JUPITER, FLORIDA – MJ Seo walked the rubber on the mound in the big stadium Thursday afternoon in his comfort zone.
For the 18-year-old right-hander from Plano, Texas, pitching at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium was just another day at the ballpark. This is because Seo is used to facing top competition at the top showcase events.
This weekend, Seo and the rest of his 3n2 Sticks Baseball Brewster/White Sox Scout Team participated in the annual Perfect Game WWBA World Championship, one of the top wood bat tournaments in the country.
“It means a lot,” Seo told SB Live. “Obviously, all the best teams from around the country are in one place, trying to win it all, and have the same goal in mind. It means a lot, especially since this is my last travel ball tournament.”
Hebron (TX) pitcher/shortstop MJ Seo showed off his skills at the Perfect Game Wood Bat World Championship in front of thousands of college and pro scouts this weekend in Jupiter Florida. He is committed to LSU, but could also have professional opportunities after he graduates next spring.
Photo by Joe Frisaro
Seo, a pitcher/shortstop, plays for Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas.
Committed to signing with LSU, Seo is no stranger to appearing in front of large numbers of scouts. Few showcases have as many scouts as the WWBA World Championship.
“I saw they said there were 7,000 college and pro scouts here together,” 3n2 Sticks coach Chase Brewster said. “I don’t know if it’s accurate, but it feels like 100,000. Everywhere you turn, it’s a ‘Who’s/Who’ and a somebody, a bunch of special people.”
Next summer, Seo will likely have a decision to make after his senior season — to attend LSU or sign professionally?
That is a decision for a later date, after the 2023 MLB Draft.
“I’m ready to go to LSU, that’s the priority,” he said. “Whatever happens, can happen. I focus on that. It’s a few months away. I live in the present.”
The wooden bat tournament is one of Perfect Games’ premiere events. A year ago, three of the first four overall picks in the 2022 MLB Draft played in this event: first pick Jackson Holliday (Baltimore Orioles), second pick Druw Jones (Arizona Diamondbacks) and fourth pick Termarr Johnson (Pittsburgh Pirates).
“It’s definitely special, just knowing that a lot of great players came to play on the same fields as us,” Seo said. “It means a lot. That’s pretty cool.” While this tournament does not have projected top of the first round players, it does include many who could go later in the first round or certainly the first few rounds.
SEO fits into that category.
“He’s had a great, great summer for us, and he’s turned himself into one of the best prospects in the country,” Brewster said. “We are very proud of him.”
Seo’s younger brother, Minjae, also plays for 3n2 Sticks Baseball. Part of the 2025 class, Minjae is already committed to Vanderbilt.
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is the Spring Training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. Games are played on the back fields used by the major league clubs in Spring Training, and then the Minor Leaguers take over, keeping the complex active virtually all season.
Only a few matches are played in the nearly 7,000-seat stadium. 3n2 Sticks Baseball Brewster is one of the teams that streams its game over the Internet.
For the players, the PG tournament provides a platform to showcase their skills against the best of their peers.
“I just try to show my arsenal on the mound, and obviously in the box I try to take good at-bats, and I try to be a consistent player,” Seo said. “Whoever is there, the coaches or scouts, it’s obviously great. I try to play the same game no matter what. Whether it’s 100 scouts out there, or zero scouts. I’m trying to play the same game. It doesn’t really change anything for me, but it’s definitely more exciting.”
When not on the mound, Seo usually plays center infield.
“MJ is one of the few kids we’ve had that really gets the game prep and the postgame,” Brewster said. “He is an extremely hard worker. He works out all the time. He does yoga. He does little things that some people might think are silly or take for granted. It’s made him a much better athlete, and it’s put his body in a position to be able to do things that he probably shouldn’t be doing every three or four days off the mound.”
A few weeks ago, Seo added meditation to his routine.
“Obviously he’s an incredible hitter, so we have to monitor when he plays in the field, before and after he pitches,” Brewster said. “He usually plays shortstop. He was our shortstop all summer. We play him second after he pitches and we DH him before he pitches, just to make sure he’s fresh.”
