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Baseball: This classic American game is entertainment for most, a passion for some, and a commitment for few. For those few, there is a setting where the most passionate and dedicated come together to pursue their ultimate dreams: IMG Academy. In the summer of 2019, 80 of America’s top rising senior baseball players from the class of 2020 were welcomed to the Bradenton, Florida for an exclusive, invite-only experience like no other, the Prospect Development Pipeline League (PDP).
Designed to establish an official identification and player development pathway for amateur baseball athletes in the United States, Major League Baseball and USA Baseball came together in a collaborative effort to launch the PDP League. Hosted on the Academy campus, players had access to world-class facilities and state-of-the-art technology that helped establish their unique baseball and athletic assessments as part of the league's broader efforts. Unlike what would have otherwise been available from any other baseball schools in the country, athletes participated in competitive play as well as practice and training sessions with on-field coaching from multiple former MLB professionals such as Chipper Jones, Scott Brosius, Harold Reynolds, Barry Larkin, Ryan Howard, and more.
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The PDP League will provide these players, the majority of whom will be in consideration for the following year’s MLB Draft, with the most dynamic, development-focused experience available to high school baseball athletes. Uniquely, the PDP League will also offer players the opportunity to prepare for life beyond baseball by prioritizing leadership and character development as well as personal health and well-being.”
- Morgan Sword, MLB’s Senior Vice President, League Economics & Operations
Evident now more than ever, IMG Academy's championship culture transcends more than just athletic fields and gyms. Ascender student-athletes are able to stay on target towards their goals and grow both academically and athletically both from campus and from anywhere around the globe through tools such as CoachNow, a platform that allows for individualized feedback, team collaboration, instant connections with teammates and coaches, and more, IMG Academy provides an unparalleled curriculum for student-athletes from around the globe to take their game to the next level and to succeed in the classroom.
Interested in learning more about the baseball program? Click here for more detailed information.
