Insider Premium Scout    CBT  
 
  
  Not a member yet?


General : : General
Baseball’s Biggest Scouting Attraction
Published: Monday, October 20, 2008

WWBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
JUPITER, FL. Oct 23-27

Why do so many scouts, college coaches and agents show up in such great numbers each October in Jupiter Florida to watch the PG WWBA World Championship?

Here is the main reason!

It’s the talent!

Recent PG WWBA players are making waves in the Big Leagues. Here are 80+ former WWBA players who are young guys making their mark at the top.

BJ Upton - Rays
Scott Kazmir - Rays
David Wright - Mets
Prince Fielder - Brewers
JJ Hardy – Brewers
Chad Billingsley - Dodgers
John Danks – White Sox
Joey Votto - Reds
Carl Crawford - Rays
Denard Span - Twins
Geovany Soto – Cubs
Brian McCann - Braves
Jay Bruce - Reds
Jeremy Bonderman - Tigers
Justin Upton – D’Backs
Lastings Milledge - Nationals
Zach Greinke - Royals
Chris Young – D’Backs
Adam Jones - Orioles
Nick Markakis - Orioles
Ryan Sweeney – A’s
Jeremy Hermida - Marlins
Matt Cain - Giants
Alex Gordan - Royals
Casey Kotchman - Braves
Delmon Young - Twins
Mike Pelfrey - Mets
JP Howell - Rays
Dustin McGowen – Blue Jays
Jonathan Broxton - Dodgers
James Loney - Dodgers
Ryan Zimmerman - Nationals
Mike Napoli - Angels
David Price - Rays
Blake Dewitt - Dodgers
Yovani Gallardo - Brewers
Micah Owings – D’Backs
Billy Butler - Royals
Cameron Maybin - Marlins
Zach Miner - Tigers
Joel Hanrahan - Nationals
Chris Volstad - Marlins
Jesse Litsch - Blue Jays
Scott Moore - Orioles
Elijah Dukes - Nationals
Jensen Lewis - Indians
Clayton Kershaw - Dodgers
Jeremy Sowers - Indians
Zach Duke - Pirates
Kyle Davies - Royals
Ian Stewart - Rockies
Cody Ross - Marlins
Cliff Pennington – A’s
Dana Eveland – A’s
Jon Niese - Mets
James Parr - Braves
David Purcey – Blue Jays
Gio Gonzalez – A’s
Wesley Wright - Astros
Matt Joyce - Tigers
Jeff Clement - Mariners
Andrew Miller - Marlins
Ben Francisco - Indians
Matt Capps - Pirates
Brandon Jones - Braves
Jarrod Saltalamacchia - Rangers
Sean Gallagher - Cubs
Jo Jo Reyes - Braves
Chris Perez - Cardinals
Nick Adenhart - Angels
Jonathan Sanchez - Giants
Robert Andino - Marlins
David Aardsma – Red Sox
Brandon Moss – Red Sox
Brandon Morrow - Mariners
Nick Masset – White Sox
Bobby Livingston - Reds
Tyler Cippard - Nationals
Brandon Boggs - Rangers
Pat Neshek - Twins
Victor Diaz – Rangers
BJ Upton - Rays Scott Kazmir - Rays

Prince Fielder - Brewers Chad Billingsley - Dodgers

Ryan Sweeney – A’s Lastings Milledge - Nationals
    

 

 

Several others could be included who are already in the Major Leagues or knocking on the door as top organizational prospects in the minor leagues.

Here are some more reasons why the WWBA Championship is the largest scouting attraction in baseball.

In 6 of the past 7 years the first high school player drafted had played in the WWBA Championship.

2008 – 1st overall pick of the draft – Tim Beckham
2006 – 1st high school player drafted - Clayton Kershaw
2005 – 1st overall pick of the draft – Justin Upton
2004 – 1st overall pick of the draft – Matt Bush
2003 – 1st overall pick of the draft – Delmon Young
2002 – 1st high school player drafted – BJ Upton

In that same period of time (7 years) a total of 147 players who played in WWBA Championships were drafted in the first round (top 30 picks). That is an average of 21 first round picks each year.

In the past 4 years (2005-2008) there were an additional 66 players from the WWBA Championship drafted in the supplemental first round. That is in addition to the 107 players selected in the first round (top 30 picks) during the same time period. The past four WWBA Championships has had 174 players who went on to be drafted in the first or supplemental first round. That averages out to 43.5 players a year.

The same thing holds true at the highest college levels. The top colleges have rosters loaded with young men who have played in the WWBA Championship in Jupiter. College all American lists are a common place to spot former WWBA players. The NCAA World Series in Omaha, annually shows rosters full of players who played in the WWBA Championship while in high school. Then there are the many players who went on to become first round picks out of colleges.

Once again this October a record number of scouts, college coaches and sports agents will travel to the Roger Dean Sports Complex in Jupiter Florida. The reason is very obvious. The talent is astounding and simply can’t be ignored!