THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,414 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,414 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Showcase  | Story | 8/7/2008

2008 Aflac All American Game Notes - Day 1

Los Angeles, CA
Aug 6

Day I Aflac All American Game

In the first five years, 52 Aflac All Americans have been drafted by MLB clubs in the first round. This means that more than one out of every four former Aflac All Americans have become a first round draft selection. So we can say with some certainty, that there are several future first round picks among the 38 players here in LA this week.

Actually things got started Tuesday night with the player welcome dinner.

As in all previous years Perfect Game presented awards to those Aflac players who stood out at the Perfect Game National Showcase held in June at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN.

The amount of talent at the PG National is unbelievable to anyone other than those who attend that event and see everything. Picking individuals for the awards is a very tough task as many could easily be considered for nearly every award.

It can only be one in each category, so here are the players who received those awards at the Aflac Welcome Dinner.

Best Runner – Levon Washington (FL)
Best Fielding – Mychal Givens (FL)
Best Hitter – David Nick (CA)
Best Power Hitter – Jonathan Singleton (CA)
Best Pitcher – Matthew Purke (TX)
Best Prospect – Donavan Tate (GA)

Wednesday Morning Practice

Each team took a quick round of infield. Not a lot to report, but a few things did stand out.

The West middle Infielders Jiovanni Mier and David Nick showed smooth actions and quick arms.

The catchers are a strength in this class and Austin Maddox’s arm continues to impress people.

West Coach Andy Hall is real good at hitting pop ups to the catcher.

For the most part, it was fairly routine, with good players looking like good players.

Both teams then took BP, here are a few notes and highlights.

The fences at Dedeaux Field on the USC campus are 328 LF Line, 375 LC, 395 CF, 365 RC, and 333 down the RF line.

The West team hit first and pretty much every hitter displayed why they were selected as Aflac All Americans.

We started wondering about the HR Contest coming soon as very few of the West hitters were hitting the ball out of the park. Of course, we couldn’t help but think about the fact that Dodger Stadium, where the Aflac Game and the finals of the HR contest will take place, is a large park.

Then Brooks Pounders (CA) hit a couple long ones over the CF wall and Jonathan Walsh (TX) hit a bomb over the RF wall.

Everett Williams (TX) looked very good in today’s BP session.

Jonathan Singleton (CA) hit some good line drives and showed the ability to drive the ball to all fields, but we didn’t see the big upper deck power we have seen from him before. Somehow you have to think it will show up before the week’s over.

The East team put on quite a show and ended our concerns about the HR contest.

Scooter Gennett (FL) is one of the smaller sized athletes on either Aflac team, but he has some hard to believe power to the pull side. He just leaves you wondering how he can drive the ball so far when you see some of the towering shots jump out of the park.

Richie Shaffer (NC) hit a couple long ones that easily left the yard.

Drew Steckenrider (GA) hit a long one out of the park from the left side and then hit a few out, including one well over the 395 sign in straight away CF, from the right side. He did the same thing in June at the Metrodome in Minnesota.

Austin Maddox (FL) followed with a couple long ones to no ones surprise.

Brian Goodwin (NC) showed some serious power as he easily drove a couple out of the park.

Luke Bailey (GA) and Michael Heller (FL) also showed HR power in today’s BP session.

The National powerhouse USC football team was working out in the adjacent field and they look very athletic.

On another note, lefty pitcher Ian Krol made the play of the day while shagging BP balls in the outfield. At a full sprint he ran down a deep fly ball to the RC field wall, caught the ball and ran into the fence at full speed. Luckily he wasn’t hurt. You know what they say about lefties. But it sure is interesting to see someone do something like that during BP. Very impressive in a left handed sort of way.

The most important thing about today

The Aflac players visited the Children’s Hospital this afternoon. It should always be remembered that finding a cure for pediatric cancer is the main purpose of the Aflac All American game. It’s always good to see these talented players visiting the children at the hospital. Sometimes these smiles by both players and the children are the most important smiles we will see during Aflac week. That is precisely the reason we are all here in LA this week.

Wednesday Evening

Then later in the evening Dodger assistant GM in charge of scouting, Logan White, came to talk to the players. Logan talked about what players can expect from the scouting community over the coming months and mentioned the fact that the Dodgers first round pick this year was Ethan Martin who played in last year’s Aflac game. Logan then introduced former Dodger and hall of fame manager Tommy Lasorda. As always, Tommy entertained everyone, but he spent a lot of time telling these Aflac All Americans what it will take for them to become Major League players. He gave a very passionate talk, raising his voice and driving home some very important details. We have heard Tommy speak and even “sing” a few times and he is always extremely entertaining in addition to being very passionate when it comes to the game of baseball. Tommy walked out to a standing ovation.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow starts another interesting day that will include a scrimmage at USC. Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith will once again be here as the spokesman for this years game. Bo Jackson, arguably the greatest all around athlete ever, will soon be in LA to take in the Aflac game. Tomorrow afternoon the PG Aflac underclassmen showcase will begin. It’s going to be a very busy day two in sunny Southern California.

Showcase | Story | 4/14/2026

PG Announces Prospect Gateway Schedule

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
PG has announced the dates for Prospect Gateway events across the country - unique opportunities for young players to receive professional feedback and prepare for the next level. The Prospect Gateways are for players ages 13U-14U and serve as a qualifier for the National Showcase. Kevin Schuver, the senior director of showcases at Perfect Game, said these events are chances for players to step out of their comfort zone and show what they’re really made of. “Perfect Game Prospect Gateways aren’t just events. They’re doorways into something bigger. For young athletes, they serve as the first real step beyond their local fields, where raw ability begins to meet visibility and purpose.” At the event, each player is assigned a PG advisor who will watch and advise them individually. There will also be other scouts giving tips on how to enhance and develop a...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 4/22/2026

PG Softball Battle for the Belt

Article Image
Perfect Game Softball Battle for the Belt April 18-19, 2026 Des Moines, Iowa It was a cold and very windy weekend, but the girls still came out and put in their best efforts. If you wanted the place to see some of the state’s top talent, this was the tournament to be at. The 18u division was quite the slugfest! The Ankeny Centennial 18U -Kennedy team took down a tough Iowa Alliance Select-Benge team in the championship. Both teams had double digit homeruns on the weekend. In the 16u division the Iowa Aries CE Fire Black took control of the game from the start and never let up on the gas, taking down a solid Alliance Select- Harper team. 18U Division Kori Lincicum (2026 Ankeny, IA) of the Centennial Jaguars- Kennedy and Drake Bulldog softball commit was the weekends MVP Pitcher. Lincicum defeated a tough Alliance team in the championship game finishing with that game with 11...
Juco | Rankings | 4/22/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 22

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Another week down and Johnson County continues their torrid run to remain at number 1. They're 46-2 on the season with multiple hitters over 25 bombs which is astonishing for the level as the Cavs have announced themselves as title favorites. Just a couple of weeks left heading down the stretch and our field remains mostly the same with the two additions of midwest powerhouse Iowa Western and the Warriors of East Central who will have a tough test Wednesday in Poplarville against fellow Mississippi adversary Pearl River in a mid-week double header.   Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 46-2 2 Gaston (NC) 47-3 3 Walters State (TN) 42-10 4 McLennan (TX) 38-8 5 Southern Nevada (NV) 33-9 6 Chipola (FL) 39-9 7 Blinn (TX) 33-12 8 Florida Southwestern (FL) 32-13 9 Florence-Darlington (SC) 42-10 10 Pearl River (MS) 39-9 11 Cloud County (KS) 40-4 12 Cochise (AZ) 39-11 13 Midland (TX)...
College | Story | 4/23/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 23 POY Deep Dive

John Coppolella
Article Image
Each week I huddle with Vinnie Cervino and Craig Cozart  to discuss Top-25 rankings and Players of the Week. In Coppy’s Corner, I dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level.     Player of the Week: Tague Davis – University of Louisville  Between 2016-2022, the University of Louisville produced 14 players taken in the Top 5 Rounds of the MLB Draft, seven of whom were taken in the 1st Round. The Cardinals haven’t produced a Top 5 Rounds pick since 2022, but that will change soon with Davis. Still only 20 years old and not draft-eligible until 2027, Davis continued his assault on college baseball this weekend with a 7-for-12 performance that included 5 HR. On the 2026 season, Davis is hitting .389 AVG / .489 OBP / .911 SLG / 1.392 OPS. That’s a 400+...
College | Rankings | 4/22/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 22

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
The final weeks of the college baseball regular season have a way of separating programs that are genuinely postseason-ready from those that have simply been good enough for long enough. Conference tournaments loom, selection committees are paying close attention, and every game on the schedule carries weight that it simply didn't in February. This week's action, combined with the latest Perfect Game Top 25, paints a picture of a college baseball landscape where the top is clearly defined — and where the middle is a genuine battle. What follows is a cross-level look at teams across the NAIA, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III ranks who find themselves in that uncomfortable space: not safely in, not clearly out, but firmly on the bubble. Some have built compelling résumés that should hold up under scrutiny. Others have excellent records against soft competition...
High School | Rankings | 4/21/2026

High School Top 50 Update: April 21

Tyler Russo
Article Image
Another few weeks have wrapped up this high school season as we’re flying through the spring and most southern states are starting playoffs right around the corner. With the end of the regular season, we have another National Top 50 update to bring to you, along with this will be the start of the weekly editions of our National Top 50. We have a change at the top of the rankings as Venice (FL) takes over the top spot after just dominating their competition in the state of Florida this year. Orange Lutheran (CA) drops one spot to No. 2 after dropping a series but still holds firm at No. 2 in the country. Barbe (LA) has continued to dominate and holds onto the No. 3 spot while Tomball (TX) skyrockets in this update to No. 4 in the country, currently holding an incredible 30-0-1 record. The rest of the top-10 is names we’ve become accustomed to see with Aledo (TX) at No. 5, IMG...
Tournaments | Story | 4/21/2026

Southeast Super NIT #2 Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
Article Image
Chase Jelks (‘30 GA)- with a long double to deep CF. Huge day from the primary SS, 5-for-6 w/ 4 doubles & 6 RBI. #SESuperNIT @TheDreamBall @PG_Georgia https://t.co/biFSzXCrUt pic.twitter.com/HCQMduedb5 — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) April 20, 2026 Chase Jelks (’30, Atlanta, Ga.)- the left-handed hitting Jelks was all over the barrel on Sunday in a pair of games for The Dream 14U Black. He finished the day with five hits in six at-bats which included four doubles and six runs batted in. His two doubles and four runs batted in played a big part in the Gold Playoffs Round 1 victory over the talented BPA squad out of California. He backed up that performance with three more hits in a quarterfinal’s loss to the East Cobb Astros 14U Orange to finish the tournament with a .600 batting average and 1.636 on-base plus slugging percentage. A primary utility infielder,...
PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 4/21/2026

Select Festival Dates/Locations Announced

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES DATES AND VENUES FOR   2026 SLATE OF SELECT FESTIVALS    Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, April 21, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced dates and venues for its 2026 Select Festivals, a premiere series of invitation-only events showcasing many of the nation’s top young prospects at the 11U, 12U, 13U and 14U levels.    The Select Festivals provide elite players with a unique opportunity to compete alongside and against the best talent in their age group while experiencing a...
College | Story | 4/21/2026

College Players of the Week: April 21

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
April 21st Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Tague Davis, IF, Louisville  The Louisville Cardinals (22-18) haven’t been able to get themselves in much of a groove this spring, their longest winning streak is 5-games, and they are (4-6) in their last 10-games.  The issue has not been the offense as the Cardinals are averaging over 8-runs per game and Tague Davis is leading the club in virtually every offensive category.  His calling card is his 70-grade power and that was on display last weekend in their series against Cal.  In the three-game series, Davis went 7 for 12, scoring 4 runs, launching 5 home runs and collected 7 RBIs.  The 6-4/220 lefthanded hitter from West Chester, PA has a pure stroke, is one of the premier power hitters in the nation and has significantly improved his plate discipline from a year ago.  After his big weekend, he is...
Press Release | Press Release | 4/20/2026

PG & EventConnect Extend Collaboration

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME AND EVENTCONNECT EXTEND COLLABORATION FOCUSED ON SCALE, SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE    Sanford, Florida (Monday, April 20, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the renewal and expansion of its long-standing housing and technology partnership with EventConnect, reaffirming a shared commitment to innovation, scale and best-in-class experiences for athletes, families and event operators across North America.    The renewed multi-year agreement extends a successful partnership that has helped Perfect Game...
College | Rankings | 4/20/2026

College Top 25: April 20

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
As the old saying goes, “all good things must come to an end” and that was the case last Tuesday when UCLA (36-3) saw their 27-game win streak come to an end in a shutout loss to UCSB.  However, the No. 1 team in the land still has their 21-game winning streak in Big Ten to protect, as they have started off league play without a single blemish.  The Bruins will remain atop our poll this week and their historical start to the season roll on.  The UNC Tarheels (33-7-1) move up to No. 2 this week after they made their biggest statement of the year by taking the weekend series from now No. 4 Georgia Tech (32-7).  No. 3 Texas (30-8) and No. 5 Georgia (32-9) both went (3-1) on the week and won their SEC series to stay in contention for the regular season title.  Florida State (28-11) had a nice bounce back (4-0) week and re-enter the Top 10 at No. 8 this...
Loading more articles...