Petco Park is set to host the top high school baseball players in San Diego for the first annual high school All-Star game presented by the San Diego Padres. The game will take place on June 6th and will also include a home run derby.
For those who aren’t aware, San Diego is a hot-bed filled with talented amateur baseball players. The San Diego Padres will have the chance to see how a few of these amateurs perform at Petco Park in a local All-Star game next week.
Number one overall picks in the MLB draft who are from San Diego include, Adrian Gonzalez (2000, Eastlake H.S), Matt Bush (2004, Mission Bay H.S), Stephen Strasburg (2009, San Diego State), Brady Aiken (2014, Cathedral Catholic H.S) and Mickey Moniak (2016, La Costa Canyon High School).
A number of other players have also been drafted very high in recent drafts as well. After Aiken was selected number one overall in 2014, only five picks later with the number six pick, the Seattle Mariners selected Alex Jackson from the legendary Rancho Bernardo High School.
Other notable drafted players include LHP Stephen Gonsalves (Madison H.S), SS Kyle Holder (USD), and Utility Player Phillip Evans (La Costa Canyon H.S). Oh and Cole Hamels (Rancho Bernardo H.S)
I think it’s safe to say that the city of San Diego has no shortage in developing baseball talent.
This year’s high school all-star game should continue to prove why San Diego is a top-notch baseball city. Rosters will include the top 24 high school players from the area.
The top draft prospects playing in this game will include Kingston Liniak ( OF, Mission Hills H.S), Joey Magrisi (RHP, Torrey Pines H.S), and Grant Holman (RHP, Eastlake H.S).
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Holman and Magrisi both possess a mid 90’s fastball and compliment it nicely with solid off-speed pitches. Magrisi is a warrior on the mound and is always attacking hitters. Magrisi went 54 consecutive innings without giving up a single run. That mark broke former MLB pitcher, David Wells‘ high school record of 41 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.
Holman immediately stands out thanks to his 6″6, 220-pound stature. This has led him to get great, downhill tilt on his pitches.
Kingston Liniak is a speedy outfielder with tremendous potential with the bat. His instincts in the outfield allow him to take great reads off the bat and efficient routes on fly balls. He is considered one of the top hitters in the county.
The all-star game will not only include high school seniors eligible for this year’s draft but will also consist of sophomores and juniors that will be draft eligible in the near future. Spencer Jones from La Costa Canyon High School is a name to watch in this game as he should be a top draft prospect in 2019.
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The all-star game will take place on June 6th, an hour after the Padres and Braves game which takes place at 12:40 PM. You can buy tickets on Padres.com.