The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout and Evaluation rolls into the University of California- San Diego in San Diego, on Sunday, February 7th.

Southern California is well known for its history of producing high quality baseball talent from some of the best high school programs in the country to the sheer volume of Major Leaguers that have developed out of the San Diego area. Both of the athletes highlighted today are just two of the many who have participated in the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout and have found success at the next level.

Jackson at the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)

Alex Jackson is a 2014 graduate from Rancho Bernardo High School in Escondido, CA. After a stellar high school career, one in which he was selected as a two-time Under Armour All America in 2012 and 2013, at that point the only player to hold that distinction. Jackson clubbed 47 home runs in high school and was named the High School Player of the Year by Baseball America. The catcher/outfielder opted to be drafted, selected by the Seattle Mariners who selected him with the sixth overall pick of the 2014 first year player draft.

Jackson, who received a power grade mark of 70 on the 20-80 scale during his 2013 All-America outing, possessed serious raw power and the type of plate discipline and pitch recognition skills that tabbed him as a prospect to watch. With his first taste of professional baseball in 2014, Jackson hit .280 with six doubles, two triples, two homers and 16 RBI in 24 games with the Mariners Rookie League team. This past season, Jackson hit eight home runs in his first full season between Low-A and High-A. Jackson missed time with left shoulder and left hand injuries, which limited him to just 76 games played on the year. Despite a dip in batting average, Jackson is still rated as one of the top prospects in the Mariners system and one of the top catching prospects in the game heading into 2016.

Chris Castellanos, a 2013 graduate of Long Beach Poly High School in Long Beach, CA, is entering his junior season as a left-handed starter at Stanford University.

Castellanos, who attended a September 2011 National Tryout in Azusa, California, held his own during his sophomore season for the Cardinal in 2015, posting a 3.44 ERA over 21 appearances, six of which were starts. He finished third on the team in innings pitched with 49 2/3 and five of his six starts, he went five innings or more. From April 17-26, Castellanos threw 12.0 consecutive hitless innings, seven of which came in his first career start. Heading into his junior season in Stanford, Castellanos is a pitcher to watch in the spring as draft season is quickly approaching.

Both of these athletes reached their full athletic potential and got themselves to the next level. You can be next! Start your journey by attending an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout and see how you stack up against the best from around the country. To find a tryout near you please visit our tryout page to register and receive more information.