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USA 18U Trials: Pitchers

July 21, 2026
Shooter Hunt
Vice President, Scouting



With more than 40 pitchers taking the mound at the USA 18U National Team Trials, there was no shortage of quality arms to evaluate. Quick arms, athletic movers, and present stuff were common throughout the group, with many showing traits that point toward continued development. While there are still plenty of pitchers across the country left to evaluate before next summer, this look offered a better early snapshot of the class, particularly when compared to last year's group.

The evaluation goes beyond simply facing quality hitters. The heat and humidity, combined with long days on the field, create another layer of context. Maintaining stuff, strike-throwing ability, and overall execution as the week wears on can be just as revealing as the raw arsenal itself, helping separate pitchers who consistently hold their level of performance.

Narrowing the list of impact is difficult. Below a look at the 20 arms that made an impact on Prep Baseball’s Vice President of Scouting, Shooter Hunt:

  1. LHP Brady Guzzi (PA, Virginia recruit)
  2. RHP Brogan Witcher (CA, South Carolina recruit)
  3. RHP George Ferguson (TX, Texas recruit)
  4. RHP Samir Mohammed (FL, LSU recruit)
  5. RHP Andrew Carlson (CA, Texas Christian recruit)
  6. RHP J. Beckett Berg (CA, Texas recruit)
  7. RHP Grant Sperandio (TX, Texas recruit)
  8. LHP Connor Salerno (NC, LSU recruit)
  9. RHP Lukas Waite (CA, uncommitted)
  10. LHP Jake Turner (NV, uncommitted)
  11. LHP Easton Sarmiento (CA, Santa Barbara recruit)
  12. RHP Chase Fuller (FL, Florida State recruit)
  13. LHP Ryan Donahoe (TX, Virginia recruit)
  14. RHP Trent Lutz (PA, Wake Forest recruit)
  15. LHP Jake Ivey (TX, Arkansas recruit)
  16. RHP Cole Cheatham (IN, West Virginia recruit)
  17. RHP Ethan Gustus (CA, Vanderbilt recruit)
  18. LHP Kyler Meccage (FL, Mississippi State recruit)
  19. RHP Brennan Neal (GA, Auburn recruit)
  20. RHP Jude Carter (NC, Alabama recruit)

+ LHP Brady Guzzi (PA, Virginia recruit)
Guzzi turned in a stellar performance as he generated incessant whiffs, middle/middle, with a high-vert fastball that worked 89-91 from a higher slot/lower release height. Coiling at his balance point before flowing down the mound in a near Ted Lilly look, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound southpaw exhibited minimal effort in pounding the zone with the invisible fastball that should see velocity jumps. Most telling about the upside was the jump that his slider has made year-over-date. Flashing above average at 77-80, there was better shape as shorter break found greater depth at times, especially when burying to the back foot of right-handed hitters. Less of a natural pitch, the upward trend is inherently exciting when considering the overall athleticism. Only flashing the changeup at 81-82, it still showed as his best secondary and plays well off the fastball. Poised with a relaxed, yet competitive demeanor on the mound, Guzzi looked the part of a starter and this look in Cary mirrored that shown by fellow Pennsylvania native and ‘24 Royals 2nd round pick, LHP David Shields.

+ RHP Brogan Witcher (CA, South Carolina recruit)
It was an ultra-quick look at Witcher who threw just 27 pitches at the event, but one that provided explosive potential and cemented him as one of the preeminent right-handed arms in the class. The reclassed catcher/pitcher showcased some of the biggest raw power at the plate, and hopped on the mound to work 95-98 late in a game after a full day of workouts in the hundred degree heat of North Carolina. At 6-foot-5, 205-pounds the right-hander carries Kerry Wood-esq mound presence with a fierce look and short arm stroke that delivers nearly from the ear in catcher-form. The fastball was moved to both sides of the plate with intent, and the ease of his compact, athletic delivery hints at the possibility of plus-command in the long term. He ripped off one curveball at 77 mph (2700+), and while there were obviously not enough looks at the pitch, it had teeth and is likely a future wipeout offering. Amplifying his path to being, potentially, the top right-handed arm in the class was the feel displayed on a power-changeup at 88-89. A young strike-thrower who possesses an unteachable frame with a full whiff-inducing arsenal is sure to have the entire scouting community flocking to Bakersfield all next spring.