Crack of the Bat

By Jim Zellmann

 

PG Jupiter Championship UPDATE

 

Yesterday I wrote the following as part of a story about the PG WWBA Champioships.

 

The first Baseball America team in 2000 defeated Team California to win the title.  That team coached by Jim Morris was the one that included Kazmir, Sowers and Delmon Young.  Other top players on that team included Landon Powell, Mike Sweeney, Mickey Hall, Andy Gonzalez, Robert Harmon, Billy Paganetti, Luis Gonzalez, Kevin Guyette and several others. Delmon Young was only a sophomore at the time, Kazmir was entering his junior year in high school.

 

Then in 2002 the Baseball America team won it all again.  The Miami team won the 2001 championship.  The 2002 BA team was even more loaded than in 2000 with top prospects.  A few names on the roster included future first round picks… followed by (MLB club now with)… Chad Billingsley (Dodgers MLB), Matt Bush (Padres), Jeff Allison (Marlins), Trevor Plouffe (Twins), Ian Stewart (Rockies), Chris Perez (Cardinals), Andrew Miller (Tigers), Lastings Milledge (Mets MLB), and Delmon Young (Devil Rays MLB).  Ryan Sweeney (White Sox) became a second round pick who should be in the Big Leagues shortly with the White Sox.  Other top players on that team were Jarod Hughes (Pirates), Anthony Whittington (Angels), Brennan Boesch (Tigers), Justin Brashear (Diamond Backs), Lance Zawadski (Cardinals), and some other top rated players.

 

The above Baseball America team selected by Perfect Game and comprised mostly of high school juniors just four years ago, has three players presently in the Big Leagues.  At least two or more could get called up soon.  When it is all said and done there could be a dozen or even more from that team who will play in the Major Leagues.  This is arguably the most talented high school age team ever assembled.

 

UPDATE:  Just yesterday (after this column was posted) Andrew Miller was called up by the Detroit Tigers.  Then today Ryan Sweeney was called up by the White Sox.  This now makes 5 players from that one team in 2002 that are already in the Big Leagues.  And there are plenty more yet to come!  Here’s an interesting picture from the WWBA Championship 2002 in Jupiter, Florida.

 

 

This column represents the thoughts and opinions of the author and are not necessarily those of Perfect Game.