Perfect Game All-American Classic Returns To Petco Park For Eighth Straight Year
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (February 16, 2016) – Jerry Ford, President of Perfect Game announced today that the 2016 Perfect Game All-American Classic will take place on Sunday, August 14 in San Diego, Calif. This is the 14th annual edition of the country’s premier high school baseball All-Star Game and the eighth year in a row the game will be played at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
Far more than just a game, the event provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for the players selected. While in San Diego the players will participate in a series of baseball related activities in addition to a visit to Rady Children's Hospital, a lunch with Honorary Chairman Trevor Hoffman on a beach alongside the Pacific Ocean as well as the event's annual awards dinner banquet held on Saturday night at the San Diego Hall of Champions.
Blue Ridge Sports returns to serve as the logistical planning partner of the Classic. Nike will once again serve as the official apparel provider and Rawlings will provide the equipment.
The rosters are comprised of the 50 best high school seniors from across the nation. The players are identified and selected through a series of Perfect Game events. Players that attend regional showcases in the spring may be invited to participate in the National Showcase–a collection of the top 300 players–held in mid-June in Fort Myers, Fla. From there most of the final selections for the Classic are made.
Since the event’s inception in 2003, 165 of the players that have participated have gone on to become first-round draft picks in the MLB First-Year Amateur Player Draft. Seven of those players were selected with the first overall pick, and also includes the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Jameis Winston. In addition, 114 players that have participated have played in the Major Leagues including some of the game’s brightest stars.
Some of the game’s past participants include:
| Bryce Harper |
2015 National League MVP and 2012 NL Rookie of the Year |
| Kris Bryant |
2015 National League Rookie of the Year |
| Carlos Correa |
2015 American League Rookie of the Year |
| Madison Bumgarner |
2014 NLCS and World Series MVP |
| Andrew McCutchen |
2013 National League MVP |
| Jose Fernandez |
2013 National League Rookie of the Year |
| Buster Posey |
2012 National League MVP and 2010 NL Rookie of the Year |
| Jeremy Hellickson |
2011 American League Rookie of the Year |
Other notable PG All-Americans include Major League All-Stars Gerrit Cole, Justin Upton, Sonny Gray, D.J. LeMahieu, Yasmani Grandal, Freddie Freeman, Dellin Betances and Matt Harvey. Rawlings Gold Glove winners that have played in the Classic include Hellickson, Heyward, LeMahieu, McCutchen and Eric Hosmer.
The 2016 Perfect Game All American Classic will be televised nationally once again on MLB Network, Major League Baseball’s Emmy Award-winning 24/7 television network. Rosters for the 2016 Classic will be unveiled as part of the selection show streamed on MLB.com during Major League Baseball's All-Star Game Fan Fest in San Diego.
Proceeds of the Perfect Game All-American Classic go to support pediatric cancer research and treatment, specifically to the event’s beneficiary, Rady Children’s Hospital. In the weeks leading up to the game, every player in the Classic will have the opportunity to conduct an online fundraising contest to raise funds for the Hospital. Since the inception of the Classic, more than $900,000 has been raised.
For more information about the event please visit www.PGAllAmerican.com.