Area Code Tryouts

Ryan Basham from East Forsyth received an official invitation last week to the Montreal Expo's Area Code Team Tryout! It will be held in Harrisburg Pa. on June 23rd. Has anyone else received an invitation. If so please post here.

 

NC Dad....would you explain exactly what that means? I'm thinking that it means he gets to go try out for Montreal Expos but I was wondering what is significant about Area Code Team Tryout. Just have never heard about the who, what , why's of this type of invitation. Thanks.

 

Like its east coast "cousin," the East Coast Professional Baseball Showcase, the Area Code Games are organized into area teams that represent regions of the country. After a recent change in sponsoring, major league organizations, our part of the country now falls into the Montreal Expos' area. The team for which this and other tryouts are held will represent the Montreal Expos at the Area Code Games in Southern California this coming August and play against (I think) seven other organizations' teams.

Bob Williams, who founded the Area Code Games approximately twenty years ago, prefers that the games be referred to as a "scouting combine," rather than a "showcase" because of its close affiliation with major league baseball. A native of Santa Rosa, California, Bob literally split the country into groups of telephone area codes in order to achieve the event's initial organizational structure. MLB's subsidization makes it possible for no fee to be charged to the participating players. They are responsible only for their accomodations and travel.

Players who make the Area Code teams are generally regarded as those most likely to be chosen in the major league draft following their senior year in high school. The vast majority are rising seniors. Invitations to tryout come exclusively from the scout(s) associated with each area's team.

All major league teams participate in the coaching of the teams and are well represented in the stands. Also, virtually every major college baseball program looks on, as well. Additionally, the area tryouts tend to be closely watched by regional college programs, as well. As a result, just trying out for one of the area teams tends to provide good visibility with that region's college programs.

The East Coast Professional Baseball Showcase, held annually early in August at UNC-Wilmington, parallels the Area Code Games in most respects. The only major difference is that no tryouts are held. Instead, each area's organizing scout(s) issue their invitations directly for participation on the team. Again, there is no participation fee.

Any player invited to participate in either event should be proud of their accomplishments to-date. You can read a great deal more about these and other, reputable showcases at the following links:

HSBaseball Web Showcase Section

HSBaseballWeb Showcase Message Forum

 

Prepster.....You ARE Good! Thanks!:notworthy

 

You are VERY welcome, Original!

By the way, how about letting "Pops" and me in on how you bamboozled Braves out of those flowers?! All we ever get from him are...welll...NOT flowers!!

 

It's REALLY a code word for "you are in big trouble now Original"!

 

Thanks Prepster-You beat me to it! I just got back from Greenville. My son had a Junior Day at East Carolina yesterday!
You nailed the Area Codes on the head! Here's the link to their website=> Area Code Games