Overview
- Perfect Game announced Thursday that 17-year-old Striker Pence has officially reclassified from the Class of 2028 to the Class of 2027, making him eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft.
- Perfect Game currently lists Pence as the No. 2 player nationally and the top-ranked right-handed prep pitcher, giving him immediate exposure on a major scouting platform.
- Scouts praise his rare size and arm strength — he is listed at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds and has been clocked as high as about 101 mph — while reports also note a mid-80s slider in his mix.
- Evaluators flag his biggest development need as consistent command of his triple-digit fastball, a skill teams will look for as he shifts into an older, more competitive peer group.
- Reclassifying accelerates recruiting and professional evaluation: colleges and MLB organizations are expected to intensify live evaluations and scouting, and Pence will be measured against older prospects as he prepares for the 2027 draft.