CEDAR
RAPIDS, Iowa — The Perfect Game All-American Classic presented by
Rawlings is an annual event that showcases the top high school talent
in the country. This year, the game’s 10th installment, will be played Aug. 12 at PETCO Park in San Diego.
This
prestigious event has produced 117 first-round picks in the MLB Draft,
including: Justin Upton, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Andrew
McCutchen, Jason Heyward and Eric Hosmer.
This
year the All-American Classic will feature the 48 top high school
prospects, including Dane McFarland.
The
6-foot-4, 205-pound McFarland is a right-handed hitting outfielder and
pitcher from JSerra Catholic HS in Laguna Niguel, Calif. He’s
played in several Perfect Game events, including the National Showcase
in Minneapolis earlier this summer. McFarland’s performance there —
which included a 6.5 60-yard dash and two homers in the home run
derby — led to his selection onto the All-American Classic roster.
“I
really enjoyed (the National Showcase) and had a lot of fun,” he
said. “Just meeting guys was nice to get a taste of the talent
across the nation … After one of the games, I was invited to the
All-American Game. It definitely came as a surprise to me.”
McFarland
won’t be able to play in the Classic due to a torn labrum
in his right shoulder. He had surgery on it last month, and won’t
be fully recovered until December.
Albert
Almora was held out of last year’s Classic, but that didn’t
affect his draft value. He was selected sixth overall by the Chicago
Cubs in June.
Despite
the injury, McFarland will be in San Diego this week to enjoy the
three-day All-American experience, which includes a visit to Rady
Children’s Hospital in San Diego. The proceeds from the event are
donated to aid in treatment of pediatric cancer.
McFarland’s
high school teammate Austin Hedges, who played in the 2010 Classic,
has relayed encouraging words about the event.
“He
says it’s a great time and a great experience,” McFarland said.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
When
reminded that the Perfect Game All-American Classic presented by Rawlings has produced players such as
Bryce Harper and Carlos Correa in recent years, McFarland offered a
humble response.
“It
really hasn’t hit me yet, but it’s pretty amazing to think that
these guys have moved on and are now doing bigger things,” he said.
“It really makes you feel good about yourself.”
The
17-year-old played with the ASD Bulldogs travel team in the 2010 and
2011 PG/Evoshield National Championships, and has committed to play
at Oregon following his senior season. But the latter doesn’t
necessarily mean he’ll ever wear a Ducks uniform.
Listed
by Perfect Game as the No. 31 overall prospect in the high school class
of 2013, McFarland will likely draw plenty of interest from teams in
next year’s draft.
“I
really haven’t put much thought into it,” McFarland said about
the possibility of being drafted. “I’m just taking that process
slow. I want to see how my rehab and my senior season go. Getting my
arm back to full health would be my primary goal.
“I
just have to keep working every single day. My goal is (to be
drafted) in the top 15-20 rounds. I’ve been playing since I was
eight or nine years old, so it’s always been a lifelong dream to
play baseball professionally.”
Although
he can pitch, McFarland prefers to play the field because it allows
him to hit. He’s confident in his bat, but admits he needs to
improve against off-speed pitches. In the outfield, his 6.5 speed and
rocket arm allow him to run down fly balls and throw out base-runners, much like his favorite player Josh Hamilton does.
Even
though McFarland was raised in southern California, he’s not an
Angels fan. His mom grew up in New York and has “bred” her son to
root for the Yankees, her hometown team. He grew up idolizing Derek
Jeter, but after attending several Angels’ games this summer, he’s
quickly becoming a fan of Mike Trout.
If
Perfect Game's scouting notes on McFarland -- Exciting combination of power
potential and speed with five-tool potential -- are any indicator,
his skills are very similar to those of his new favorite player.