THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,491 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
All American Game  | Story | 7/8/2025

Hoffman, Klesko Eager to Lead Brightest PG Stars 

San Diego classics Trevor Hoffman, Ryan Klesko eager to lead brightest PG stars 
 
It’s fitting that as the DICK’S Perfect Game All-American Classic returns to San Diego this summer, two popular former Padres will serve as managers.

Teammates with the Padres from 2000 to 2006, Trevor Hoffman and Ryan Klesko will find themselves in opposite dugouts as 60 of the best high school players in the country descend upon picturesque Petco Park for the 23rd annual event.



“When I was a kid, I didn’t get to see who was playing in Texas or Florida,” said Hoffman, a Hall of Famer and Southern California native. “Now, all these kids have firsthand knowledge of what the best players look like. PG connects these guys and gives them a chance to compete against each other and be seen and scouted.

“This game is going to provide a view of what the future looks like. I would say the majority of these players will be taken in the first or second round of the (2026) draft. And if they don’t go play pro ball, you’ll see them in the College World Series in Omaha really soon. You’re getting a chance to see the Manny Machados and Bryce Harpers of the world five years before the rest of the world is going to know who they are.

“It’s very exciting.”

The game will be played at 5 p.m. PT on Sunday, August 17, and streamed live on PerfectGame.TV and the free PGTV app. A weekend full of events will also include the Launch Hydrate Home Run Challenge on Saturday and the annual PG Awards Banquet later that night. Players and PG officials will also make a visit to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and PG, the players and their families will raise funds and make a donation to the hospital.

The All-American Classic is back in San Diego after being played the last three years at Chase Field in Phoenix, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is the 15th time the event will be played in San Diego, the city in which Hoffman and Klesko played a combined 23 seasons.

“The All-American Classic brings together the very best talent in the country, and I’m honored to be out there with them at Petco Park, where I have so many great memories,” said Klesko, who smacked 133 of his career 278 home runs with the Padres and was a National League All-Star with that club in 2001.

Hoffman and Klesko are both investors in Perfect Game and longtime pillars in the PG family. Klesko has a passion for coaching and mentoring young players on some of the finer points of the game, from conditioning to nutrition to the mental side of it all. He spends countless hours coaching in the Braves Scout Team program in the Atlanta area. Hoffman is a past Honorary Chairman of the All-American Classic.

“We’re thrilled to have Trevor and Ryan as managers as we return to San Diego,” said Brad Clement, PG’s executive vice president. “Both had great major league careers and have deep community roots in San Diego. They’ve both been wonderful in giving back and pouring themselves into the next generation of baseball stars.”

There is a first for everything. While Hoffman recorded the first of his 601 big-league saves (only fellow Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera has more) on April 29, 1993, the All-American Classic will mark his first time managing at any level of the game.

“The talent continues to amaze me,” said Hoffman, who will lead the West club. “How proficient these guys are, not just throwing hard but throwing strikes with multiple pitches. And the ability in the batter’s box to manipulate the barrel and show their talents is just amazing.

“These kids are getting bigger, faster and stronger and their talents at such a young age are mind-boggling to me. It’s exciting for me to get a chance to be around them. Being in the dugout will give me a chance to have organic conversations with kids, give them feedback, answer questions in a comfortable manner.”

And if a pitcher wants to ask Hoffman for some tips on throwing a changeup, have at it. Hoffman is always willing to share some wisdom on the pitch that paved his way to Cooperstown.

Klesko, who will manage the East club, relishes the personal interaction he has with young players, particularly the level of prospect that participates in PG’s signature events. 

One of his key messages centers on the importance of being a good teammate.

“I talk with college coaches and scouts all the time and that’s the first question they ask: What kind of teammate is he?” Klesko said. “They know you’re talented. They know you can go 3 for 3. But how do you handle adversity? On a bad day, do you still run on and off the field?”

“Everyone talks hitting, throwing, pitching. But the main thing I see missing in kids, especially 15 to 17 years old, is the mental part, how to deal with failure, a bad at-bat, a bad inning on the mound.”

Klesko said he struggled letting go of a bad at-bat or a bad game early in his career. He saw teammates who did the same, who couldn’t get past the game’s inherent defeats and soon found themselves out of the game.

“Just focus on competing on the next pitch or the next at-bat,” he said. “Control the controllables. Get the negative stuff out of your head. There’s a lot to deal with in this game. You have to move forward. It’s OK to have a bad at-bat. Hall of Famers failed 70 percent of the time. Move forward. That’s what separates the really good player from the great player. It’s a big talking point for me with kids. I wish I had help with that at an early age.”

Klesko’s passion for helping kids become complete players in body and mind aligns with the overall mission of Perfect Game under the leadership of CEO Rob Ponger and president/chairman Rich Thurman.

“Since Rick and Rob took over, it’s been great,” Klesko said. “It’s not just about the tournaments. It’s about, 'What can we do at the next level to help these kids prepare for college or a possible pro career?' That’s why I love being involved so much because they really want the advice. They want the organization to get better every year. They want the relationships. They don’t just want to play the tournaments. They want to see kids progress in so many different areas.”

In addition to gaining knowledge and wisdom from Hoffman and Klesko, players selected to the All-American Classic will be able to tap into the experiences of other major league veterans. The respective coaching staffs will include Padres All-Stars Phil Nevin and Mark Loretta, World Series-winning manager Charlie Manuel, 20-game winner Scott Erickson, American League MVP Mo Vaughn, multi-time All-Stars Alfonso Soriano, Tom "Flash" Gordon and Mike Sweeney, World Series champion Jose Contreras and MLB veterans Todd Coffey and Jason Phillips. Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez will also be in attendance that weekend as part of Perfect Game’s leadership group.

Over the years, some of MLB’s top stars have played in the All-American Classic, including Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Gerrit Cole, Freddie Freeman, Francisco Lindor and Zack Wheeler. Of the 1,126 players that have participated in the previous 22 classics, 850 were eventually selected in the MLB draft and 293 were first-round picks.

Entering the 2025 season, 305 All-American Classic participants had gone on to play in the majors.

Who’s next?

Stay tuned.

Rosters for the DICK’s Perfect Game All-American Classic will be announced in mid-July and will be selected from a pool of candidates who will participate in the PG National Showcase July 7-11 at Chase Field.
 

All American Game | Story | 7/3/2026

Initial 2026 All Star Game Roster Reveal

Article Image
We are excited to announce the first selections for the 2026 PG All Star Game from both the Perfect Game Junior and Sophomore National Showcases. The PG All Star Game will be held on Friday, August 14th at Citizens Bank Ballpark, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and will feature roughly 40 of the top players, predominately from the 2028 class with a few of the very best 2029s also selected. A watchlist has been created from the Junior National Showcase and another group of players will be selected from that showcase towards the end of July as we continue to evaluate players at the major Perfect Game tournaments this summer. The final wave of selections we be made at the PG Underclass All American Games August 5-7 at the UCSD in San Diego, CA. PG Underclass All American Games   Junior National Selections Dexter McCleon Jr. OF Suwanee, GA USA Prime Cullen Scott RHP/3B Melissa,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/5/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Michael Wedgeworth (2030, Flomaton, AL) had put the two way ability on full display so far this week, dominating from both sides. On the mound Wedgeworth ran the fastball up to 84 (81-83) with ease to the delivery. Broke off a couple nasty curveballs that induced swing and miss, as well as freezing hitters for punch outs. Collected six in his four inning complete game. He also would not be denied at the plate going 3-5 in the first two days with two doubles. Very intriguing young player as the body continues to grow.  Tyler Bellush (2031, Summerville, SC) is a sure handed shortstop for the Canes Nation squad. Swings it from the left side of the plate and the barrel accuracy has really stuck out thus far. 3-4 through the first couple days with a double and two triples, Bellush has also walked twice and collected 3 RBI along the way. Yesterday against USA Prime with the bases loaded,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/3/2026

13u WWBA Scout Note Recap

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
Walter Izquierdo Jr. (2031, Miami, Fla.) showed off the upside on the mound for Beast Baseball 13u. The right-handed pitcher went four innings and collected three strikeouts while spreading two hits and two walks for one run. The fastball topped out at 80 and was consistently in the upper- 70s. Showed feel for a curveball with 12-6 shape and some looser vertical depth that was able to get weak contact. Competes in the zone well and showed some feel to work on the arm-side half of the plate. Intriguing upside on the young arm.   Brett Hamlin (2031, Jupiter, Fla.) showed off the barrel feel for FTB American 13u. The left-handed hitter collected nine hits, including two doubles and a triple, to drive in seven RBI. Strong hands and flips the hips well to create good bat speed. Simple operation that gets on time consistently and impacts the ball well. Worked the pull-side well and...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

Freedom Classic Opens Holiday Weekend

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
More than 30 teams from the 14U-18U age divisions will head to Fort Myers, Florida this Fourth of July weekend for the seventh annual Perfect Game Freedom Classic. The tournament, running July 3-6, features several nationally ranked prospects from across the country as teams look to compete for a championship. Headlining the field are twin brothers Derek and Ryan Yormark of Merrick, New York. Right-handed pitcher Derek Yormack is the No. 51-ranked player in the class of 2027, the No. 1 player in New York and the No. 5-ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. First baseman Ryan Yormark comes in just behind his twin brother as the No. 3 overall player in New York, the No. 5 first baseman in the nation and the No. 90-ranked player nationally. Both brothers are committed to Vanderbilt. Derek Yormark has established himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2027 class. He has run...
Tournaments | Story | 7/2/2026

14u West World Series Scout Notes

Quinton Hall
Article Image
Asher Contreras (2030 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter and outfielder was one of the most dangerous hitters in the tournament for Wow Factor Nv 2030, stuffing the stat sheet while displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. He finished the weekend with 9 hits, including two doubles and a home run, while driving in seven runs and scoring five more. He also swiped three bases and worked three walks, consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses while showing feel for the zone with just one strikeout all weekend. His ability to hit for extra bases while also creating offense on the bases made him one of the most impactful offensive performers at the event.    Braylen Silva (‘30 | NV) RBI 2B for GBG Vegas 14u Red. Direct path, quick trigger, & barrel feel. Solid 2-hole stick creating offense all day #14UWestWS...
High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
Article Image
High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
16u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2  ‘28 AJ Bonnette (TX) with 7 Ks thru 4 IP thus far, living 89-91 w/ heavy traits. Filling up all four quads & attacking hitters early in counts. Mixing a slurvy breaker & turning the CHG over well. @PG_Uncommitted #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/oz2XXoKHvt — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Aj Bonnette (2028, Keller, Texas) showed out on both sides of the ball at the National Elite Championship, but really stood out on the mound Tuesday. He toed the rubber in round two of the playoffs, proceeding to toss six innings with eight punchouts and zero earned runs allowed. The 6-foot southpaw filled up all four quadrants of the strike zone, attacking hitters early and often with his fastball. The heater lived in the 88-91 mph range with heavy traits, often setting up his slurvy breaking ball. Bonnette showed good feel...
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
Article Image
JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
Loading more articles...