Baseball Factory Alumni Play in Minor League All-Star Games
On Tuesday, 11 Baseball Factory alumni were part of the MLB All-Star Game. Across the eight Minor League All-Star Games, including the Futures Game, all 30 MLB teams had at least one Baseball Factory alumnus named to an All-Star Game. Overall, 76 minor league Baseball Factory alumni were selected to All-Star Games, bringing the total number, including the major leaguers, to 87 alumni.
South Atlantic League (Low-A) All-Star Game
Baseball Factory Alumni: 9
Photo: MiLB.com
Jake Cosart threw a scoreless seventh inning for the South Division All-Stars, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three, in a 2-1 loss to the North Division.
The 22-year-old right-hander plays for the Greenville Drive, the Low-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. On the season, Cosart owns a 4-1 record with a 2.17 ERA out of the bullpen. Opposing hitters are only hititng .188 off him, while he is posting a 13.4 SO/9.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Cosart at a 2011 National Tryout in Houston, Texas.
Alumni Landon Lassiter, Josh Tobias and Josh Ockimey all went 1-for-2 at the plate in the game.
Midwest League (Low-A) All-Star Game
Baseball Factory Alumni: 10
Photo: MiLB.com
Outfielder Donnie Dewees led the East Division offense going 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and three runs scored at the top of the order in an 11-10 win over the West Division.
Dewees sports a .273/.327/.412 slash line with the South Bend Cubs, the Low-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The 22-year-old former second-round pick has hit 15 doubles and 11 triples, while driving in 50 runs, in the first 84 games of the season.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Dewees at a 2009 National Tryout in Tampa, Florida.
Despite going 0-for-2, outfielder Michael Gettys walked, stole two bags and scored a run. Shortstop Jake Cronenworth also did not register a hit in the game, but scored walked twice and scored a run. Both third baseman Kevin Padlo and outfielder Andrew Guillotte went 1-for-2 for the East Division, while Guillotte scored a run.
A trio of Baseball Factory alumni sluggers led the way for the West Division All-Stars.
Outfielder Jared Foster was in the nine-hole for the West Division, but the 23-year-old didn’t hit like a nine-hitter. The former fifth-round pick out of LSU went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
On the season for the Burlington Bees, Low-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels, before being called up to the High-A Inland Empire 66ers, Foster had 20 doubles and 33 RBI in 69 games played.
Baseball Factory saw Foster at the 2010 Team One South Showcase.
Normally a shortstop, Jake Gatewood played third base for the West Division All-Stars. The 20-year-old went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the contest.
For the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Low-A affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers, Gatewood has 18 doubles and 10 homers in 87 games played.
Baseball Factory coaches first saw Gatewood at a 2011 National Tryout in Costa Mesa, California. Gatewood then attended the Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament in 2011 and the Under Armour Preseason All-America Tournament in 2012. Gatewood was also an Under Armour All-American in 2013.
Outfielder LaMonte Wade followed the other two Baseball Factory alumni in having an impressive offensive performance. The 22-year-old went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI before being taken out in the middle innings.
Before being called up to the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, Wade slashed .280/.410/.396 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Wade at a 2011 National Tryout in Baltimore, Maryland.
Florida State League (High-A) All-Star Game
Baseball Factory Alumni: 6
Leading off for the South Division All-Stars, Nick Gordon got on base on both of his plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with a walk before being replaced in the middle innings. Gordon was playing third base in the All-Star Game, but the 20-year-old’s normal position is shortstop.
On the season for the Fort Myers Miracle, High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, Gordon is slashing .302/.350/.417 with 10 stolen bases, 17 doubles and five triples.
Baseball Factory coaches first saw Gordon at the Team One Futures Series East Showcase in 2012. Gordon then participated in the Under Armour Memorial Day Classic in 2013 before being named an Under Armour All-American in 2013.
Catcher Tomas Nido went 1-for-2 for the South Division, while pitcher Jimmy Herget got the first two batters of the ninth inning out to preserve the 1-0 win for the North Division.
California/Carolina League (High-A) All-Star Game
Baseball Factory Alumni: 6
Right-handed pitcher Trevor Clifton earned the save for the Carolina League All-Stars to defeat the California League All-Stars. The 21-year-old tossed two-thirds scoreless, allowing only one hit and no runs to preserve a 6-4 lead.
So far this season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, Clifton has a 3.23 ERA across 16 starts, while striking out more than a batter an inning.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Clifton at the Team One Futures East Showcase in 2011 and the Team One Florida Showcase in 2012.
Alumni Alec Keller, Tim Arakawa and Josh VanMeter all went 1-for-2 in the game.
Texas League (AA) All-Star Game
Baseball Factory Alumni: 8
Alex Bregman played in both the Texas League All-Star Game and the Future Game. In the Futures Game, Bregman started at third base and moved to shortstop later in the game for the U.S. Team. The Houston Astros prospect led all players in hits, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and a run scored.
In the Texas League All-Star Game, Bregman also illustrated why he is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored, leading the South Division All-Stars to an 8-5 victory.
This season at Corpus Christi, the shortstop smacked 14 home runs and 16 doubles, walked more than he struck out and slashed .297/.415/.559. Since being called up to Triple-A Fresno, the 22-year-old has hit four home runs and three doubles in only seven games. The former LSU star was drafted with the second-overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros.
Baseball Factory coaches first saw Bregman at the 2009 Team One Futures Game. Bregman also played in the Under Armour Preseason All-America Tournament in both 2010 and 2011.
Before starting for the World Team at first base in the Futures Game, going 0-for-1 with a walk, Ronald Guzman started for the South Division All-Star Team at first base. The slugger went 1-for-4 with a walk in the game.
Guzman is enjoying his best season of his professional career so far this season, as the 21-year-old is slashing .295/.360/.477 with 10 home runs, 14 doubles and four triples for the Frisco Roughriders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Guzman play in the Under Armour All-America Game in 2010.
Luke Voit
Alex Verdugo
A pair of sluggers, Luke Voit and Alex Verdugo, led the North Division offense.
Voit, slotted at DH for the North Division, went 2-for-5 with a double, while Verdugo, the right fielder for the North Division, went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
On the season, Voit has an .833 OPS with 13 home runs with the Springfield Cardinals, Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, while Verdugo owns an .805 OPS with nine home runs with the Tulsa Drillers, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Voit attended a 2008 National Tryout in Sauget (St. Louis, MO), Illinois, and played in the Under Armour Preseason All America Tournament in 2009.
Baseball Factory coaches first saw Verdugo at the Under Armour All-America Preseason Tournament in 2013. Verdugo then participated in the 2013 Under Armour Southwest Championships and was named an Under Armour All-American in 2013.
Another alumnus, catcher Carson Kelly, went 1-for-2 in the Texas League All-Star Game, while also participating in the Futures Game.
Kelly, one of the St. Louis Cardinals’ best prospects, is enjoying the best success of his professional career. The 21-year-old backstop has been in the Cardinals system since he was 17 years old and is in his fifth professional season. Kelly is slashing .287/.338/.403 with six home runs on the season for Double-A Springfield.
Kelly has attended many events with Baseball Factory, with the first event being a College PREP in 2008 in Monmouth, Oregon. Kelly then played in the Under Armour Preseason All-America Tournament in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The catcher also attended a 2009 National Tryout in Monmouth, Oregon, a Team One West Showcase, a 2010 College PREP in Costa Mesa, California, and a Team One Futures Game in 2010. Lastly, Kelly played in the Under Armour All-America Game in 2011.
Southern League (AA) All-Star Game
Baseball Factory Alumni: 8
Left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda started the Southern League All-Star Game for the South Division, throwing a scoreless first without allowing a hit.
The 6’2” southpaw was 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA at Double-A Mobile, Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate, before being called up recently to the Triple-A squad. On the season, Banda is striking out more than a guy an inning.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Banda at a Round Rock (Austin), Texas, National Tryout in 2009 as well as the 2009 Under Armour Recruiting Classic.
A trio of alumni pitchers threw scoreless outings for the North Division. Jacob Faria threw a scoreless fourth for the North Division, while Ryan Yarbrough and Dan Altavilla both threw two-thirds scoreless without allowing a baserunner.
Brett Phillips and Garrett Cooper both recorded hits in the game, while Cooper scored a run to help lead the South Division to a 5-1 victory.
Eastern League (AA) All-Star Game:
Baseball Factory Alumni: 15
The Eastern League All-Star Game was the last of the midsummer minor league All-Star Games, as the Eastern Division won 10-2 on Wednesday, July 13.
Photo: MiLB.com
Matt Oberste started at third base and then moved back to his normal position of first base later in the game for the Eastern Division. Hitting at the bottom of the lineup, the 24-year-old had a game-high four hits in five at bats, recording a double and four RBI. His performance helped lead the Eastern Division to a 10-2 rout over the Western Division.
On the season with Binghamton, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets, Oberste is slashing .289/.337/.427 with 17 doubles.
Baseball Factory coaches first saw Oberste at a 2009 National Tryout in Springdale (Fayetteville), Arizona. Oberste then played in the 2009 Team One South Showcase.
Jesmuel Valentin, who was hitting one spot ahead of Oberste for the Eastern Division, went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. The second baseman also smacked two doubles to lead the Eastern Division to a victory.
On the season for the Reading Fightin Phils, Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, the 22-year-old owns a .290/.362/.422 slash line with 25 total extra base hits.
Valentin was an Under Armour All-American in 2011.
Alumni Tyler Wade and Dillon Thomas also record hits and scored a run apiece for the Eastern Division, while Tommy Collier threw a scoreless second inning for the Western Division.
Baseball Factory Alumni: 8
The Triple-A All-Star Game between the International League and the Pacific Coast League was also held on Wednesday, July 13.
Photo: MiLB.com
Mike Clevinger threw a scoreless second inning for the International Team in route to a 4-2 victory. The righty did not allow a baserunner while striking out two batters.
Clevinger owns a 9-0 record with the Columbus Clippers, Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, sporting a 2.72 ERA while striking out more than a batter an inning. Clevinger made a brief stop with the Indians, but struggled in a small sample before returning to the Clippers.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Clevinger at a 2009 National Tryout in Lake City (Jacksonville), Florida.
A Baseball Factory alumnus, center fielder Brian Goodwin, went 1-for-3 and scored a run for the International League All-Stars.
| Player |
League (Level) | Team (Organization) | Position | Baseball Factory Events |
| Landon Lassiter | South Atlantic (Low-A) | Kannapolis (CWS) | OF | Team One South – 2011; National Tryout – Burlington (Greensboro), NC – 2010 |
| Josh Tobias | South Atlantic (Low-A) | Lakewood (PHI) | 2B | National Tryout – Rocky Mount, NC – 2010; National Tryout – Burlington (Greensboro), NC – 2008; Dodgertown World Series – 2007 |
| Tyler Sanchez | South Atlantic (Low-A) | Hickory (TEX) | C | Under Armour Southeast Championships 18U Participant – 2012 |
| Ke’Bryan Hayes | South Atlantic (Low-A) | West Virginia (PIT) | IF | Under Armour All-America Game – 2014; Under Armour Firecracker Classic 18U Participant – 2014; Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2014; Under Armour Futures Series Texas -2013; Team One Futures Series Texas – 2012 |
| Ryan Meisinger |
South Atlantic (Low-A) | Frederick (BAL) | RHP | Team One South – 2011; College PREP – Bowie, MD – 2011 |
| Luke Dykstra | South Atlantic (Low-A) | Rome (ATL) | 2B | Under Armour All-America Game – 2013 |
| Josh Ockimey | South Atlantic (Low-A) | Greenville (BOS) | 1B | Kelly Kulina Classic Participant – 2013 |
| Brendan Rodgers | South Atlantic (Low-A) | Asheville (COL) | SS | Under Armour All-America Game – 2014; Under Armour Futures Series East – Jupiter, FL – 2013 |
| Jake Cosart | South Atlantic (Low-A) | Greenville (BOS) | RHP | National Tryout – Houston, TX – 2011 |
| Donnie Dewees | Midwest (Low-A) | South Bend (CHC) | OF | National Tryout – Tampa, FL – 2009; |
| Michael Gettys | Midwest (Low-A) | Fort Wayne (SDP) | OF | Under Armour All-America Game – 2013 |
| Andrew Guillotte | Midwest (Low-A) | Dunedin (TOR) | OF | College PREP – Shreveport, LA – 2009 |
| Jake Cronenworth | Midwest (Low-A) | Bowling Green (TBR) | 2B | Arizona Junior Fall Classic – 2010; College PREP – Adrian, MI – 2010 |
| Kevin Padlo | Midwest (Low-A) | Bowling Green (TBR) | 3B | Under Armour Southwest Championships Participant – 2013; Ryan Lemmon Invitational Participant – 2013; Team One Futures Series West – 2012; Under Armour So Cal Classic Participant – 2012; Under Armour Southwest Championships Participant – 2012 |
| Carson Sands | Midwest (Low-A) | South Bend (CHC) | LHP | Under Armour All-America Game – 2013; College PREP – Tallahassee, FL – 2013 |
| Kyle Dowdy | Midwest (Low-A) | West Michigan (DET) | RHP | Arizona Junior Fall Classic – 2009; Omaha Pro Select Training and Tournament – 2009; National Tryout – La Jolla, CA – 2009 |
| LaMonte Wade | Midwest (Low-A) | Cedar Rapids (MIN) | OF | National Tryout – Baltimore, MD – 2011 |
| Jake Gatewood | Midwest (Low-A) | Wisconsin (MIL) | SS | Under Armour All-America Game – 2013; Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament – 2012; Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament – 2011; National Tryout – Costa Mesa, CA – 2011 |
| Jared Foster | Midwest (Low-A) | Burlington (LAA) | OF | Team One South – 2010 |
| Jimmy Herget | Florida State (High-A) | Daytona (CIN) | RHP | National Tryout – Tampa, FL – 2011 |
| Nick Gordon | Florida State (High-A) | Fort Myers (MIN) | SS | Under Armour All-America Game – 2013; Under Armour Memorial Day Classic 18U Participant – 2013; Team One Futures Series East – 2012 |
| Connor Joe | Florida State (High-A) | Bradenton (PIT) | 1B | College PREP – Costa Mesa, CA – 2010; Team One West – 2009; Under Armour Preseason All America – 2009; Team One Futures Showcase – 2008; Team One West – 2008; College PREP – Costa Mesa, CA – 2008; National Tryout – El Cajon, CA – 2008; National Tryout – Dominguez Hills, CA – 2007 |
| Tomas Nido | Florida State (High-A) | St. Lucie (NYM) | C | Under Armour All-America Game – 2011; Under Armour Preseason All-America – 2011 |
| John Norwood | Florida State (High-A) | Jupiter (MIA) | CF | College PREP – Trenton, NJ – 2010 |
| Riley Unroe | Florida State (High-A) | Charlotte (TBR) | 2B | National Tryout – Mesa, AZ – 2012 |
| Drew Ward | Carolina (High-A) | Potomac (WAS) | 3B | College PREP – Oklahoma City, OK – 2012 |
| Alec Keller | Carolina (High-A) | Potomac (WAS) | CF | National Tryout – Glen Allen (Richmond), VA – 2009 |
| Trevor Clifton | Carolina (High-A) | Myrtle Beach (CHC) | RHP | Team One Florida Showcase – 2012; Team One Futures East – 2011 |
| Tim Arakawa | California (High-A) | Inland Empire (LAA) | OF | National Tryout – Waipahu, HI – 2009 |
| Josh VanMeter | California (High-A) | Lake Elsinore (SDP) | SS | Team One Midwest Showcase – 2012; Team One Futures East – 2011; Team One Midwest – 2011; National Tryout – Plainfield, IN – 2011 |
| Ryan Castellani | California (High-A) | Modesto (COL) | RHP | Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament – 2013; Team One Northeast Showcase – 2012 |
| Alex Bregman | Texas (AA) and Futures U.S. | Corpus Christi (HOU) | SS | Under Armour Preseason All-America – 2011; Under Armour Preseason All-America – 2010; Team One Futures Game – 2009 |
| Ronald Guzman | Texas (AA) and Futures (World) | Frisco (TEX) | 1B | Under Armour All-America Game – 2010 |
| Connor Sadzeck | Texas (AA) | Frisco (TEX) | RHP | National Tryout – Crestwood, IL – 2007 |
| Luke Voit | Texas (AA) | Springfield (STL) | 1B | Under Armour Preseason All America – 2009; National Tryout – Sauget (St. Louis, MO), IL – 2008 |
| Alex Verdugo | Texas (AA) | Tulsa (LAD) | CF | Under Armour All-America Game – 2013; Under Armour Southwest Championships Participant – 2013; Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament – 2013 |
| Carson Kelly | Texas (AA) and Futures U.S. | AA Springfield (STL) | C | Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament 2012; HeavyBat Pro – 2011; Under Armour All-America Game – 2011; Under Armour Preseason All-America – 2011; Team One Futures Game – 2010 – WEST; College PREP – Costa Mesa, CA – 2010; Under Armour Preseason All-America – 2010; Team One West – 2009; National Tryout – Monmouth, OR – 2009; Under Armour Preseason All America – 2009; College PREP – Monmouth, OR – 2008 |
| Chase De Jong | Texas (AA) | Tulsa (LAD) | RHP | Team One West – 2011 – 2011; College PREP – Dominguez Hills, CA – 2011; College PREP – Agoura Hills, CA – 2010 |
| Jordan Kipper | Texas (AA) | Arkansas (LAA) | RHP | Under Armour Preseason All-America – 2011; Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament – 2009; Team One West – 2009; College PREP – Phoenix, AZ – 2009 |
| Jake Bauers | Southern (AA) | Montgomery (TBR) | 1B | Ryan Lemmon Invitational Participant – 2013 |
| Jacob Faria | Southern (AA) | Montgomery (TBR) | RHP | College PREP – Costa Mesa, CA – 2010 |
| Brad Markey | Southern (AA) | Tennessee (CHC) | RHP | BWI World Series – 2008 |
| Ryan Yarbrough | Southern (AA) | Jackson (SEA) | LHP | National Tryout – Tampa, FL – 2009 |
| Daniel Altavilla | Southern (AA) | Jackson (SEA) | RHP | National Tryout – McKees Rocks, PA – 2010 |
| Brett Phillips | Southern (AA) | Biloxi (MIL) | OF | Arizona Fr/So Fall Classic – 2009; College PREP – Sanford (Orlando), FL – 2009 |
| Garrett Cooper | Southern (AA) | Biloxi (MIL) | 3B | Arizona Senior Fall Classic – 2008; National Tryout – Santa Barbara, CA – 2008 |
| Anthony Banda | Southern (AA) and Futures U.S. | Mobile (ARI) | P | Under Armour Recruiting Classic – 2009; National Tryout – Round Rock (Austin), TX – 2009 |
| Tyler Pill | Eastern (AA) | Binghamton (NYM) | RHP | Team One West – 2007 |
| Jonathan Holder | Eastern (AA) | Trenton (NYY) | RHP | Team One South – 2010 |
| Kyle Higashioka | Eastern (AA) | Trenton (NYY) | C | National Team Tryout – Southern California – 2005 |
| Matt Oberste | Eastern (AA) | Binghamton (NYM) | 1B | Team One South – 2009; National Tryout – Springdale (Fayetteville), AR – 2009 |
| Jesmuel Valentin | Eastern (AA) | Reading (PHI) | 2B | Under Armour All-America Game – 2011 |
| Tyler Wade | Eastern (AA) | Trenton (NYY) | SS | Ryan Lemmon Invitational Participant – 2013 |
| Dillon Thomas | Eastern (AA) | Hartford (COL) | OF | National Tryout – Alvin (Houston), TX – 2008 |
| Tyler Beede | Eastern (AA) | Richmond (SFG) | RHP | Team One North – 2009; National Tryout – Providence, RI – 2009; National Tryout – Marlborough (Boston), MA – 2008 |
| Tommy Collier | Eastern (AA) | Erie (DET) | RHP | Under Armour Pre-Season All-America – 2008 |
| Tyler Eppler | Eastern (AA) | Altoona (PIT) | RHP | National Tryout – Houston, TX – 2010 |
| Donnie Hart | Eastern (AA) | Bowie (BAL) | RHP | College PREP – Houston, TX – 2007 |
| Ryder Jones | Eastern (AA) | Richmond (SFG) | 3B | College PREP – Oklahoma City, OK – 2012; Team One Futures West – 2011 |
| Nellie Rodriguez | Eastern (AA) | Akron (CLE) | 1B | National Tryout – Freeport, NY – 2010 |
| Chance Sisco | Eastern (AA) and Futures (U.S.) | Bowie (BAL) | C | College PREP – Azusa, CA – 2010 |
| Clint Frazier | Eastern (AA) and Futures U.S. | Akron (CLE) | OF | Under Armour All-America Game – 2012 |
| Michael Clevinger | International (AAA) | Columbus (CLE) | P | National Tryout – Lake City (Jacksonville), FL – 2009 |
| Josh Bell | International (AAA) | Indianapolis (PIT) | IF | Team One Futures Game – 2009; National Tryout – Carrollton (Dallas), TX – 2009 |
| Matthew Davidson | International (AAA) | Charlotte (CWS) | IF | Team One West – 2007; National Tryout – Irvine, CA – 2007 |
| Brian Goodwin | International (AAA) | Syracuse (WAS) | OF | Under Armour All-America Game – 2008 |
| Michael Roth | Pacific Coast (AAA) | Round Rock (TEX) | P | Team One South – 2006 |
| Patrick Schuster | Pacific Coast (AAA) | Nashville (OAK) | P | Under Armour SE Tournament Participant – 2008 |
| Brett Nicholas | Pacific Coast (AAA) | Round Rock (TEX) | C | Baseball Factory All-American – 2006; National Team Tryout – Phoenix, AZ – 2005 |
| Dan Vogelback | Pacific Coast (AAA) | Iowa (CHC) | 1B | Team One South – 2010; Under Armour Preseason All-America – 2010 |
| Nate Smith | Futures (U.S.) | Triple-A Salt Lake (LAA) | P | Team One North – 2008 |
| Hunter Dozier | Futures (U.S.) | Triple-A Omaha (KCR) | 3B | National Tryout – Carrollton (Dallas), TX – 2009 |
| Dominic Smith | Futures (U.S.) | Double-A Binghamton (NYM) | 1B | Under Armour All-America Game – 2012 |
| Andrew Benintendi | Futures (U.S.) | Double-A Portland (BOS) | OF | National Tryout – Amelia (Cincinnati), OH – 2012 |
| Austin Meadows | Futures (U.S.) | Triple-A Indianapolis (PIT) | OF | Under Armour All-America Game – 2012 |
| Josh Naylor | World Team | Low-A Greensboro (MIA) | 1B | Under Armour All-America Game – 2014 |
