Baseball Factory MLB Alumni Notebook (Week of 3/11/19)
The MLB Alumni Notebook takes a glimpse into notable performances from around the professional ranks throughout the season. Steve Bernhardt, Chief Baseball Officer for Baseball Factory, provides information on the Factory alumni. Here are a few highlights from the spring so far:
Anthony Alford | OF | Toronto Blue Jays
The ultra-athletic Alford has been heating up of late and is now hitting .304 with a double, four homers and seven runs batted in. Toronto’s #11 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline continues to battle for a roster spot and make his case to be taken north once camp breaks. Alford is a 2011 Under Armour All-American.
Bo Bichette | IF | Toronto Blue Jays
The 2015 Under Armour All-American and Blue Jays #2 prospect homered twice on Sunday – 1 to LF and 1 the other way. He’s now hitting .400 on the spring with four home runs. Bo’s time is coming very soon for Toronto, but he’s slated to begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo.
Daz Cameron | OF | Tigers
The two-time Under Armour All-American (2013-14) homered for the first time this spring and is now hitting .391. He has four doubles and a triple to go with his opposite field blast. The 22-year-old center fielder may be on the verge of being on the major league roster in Detroit, being the Tigers’ #6 overall prospect.
Jesus Luzardo | LHP | Oakland Athletics
Jesus leads all of MLB this spring with 15 Ks. He has been dominant, allowing only one earned run over his 9 2/3 innings pitched for a 0.93 ERA. Luzardo was part of the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game and participated in a 2013 Baseball Factory National Evaluation Tryout event.
Oscar Mercado | OF | Cleveland Indians
Oscar has enjoyed a big spring training at the plate. He has homered three times, driven in eight and is batting .448. Oscar participated in the 2011 Team One Futures East Showcase and was a 2012 Under Armour All-American.
Colton Welker | IF | Colorado Rockies
Colton continues to take advantage of every opportunity he is given. He is hitting a robust .556 so far with a double, two home runs and seven RBIs. Hitting well at each level he’s played at, Welker upped his game in ’18, hitting .333 with 13 homers, 82 RBI and 42 walks in 114 games at High-A Lancaster. Welker participated in numerous Baseball Factory events, including the 2012 Under Armour Fall Classic, a National Evaluation Tryout in 2013 and was a 2015 Under Armour All-American.
Forrest Whitley | RHP | Houston Astros
Forrest is showing why he is one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. He has made three appearances this spring and is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 11 strikeouts in eight innings pitched. The #5 overall prospect on Baseball America’s 2019 Top 100 list pitched well last Fall in the AFL for Scottsdale, walking just seven in 26 innings, a WHIP of 0.96 and 36 strikeouts. Whitley played in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game.