More than 40 of the top high school baseball underclassmen around the country will compete in the 2023 “STATES PLAY” invitational, a premier development experience supported by Major League Baseball and USA Baseball. The goal is to showcase players from the class of 2025, many of whom have already verbally committed to some of the Nation’s top collegiate baseball programs.
Players representing approximately 20 States, including at least two players from the Greater Phoenix area (Brett Crossland, Mountain Point High School; Joe Forbes, Mountain Ridge High School), will compete in the “East vs. West” team format at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Los Angeles Angels. The rosters also include four players from “THE PROGRAM,” a six-week baseball development initiative created in 2023 to give diverse student-athletes an opportunity to train together and demonstrate their elite-level abilities in premier tournaments in different parts of the United States. These players include Quentin Young (Oaks Christian High School, CA), Alexander Mercurius (Durango High School, NV), Donavan Jeffrey (LC Byrd High School, VA) and Clayton Armah (St. John’s College High School, VA).
Following a Friday morning workout, the teams will play on Friday and Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. Arizona Time. Sunday’s contest is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. The games on Friday and Saturday will stream LIVE on MLB.TV, MLB.com and in the MLB App, with Gregg Caserta and former Big League Slugger Eric Thames on the call. Sande Charles will provide sideline reporting during the broadcast. Friday’s stream will re-air on MLB Network on Saturday, September 23rd at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Former Major League players & coaches, and other notable baseball representatives, will coach the States Play teams, as noted below:
Team Managers: Howie Kendrick & Homer Bush
Coaches: Brad Penny, Reggie Williams, Dan Otero, Gerald Laird, Tommy Thompson, Rick Eckstein, Kirk Champion, Roy Hallenback
Scout Supervisor: Nathan Durst
Strength & Conditioning: Allen Thomas
Equipment Manager: Eric Blum