These 25 players stood out at the DREAM Series

January 16th, 2023

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The 2023 DREAM Series wrapped on a rainy Monday morning here in Arizona and the approximately 80 high schoolers returned home, ready to use the wisdom and lessons imparted to them by former big leaguers in their soon-to-start spring seasons.

While this is an atypical showcase -- with no games played, a strong focus on individual instruction and an emphasis on pitching and catching -- there were still players who stood out with how they went about their business. Below is a group of those who impressed scouts and instructors.

This isn’t an event just for the current Draft class, with players representing the next few classes up to 2026 on hand. Many of the drafted alumni of this event, like last year’s No. 4 overall pick Termarr Johnson to name one example, started coming as underclassmen. Stash these names, and don’t be surprised to see them high up on Draft boards in future years.

2023

Amari Allen, LHP/1B, Sherwood HS (Sandy Spring, Md.)
Committed to Chipola Junior College, Allen is a 6-foot-4 legitimate two-way player. He’s an outstanding left-handed hitter while also throwing 88-92 mph fastballs and a breaking ball with good spin.

Antonio Anderson, SS, North Atlanta HS (Ga.)
The Georgia Tech recruit is a 6-foot-3 switch-hitter with a good swing from both sides of the plate and excellent actions in the infield. Instructors like the way he carried himself throughout the event.

Luther Ellis, SS, Pro5 Baseball Academy (Apex, N.C.)
A Maryland native who moved to North Carolina for better instruction and competition at Pro5, Ellis is committed to the University of South Carolina and was mentioned by scouts as having some of the better BP sessions of the weekend.

Dillon Head, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor Community HS (Ill.)
Like many of the cold-weather state guys, Head had to shake off a little rust in what might have been his first outdoor BP of 2023. But one of the fastest players in the class got in a groove, and evaluators really liked the way the ball was coming off the Clemson recruit’s bat.

Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Johnson had put his name on the map over the summer, but also had shown the effects of fatigue as it wore on. The LSU commit was impressive in his bullpen session with the fastball-slider combination that was on display in 2022, but he also showed up in terrific shape and threw a better changeup.

Kyle Johnson, LHP, Riverside HS (Va.)
Who doesn’t like a left-hander with arm strength? This Duke commit is up to 94 mph with his fastball and has a good changeup.

LJ Mercurius, RHP, Faith Lutheran HS (Nev.)
A Las Vegas native committed to UNLV, Mercurius is the prototypical athletic and projectable right-hander. He threw an outstanding bullpen on Sunday, and he has huge upside that could help him take off once he learns to control his body on the mound the way he does on the court as a basketball player.

Camron Poe, LHP, Christian Brothers College HS (Mo.)
A projectable lefty committed to Duke, Poe has a wiry and explosive body with a fastball in the 90s, a big breaking ball and feel for a good changeup.

Zion Rose, C, IMG Academy (Fla.)
The Louisville recruit continues to build a case as being one of the better catchers in the Draft class, showing off his plus athleticism on both sides of the ball and exhibiting the plus makeup and leadership traits teams love to have behind the plate.

Oliver Service, C, University Liggett HS (Mich.)
Hailing from Detroit, Service is committed to Texas and was part of a vastly improved catching core at the DREAM Series. He’s very athletic, and instructors loved his swing and how the ball jumped off his bat.

Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers College HS (Mo.)
The Arkansas recruit showed off plenty of speed and agility with an excellent understanding of his body. There’s big upside here and he even showed off some legitimate ability on the mound.

2024

Drew Brown, RHP, Inderkum HS (Calif.)
Not the biggest guy in the world at 5-foot-10, but he showed off a plus feel for pitching, with a good slider, feel for a changeup and natural cut on his fastball.

Justyn Hart, LHP, Marian Catholic HS (Ill.)
Left-hander who throws hard with a decent changeup.

David Hogg, SS, Mansfield HS (Texas)
Got high marks for how he went about his business and was a very steady player on both sides.

Sir Jamison Jones, C, St. Rita of Cascia HS (Ill.)
Another standout from the catching group, Jones has a great body and build and hits the ball hard.

Samuel Richardson, 3B, Lewisburg HS (Miss.)
The ball really flew off his bat -- one of the better pure bats on hand this weekend -- and Richardson has the chance to profile well at third.

Ty Southisene, SS, Academy of International Studies (Nev.)
The 5-foot-9 infielder got the ultimate praise as a real “baseball player” and “gamer.”

2025

Jayden Blalack, RHP/SS, Bo Porter Academy (Texas)
Legitimate two-way guy who throws a really heavy ball and has a good slider.

Jackson Cotton, OF, Bo Porter Academy (Texas)
Left-handed hitter who had some of the better BP sessions of the weekend.

Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Left-handed hitter one scout felt might have had the best BP sessions of any hitter in attendance.

Miguel Sime, RHP, St. Mary’s HS (N.Y.)
The ball comes out his hand easy, and he knows how to pitch, featuring a good breaking ball.

Madrid Tucker, SS, Fort Myers HS (Fla.)
His bat really stood out, and he showed the ability to play shortstop and the outfield.

Domaine Vann, OF, Wesleyan Christian Academy (N.C.)
He really stood out in BP sessions.

2026

RJ Cope, LHP, Georgia Premier Academy (Ga.)
He’s 6-foot-6 as a freshman (one instructor called him a "baby giraffe"), and he already has some explosive stuff.

Miles Young, SS, Episcopal HS (Texas)
Super athletic, the 6-foot-3 infielder was impressive on the mound as well.