Top performers from the PG National Showcase

Amateur baseball is back in the spotlight following the completion of the 20th annual Perfect Game National Showcase, which was held from June 17-21 at Hoover Met Sports Complex in Hoover, Ala. A staple of the summer showcase circuit for incoming high school seniors, the five-day event featured many of the top 2021 Draft prospects squaring off during games, in addition to individual team workouts in front of a bevy of scouts.

While the MLB Pipeline crew was not on hand for this year’s National Showcase, we talked to many of the scouts who were to come up with the following list of the prestigious event’s top performers:

1. Chase Burns, RHP, Station Camp (Tenn.)
The consensus standout among scouts at this year’s PG National Showcase, Burns, a University of Tennessee commit, looked the part of a future early first-round pick on Saturday when he ran his fastball up to 99 mph, recording the event's top velocity. His heater hovered around 95-97-mph in the outing, and the 6-foot-4, 215-pound righty impressed evaluators by flashing plus with both his slider and changeup, while also mixing in a quality curveball.

2. Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian Academy (Fla.)
Painter further raised his already high 2021 Draft stock with a two-inning outing, during which he bumped 96 mph with his fastball and showed the ability to throw each of his three secondary pitches for strikes, including a potentially plus changeup. Listed at 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, the Florida commit is already physically strong but has plenty of remaining projection.

3. Christian Little, RHP, Christian Brothers HS (Mo.)
The highest-ranked prospect at this year’s National Showcase (per Jonathan Mayo’s early Class of 2021 rankings), Little offered a glimpse of his bright future as he mixed four pitches, including a fastball that touched 95 mph with good plane and a promising curveball, while showing a smooth and effortless delivery. The Vanderbilt commit has all the traits needed to start at the next level thanks to his blend of stuff, feel and remaining physical projection (6-foot-4, 210 pounds).

4. Maddux Bruns, LHP, UMS-Wright Preparatory (Ala.)
Bruns’ 97 mph fastball was the top velocity recorded by a left-handed pitcher and good for a share of second place on the overall event leaderboard. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Mississippi State commit paired his heater with a curveball that showed swing-and-miss bite, as well as a mid-80s slider that featured cutter-like action.

5. Ian Moller, C, Wahlert HS (Iowa)
Arguably the top catching prospect in the 2021 Class, Moller was a standout on both sides of the ball over the weekend. The right-handed hitter made plenty of loud contact during batting practice, as well as during games, as he drove the ball to all fields, showing the type of bat speed, barrel path and extension that makes it easy for scouts to forecast future power. Defensively, the Louisiana State commit recorded a 1.80-second pop time and exhibited a strong, accurate arm.

6. Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit College Prep HS (Texas)
The Vanderbilt commit recorded the fourth-best 60-yard dash time (6.45 seconds) at the event and received high praise for his knack for finding the barrel and generating line-drive contact from the right side of the plate. He has the tools to potentially stick at shortstop, and scouts expect him to tap into more regular power as he fills out his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame.

7. Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland Reg (N.J.)
Petty made his mark at the event by hitting 97 mph with his heater -- an explosive pitch that he complemented nicely with a diving, mid-80s changeup that he masks with fastball-like arm action. The quick-armed Florida Gators commit looks the part on the mound, packing plenty of athleticism into a broad-shouldered frame that bodes well for his future projection and everything that’ll come with it.

8. Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land HS (Pa.)
One of toolsiest players at this year’s National Showcase, Montgomery created some serious buzz among evaluators as he recorded the third-best 60-yard dash time (6.32 seconds), tied for the top outfield velocity (97 mph) and demonstrated innate ability to impact the baseball from the right side of the plate. He shows present power and the potential for more that could ultimately make him one of the top power-speed prospects in the class.

9. Max Debiec, RHP, O’Dea HS (Wash.)
Already an imposing presence on the mound with projection remaining in his 6-foot-7, 202-pound frame, Debiec, a University of Washington commit, was one of just four pitchers to hit 97 mph at the event. He also showed feel for sinking his two-seamer, using his height to his advantage to create an angle to the plate, and flashed a hard slider with true bat-missing potential.

10. Jackson Jobe, SS/RHP, Heritage Hall (Okla.)
Many scouts preferred Jobe as a shortstop leading up to the event, though that’s likely no longer the case after the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Mississippi commit carved up hitters using a fastball that was up to 96 mph and a devastating slider with an elite spin rate (3,100+ rpm).

Other standouts (alphabetical order):
Braylon Bishop, OF, Arkansas HS (Ark.)
Jaxson Davis, OF, Lexington Christian Academy (Ky.)
Ryan Ginther, LHP, Station Camp (Tenn.)
Carter Jensen, C, Park Hill (Mo.)
Gage Jump, LHP, JSerra Catholic (Calif.)
Luke Leto, SS, Portage Central (Mich.)
Braden Montgomery, OF, Madison Central (Miss.)
Shane Panzini, RHP, Red Bank Catholic (N.J.)
Alden Segui, RHP, Tampa Jesuit (Fla.)
Brock Selvidge, LHP, Hamilton HS (Ariz.)