What to search for within the 2023 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League

With the College World Series wrapping up Monday and All-Star festivities in Seattle proper across the nook, there’s a ton of concentrate on the 2023 Draft lately. But this week, we’ve received our eyes on 2024 too.

Major League Baseball and USA Baseball have labored collectively to create this 12 months’s version of the Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League to be held from June 26-July 3 on the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. To put together followers for one of many largest occasions on the summer season showcase circuit, listed below are some solutions to incessantly requested questions for the 2023 circuit:

What is the PDP League
First held in 2019, the PDP League brings 100 of the very best high-school juniors (on this case, the Class of 2024) collectively in North Carolina to indicate off their abilities in entrance of dozens of Major League scouts and USA Baseball evaluators. Those 100 gamers are separated into 4 groups (Gray, Light Blue, Navy, Red) and can play video games towards one another for the subsequent week whereas additionally finishing different exercises and player-development periods with USA Baseball coaches.

While many of the consideration will likely be paid to how they increase their Draft inventory towards superior competitors, the gamers are additionally competing for USA spots on the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup, to be held in Taiwan from Sept. 1-10. They’ll have loads of assist alongside the way in which with former Major Leaguers Doug Mientkiewicz (Light Blue) and Jack Wilson (Red), former Pirates and Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein (Navy) and longtime Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin (Gray) serving as managers.

How to observe
Tuesday’s doubleheader (Light Blue vs. Gray, 1 p.m. ET; Navy vs. Red, 4 p.m. ET) will likely be an MLB Network manufacturing streamed stay on MLB.com. Gregg Caserta, Bo Porter and Sam Dykstra will likely be on the decision stay from Cary. All different video games by means of subsequent Tuesday (besides an offday on Friday) will even be streamed on MLB.com.

Who to observe
Full rosters for all 4 groups had been introduced Sunday. Here are 5 notable gamers price preserving tabs on within the days forward:

Derek Curiel, OF, Orange Lutheran (West Covina, Calif.), Team Gray: Both Curiel (one other LSU commit) and Griffin are able to displaying off defensively in middle area, so it’ll be fascinating to see who will get the majority of taking part in time in the midst of the grass for Gray. If they play collectively, be careful as a result of different groups could possibly be in hassle attempting to sneak something into the gaps. Curiel covers the zone nicely as a left-handed bat too, and alongside along with his self-discipline and plus pace, he could possibly be a future leadoff hitter within the professionals.

PJ Morlando, OF/1B, Summerville (Summerville, S.C.), Team Light Blue: Morlando isn’t a stranger to standing out on a giant stage after going 7-for-21 (.333) with three homers and three doubles in World Cup qualifiers final fall in Mexico. He’ll deliver that spectacular mixture of energy and plate self-discipline to Cary as nicely, however he’ll want his protection within the outfield corners or at first base to be no less than ample to maintain his identify excessive on 2024 Draft boards.

Bryce Rainer, 3B/RHP; Harvard-Westlake (Simi Valley, Calif.), Team Red: Harvard-Westlake has famously produced pitchers Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty and has a hitter on the way in which in Top 10 total prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong. Rainer offers this system one other likelihood at a notable bat. The left-handed slugger, who’s dedicated to Texas, has straightforward elevate in his swing that enables him to generate good pop for his age. He has sufficient arm power for both spot on the left aspect of the infield however would possibly profile finest at third base, the place the cannon can actually play.

Bryce Clavon; SS/OF Kell (Kennesaw, Ga.), Team Navy: Like Morlando, Clavon doesn’t have a university dedication getting into this week, maybe as a result of he’s preserving his choices open in two sports. The 6-foot Peach Stater can be a dual-threat quarterback with abilities that translate nicely to the diamond like his well-above-average pace, robust arm and quick-twitch nature within the field. Normally a shortstop, he might get some seems within the outfield too within the days forward, however the explosiveness he brings might guarantee his future is on the diamond.

PDP League sport schedule (all occasions ET)

June 27
Light Blue vs. Gray, 1 p.m.
Navy vs. Red, 4 p.m.

June 28
Red vs. Light Blue, 11 a.m.
Gray vs. Navy, 2 p.m.

June 29
Light Blue vs. Navy, 3 p.m.
Gray vs. Red, 6 p.m.

July 1
Red vs. Navy, 1 p.m.
Gray vs. Light Blue, 4 p.m.

July 2
Light Blue vs. Red, 12:30 p.m.
Navy vs. Gray, 3:30 p.m.

July 3
Third Place Game, 11 a.m.
Championship, 2 p.m.