MAX STAGG THE ONLY AUSTRALIAN INVITED TO "THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SHOWCASE EVENT IN ALL OF AMATEUR BASEBALL"

South Australian baseball player Max Stagg will get a chance to showcase himself in front of some of the world’s top baseball scouts and play in a big-league stadium this week.

The West Torrens outfielder, a member of the U18 National Junior Squad and the Adelaide Giants, has just landed in St. Petersburg, Florida for the Perfect Game National Showcase.

The event, which runs from July 20-24, brings together the best Year 12 students across the USA in one place to see them perform and play against each other.

The Perfect Game National Showcase has become the most prestigious showcase event in all of amateur baseball. Since the event’s inception in 2001, 480 former participants have played in the big leagues and that number is growing fast. Over 2,600 have been selected in the MLB Draft.

Through Baseball Australia’s ever-evolving relationship with Perfect Game, an invite was extended for one player to take part in the biggest showcase of the year.

Enter Max Stagg.

“It’s a great honour to be the only Australian going to this event and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Stagg. “I’m excited to to be the first, but even more excited to help create this pathway for more Australians to attend Perfect Game events in the future.”

Stagg will get the opportunity to showcase his skills via a timed 60 yard sprint, defensive work, throwing to bases from right-field and batting practice.

He will then play in multiple games against the best players in the US in front of college coaches and professional scouts.

Max has his showcase day on July 22 and then will play games July 23rd and July 24th.

“I can’t wait to be amongst the top high schoolers and show them what I can do,” he says.

Stagg has been working hard the last year and has seen results pay off. He helped lead West Torrens to a local premiership, made his Giants debut, and was named to the U18 World Cup training squad. He even wore the Green & Gold in games vs the Giants last season.

Stagg was second on the team with a .352 average in the Giants’ exhibition season.

“The work I’ve done includes training six times per week as well as working out at the gym six times per week with an elite group of high performance athletes. I’ve been working hard building my tools to be able to put up the best possible numbers at these sorts of events,” he says.

Stagg will return to South Australia at the end of the month. He’ll be back home training with BaseballSA high performance manager Riley Moore at the HP Academy in preparation to return back to Florida as part of the 18U National Junior Squad where selection will take place.

There will be more social posts to come during the event, so stay tuned!

Perfect Game helps players achieve their dreams of playing baseball at the collegiate level, and for some, the professional level.

For more information on the Perfect Game National Showcase, click here.

By Eric Balnar