The 2016 Major League Baseball Draft is just a few weeks away, and we’re looking at former Under Armour All-Americans who have since been drafted by Major League teams and having success at various levels in professional ball as well as the collegiate ranks. Steve Bernhardt, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Factory provides information on the Factory alumni.

The fifth Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory ended with the American Team edging the National squad 7-6. It was a star-studded showcase with many players from the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game that have taken different paths to success both in college and professional ball.

Pro Ball

Clint Frazier

Clint Frazier (@ClintFrazierr) – Frazier had a big weekend at the 2012 All-America Game for the American team, making it to the Finals of the Home Run Derby and went 2-for-3 with two doubles and connected on the game-tying hit in the top of the ninth to win the Silver Spike Award (MVP) in the game. The Cleveland Indians first round selection (5th overall) in 2013 out of Loganville High School in Loganville, GA is one of the young superstars in the Eastern League for the Akron RubberDucks, the Double-A affiliate of the Indians.

After a 2015 season in which he hit .285 with 36 doubles, 16 home runs and 72 RBI in 133 games at High-A Lynchburg, he received a promotion to Akron, picking up right where he left off. Playing all three outfield positions, utilizing Clint’s versatility, he’s hitting .277 with 13 doubles, a triple, 5 HR, 18 RBI and slugging .496, good for eighth-best in the Eastern League.

Trey Ball

Trey Ball (@South_paw24) – New Castle, IN native Ball was a member of the National Team during the ’12 game. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox seventh overall in 2013 out of New Castle Chrysler High School, Ball is currently in his second season at High A Salem where he is currently 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts. Through his first 16.0 innings pitched, Trey is holding hitters to a .167 batting mark and picked up his first win of the season on May 6th, pitching six scoreless innings against the Winston-Salem Dash.

Dominic Smith

Dominic Smith (@TheRealSmith22) – The Los Angeles, CA native was the Mets 11th overall selection in ’13 out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, CA. Part of the National Team, he was also in the Finals of the Home Run Derby.

The powerful first baseman began to show the power potential in 2015 at at High-A St. Lucie, with 33 doubles and six homers, driving in 79 in 118 games. Those power numbers have translated to the next level at Double-A Binghamton where Smith is hitting .288 (eighth-best in the EL) with eight doubles, a triple, four homers  and 29 RBI (second-best in the EL). Smith is hitting .310 in the month of May.

College – Three players who have had outstanding careers at Division I schools that should be 1^st round picks in this year’s MLB Draft include:

Corey Ray

Corey Ray (@FutureIs_Bright) – The 2013 graduate from Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, IL was the hometown favorite during the 2012 All-America Game at Wrigley Field. We first saw Corey at an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in McCook, IL in December of 2011.

Many projections have the 5’11”, 185 pound outfielder as a potential top 5 pick in this year’s Major League Draft after putting together a great junior season in 2016. The University of Louisville stand-out started all 65 games in the outfield in 2015 and earned All-America honors after hitting .325 with 11 home runs, 56 RBI, 15 doubles, five triples and 34 stolen bases. He’s followed that up with a  .320 batting mark with 16 doubles, 13 homers and 54 RBI in 52 games so far in 2016. He’s fourth in the nation with 35 stolen bases.

Zack Collins

Zack Collins (@zackcollins0) – The former Baseball Factory Team One Futures East standout also participated in the 2012 Team One Florida showcase before being selected to play in the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game.

Now in his junior season at the University of Miami, the left-handed hitting catcher is getting it done behind the plate and with the bat too. Following up a 2015 season where he hit .302 with 15 homers and 70 RBI, he’s hitting .387, good for second-best on the team with 10 homers (team-best) and 46 RBI. He’s also walked a nation-best 59 times and struck out only 33 times for the 40-9 Hurricanes.

Connor Jones

Connor Jones (@ConnorJones33) – The junior right-hander from Chesapeake, VA attended Great Bridge High School before moving onto the successful program at the University of Virginia. Before he starred in the ’12 Game, we first saw Connor at the 2011 Team One Futures East event and the 2012 Team One South showcase.

He helped to lead the Cavs to their first Baseball National Championship last season, making a program-best 18 starts, leading the ACC in innings pitched (115 2/3) and worked at least six innings in each of his last nine starts, going 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA with 54 K in 64. 0 innings pitched, holding batters to a .214 average.

This season, Connor is the true-ace of the staff, making 12 starts with a record of 10-1 and an ERA of 1.96 in 87 1/3 innings pitched. He’s struck out 62 batters and has three complete games under his belt in 2016.