Timing of Perfect Game Sunshine events

It is true that some areas are still playing at that time.

The reason for those Sunshine dates...

The #1 showcase in amateur baseball based on talent and results is the PG National. Has been for the past 8 years. It is a huge event for many of the very best prospects in the country and is usually held in a Major League Stadium. This year there will be a top official from MLB Headquarters talking to the players about professional baseball and the draft. There will also be top official from the NCAA talking about rules and regulations. Should be very interesting!

The PG National is held after the draft and right before USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars which is the following week. Obviously several of the top prospects participate in both of those events (PG National and TOS)

Each of the Sunshine events select certain top players to attend the National. It gives us a chance to evaluate players for the first time or again in order to invite them to the National.

Many outstanding prospects who later became early draft picks or college stars have been seen at the Sunshine events and then invited and attended the National. A few names that first went to the Sunshines that most serious baseball fans would recognize include Andrew Miller, Joey Votto, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Eric Hosmer, Yasmani Grandal, Micah Gibbs, and many others. Several players have gone from the Sunshines and later selected out of the PG National to play in the Aflac Game.

So, the Sunshine events are held for two purposes. One to give exposure and allow us to evaluate and grade players as in all other PG showcase events. Two, to help us find the most talented players to invite to the PG National. The second reason being the main reason for the scheduling dates.

We actually have had a few outstanding prospects miss both the Sunshine and our National due to State finals. I know we missed one from the state of Indiana one year because he was still playing in the state championship game when we held the PG National. If we could move it back a week or two, we would, but we can't.

Hope that explains it.

Perfect, thanks! I appreciate the education. (My dark side may be hoping my 12 doesn't make the finals this year as they did last year )

Our added problem is that many of the alternate PGs, such as the recent Dec/Jan ones conflict with his Basketball team as well.

He's a 12 and running out of time to get on the radar.

Hope to see PG in June and maybe the playoff scheduling gods will look kindly on us here in the Ocean State!

Your darkside does not need to hope for anything. Get to the "Top Prospect" series instead. I believe they run in August.

I will say I have an affection for the "Sunshine" series because my son was a player that was selected out of a "Sunshine" event to participate in the "National" event and the National was a very special weekend for my son and I. However, he participated in the "Underclass" (January) and "Top Prospect" (August) too. They are all great.

Just go to the PG website and get their showcase calendar out. I'm sure one of them will fit in.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by playfair:
Your darkside does not need to hope for anything. Get to the "Top Prospect" series instead. I believe they run in August.[QUOTE]

lol, life is full of conflicts. He is very attracted to the Top Prospect event but as luck would have it its on the same day as a family wedding!

time to sell his soul

My younger son was also invited to the "National" after attending one day of the Sunshine Northeast. As luck would have it, his team made it and eventually won the State Championship. He had a choice to make and to me he made the right one staying with his team and forgoing the best event of the year for a high school player.

Don't hesitate getting your request in for the other PG Showcases. They fill up quickly with many great players and a good recommendation from scouts and coaches can help
Your request.

Coach Merc, I loved your blog.

My son received an invite to the Sunshine NE event but Mass. HS playoffs start that weekend and his team has qualified every year in the last 15. If He registers for the Sunshine event and has to miss it on account of playoffs, does anyone know if PG will let him back out and use the fee for the Top Prospect showcase in August?

call them, they are super nice.