Menu Close
News

19 Baseball Factory Alums Named 2016-17 Gatorade State Baseball Player of the Year

The 2016-17 Gatorade State High School Baseball Player of the Year winners have been announced and 19 Baseball Factory alums have been named Player of the Year in the state they reside in.

Each player below has attended at least one Baseball Factory event. Seven former Under Armour All-Americans were selected as well as one player who will be playing in this year’s Under Armour All-America Game in his home state, Alek Thomas, who resides in Chicago, Illinois.

You can check out the full list above at the link. Here are the Factory alums below.

Tanner Burns

Alabama – Tanner Burns | Decatur HS | Decatur, AL

The 2016 Under Armour All-American posted a 10-1 record with an ERA of 0.88 in 64 innings this season, taking the Red Raiders to the Class 6A quarterfinals. Burns struck out 116 batters and also did damage with the bat, hitting .467 with 16 homers.

Royce Lewis

California- Royce Lewis | J Serra HS | San Juan Capistrano, CA

Another 2016 Under Armour All-American, Royce is one of the more highly-touted prospects in this year’s MLB Draft who could be selected near the top. Royce was great last summer, homering in the All-America Game and later helping USA Baseball’s 18U National Team to a gold medal at the COPABE Pan American Championships in Mexico. Lewis hit .377 with four homers, 32 runs and 25 stolen bases this season.

Ben Casparius

Connecticut – Ben Casparius | Staples HS | Westport, CT

Casparius pitches and plays shortstop for the Wreckers, going 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA and 57 strikeouts in just 33 1/3 innings pitched this season. With the bat, he hit .449 with seven homers. Casparius attended Baseball Factory’s National South Showcase in 2016 where he displayed a low 90’s fastball.

Ryan Steckline

Delaware – Ryan Steckline | Appquinimink HS | Middletown, DE

Steckline has been a steady performer for the Jaguars this season, posting a 1.33 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings and slugging .561 as the team entered state postseason play. The senior left-handed pitcher and first baseman attended an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Wilmington, DE in 2014 and 2015.

Logan Allen

Florida- Logan Allen | University HS | Orange City, FL

Allen has been outstanding on the field, going 11-0 with a minuscule 0.42 ERA and striking out 126 batters for the Titans this season. He’s also hitting .446 with 27 runs scored. Allen was a member of USA Baseball’s Gold Medal-winning 18U National Team last fall. He’s also been outstanding in the classroom as well, maintaining a weighted 4.19 GPA and the left-hander will play at the next level with Florida International University.

Allen is a Baseball Factory Top 100 High School prospect and attended the Futures East Showcase in 2015 where he pitched two innings, consistently keeping hitters off balance.

Drew Waters

Georgia – Drew Waters | Etowah HS | Woodstock, GA

Steady at the plate, Waters has put together a strong senior season for the Eagles, hitting 13 homers, driving in 35 and scoring 43 runs with a .494 average through 42 games.

In last year’s All-America Game, Waters drew a walk and scored a run in two plate appearances. Waters was also an Under Armour Pre-Season All-American in 2016, running a 6.65 -60 at the event in Mesa, Arizona and showed strong defensive skills in the outfield. He also attended the 2015 Futures South showcase in Peachtree City, GA.

Alek Thomas

Illinois – Alek Thomas | Mount Carmel HS | Chicago, IL

Talented 2018 prospect, Alek Thomas will put his skill set on display in front of the hometown crowd this July at the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field. Dynamic with the bat and glove, the Chicago native batted .470 with five triples, 11 homers, 43 RBI and 59 runs scored through 35 games. In the classroom, Thomas holds a 3.84 GPA.

We first saw Thomas at a 2013 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in River Forest, IL, showing off his tremendous upside, which was in full effect at his next event, Baseball Factory’s National World Series at Pirate City in July, 2013. In January, 2015, Thomas played in the Baseball Factory All-America Pre-Season Rookie Tournament, showing off his advanced approach at the plate.

Jo Adell

Kentucky – Jo Adell | Ballard HS | Louisville, KY

Highly talented two-time Under Armour All-American, Jordan ‘Jo’ Adell has brought the lumber this season, knocking 24 out of the park and positioning himself as one of the top prospects to be selected in this year’s draft. At the time of this selection, he’s hitting .554 with 60 RBI in 34 games. Plain and simply, the game just comes easy to him. He’s a potential five-tool player with solid outfield skills and can even jump on the mound and fire a mid 90’s fastball.

Adell went 1-for-4 and played all three outfield positions at last year’s Under Armour All-America Game, his second consecutive appearance.

Jacob Pearson

Louisiana – Jacob Pearson | West Monroe HS | West Monroe, LA

Pearson is a senior outfielder who batted .519 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI and 53 runs scored this past season, leading the Rebels to a 38-3 record and the Class 5A state final. Pearson is an LSU commit but has potential to have his name called on draft night.

Pearson attended an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Jackson, MS in January, 2016 and five months later, played in Baseball Factory’s National Florida showcase. He is also on Baseball Factory’s Top 100 High School Prospects list.

Cam Guarino

Maine – Cam Guarino | Falmouth HS | Falmouth, ME

Guarino is a Baseball Factory veteran, having attended seven events and is a two-time Under Armour Pre-Season All-American. We first saw Cam at a December 2014 Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP event in Lewiston, ME where he performed well enough to be selected for the first of two Pre-Season All-America appearances in Arizona.

Guarino has dominated the baseball scene in Maine, posting a 0.18 ERA, striking out 50 batters in 38 1/3 innings pitched this season.

Mississippi – Trey Shaffer | Biloxi HS | Biloxi, MS

Trey is a left-handed pitcher/outfielder combo that has posted a terrific 1.20 ERA with 106 strikeouts in just 64 1/3 innings this season, helping his team get to the 6A quarterfinals. Shaffer is a Southeastern Louisiana University commit.

Shaffer attended a 2015 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Jackson, MS.

Nevada – Austin Wells | Bishop Gorman HS | Las Vegas, NV

Wells splits his time between first base, shortstop and DH for the Gaels, as he hit .500 with eight homers, 47 RBI this season. Wells has committed to play at the next level with the University of Arizona.

In 2014, Wells participated in the Under Armour 16U Southwest Championships and the SoCal Classic as an underclass.

New Hampshire – Brennen Oxford | Oyster River HS | Durham, NH

Oxford is a left-handed pitcher/outfielder that has tossed four no-hitters this season, posting an 0.21 ERA and giving up only two hits in 34 innings with 55 strikeouts.

Oxford attended a 2014 Under Amour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Lewiston, ME.

Quentin Holmes

New York – Quentin Holmes | Monsignor McClancy Memorial  | East Elmhurst, NY

Holmes batted lead off and played centerfield for the American team in last year’s All-America Game, walking once and scoring a run in two at-bats. In 24 games this season, Holmes hit. 463 with seven home runs, 24 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Holmes has the potential to hear his name called early in this year’s MLB Draft.

Cameron Jorda

North Dakota – Cameron Jorda | Dickinson HS | Dickinson, ND

The third baseman/right-handed pitcher is being shown some love after helping his squad to a 27-3 record this season, hitting .416 with 33 RBI through his first 30 games and posting a 2-1 record with a 1.62 ERA and two saves on the mound.

In 2015, Jorda attended an Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP in Dickinson, ND.

Ryan Vilade

Oklahoma – Ryan Vilade | Stillwater HS | Stillwater, OK

Vilade showed off his power potential in last year’s Home Run Derby,wowing the crowd at Wrigley Field before the All-America Game, taking home the championship.

The senior shortstop maintains a 3.94 GPA in the classroom and on the field, played steady defense and hit .410 with seven homers and 28 RBI as he helped lead his team to the 6A Regional Championship game this season. Vilade was yet another contributor to USA Baseball’s 18U National Team winning a gold medal in Mexico.

Baseball Factory first saw Ryan at the 2013 Futures Texas Showcase (while still living in Texas), later participating in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, a National Tryout in Plano, TX and the 2015 Futures Texas Showcase.

Alex Scherff

Texas – Alex Scherff | Colleyville Heritage HS | Colleyville, TX

Scherff has an 8-0 record and an 0.44 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched this season for the Panthers as he looks to have his name called in this year’s draft as a potential early selection. The Colleyville, TX native was a 2016 Under Armour All-American.

Virginia – Andrew Abbott | Halifax County HS | South Boston, VA

Abbott dominated pitching in the state of Virginia, posting a 0.27 ERA with 123 strikeouts and just three walks in 51 2/3 innings this season.

Baseball Factory first saw Andrew at a 2013 National Tryout in Roanoke, VA and participated in Baseball Factory’s Spring Training at Pirate City in January of 2014.

Drew Hefner

West Virginia – Drew Hefner | Bridgeport HS | Bridgeport, WV

Hefner is a senior catcher and hit .455 with 42 RBI through 30 games and will play at the next level with the University of Charleston.

Baseball Factory saw Drew at a 2016 College PREP event in Charleston, WV.

The tour experience.

At your Under Armour Baseball Factory tryout, you’ll be evaluated by our professional coaches, get tips to improve your game, and meet other players from your area.

Experience a tryout
Player pages with a Factory-Certified Video and Written Evaluation are viewed 50% more often than those without.
Read how Baseball Factory player Chris Givin realized his dream of playing collegiate baseball at Xavier University by utilizing the College PREP Program
“One of the things we were impressed with was the (College PREP) video.
The video definitely had an impact.”
Division I Head Coach on player Chris Givin

Partners

Oakwood Lodging
Under Armour
  • Twitter

    30K

  • Facebook

    70K

  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • The Baseball Factory, Inc. is a BBB Accredited Baseball Club in Columbia, MD

Share