On Sunday July 12th, Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO will host the 2009 All-Star Futures Game. The competition, between prospects from the United States and prospects from other parts of the World, serves as an opportunity for the leading minor league players to show off their skills. Baseball Factory is proud to announce that six of the 50 athletes participating in Sunday’s game came through the Baseball Factory program before making it to the pro level.

Jason Castro, originally from Castro Valley, CA, will be catching in Sunday’s game. Currently playing for the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, Castro participated in Baseball Factory’s 2004 Team One West Showcase. Castro is currently batting .312 with 8 homeruns and 48 RBI’s.

Third baseman Josh Vitters, of the low Class-A Chicago Cubs, previously played in Baseball Factory’s 2006 Cape Cod High School Classic and the 2005 Team One National Underclass Game. Vitters, from Anaheim, CA, has had his best season yet after an injury-filled first season and a half. Vitters was the MVP of the Cape Classic and is one of the top prospects in the Cubs minor league system.

Brett Wallace, currently with the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, will also be playing third base on Sunday. A member of USA Baseball’s National Team in 2007, Wallace was drafted in 2008 and has already reached Triple-A. This year he is batting .270 with 8 homeruns and 25 RBI’s. A lefty, Wallace shows promise as one of the most gifted hitters in the 2008 draft.

Casey Kelly, from Sarasota, FL, is currently playing for the high Class A Red Sox and will be pitching in Sunday’s game. Kelly, who played in Baseball Factory’s 2007 Cape Cod High School Classic, has shown tremendous potential on the mound. Casey is the son of former major league catcher, Pat Kelly, who played for the Blue Jays in 1980.

Brett Lawrie, the only Baseball Factory player on the World roster, will be playing second base in Sunday’s game. Lawrie also played in Baseball Factory’s 2007 Cape Cod High School Classic and is the highest-drafted position player ever to come out of Canada. Lawrie currently plays in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

A second baseman for the high Class-A Athletics, Jemile Weeks started the season late due to a torn left hip flexor, but has made up for lost time. Weeks, who had a hit in his first 18 games, is currently batting .395. He participated in the 2003 Team One Florida Tryouts, and helped lead the University of Miami to the College World Series in 2008.

Baseball Factory would like to congratulate these bright young stars who have begun their professional careers with such great success. We are proud of the six former Baseball Factory players who have been recognized as rising stars by earning roster spots in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game.

 For more information on how you can get started with Baseball Factory, check out the Under Armour National Tryouts