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General  | Professional | 7/5/2021

Futures Game welcomes 16 PGAA's

Jeff Dahn
Photo: All-Star Futures Game (Perfect Game)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – They’ve followed the same path for most of their still burgeoning baseball careers already, so no one should be surprised that Matthew Liberatore and Nolan Gorman will be walking out onto their next big stage together once again.

The left-hander Liberatore and the corner infielder Gorman, both Phoenix-area products and top prospects within the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system, are two of 34 rising minor leaguers who were rostered at Perfect Game events during their amateur careers and who will be taking part in this year’s SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.



The All-Star Futures Game will pit top prospects from American League and the National League organizations against one another in a seven-inning game July 11 at Coors Field in Denver; the game is part of the MLB All-Star Game festivities, with that game slated to be played at Coors Field on July 13.

Liberatore and Gorman are also two of 16 alumni of the PG All-American Classic who will be showcased during the Futures Game and two of the 20 former PG National Showcase participants that will be on hand.

Twenty-six of these former PGers also went on to become first-round MLB Draft picks, either right out of high school or out of college a few years later. Liberatore was the No. 11 overall pick of the Rays out of Mountain Ridge High School and O'Conner HS's Gorman went to the Cardinals with the 19th overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft.

So although this dynamic duo from the desert were not high school teammates, they were almost inseparable during their PG careers. They were both on the West team roster at the 2017 PGAAC only weeks after being teammates on the Gold team at the 2017 PG National Showcase.

They also shared a dugout while playing for the powerhouse Central Florida Gators squad that won championships at both the 2016 16u PG World Series and the 2016 PG WWBA Florida Qualifier. Now Liberatore and Gorman are top Cardinals’ prospects who will be suiting up as teammates once again representing the National League at the All-Star Futures Game.

Three other 2021 Futures Game participants are also alumni of the 2017 PGAAC and PG National: catcher Noah Naylor (he now goes by Bo Naylor) and outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Alek Thomas. Naylor is the younger brother of Josh Naylor, who was at the 2014 PGAAC and National Showcase and is currently with the Cleveland Indians.

Alums of the 2016 PGAAC and PG National also have a dominant presence: right-hander Shane Baz, catcher Luis Campusano and outfielders Ryan Vilade and Drew Waters. Baz, a Texas product who the Pirates selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the first round of the 2017 Draft, was also recently selected to be a part of the USA National Team that will compete at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in a couple of weeks.

The other PG All-Americans who will be in Denver next weekend are left-handers Cole Ragans and Nick Lodolo from the 2015 Classic; infielders Bobby Witt Jr., Riley Greene and CJ Abrams, and right-hander Quinn Priester from 2018, and 19-year-old catcher Tyler Soderstrom, who was at Petco Park in San Diego for the Classic only two years ago in 2019.

Four PG alumni – Gorman, Kelenic, Thomas and outfielder Heliot Ramos – are set to enjoy their second go-around at the All-Star Futures Game having also been invited in 2019, the last year the game was held.

What follows is a list of Perfect Game alumni who will be participating in this year’s All-Star Futures Game along with their more notable PG experiences:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Shane Baz, RHP, Rays: 2016 PG All-American Classic; 2016 PG National; 2015 PG Underclass AA Games; 2013-16 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series

Emerson Hancock, RHP, Mariners: 2013-17 PG WWBA, PG World Series

Cole Ragans, LHP, Rangers: 2015 PGAAC, 2015 PG National; 2014 PG Jr. National; 2012-15 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series

Josh Winder, RHP, Twins: 2010-11, ’14 PG WWBA

Cole Winn, RHP, Rangers: 2015-17 PG WWBA, World Series

Tyler Soderstrom, Catcher, Athletics: 2019 PGAAC; 2019 PG National; 2019 PG WWBA, World Series

Noah Naylor (Bo), Catcher, Indians: 2017 PGAAC; 2019 PG National; 2016 PG Jr. National; 2016 PG Underclass AA Games; 2015-17 WWBA

Jacob Burger, Infielder, White Sox: 2013 National Underclass; 2013 WWBA

Jeter Downs, Infielder, Red Sox: 2016 PG National; 2014 Underclass Main Event; 2013-16 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series

Austin Martin, Infielder, Blue Jays: 2014-16 PG WWBA, BCS

Nicholas Pratto, Infielder, Royals: 2013-16 PG WWBA, World Series

Spencer Torkelson, Infielder, Tigers: 2016 PG National; 2014-17 WWBA

Bobby Witt Jr., Infielder, Royals: 2018 PGAAC; 2018 PG National; 2016-17 PG Underclass AA Games; 2017 PG Jr. National; 2013-17 PG WWBA, Super25

Riley Greene, Outfielder, Tigers: 2018 PGAAC, 2018 PG National; 2017 PG Jr. National; 2015-18 PG WWBA

Jarred Kelenic, Outfielder, Mariners: 2017 PGAAC; 2017 PG National; 2016 PG Jr. National; 2016 PG Underclass AA Games; 2014-17 PG WWBA; 2018 PG Iowa Spring League

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cade Cavalli, RHP, Nationals: 2015-16 PG WWBA

Matthew Liberatore, LHP, Cardinals: 2017 PGAAC; 2017 PG National; 2016 PG Jr. National; 2014-17 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series

Nick Lodolo, LHP, Reds: 2015 PGAAC; 2014 PG Underclass AA Games; 2013-14 PG showcases; 2015 PG 17u World Series

Max Meyer, LHP, Marlins: 2016 Spring Top Prospect

Quinn Priester, RHP, Pirates: 2018 PGAAC; 2018 PG National; 2017 PG Underclass AA Games; 2017-18 PG WWBA

Ethan Small, LHP, Brewers: 2012-14 PG WWBA

Luis Campusano, Catcher, Padres: 2016 PGAAC; 2016 PG National; 2014-16 PG WWBA, BCS

Willie MacIver, Catcher, Rockies: 2012-14 PG WWBA, World Series

CJ Abrams, Infielder, Padres: 2018 PGAAC; 2018 PG National; 2015-19 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series

Brett Baty, Infielder, Mets: 2018 PG National; 2016-18 PG WWBA, BCS

Michael Busch, Infielder, Dodgers: 2014-15 PG WWBA

Nolan Gorman, Infielder, Cardinals: 2017 PGAAC; 2017 PG National; 2016 PG Jr. National; 2014-17 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series

Bryson Stott, Infielder, Phillies: 2014 PG WWBA

Brennen Davis, Outfielder, Cubs: 2017-18 PG WWBA, World Series

Michael Harris II, Outfielder, Braves: 2018 PG National; 2015-18 PG WWBA

Heliot Ramos, Outfielder, Giants: 2016 PG National; 2015 PG Jr. National; 2016 PG WWBA; 2015 PG Spring Top Prospect

Alek Thomas, Outfielder, Diamondbacks: 2017 PGAAC; 2017 PG National; 2016 PG Jr. National

Ryan Vilade, Outfielder, Rockies: 2016 PGAAC; 2016 PG National; 2015 PG Jr. National; 2015 PG Underclass AA Games; 2013-16 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series

Drew Waters, Outfielder, Braves: 2016 PGAAC; 2016 PG National; 2012-16 PG WWBA, BCS, World Series
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