As the nation’s top baseball players head to Mesa, Arizona this weekend for the Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, we take a look back at some notable Baseball Factory alumni who got their big breaks as Pre-Season All-Americans and have gone on to be high draft picks, enjoying productive careers at the minor league level, and in the major leagues as well.

First baseman Eric Hosmer was a 2006 Baseball Factory Pre-Season All-American before being selected 3rd overall in the 2008 Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

Hosmer, a two-time Gold Glove winner, finished 3rd in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2011. At just 21 years of age, he hit .293 with 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 128 games that season.

Leading the Royals to their first World Series berth in 29 years during the 2014 season, Hosmer hit .351 in the playoffs with 12 RBI, playing stellar defense at first base.

Ryan Castellani was named a 2013 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American and garnered a nomination as a Top 2014 Grad during the event.

With an athletic delivery and a free and easy motion, he showed major upside and scouts took notice. The 18 year-old was selected in the 2nd round of the 2014 draft by the Colorado Rockies. In his first professional season at Single-A Tri-City he started 10 games for the Dust Devils, finishing the season with a 3.65 ERA.

Alex Verdugo from Tucson, Arizona was named a 2013 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American and impressed scouts with his arm on the mound and especially in the outfield with great range and athleticism. His bat profiled well showing great bat speed and power to the pull side.

Because of his skill set, he was selected in the 2nd round of the 2014 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit .353 with two Dodger rookie league teams in 54 games.

Another blossoming major league talent who once participated as an All-American is Josh Donaldson.

Donaldson, named a 2004 Baseball Factory Pre-Season All-American, has enjoyed great major league success in 2013 and 2014 for the
Oakland Athletics.

Donaldson hit 24 and 29 home runs the last two seasons respectively for the A’s, who this off-season shipped him to the Toronto Blue Jays for four players.

Donaldson, the 48th pick overall in the 2007 draft by the Chicago Cubs earned his first all-star appearance last season and finished 4th in American League MVP voting in 2013.