CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – More than 725 prospects from the high school classes of 2015, 2016 and 2017 will gather on baseball fields in Eastern Iowa, North Georgia and South New Jersey this weekend for six Perfect Game Top Prospect and Underclass showcase events.
The PG Midwest Top Prospect and Midwest Underclass showcases in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the PG Southeast Top Prospect and Underclass showcases in Emerson, Ga., and the PG Mid-Atlantic Top Prospect and Underclass showcases in Vineyard, N.J., bring to a close the PG summer showcase schedule. Nine more showcases are scheduled the remainder of the 2014 calendar year, however.
These showcases provide college coaches and recruiting coordinators – as well as the professional scouting community – an excellent opportunity to gage first-hand a prospects’ development after a long summer of tournament play. They also allow prospects a chance to get a better handle on their own progression as they begin their senior, junior and sophomore years of high school.
The 16th annual PG Midwest Top Prospect Showcase is the granddaddy of these events, with most of the action taking place on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium from Friday night through Sunday afternoon (click here for complete schedule). This year’s Midwest Top features 100 players divided into six showcase teams.
Luke Farley, an outfielder/first baseman/right-hander from Denver, Iowa, will be the highest ranked class of 2015 prospect at the event, coming in at No. 210 nationally.
The class of 2016 is represented by highly touted third baseman/right-hander Joey Polak (No. 32, Quincy, Ill.); shortstop/outfielder Tyler Fitzpatrick (No. 106, Rochester, Ill.); left-hander/outfielder Spencer Van Scoyoc (No. 173, Cedar Rapids, Iowa); outfielder/right-hander Kace Massner (No. 275, Burlington, Iowa); third baseman Kyle Crowl (No. 288, Council Bluffs, Iowa) and corner-infielder Bryce Ball (No. 304, Mason City, Iowa).
Eleven alumni of the PG Midwest Top Prospect Showcase moved on to play in the major leagues, including native Iowans Ryan Sweeney (2001, ’02), Tony Watson (2002) and Jeremy Hellickson (2003); more than 130 have been drafted.
The 11th annual PG Midwest Underclass Showcase follows the same schedule and uses the same venues as the Midwest Top. This year’s event features 150 players on 10 teams with 12 from the classes of 2016 and 2017 ranked in the top-600 nationally.
This is the 12th annual PG Southeast Top Prospect Showcase and for the first time will use the new Perfect Game South at LakePoint Complex in Emerson, Ga., as its base of operations. The Saturday-Sunday event (click here for schedule) will showcase nearly 110 players divided into seven teams.
Outfielder and University of Tennessee recruit Bryant Harris from Hampton, Ga., is ranked No. 72 in the national class of 2015, and highlights the rosters. Kevin Strohschein, an uncommitted 2015 outfielder/right-hander from McDonough, Ga., comes in ranked No. 268 nationally. Thirty other 2015 prospects are ranked in the top-600 in the country.
This showcase has graduated 10 players into the big leagues, including Jason Heyward (2006) and Zack Wheeler (2007). Another 156 were drafted after attending this event.
The 11th annual PG Southeast Underclass Showcase is the biggest of the six this weekend with 235 prospects on 16 teams. Thirty of the players from the class of 2016 are ranked in the top-600 nationally, including catcher/third baseman Tucker Pate (No. 299, Knoxville, Tenn.) and first baseman/left-hander Colin Dore (No. 322, Marietta, Ga.). The event follows the same schedule as the Southeast Top.
The 9th annual Mid-Atlantic Top Prospect and 9th annual Mid-Atlantic Underclass showcases will also run Saturday-Sunday (click here for schedule) with most of the action at Cumberland County College in Vineyard, N.J.
A total of 130 players on eight teams will participate in the two showcases. Seven prospects from the class of 2015 are ranked in the top-600 nationally as are two from the class of 2016. Nineteen alumni of the PG Mid-Atlantic Top have gone on to be drafted.