Perfect Game will host its annual All-American Classic on August 16th at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The event will showcase the country’s most talented teenage baseball players, offering them the unique opportunity to play on the same field that hosted July’s MLB All-Star Game.

A Showcase for Future Stars

The Perfect Game All-American Classic is considered baseball’s equivalent to the McDonald’s All-American Game. This year’s event will feature 60 players from across the nation, many of whom are projected to become future Major League Baseball stars. Past participants include players who have gone on to achieve All-Star status in the MLB.

Philadelphia as the Host City

Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, a part of Perfect Game’s ownership group, will serve as the honorary chairman of the All-American Classic. “Baseball is America’s game and this is where America was built,” said Perfect Game CEO Rob Ponger. “This is where the next generation of baseball players are going to be built.”

Ponger emphasized the intentional choice of Philadelphia as the host city, stating, “Philadelphia is a true baseball city: passionate, knowledgeable, loud. We want these players to feel what it’s like to perform under real big-league pressure.”

Event Schedule

Perfect Game will take over Citizens Bank Park while the Phillies are on the road. The schedule includes:

  • August 14th: All-Star Game for underclassmen
  • August 15th: Home Run Derby
  • August 16th: All-American Classic

A Dream Realized

Ponger highlighted the significance of the event for the young players, saying, “They just watched the All-Star Game in Philadelphia and now these kids are stepping onto the field…When these kids step on the field it’s like, ‘Wait a second. My dreams are becoming a reality.’”

He added, “For me, we’re creating memories and moments for these kids. This is the dream. This is the opportunity.” Ponger also pointed to the success of past participants, citing Joseph Contreras, who recently pitched against Aaron Judge in the World Baseball Classic after playing in a Perfect Game All-American Classic.