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2020 Northeast Future Games - New Look, Same Excitement - Team Massachusetts

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DUBOIS, Pa. - New look … same excitement and enjoyment.

That was the general feeling from those that participated in the 2020 Future Games at Showers Field and Stem Field in Dubois, Pa.

The different look, based off of COVID-19 restrictions, resulted in eight squads combining to form the Northeast Future Games, including Team Massachusetts. Teams representing New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Michigan and Ohio as well as Team Select - with players from six different states - participated in the ninth annual experience.

“I thought the organization of the event, the fields, the people involved in it were all exceptional,” noted Dennis Healy, PBR Massachusetts Director of Scouting. “It ran like a well-oiled machine. We are all lucky to have such an opportunity to be at this event during the times we are all going through.

“The venue was outstanding, clean, well kept up and they were gracious in hosting us.”

Players came away impressed with the event as well.

“There is no better way at this age to showcase your ability,” explained Jack Goodman, a middle infielder from Medfield ranked 27th in the New England 2022 class  “If you’re serious about playing college baseball, then this is the place for you. I can’t thank Coach Healy and the staff enough for everything.”

Marc Willi, a 2022 from Noble and Greenough, is another that had positives to say about the PBR event.

“The competition at the Future Games was unmatched,” noted Willi, a 6-4 240-pound left-handed hitting first baseman. “During the event we played Team Connecticut, Team New York and Team Select. Every team had top players from the Northeast and as a hitter it was great to face 85 miles per hour-plus every game which will help prepare you for college ball.”

Getting looks from college coaches was different this year due to the constraints from the coronavirus, but live streaming helped alleviate any concerns in that regard with an estimated 300-plus coaches from across the country looking on.

“The Future Games is a great way to be exposed to colleges, and gain constructive feedback on how to improve my game,” pointed out James Agabedis, a Lawrence Academy middle infielder rated 56th in the 2022 New England class..

The exposure brings hope to all players participating when it comes to a college offer and commitment. Willi came away with exactly that soon after..  

“I’m proud to have committed to continue my academic and baseball career at the University of Michigan,” related Willi, the 14th-rated 2022 in New England. “I was in contact with many great schools, but the PBR Future Games helped enhance my recruiting by giving me the opportunity to play live games with top-talent kids.”

One of the most highly-recruited players was Thomas White, the top-ranked 2023 in the nation who was back for his second appearance at the Future Games.

“It was less pressure the second time around because I knew what to expect,” noted White, a 6-4 left-handed pitcher from Phillips Academy Andover.

Massachusetts came away with two wins in three games over the course of the Future Games.

“We certainly swung the bats extremely well,” Healy said. “We competed and showed very well at the event. We were aggressive on the bases and pushed the envelope offensively.

“Defensively, we just played okay and the pitching was average. We had some guys struggle with command and other guys cruise through their outing. All in all, it is a good experience for all involved.”

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

James Agabedis SS / 2B / Lawrence Academy, MA / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 56 / POS: 14 PBR: What were your Future Games highlights? Having the opportunity to meet and play alongside some of the top players from my region, but also compete against kids from around the country. PBR: Assess your performance. I thought I was able to help my team defensively, but wish I could’ve done more to contribute at the plate. PBR: Give your thoughts on being part of Team Massachusetts and what stood out. It was an honor to represent Team Massachusetts at this event. I was impressed at how quickly the team chemistry came together. PBR: Touch on the competition you faced at the event. I feel that the competition was some of the best I’ve seen so far this summer and that the teams were evenly matched. PBR: How can participating in the Future Games help you in the future? The Future Games is a great way to be exposed to colleges, and gain constructive feedback on how to improve my game. PBR: What, if any, college coaches did you talk to at the event or hear from since the event ended? At this point, I haven’t heard from any schools.