Nearly two dozen high school baseball players from the region will have the chance to showcase their talent in front of Major League Baseball scouts from all 30 big league teams in the 31st annual Area Code Games next month.
The invite-only showcase will bring the top high school baseball players from across the country to Long Beach for a tournament that begins on Monday, Aug. 6. High school baseball players from Sacramento, Elk Grove, Carmichael, Vacaville, Roseville, Davis, Modesto, Folsom, Turlock, Jackson, Woodland, and El Dorado Hills will be representing Northern California in the Area Code Games.
UCLA baseball commit Xavier Carter is among the locals representing the class of 2019 in the showcase while Franklin High School's Chase Davis is among the local underclassmen participating.
The Area Code Games have eight regional rosters featuring more than 200 of the top high school prospects competing at the highest level while also being evaluated at the highest level. With scouts from every MLB team in attendance, this tournament serves as the beginning of a nine-month interview process culminating with the Major League Baseball Draft next June.
The Northern California team will be representing the Oakland Athletics. Southern California (Milwaukee Brewers), the Pacific Northwest (Kansas City Royals), the Midwest (Chicago White Sox), the Southeast (Washington Nationals), and the Northeast (New York Yankees) are the other regions competing in the Area Code Games. The Cincinnati Reds will represent the players from the Four Corners, Nevada, Hawaii and El Paso, Texas, in the showcase featuring players from 48 states.
This year's Home Run Derby winner Bryce Harper, MLB All-Star Mike Trout, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, and Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton are among the famous big leaguers to have participated in the Area Code Games previously.
The 2018 Area Code Games will be held Monday, Aug. 6 through Friday, Aug. 10 at Blair Field in Long Beach.