In a first-of-its-kind presentation,
Perfect Game and the CBS Sports Network will present a special
television program to announce the 40 top national prospects who will
participate in the 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic presented
by Rawlings – formerly known as the Aflac All-American Classic –
in mid-August.
The Perfect Game All-American Classic
Selection Show will be televised Wednesday, July 13, at 10 p.m. EDT
(7 p.m. PDT) on the CBS Sports Network. The hour-long program will
introduce the 40 outstanding high school seniors who will play for
the East and West squads at the 9
th annual PG All-American
Classic presented by Rawlings on Aug. 14 at PETCO Park in San Diego.
The show will be hosted by the CBS
Sports Network’s Brent Stover, with Perfect Game national director
of scouting David Rawnsley offering commentary and analysis.
The Selection Show’s first segment
will feature Stover and Rawnsley talking in general terms about the
Classic, followed by a taped segment that provides a detailed history
of the event and some of the outstanding players who have been
involved with it through its eight-year run.
The rosters for each team will then be
announced, beginning with the East pitchers, catchers and position
players and eventually concluding with the West pitchers, catchers
and position players. Short, pre-recorded interviews with each player
will be shown upon his introduction.
There will be a piece featuring an
array of professional scouting and Major League Baseball personnel
and college coaches talking about the relevance and importance of the
All-American Classic from their unique perspectives.
There will also be conversations
discussing the process involved in selecting the players who will
participate in the game.
The closing segment of the program will
feature an explanation of how the proceeds from the game will benefit
the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego – specifically
pediatric cancer research through the Rady Children’s Hospital.
The names of five of the 40 elite
prospects that will play in this summer’s Classic were announced
during the press conference at PETCO Park on June 6 that officially
recognized Perfect Game and Rawlings taking over sponsorship of the
event.
The players, all from the Southern
California area, are: infielders Corey Oswalt (San Diego), Tanner
Rahier (Indian Wells, Calif.) and Rio Ruiz (Covina, Calif.);
right-hander Cody Poteet (Bonita, Calif.) and catcher C.J. Saylor
(West Covina, Calif.)
“This game means a lot to me,” Ruiz
said at the press conference. “I grew up watching this game, and
I’m really excited to get this opportunity to come and play in this
park. It’s a once in a lifetime deal and I’m just looking forward
to it.”
Ruiz was also thrilled with the
opportunity to play in PETCO Park.
“It’s amazing. Not many kids you
see in this country get to play in these types of stadiums and I’m
one of the kids that get that chance,” he said. “It’s a great
opportunity for me and all these other kids over here, so we just
have to take advantage of it and enjoy it.”
The Aflac All-American Classic
established a rich history which the Perfect Game All-American
Classic presented by Rawlings will look to build upon.
No fewer than 40 All-American Classic
alumni have risen to the Major Leagues and 98 have been selected in
the first round of the MLB draft. A record 18 former All-American
Classic participants were first round or first round compensation
selections in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft – which set a record
– and 13 of those 18 played in last year’s game.
The Pittsburg Pirates made UCLA’s
Gerrit Cole the No. 1 overall pick of the draft.
Cole, who played in the 2007 game,
became the fifth All-American Classic alum to be taken with No. 1
overall selection in the draft, joining shortstop Matthew Bush (2004,
Padres), shortstop Justin Upton (2005, Diamondbacks), shortstop Tim
Beckham (2008, Rays) and outfielder Bryce Harper (2010, Nationals).
Some noteworthy All-American Classic
participants include the Giants’ Buster Posey, the Mets’ Ike
Davis, the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen, the Diamondbacks’ Justin
Upton and the Rays’ Jeremy Hellickson, all of whom played in the
2004 game. The Braves’ Jason Heyward played in the 2006 Classic.