World Wood Bat Best Tools, Top Prospects Nov. 2, 2007 Here's a look at the top 10 seniors at this year's WWBA tournament, as judged by national writer Alan Matthews in consultation with scouts in attendance. Rankings reflect the player's ceiling and likelihood of reaching that ceiling, with some consideration to performance at the event. [...] Continue Reading »
Youth Team USA Finishes First, Juniors Claim Bronze Sep. 6, 2007 Catcher Luke Bailey's two-run home run capped a four-run first inning in the youth national team's 8-2 defeat of Brazil in the championship game of its annual international tournament, which was held this year in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. [...] Continue Reading »
Area Code Games Top 10, Best Tools Aug. 21, 2007 Here are the top 10 prospects from the Class of 2008 in attendance at this year's Area Code Games, as judged by Baseball America national writer Alan Matthews. [...] Continue Reading »
Area Code Games Wrapup Aug. 21, 2007 The high school Class of 2008 is heavy in college talent, but thin in high-end draft prospects, as indicated by a lackluster week at the Area Code Games. [...] Continue Reading »
Youth Tournament Still On Aug. 16, 2007 The 16-and-under youth national team was one of 10 teams scheduled to compete in the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) World Youth Championships in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, but IBAF has rescinded its affiliation, choosing not to sanction it as a World Championship because of political differences between the governments of Taiwan and Venezuela. [...] Continue Reading »
Aflac Classic Notebook Aug. 15, 2007 Despite a roster than included three injured pitchers and another that was ineligible, the East squad used a ninth-inning rally to score a 5-4 comeback victory against the West in the Aflac Classic. Alan Matthews recaps the game and empties out his notebook after returning from Southern California. [...] Continue Reading »
East Coast Showcase Wrapup Aug. 10, 2007 Scouts found good depth of talent at the East Coast Showcase, though probably not as much high-end talent as they saw in last year's event. [...] Continue Reading »
WWBA Class Of 2008 17-U Top 10 Prospects Jul. 27, 2007 Suburban Atlanta is the site of more than a month of high school, wood bat tournaments each summer. The 17-and-under event featured more than 2,500 rising seniors, juniors and sophomores, and following is a ranking of the top rising seniors in attendance. [...] Continue Reading »
Cape Cod Classic Roster Jul. 20, 2007 Baseball Factory and Team One selection high school players to play in the third annual Cape Cod High School Classic on July 27 in Wareham, Mass. Over the two-year history of the event 39 of its alumni have been drafted, including 10 first-round picks, including Kasey Kiker (Rangers, first round, 2006), Chris Parmelee (Twins, first round, 2006) and Phillippe Aumont (Mariners, first round, 2007). [...] Continue Reading »
Perfect Game 2007 National Showcase Top 10 Jun. 26, 2007 a list of this year's top 10 prospects from the Class of 2008 as the Perfect Game National Showcase, as judged by BA National Writer Alan Matthews in conjunction with scouts and recruiting coordinators, based on ultimate professional potential with some consideration to event performance. [...] Continue Reading »
Class Of '08 Makes Modest Impression Jun. 26, 2007 There weren't any of those sticky "Hello, My Name Is" nametags. No one was even privy to pregame introductions. This was the first wide-scale national scouting event of the summer, and before major league teams had time to polish off the paperwork of the 2007 draft, more than 300 of the nation's top rising high school seniors gathered in Cincinnati for '08 orientation. [...] Continue Reading »
Team USA Announces Junior Finalists Jun. 25, 2007 USA Baseball announced the 32 players who will be considered for inclusion on its 2007 18-and-under junior national team. The 32 players, along with 11 alternates, were selected from a pool of 144 players who participated in the 15th annual Tournament of Stars at USA Baseball's national training complex in Cary, N.C. [...] Continue Reading »
New USA Baseball Squad Wins Debut Event Jan. 31, 2007 USA Baseball's delve into a new realm of international competition got off to a grand start when the organization's first team of players age 14 and under won a COPABE Pan-Am 'A' North/Central America regional qualifying event in Guatemala City, Guatemala. [...] Continue Reading »
World Wood Bat Class Of 2007 Top 20 Prospects Nov. 2, 2006 The WWBA fall championship is the final major scouting event of the year and has become a valuable setting for scouts to evaluate some of the country's best high school players. Here's a look at the top 20 seniors in attendance, as judged by BA's Alan Matthews in conjunction with scouts in attendance. Rankings reflect the player's ceiling and likelihood of reaching that ceiling with some consideration to performance at the event. [...] Continue Reading »
U.S. Juniors Settle For Silver Sep. 26, 2006 USA Baseball's junior national team beats Cuba and Mexico to move into the finals of the IBAF World Junior Championship in Ciego De Avila, Cuba. Team USA faces Korea for the championship. [...] Continue Reading »