CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The 13th annual Arizona Fall League (AFL) Fall Stars Game will be played Saturday at Surprise (Ariz.) Stadium, and Minor League Baseball’s top-prospect showcase event will once again have a heavy Perfect Game flavor.
Nineteen of the 24 prospects on the East roster and 16 of the 24 on the West roster competed in at least one PG event during their high school years, and 16 of them were invited to perform on two of PG’s biggest showcase stages: the All-American Classic and the National Showcase.
The MLB Network will televise the 2018 AFL Fall Stars Game live at 5 p.m. MST; MLB.com will also live-stream the event.
Eight 2018 AFL Fall Stars were selected to perform at the prestigious PG All-American Classic in San Diego right before the start of their senior year in high school: outfielder Cavan Biggio (2012 Classic), left-hander Robert Kaminsky (2012), right-hander Jordan Sheffield (2012), outfielder Monte Harrison (2013), left-hander Devin Smeltzer (2013), outfielder Dazmon Cameron (2014), infielder Jahmai Jones (2014) and outfielder Khalil Lee (2015).
All eight of those top prospects also performed at the PG National Showcase the same summer they played in the Classic. Eight other 2018 Fall Stars are also alumni of the National Showcase:
Infielder Pete Alonso (2012 National), right-hander Brett Hanewich (2012), right-hander David McKay (2012), infielder Cole Tucker (2013), right-hander DeMarcus Evans (2014), infielder Lucius Fox Jr., infielder Carter Kieboom (2015) and left-hander Kyle Muller (2015).
Additionally, 20 of the 35 PG Fall Stars performed at the PG WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla., at least once, and many attended the nation’s most heavily scouted high school-age amateur baseball tournament more than once; it celebrated its 20th birthday late last month.
What follows is a list of many of the top MiBL prospects with Perfect Game backgrounds who will be playing in Saturday’s AFL Fall Stars Game in Surprise, Ariz., with their position, parent club and noteworthy PG appearances:
AFL East PG Fall Stars
Ben Braymer, LHP, Nationals: 2012 WWBA
Bailey Clark, RHP, Cubs: 2011-12 WWBA
Jon Duplantier, RHP, Diamondbacks: 2013 WWBA
Brett Hanewich, RHP, Angels: 2012 National Showcase, 2011 Jr. National Showcase, 2010-12 WWBA World Championship, 2009-12 WWBA/BCS
Justin Lawrence, RHP, Rockies: 2012 Sunshine East Showcase, 2009-12 WWBA/BCS
Devin Smeltzer, LHP, Twins: 2013 All-American Classic, 2013 National Showcase, 2012-13 WWBA World Championship, 2012-13 WWBA
Trent Thornton, RHP, Astros: 2011 WWBA World Championship, 2008-11 WWBA/BCS
Forrest Whitley, RHP, Astros: 2014 WWBA World Championship, 2014-15 WWBA
Jake Rogers, C, Tigers: 2013 World Showcase, 2011 Sunshine South Showcase, 2012 WWBA World Championship
Pete Alonso, INF, Mets: 2012 National Showcase, 2011 Southeast Top Showcase, 2011-12 WWBA World Championship, 2010-12 WWBA
Bobby Dalbec, INF, Red Sox: 2012 Rocky Mountain Showcase, 2013 WWBA
Jahmai Jones, INF, Angels: 2014 All-American Classic, 2014 National Showcase, 2013 Jr. National Showcase, 2013-14 WWBA World Championship, 2012-15 WWBA/BCS
Carter Kieboom, INF, Nationals: 2015 National Showcase, 2013 Underclass Showcase-Main Event, 2013-15 WWBA World Championship, 2011-15 WWBA/BCS
Shedric Long, INF, Reds: 2012 WWBA World Championship, 2012 WWBA
Pavin Smith, INF, Diamondbacks: 2012-13 WWBA World Showcase, 2010-13 WWBA/BCS
Dazmon Cameron, OF, Tigers: 2014 All-American Classic, 2014 National Showcase, 2011-13 Underclass Showcase-Main Event, 2011-13 WWBA World Championship, 2011-14 WWBA/BCS
Monte Harrison, OF, Marlins: 2013 All-American Classic, 2013 National Showcase, 2013, 2013 Sunshine South Showcase, 2012 WWBA
Austin Listi, OF, Phillies: 2010 Sunshine South Showcase, 2010 Underclass All-American Games, 2010-11 WWBA
Taylor Trammell, OF, Reds: 2012-13 WWBA/BCS, 2015 WWBA
AFL West PG Fall Stars
DeMarcus Evans, RHP, Padres: 2014 National Showcase, 2014 WWBA World Championship, 2014 WWBA
Robert Kaminsky, LHP, Indians: 2012 All-American Classic, 2012 National Showcase, 2011 WWBA World Championship, 2010-12 WWBA/BCS
Matt Krook, LHP, Rays: 2010 WWBA
Evan Kruczynski, LHP, Cardinals: 2013 Pitcher/Catcher Indoor Showcase, 2011-12 WWBA World Championship, 2011-12 WWBA
David McKay, RHP, Mariners: 2012 National Showcase, 2012 Sunshine East Showcase, 2011-12 WWBA World Championship, 2011-12 WWBA/BCS
Wyatt Mills, RHP, Mariners: 2010-12 WWBA/BCS
Kyle Muller, LHP, Braves: 2015 National Showcase, 2013 South Underclass Showcase, 2014 WWBA World Championship, 2014 WWBA
Nathan Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays: 2013 Sunshine East Showcase, 2014 Florida Top Showcase, 2014 WWBA World Championship, 2011-14 WWBA/BCS
Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Dodgers: 2012 All-American Classic, 2012 National Showcase, 2012 WWBA World Championship, 2011-12 WWBA
Blake Weiman, LHP, Pirates: 2013-14 PG Coach Bob Invitational
Lucius Fox Jr., INF, Rays: 2014 National Showcase, 2012-14 WWBA World Championship, 2012-14 WWBA/BCS
Keston Hiura, INF, Brewers: 2013 Sunshine West Showcase
Cole Tucker, INF, Pirates: 2013 National Showcase, 2013-14 WWBA
Evan White, INF, Mariners: 2013 WWBA
Cavan Biggio, OF, Blue Jays: 2012 All-American Classic, 2012 National Showcase, 2011 Jr. National Showcase, 2012 WWBA World Championship, 2010-12 WWBA/BCS
Khalil Lee, OF, Royals: 2015 All-American Classic, 2015 National Showcase, 2013 Sunshine Northeast Showcase, 2014-15 WWBA World Championship, 2014-15 WWBA/BCS