The Area Code Games have become a time honored tradition for over the past 30 years. It has been almost like a right of passage for a lot of the best players in Major League Baseball. Its alumni includes stars like Albert Pujols, Clayton Kershaw, Kris Bryant, Bryce Harper, and Giancarlo Stanton to name a few.
Its primary focus is to help scouts and those in the front office to get a chance to watch some of the best players in the country go head to head in live game action, with the intent of finding out who the best players are for next year’s MLB Draft. This year’s Area Code Games is no exception. Even with the pandemic, it features almost all of the top 30 high school players on Prospects Live MLB Draft 2021 Rankings and many more. For some it’s an opportunity to step in and make a name for himself against the best competition in the country.
The goal with this preview is for those of you at home to have a list of players to focus on by position as well as an early in-depth look at some of the top players that we’ll be keeping an eye on at the Area Code Games this year. Enjoy!
STRONG CASES FOR BEST HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER IN 2021 DRAFT CLASS
Brady House, SS, Winder-Barrow HS- GA
Brady House was my favorite player to watch hit for Team USA’s 17U Squad that came through the Midwest last year. He has a nice strong frame and generates plenty of bat speed which should allow him to hit for plus or better power and it has already shown the ability to play a factor in games now. There’s some debate as to where his defensive home will be long term as he’s 6’3” and looks like a natural third basemen but he has the talent and the work ethic to stick at shortstop. He also has a strong arm which was clocked at 96 mph off the mound, which would allow him to stick at either. An incredible talent, we have him ranked as the #1 High School player in the country and he very well could be the #1 player taken out of high school in next June’s 2021 MLB Draft. He will be with the Nationals Area Code Team.
Ian Moller, C, Wahlert HS- IA
Ian Moller was my favorite hitter to watch at the Perfect Game National Showcase. He has a nice swing from the right side which makes plenty of loud contact as his double at the PG National Showcase was one of the hardest balls hit at the event. He has a great eye at the plate and demonstrates the ability to hit to all fields, and is a strong defensive catcher behind the plate with a good arm. Ian is a special talent, and an incredible young man with good leadership qualities that has a desire to want to make others around him better. Don’t miss our great feature piece on him and his goals to expand baseball into black communities.
From what I’ve seen, he has all the makings of a future major league catcher with a bat that might be the absolute best high school bat in the country. He is the top catcher in our rankings, prep or college. He will be with the White Sox Area Code Team.
Maddux Bruns, LHP, UMS-Wright Prep HS- AL
Maddux Bruns impressed me a lot last year when I watched him strike out Brady House, Braylon Bishop, and Ryan Clifford at Miller Park when he was with Team USA’s 17U Team. The scary thing for opposing hitters was that he’s gotten even better. He was even more impressive than that when I saw him pitch this year at the Perfect Game National Showcase. He topped out at 98 mph from the left side to go along with a feel for 3-4 above average pitches. Both his curveball and changeup are above average or plus pitches in the making and he’s also shown some feel for a slider. He has had some trouble controlling his arsenal and will need to continue to improve his command but he has perhaps the highest ceiling of this super talented group and he’s shown the ability to make big gains in his development. We sat down with him for a video conversation this past weekend. He will be with the Royals Area Code Team.
Christian Little, RHP, Christian Brothers College HS- MO
Christian Little has always impressed me with his feel for pitching. He has a loose arm that generates tons of easy velocity that has topped out at 94. I first watched him pitch last year when he was with both Team USA’s 17U Squad and he was also an Under Armour All-American. His secondary pitches have gotten better, his curveball has much better break and it seems like he’s confident enough to use it in any count. He also has a changeup that could develop into a third plus pitch in time. Little has a good feel for pitching and does an excellent job of throwing quality strikes and is easily one of the more polished arms among all high school arms. He will be with the White Sox Area Code Team.
50+ NAMES TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO BY POSITION
PG AA = Perfect Game All-American
RIGHT HANDED PITCHERS AC Team
Thatcher Hurd, Mira Costa HS- California Athletics
Eric Silva, Laguna Beach HS- California Brewers
Luke Jewett, JSerra Catholic HS- California Brewers
Irving Carter, Calvary Christian Academy- Florida Nationals PG AA
Eric Hammond, Keller HS- Texas Rangers PG AA
Cale Lansville, Thunder Ridge HS- Colorado Reds PG AA
Max Debiec, O’Dea HS- Washington Royals PG AA
Christian Little, Christian Brothers College- Missouri White Sox PG AA
Jackson Jobe, Heritage Hall HS- Oklahoma White Sox PG AA
Drew Christo, Elkhorn HS- Nebraska White Sox PG AA
Gray Thomas, Heritage Hall HS- Oklahoma White Sox PG AA
Luke Hayden, Edgewood HS- Indiana White Sox
Chase Petty, Mainland Regional HS- New Jersey Yankees PG AA
Shane Panzini, Red Bank Catholic HS- New Jersey Yankees PG AA
Michael Morales, East Pennsboro Area HS- Penn. Yankees
LEFT HANDED PITCHERS AC Team
Gage Jump, Jserra Catholic HS- California Brewers
Brock Selvidge, Hamilton HS- Arizona Reds PG AA
Maddux Bruns, UMS-Wright Prep HS- Alabama Royals PG AA
Josh Hartle, Reagan HS- North Carolina Nationals PG AA
Philip Abner, Charlotte Christian HS- North Carolina Nationals PG AA
Mason Albright, Catoctin HS- Maryland Nationals PG AA
Pierce Coppola, Verona HS- New Jersey Yankees PG AA
* = Left-Handed Hitter # = Switch Hitter
CATCHERS AC Team
Jayden Melendez, Westminster Christian HS- Florida Nationals PG AA
Rene Lastres, Miami Christian HS- Florida Nationals PG AA
Harry Ford, North Cobb HS- Georgia Royals PG AA
Ian Moller, Wahlert HS- Iowa White Sox PG AA
Carter Jensen, Park Hill HS- Missouri* White Sox PG AA
Joe Mack, Williamsville East HS- New York* Yankees PG AA
1st BASEMEN AC Team
Max McGwire, Capistrano Valley HS- California Brewers PG AA
3rd BASEMEN AC Team
Tommy White, IMG Academy- Florida Nationals PG AA
SHORTSTOPS AC Team
Marcelo Mayer, Eastlake HS- California* Brewers PG AA
Cody Schrier, Jserra Catholic HS- California Brewers PG AA
Max Muncy, Thousand Oaks HS- California Brewers
Brady House, Winder Barrow HS- Georgia Nationals PG AA
Michael Braswell, Campbell HS- Georgia Nationals PG AA
Alex Ulloa, Miami Christian HS- Florida Nationals
Drake Varnado, IMG Academy- Florida Nationals
Jordan Lawlar, Jesuit College Prep- Texas Rangers PG AA
Luke Heefner, (Home School)- Texas* Rangers PG AA
Ryan Spikes, Parkview HS- Tennessee Royals
Luke Leto, Portage Central HS- Michigan* White Sox PG AA
Alex Mooney, St. Mary Prep HS- Michigan White Sox PG AA
Noah Smith, Marist HS- Illinois White Sox
Casey Saucke, Greece Athena HS- New York Yankees PG AA
Christian Moore, Suffield Academy- New York Yankees
Danny Corona, Baylor HS- New York* Yankees
OUTFIELDERS AC Team
Jay Allen, John Carroll Catholic HS- Florida Nationals PG AA
James Wood, IMG Academy- Florida* Nationals PG AA
Thomas Dilandri, OF, Palo Verde HS- California Reds
Malakhi Knight, Archbishop Murphy HS- Washington Royals PG AA
Braden Montgomery, OF, Madison HS- Mississippi# Royals PG AA
Braylon Bishop, Arkansas HS- Arkansas* White Sox PG AA
Drew Gray, Belleville East HS- Illinois* White Sox PG AA
Daylen Lile, Trinity HS- Kentucky* White Sox PG AA
Benny Montgomery, Red Land HS- Pennsylvania Yankees PG AA
Joshua Baez, Dexter Bradfield HS- Massachusetts Yankees PG AA
Tyree Reed, American Canyon HS - California Athletics PG AA