The 2022 States Play Invitational concluded a lot in the identical vogue that it started: with handshakes, hugs and shared laughter all combined along with the grime and grass of a baseball diamond. Gamers from 22 states got here collectively to face-off in a showcase occasion that over three days, pitted the potential stars of tomorrow in opposition to each other. The following time they conflict may very well be in faculty, Minor League ball and even the Majors.
Previous to the occasion, the aim was to each showcase the preternaturally proficient stars within the Class of 2024 and to offer them a style of what awaits if their present trajectory is any indication. From the star-studded teaching staffs, to the Spring Coaching and large league venues, and even the vaunted day sport after an evening sport, USA Baseball and Main League Baseball got here collectively to ship a memorable expertise.
With roughly two dozen scouts readily available, eyes had been glued to all 21 innings of motion in Arizona. Listed below are a few of the names that stood out:
Samuel Richardson, IF/OF, West, Lewisburg HS (Olive Department, Miss.):
The lone attendee on the occasion from Mississippi, Richardson was a last-minute addition to the West squad. He was additionally the one participant to go deep throughout the three contests, together with his third-inning roundtripper Sunday touring nicely past 420 toes to right-center discipline — with a wooden bat. The College of Missouri commit was named the MLB Develops MVP for his efficiency.
Max Charles, IF/SHP, West, Liberty HS (Peoria, Ariz.):
Whereas a handful of States Play members each hit and pitched over the course of three days, Charles was the lone participant readily available to bat from each side of the dish and throw with each arms. The 6-foot-3 infielder/pitcher roped a game-tying RBI double throughout Sport 1 on Friday, earlier than rocketing a single in his first at-bat throughout Sport 2 on Saturday at Chase Area. He closed out his weekend by recording a pair of outs on the hill, hitting 88 mph on the gun as a righty and 87 as a lefty.
Anson Seibert, RHP, East, Blue Valley Southwest HS (Overland Park, Kan.):
Considered one of many premier arms within the Class of 2024, the College of Tennessee commit dominated throughout his three innings on a Main League mound at Chase Area. The 6-foot-8 righty sat constantly within the 91-93 mph vary together with his fastball, on which he accrued 4 of his six strikeouts. He additionally showcased a biting slider, which he felt was his finest pitch all through the outing.
Mason Brassfield, LHP/OF, West, Bakersfield Christian HS (Bakersfield, Calif.):
Brassfield and Seibert went strikeout-for-strikeout on Saturday. The 6-foot-3 left-hander compiled six punchouts of his personal for the West squad, deftly deploying his depraved 81-83 mph hook, which accounted for 4 of his strikeouts. A TCU commit, Brassfield additionally drew a stroll on the dish in Sport 1.
Talan Bell, 1B/OF/LHP, East, Hagerty HS (Oviedo, Fla.):
A handful of gamers each pitched and hit throughout States Play, however none had been as impactful on each side of the ball as Bell. Garnering the Friday evening begin for East, Bell twirled three scoreless frames with 5 strikeouts, together with whiffing 4 consecutive batters. The Florida State commit then notched an opposite-field RBI single on Saturday, earlier than promptly swiping a bag. He tied a knot on his weekend by drawing a stroll within the first inning Sunday and including one other stolen base.
Aiden Harris, 3B/RHP, East, Manchester HS (Midlothian, Va.):
The only most dominant body of the weekend on the hill belonged to Harris, who struck out the primary three batters Sunday, all wanting. Together with his fastball within the 88-91 mph vary, the College of Virginia commit in the end retired all six batters that he confronted, recording 4 strikeouts (three of which got here on his heater). The 6-foot-4 righty additionally hit cleanup Saturday and drew a stroll.
Josh Springer, C, West, Corona (HS), Calif.:
Springer departs Arizona because the lone occasion attendee to have collected a success in all three video games. The College of Oregon commit notched two singles in Sport 1, together with a dramatic walk-off knock for the West. After going 1-for-2 in Sport 2, the 6-foot-2 backstop added an RBI double and a stolen base in Sport 3. All in all, he completed 4-for-6, as his quartet of knocks led all gamers.
Sir Jamison Jones, C, East, St. Rita of Cascia HS (Chicago, In poor health.):
Catching at a showcase occasion supplies its personal distinctive hurdles, particularly the issue of working with quite a lot of pitchers. Regardless of that, Jones was in a position to showcase his defensive prowess throughout the three contests. After having proven spectacular reflexes behind the dish Friday, he reduce down a runner making an attempt to steal Saturday. Half an inning prior, he plated a run at Chase Area with an RBI single to middle.
