Alumni Impact #1: Early Season Accolades
COLLEGE UPDATE
Senior third baseman Julian Barzilli (2007 Ryan Lemmon Sophomore Showcase, 2008 Team One West, 2007 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout) helped Whittier go 7 for 10 this past week. Barzilli ended the week with 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 runs scored and 8 RBI.
Vanderbilt’s Tyler Beede (2009 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout, 2009 Team One North) is off to a 2-0 start for the Commodores. The junior pitcher has thrown 11 innings, giving up only 1 earned run for a 0.82ERA. Beede has struck out 10 hitters in those 11 innings.
Jo-El Bennett (2010 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament) of Troy, earned National Player of the Week honors after a 14-5 win over Northern Kentucky. Jo-El, a junior outfielder, went 3-5 with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs.
Concordia-Texas first baseman Connor Bertsch (2011 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout) had a big week hitting .75 with 4 doubles, 1 home run, and 3 RBI. The sophomore also posted a 1.750 slugging percentage this week.
Sophomore outfielder James Bunn (2009 Arizona Fr/So Fall Classic, 2012 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, 2010 Omaha National World Series,
2009 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout & Premium Video Program) earned A-10 Player of the Week honors by helping to lead VCU to a 4-1 record for the week. Bunn hit .421 with 8 hits, 1 double and 9 runs scored.
Two Factory alumni are leading Oregon this year. Porter Clayton, (2010 Under Armour All-America Game) back after a two-year mission, has made four appearances for the Ducks. He has 1 save while not allowing a hit, run, or walk and has struck out 5. Matt Krook (2011 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, 2011 Team One West, 2011 USA Baseball 16U Championships, Baseball Factory Premium Video Program) in his first two collegiate starts combined, has thrown 13.1 innings allowing only 3 earned runs and striking out 19.
Jorge Flores (Baseball Factory Premium Video Program) of Navarro JC was named the NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Week after his winning performance against Grayson County. He pitched 7 innings allowing no hits or runs while striking out 2.
Aaron Nola (2010 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Trout) of Louisiana State University has been dominant in his first two outings of the season. In 13 innings played, the junior pitcher has allowed 0 runs and only 4 hits. He has only walked one while striking out 14.
Baylor’s Darryn Sheppard (Baseball Factory Premium Video Program) has started his college career in style. He is currently hitting .346 through 7 games with 1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run, 7 runs scored and 6 runs batted in. Sheppard was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after the season’s first week.
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE
The early story of the high school season has been big velocity out of the 2014 pitchers. There have been reports of the following top velocities:
Grant Holmes (2013 Under Armour All-America Game, 2012 Team One Futures Series-East) – 100mph
Tyler Kolek (2011 USA Baseball 16U Championships, 2013 Under Armour All-America Game, 2011 Baseball Factory Premium Video Program) – 99mph
Dylan Cease (2013 Under Armour All-America Game) – 97mph
Touki Toussaint (2012 Under Armour Fall Classic Participant, 2012 Team One Futures Series-East, 2013 Under Armour All-America Game) – 96mph
Michael Kopech (2013 Under Armour All-America Game, 2012 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout) – 96mph
Foster Griffin (2013 Under Armour All-America Game) – 94mph
Early power has been on display as well. Jonathan Ducoff (2013 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament) already has 3 home runs on the season while Corbin Martin (2013 Under Armour All-America Game) and Milton Ramos (2013 Under Armour All-America Game and 2013 Under Armour Memorial Day Classic 18U Participant) both have hit two.
