Beginning next week, players from all over the country will descend on Pirate City, the Southern Home of Baseball Factory, for our two Christmas Camp and Tournament sessions. Each year these two events – one before and one after Christmas – bring in players interested in full baseball immersion.

They live on-site at Pirate City, eat their meals in the campus dining hall and take advantage of the pristine baseball fields that make up the best Spring Training Complex in baseball.  Players receive instruction from top coaches, participate in recruiting and life skills seminars, play in tournament games, and build their way to greatness the Baseball Factory Way.

For years, outstanding players have made the trip to these events to improve their game and jump-start their upcoming high school season. There is no secret that players who participate in a Baseball Factory developmental program are better prepared to play at the next level. We need to look no further than these same Pirate City events that took place five years ago.

Zach Sullivan

December 2011’s Baseball Factory Christmas Camp and Tournaments saw lots of talented players perform at the Pirate City complex. Many of them are currently in the midst of outstanding baseball careers that should continue for several more years.

Zach Sullivan, for one, made the trip to Bradenton, Florida from Corning, NY back in 2011 when he was a high school sophomore. The versatile athlete had an excellent event, improving his tools and showing his high-level ability to play the game. Zach went on to receive an invitation to the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament and was drafted by the Marlins in the 2014 MLB Draft at the conclusion of his high school career. Zach is coming off a solid year in the minor leagues and looks to be a promising prospect in the Miami organization.

Patrick Krall

A junior in high school in 2011, Patrick Krall traveled south from Downington, PA to Pirate City. The tall, lanky LHP toed the rubber and played 1B during the Christmas Camp and Tournament, showing well at both spots. His biggest upside looked to be on the mound where he proved last season to be one of the most effective pitchers in all of college baseball. Pitching for the Clemson Tigers, Patrick went 10-2 with five saves and a 1.67 ERA, poised for a big senior year in 2017.

Elliott Cary

Another one of the sophomores who had an impressive week back in 2011 was Elliott Cary. Showing potential both as an outfielder and a left-handed pitcher, Elliott made a big impression on the scouting staff on hand. Since then, he grew into his 6’3” frame, concluded a very successful high school career and was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 2014 MLB Draft. Elliott chose to attend college rather than signing at that time, and is currently an outfielder at Oregon State University.

Everyone who participated in those Baseball Factory events has a unique story, and was impacted in some way by the Pirate City experience, whether it was on the field or off. Over 100 of those players finished their high school baseball careers and went on to play at the next level in college. While Clemson and Oregon State are top level Division I programs, other players found their ideal fit at different levels throughout the country.

Kyle Barfield went on to play in the Junior College World Series with San Jacinto and is now at Kansas State, while Brandon Joyce chose to play at NAIA powerhouse USC-Beaufort after high school. Alex Zachary went the Division III route to Eastern Connecticut State where the centerfielder was named a 3^rd Team All-American after a monster 2016 campaign.

Wherever the players chose to further their careers and education; places like Rutgers, Pensacola State, Tennessee, Pace, Cowley County Community College, Kent State, Kalamazoo, UMass, Alcorn State, Lincoln Land CC, NC Wesleyan, Kennesaw State, Berry, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and many, many others, we commend them for their hard work at Baseball Factory’s event at Pirate City and beyond.

A week from now, the next generation of quality student-athletes will arrive on campus at Pirate City, and we can’t wait to work with them!