THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,031 MLB PLAYERS | 14,466 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,031 MLB PLAYERS | 14,466 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
All American Game  | Story | 12/16/2013

Winston: from Classic to Heisman

Photo: Perfect Game

Since the inception of the Perfect Game All-American Classic in 2003, the event has seen 79 of its participants make their Major League Baseball debuts. One more, Kyle Long, son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie, now plays right guard for the Chicago Bears.

Two of those big-leaguers, Andrew McCutchen and Buster Posey, earned National League MVP honors each of the last two seasons. Posey also claimed Rookie of the Year honors in 2010, as did Jose Fernandez this past year, Bryce Harper in 2012 and Jeremy Hellickson in 2011.

Posey (2008), Harper (2010), Mike Zunino (2012) and Kris Bryant (2013) have all received the Golden Spikes Award recognizing college baseball's best player.

On Saturday, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston added one more accolade to the history of the Classic when he was named college football's most outstanding player as he received the Heisman Trophy at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City.

Florida State marched to a No. 1 ranking during a perfect 13-0 season when they outscored their opponents by an average of over 42 points a game. In other words, Florida State could spot their opponents six touchdowns and those teams could still walk away on the losing end.

Winston was the leader of the potent Seminoles’ offense, a red-shirt freshman who threw for 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns, and added four more scores on the ground. He and his teammates now prepare for the VIZIO BCS National Championship game to be held on Jan. 6 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.

He not only stars on the football field, but also is a key member of the Florida State baseball team, and Winston's talents are as diverse in baseball as they are in football.

A participant of the 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic, playing with and against current minor league stars including Lance McCullers, Joey Gallo, Addison Russell and Lucas Giolito, Winston was the only member of the East team to collect a hit.

That hit was a sharp single off of left-hander Max Fried – the seventh overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft – who was throwing 92-94 mph heat and a hammer curveball that allowed him to strike out every batter he faced in the top of the fourth inning not named Winston. Once he reached base, Winston promptly stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and then stole home, becoming the first – and only – player in the 11-year history of the Classic to do so.

So you probably get the idea already that Winston has game-changing speed and a knack for making plays.

The timed results at the 2011 Perfect Game National Showcase confirmed his speed when Winston ran the 60-yard dash in 6.59 seconds, one of the best of those in attendance; he threw 93 mph from the outfield and 92 off the mound as a pitcher. He also switch-hits, and displayed a surprisingly balanced and powerful swing from both sides of the plate, something you don't find in too many hitters at any level, much less one who is 17 years old and playing among the top 250 high school seniors in the nation.

Here's Winston's full report from the National:

Long lean athletic frame, deceptively strong. Outstanding and versatile athlete, can play all over the field and switch hits. Good bat speed from both sides, fluid swing through the ball, has some lift and pull to his approach, tends to be a bit still in his start, projects power. Outstanding baserunner, takes the extra base. 6.59 runner, very good outfield range, strong arm with good crow hop and footwork, quick infield actions, good hands, long actions but a flexible release, could play 3B in the future. Also pitches, deep long arm action, high three-quarters release with some effort, 90-92 mph with plus hard sinking life at times, throws both a curveball and slider with good spin and bite, slider is sharp and tight, big downer action on curveball, good idea how to pitch. Also one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the country. Unique athlete, combines physical talent with surprising instincts and skills. High ceiling talent if chooses to continue to play baseball.

Winston attended 10 Perfect Game events in total, all of which were tournaments – aside from the Classic and the National Showcase – playing for the Team Alabama travel program. One of his teammates during that time was fellow PG All-American David Dahl, a first round pick in 2012 who is now a member of the Colorado Rockies organization. Winston also played alongside a handful of players currently making an impact at the college level, including Alabama's Georgie Salem and Mikey White and Auburn's Jordan Ebert and Dylan Smith.

Although Winston had plenty of suitors, he had yet to commit to a college at the time of the PG National Showcase, and recruiters knew he was much more than just a football player who happened to be good at baseball.

That’s a must,” Winston told Perfect Game's Jeff Dahn at the 2011 National Showcase. “If I can’t play both, I probably won’t go to school.

Prior to the 2012 MLB Draft, Perfect Game ranked Winston the 48th
 best high school prospect in his class, but MLB teams also had to contend with the fact that he was ranked the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by rivals.com.

While there are plenty of recent examples of baseball teams signing notable two-sport stars away from the gridiron – including Archie Bradley, Zach Lee and Bubba Starling – Winston's talents, in addition to the new bonus pools introduced by Major League Baseball, were too much for a team to overcome to get him in the fold. The Rangers did draft him in the 15th
 round in 2012, far too late in the draft for him to turn away from his commitment to Florida State.

Winston took to the baseball field first for the Seminoles, red-shirting his freshman year in football under the tutelage of now Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel. Although he wasn't an everyday, full-time player, Winston saw action in 41 of Florida State's 64 games, posting a .235/.377/.345 slash line with six doubles and a pair of stolen bases while going 1-2 on the mound with a 3.00 ERA and a pair of saves.

Although Winston was unavailable for comment as he prepares for the BCS National Championship game, Mike Martin, Jr., assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator for the Florida State baseball team, was happy to talk about Winston's success.

This isn't just a guy that plays baseball for fun,” Martin said in regard to Winston's recent success. “He's really good at it and he helped us an awful lot last year, and we're expecting bigger things out of him this year. I really believe that will come to fruition, him being a bigger part of our team, whether that's as a closer, logging more innings on the mound, or getting more at-bats and putting up big numbers for us.”

As Winston has added strength to his 6-foot-4 frame, bulking up to 228-pounds after weighing in around 200 in high school, his power potential, as well as his arm strength, have also improved. His fastball, which sat in the upper-80s to low-90s in high school now consistently registers 93-95 on the gun, mixing in a nasty mid- to upper-80s slider to punch-out opposing hitters.

Martin spends a lot of his time during his offseason assisting his close friend Jimbo Fisher, Florida State's head football coach, with whatever tasks are deemed necessary. The two of them take recruiting trips together, not only to spend time with one another but to also pick each other's brain and share notes on players.

You're always looking for guys that can play regardless of the sport,” Martin said of his recruiting role. “You want guys that can turn, guys that can bend and (create) angles, have a bounce in their step, people that want to be out there. It's our job to make sure they really enjoy doing it, and I think that we're all chasing guys that are athletic and driven, and those are the guys you win with.”

Although Martin acknowledges the fact he has to work around Florida State's football schedule more so than the other way around, which is understandable since Winston is on a football scholarship. He's appreciative of the ways Fisher has arranged the spring football schedule to the benefit of the baseball program.

He will never miss any sort of football activity that is required by everyone else,” Martin said, “but all the other time he'll be with us. Jimbo will put up the spring practice schedule based upon our schedule and help us in that regard.

We only had two conflicts last year. One trip (to Virginia Tech), he had to miss that completely because there was no other way to get around the allotted practice days that they can have.”

Now with both a full year of baseball and football under his belt, Winston can expect to be used in a greater, expanded role for the Seminoles baseball team, although his coach is quick to recognize he and the rest of the baseball staff have to be careful in what they do.

I'd love to be in position where we DH him, just because it's kind hard to run a Heisman Trophy winner into a wall,” Martin said. “I shouldn't say he'll definitely close for us, but that's where we're projecting him. That's what we're going to try and do, mold him into a closer because all the stuff, the intangibles, are there. Nothing scares him.”

For football fans of the Florida State, history definitely favors the program as they aim for their third National Championship on Jan. 6 of the New Year at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. The last two times the Seminoles claimed the championship – in both 1993 and 1999 – their leaders under center held similar profiles to that of Winston, and both also claimed college football's most distinguished individual honor, the Heisman Trophy.

In 1993 Charlie Ward guided Florida State to a 12-1 record, beating the No. 2-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl on their way to their first National Championship. Ward – deemed undersized by NFL standards and playing well before read-option offenses were implemented in the professional game that seemed to have opened the door for similar-sized quarterbacks – took his talents to the NBA where he enjoyed a productive 12-year career, 10 of which were spent with the New York Knicks.

Ward, a gifted all-around athlete similar to that of Winston, was also drafted twice by MLB teams – the Brewers in 1993 and the Yankees in 1994.

Chris Weinke's career was somewhat opposite of both Winston and Ward. Weinke was drafted in the second round by the Toronto Blue Jays coming out of high school and immediately began his pro baseball career. After six years spent in the minors, he returned to football, opting to honor his original commitment to Florida State (he was in the same recruiting class as Ward), and put an exclamation mark on his collegiate career with his own National Championship in 1999 in addition to winning the Heisman Trophy in 2000.

Weinke then enjoyed a five-year NFL career, most of which was spent with the Carolina Panthers, and he started 15 games as a rookie in 2001.

Florida State's baseball program has also boasted its fair share of impact players moving on to the next level. The most recent was Buster Posey, the 2012 National League Most Valuable Player, the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year and also a former PG All-American and PG National Showcase participant when he was in high school.

He has the drive, enthusiasm and leadership skills of Buster (Posey),” Martin said of Winston's intangible qualities. “He's a lot more vocal than Buster was, but he's as driven, he works his tail off to get better at the game, he's very coachable and he genuinely cares. And that's what separates a lot of guys. They think that they really care about the whole group when it's really and truly just about them. With those two, Buster and Jameis, there's no doubt that they genuinely care about everybody.

We didn't use him a whole lot last year, but he was a top-step guy, the first one out of the dugout and he would do anything to win a ballgame.”

Fans of any sport are quick to find quick and easy comparisons of players from the present and past to help paint a picture of what they can expect from the next wave of young stars. In addition to the likes of Ward, Weinke and Posey, two other names have been mentioned in discussions of Jameis Winston: Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders.

In the past, Winston hasn't shied away from expressing his desire to playing both sports at the highest level possible. While using names such as Jackson and Sanders seem extremely unfair to any young player, if any player has the complete package to make it happen, it very well may be Winston.

It's going to be one of those things where he goes pro in football, and I think he'll be a very high pick in football,” Martin said. “Who knows what the future holds, whether he wants to do the Bo Jackson thing, or the Deion Sanders thing, or not. It's very difficult to do as a quarterback, to do both.

But I know one thing, if things don't work out in football he definitely has a future in pro baseball.”



All American Game | Story | 8/18/2023

Calm, Cool Aukai Kea, PGAA

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
When an unknown number called Aukai (Jaydon) Kea's phone, he wasn't sure if he should pick up. "I just got this call from somebody in Arizona," Kea said. "And I was like, 'Who’s that? Should I answer?' But then I answered it. He told me, ‘Yeah, congratulations, man.’ I was really shocked. Going into the summer, this was one of the events I wanted to be in. I’m very thankful that I got this opportunity." The 17-year-old Kea hails from Kapolei, Hawaii. He's grown up boogie boarding on the islands, but during summers, he's been playing travel ball on the main land.  "One of the big challenges is being away from home," Kea said. "Every summer, I’ll be away from home for at least two months with no stop - because there’s no sense in flying home for a day - you gotta fly, like, 10 hours. Being away from all my friends, my family - that’s...
Tournaments | Story | 9/27/2023

Midwest Invitational Scout Notes

Tyler Kotila
Article Image
Creighton Tuzzio (2024, Clarinda, Iowa) took the ball in the semi-final game and was able to get on the bump and carve for his team. Tuzzio is a taller 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame with plenty to like in the operation. The right-handed pitcher has a slower and more controlled operation as he works through the delivery. He lifts the leg up around the belt and then works through a three-quarters release with good whip through it. The fastball worked up to 86 mph on the fastball and held in the low- to mid-80s. He creates some angle on it with the taller & projectable frame. It runs arm-side and can be a problem for right-handed hitters. He also showed a low-70s curveball with a bigger 11/5 tilt to it and good depth to miss some bats. The Iowa Western commit threw 5.0 innings, allowing just 1 run, with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts to his credit.   There’s no surprise here, but...
Tournaments | Story | 9/26/2023

WWBA World Championship Pool Preview

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Pool A Team Top Pos. Player RK Class Top Pitcher RK Class Location Boston Red Sox Scout Connor Lane 500 2024 Tague Davis 59 2024 Boston, MA Cangelosi Sparks Tyler Bell  122 2024 Brady Chambers 500 2024 Lockport, IL Dirtbags National 2024 Dalton Wentz 74 2024 Riley Leatherman 251 2024 Sedalia, NC Florida Burn Colton Schwarz 214 2025 Presley Woodson 500 2025 Sarasota, FL Projected Pool Winner: Dirtbags National 2024 With one of the deepest and most physical lineups in the nation, the Dirtbags National 2024 club have been putting up runs in bunches. No hitter is hotter than Austin Irby, as the ECU commit is While sluggers Dalton Wentz, Will Craddock and Palmer Hornick won’t be in attendance, Lee Sowers, Will Brooks, Jon Young Jr. and spark plug Carter Richardson lead an offense that averages over 7 runs per game. They can cover ground on...
Tournaments | Story | 9/26/2023

Coastal Soph. Fall Invite Scout Notes

Todd Coffey
Article Image
Michael Flores (2026, NC) looking great through 4 innings pitched with 11 k’s. Great command and completely missing barrels. #2023WWBACoastalSophmoreFallInvatational pic.twitter.com/Oqd3WD0E05 — PG Coastal Scouting (@PG_Coastal) September 24, 2023 Michael Flores (2026, Mooresville, NC) put on an electric performance to watch for the SBA Futures 2026 in their matchup versus the Carolina Reds. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound, RHP did his job for his team today to keep them in the game. Flores throws with a high leg lift and creates some good motions towards the plate with his whippy action. Flores has a great feel for the zone and pounded strikes at a 66% rate. Flores generated swing and miss after swing and miss and it was clear he was in control out there on the mound. He sat in the 70-mph range to 79-mph range with his fastball with the ability to pinpoint it wherever he pleased....
Tournaments | Story | 9/26/2023

Fall Frenzy Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
Article Image
James Sherry (’26, Aiken, S.C.)- the 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed pitcher tossed a complete game for Xtreme Xposure Baseball-Bennett in an 8-1 win over 2 Way Athletics 16U. A primary outfielder, Sherry finished with 15 strikeouts and just one walk while controlling the zone at a 65% strike rate. Appearing in only his second PG tournament, Sherry turned in another great pitching performance after being selected to the All-Tournament Team at the 2023 16U PG Southeast Labor Day Classic. Aidan Petrocco (‘24 GA)- singles here into LF to load the bases for @643DPAthletics Primary MIF 2-for-4 w/ run scored on the day. #FallFrenzy @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/Ly7zEuRwyg — Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) September 24, 2023 Aidan Petrocco (’24, Johns Creek, Ga.)- the 5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitter for 643 DP Cougars 18U led the 18U Southeast Fall Frenzy...
Tournaments | Story | 9/27/2023

Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3-5

Kyler Peterson
Article Image
A high speed look at this 2B from Keon Johnson... #WWBAWorlds @PG_Georgia https://t.co/Ejl8GirIgk pic.twitter.com/ate7ro35cp — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) September 24, 2023 Keon Johnson (2026, Macon, Ga.) started off the morning loud, going down to get a pitch down and smoking a double that split the opposite field gap at a 92 mph exit velocity. The shortstop has one of the best hit tools in the class and has tremendous feel for the barrel. The swing is quiet and simple, staying loose through the zone. The ball jumps and the parts really work. At short, Johnson looked silky with good actions, range, and plenty of arm strength across. The game comes easy for the Georgia native, and still just 15, the all-around game is very well-refined for the age.  Jaxson Wood (2026, Hoover, Ala.) finished batting .500 over the tournament, including three extra-base hits. The primary...
Tournaments | Story | 9/25/2023

Deep South Fall Invitational Scout Notes

Alex Dorso
Article Image
Patrick Kovacs (2026 Knoxville TN) was dominant in his outing in game two of pool play for Exposure National. The southpaw tossed three scoreless innings allowing two hits while striking out eight. He showed plus command of the fastball dotting it to both sides of the plate while working off the corners at times. Patrick sat 75-78 topping at 79 multiple times throughout. He mixed in a tight breaking ball with two plane movement that he had no problem mixing in any count keeping the opposing hitters off balanced in the box. Coming from a mid 3/4s slot there was some deception within the operation making it tough to pick the fastball up out of the hand. The frame has plenty of athleticism within with plenty of more room for additional strength as he continues to mature. Kovacs should be a fun follow as he continues to progress through high school. Ryan Riojas (‘26 TN) drives this...
Tournaments | Story | 9/24/2023

Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Extended look at Gunnar Garrison... 7 IP, 1 H, OER, 13 K, 1 BB (70% K) #WWBAWorlds @PG_FourCorners https://t.co/V89oASpD8r pic.twitter.com/tsP1mWCoNz — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) September 21, 2023 Colorado right-hander Gunnar Garrison (2026, Eaton, Colo.) was magnificent in his start for Slammers Anderson 2026’s. The big and physical 6-foot-4, 210-pound arm threw a complete game, seven inning, one-hit shutout, striking out 13 and walking one. The fastball had downhill life to it, sitting in the 85-88 range for the entirety of the game. Garrison held the velocity and reached back for his fastest bullet of the game, at 89, in the seventh inning. Finishing the outing with 70% strikes, he filled up the zone and went right at hitters. He also induced swing-and-miss on a curveball, featuring late...
Tournaments | Story | 9/22/2023

Northeast Qualifier Scout Notes

John McAdams
Article Image
Jack Harley (2024, Mendham, NJ) put together a dominant performance at the plate in the WWBA NEQ, leading his team to a coveted Jupiter bid while also earning MVP-honors. The 6-foot-1 left-handed hitter showcased his advanced bat-to-ball skills on several occasions. He batted .643 with two doubles, a home run and six stolen bases. Harley utilizes a repeatable, synced-up stroke with clean separation into launch. He has a great feel for the barrel and creates good strength at impact to all parts of the diamond. The future Hokie recorded a hit in all six of his games and proved to be a reliable bat at the top-of-the-order for Clubhouse 2024 EvoShield. Harley’s build offers a good balance of strength and athleticism, making him a well-rounded prospect with intriguing upside moving forward.  .#VandyBoys commit Aiden O’Connell (‘24, NH) is back on the bump in the #NEQ...
Tournaments | Story | 9/23/2023

Sophomore WWBA Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Nathan Caldwell (2026, Columbia, S.C.) looked the part in the batter’s box as the Team Elite three-hole hitter had one of the hardest hit balls of the day. There’s really impressive bat speed and the ability to create violence and rotational acceleration through contact. He missiled a single during the game and there looks like there’s going to be pretty significant impact potential long term. He’s a strong kid with good indicators and offensive tools to like. Drew Borkowski (2026, Huntley, Ill.) showed plenty to like in the arm as he got the start in game one on the day for GRB. At 6-foot-1, 170-pounds he’s got a lanky frame with long limbs and plenty of room for physical projection. It’s a quick arm with solid arm speed throughout and he opened up sitting 85-87 mph with the fastball. The fastball showed good sinking life and he used it to get a lot...
College | Story | 9/22/2023

Cape Cod Top 2025 Prospect List

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
Earlier this week we debuted our Cape Cod Top 100 Prospect List and mixed amongst the 100 names were some 2025 graduates who will be eligible for the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft. Below, each of the 50 names are eligible in 2025 and those listed with an "^" are continuing their careers at a new school this fall.  Name Pos. Team School Hometown State Adonys Guzman^ C Bourne Arizona Valley Cottage NY Aidan Jimenez RHP Chatham Oregon State Elk Grove CA Anthony Martinez 1B YD UC Irvine Fairfield CA Ben Jacobs LHP Bourne UCLA Huntington Beach CA Bradley Hodges LHP Hyannis Virginia Fleming Island FL Brady Neal C YD LSU Tallahassee FL Brody Donay^ C/1B Hyannis Florida Lakeland FL Caden Bodine C Bourne Coastal Carolina Haddon Heights NJ Cam Leiter^ RHP Orleans Florida State Island Heights FL Cannon Peebles^ C Cotuit Tennessee Mechanicsville VA Drew Faurot^ SS Orleans Florida State Tallahassee FL...
Loading more articles...