MLB, USA Baseball Host 2nd Annual ‘DREAM SERIES’

Major League Baseball and USA Baseball will host the second annual ‘DREAM SERIES’ at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Los Angeles Angels, from January 11^th through the 15^th, in connection to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The ‘DREAM SERIES’ will feature a diverse group of more than 60 of the country’s top high school pitchers and catchers in a special training camp atmosphere, which will include top-tier instruction and mentorship from former Major League players and coaches.

Renowned fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo, son of former MLB Manager Jerry Manuel, will make a special appearance, continuing his support of MLB’s youth programs.  Lorenzo previously made ‘Fear of God’ PLAY BALL-themed t-shirts and hats during the 2017 MLB All-Star Game in Miami and for the World Series ‘PLAY BALL’ event in Houston. The elder Jerry will serve as the head field instructor for the DREAM Series while Anthony Manuel (RBI Regional Coordinator for MLB) will coach at the development camp. DREAM Series participants will also receive presentations regarding baseball career opportunities, both on and off the field, from MLB Umpire Kerwin Danley and MLB Umpire Supervisor Cris Jones.

As with other amateur development camps in the “Breakthrough Series” model, a contingent of college recruiters and professional scouts are expected to attend and evaluate players who demonstrate potential but may not have had the opportunity for exposure through other events.  The DREAM Series is the first installment of several amateur development camps hosted by MLB and governing bodies (USA Baseball & USA Softball) in 2018.

On Thursday, Jan. 11^th (7 p.m. at Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes), participants will attend the “Players & Coaches Welcome Dinner” and meet their ‘DREAM SERIES’ coaches, which includes the following:

• Tom “Flash” Gordon, Three-time MLB All-Star; 21-Year MLB Pitcher
• Bob Didier, Six-Year MLB Catcher; Former MLB Coach
• Marquis Grissom, Two-time MLB All-Star; 17-Year MLB Outfielder
• Charles Johnson, Two-time MLB All-Star; 12-Year MLB Catcher
• LaTroy Hawkins, 21-Year MLB Pitcher
• Darren Oliver, 20-Year MLB Pitcher
• Marvin Freeman, 10-Year MLB Pitcher
• Kenny Hill, 1994 All-Star; 14-Year MLB Pitcher
• Lenny Webster, 12-Year MLB Catcher
• Jerry Manuel, Former Major League Manager & Infielder; MLB Youth Programs Consultant
• Pat Mahomes, 11-Year MLB Pitcher
• Junior Spivey, 2002 MLB All-Star; Five-Year MLB Second Baseman
• Fernando Arroyo, Eight-Year MLB Pitcher
• Darrell Miller, Five-Year MLB Catcher; Vice President, Youth & Facility Development, MLB
• Anthony Manuel, RBI Regional Coordinator, MLB
• Reggie Waller, Former Major League Scout and Front Office Executive

Friday, January 12^th – Monday, January 15^th , 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Tempe Diablo Stadium)

Throughout each day, MLB Senior Vice President of Youth Programs, Tony Reagins, and MLB Senior Director of Baseball Development Del Matthews, will be available for interviews.

PDP Player Assessments

Additionally, the participants will have the opportunity to undergo unique athletic assessments, consisting of performance vision screening, swing analysis and precise physical testing.  These voluntary assessments are supported on-site by USA Baseball, typically through Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) Premier Events, which have helped establish an official identification and player assessment pathway to all 30 MLB Clubs and the MLB Scouting Bureau for elite high school age baseball players in advance of the annual MLB Draft. Regional PDP Premier Events will be hosted throughout the country in 2018.

These assessments include the following:

• Athletic Assessment – Will capture objective performance measurements including gait analysis, dynamic broad & counter-movement jumps, agility, cognitive speed of processing, and, grip strength & slant board sway tests.
• Sport Vision Screening– Will screen players with a set of vision tests designed to help athletes by assessing vision strengths and identifying areas of vision that can be improved to enable them to reach maximum performance levels.
• Swing Analysis – Each athlete will be assigned to a sensor to track each swing they take, to monitor the barrel speed, hand speed, acceleration and impact momentum. High-speed, slow motion video will also be captured on every athlete.
• Ball Flight Analysis – For pitchers, measurements will include velocity, spin rate, spin axis, spin efficiency vertical & horizontal break.  For hitters, measurements will include ball exit velocity, spin rate, distance and launch angle.

Resulting data from the assessments will be compiled into an individualized report for each player.  The data captured will be used as a tool in the development and optimization of each individual player.

WHERE: Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282

             Phoenix Marriott Tempe at the Buttes, 2000 West Westcourt Way, Tempe, AZ 85282