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FIRST ON FOX: The Perfect Game All-American Classic is heading east, as the premier tournament of the world’s largest baseball scouting organization will be held at Citizens Bank Park in 2026, home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The All-American Classic will take place on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. Perfect Game CEO Rob Ponger told PK Press Club Digital how excited he is that the game is coming to Philadelphia.
“It’s also America’s 250th birthday, right? Philadelphia, Philly, it’s like the Stars, Pinstripes and Prospects, right? From 1776 to 2026, America was born 250 years ago and the future stars of baseball are born at this event,” Ponger told PK Press Club Digital.
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A general view of Citizens Bank Park during the national anthem on opening day between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers. This photo was taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 26, 2026. (Émilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Perfect Game All-American Classic features the nation’s top 60 high school baseball players, many of whom become first-round draft picks and future great players.
Phillies stars Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler, Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr., Baltimore Orioles star Gunnar Henderson and New York Mets star Francisco Lindor all played in the All-American Classic.
With the game taking place in Philadelphia, Ponger said the game took on added significance because of the city’s historical value. He hopes it will help children create a memory that will last a lifetime.
“These kids are going to have moments that will last a lifetime. Even if they don’t make it to the majors or whatever, it’s a moment and, again, you know, when the national anthem plays before the game, you just take a step back and again the importance of America’s 250th birthday,” Ponger said.
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Charlie Manuel shakes hands with players during a Perfect Game 14U Select Fest. This photo was taken in Fort Myers, Florida in August 2025. (Courtesy of Perfect Game)
“It’s our PG All-American game. It’s in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell in the background. I think it’s just cool.”
Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who helped the team win the World Series championship in 2008 and is the winningest manager in franchise history, is the event’s honorary chair.
Ponger called him a Philadelphia legend and said it was very meaningful to have him at the event.
In addition to the All-American Classic on Sunday, Perfect Game will also host the PG All-Star Game on Friday, August 14 at 11 a.m. ET, and the Launch Hydrate Home Run Challenge on Saturday, August 15.
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Bryce Harper poses with Perfect Game players for a photo before the 2019 Perfect Game All-American Classic. This photo was taken in San Diego, California in August 2019. (Courtesy of Perfect Game)
Ponger hopes the weekend in Philadelphia will leave lasting memories not only for the children, but also for their families, who have been with them every step of their journey.
“America is the land of opportunity and dreams, right? And these kids are on the path to it. So, it almost seems cliché, right? But like I said, stars, stripes and prospects,” Ponger said.
“But the parents, it’s all their hard work over the last (many years) since they were little kids, it’s not hopefully the highlight because they’re going to D1 and they’re going to MLB, but for this moment, they should be honored too, all the parents, right? And on top of that, now their hard work, it’s still the symbolism of America.”
