Baseball Factory Alum Stephen Cardullo was called up to the major leagues on August 26th, and through his first five games with the Colorado Rockies, is proving to be everything the team needs right now and everything he expected himself to be.

Initially drafted in the 24th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, it’s been a long road for the right-handed infielder/outfielder, who was drafted out of powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The hard work is paying off with a hot start for a team who is clinging to an outside shot of a wild card spot in this year’s postseason.

Cardullo, a career minor-leaguer to this point, having spent two seasons with the Diamondbacks rookie-league affiliate, Missoula Osprey, went to the Independent scene for four seasons, hoping to receive another chance with a major league club. This season, he caught on with the Rockies organization and was assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque, pacing the team with a .308 average, 17 homers, 72 RBI and 71 runs scored in 115 games.

After his call-up in late August, Cardullo has collected four hits in his first 10 major league at-bats, including homers in back-to-back games of a doubleheader on August 31st against the Los Angeles Dodgers, including his first grand slam in Game 2.

Cardullo attended the 2005 Team One South event as a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Jones at the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game

2009 Under Armour All-American JaCoby Jones Stepping Into Big Spot with Detroit Tigers

Another former Factory standout is off to a fantastic start, helping to push the Detroit Tigers into playoff contention and delivering with clutch hits. Jones, who participated in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game, was a standout and three-year starter at second base for LSU before being drafted in the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After a trade from Pittsburgh to Detroit as part of the deal for reliever Joakim Soria, Jones reported to Double-A Erie for the remainder of 2015, hitting .250 in 37 games. This season, he hit .312 with six doubles, two triples, four homers and 20 RBI in 20 games with Erie before being promoted to Triple-A Toledo. On August 30th, he made his major league debut with Detroit and immediately made his impact on the pennant race.

Playing at home in Comerica Park with his family in attendance, the 24 year-old Jones recorded his first major league hit, driving in the go-ahead run with the game tied at 3 in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox.