ARLINGTON – Major League Baseball’s Develops programs have aimed to grow the game’s future by setting up showcases and tournaments all over the country. Several players who came up through those programs have begun reaching the Majors. One has now made it to the sport’s grandest stage....
About States Play
States Play is a premier high school baseball tournament by Major League Baseball and USA Baseball. The goal is to showcase some of the best underclassmen from around the country. The vast majority of these prospects have already verbally committed to some of the nation's top collegiate baseball programs. Former Major League players and personnel served as coaches for each squad.
The original concept featured the best rising seniors from "rival states" that historically produced a high volume of collegiate and pro players. In 2018, the inaugural event pitted Texas against California, with Bobby Witt Jr. leading the "Lonestar" squad to victory. The 2023 edition altered the original format and highlighted rising juniors and sophomores from a number of different states across the country -- as the East squared against the West.
Have questions about States Play? Please email [email protected].
Trending
- Pack, Willits take home States Play Invitational MVP honors
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The curtains closed on the 2023 States Play Invitational from Tempe Diablo Stadium with a similar takeaway from what has been evident to any fan watching the Major League season: the next generation of ballplayers is young, fast and supremely talented. Anthony Pack (Long Beach Millikan HS,...
- VideoWillits, Pack on being co-MVPs
Eli Willits and Anthony Pack talk about being named co-MVPs of States Play
- VideoAnthony Pack's RBI single
Anthony Pack laces an RBI single toward left field in the bottom of the 4th inning to give the West its third run of the game
- Vandy commit Seo dazzles with glove, repertoire at States Play
TEMPE, Ariz. -- One night removed from a 25-run outburst during Game 1 of States Play, right-handed pitcher Minjae Seo set the tone for what would be largely a duel between high-octane arms from the 2025 Draft class. Seo, a Vanderbilt commit, flashed both his style and explosive repertoire for...
- VideoZach Strickland K's 5
Zach Strickland strikes out five over three innings of work in his start in the 2023 States Play Invitational
- VideoHolden Hering's three-K outing
Right-hander Holden Hering strikes out three batters for Team West in the States Play Invitational
- VideoMinjae Seo strikes out six
Minjae Seo strikes out six batters over three no-hit innings in the 2023 States Play Invitational
- VideoMason Braun's RBI single
Mason Braun laces an RBI single to right field, giving the West a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th in the 2023 States Play Invitational
- Offense front and center in Game 1 of 2023 States Play Invitational
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Known as a pure hitter with the ability to barrel the ball to all fields, Kayson Cunningham wasted little time opening eyes on the opening night of the 2023 States Play Invitational. On a night that was infused with offense and speed, no prep star popped more...
- VideoBush Mic'd up at States Play
Homer Bush is mic'd up at States Play while he manages the East team and provides funny commentary on the kids' great play on the field
- VideoJarrett Sabol's two-run home run
Jarrett Sabol hits a two-run home run in the 7th inning at the 2023 States Play Invitational
- VideoEli Willits' RBI triple
Eli Willits whacks an RBI triple down the right-field line in the bottom of the 5th inning at the 2023 States Play Invitational
- VideoKayson Cunningham on States Play
Kayson Cunningham discusses his hitting during the 2023 States Play Invitational
- VideoGrayson Boles' two perfect frames
Right-hander Grayson Boles tosses two perfect innings for Team West in the States Play Invitational
- VideoCunningham's three-hit game
Kayson Cunningham collects three hits, including a triple and double, for Team East in the States Play Invitational
- VideoOmar Serna Jr.'s nice throw
Omar Serna Jr. makes an excellent throw to second base to nab the runner in the bottom of the 2nd inning
- VideoSerna Jr.'s inside-the-parker
Omar Serna Jr. hits an inside-the-park, three-run home run in the top of the 2nd inning in the States Play Invitational
- VideoKayson Cunningham big 1st inning
Kayson Cunningham doubles, steals third and scores on an error in the 1st inning of his States Play Invitational game
- VideoKayson Cunningham's RBI single
Kayson Cunningham lines an RBI single to right field in the top of the 2nd inning in his States Play Invitational game
2023 States Play - East Roster
# | Name | DOB | Position | B/T | Height | Weight | School | Class | City | State | Committed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | Kayson Cunningham | 6/25/2006 | MIF | L/R | 5'9 | 170 | Johnson High School | 2025 | San Antonio | TX | Texas Tech |
22 | Everett Johnson | 4/3/2006 | OF/INF | L/R | 5'9 | 165 | Wayne Country Day School | 2025 | Youngsville | NC | NC State |
23 | Tate Southisene | 10/6/2006 | INF/OF | R/R | 5'11 | 165 | Basic High School | 2025 | Henderson | NV | USC |
26 | Fleming Hall | 9/19/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'0 | 185 | Trinity Presbyterian School | 2025 | Montgomery | AL | Auburn |
32 | Ezra Essex | 11/3/2003 | OF | R/R | 5'9 | 155 | Marion Catholic High School | 2025 | Chicago | IL | Oklahoma State |
45 | Minjae Seo | 6/5/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'1 | 175 | Hebron High School | 2025 | Carrollton | TX | Vanderbilt |
47 | Lamar Edwards Jr. | 10/31/2006 | OF | L/L | 6'1 | 195 | Spruce Creek High School | 2025 | Lake Helen | FL | Duke |
52 | Jarrett Sabol | 8/19/2006 | C | L/R | 6'1 | 221 | Aliso Niguel High School | 2025 | Orange | CA | USC |
54 | RJ Cope | 5/6/2007 | LHP/INF | L/L | 6'4 | 225 | Georgia Premier Academy | 2026 | Lawrenceville | GA | |
55 | Landon Harmon | 9/9/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'5 | 180 | East Union Attendance High School | 2025 | New Albany | MS | Mississippi State |
60 | John Kasten | 7/19/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'3 | 190 | Clovis High School | 2025 | Clovis | CA | |
61 | Zion Theophilus | 6/28/2006 | RHP | L/R | 6'2 | 185 | Archbishop Moeller High School | 2025 | Cincinnati | OH | LSU |
63 | Clayton Armah | 11/16/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'4 | 180 | St. John's College High School | 2025 | Great Falls | VA | Auburn |
66 | Dax Hardcastle | 6/1/2007 | RHP | R/R | 6'2 | 220 | St. Mary's High School | 2026 | Stockton | CA | |
67 | Donavan Jeffrey | 1/21/2007 | INF/OF | R/R | 6'2 | 215 | LC Byrd High School | 2025 | Chester | VA | Miami |
68 | Xavier Neyens | 10/29/2006 | INF/RHP | L/R | 6'4 | 200 | Mount Vernon High School | 2025 | Mount Vernon | WA | Oregon State |
69 | Sebastian Norman | 2/14/2007 | INF/OF | R/R | 6'2 | 225 | Glendale High School | 2025 | Springfield | MO | Oklahoma State |
70 | Grayson Burleson | 9/22/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'4 | 200 | Summertown High School | 2025 | Summertown | TN | Vanderbilt |
75 | Omar Serna Jr. | 1/3/2007 | C | R/R | 6'2 | 225 | Dobie High School | 2025 | Houston | TX | LSU |
2023 States Play - West Roster
# | Name | DOB | Position | B/T | Height | Weight | School | Class | City | State | Committed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | Alexander Mercurius | 1/4/2007 | RHP | R/R | 5'10 | 175 | Durango High School | 2025 | Las Vegas | NV | |
22 | Eli Willits | 12/9/2007 | MIF | S/R | 6'0 | 165 | Fort Cobb-Broxton High School | 2026 | Fort Cobb | OK | Oklahoma |
30 | Anthony Pack | 12/19/2006 | OF | L/L | 5'10 | 170 | Long Beach Millikan High School | 2025 | Lakewood | CA | |
39 | Cody Freitas | 2/8/2007 | RHP | R/R | 6'0 | 180 | Bradley Bourbonnais High School | 2025 | Bourbonnais | IL | Arizona |
43 | Grayson Boles | 9/18/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'4 | 200 | Saint Augustine High School | 2025 | San Diego | CA | |
45 | Josiah Hartshorn | 2/2/2007 | INF/OF | S/L | 6'2 | 205 | Orange Lutheran High School | 2025 | Anaheim | CA | |
46 | Brock Sell | 10/27/2006 | INF/OF | L/R | 6'0 | 175 | Tokay High School | 2025 | Stockton | CA | Stanford |
47 | James Whitaker | 8/6/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'3 | 200 | Bishop Gorman High School | 2025 | Las Vegas | NV | LSU |
50 | Mason Braun | 3/2/2007 | INF/OF | L/L | 6'0 | 195 | New Prairie High School | 2025 | South Bend | IN | |
51 | Zach Strickland | 6/25/2006 | RHP | S/R | 6'2 | 180 | Maranatha High School | 2025 | Arcadia | CA | UCLA |
52 | Vaughn Neckar | 12/26/2006 | RHP/DH | R/R | 6'3 | 220 | Vista Murrieta High School | 2025 | Murrieta | CA | LSU |
53 | Trent Grindlinger | 7/14/2006 | C | R/R | 6'2 | 195 | Huntington Beach High School | 2025 | Huntington Beach | CA | |
54 | Andrew Jacobs | 7/10/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'2 | 160 | Mountain Ridge High School | 2025 | Peoria | AZ | Arizona |
55 | Quentin Young | 3/2/2007 | INF/OF | R/R | 6'5 | 210 | Oaks Christian High School | 2025 | Camarillo | CA | |
58 | Mason Pike | 8/28/2006 | RHP/INF | S/R | 6'0 | 190 | Puyallup High School | 2025 | Puyallup | WA | Oregon State |
60 | Parker Jennings | 12/4/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'4 | 185 | Granite Bay High School | 2025 | Granite Bay | CA | Oklahoma State |
61 | Joe Forbes | 12/24/2006 | C | R/R | 6'2 | 198 | Mountain Ridge High School | 2025 | Peoria | AZ | Arizona |
70 | Brett Crossland | 7/13/2006 | RHP | R/R | 6'6 | 247 | Mountain Pointe High School | 2025 | Phoenix | AZ | |
74 | Holden Hering | 3/7/2007 | RHP | R/R | 6'5 | 225 | College Station High School | 2025 | College Station | TX | Texas Tech |
COACHES
Team Managers: Howie Kendrick & Homer Bush
Coaches: Brad Penny, Reggie Williams, Dan Otero, Gerald Laird, Tommy Thompson, Rick Eckstein, Kirk Champion, Roy Hallenback
Scout Supervisor: Nathan Durst
Strength & Conditioning: Allen Thomas
Equipment Manager: Eric Blum
Follow