*Please note: Sample Itinerary listed above is from a past event.

Event Staff May Include:

Dean Espy: Dean played his college baseball at South Mountain Community College and UCLA. While at SMCC, he carried a .331 batting average with 12 home runs. At UCLA, he was primarily the team’s first baseman and designated hitter. He was drafted in the 15th round in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals and later spent time in the Colorado Rockies organization. Dean has been working with Baseball Factory since 2011.

Nolan Fuller: Nolan is the Senior Director of Baseball Player Development Events with Baseball Factory and a graduate of the University of South Carolina Beaufort, where he played and coached under the tutelage of former Pittsburgh Pirates Third Base coach, Rick Sofield. In 2012, Fuller helped the Sand Sharks make their first NAIA World Series appearance – where they finished ranked 7th in the Nation. In his four years at USCB, the Sand Sharks compiled a record of 142-75. Nolan is also a Baseball Factory Alum, competing in events during High School.

Jimmy Johnson: Jimmy brings over 40 years of professional baseball experience to the Baseball Factory, having worked events with the company the last 12 years. He’s been in various hitting coordinator and managerial roles with the Astros, Yankees, Royals, Dodgers, and the Colorado Rockies. He was also the infield, hitting, and field coordinator for the Rockies. He most recently served as the hitting coach for team China during the WBC, and has worked with Major League Baseball and their facilities in China. Jimmy conducts professional hitting and defensive lessons in the Phoenix area. He played professionally for seven seasons with the Houston Astros and has coached the Senior National Team in Prague.

Mike Landis: Coach Landis has over seven years of experience, serving as a hitting and infield instructor as well as On-Field Director, helping to develop over 3,000 players during that time. He has also coached collegiately at Division III Hood College in Frederick, MD and at the high school level for over 10 years. He played collegiately at Montgomery College in Germantown, MD, where he and the Gryphons won three regional titles and made as many appearances in the NJCAA World Series.

Kevin Riggs: Riggs was a standout player at East Carolina University and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. He spent seven years in the minors and was selected to the All-Star Team four times. He was among the top 10 batting leaders three times and was the Norwich Navigators MVP & Offensive Player of the Year in 1996. Riggs spent time coaching in the Colorado Rockies organization from 2007-2014 and has since worked with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rodney Spradlin: Rodney has coached and scouted with Baseball Factory for several years. He not only runs and coordinates Player Development events, but also helps to coordinate and run PREP & Tryout Evaluation events in the southeast region. Rodney is a former Head Coach at William Byrd High School (Virginia) where he won a State Championship in 1997. He currently serves as the Pitching Coach at William Byrd. In addition, Rodney has been the Head Coach in the Virginia Commonwealth Games for over 20 years. He is also a former Associate Scout with the Kansas City Royals. He played his college ball at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, TN.

Taylor Valentine: Taylor is currently the assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator for Centre College. He began his collegiate playing career at Milligan College (2010-13) before playing at Asbury University as a middle infielder (2014-15). He then spent three years at Asbury as the associate head coach, helping to build the program into a top-rated NAIA Baseball program for student-athletes. Valentine took his coaching expertise to the University of Illinois-Chicago where he coached all UIC position players and hitters in 2019 as the Flames won the Horizon League Championship and earned a spot in the NCAA CWS Louisville Regional.

Important Event Info:

For more information about the Arizona Sophomore Fall Classic, click here.

• The standard rooming protocol for Factory Events is for players to be roomed with other players attending the program. *Proof of COVID Vaccination or PCR Negative Test 72 hours prior to event required [Single Room Rates are available as needed, contact PDC]
• Players will be greeted by Baseball Factory representatives at baggage claim (*Players Rooming Together)
• Players are fully supervised 24 hours a day (*Players Rooming Together)
• All players will be provided with three meals a day, lodging and ground transportation (*Players Rooming Together)
• Players are guaranteed four games (weather permitting)
• Players receive online access to Baseball Factory’s Recruiting, Education and Development (R.E.D.) Manual.
• Players need to bring all necessary baseball equipment for tournament games (please note: All players may use Wood bats – no aluminum)
• Parents welcome to attend, but not required (Parents and guests are responsible for providing their own reservation, meals and transportation.)
• Airfare is NOT included in the registration fees

Want to play in the Arizona Sophomore Fall Classic? Attend a Baseball Factory National Showcase event in a city near you to qualify!