Before the best in Major League Baseball took the field to compete in the All-Star Game festivities last week, a couple of Moore League baseball athletes had the opportunity to compete with Compton’s MLB Youth Academy during the MLB Commissioner’s Cup in Philadelphia.
Long Beach Poly’s Malakai Pruitt and Millikan’s AJ Nonato were able to compete in the annual 17U baseball tournament that’s composed of teams from MLB Youth Academies from across the country and Puerto Rico.
“Being a part of the event was an absolute blessing,” Millikan’s AJ Nonato said. “It was an awesome experience, being in the beautiful city of Philadelphia and going to all the cool all star game events.”
It’s a special year for the MLB Youth Academy, as it celebrates its 20th season serving the local community which has featured some future big leaguers including Lakewood alum and Mariners shortstop, JP Crawford.
It was Nonato’s first year competing with the team after receiving an invite from coach Lorenzo Gray to join the team.
“I was very excited as well as my parents,” Nonato said about getting the invite. “We were very grateful for the opportunity coach Gray gave me.”
For Pruitt, it was his third year playing for the team but it’s always an experience he cherishes being able to participate in.
“To be honest with you, playing in the Commissioner’s Cup is a blessing,” Pruitt said. “You go to many events, for example you get to go to the Home Run Derby, HBCU Classic and the futures game. As a young player, as a young baseball player,” Pruitt added. “Really looking up to those people that are playing on the field and makes it seem like I want to be there one day. Also playing in the tournament was also a blessing.”
Before the tournament, the teams received free gear and were able to attend multiple events once the tournament was over including the Futures Game that featured Lakewood alum and rising big leaguer Anthony Eyanson who is the Boston Red Sox No. 2 prospect.
“I was awesome seeing a fellow 562 guy pitching in a game like that,” Nonato said. “He did great and it really made me realize that us Moore League kids are hungry and when we have a goal we will do what we need to achieve it – that’s the Moore League way.”
Eyanson wasn’t the only Moore League representative to take the field during All-Star Weekend as Wilson alum Myles Dismute was on the National League roster for the HBCU Swingman Classic.
“It was pretty cool to see another guy involved in a big game,” Nonato said.
Both Pruitt and Nonato said it was great to be able to participate on the team and make it to the championship game.
“Being able to share the field with Malakair was great,” Nonato said. “We have to play against each other all the time but being able to be on the same team was pretty cool.”
“Me and AJ are friends so we got along very well,” Pruitt added. “It meant a lot to me to show these other coaches that the Moore League is a good league and we have good baseball players and good people in this league.”
After the tournament the team were able to attend the Home Run Derby where St. Louis’ Jordan Walker won in electric fashion to defeat Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber in the final round.
“Being out there was crazy,” Nonato said. “I mean the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park was exciting and awesome. Phillies fans were goin crazy for every event especially during the home run derby. The ending was insane, Jordan Walker’s comeback was definitely one for the history books and being abe to be there and experience it was amazing.
Pruitt and Nonato have since continued their tour with the MLB Youth Academy where they won the MLB Nike RBI Regional Tournament in Portland. They will now compete at the Nike RBI World Series in Vero Beach, Florida in August.
