Baseball Factory Alumni Playing Well to Start Pro Careers: Rounds 31-35
With the MLB First Year Player Draft almost two months in the rearview, players who were once high school and college phenoms are now professional baseball players. In rounds 31-35, 38 Baseball Factory alumni were chosen.
Let’s take a look at some of the players who have gotten off to promising starts of their young pro careers.
Preston Guillory: Miami Marlins (31st round, 923 overall), RHP
The former TCU standout is dominating his first action in pro ball with Miami’s rookie affiliate. Preston Guillory owns a 0.68 ERA, a 0.60 WHIP and a 10.2 SO/9 in his first 13.1 innings pitched this season.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Guillory at a National Tryout in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Jake Ring: Baltimore Orioles (31st round, 931 overall), OF
In 34 games with Baltimore’s rookie ball affiliate, Jake Ring owns a .364 on-base percentage with 15 RBI. The speedy outfielder is also causing havoc on the basepaths, swiping 10 bags already in his pro career.
Baseball Factory saw Ring at a National Tryout in McCook, Illinois, and the 2012 Team One South Showcase.
Jordan Jess: Pittsburgh Pirates (31st round, 945 overall), LHP
Former University of Minnesota standout Jordan Jess is impressing in his pro ball career thus far. The 23-year-old southpaw owns a 2.87 ERA and a 11.5 SO/9 rate in 15.2 innings of work.
Jess attended a National Tryout in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Chevis Hoover: Miami Marlins (32nd round, 953 overall), RHP
This 6-foot-3 righty is proving his worth with Miami’s Short-Season-A affiliate, Batavia. Chevis Hoover is pitching to a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings pitched, while striking out 10 batters in his time on the bump.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Hoover at a National Tryout in Lebanon (Nashville), Tennessee.
Caleb Lopes: St. Louis Cardinals (33rd round, 1006 overall), 2B/3B
Splitting his time between the hot corner and second base, Caleb Lopes is proving himself with the bat as well. At only 5-foot-8, Lopes owns a .304/.440/.342 slash line with 14 RBI.
Lopes participated in a National Tryout in Mobile, Alabama.
Jared James: Atlanta Braves (34th round, 1009 overall), LF
After playing well for 33 games with Atlanta’s rookie ball team, Jared James was called up to Low-A Rome. James slashed .298/.379/.364 at the rookie level, but he has five base hits, including two home runs, in his first nine at-bats with Rome, scoring four runs and driving in six.
Baseball Factory coaches saw James at a National Tryout in Stockton, California.
Denzell Gowdy: San Diego Padres (34th round, 1014 overall), 3B/2B
While playing most of his innings at third base, Denzell Gowdy has also played second base and left field for San Diego’s rookie ball team. The 19-year-old is slashing .281/.375/.371 in his first 27 games of his pro career. Gowdy has also scored 12 runs and knocked in 12 runs.
Gowdy attended a National Tryout in Tallahassee, Florida.
Preston Scott: Texas Rangers (34th round, 1029 overall), OF
Preston Scott is quickly proving that he has one of the most valuable skills in the modern baseball player: a good eye. The 22-year-old has walked 26 times in only 34 games with Texas’ Short-Season-A affiliate, Spokane. This leads to an impressive .427 on-base percentage for the rookie.
Baseball Factory coaches saw Scott at the Team One West Showcase in 2011.