New PDP League to showcase top HS Draft talent
The inaugural Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League kicks off next week in a showcase of the best high school baseball talent in the country.
The league, in action from mid-June through early July at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., will bring together roughly 80 of America’s top high school players eligible for the 2020 MLB Draft. Players will go head-to-head in live game action and partake in training sessions and evaluation using the latest player tracking technologies to create a unique curriculum for each participant.
The PDP League is a showcase event for players looking to qualify for the USA Baseball U18 National Team, which is set to compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup in Busan, South Korea this September. The league’s top performers will play in the inaugural High School All-Star Game at Cleveland’s Progressive Field on Saturday, July 6, as part of MLB’s All-Star Week festivities. The game will be streamed live on MLB.com.
Former MLB superstars Ryan Howard, Chipper Jones, Barry Larkin and Derek Jeter will serve as team captains for the first-ever PDP, with each of them scheduled to make special appearances throughout the league’s summer slate. The league will also host many more past All-Stars and MLB coaches, including former Yankees Scott Brosius and Andy Pettitte and MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds.
Here are some things you should know about the 2019 PDP League:
• More than half of the 2019 roster (41 of 80 players) are from California, Florida, Georgia or Texas.
• Nine players previously participated in one of MLB and USA Baseball’s diversity-focused events, including the Breakthrough Series, Dream Series and the Hank Aaron Invitational.
• PDP league coaches include former Major Leaguers Lance Berkman and LaTroy Hawkins and scouts from all 30 MLB clubs.
• The Player Programs group at the Commissioner’s Office will provide a two-day education orientation designed to provide players with the necessary tools, resources and support to help them make informed decisions for their potential transition to professional baseball.
• The Echelon Front, a group founded by former Navy Seals, will offer participants solutions in leadership, strategy, innovation and team building.
• The Game On Nation consultancy group will also work with PDP players to implement tangible, game-based training techniques that will provide a roadmap for participants to keep improving once the league’s schedule wraps up.
Team Howard
Alek Boychuk, C, Mill Creek HS (Ga.)
Miles Garrett, RHP, Parkview HS (Ga.)
Alec Gonzalez, IF/RHP, Marion Catholic HS (Ill.)
Edward Howard, MIF, Mount Carmel HS (Ill.)
Michael Brown, 1B, Vacaville HS (Ca.)
Alex Freeland, 2B/3B, Mariner HS (Fla.)
Drew Romo, C, The Woodlands HS (Tx.)
Masyn Winn, RHP/MIF, Kingwood HS (Tx.)
Brody Drost, LHP, Alfred M. Barbe HS (La.)
Christian Rodriguez, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (Ca.)
Lucas Gordon, LHP, Notre Dame HS (Ca.)
Jared Jones, RHP, La Mirada HS (Ca.)
Blake Money, RHP, Summit HS (Tn.)
Brandon Fields, OF, Dr. Phillips HS (Fla.)
Carson Montgomery, RHP, Windermere HS (Fla.)
Austin Hendrick, OF, West Allegheny HS (Pa.)
Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Garner HS (N.C.)
Kyle Harrison, LHP, De La Salle HS (Ca.)
Nelson Berkwich, LHP, American Heritage (Boca Del Ray) HS (Fla.)
Michael Brooks, IF, Palm Beach Central HS (Fla.)
Team Jeter
Corey Collins, C, North Gwinnett HS (Ga.)
Jackson Phipps, LHP, East Paulding HS (Ga.)
Kyle Teel, C, Mahwah HS (N.J.)
Colt Keith, 3B/1B/RHP, Biloxi HS (Ms.)
Aaron Nixon, RHP/2B, McAllen HS (Tx.)
Luke Wagner, LHP, Red Land HS (Pa.)
Colby Halter, Util/RHP, Bishop Kennedy HS (Fla.)
Jake Eddington, RHP, Doniphan HS (Mo.)
Max Rajcic, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS (Ca.)
Nick Griffin, LHP/OF, Monticello HS (Ar.)
Cayden Wallace, 3B, Greenbrier HS (Ar.)
Drew Bowser, SS/3B, Harvard-Westlake HS (Ca.)
Jordan Carrion, MIF, American Heritage HS (Fla.)
AJ Vukovich, 1B, East Troy HS (Wi.)
Jace Bohrofen, OF, Westmoore HS (Ok.)
Dylan Crews, OF/C, Lake Mary HS (Fla.)
Travis Sthele, RHP, Reagan HS (Tx.)
Petey Halpin, OF, St. Francis HS (Ca.)
Jason Savacool, RHP, Baldwinsville HS (N.Y.)
Nate Wohlgemuth, RHP, Owasso HS (Ok.)
Team Jones
Josh Shuler, OF, North Gwinnett HS (Ga.)
Werner Blakely, INF, Early College Of Excellence (Mi.)
Tanner Witt, 3B/RHP, Episcopal HS (Tx.)
Dylan Ray, RHP, Bob Jones HS (Al.)
Charez Butcher, RHP, Kokomo HS (In.)
Enrique Bradfield, OF, American Heritage HS (Fla.)
Timmy Manning, LHP, Cardinal Gibbons HS (Fla.)
Yohandy Morales, SS/3B, Monsignor Pace HS (Fla.)
Max Carlson, RHP, Burnsville HS (Mn.)
John Morgan, 1B, Brother Martin HS (La.)
Cade Horton, RHP, Norman HS (Ok.)
Jackson Fristoe, RHP, Paducah Tilghman HS (Ky.)
TJ McCants, MIF, Pensacola Catholic HS (Fla.)
Mick Abel, RHP, Jesuit HS (Or.)
Liam Norris, LHP, Green Hope HS (N.C.)
Cam Brown, RHP/Util., Flower Mound HS (Tx.)
Tyler Soderstorm, C, Turlock HS (Ca.)
Joey Dixon, RHP, Bingham HS (Ut.)
Mario Zabala, OF, International Baseball Academy (P.R.)
Jack Bulger, C, Dematha HS (Md.)
Team Larkin
Marquis Grissom Jr., RHP, Counterpane HS (Ga.)
Jordan Walker, 3B, Decatur HS (Ga.)
Ben Hernandez, RHP, De La Salle Institute (Ill.)
Ben Wiegman, RHP/3B, Carmel Catholic HS (Ill.)
Carson Swilling, RHP/OF, Smith Station HS (Al.)
Kellum Clark, 1B/RHP, Brandon HS (Ms.)
Robert Moore, MIF, Shawnee Mission East HS (Ks.)
Milan Tolentino, MIF, Santa Margarita Catholic HS (Ca.)
G Allen, 3B/1B, Little Rock Christian HS (Ar.)
Kevin Parada, C, Loyola HS (Ca.)
Robert Hassell, OF, Independence HS (Tn.)
Alex Santos, RHP, Mount St. Michael Academy (N.Y.)
Dax Fulton, LHP, Mustang HS (Ok.)
Hunter Haas, MIF, Corona Del Sol HS (Az.)
Ethan Long, 3B/RHP, Mountain Pointe HS (Az.)
Carson Tucker, MIF, Mountain Pointe HS (Az.)
Chase Davis, OF, Franklin HS (Ca.)
Luke Boyers, OF, Boerne-Samuel V Champion HS (Tx.)
Jackson Miller, C/RHP, JW Mitchell HS (Fla.)
Nate Savino, LHP, Potomac Falls HS (Va.)
Keon Moreno, OF/RHP, Panther Creek HS (N.C.)
Schedule
Thu, June 13 - Arrival Day
Fri, June 14 - On-Boarding & Tours
Sat, June 15 - On-Boarding & Practice
Sun, June 16 - Off Field - Game On Nation Presentation
Mon, June 17 - PDP League Media Day
Tues, June 18 - Simulated Game
Wed, June 19 - Individual/Team Practice
Thu, June 20 - League Games
Fri, June 21 - League Games
Sat, June 22 - League Games
Sun, June 23 - Off Field - Universal Studios
Mon, June 24 - Individual/Team Practice
Tues, June 25 - Simulated Game
Wed, June 26 - Individual/Team Practice
Thu, June 27 - League Games
Fri, June 28 - League Games
Sat, June 29 - League Games
Sun, June 30 - Off Field- Echelon Front Presentation
Mon, July 1 - Individual/Team Practice
Tues, July 2 - League Games
Wed, July 3 - League Games
Thu, July 4 - League Games