Recently, ESPN.com’s Keith Law released his second annual ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball. Baseball Factory is proud to recognize sixteen alumni who have earned positions on the list, ranking as high as 10th among minor league prospects.  Among those named are Rick Porcello (Detroit Tigers), Tim Beckham (Tampa Bay Rays), Josh Vitters (Chicago Cubs) and Eric Hosmer (Kansas City Royals).
 

Rick Porcello, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher from Chester, NJ, is ranked 10th among ESPN’s top 100 prospects for 2009. Porcello was a 2007 graduate of Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, NJ, and played with Baseball Factory at the 2006 Cape Cod High School Classic.  He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft and started in high-A, making him just one of two high school pitchers from the 2007 draft to start at that level.  During the 2008 spring season Porcello earned various honors including Florida State League (FSL) pitcher of the week for his performance in mid-May as well as mid-season and post-season all-star honors.
 

Nineteen-year-old shortstop Tim Beckham of the Tampa Bay Rays is ranked #11 for the 2009 season.  Beckham participated in the Under Armour Southeast Tournament in 2007 before graduating from Griffin High School in Griffin, GA, in 2008.  Beckham was the first pick and best overall prospect in the 2008 draft after batting .482 with six homeruns, 13 doubles and 41 RBIs his senior year.
 

Chicago Cubs minor leaguer, Josh Vitters, has been named #14 on ESPN’s list after leading the Northwest League in doubles.  The 19-year-old third baseman from Anaheim, CA, graduated from Cypress High School in 2007 before becoming the #3 overall pick in the 2007 draft.  Vitters was named to the 2008 Northwest League All-Star Team and has been identified as a potential No. 3 hitter who is expected to hit plenty of doubles and 25-plus home runs with a high average this year.  With Baseball Factory, Vitters played in the Team One National Underclass Game in 2005 and the 2006 Cape Cod High School Classic. 
 

Nineteen-year-old first baseman Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals has earned the #17 slot.  The left-handed power hitter was the top high school bat in the 2008 draft after hitting .470 with 11 home runs, 27 RBIs and 49 runs during his senior year at Plantation American Heritage High School in Plantation, FL.  Hosmer is expected to advance to the front of Kansas City’s top prospects during 2009.  With Baseball Factory, Hosmer received All-American honors in 2006.

 

Baseball Factory would like to recognize the following alumni ranked among ESPN’s top 100 prospects for 2009: 

 

(Rank, Name, Team, Position, BBF Events)

 

10. Rick Porcello, Detroit Tigers, RHP, 2006 Cape Cod High School Classic, powered by Baseball Factory

11. Tim Beckham, Tampa Bay Rays, SS, 2007 Under Armour Southeast Tournament, powered by Team One

14. Josh Vitters, Chicago Cubs, 3B, 2005 Team One National Underclass Game, 2006 Cape Cod High School Classic, powered by Baseball Factory

17. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals, 1B, 2005 BATS College Recruiting Program, 2006 Baseball Factory All-American Tournament

19. Brett Wallace, St. Louis Cardinals, 3B, 2003 Team One West, 2004 Team One National 

21. Derek Holland, Texas Rangers, LHP, 2003 BATS College Recruiting Program, 2004 BATS College Recruiting Program, 2004 Baseball Factory National Team – Arizona Fall Classic

26. Tim Alderson, San Francisco Giants, RHP, 2005 Cape Cod High School Classic, powered by Baseball Factory 

27. Matt LaPorta, Cleveland Indians, 1B, 2001 Team One Midwest

56. Aaron Hicks, Minnesota Twins, OF, 2008 TAKKLE Top 100, powered by Baseball Factory

64. Michael Main, Texas Rangers, RHP, 2004 Team One Florida Tryout 

79. Andrew Lambo, Los Angeles Dodgers, OF, 2005 Baseball Factory National Team Tryout 

80. Chris Perez, St. Louis Cardinals, RHP, 2002 Baseball Factory National Team – USABF World Series & Arizona Fall Classic

82. Kyle Skipworth, Florida Marlins, C, 2008 TAKKLE Top 100, powered by Baseball Factory

87. Ethan Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers, RHP, 2008 TAKKLE Top 100, powered by Baseball Factory

95. Andrew Brackman, New York Yankees, RHP, 2003 Team One North, 2003 Team One National

96. Jason Castro, Houston Astros, C, 2004 Team One West