Baseball Factory Alumni Sign First Major League Contracts
The 2009 First-Year Draft signing deadline came to a close this month and 25 Baseball Factory alumni and first round selections have signed their first professional contracts. We wish each of them the best of luck as they begin their climb to the big leagues:Donovan Tate | #3 Overall | San Diego Padres
Cartersville High School (GA)
OF 6’3 200 lbs
Baseball Factory Event: 2008 Under Armour All-America Game
Tate signed on the MLB Draft-signing deadline for a franchise record $6.25 million. Tate is considered a 5-tool prospect that will one day be an everyday CF, will have the potential to be a Gold Glove winner and also be a legitimate 30 home run/30 steal threat.
Zack Wheeler | #6 Overall | San Francisco GiantsEast Paulding High School (TX)
RHP | 6’4”| 185 lbs
Baseball Factory Event: 2008 Under Armour All-America Game
Wheeler signed with the San Francisco Giants for $3.3 million. Wheeler has a fastball that tops out in the low 90s, a plus curveball with tight rotation and a solid changeup with tailing movement. He has a very high ceiling because he still has room to develop physically, and with the pitches that he already has great command over, he will be a top of the rotation starter.
Jacob Turner | #9 Overall | Detroit Tigers
Westminster Academy (MO)
RHP | 6’1” | 205 lbs
Baseball Factory Events: 2008 Under Armour All-America Game
Turner signed with the Tigers for $4.7 million. He has a typical power pitcher type build. He has a downhill motion, which gives his fastball that sits in the low 90s some sinking movement. He has a plus curve ball with tight rotation and an emerging changeup. Turner ranked #5 overall in our 2009 Baseball Factory Top 100 High School Rankings which is loaded with quality high school pitchers.
Tyler Matzek | #11 Overall | Colorado Rockies
Capistrano Valley (CA) High School
LHP | 6’3” | 185 lbs
Baseball Factory Event: 2008 Under Armour All-America Game
Matzek was signed by the Colorado Rockies for $3.9 million and was the first LHP drafted. Matzek has three quality pitches that he throws for strikes: a low 90s fastball with good movement, a sharp breaking curve and a deceptive change. Matzek was ranked second overall in the 2009 Baseball Factory Top 100 High School Prospects list.
Bobby Borchering | #16 Overall | Arizona Diamondbacks
Bishop Verot High School (FL)
3B | 6’4” | 195 lbs
Baseball Factory Events: 2008 Under Armour All-America Game, 2007 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, 2007/2008 Under Armour Southeast Tournament, 2006 Under Armour National Tryout
The Diamondbacks signed Borchering for $1.8 million; he was the first of the three Diamondbacks’ first round selections. Borchering possesses an average arm and has good fielding instincts; he has plus power from both sides of the plate making him the top 3rd baseman in this draft class. These attributes have drawn comparisons to that of Chipper Jones.
Allen Pollock | #17 Overall | Arizona Diamondbacks
Notre Dame
OF | 6’3” | 200 lbs
Baseball Factory Events: 2004/2005/2006 Exclusive College Recruiting Program, 2005 Team One East, 2005 Team One All-Star, 2005 Baseball Factory Pre-Season All-American Tournament, 2005 Hitting Training Weekend, 2004 Signature College Recruiting Program
Pollock inked a $1.4 million deal. He holds a consistent swing and professional approach at the plate. Pollock struggled this spring at Notre Dame but last spring in the Cape Cod league he won the MVP award with a .377 batting average and .556 slugging percentage, which was the best in the league. He projects more as a gap power hitter. He tracks the ball well off the bat and has a solid outfielder arm.
Matt Davidson | #35 Overall | Arizona Diamondbacks
Yucaipa High School (CA)
3B | 6’3” | 210 lbs
Baseball Factory Events: 2007 Team One West, 2007 Under Armour National Tryout
Davidson was the third Diamondback selected in the first round and was signed for $900,000. He has tremendous raw power from the right hand side of the plate. He also has an above average arm and enough fielding ability to stay at 3rd but will most likely end up transitioning to 1st base. If he can maintain a consistent approach at the plate he will have no problem progressing through the minor leagues.
Other First Round Signings:
- Matt Hobgood | #5 Overall | Baltimore Orioles ($2.42 million)
- Mike Leake | #8 Overall | Cincinnati Reds ($2.27 million)
- Chad James| #18 Overall | Florida Marlins ($1.7 million)
- Shelby Miller | #19 Overall | St.Louis Cardinals ($2.875 million)
- Jiovani Miller | #21 Overall | Houston Astros ($1.358 million)
- Randal Grichuk | #24 Overall | Los Angeles Angels ($1.242 million)
- Mike Trout | #25 Overall | Los Angeles Angels ($1.215 million)
- Eric Arnett | #26 Overall | Milwaukee Brewers ($1.197 million)
- Nick Franklin | #27 Overall | Seattle Mariners ($1.28 million)
- Reymond Fuentes | #28 Overall | Boston Red Sox ($1.134 million)
- Slade Heathcott | #29 Overall | New York Yankees ($2.2 million)
- Brett Jackson | #31 Overall | Chicago Cubs ($972,000)
- Tim Wheeler | #32 Overall | Colorado Rockies ($900,000)
- Steve Baron | #33 Overall | Seattle Mariners ($980,000)
- Aaron Miller | #36 Overall | Los Angeles Dodgers ($889,200)
- Tyler Skaggs | #40 Overall | Los Angeles Angels ($1 million)
- Chris Owings | #41 Overall | Arizona Diamondbacks ($950,000)
Unsigned First-Round Selections:
- Matt Purke | #14 Overall | Texas Rangers
- LeVon Washington | #30 Overall | Tampa Bay Rays
In total, former Baseball Factory players that were selected in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft signed for over $46 Million. We wish all of these players and the rest of the Baseball Factory players that signed pro contracts in 2009, the best of luck as they begin their careers. For more information on Baseball Factory’s alums, click here.
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