Future Games: Scout Blog
August 2, 2022
The 2022 Future Games are underway! The Future Games/Junior Future Games is an invite only game play event located in Emerson, Georgia at the Lakepoint Complex. Day 1 includes a pro-style workout, followed by 3 days of game play. This event has grown to be one of the most heavily scouted events across the country for 2024-2026 grads.
The Future Games Scout Blog will be updated each day to provide coverage and scouting notes on Future Game participants.
July 27 (FG workout/jfg Game 1)
 |
Chase Whitley CF / Shadow Ridge, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 26 / POS: 1
Chase Whitley turned in a very quality workout. He showed athleticism, twitchy actions, and took an intriguing round of BP. He turned in Arizona's top 60 yard time at 6.61, speed translates down the line and in the OF. He jumped a 31 inch vertical. And showed arm strength from the OF, touching 90 mph during the defensive portion. The bat path showed it will play and with added strength the ball will start jumping to the gaps. Whitley is one of Arizona's top athletes on a skilled roster, high follow with much room to grow in all parts of his game.
|
 |
Ian Haines C / 3B / Millennium, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 21 / POS: 1
Ian Haines continues to open eyes with his ability as an offensive catcher. Above average athleticism for the position. High waisted build with room for added strength. His catch and throw ability stands above the rest. Posted Arizona's top pop time (1.94) and C velo (78). The ball stays very true to 2B with accuracy and a quick and clean transition. Haines has bat speed and is consistent with the barrel. Has some pull side pop with high % of LD contact. Gets to the front side during swing, as reps and strength continue to come, his hit tool could be among the top of the catchers on the west coast along with the catch and throw. Receiving ability is there, soft hands and ability to manipulate the baseball.
|
 |
Ky McGary OF / SS / Sandra Day O'Connor, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 5
Ky McGary is one of Arionza's top outfielders and is showing he belongs there during his time in Georgia. His athletic ability was a major standout during the workout portion of the event. McGary jumped a 36 inch vertical, ran a 6.84 60 yard, and showed great arm strength from the OF hitting 93 mph which ranked #6 in the entire event. McGary has an above average hit tool, with a bat the covers the zone with line drive contact to all parts of the field. With the athletic ability, and the mature approach at the plate, McGary is showing he has a Power 5 skill set.
|
 |
Ethan Trahan OF / LHP / Horizon, AZ / 2026Ethan Trahan is no doubt one of the most intriguing JFG participants across the entire event. He turned in a very eye opening workout on both sides of the ball, and showed that his skills translate to game play. Trahan touched 83 from the outfield during the workout, with a very easy and clean arm action with accurate throws. Velo will continue to rise with added strength and maturity. He took a mature round of batting practice, with a flat bat path that whistles through the zone. His balance at the plate and ability to let balls travel and utilize various contact points is impressive for the age. He left the yard multiple times to the pull side. In game 1, Trahan started on the mound, where the clean arm action was on display. His strike throwing ability was impressive with a FB that topped at 84 mph. He kept the Missouri offense at bay in a 5-4 Arizona victory. Plan on seeing Trahan back on the mound as Arizona advances through bracket play. Trahan also recorded a knock and a walk in game 1. Legitimate two-way prospect with advanced tools across the board.
|
 |
Brent Sollars OF / RHP / Sandra Day OConnor, AZ / 2026Brent Sollars has a long and lanky build with much room to grow. He continues to impress with his whole field approach with power to the big part of the field and barrel consistency. We've already seen Sollars drive balls deep to the middle/off side, and he did it again in game 1 vs Missouri. Sollars drove in a run with a deep double that beat the CF over his head. Sollars plays a clean outfield and has upside with the arm. We look forward to seeing Sollars off the mound as we advance through the JFG tournament.
|
july 28 (FG game 1/jfg game 2)
 |
Cole Rogers SS / 2B / Mountain Pointe, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 17 / POS: 7
Cole Rogers showed well through the workout and it translated to game play in game 1 vs Alabama. Rogers is a slick fielding infielder with athleticism and room to grow physically. His defensive ability is above average with ability to play up the middle, arm strength should be added if playing on the left side, but the foot work, glove skills, and rhythm is advanced. He made a tough back handed play up the middle at 2B to record an out with an off balanced throw. Rogers turned in quality at bats with a base hit down the left field line and recorded a stolen base. He ran a 7.1 60 yard but the speed translates much better on the diamond. Look forward to seeing more of Rogers throughout the week.
|
 |
Smith Bailey RHP / Mountain Ridge, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 1
Smith Bailey joins Team Arizona as a right hander with a great build with length and room to add strength. He has a clean and easy delivery from the right side and stuff that shows it's going to play at a high level. Smith Bailey threw 2 innings in game 1 vs Alabama, and kept a strong offense quiet in his 2 innings of work. In 2 innings he struck out 2, walked none, and allowed 3 hits. FB topped at 88 mph and he showed feel for the strike zone with 3 pitches. Bailey will make another outing on Saturday vs Team Canada.
|
 |
Jack Lafflam RHP / 1B / Brophy College Prep, AZ / 2025Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 2
Jack Lafflam is one of Arizona's top arms in the 2025 class. The right hander is the definition of "projectable" with the build and delivery. His 6-foot-4 frame and pitchability is impressive. Strike throwing with 3 pitches is there, and has shown flashes of an out pitch in the SL. Lafflam topped at 88 with the FB, and with added strength the velo should see a major bump over the years. In yesterday's outing, Lafflam got through 5 hitters at en efficient rate, and ran into some trouble with 2 outs in his 2nd inning. We will see him back at work on Saturday vs Team Canada.
|
 |
Connor Crossland 3B / 1B / Mountain Pointe, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 71 / POS: 8
Connor Crossland has a strong and compact build with an interesting hit tool. Very strong and balanced in the set up at the plate. Wider base with a no stride approach. He is very simple and lets his strength take over. His balanced set up keeps him in a great position to hit, and he stays in that balanced position all the way through contact. Crossland recorded Team Arizona's top EV during the workout at 97 mph, and recorded a 100 mph EV on a double to deep LFC in game action vs Team Alabama. The hit tool for Crossland is certainly his best tool. Crossland's future defensively is still to question; however, we do know that it will be on the corners. Potential power hitting corner infielder/corner outfielder.
|
 |
Jack Dominguez 3B / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2026Jack Dominguez was very impressive in his start on the mound vs Team Illinois. He went 4.2 innings, allowing only 3 hits, walked 3, and struck out 3. He was around the zone all day with the FB, and worked all quadrants of the zone. FB topped at 76 mph. He was very competitive throughout the whole outing, showed the ability to minimize damage, and keep offenses off balanced by moving the ball around. Dominguez has simple and efficient actions and with added strength and size, this will be a great prospect to follow with 2-way ability.
|
 |
Carter Macanas SS / 3B / Desert Ridge, AZ / 2026Carter Macanas is a very well rounded ball player with advanced tools to all parts of his game. In the 2026 class, Macanas should be listed with the top SS's across the country with his defensive ability. His feet and glove are very advanced. Active and quick feet, smooth glove and body, and lightning quick transfer, and an accurate and easy arm. His actions in the box are also advanced, just waiting on size and strength to be added to take that part of his game to the next level. Macanas has recorded a couple knocks up to this point. Looking forward to the rest of the week with Carter Macanas and following his development over the years.
|
july 29 (FG game 2/jfg game 3)
 |
Reece Van Devander 1B / RHP / Chaparral, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 15 / POS: 1
Reece Van Devander was awarded the Dicks Sporting Goods Player of the Game with his performance vs Mississippi. Van Devander made the start on the mound where he was dominant. He went 3 innings, allowing 0 H, 0 R, and struck out 4. He was pounding the zone with FB/CB mix, was ahead of hitters his entire outing, and showed some above average spin numbers. FB velo was around 84-85 and topped 86 mph (2250+ spin). From the OTT slot, the ball was coming out with some ride. The spin numbers and change of speed are a clear explanation of the bad swings he gets with his FB. And he was very effective with the downward breaking CB (2500+ spin). Van Devander also showed there's some potential with the bat. The big bodied 1B went 1-2 at the plate with a line drive knock back to the middle.
|
 |
Kyle Pettigrew 3B / 3B / Desert Mountain, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 1
Kyle Pettigrew has been taking quality at bats with Team AZ out at the Future Games and he got something to show for it last night. In a 1st and 3rd situation with nobody out, Pettigrew laced a FB to RCF for a 2 RBI 2B that posted a 100 MPH exit velo off the bat. Pettigrew has a short swing with still much more strength to tap into. His bat has shown some pop towards the middle/pull side gap all year and continues to show it at the Future Games. Pettigrew's size, athleticism, and arm strength shows he can be a left side infielder, still need to see more to know if he will end up at SS or 3B. He showed the arm strength on the mound last night in his 2 IP. Pettigrew tossed 2 innings, allowing 3 H and 3 R. The FB topped at 88 mph, with a clean and easy arm. Two-way potential for Pettigrew is there, with the highest upside coming with the bat.
|
| |
Ky McGary OF / SS / Sandra Day O'Connor, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 5
We had high hopes for McGary coming into Georgia with Team AZ and he did not disappoint in the team's win vs Mississippi. McGary went 2-2 at the plate in McGary fashion. He turned in two very quality at bats against some good arms. Going 2-2 with 2 base hits through the infield. McGary has an above average feel for the barrel and contact rate. McGary is going to turn in a quality at bat each time in the box, with speed on the bases that can change the game. He'll run sub 4.3 down the line with base stealing ability. That speed on the bases was on display last night in center field as well. Advanced tracking ability to the gaps, and routes in the outfield. McGary also turned in one of the most impressive workouts for Team AZ on day 1, jumping a 36 inch vert, running a 6.75 60 yard, and touching 93 mph from the OF. We got to see McGary on the mound for 2 innings vs Mississippi, where he tosses 2 scoreless innings and topped 86 with the FB. McGary was no doubt in conversation for Player of the Game last night as well.
|
july 30th (fg game 3)
 |
Willie Cornejo-Farmer 1B / 3B / Brophy College Prep, AZ / 2024Rankings StateRank: 25 / POS: 2
Willie Cornejo-Farmer had a great overall performance in game 3 vs team Canada. Two quality at bats along with a solid defensive day at 3B. Strong build on the corners, defensive ability has been in question for this prospect; however, he showed some ability on the left side in this matchup. Against team Canada, Cornejo-Farmer went 2-2 with 2 singles, an RBI, and a stolen base, and was awarded the Dick's Sporting Goods Player of the Game. On the week, Cornejo-Farmer led Team Arizona's offense going 4 for 6 with 2 doubles to the off side. Very simple at the plate, stays grounded well and lets his size and leverage take over. Consistent quality ABs were turned in all week. As reps continue to come, with his simple approach, the power to all fields should start to show in game play. High follow power potential bat.
|
 |
Gerardo Gonzalez 3B / RHP / Liberty , AZ / 2024Potential two-way prospect with upside on the mound. The right hander has an above average build with strength and developing athleticism. Gonzalez made a three inning appearance out of relief vs Team Canada, where he showed a potential power FB and was getting ugly swings and weak contact. Gonzalez was commanding the zone with intent, and forced contact. The FB topped 89 mph. The SL showed some promise as an out pitch. Overall, very impressive outing for Gonzalez commanding the baseball and showing the potential mid 90s FB. High follow on the mound.
|
July 31 (jfg game 5)
 |
Austin Smith C / SS / Chaparral, AZ / 2026Austin Smith was one of the stand out performers in Arizona’s tight match up with team Michigan Sunday morning. Smith was able to hold Michigan to 1 run through 6.2 IP, while only giving up 4 hits and striking out 3. FB topping out at 81. Smith was able to challenge hitters with consistent strikes to both sides of the plate with a steady mix of SL. Smith shows the potential to be a 2-way prospect. Behind the plate Smith showed an above avg arm and pop time of 1.97-2.10. Smith is a high follow for the 2026 class.
|
 |
Matthew Smith RHP / OF / Pinnacle, AZ / 2026Matthew Smith was one of the stand out performers against Michigan on Sunday going 2-3 with 2 singles. Smith is a 6-0ft OF/RHP that shows a very projectable frame with room to grow athletically. Smith’s light leg lift and flat bat put him in a great position to hit throughout the week, and benefited him in creating consistent quality AB’s.
|
| |
Ethan Trahan OF / LHP / Horizon, AZ / 2026After a hot start to the week and being one the top players to come out of JFG’s. Trahan started game 1 of the tournament with a FB topping out at 83 MPH. However, on the final day of the tournament, the LHP came into the final game in relief. Leaving everything on the field, Trahan’s FB topped out at 87 while sitting 84-86. Trahan shows a clean arm action with a projectable frame at the next level. This is a legitimate 2-way prospect, high follow.
|
Related Content:
Upcoming Events:
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2022 West Coast Games (Arizona Invite) | AZ | 08/12 | Las Vegas, NV (UNLV & CSN) |
| Valley Open | AZ | 08/20 | South Mountain Community College - Phoenix, AZ |
| Tucson Open | AZ | 08/27 | University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ |