew Mansbery, SS

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Michigan

Mansbery was on the barrel all week for Canes Midwest and laced three doubles, a pair of triples and drove in six runs.

A name to follow closely throughout this yearâ€s draft cycle, Mansbery has an athletic frame with room to fill out further. He has a simple setup in the batterâ€s box and an easy, almost effortless, operation featuring minimal load, a small stride and a level head throughout his swing. Mansbery has quickness in his hands with budding power he flashed last week in Jupiter.

Mansbery isnâ€t the twitchiest or most explosive player in the world, but heâ€s shown sound actions on the dirt with arm strength on the left side of the infield. Mansbery is very much an unfinished product physically, and itâ€s exciting to think about what his ceiling might be. He is a potential top five-round pick this July.

Winston Pennant, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Ole Miss

Pennant fits the mold of someone who is more likely to end up on a college campus than not, but Iâ€d be remiss if I didnâ€t highlight his performance in Jupiter. Pennantâ€s 10 RBIs were tied for the most in the tournament, and he also blasted a pair of long balls and tripled.

At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Pennant is plenty physical with strength throughout his frame. He flashed all-fields impact last week and was consistently on the barrel. He has a bit of a noisy load and there are some hit tool questions, but thereâ€s no questioning his raw power.Â

Noah Wilson, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Wilson impressed all week and was one of the more productive hitters in the event. Across four games, he amassed six hits with a triple, a home run and eight RBIs.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Wilson has a pro body with present strength and some projection remaining. He possesses an enticing tool set that was on full display in Jupiter. He has a simple, yet explosive operation in the box, showing plenty of bat speed and taking a direct path to the baseball.

Wilson has an all-fields approach and has shown the ability to drive the baseball to either gap, as evidenced last week by his home run going out to left-center field. On top of the quality contact he was able to generate, Wilson demonstrated a feel for the barrel. While he stayed within the strike zone for the most part, Wilson this summer struggled with swing-and-miss—especially as it pertained to picking up secondaries out of the hand—which is something to monitor.

A plus runner, Wilsonâ€s speed translates well, both on the basepaths and on the grass. His arm is a little light, but his legs and athleticism will give him a chance to prove himself in center field professionally.

An intriguing blend of tools and upside, Wilson has a chance to be a top-three round pick this summer.

Sebastian “Sushi†Wilson, OF

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Tennessee

With no relation to Noah, “Sushi†was one of the better underclass hitters in the event. He served as the straw that stirred the drink for Wow Factorâ€s 17U National Team and notched 10 hits with a pair of doubles and four RBIs.

Wilson has strength baked into his 6-foot, 190-pound frame. He has a hitterish look in the box with a fairly upright stance, a slightly-open front side and a medium-high handset. There’s a slight barrel tip in his load and quickness in his hands

Wilson was a high-level performer throughout the summer circuit. According to Synergy Sports, this summer he hit .340/.444/.420 across all major events.

Wilson runs well and has also flashed an above-average arm in center field. With a smattering of tools, Wilson is a high-priority follow in the 2027 class.Â

Source link

The Perfect Game WWBA World Championship is one of the best—if not the best—high school baseball showcases on the circuit each year. The annual event gives scouts one last look at a plethora of top prospects all under the same roof, so to speak, before winter and the heart of the offseason.

After highlighting some lesser-known prospects at this year’s wood bat tournament, over the next two days, we’ll be taking a look at 10 pitchers and 10 hitters who caught our eye down in Jupiter, Fla.

Before we dig in, please note that our list is alphabetized and not a ranking. Also, not every player listed is draft eligible this July. In fact, the single loudest outing of the tournament came courtesy of a 16-year-old sophomore.

Brody Crane, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Arkansas

Crane turned in one of the best starts of the tournament and collected eight strikeouts across three shutout, hitless innings.

A stocky righthander, Crane has plenty of strength and physicality packed into his 6-foot, 215-pound frame. He works exclusively out of the stretch and features a short, somewhat stabby arm stroke whiling attacking out of a high three-quarters slot.

Crane pounded the strike zone for the entirety of his outing and ran his fastball up to 96 mph to go along with a low-80s slider and mid-80s splitter. Craneâ€s fastball flashed both run and ride through the zone, and he relied on it heavily. His slider and splitter each profile as effective secondaries. His slider was shorter in shape with some gloveside life and late depth, and the one splitter he threw was sub-1,000 rpm. Crane stayed off the barrel of opposing hitters all night and displayed an impressive feel to pitch.

Hudson DeVaughan, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Alabama

DeVaughan spun a quality start for his Canes Midwest National club in which he didnâ€t allow an earned run, gave up one hit and struck out seven across four innings.

DeVaughan is old for the class, but the 6-foot-4 righthander has a slender, high-waisted frame with physical projection remaining. He operated exclusively out of the stretch and featured an easy, under-control operation in which he attacked hitters out of a high three-quarters slot. His fastball reached 96 mph and was most effective up in the zone. He paired his heater with an upper-70s-to-low-80s curveball that he spun reasonably well.

DeVaughanâ€s fastball-curveball combination makes for an intriguing north-south profile, though heâ€ll need to continue to work on adding a viable third pitch. Perhaps most encouraging was that DeVaughan was consistently in and around the strike zone.Â

Sean Duncan, LHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Before the rain came on Thursday, I enjoyed my look at Duncan. Across three innings, the southpaw amassed seven strikeouts, walked one and surrendered three hits (one of which was a bunt).

At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Duncan has a lean, high-waisted frame with plenty of projection remaining. He features a loose, repeatable delivery and attacks out of a three-quarters slot with an appealing ease to his operation. In my look, Duncanâ€s fastball sat in the 90-93 mph range and got up to 95. Itâ€s a high-spin pitch that played particularly well in the top half of the zone thanks to its riding life, and he collected seven swings and misses with it over the course of his outing.

Check out recent @VandyBoys commit Sean Duncan on the mound 👀

The Canadian lefthander recorded seven strikeouts and one walk over three innings and generated 12 whiffs on the day. pic.twitter.com/yEG77kGH0P

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 10, 2025

The best pitch in Duncanâ€s arsenal at this point is his low-80s slider. The lefthander showed the ability to manipulate its shape, and at times it flashed ample, sharp lateral life—especially against lefthanded hitters. At other times, it took on more of a two-plane look with a similar degree of sharpness. Either way, it has no-doubt plus potential and looks the part of a true putaway pitch. In addition to the seven whiffs with his heater, Duncan notched five with his slider to make an even dozen on the day.

Duncan also flipped in a couple of curveballs in the low 80s and tried to turn over a changeup or two, but he relied heavily on his fastball-slider combination. His command became more scattershot in the third inning, and his front side began to fly open on a more frequent basis, which led to misses up and/or out.

Not only is there a lot to like now with Duncan, but thereâ€s just as much to dream on. As he continues to mature physically, I expect his entire arsenal—both in terms of velocity and dynamism—to tick up. He looks the part of a starter professionally and fits in the third-to-fifth round bucket for me.

James Jorgensen, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Texas

Jorgensen was another arm who turned heads in Jupiter last week. An undersized righthander with physicality packed into his frame, he has a rather compact arm stroke and attacks out of a near-over-the-top slot with present arm speed and a degree of explosiveness in his delivery.

While he threw just one inning, Jorgensen was able to punch two tickets. His fastball was up to 96 mph with natural ride through the zone to go along with a hammer upper-70s curveball that flashed both depth and plenty of sharpness. Jorgensenâ€s command was a bit inconsistent, but his combination of pure stuff and athleticism is exciting.

Dexter McCleon Jr., RHP

• Draft Class: 2028
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

Striker Pence (more on him below) wasnâ€t the only class of 2028 arm who turned heads last week.

Primarily a position player and one of the top players in his class, McCleon impressed in his outing in Jupiter. He was first out of the bullpen for a stacked USA Prime 17U National team and flashed big-time stuff in his two innings of work. A “toolshed†in every sense of the word, McCleon’s premium athleticism is evident in his delivery. He moves exceptionally well on the mound and attacks out of a high three-quarters slot with blistering arm speed.

McCleon’s fastball was up to 98 mph and sat in the mid 90s in his first inning of work, but his velocity tapered off a bit by the second. Nonetheless, itâ€s a lively pitch that routinely displays carry through the zone. He also mixed in a low-80s slider that flashed two-plane tilt.

McCleon is more thrower than pitcher right now, and his command was scattered, but there is an intriguing foundation in place.

Samir Mohammed, RHP

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: LSU

Mohammed got the ball in the first game for USA Prime 17U National and punched out six batters across five innings.

An ultra-physical workhorse, Mohammed is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound righthander who features a long, deep arm stroke and attacks out of a low three-quarters slot. He lands with his front side slightly open—which is something to watch—but his pure stuff is tantalizing. Thereâ€s an appealing ease to Mohammedâ€s delivery, and he commanded the baseball well in Jupiter.

95 mph from RHP Samir Mohammed (16) with a changeup thatâ€s about as good as you will see from any 2027 pitcher in the country. 6-5, 245 lbs. Baseball Americaâ€s No. 19 player in the class. pic.twitter.com/rVBypt2xuC

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) July 2, 2025

Mohammedâ€s fastball was up to 97 mph with carry and natural armside life, but his calling card is his low-to-mid-80s changeup. Itâ€s arguably a plus pitch right now, and it routinely flashes both ample armside fade and depth. Mohammed ties together his arsenal with a low-to-mid-80s slider that flashes sharp two-plane tilt.

Striker Pence, RHP

• Draft Class: 2028
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

As I alluded to in the introduction, Penceâ€s outing was the loudest of the tournament, and the newly-minted sophomore last week had everyone flocking to the Marlins’ side of the complex. Against a quality Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team, the 16-year-old fired a pair of shutout innings in which he notched a trio of strikeouts, walked one and allowed one hit (a slow roller through the right side).Â

The nephew of four-time MLB all-star Hunter Pence, Striker has an extra-long frame with budding strength throughout—there’s particular physicality in his lower half. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound righthander works exclusively out of the stretch and attacks out of a three-quarters slot with a whippy arm stroke and tremendous arm speed.

The calling card of Penceâ€s arsenal is his fastball, and for good reason. It sat in the 96-99 mph range, and he touched 101—a new personal and Jupiter record—four times. The heater explodes out of his hand and flashed thunderous life through the zone with no shortage of carry.

Mind-numbing stuff from 2028 righty Striker Pence. The 16-year-oldâ€s (!!!) first three pitches were 100, 100, 101.1, per Trackman. Thereâ€s a very large crowd gathered for this outing. Not exactly hard to imagine why. pic.twitter.com/FKfQTDTTSg

— Jacob Rudner (@JacobRudner) October 9, 2025

Pence pairs his heater with a hellacious mid-to-upper-80s power slider. It routinely flashes tons of sharp, lateral life with some depth, and it presents an incredibly difficult look for righthanded hitters. Pence was also able to backdoor the pitch for a called third strike against a lefthanded hitter to conclude his outing.

This feels like the part of the infomercial where the person pitching the product exclaims “But wait, thereâ€s more!†That’s because Pence rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s split-change with which he does a nice job killing spin. He turned over a really good one in his outing last week that flashed late tumble, and it looks the part of a future above-average or plus third pitch.Â

While thereâ€s some low-hanging fruit to clean up in the delivery, and heâ€s a bit of a spray gun command-wise, Pence possesses premium stuff across the board. One of the biggest keys going forward will be consistently competing in and around the strike zone. But itâ€s important to remember that Pence is still just 16. It is flat-out ridiculous to think about what he might look like in a couple of years.

Connor Salerno, LHP

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Mississippi State

One of the top 2027 arms in the country, Salerno dazzled in his outing for Wow Factor and struck out eight across three shutout innings. With an ideal pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Salerno features an up-tempo delivery with a deep arm stroke and attacks out of a lowered three-quarters slot. He lands closed off, so thereâ€s also a degree of crossfire in his operation.

Salernoâ€s fastball settled into the low 90s as his outing progressed, but he ran it up to 96 mph in the first with natural—and effective—armside life. In addition to his lively fastball, Salernoâ€s low-80s slider flashed above-average with more length than depth, and he also showed a mid-80s changeup. He was in attack mode all night and needed just 41 pitches to breeze through three innings.

Salerno is not eligible for the draft until 2027, but he already profiles as one of the premier prep arms in the class.

Donovan Thiery, RHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Florida State

Thiery didnâ€t light up the box score, but he stands out for his immense upside.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Thiery has a long, high-waisted frame with ample projection remaining. He shows present arm speed and attacks from a near-over-the-top slot (though, heâ€ll lower it slightly when delivering his slider). His fastball was up to 96 mph with particular life in the top half of the zone, and it plays up thanks to above-average extension. Thieryâ€s slider flashed some lateral life, and his changeup acted as more of a “show†pitch. Heâ€ll need to continue to refine both of his secondaries going forward.

Another key for Thiery will be keeping his long limbs synced up throughout his delivery. He was disconnected at times, which led to inconsistent command. While there are things to clean up, Thiery has a handful of exciting building blocks in place.

Colin White, LHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Georgia Tech

While his start was cut short due to rain, White turned heads across his two shutout, hitless innings of work. He punched out three, walked none and the lone baserunner he allowed was courtesy of an error. He only needed 23 pitches to cruise through his pair of innings.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, White is a strapping, high-waisted lefthander with upside remaining. Heâ€s gotten more physical over the course of the last year but still has room to fill out. He features an explosive, drop-and-drive delivery and attacks out of a high three-quarters slot with no shortage of arm speed.Â

White’s fastball sat in the 93-96 mph range and jumped out of his hand with plenty of carry through the zone. His heater is a high-spin offering and profiles as a real bat-misser. Given Whiteâ€s present arm speed and projection remaining, itâ€s not difficult to envision further velocity gains.

White supplemented his heater with a low-80s slider that flashed plus. Itâ€s a pitch thrown with conviction, and it has an enticing degree of sharpness to it. White also has a changeup, but he didnâ€t need to use it.

One of the biggest focal points for White going forward will be continuing to keep his long levers in-sync throughout his delivery. Though he threw less than two dozen pitches, White left Jupiter with an up arrow next to his name.Â

Source link

The WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. once again lived up to its reputation as the ultimate proving ground for prep talent. While the weekend featured plenty of familiar, headline draft names, it also served as a launching pad for a group of under-the-radar players who either showed off exciting tools or delivered true breakout performances.

This list focuses on that second group—the prospects who may not yet be household names in the draft community but left lasting impressions with evaluators.

All but one player on our list is already committed to a college program, and most project as legitimate candidates to reach campus. Together, they represent the next wave of impact talent—players whose performances in Jupiter hinted at much bigger things ahead, be it in college or as a young pro starting next summer.

Cody Boshell, 1B/OF, Florida

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

A physically imposing 6-foot-3, 220-pound lefthanded hitter, Boshell looked every bit the part of a power bat thanks to real strength through his frame and a barrel chest that suggested durability. Though primarily a first baseman, he moved well enough to project as a viable corner outfielder if needed.

At the plate, Boshell worked from a simple load with above-average hand speed and plenty of bat strength. His swing could get a touch long at times, but the bat path stayed direct enough to allow his natural power to play. The ball jumped off his barrel with carry to all fields, and he showed the ability to drive it out of the park, as evidenced by a home run he launched during a 4-for-12 showing in Jupiter.

Boshellâ€s hands worked fast through the zone, and his overall approach was aggressive. Continued emphasis on staying compact will be key as he faces better velocity, but the ingredients for middle-of-the-order power were already clear. He also pitched, though his future almost certainly lies with the bat, where his combination of physicality, athleticism and strength gives him impact potential.

Jorhan Castro, C, Puerto Rico

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Western Kentucky

Though undersized at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Castro impressed as arguably the most polished defensive catcher at the showcase. Multiple evaluators singled him out as the premier receiver in Jupiter, citing his advanced feel, quiet movements and leadership behind the plate against opposing lineups loaded with high-end players.

Castro showed a natural ability to present and steal strikes, particularly at the bottom of the zone, where his fluid hands and soft glove action consistently worked in his pitchers†favor. He blocked with ease, anticipated well and displayed a calm command of the game that stood out for his age. His throwing mechanics were compact and efficient, producing accurate throws with carry and pop times in the low 1.9s. The arm strength and quick release both played, and his overall defensive polish was ahead of his peers.

While the bat remains a work in progress and may be light long term, Castroâ€s defensive profile gives him a significant carrying tool. With plus upside behind the dish and an advanced understanding of the position, he projected as a high-floor catching prospect capable of anchoring a staff at the next level. He should make it to campus at Western Kentucky this fall.

Wyatt Clatur, RHP, Tennessee

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Virginia

Clatur delivered one of the weekendâ€s most dominant outings, striking out nine over four shutout innings while generating 18 total whiffs—12 on his fastball and six on his slider. The performance underscored both his stuff and competitive demeanor, as he worked quickly, attacked hitters and never appeared fazed by the stage.

An athletic righthander with evident arm speed, Clatur operated from a slightly-crossfire delivery that added deception and angle to his arsenal. His fastball sat 91-93 mph, touched 94 and showed lively finish through the top of the zone. The pitch consistently missed bats, playing up thanks to his tempo and ability to locate it with intent.

His slider, thrown in the low 80s, featured sweep and late movement across the plate. He showed confidence landing it for strikes and used it effectively to finish at-bats against both lefties and righties.

Claturâ€s combination of athleticism, pitchability and competitive edge stood out as much as his raw stuff. With a lively fastball-slider mix, clean arm action and mound presence beyond his years, Clatur looked like a rising name to follow closely moving forward.

Colin Driffill, RHP, Nebraska

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Kansas State

A lean, athletic 6-foot-1, 200-pound righthander, Driffill emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout arms at WWBA. Flashing loud arm strength and an operation built on athleticism, he struck out two across two innings without allowing an earned run.

Driffill sat 92-94 mph and reached 97 twice in his first inning, generating five whiffs on 26 fastballs that showed late life and explosive carry at the top of the zone. His primary secondary was a curveball in the low-to-mid 70s with solid depth. Its shape varied at times, however, hinting at a still-developing feel for spin.

Working from a delivery with some drop-and-drive elements, Driffill showed evident power and arm speed through a deep arm path. His movement patterns were athletic, his lower half strong and his overall projection enticing. With refinement, he had the raw ingredients to make significant strides as he matures.

Driffill entered the event largely under the radar, but that changed quickly. Multiple evaluators told Baseball America he wasnâ€t someone they had heavily followed—or, in some cases, had on their lists at all—before Jupiter. By the time he left, he was firmly among the names who made a strong impression.

Soren Etheridge, RHP, Arizona

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

The lone uncommitted prospect on this list, Etheridgeâ€s performance in Jupiter was simply too loud to overlook. The young righthander struck out eight across 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while generating an eye-popping 16 total whiffs, 13 of which came on his fastball.

Etheridgeâ€s heater sat 90-92 mph and touched 94 with late carry, overpowering hitters at the letters. Though his velocity dipped slightly as the outing went on, the pitchâ€s shape and effectiveness held steady throughout. His best secondary was a low-80s changeup with late tumble and fading action—a pitch one evaluator projected could develop into a future plus offering.

Etheridge also mixed a curveball and slider—both in the mid-to-high 70s—that occasionally bled together. He appeared to call for two distinct breaking balls in warmups but threw more of a hybrid shape during game action. A handful of firmer sliders stood out, hinting at the potential to better differentiate a fourth pitch as he matures.

An athletic, projectable arm with a lean frame and multi-sport background—heâ€s also a competitive swimmer—Etheridge showed raw but exciting ingredients. His delivery contained plenty of low-hanging fruit to refine, but with physical growth and mechanical polish, he looked like a highly moldable, high-upside talent whose recruitment should accelerate in short order.

Julian Garcia, RHP, California

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Long Beach State

A physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander, Garcia possessed one of the cleaner arm strokes at the event. He worked from a high three-quarters slot with above-average arm speed and a fastball that sat in the low 90s, touched 93 mph and showed carry through the zone. The pitch got on hitters quickly and played best at the letters. There was some effort when he reached back for more, but it never disrupted his tempo. Further velocity gains appeared well within reach as he continues to mature physically.

Garciaâ€s best offspeed offering was a sharp, high-spin breaking ball in the low-to-mid 70s that eclipsed 2,800 rpm. It came out of his hand clean with pronounced depth and late, biting action when he stayed on top of it. The pitch already induced swings and misses and figures to become a legitimate out pitch with added power. He also mixed a developing changeup that he threw just once in Jupiter.

Over two hitless, scoreless innings with four strikeouts, Garcia displayed two pitches with above-average upside, consistent strike-throwing feel and the type of size and arm speed that suggested more to come.

Will Holden, C, North Carolina

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Wake Forest

A physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound catcher from North Carolina, Holden showed the kind of strength, athleticism and versatility that make him a valuable piece at multiple positions. He moved well for his size and showed the ability to handle both catching and corner infield duties.

Behind the plate, Holden worked from a one-knee setup with decent lower-half quickness and a compact arm action. His throws carried with accuracy, and he showed above-average arm strength. He occasionally struggled with glove-to-hand transfers, but that’s an area that should smooth out with continued reps.

At the plate, Holden hit from a wide stance and generated leverage and loft through the zone. His swing could get steep at times, but the barrel was heavy and produced above-average raw power. Two of his three hits in Jupiter left the yard, and his loose hands and developing approach hinted at more consistency ahead.

Committed to Wake Forest, Holden profiled as a strong, righthanded power bat with defensive versatility and plenty of physical maturity still to come.

Bryant James, SS, Virginia

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Virginia

A lean, wiry 6-foot-1, 175-pound shortstop, James stood out as one of the best athletes in the tournament. His frame offered ample room to add strength, and with natural twitch already present, there was clear upside remaining as he continues to fill out physically.

A double-plus runner with verified 60-yard times in the 6.2-6.3 range, James used his speed as both a weapon and tone-setter. He consistently pressured defenses by getting out of the box quickly to turn routine contact into close plays and extra-base opportunities. His speed was on full display when he coasted in for a triple on a ball to the gap.

At the plate, James hit from a shoulder-high handset with a fairly narrow, upright stance. In lieu of a leg kick, he instead used a controlled stride to get into his swing. His hands worked fast, and his barrel stayed through the hitting zone for a long stretch, giving him a strong contact foundation. Right now, he profiles as a table-setter with gap-to-gap line drive ability, though added strength could unlock more lift and carry in his profile over time.

Defensively, James showed the actions and arm strength to stick at shortstop. His quick first step, lateral range and overall athleticism helped him make plays to both sides. Should he eventually need to move off the position, his elite speed and twitch would translate naturally to the grass.

Taden Krogsgaard, RHP, California

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Cal State Fullerton

A lean and athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound righthander, Krogsgaard impressed in Jupiter with his projection, polish and feel for spin. Though he also plays third base, his future clearly lies on the mound, where his athleticism and arm speed stand out.

Krogsgaard worked with a low three-quarters release and a bit of crossfire in his delivery, creating natural deception and angle on his pitches. His fastball sat 90-92 mph and touched 93, showing late life through the zone. The heater played up thanks to his ability to locate to both sides, and evaluators noted thereâ€s still velocity left in the tank as his frame continues to fill out.

His best secondary offering was a high-70s sweeper with late horizontal break that he consistently landed for strikes. Several evaluators already viewed the pitch as a fringe-plus weapon that should only improve as he adds strength and velocity.

Across two Jupiter outings, Krogsgaard allowed just one run over six innings, showing advanced pitchability and confidence. With a fastball-slider foundation, physical projection and an athletic delivery, he profiles as a high-upside arm.

Trent Lutz, RHP, Pennsylvania

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Penn State

A long-limbed 6-foot-4, 170-pound righthander, Lutz combined present stuff with significant physical projection. His high-waisted, lean frame left plenty of room for added strength, and the delivery already hinted at future power once he grows into it. He worked with a deep, high three-quarters arm stroke and occasionally landed open in his stride, leading to some inconsistency in his release point.

Lutzâ€s fastball sat 90-93 mph and touched 94, showing solid life through the zone. His best velocity and shape came early in the outing, but the pitch still held enough life to miss bats late. He paired it with both a curveball and slider that sometimes bled together. When he stayed on top, the curveball showed depth, but he occasionally got around it and lost finish. He also mixed in a few changeups that flashed promise with late fade.

Still early in his development, Lutzâ€s projection stood out most. His wiry frame, loose arm action and flashes of a true three-pitch mix made him a highly intriguing long-term follow in the 2027 class.

Jace Mataczynski, SS, Wisconsin

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Auburn

One of the most toolsy players in Jupiter, Mataczynski drew a sizable scouting crowd each time he took the field and quickly became one of the weekendâ€s buzziest names. Several evaluators told Baseball America they were zeroing in on the Auburn commit after his standout showing, and his stock appeared to be rising fast.

At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Mataczynski combines promising size, twitch and fluidity. He moved easily at shortstop, showing light feet and impressive body control with an above-average arm that carried across the diamond. His wide, effortless gait translated into plus running ability, allowing him to cover ground both in the field and on the bases.

Offensively, Mataczynski remains raw but dangerous. His two-handed swing occasionally lagged behind better velocity, though his physical strength and bat speed still showed through as he collected six hits, including a home run and two doubles. With added mechanical polish and physical maturity, his offensive game could take a major leap.

Mataczynskiâ€s blend of athleticism, tools and projection has him positioned as a potential early-round follow if his upward trajectory continues.

Lukas McDowell, RHP, Canada

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: North Florida

A towering 6-foot-8, 245-pound righthander and native of Canada, McDowell looked every bit the part of a workhorse starter thanks to his broad shoulders and powerful lower half. His size alone turned heads, but it was the combination of athleticism and stuff that made his outing one of the more memorable performances among the unheralded prospects in Jupiter. Over three scoreless innings, he struck out three without issuing a walk while showing poise and command.

McDowell attacked from a long, whippy low three-quarters slot that created difficult angles and deception. His fastball sat 91-93 mph and touched 95 with carry through the zone and late life that helped it miss five bats. He paired it with a low-80s sweeping slider and a high-70s curveball that featured two-plane depth—both capable of missing barrels when executed. A developing changeup rounded out his four-pitch mix.

At 18, few pitchers combine this kind of physicality, arm speed and athletic operation. McDowellâ€s blend of size and raw stuff gives him a rare ceiling, and continued refinement could make him one of the more fascinating Canadian arms in the 2026 class.

Ethan Offing, OF, South Carolina

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Clemson

An ultra-athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pound center fielder, Offing turned in one of the more complete performances in Jupiter and drew legitimate scouting attention. His combination of speed, defense and emerging impact at the plate made him one of the eventâ€s more intriguing all-around position players.

Offing covered ground easily in center field, showing smooth actions, confident reads and the type of closing speed that allowed him to make more difficult plays look routine. His running ability also translated offensively, where his quickness out of the box and aggressive baserunning kept pressure on defenses.

At the plate, Offingâ€s short, fast swing and advanced bat control stood out. He went 7-for-13 with a double, triple and home run, consistently finding the barrel and flashing surprising strength for his lean frame. The bat speed was real, and his swing path suggested room to grow into more power without sacrificing contact.

With plus speed, reliable defense in center and the potential to both set the table and impact the baseball with authority, Offing looked like a high-upside athlete who would fit perfectly in Clemsonâ€s up-tempo, offensive-minded program if he reaches campus.

Chandler Taylor, OF, Ohio

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Alabama

The younger brother of former Indiana All-American Devin Taylor, Taylor impressed as a lean, athletic 6-foot-3, 185-pound outfielder with real center field potential. He moved with above-average speed, read the ball off the bat well and showed the instincts and reaction time to hold down the middle of the diamond.

At the plate, he shared traits similar to his brother, as his swing stayed on plane and his hands were quick. That ability already allows him to drive the ball all over the field, but as he adds strength, heâ€ll need to learn to lift the ball more consistently to unlock additional power.

Taylorâ€s biggest area for growth is in plate discipline. He needs to sharpen his approach against spin and remain engaged in two-strike counts, rather than expanding too early.

Though still relatively young, Taylor is already committed to Alabama and appears likely to land on campus. His tools, pedigree, and athletic profile make him an interesting name to follow going forward.

Ty Van Valkenburg, RHP, New York

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Miami

Built with a strong, durable 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, Van Valkenburg looked every bit the part of a physical righthander with starter traits. His delivery was compact and repeatable while his arm worked with looseness and whip from a three-quarters release. He occasionally dropped the slot a bit when throwing his slider but maintained a consistent tempo and direction throughout.

Van Valkenburgâ€s fastball sat in the low 90s and reached 94 mph while showing both run and ride that allowed it to miss bats. He commanded the pitch well, especially to his arm side, and collected four whiffs on it in this outing. Over two innings, he punched out four, didnâ€t issue a walk and allowed two hits—one an infield single—without surrendering an earned run.

His primary secondary was an upper-70s slider that flashed above-average potential. The pitch varied in shape, showing tighter, two-plane bite against lefthanded hitters and a sweepier look with more lateral movement to righties. It already profiled as his best swing-and-miss weapon and was responsible for two of his six total whiffs on the day. He also flashed a changeup in warmups but didnâ€t use it in-game.

With physical strength, repeatability and a fastball-slider combination that both played, Van Valkenburg fit the mold of a strike-throwing starter to watch closely this spring.

Source link

No team has repeated as World Series Champions since the New York Yankees won three titles in a row from 1998 to 2000. However, as the Los Angeles Dodgers take a 2-0 NLCS lead over the Milwaukee Brewers back to Dodger Stadium for Games 3-5, it’s beginning to feel like that could change.

Thus far this postseason, their starting pitching has come up, well, aces.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up three runs over just four innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in NLDS Game 3, the only game that the Dodgers have lost so far this postseason. He responded by striking out seven and allowing just three hits and one run during a complete-game Tuesday in Game 2 vs. Milwaukee.

Yamamoto’s complete game was the first in the postseason since Justin Verlander did it for the Houston Astros in the 2016 ALCS. The last time a Dodger tossed a complete game in the postseason before this evening was José Lima in Game 4 of the 2004 NLDS.

In Game 1, Blake Snell continued what’s turning into one of the greatest postseason runs in MLB history, striking out 10 batters and allowing just one hit over eight shutout innings. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has pitched to a minuscule 0.86 ERA over three starts so far in the playoffs.

Tyler Glasnow will take the ball in Game 3 on Thursday. While he’s struggled to stay healthy in his career—and only made 18 regular-season starts in 2025—Glasnow reminded the world how dominant he can be in a closeout performance against the Phillies last Thursday, striking out eight and allowing just two hits across six shutout innings.

And looming for Game 4? Shohei Ohtani. Though he allowed three runs over six innings in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies, Ohtani struck out nine in his first career postseason start. For him to be the fourth starter in Dave Roberts’ rotation this series is pretty remarkable.

For so much of the year, the Dodgers struggled with injuries to their pitchers. Of Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow and Ohtani, Yamamoto is the only one who made more than 19 starts during the regular season. But the quartet is peaking at the exact right time.

Entering the postseason, there were legitimate concerns about the Dodgers’ bullpen, which posted a 4.90 ERA in September, 25th among all teams.

One way to mitigate that concern is to have such a dominant starting rotation that you don’t need to use the bullpen. Yamamoto—who now has a 1.83 ERA to show for three postseason starts—has been at the forefront of making that a reality.

Of course, Roki Sasaki—who disappointed in 36.1 innings pitched as a starter during his much-anticipated rookie season—emerging as a legitimate closer has been a huge boost to the Dodgers’ chances at repeating as World Series Champions.

Tanner Scott (lower body abscess) is off the roster for the NLCS, and Blake Treinen has had some shaky moments in five postseason appearances, but Sasaki has stabilized the back end of the bullpen with two saves and a 1.50 ERA so far this October in six innings.

Perhaps the scariest part for the three other remaining teams—the Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays—is that Los Angeles’ lineup really hasn’t scratched the surface of their potential despite a 7-1 record in the playoffs.

Ohtani did have an RBI in the 5-1 Game 2 victory over the Brewers, but also struck out three times and has just a .147 batting average so far this postseason.

Outside of Ohtani’s two-homer performance against the Reds in NLWCS Game 1, he’s been a net negative offensively this postseason. How much longer will opposing pitchers be able to keep Ohtani—who homered 55 times en route to a likely fourth MVP—from taking over a game at the plate?

Elsewhere, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith are each hitting under .250 in the playoffs, a trend that also seems unlikely to continue much longer. The Dodgers have averaged three runs over their last three games. They’re 3-0, which is both a testament to how great their pitching has been and a reminder of why they currently feel overwhelmingly likely to win their second consecutive World Series title.

A roster that seemed destined to win 100-plus games entering the year settled for 93 during the regular season, which was enough to win them the NL West but not even secure a first-round bye. It appears, though, that getting everyone healthy was more important that pushing all the way in to get the bye.

Things can change in a hurry this time of year, but the Dodgers are about to head home for three games (if the third is even needed), and there’s legitimate reason to think their offense is going to get better soon.

So much of winning it all comes down to peaking at the right time, and the 2025 Dodgers are doing just that.

Source link

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to be named head coach of USA Basketballâ€s menâ€s team for the next cycle, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

He has the backing of the last guy to have the job, Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

“I mean, Spo is incredible. Heâ€s a phenomenal coach,†Kerr said after a Warriors practice Friday. “And, just watching him the last two summers and getting to know him up close, rather than just from afar, where Iâ€ve admired him for so long, I got a first-hand glimpse at what a great coach he is.â€

Spoelstra was one of the assistant coaches on Kerrâ€s staff for the Paris Olympics, where Team USA won its fifth consecutive gold medal. That staff was also together for the World Cup in the Philippines the year before. Kerr said being an assistant coach for Team USA matters before moving over to the big chair.

“I think the assistant coaching is almost a prerequisite for coaching USA,†Kerr said. “Itâ€s really a different job, and now he has that experience, just like I did with [Gregg Popovich], in the World Cup in â€19 and the Olympics in â€21.

“Spo is a perfect choice. Heâ€s gonna be great.â€

Spoelstra is the longest-tenured coach in the NBA, entering his 18th season, and has led the Heat to six NBA Finals appearances, winning two (2012 and 2013). In a sign of how respected he is around the league, a poll of NBA GMs voted him the “best coach in the NBA†as well as the best manager and motivator of players.

Spoelstraâ€s contract with USA Basketball is not finalized and has to be approved by the organizationâ€s board of directors, but that is all expected to be wrapped up before the end of the month.

Source link