BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Some of the most talented high school baseball players in the country are gathering in Birmingham this week for a highly competitive national tournament.
The 2024 Perfect Game 17 and Under National Elite Championship will be the most prestigious event held at Rickwood Field since the MLB game on June 20th.
On Wednesday, CBS 42 spoke with players who are excited to be playing at Rickwood Field, a place that’s been home to so much baseball history.
“When you go to any ballpark, you think it’s just a regular ballpark, but when you see all the historical figures that have played here in the past, it’s just so amazing,” said Noah Prudencio, a player on the Florida Dodgers scout team.
Memphis Tigers coach Judson Belote described the Perfect Game Tournament as “a dream come true.”
“They’re basically trying to get into a college program where they can come in and play right away and be successful in college,” Belote said.
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Participating in elite tournaments makes young players more visible to scouting agents.
“We have a lot of kids that are going on to D1 baseball. Guys that are going to Auburn, Alabama, Vanderbilt,” said Gerald Watkins, president of the Friends of Rickwood Field Association. “We have scouts coming from Columbia and Ivy League schools. These are really quality baseball players.”
For some of the players, this was the first time they had learned about the stadium’s history.
“There’s a little picture of Satchel Paige at the front of the stadium,” Prudencio said, “and he’s a good pitcher and, of course, Jackie Robinson played here, but he’s just a great guy.”
The five-day tournament concludes on Thursday, with further Perfect Game tournaments scheduled for later this month. Watkins said on Monday that Australian baseball players would arrive at Rickwood Field for the matches.
