By Josh Boyd

August 6, 2001

LONG BEACH, Calif.–They're called the Area Code Baseball Games, but these are not your everyday baseball games. There's no cheering, and aside from the scoreboard operator, nobody knows (or cares) what the score is. All you hear is the sounds of the game, beeping stopwatches and clicking radar guns. The crowd is made up of scouts, college recruiters, agents and parents.

They are here for one reason.

"Our mission is to present a draftable player," Area Code Games president Bob Williams said. "All I want out here is 250 athletes. If I don't get them from America, I will get them from Asia or Latin America."

Every major league organization is represented, all of the major agents are on hand, and Williams estimates 80 colleges are attending. They come for good reason. Since the Area Code Games started 15 years ago in Lodi, Calif., 280 of its participants have gone on to play in the majors.

"It is a scouting combine and learning experience," Williams said. "The name of the game is to play, develop and learn."

The nine Area Code Games teams are made up of rising high school juniors and seniors, all nominated by a pro scout.

"The transition is huge," Williams said. "My thinking is they can use this as a stepping stone. The reason the games started were so that kids can compare themselves against others. If he doesn't have the tools, go home and work harder."

In an era where a prospect coming out of high school or college can sign for better than the major league average salary, exposure is everything.

"I have noticed changes in the philosophy of players and their parents," Williams said. "Exposure has become more important than learning the game and developing the tools of the player."

If exposure is what they want, they get plenty here. Staring down the barrels of hundreds of radar guns and into the eyes of scouts who could hold the key to their future can be intimidating.

"This is the real deal," lefthander Scott Kazmir said. "It's your chance to show what you've got. You just go out there and give your best stuff, show everything you have, nothing less than your best."

Kazmir knows a thing or two about giving his best and being the best. Rated the No. 1 high school prospect for the 2002 draft, Kazmir is no stranger to the Area Code Games. He first came to national prominence here as a rising junior a year ago.

He was the most impressive prospect at Perfect Game USA's showcase in St. Petersburg, Fla., in June. The 6-foot, 175-pounder from Cy Falls High in Houston impressed scouts with a 92-96 mph fastball and a plus breaking ball. He said last year's experience in the Area Code Games has helped him.

"This is the best competition in the U.S.," Kazmir said. "Everybody is at the top of their game. I want to say I matured a little from last year. Watching these guys play, it helps me out."

Kazmir is expected to take the mound on Wednesday, so scouts were checking out other high-profile prospects on Monday.

The top two shortstops in the nation--Sergio Santos and B.J. Upton--showcased their tools. Santos, from Southern California prep powerhouse Mater Dei High, stood out in the morning's infield practice with his strong arm, tremendous range and Nomar Garciaparra-like actions. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder could outgrow the position and end up at third, however.

Upton, rated No. 3 behind Kazmir and Santos by Prospects Plus and Baseball America, is a five-tool athlete with the makings of a major league frame. He has a plus arm, soft hands and natural shortstop actions.

The most impressive pitcher so far has been righthander Mark McCormick out of Clear Creek High in Clear Lake, Texas. The ball exploded out his hand, lighting up the radar guns at 90-96 mph.

Righthander Stephen Kahn, from nearby Servite High in Anaheim, was one of the day's biggest surprises. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder generated an 89-93 mph fastball with excellent arm speed and showed a promising curveball.