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Future Games An Experience Like No Other

WESTFIELD, Ind. - As you eventually find the correct parking lot at Grand Park, the jaw begins to drop.

Walking toward the facility where the Future Games is played, you pass cars with license plates from Maine to Arizona, from Florida to California, from New York to Texas. And then you enter the gate and see standing room only. Scouts, coaches, parents and fans are everywhere.

That is what this Prep Baseball Report event has become.

“Each year the event improves from a scouting aspect as well as the number of colleges in attendance,” explained PBR Michigan Director of Scouting Aaron Wilson. “There is no other place you can perform with 250+ coaches watching.”

Now completing its seventh year, the Future Games is undoubtedly one of the premier events that exists in regard to college exposure, this year drawing in 253 scouts/coaches from across the country. That is up from 247 a year ago, 150+ the previous year and 125+ the year prior.

“It's pretty amazing all the talent that could be in one place,” noted Grand Ledge junior Logan Hylek, one of the catchers on Team Michigan.

What those scouts witnessed were 24 teams featuring more than 500 players representing 35 states, each trying to do their best to get interest from somebody at the next level.

“The Future Games each year is an amazing event to see some of the top underclassmen around the country compete and an opportunity to see guys reach their dream,” Wilson said.

Those that participated from Michigan were more than happy to be part of such a prestigious event.

“Playing for Team Michigan in the Future Games was a tremendous honor and by far the best event I have participated in,” said Jack Blesch of Gull Lake. “I was amazed on how many scouts from across the country were at the Future Games.”

Some had looked forward to it for a few years.

“My brother went in 2014, so being part of Team Michigan was a dream come true,” said Gull Lake pitcher Luke Scoles. “The event by far was the best showcase I’ve ever been to.”

Aries Gardner feels the same way.

“The Future Games is one of the best events to attend,” the U of D Jesuit 2020 said. “It exposes young talent to coaches at the collegiate level like no other.”

But with so many on hand, nerves can come into play.

“I was honored and honestly a bit more nervous than i have been all year,” admitted Alex Forry of Livonia Franklin. “Looking at all the big colleges watching my every pitch was amazing.”

Playing with other standouts from Michigan was a big part of the excitement.

“I loved being able to play with a great group of guys against some of the best competition in the country,” noted Cam Mallegg of Grosse Pointe South “It was amazing to be able to showcase my skills in front of 250 college and pro scouts over multiple days.”

And the end result can only prove to be beneficial.

“The connections I made at the Future Games have already had an impact on my baseball career,” Mallegg said. “I now have lots of new contacts across the state and the country.”

Nolan McCarthy of Portage Northern agrees.

“It will definitely play a beneficial role in my future because coaches who might not have ever seen me play now have, and my college options will definitely expand,” McCarthy said.

Scoles, who pitched against Pennsylvania on the first day games were played, perhaps summed things up best.

“My thought is if you want to be the best, then you need to face the best,” Scoles said. “The Future Games provided me that opportunity.”

That is something the state’s PBR scouting director loves to see.

“For me personally, it's great to see Michigan guys have the opportunity to compete with some of the top baseball states, and obtain national exposure," Wilson said.

A PBR thank you to all that participated and a special thanks to the following players on Team Michigan that gave their thoughts about the event (including what schools have been in contact with them since the event):

***** If you were on Team Michigan and did not share your thoughts, feel free to email us and we will get them included within this article. *****

Dylan Stanton SS / 2B / Gull Lake, MI / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 3 PBR: What were your Future Games highlights? Highlights of the Future Games was my BP and fielding. I didn’t do wrong on any of those. Another big highlight was talking to coaches while I was there. PBR: Assess your performance. I performed very well. Even though I went 1-3 hitting, they were all hard hit balls. Plus in the field I did what I needed to do, no errors and was always in the right spot PBR: Give your thoughts on being part of Team Michigan and what stood out. Team Michigan was a great chance to play with new people and see how they interacted with you. For me, I am more of a physical leader than vocal leader so figuring out who the vocal leaders and physical leaders were was a a great assessment PBR: Touch on the competition you faced at the event. The competition was really good. Off the mound we were seeing mid to high-80s. Plus other teams were better at the plate than us. PBR: How can participating in the Future Games help you in the future? The Future Games can help me in the future with recruiting. If you caught someone’s eye, then you will definitely be playing after high school PBR: What, if any, college coaches did you talk to at the event or hear from since the event ended? Since the event I have talked to Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Boston College, Tennessee, Virginia, Clemson, Northwestern, Butler and Ohio State

Alexander Forry RHP / OF / Livonia Franklin, MI / 2020 Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 5 PBR: What were your Future Games highlights? I came down as a pitcher only and faced Team Canada. With the hitting like they had, I was happy with two strikeouts and just giving up two ground ball hits in the two innings I pitched. PBR: Assess your performance. I would rate my performance as average. I can hit 89-90 mph and I was at two or three below that. My results were decent, however, I was hoping for more MPH. PBR: Give your thoughts on being part of Team Michigan and what stood out. I was honored and honestly a bit more nervous than i have been all year. Looking at all the big colleges watching my every pitch was amazing. PBR: Touch on the competition you faced at the event. Being a pitcher only I face team Canada for two innings. They were stacked with great hitters.  Reading all the results of exit velo and 60-yard dashes and the power arms down there, it shows how many great baseball players there are and being all at the same event was very humbling. PBR: How can participating in the Future Games help you in the future? First. It makes you realize how much work I need to do to stay competitive. Second, it put me in front of so many colleges and that can always help. PBR: What, if any, college coaches did you talk to at the event or hear from since the event ended? I was thrilled Michigan State greeted me by name. Through Aaron Wilson they contacted me and we spoke at length about MSU. It was an honor to do so. Being from Michigan, that was pretty amazing!