The Dick’s Perfect Game All-American Classic — the premier high school summer baseball showcase — is coming home.
After three years in Phoenix, the event is returning to San Diego, where it had a 12-year run at Petco Park and two years at San Diego State’s Tony Gwynn Stadium.
This year’s event is set for Aug. 17 at Petco; the game matches the top 60 high school seniors-to-be in an East-versus-West format.
“We enjoyed a three-year run in Arizona with the Diamondbacks, but we had a wonderful long-term relationship with the Padres, and this was the right time to reconnect,” said Brad Clement, Perfect Game’s executive vice president general manager. “The fans in San Diego seemed to enjoy the game, embrace it. And they came to the game. Petco Park is such a wonderful venue, the Padres are great to work with and there are so many activities in San Diego for the players and fans.”
One of the highlight activities was a pool party for all 60 players at the home of Padres Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman returns as honorary chairman of the event, a role he held from 2011-21.
“What a thrill it is for Perfect Game and the Padres to bring the All-American Classic to San Diego,” Hoffman said. “The Classic is something young baseball players work hard to be a part of. And we couldn’t be more excited to showcase the best of the best.”
The Perfect Game All-American Classic has produced 305 MLB players, 293 first-round draft picks and more than 850 total draft picks.
The list of big-leaguers includes Bryce Harper, Christian Yelich, Manny Machado, Gunnar Henderson, Cody Bellinger, Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado, Alex Bregman, Freddie Freeman, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Correa, Max Fried, Paul Skenes, Bobby Witt Jr., Kris Bryant, Madison Bumgarner, Jack Flaherty, Cory Seager, Eric Hosmer and Buster Posey.
San Diego has been well represented. Some of the local high school players who have participated in the game include Nick Noonan (Francis Parker), Sean Bouchard (Cathedral Catholic), Marcelo Mayer (Eastlake), Spencer Jones (La Costa Canyon), Calvin Mitchell (Rancho Bernardo), Mickey Moniak (La Costa Canyon), Nick Allen (Francis Parker), Derek Diamond (Ramona), Daniel Camarena (Cathedral Catholic), Phillip Evans (La Costa Canyon), Tony Wolters (Rancho Buena Vista), Cody Poteet (Christian), Corey Oswalt (Madison), Matt Bush (Mission Bay), Stehpen Gonzalves (Cathedral Catholic), Alex Jackson (Rancho Bernardo), Ryan and Sean O’Sullivan (Valhalla) and Jack Haferkamp (Santa Fe Christian).
Three No. 1 overall picks have taken part in the game. Three of them — Matt Bush (2004), Brady Aiken (2014) and Mickey Moniak (2016) — grew up in San Diego.
“The All-American Classic is the longest-running amateur All-American game, and San Diego has always been a special place for this event,” said Perfect Game CEO Rob Ponger. “There is a lot of local , and we can’t wait to celebrate the incredible talent of these young athletes in one of baseball’s most beautiful ballparks.”
