It’s that time of year again. It’s time for the premier high school wood bat tournament the year has to offer. It’s World Wood Bat Championship time.

We’re back in Jupiter, and we are loaded with talent. The best travel teams in the country all at one facility for five days of baseball heaven. While there is likely going to be plenty of surprises during pool play, We wanted to bring you eight squads we believe have a chance to walk away on Monday with the 2021 WWBA Trophy.

Secondly we felt it important to point out six names this week who are poised to have the spotlight on them this year. Whether it’s an underrated name or someone who’s stock is on the rise, these are names that will be talked about regularly after this event. Last year we saw Carson Williams and Colson Montgomery begin their ascension into first round picks after loud WWBA performance, and even saw Max Clark start his rise in becoming the current top class of 2023 player.

Let’s dive into some of the best teams in the country.

(#) ~ Rank in the Prospects Live 2022 MLB Draft Top 150.

Canes National/Mets Scout Team 2022

Key Players- SS Cole Young (#8), OF Roman Anthony(#127), 1B Ryan Clifford (#136), C Malcolm Moore (#57), OF Eli Serrano (#126) , SS Easton Swofford, RHP Dylan Questad (2023)

It’s almost impossible to write a tournament favorites piece without including a Canes National roster, and 2021 WWBA is no different. Loaded with one of the deepest lineups from top to bottom lead by SS Cole Young, 1B/OF Ryan Clifford, C Malcolm Moore and OF Roman Anthony, but it’s potential leadoff hitter and Arkansas commit Easton Swofford that will consistently put this team in run scoring opportunities with his advanced hit tool and approach. 1B Eli Serrano and SS Tucker Biven also bring their own long track record of hitting to give this roster immense depth on the hitting side of things. Leading the quality stable of arms on the other side of things is a pair of strike throwing RHP in Evan Siary and Luke Schmolke who have been impressive in big spots all summer long. Add a couple of crafty LHP in Mavis Graves and Trey Wheeler who both possess quality swing and miss offerings, and you see the makings of a rotation to make a deep run. Dylan Questad and Christian Rodriguez are two extremely talented 2023s who could be difference makers out of the bullpen. Coach Jeff Petty always has his squad ready for titles and could be set for another.

FTB Phillies Scout Team 2022

Key Players- OF Druw Jones (#10), OF Elijah Green (#3), C Luke Heyman (#130), 3B Tucker Toman (#94), SS JP Ortiz (#122), BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, LHP Bradley Hodges

Walking into WWBA last year, the then FTB Giants were one of the main favorites to walk away with the ‘ship, and while it didn’t work out then they are set to be clear favorites again. OFs Druw Jones and Elijah Green are two of the most polarizing and talented players in the country and highlight a lineup that shows talent 1 through 9. An infield of 3B Tucker Toman, SS JP Ortiz, 2B Blake Cyr and 1B Carsten Sabathia reads like an all-star team and if they get hot, it could mean long days for any opposing arms. You then remember C Luke Heyman has shown massive power all summer long and the duo of OF Deamez Ross and SS/2B Austin Hawke provide the spark plugs to bring it all together. A deep pitching staff includes three really strong RHP in Luis Rujano, William Ross and Hunter Sloop and a pair of the best LHP in the state of Florida in Jaime Arnold and Bradley Hodges. You mention all these names and also can’t forget switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cjintje and power arm Aiden Moffett out of the bullpen. Quality depth throughout gives this roster a chance to make a deep run into the weekend.

San Diego Show

Key Players- OF Mason Neville (#77) , RHP David Horn (#121), SS Mikey Romero (#102), C Karson Bowen, RHP Louis Rodriguez, OF Dean West (2023)

Showing up to Ft. Myers last year for WWBA, and the San Diego Show team was a must watch due to Marcelo Mayer alone, but this roster might be more equipped to make a deep weekend run. OF Mason Neville and SS Mikey Romero have become household names this summer and set to pace a strong, underrated lineup including C Karson Bowen, INF Chris Paciolla and one of the best outfielders in the 2023 class in Dean West, who looks to put a stamp on one of the best summers from anyone in the class. Very solid starting pitching as well with the trio of Louis Rodriguez, Matthew Porchas and uber-talented 2023 RHP Duke Ekstrom. 5’11” RHP Eli Gennis could be the most interesting pitcher on the roster with three solid pitches including a high spin FB/CB combo that creates whiffs. It’s hard to count out any San Diego Show team if they can put it all together.

MVP Breakthrough Series 2022

Key Players- 2B Termarr Johnson (#4), SS/RHP RJ Austin (#100), 3B Cam Collier (#39), LHP Alton Davis, OF Kaden Martin (#118), RHP Jaden Noot (#115)

On paper it’s really hard to look at this roster and not immediately think it has a chance to be one of the favorites to hoist the trophy on Monday. 2B Termarr Johnson has likely established himself as the best pure bat in the entire 2022 class this summer. Then you surround him with multiple other premier bats including OF Kaden Martin, 3B Cam Collier, C Adonys Guzman and SS RJ Austin, and you really start to wonder where teams are going to be able to pitch to this squad. Highly touted 2023 OF Dillon Head should get a chance to show off quality tools in an everyday outfield role as well. Pitching appears to show huge upside as well with RHP Jaden Noot and LHP Alton Davis leading the rotation, and expect to see some quality innings out of RJ Austin as well. A pair of 2023 RHPs in Alex Kranzler and Hiro Wyatt could be used both in starting and pen roles as well. A potential catalyst out of the bullpen could be Kassius Thomas with his impressive pitch mix in short, loud outings. A really well put roster for a tournament filled with talent.

USA Prime 2022 National

Key Players- OF Reese Chapman, C Ike Irish (#106), OF Alex Stanwich, 1B Wilburn Furniss, RHP Calvert Clark, SS Antonio Anderson (2023)

When the rosters first dropped for this event I was instantly drawn to this USA Prime team. C Ike Irish is one of the premier catchers in this class with the bat and behind the plate. A pair of Tennessee OF commits in Reese Chapman and Alex Stanwich aren’t the most well known names in the class but have been extremely potent bats all summer long. 1B Wilburn Furniss has some of the best lefty thump in the class and 3B/C Beck Milner has some of the freakiest advanced data as you’ll find in 2022. Switch hitting SS Antonio Anderson could be one of the best players in the 2023 class and OF Dylan Drieling and INF Jalin Flores provide the lineup glue. Saying that though, I do believe the pitching depth is the real strength for this team. RHP Calvert Clark is the “ace” with really strong arms behind him in LHP Beau Bryans, RHP Braedyn Cunningham, and 2023 RHP John Glasscock. Solid depth/bullpen behind them with a trio of RHP in LJ Mercurius, Cameron Keshock and Chase Topolski. It’s an exciting group of talent out together, and one I see having a chance to make a run.

Dirtbags

Key Players- RHP Bryce Dolby, 2B Colby Shelton, SS Alvin Keels, OF Ashton Lawson (2023), OF TayShaun Walton (2023), OF Connor Fuhrman

A Dirtbags team and a deep run in Jupiter? That’s almost too easy to see, especially with this year’s roster. Pure hitters litter the entire lineup with 2B Colby Shelton, OF Connor Fuhrman, SS Alvin Keels and 3B Ben Lumsden. A pair of elite 2023s in TayShaun Walton and Ashton Larson likely will be patrolling the outfield. You sprinkle in names like OF Tyler Albright and 2023 C Max Kaufer and there’s hitting talent galore. RHPs Bryce Dolby and Colin Linder lead the staff but massive 6’7” 2023 RHP Nathan Teague with low slot delivery and wipeout slider could be a difference maker. LHP Kyle Percival and RHP Jackson DiLorenzo add quality stuff on the back end. This Dirtbags team is once again well put together, and should be a tough game for every team they see this week.

Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team

Key Players- C Brady Neal (#110), RHP Davion Hickson, 3B Aidan Miller (2023), SS Cade Kurland (2023), OF Diego Guevara, LHP/OF Wesley Mendes (2023)

This could fly as a longshot to potentially win it all, but I fully believe this Blue Jays Scout Team has a chance to make real noise this week. One of younger lineups in the tournament led by 3 stellar bats out of the state of Florida in C Brady Neal and 2023s 3B Aidan Miller and SS Cade Kurland. OF Diego Guevara is one most tooled up players in the 2022 class and is always looking to do damage with the bat and 2023 FSU commit OF Matthew Davis has big time pull side juice. Pitching depth is key for a run into the weekend and this staff shows theirs in RHP Davion Hickson, LHP Jarvis Evans, and pair of quality lefties in Wesley Mendes and Freddy Beruvides Jr.. RHP Javier Santos Tejada has been an extremely loud pop up this summer and RHPs Gunther Braendel and Chase Marshall provide that needed depth. Everything might need to click for this team to make a real run, but the pieces are there.

Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team

Key Players- SS Ivan Arias, 3B Sal Stewart (#79), 1B/RHP Yoel Tejada Jr., LHP Frank Menendez (2023), 2B Bryant Zayas

You can also mark this roster under longshots but can’t discredit this group of bats if they get hot. An infield of 1B Yoel Tejada Jr., 2B Bryant Zayas, SS Ivan Arias and 3B Sal Stewart has the chance to produce a ton of runs between just them. 2023 Swiss-Army-knife Gavin Grohovac shows some real impact with the barrel and quality defense abilities all over the diamond, offering a real chance to make an impact this week. Another pair of 2023 INFs in Cameron Kim and Christopher Díaz has shown quality bats this summer will likely find ways into the lineups frequently. It’s a younger pitching staff that this Brewers team will show up to Jupiter but not lacking talent. A pair of 2023 Miami commits in LHP Frank Melendez and RHP Brandon Olivera lead the rotation with a pair of solid arms in RHP Sebastian Perez and projection lefty Alex Walsh fill out the staff. I expect solid relief innings out of two-way Yoel Tejada Jr. as well. It’s a primary South Florida based squad looking to cause chaos in Jupiter.

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LHP Noah Schultz (Cangelosi Sparks 2022 Black)

I’m starting this section by contradicting myself because Noah Schultz is not underrated in any shape or form, but he might possibly be the best pitcher in the entire tournament, which adds a little pressure. The Vandy commit has gone from an possible early round pick at the beginning of the summer to potentially the best prep LHP in the entire class where we stand today. Schultz has shown up to every event this summer and produced loud results, with equally impressive data to back it up. If the massive 6’7” with the insanely low slot can show up and shut down some of the best hitters in the country once again, then I think we are looking at a surefire first round pick.

2023 SS/RHP Tai Peete (Home Plate Chili Dogs)

I mentioned Masyn Winn at the beginning of this article, and it’s not to get those vibes when seeing the talent of the 16-year-old Georgia Tech commit. Peete presents an ultra projectable frame at 6’3”/180lbs. with legitimate two-way talent going forward. Has been up to 92 on the mound with a ton of strikes and a legit plus CH in the high 70s with Brock Porter-like fade. There’s plenty more velocity to come as he continues to get stronger as well. I might like Peete with the bat a little bit more even. It’s a compact swing that shows a ton of present bat speed and ability to create loft with ease. It’s easy to project at least above-average pop as he grows into his frame and gets stronger. Fresh off a really strong two-way performance at underclass WWBA last week, Peete could be a name we see flying up boards with a strong performance this week.

LHP Ashton Crowther (ECB/Padres Scout Team)

Crowther has quietly improved his stock all year long from high school ball through the summer, and now we’re seeing the stuff tick up everywhere. The Miami commit uses long, athletic delivery that he can repeat well and creates really uncomfortable ABs consistently. Will locate his primary sinker well in low 90s with a really sharp SL in the 80-82 range that can create some ugly swings. Will show an at least average CH and will throw all three for strikes. If Crowther can be the man for a strong East Cobb squad while continuing to show more velocity, then we could be looking at one of the best pitchers in Florida.

OF Alex Stanwich (USA Prime 2022 National)

First things first, I believe Stanwich might be one of the most underrated players in the country in my opinion. A true CF with plus speed and an above average arm, but the potential at the plate has a substantial. A RHH with top of the class bat speed and explosive hands and wrists throughout his swing creates a ton of loud contact and shows an advanced approach. It’s easy to project plus raw power here, with maybe double plus raw as he fully matures. Stanwich is looking to make a huge impact on a USA Prime 2022 National club that I mentioned could make a run into title contention.

2023 LHP Jacob Gomberg (Canes Prospects)

The buzz around Jacob Gomberg’s name this summer has been getting louder, and there might be a chance at early round talent if things continue to progress. The Florida commit was up to 89 last week in a dominant 3 inning outing at underclass WWBA showing three pitches for strikes and a really good feel to spin on the breaking ball. Gomberg creates a ton of deception out of his vertical arm slot and shows a ton of polish in his delivery . A compact frame with present strength in his lower half, Gomberg could be deployed as a multi inning weapon for a Canes Prospects team that always seems to make noise at the big boy event.

2025 OF Konnor Griffin (Knights Knation/Dodgers Scout Team)

Yes, we’re going to close this out by talking about a 2025 outfielder but this isn’t a normal 15-year-old. Griffin is the top player in the 2025 class and just oozes superstar potential. Shows a highly advanced RH swing that creates a ton of separation and shows present all fields juice. His advanced swing data would be in the 90% percentile of the 2022 class, let alone the class of 2025 and he’s nowhere near fully physically developed. Standing 6’3” already with a ton of room for good weight, Griffin offers the most projection you can find in a frame. Really potential on the mound as well, could get a chance to see innings against the best players from three classes ahead. Griffin is just one of a few 2025s in this event, and I could foresee him shooting into stardom with a strong week.