The popular two-day collegiate baseball event will now precede a high school invitational tournament.
SHAWNEE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Jayhawk Sophomore Showcase returns to Wichita September 23-24, giving college coaches and professional baseball scouts from across the country the opportunity to scout the top sophomores from the area during the two-day event. New this year to the annual event is the Perfect Game Midwest Invitational, a three-day high school tournament featuring top high school travel teams from across the Midwest, September 24-26.
“The coaches in our conference are extremely excited to partner with Perfect Game to help elevate what is already an incredible experience for the players,” said Matt Goldbeck, President of the KJCCC Baseball Coaches Association and head coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College. “The reach Perfect Game has is second to none and a great addition to help showcase nationally the exceptional talent we have in our conference.”
The Jayhawk Showcase, which will be held at Eck Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University, begins with player evaluations for pitchers and position players followed by the East Division All-Star game on Thursday and the West Division All-Star game on Friday. Perfect Game scouting will be on-hand during to assist with the process and provide updates throughout the weekend on social media and website. PerfectGame.TV will broadcast the sophomore showcase on its streaming platform, expanding the reach of the event nationwide.
“We are extremely excited to have an organization like Perfect Game give the Jayhawk Conference a first-class experience for their annual sophomore showcase,” said Ryan Carter, head coach at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan. “It will be a great experience for all of our players in addition to giving them the exposure they deserve.”
Over the years, college scouts and recruiters from all levels of collegiate baseball have attended the Jayhawk Sophomore Showcase looking for talent to add to their roster. The East Division will feature players from Allen County CC, Coffeyville CC, Cowley College, Fort Scott CC, Highland CC, Johnson County CC, Kansas City Kansas CC, Labette CC, and Neosho County CC. The West Division includes players from Barton CC, Butler CC, Cloud County CC, Colby CC, Dodge City CC, Garden City CC, Hutchinson CC, Pratt CC and Seward County CC.
“This is one of the top Midwest events for all MLB scouts, college coaches/recruiters and MLB agents,” said Terry Wetzel, 37-year MLB front office veteran and current senior advisor at Perfect Game. “Over the years, MLB evaluators, college coaches/recruiters and agents have attended the Jayhawk Sophomore Showcase looking for talent and several top MLB and college players started their careers playing in junior college. The Jayhawk Conference is one of the best in the nation.”
The PG Midwest Invitational, slated to begin September 24 at Genesis Sports Complex, will bring top-level high school talent to the forefront. This marks the first time a tournament will run alongside the Jayhawk Sophomore Showcase, giving scouts and recruiters already in Wichita the opportunity to watch younger talent in the Midwest. Teams already committed to this invite-only event represent five states from across the Midwest.