Each week in the Alumni Notebook, we will take a look back at the previous weekend’s action from around the game of baseball. This week, we take a look at the Collegiate and High School levels and bring you the latest on Baseball Factory alumni who are helping their teams with outstanding play. Steve Bernhardt, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Factory provides information on the Factory alumni.

College

Dakota Hudson

Dakota Hudson – The junior left-hander for Mississippi State is living up to his billing as the 2016 Team Captain for the Bulldogs, helping the team get off to a 20-8-1 record in 2016. In seven starts this season, the Dunlap, TN native and 2012 Team One South participant is 4-1 with an ERA under one run a game (0.92) in 48 2/3 innings pitched. He’s been outstanding in SEC play, going 2-0 and not allowing an earned run in 25 innings, striking out 24 batters and walking just three.

In his last start against Ole Miss, Hudson spun a complete game, allowing one unearned run, scattering four hits and striking out 11 hitters in the team’s 3-1 victory. This is the second time he has been honored as the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week. His dominance has stretched over numerous starts; he’s gone the last 30 2/3 innings pitched without allowing an earned run.

Adam Groesbeck

Adam Groesbeck – Groesbeck is a member of the United States Air Force, playing baseball for the Falcons. Groesbeck, a member of the cadet squadron 8 wanted to challenge himself and make good on the opportunities presented to him, attending a University while also preparing himself to be a leader through cadet training that helps mold individuals into officers of character.

On the field, he’s following up a 2015 season – one in which he garnered Team MVP honors and was selected as an All-Mountain West Second-Team outfielder – with a 2016 campaign where he’s been named a Mountain West Player of the Week in February and leads the team in most offensive statistical categories.

We first saw Adam as a junior while attending an Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP event in Stockton, CA in 2012. The Turlock, CA native was also a 2012 Under Armour Southwest Championship participant and a 2013 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American.

This season Groesbeck is hitting a team-leading .447 with six doubles, five triples, 20 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 21 games. His 38 hits lead the Air Force and he’s second on the team in slugging percentage (.671). His .520 on-base percentage is also tops as is his walk total (11). He’s also hitting .406 in conference play as Air Force is off to a 13-8 start at the time of this writing.

High School

Thomas Dillard – In his senior season at Oxford High School in Oxford, MS, one of the nation’s top catching prospects leads his team across the board offensively and behind the plate. The Ole Miss commit and switch-hitting catcher is batting .413 with nine homers, 26 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Dillard, a 2015 Under Armour All-American came to the game with one of hardest combinations to find in the game; a premium defender who can hit from both sides of the plate. During the event, Thomas recorded a pop time of 1.81 to second base with throws right to the bag. Just four months prior, we saw Dillard for the first time at an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in Germantown, TN where he wowed scouts with his athletic abilities behind the plate reacting to balls in the dirt and praised for his receiving skills.

Logan Allen

Logan Allen – We first saw the Deltona, FL native at last September’s Under Armour Baseball Factory Futures East event, featuring a very usable three-pitch mix and the effectiveness to pitch against both left and right-handers. Throwing a commanding fastball that he worked to both sides of the plate, reaching mid 80s, he dominated his two innings of work, striking out five batters.

Allen is a South Alabama commit and plays for University High School in Orange City, FL and is downright dominant in his junior season, beginning the season with a 6-0 record and has yet to allow an earned run in 37.0 innings pitched. He’s walked six batters and racked up 69 strikeouts.

Jeter Downs

Jeter Downs – Borrowing from the namesake of one of the greatest shortstops in major league history, Jeter is playing excellent defense at short for SLAM Academy in Miami, FL in his junior season.

The UCF commit is hitting .479 with eight doubles, five homers, 25 RBI and 16 stolen bases for the Titans who are currently 13-6 with an 8-1 record in District play.

We first saw this talented defender and hitter at a National Tryout in Delray Beach, FL in January of 2014 and later in the year at the Southeast Championships and Firecracker Classic. In January, 2015, Downs was an Under Armour Pre-Season All-American, showing his strong tools and plus-plus hit ability with scouts thinking he could potential make a move to third with his ability to hit for power. Eight months later, Jeter shaved almost three tenths of a second off his 60-time during the Futures East event where he ran a 6.92.