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It’s All About the Fit

Date: Fri, Jul 23, 2010

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

Rob’s blog, “You Can’t Handle the Truth,” was so true. What parent hasn’t eventually had that discussion with a teacher or coach? Most of us know it’s coming, but we’re sure it’s down the road. And when it comes…it almost always feels like a kick in the stomach.

We all have to recognize our children’s strengths and weaknesses—hard for us, but it’s what’s best for them. Sometimes, though, an evaluation really does reflect the fit between the student/player and a particular teacher or coach, rather than an absolute ‘correctness’ of that child’s abilities. Teachers and coaches are all unique—personalities, backgrounds and styles—and human, with good days and bad days. And sometimes the evaluations reflect that. If, after a hard cold look at your child’s abilities, that evaluation remains significantly different than your own, it may be time for a second opinion. That’s where an independent assessment from a knowledgeable third party comes in. It’s one of the reasons we came to Baseball Factory when our younger son got to high school.

Here’s what happened to us. All three of our children were accomplished student/athletes. Our older son was a basketball player. At 5’10 and change, and struggling to hang on to 170 lbs, we knew the NBA probably wasn’t going to be in his future. High school and college basketball probably could be though, at least in our opinion. By high school, Matt had played a lot of basketball. He’d loved the game since he was five, and had been successful on the teams on which he’d played. He’d also gotten awards at some highly regarded camps, and had been sought out by a couple of the better AAU teams in the area. As Matt’s parents, we thought he was pretty skilled (of course!), which seemed to be supported by outside feedback.

At high school Captain’s Practice and Tryouts, Matt was encouraged by the team’s captains and upper classmen. Some players told him he would probably play varsity as a freshman. Then, when the teams were posted, Matt didn’t even make JV. He was on the freshman team. Disappointed and a bit ticked-off, the assignment showed in Matt’s game. His attitude and work ethic fell off significantly. As parents, we emphasized the importance of continuing to work hard and play smart…basically, to keep caring. It didn’t work. And while I’m not justifying the decline in Matt’s attitude, we knew there were questions about the varsity coach’s overall direction with the school’s basketball program. Further, Matt’s dad and I weren’t entirely comfortable with the assessment our son had gotten, as well as the overall quality of the program. We didn’t seek out a second opinion, but I wish we had. Thankfully, one was about to come our way.

Matt’s friend, Bill, ran into a similar situation at the school (he made the JV team, but didn’t play much). The boys were AAU teammates and pushed hard there, attracting the attention of a prep school coach with a strong basketball background. As juniors, both Matt and Bill transferred schools to be with the new coach. That year, the prep school team won their league and took second place at Regional Championships in their division. Senior year, they won their league again, and this time took first place in Regional Championships. In contrast, the school the boys left had several disappointing years, eventually posting a 50+ game losing streak.

There was no doubt in both my husband’s and my mind, the coaching ability and basketball experience provided by Matt’s new coach far surpassed what he would have gotten at his original high school. The new coach was more knowledgeable about the sport, was more engaged with his players, and he could mold and develop individual styles. His players were motivated, wanting to develop and perform to the best of their abilities.

Matt played two years of college basketball before opting to stop to devote more time to academics. In our opinion, he attended a more highly ranked college than he ever would have because of the exposure and confidence that a successful high school basketball experience gave him.

As parents, we learned three lessons from Matt’s experience: (1) Get a realistic, independent assessment of your child’s abilities; (2) Know the forces that drive him/her and (3)…It’s all about the fit. Find the best one for your son or daughter, and do it early enough to make a difference for high school and college.

Julie Thompson is a parent of a former Baseball Factory Exclusive Program player. She has volunteered to share her opinions, observations and general thoughts regarding the college recruiting and player development process. She will share what worked and what didn’t for her son, in the hope that other parents and players may benefit from her experience.

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Positions and Rosters in College Recruiting Pt. 3

Date: Wed, Jul 7, 2010

Dan Mooney: Your Link to the Colleges

One last entry about rosters and college recruiting, guys.

Don’t expect to get recruited because you’re a utility player. College baseball rosters may include up to 35 players at the Division I level, so there is enough depth there that coaches don’t need to rely on their players covering multiple positions. There are too many players out there that are jack-of-all-trades and masters of nothing. Guys change positions all the time at the next level, and while you want to show college coaches that you are willing to do whatever you can to help the team, you still need to hone your skills at one primary position.

Most high school players should also not expect to be a two-way guy at the next level. I only played with one two-way guy during my college years, and his name was Brad Wilkerson. Brad played CF, 1B and pitched for the University of Florida before leaving as a 1st Round draft pick. Oh, and he also hit 24 home runs that year, too.

I certainly don’t want to ride both sides of the fence on this, but you may be saying to yourself that some coaches have shown interest in you being a two-way guy. So, yes, it does happen, and this is not the rule, but two-way guys are likely to get a look if one of their positions is at pitcher. You don’t see a lot of 3B/OF or SS/C running around out there. You will, however, find 1B/P, 3B/P or OF/P. Those of you who are P/C, make your mind up now, because it will not happen at the next level. You are putting too much stress on your arm- don’t expect it to last much longer then your HS years.

If you are having a hard time trying to decide whether to be a pitcher or position player, here are few things that will help. If you want to pitch, velocity will be a big factor. Yes, getting outs and having good secondary stuff is important, but coaches want velocity, period… unless you are left-handed. So, if you are 6’0 and throw 80-82 MPH, start hitting more; coaches can find those guys in every city across the country. If you are leaning toward being a position player, take a close look at your position and what is needed to be successful at the next level. For example, OF and middle guys need to have some speed, corner guys need to hit, etc. If you can flat out hit, hit and hit, just make sure you have a pulse because coaches will find a place for you.

Hopefully the last few entries have given you some extra insight into college recruiting. For reference, here are links to the previous two: Part 2, Part 1. We’d love your comments and questions.

Dan is the Senior Director of College Recruiting. Dan was drafted in the 40th round by the Chicago Cubs after his senior year at Monsignor Donovan High School, but decided to begin his collegiate career as a catcher at Brevard Junior College. He later transferred to the Univ. of Florida where he redshirted for a season, before transferring to North Carolina State University where he was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer. After college, Dan played professionally in the Boston Red Sox organization where he reached the double-A level before being forced to retire after an injury. Dan has assisted hundreds of players reach their goal of playing college baseball and has developed relationships with college coaches across the nation through his time as a player and during his career in the college recruiting department at Baseball Factory.

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Approaching the Recruiting Process Like a Marathon

Date: Fri, Jul 2, 2010

Woody Wingfield: Your Link to the Colleges

This past weekend, fellow Baseball Factory staff member Dave Lax and I completed the Celebration Sprint Triathlon here in Columbia, MD. Thinking back to the race and the 5 months of training reminded me that going through the college recruiting process is a pretty similar feat. It’s not an easy thing to do, and for most people, it takes a great deal of hard work and time. It truly takes a certain mindset to get the most out of this process, and there are some very important points for parents and players to remind themselves of daily while trying to find the best fit athletically, academically and socially:

To get the best results, you must be consistent throughout the entire process. 5 months sounds like a lot of time to train, but believe me, it took DAY-TO-DAY preparation to get from the water to the finish line. There were days when I had a lot going on, but I still had to find time to train.

Between schoolwork, practice, games, showcases and camps, there is a lot to juggle for the average high school baseball player. In order to tackle the recruiting process, you have to think of it as adding an extra high school course to your already hectic schedule. This means checking your e-mail DAILY, minding the Golden Rule of recruiting -- answering EVERYTHING you get from EVERY school -- and keeping college coaches updated on your fall, spring and summer seasons. I advise high school seniors in our E BATS Program to be in contact with coaches on their college list about once every two to three weeks.

You have to be persistent. Over the course of training, there were good days and there are bad days. I had to press extra hard on those bad days, even when it felt like I wasn’t improving.

You may hear some no’s for the first time, and there will be a lot of e-mails not returned. Hopefully, you’ll hear just as many yes’s, as well. Either way, you cannot allow the work you put into the recruiting process to ebb and flow with the response you’re getting, or lack thereof.

I especially mean to relate this to the lack of responses. When you’re sixteen, seventeen or even eighteen years old, it can feel pretty awkward to have to repeat yourself or re-send things to a college coach. DO IT. Even if it’s the third or fourth time that you’ve sent a coach your video, it could be the first time he gets a chance to see it. Remember, college coaches have to wear a lot of different hats, and sometimes they can’t get to their e-mail consistently. Do them (and yourself) a favor by following up if you don’t hear back on videos or questions that you send. By being persistent, you won’t assume anything during the process like “I guess he just doesn’t like me” and will be able to make a more informed decision.

This isn’t a race, and the finish line does not have to be in November. I don’t know about Lax, but I didn’t wake up on Sunday trying to win the race. If I had come out of the starting block in a sprint, I never would have made it out of the water. The only way I was able finish the triathlon was to go at MY PACE and ignore the participants that passed me or the others that I managed to pass (there were a few of them out there!).

Now that we’ve hit July 1st, this is where our staff gets a lot of calls about what OTHER players are hearing, or more accurately, what families think other players are hearing. Believe me when I tell you that there is no cookie cutter method or schedule in the college recruiting process. This is YOUR process and YOUR future, and you will only add frustration if you begin comparing what you are hearing with what others are telling you.

As we’ve mentioned before in other entries, only around 20% of all baseball players end up signing by November. To not be finished with the process at this point is not a failure, and for most people, it is a blessing in disguise. Fewer mistakes are made on the part of those that sign in April or later than those that sign in November because they have more time to fully explore their options and connect with all interested programs.

Just like any endurance contest, you are your worst enemy! The E BATS staff believes that there is a spot out there for everyone that has the desire to play at the next level, but it takes hard work regardless of what level you are shooting for. As long as you are consistent, persistent and stay within yourself, you can find a place to play in college.

Woody serves as the Director of College Recruiting Operations, working with players and parents in the ACR, Exclusive and Exclusive BATS Programs. His role is to assist all families with questions they may have throughout the recruiting process. Woody is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he worked as an intern with the Cavalier Baseball Team.

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You Can’t Handle the Truth!

Date: Wed, Jun 30, 2010

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Most parents will remember this famous line delivered by Jack Nicholson’s character (Colonel Nathan Jessup) in the classic movie, “A Few Good Men.” The title for this blog is apropos because it represents my own inability as a parent to “handle the truth” which I think was a very good learning experience for me, and it may be for other parents as well that are reading this. Let me explain further…

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I have young children (two daughters with a third child on the way). My oldest daughter just finished the first grade and this year was our first experience with “report cards.” The school my daughter attends does an outstanding job providing feedback/scores to parents on very specific elements of the children’s academic performance, social and emotional intelligence skills, and also their work habits. In addition, they also provide a written dialogue on each subject that gives you further insight into your child’s performance (both positive and where there are areas for improvement). In some ways, it is very similar to what I think Baseball Factory does for our baseball players. Namely, we give players/parents a very good idea of where they stand nationwide and how the players can continue to improve upon their weaknesses.

I should preface my comments by saying that overall my child did very well on her assessment. But just like every child, she had a few “areas to work on.” What I realized is that when you receive this type of feedback as a parent, it becomes a very interesting “moment of truth” for the parent. How are you going to respond to hearing that your child isn’t the best at something and needs improvement? Are you going to blame other people? Are you going to blame the system? Yourself?

For me, my initial reaction had my ego getting the best of me. Clearly (I believed) there must be something incorrect with how she is being taught, right? Maybe the philosophy of the school is to blame, or better yet, the individual teachers approach. I went on for a few days, stewing inside and coming up with all kinds of theories as to why this was the case.

It took a conversation with my wife (who is wiser than me on these matters by the way) to get me to see clearly. Maybe our daughter is exactly where she needs to be right now? Maybe it is a blessing that we are getting this information and we should focus on giving her the support she needs, and not look to assess misdirected blame? Maybe it is wonderful as parents to have her in a school where she is getting such clear feedback and the support to improve in certain areas? And maybe, just maybe, this is happening to you as a parent so you can see the other side (as your Baseball Factory parents see) when your company delivers “feedback” on their son’s baseball ability so you can understand how they feel? It is amazing how your whole outlook can change when you look at something with a clearer perspective like this.

I think this experience will certainly help me to “handle the truth” in the future, when it comes to my kids. As parents, we just want what is best for our kids (more than anything) and it takes a level head and an honest set of eyes to have the right perspective.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 14 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm Baseball Factory and Team One Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

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A Fond Farewell

Date: Fri, Jun 25, 2010

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

Every June, the College World Series captures the sporting spotlight through the continuous ping of Louisville Slugger bats. Baseball fans nationwide are captivated as 64 becomes 16 and finally the Omaha Eight that create the College World Series. It’s teams like Fresno State that define the CWS. In 2008, they were a four seed in the regionals, and went on to win it all. That’s like a 13 - 16 seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament winning the tournament. Unheard of, yet it happened in Omaha.

This is one of thousands of amazing moments that have occurred at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, but the moments are running out. This is the last year that the CWS will be played at Rosenblatt Stadium. Next year, the tournament will move downtown to the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, currently being built in preparation for 2011. The sound of it just screams “commercial.” How many years before TD Ameritrade Park becomes the Bank of America Park or the AOL Park.

Rosenblatt Stadium was built in 1948 and began hosting the CWS in 1950. The park seats 23,100 fans, which is one of the main reasons for the move. The CWS has gone from a tournament to an event, and there’s enough demand to warrant a larger and more state of the art stadium. While it makes sense from a business perspective, baseball fans will be sorry to see it go. Within its walls, many of the greatest college players in history have competed. While many of the participants have gone on to greatness at the professional level, many of them are now doctors or teachers…having graduated and moved into what is the “real world” for the majority of us.

I think that’s what helps connect our country to college sports in general. While the NCAA is big business, these are still 18 – 22 year old kids, playing a sport that they love, before entering the “real world.”

While the CWS will continue its storied history next year, and we’ll all continue to watch, I can tell you that I’m paying closer attention this year than ever. I don’t want to miss the last moments that Johnny Rosenblatt has to offer.

Jason Budden is the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Baseball Factory. Jason joined the Baseball Factory in 1997 while still a junior in high school. After going through the Baseball Factory's college recruiting program he was placed at Johns Hopkins University where he played two years of college baseball before graduating with a degree in Economics. After working part-time at the Factory throughout college, Jason joined the team as a full-time employee in January 2002 when he was promoted to Director of Marketing. He currently oversees all marketing projects and sponsorship opportunities at Baseball Factory. He is also in charge of development and marketing for Baseball University, the leader in online baseball education and a division of Baseball Factory.

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Stephan Strasburg and Why Experience is Overrated

Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2010

Garrett Kramer Guest Blogger: Inner-Sports

by Garret Kramer

You hear it all the time, “He’s got loads of talent but is not yet experienced enough to come through in the big spot.” Or, as in Tuesday night’s pitching debut of the Washington National’s Stephen Strasburg, “The kid has all the tools but is he too young to handle the pressure?” And while experience does have the potential to serve as “the name we give to our mistakes,” I am certain that when you examine the keys to success, it is one of the most overrated qualities an athlete can possess.

With a lack of inner wisdom, experience will work against an athlete.

Simply put, an athlete’s level of experience will only be as good as his state of mind during a particular contest. Golfer Greg Norman was 41 years of age and a twenty year veteran, when he relinquished a six shot lead and blew the 1996 Masters. And the Soviet hockey team was by far the best in the world when they lost the gold medal to a raw bunch of American college kids in the 1980 Olympics. Experience in these competitions then, was not the deciding factor, and I would argue that with a lack of knowledge about what can happen in one’s own head, it often works against players of any age.

What I am saying is that when an athlete fails to understand that external factors (national media, a major title, a sellout crowd, a tough opponent) actually have no ability to regulate performance, he becomes a passive victim of whatever exists “out there,” and as the experiences mount, so do the failures. Now, when a young athlete- Tuesday night’s performance by Strasburg being a great example- understands deeply that the capacity to create success rests only within him, then independent of experience and external situations, the opportunity to come through will always be at hand.

The feeling that a game or life looks bleak, or not, at a particular moment, has nothing to do with experience.

Moreover, I believe it important to recognize that no matter the level of experience, an athlete who is operating from a low level of well being and doesn’t know what to do (and not do) about it will almost always fail. While those individuals who understand to look within and thus stay true to their own course, will almost always prevail. Remember, coach Herb Brooks repeatedly told his inexperienced players to “play your game,” as their state of mind waned against the Soviets.

Lastly, I hope you now see that when an athlete views life from an outside-in perspective, he will possess little power to learn and to flourish from his circumstances, since he can only act in response to the way the game and life may appear at that particular moment. On the other hand, an insightful player (one who views life from an inside-out perspective) remains aware that creative opportunity can only exist in one place- inside of him. In turn, he possesses permanent access to the answer through any trying circumstance, including opening night pressure…..As I said, I am certain that this essential understanding and thus success, has nothing to do with one’s level of experience, and Stephan Strasburg’s major league debut provides all the proof you’ll ever need.

Garret Kramer is the founder and Managing Partner of Inner-Sports.com. Inner-Sports evaluates and then coaches athletes of all ages on the behavioral characteristics that lead to peak performance on and off the field of play. Inner-Sport’s evaluative partner has created the behavioral assessment used at both the National Hockey League and the Major League Lacrosse scouting combines. Inner-Sports and Garret work with Baseball Factory players at select player development events.

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LIVE: Under Armour Southeast Regional Tournament

Date: Sat, Jun 12, 2010

Becky Oldham: We're There

Day 2

Another day of baseball has concluded here in Jupiter, FL. The championship bracket is becoming a little clearer, but there are still plenty of games left to decide who will go on to play for this year's crown. Defending champion Palm Beach PAL are 3-0, but there are a few other teams that boast that same record including the Palm Beach Select 17, All-American Prospects 17, Miami Snappers, Palm Beach PAL 16 and the Miami Snappers Blue while Gatorball 16 is 2-0. So going into the last day of pool play these teams along with the other squads will make their final push for the championship bracket and top seeding.

Check back tomorrow to find out the seedings of the championship bracket along with how Day 3 concluded.

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LIVE: Under Armour Southeast Regional Tournament

Date: Fri, Jun 11, 2010

Becky Oldham: We're There

Today 35 teams of all-star high school baseball players and their friends and families gathered at the Roger Dean Sports Complex for the fourth annual Under Armor Southeast Regional Tournament. The defending champions, The Palm Beach PAL, are working towards another championship after beating the All American Prospects today 2-1. Day one was a success and the rest of the results from the first round can be found on the Team One Baseball website.

The Baseball Factory Navy Team faced a tough loss against the Florida Diamond Pro- Gold this on day one, but had some commendable plays by its players. Walker struck out Navarro and Sosa in the 1st inning with his 83/86 fastball and Robinson had a great throw to Ferguson to end the inning. Kyle Washington did outstanding in the 2nd inning with a line drive down the third base line and then stole second. Catcher, Jarod Silvers, was a noteworthy player who worked very well behind the plate consistently throughout the entire game. The team went on to lose, however, this group of talented young athletes worked well with each other considering they had just met 12 hours prior to the game.

Dylan Silva (Lake Worth, FL) started the first inning strong on the mound for the Baseball Factory Red Team, retiring the side including two strikeouts. However with the dangerous lineup of the Atlanta Blue Jays along with some untimely errors, the Blue Jays took a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the 3rd. But, the Factory battled back. After Stephen Trail (Catonment, FL) took first after being hit by a pitch, Austin Barrois (Belle Chasse, LA) followed with an infield single. Next, Dylan Chayes (Oceanport, NJ) moved both runners into scoring position and Trail eventually scored from third on a pass ball to put the Factory on the board 4-1. Christian Ellis (Tuttle, OK) then followed with a single to left to score Barrois and the inning ended with a score of 4-2. However, the Factory was unable to contain the potent Blue Jays lineup as they ended up dropping their first game 10-2.

Stay tuned the rest of the week to see how the Baseball Factory teams fair, as well as the other 33 teams in the Under Armour Southeast Tournament.

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LIVE: Under Armour Southeast Regional Tournament

Date: Fri, Jun 11, 2010

Becky Oldham: We're There

Day 3 is in the books and so it the pool play portion of the 2010 Under Armour Southeast Regional Tournament. 35 teams played their hardest in hopes that they would win their pool and move onto the nine team championship bracket. The nine teams that will continue their quest to be crowned this year's champion are:
(Teams are ordered based on their seeding)

1. Palm Beach PAL 16
2. Palm Beach PAL 17
3. All-American Prospects 17
4. Miami Snappers Blue
5. Palm Beach Select 17
6. Miami Snappers 18
7. Atlanta Blue Jays
8. Freshwater Storm
9. South Florida Elite Black 16

Check out where all the other teams in this year's tournament finished up by checking out the results page on teamonebaseball.com

Check back tomorrow to see who made it through to the semi-finals on Tuesday.

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MLB Draft

Date: Mon, Jun 7, 2010

Steve Bernhardt: Draft Report

Follow the first round of the draft right here! I'll be highlighting select players as they come off the board. Click on the player's name to view video footage.

10:24 PM- Nick Castellanos comes off the board, heading to Detroit! Check out our video showing how Nick...Built his way to Greatness.

10:00 PM - The first round is over with the Compensation Round on deck...There are some top high school prospects still on the board including Nick Castellanos, Stetson Allie and Austin Wilson, all players from the Under Armour All-America Game.

9:47 PM - The Angels are loading up on high school talent. With the 3oth overall pick, they select Chevez Clarke, a switch hitting OF from Georgia. Check out the scouting report on Chevy from the Under Armour All-America Game:

8/6/2009 - Under Armour All-America Game: A dynamic athlete with present tools and strength. He is already a plus runner and with some refinements will be a future ML centerfielder. At the plate, has a good feel for the barrel from both sides of the plate making consistent line drive contact. He has quick hands and an advanced feel for the strike zone making him profile as a future top-of-the-order guy. First round talent who is committed to Georgia Tech.

9:37 PM - As I've said before, when in doubt, draft a QB...Zach Lee and Kyle Parker are two of the last three picks. Parker, a QB at Clemson and Lee a high school stud QB headed to LSU.

9:20 PM - The St. Louis Cardinals take Zack Cox, a standout 3B from the University of Arkansas. Cox attended the Cape Cod High School Classic in 2007, where he impressed both as a position player and a hard throwing RHP.

9:03 PM - The Rangers take Kellin Deglan, a player that has been steadily rising on draft boards over the past year since his appearance in the Under Armour All-America Game in 2009. The top high school position player in Canada, check out our report on Deglan:

8/6/2009 - Under Armour All-America Game: Catcher with a tall, lean frame. Catch and throw skills will be sufficient to stay behind the plate. Arm plays with on line carry. Best tool is his smooth LH stroke with some natural lift. He uses the whole field and catches up to velocity without issue. He will continue to develop power as he physically matures and gains strength which will also help his durability behind the plate. Committed to Florida International.

8:58 PM - Alex Wimmers is taken by the Minnesota Twins with the 21st overall pick in this year's draft. The Twins seem thrilled that he fell to them. His command and secondary pitches should play well at the next level. Should be interesting to see if the Rangers reach again like they did with Skole, or take a top 25 prospect.

8:37 PM - Josh Sale, an OF from Washington is taken by the Tampa Bay Rays. Sale has a strong, compact build with big forearms and big power. His LH stroke is a bit stiff at times, but he generates plus bat speed and makes hard contact especially to the pull side. He has played 3B for his high school team but figures to shift to LF in pro ball to allow him to relax and concentrate on what he does best – hit. He is committed to attend Gonzaga in the fall.

8:21 PM - Dylan Covey, selected by the Milwaukee Brewers, is a right-hander who pitches for Manantha HS in California. Covey is an athletically built 6’2”, 195-pounder who is in control on the mound. He throws a low 90s fastball with some tail along with both a power curve ball and a solid change-up. This quality three pitch mix has allowed him to cruise through the high school season this spring, piling up strikeout totals. Covey is committed to the University of San Diego and is ranked 5th overall on Baseball Factory’s Top 100.

8:11 PM - The ACC Player of the Year, Yasmani Grandal goes to the Cincinnati Reds. One of many players from the University of Miami that will likely be drafted over the next few days.

7:54 PM - Karsten Whitsonis off the board. The second high school pitcher taken in this year's draft. Check out the scouting report from the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game:

8/6/2009 - Under Armour All-America Game Whitson has an ideal pitcher’s frame and is a strong righty with a loose, live arm. He pounds the strike zone with a 90-96 mph fastball that requires little effort. He also throws a sharp slider at 78-81, giving him two above average offerings and making him one of the top pitchers in the 2010 class and a first round arm. Committed to Florida

7:48 PM - Delino Deshields, Jr. selected by the Houston Astros. Deshields impressed our scouts at the Under Armour Southeast Tournament back in 2009, playing summer ball for the Atlanta Blue Jays. This year's Under Armour Southeast Tournament gets underway on August 11.

7:37 PM - Barrett Loux goes to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a bit of a surprise pick. Check out the mock draft from Frankie Piliere on Fanhouse.com. He had Loux as the 23rd overall. You can also see some additional draft coverage on Fanhouse.com that I participated in last week.

7:26 PM - The Royals select Christian Colon, the first player selected from a four-year college. We first saw Colon as a high school junior when he attended the Team One Futures Showcasein 2005.

7:21 PM - The Orioles select Manny Machado. The top shortstop that has emerged in this year’s high school group, he seems to have the best chance to actually stick at SS with his sure hands, plus arm and playable range. His actions are easy and fluid, and though some teams are concerned that his frame will fill out to a point that a shift to 3B is necessary, the Orioles must be convinced that he is their shortstop of the future. At the plate Machado has good barrel accuracy with quick hands and shows flashes of pull power that will continue to develop.

7:16 PM - The Pirates select Jameson Taillon, the top pitcher in the 2010 high school class. Here is his scouting report from the Under Armour All-America Game:

8/6/2009 - Under Armour All-America Game
The top arm in the 2010 class, Taillon is a big, strong RHP with an intimidating presence. He combines mid 90s velocity with a hard breaking curveball that is his out pitch. Being from Texas, his body and stuff have garnered Roger Clemens comparisons. He attended an Under Armour National Tryout in Irving, TX and subsequently pitched for the Baseball Factory in the Arizona Sophomore Fall Classic in Peoria. He has committed to Rice. Taillon was an MVP of the Under Armour All-America Game and has already touched 100mph this spring.

7:10 PM- The draft is underway, and after what seems like three years of waiting, Bryce Harperhas finally been selected as the number one pick. No surprises here. The Nationals now have the rights to what many believe to be the two best prospects in baseball. Let's look back...here is the scouting report that our staff put together back in 2008, when we first saw Bryce as a high school freshman:

2/24/2008 - Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout - Las Vegas: Bryce is a tall strong athletic catcher/SS who still has tons more time to improve and get better. Behind the plate, shows well above arm action and release with pop times in the 1.88 range. Hands are soft while receiving and body gets down quickly to block balls in the dirt. He is a way ahead of the competition behind the plate. At SS, shows a loose arm and soft hands. Gets rid of the ball quickly and turns the double play well. Not too many holes in his defensive game. Swing is easy with power to all fields. Ball flies off his bat. Has bat speed and creates good backspin on the ball. Quite simply, Bryce is a stud and only a 2011 grad.

Steve Bernhardt is quickly becoming known on a national level as one of the top authorities on high school baseball prospects. Steve was chosen by MLB.com as a special consultant for their 2008 and 2009 Pre-Draft coverage. In addition, over the past three years Steve has been the liaison with Baseball America providing thousands of scouting reports on players from the 200+ Baseball Factory and Team One events nationwide that he oversees.

Steve has also chosen the Top 36 High School Baseball Players each year for the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory. From the 2008 game 29 of the All-Americans were selected in the 2009 MLB draft including seven in the first round.

Currently, Steve oversees the Baseball Factory Top 100, presented by Under Armour which ranks the top high school prospects in the country. Steve has also been featured on the nationally syndicated Diamond Gems Baseball program that airs in thirty cities across America. Steve has also made appearances in the last year on the following programs: Mark Viviano Show – ESPN Radio, 1300 AM, John Thompson Show – 980 AM, Anita Marks Show – ESPN Radio, 1200 AM/MASN TV, Jeremy Kahn: “Playermakers” – 105.7 FM, Bob Harvey: “WNST” – 1570 AM, Grant Paulsen Show – XM Radio

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Outfielders

Date: Mon, Jun 7, 2010

Steve Bernhardt: Draft Report

Many of the premium athletes and hitters in the Major Leagues seem to play the outfield. To fit the profile of a Major League center fielder, a prospect must be a plus defender who can cover the vast expanse of outfield from gap-to-gap. Obviously the ability to run goes hand-in-hand with this profile. The corner outfield spots are filled with guys that can flat out hit. These guys need to be able to drive in runs with adequate defense usually a secondary issue. Because of the need for elite speed to play CF or an elite bat to play RF or LF, this is the time of year when many prospects don’t fit entirely in either profile and become labeled as the dreaded 4th outfielder.

For this draft report, we are going to concentrate on a few guys that have the tools to be legitimate starters in a future Major League outfield. The first group has impact bats and should fit in nicely in corner outfield spots. At the top of the list is Austin Wilson, a physical specimen with a 6’4” chiseled frame. He has invoked comparisons from Andre Dawson to Vladimir Guerrero for not only his frame, but also his RH bat with power. That power was on display last summer when Wilson deposited a pitch from Karsten Whitson into the LF bleachers at Wrigley Field in the Under Armour All-Am erica Game. Wilson also has the arm strength to play RF and should eventually be an above average defender there. Wilson name has been mentioned as high as the top 10 picks, but the importance of a Stanford education to him as well as him not having an advisor is making it tough for teams to determine his signability.

Another outfielder with an impressive set of tools is Reggie Golden out of Alabama. Built like a running back, Golden has the intriguing, yet hard to find, combination of speed and power. He matched Wilson with a HR at last year’s Under Armour All-America Game, though Golden’s rattled off the fence at the top of the LF bleachers just a few feet from ending up on Waveland Avenue. Despite the abundance of tools, Golden is still raw. His reads and jumps will probably relegate him to LF duty and he is still a free swinger at the plate with limited pitch recognition. That being said, an organization willing to be patient with him could reap the rewards of a power bat with impact speed on the bases in the future. Golden has signed with the University of Alabama, but could be selected in the second half of the first round.

Another power bat in this class is Josh Sale from Washington. Sale has a strong, compact build with big forearms and big power. His LH stroke is a bit stiff at times, but he generates plus bat speed and makes hard contact especially to the pull side. He has played 3B for his high school team but figures to shift to LF in pro ball to allow him to relax and concentrate on what he does best – hit. He is committed to attend Gonzaga in the fall.

Another potential high draft selection that also plays the outfield and is committed to Stanford is Brian Ragira out of Texas. Ragira is a silky, smooth OF who glides to balls and flashes an above average arm. The game seems to come easy to him, as evidenced by the way the ball jumps off his bat despite an easy, low effort swing. As he continues to mature physically, more power will show through to go with the rest of his complete game. Being another player and family that truly values education, Ragira could be a difficult sign regardless of how high he is selected.

Lastly, a true CF prospect in this year’s prospect class can be found in the loaded state of Georgia. Chevez Clarke has all of the tools to play CF with plus speed, good instincts and plenty of arm strength. In addition, this physical young player swings the bat from both sides of the plate with a line drive stroke that sprays balls to all fields while flashing occasional pop. It is difficult to find legitimate 5-tool players, but Clarke is one. He should develop into a top-of-the-order hitter that patrols CF. An organization that sees him in the same way could select him in the first round and sign him away from his hometown Georgia Tech.

When you add in late risers like Delino DeShields, Jr. and Aaron Shipman both from Georgia, and Florida outfielders Kyle Waldrop and Mason Williams, we may look back on this draft a few years from now as a bonanza for finding quality Major League outfielders from the high school ranks.

Steve Bernhardt is quickly becoming known on a national level as one of the top authorities on high school baseball prospects. Steve was chosen by MLB.com as a special consultant for their 2008 and 2009 Pre-Draft coverage. In addition, over the past three years Steve has been the liaison with Baseball America providing thousands of scouting reports on players from the 200+ Baseball Factory and Team One events nationwide that he oversees.

Steve has also chosen the Top 36 High School Baseball Players each year for the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory. From the 2008 game 29 of the All-Americans were selected in the 2009 MLB draft including seven in the first round.

Currently, Steve oversees the Baseball Factory Top 100, presented by Under Armour which ranks the top high school prospects in the country. Steve has also been featured on the nationally syndicated Diamond Gems Baseball program that airs in thirty cities across America. Steve has also made appearances in the last year on the following programs: Mark Viviano Show – ESPN Radio, 1300 AM, John Thompson Show – 980 AM, Anita Marks Show – ESPN Radio, 1200 AM/MASN TV, Jeremy Kahn: “Playermakers” – 105.7 FM, Bob Harvey: “WNST” – 1570 AM, Grant Paulsen Show – XM Radio

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Two Class Acts

Date: Fri, Jun 4, 2010

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

It is hard to be a fan of baseball and not feel for Armando Galarraga right now. On Wednesday night, he was one out away from throwing the 21st perfect game in MLB history (and coincidentally, the 3rd one already this year which is somewhat of an anomaly) and he came up short due to a blown call by veteran umpire Jim Joyce. It was a bang-bang play at first base, but Joyce called the runner safe when replays showed he was clearly out. Who knows if Galarraga will get this close to a perfect game again in his baseball career. History suggests that he probably won’t, but you never know.

In my most recent blog, Lessons Learned from Hanley Ramirez, I focused on how people react after they make a mistake. In my opinion, Jim Joyce did an outstanding job. Right after the game he asked the video crew to show him the play in slow motion. Like the rest of us, he could see that he made an error in calling the runner safe. Instead of making excuses, he quickly made a statement acknowledging that he made a mistake and blew the call. He also apologized directly to Galarraga and to Tigers manager Jim Leyland. This was the classy thing to do and I think Joyce should be commended.

In addition, I think players (and parents) from all levels of baseball can learn a thing or two from how Galarraga handled the disappointment. He didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t point fingers, and he didn’t embarrass Joyce during the post game news conference. He simply said that everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. Even right after the play, he didn’t mope or throw a temper tantrum when Joyce called the runner safe. He just smiled and walked back to the mound. What incredible grace he showed.

The final thing that impressed me was during Thursday’s game, with Joyce serving as the Home Plate umpire, Jim Leyland had Galarraga walk to the plate during the pre-game ground rules and deliver the lineup card to Joyce. The two shook hands and Joyce was clearly emotional and taken back by the gesture.

In my opinion, this is how you handle a difficult situation. What incredible sportsmanship and integrity were displayed by all parties. They all should be commended.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 14 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm Baseball Factory and Team One Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

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Corner Infielders

Date: Fri, Jun 4, 2010

Steve Bernhardt: Draft Report

As I discussed in the last Draft Report, many corner infield prospects play shortstop in high school and eventually end up at 3B after playing themselves off of short in the minor leagues. This week we’ll look at a few prospects who have already played a lot of 3B either in high school or for their competitive summer teams as well as a couple of 1B who can swing the bat.

We begin again in the fertile prospect state of Florida. Nick Castellanos just finished leading his Archbishop McCarthy team to the State Championship for 4A schools, and that title should be followed closely by a 1st round selection on June 7th. When I first saw Nick at our Baseball Factory Christmas Camp in Dodgertown, he was in 8th grade. At that time, he was the only 8th grader invited to participate in the high school-aged event, but it was obvious that he was talented enough to belong. He continued to work hard at all facets of his game as we saw him through his high school years. He made a name for himself with successful high school seasons in south Florida and his outstanding play for the powerhouse All-American Prospect team. Last August he solidified his name as a first round candidate with an unbelievable display at the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field. He won the HR Derby and then garnered MVP honors for the Baseball Factory team with a 4-4 performance that included four doubles hit to all parts of the park off some of the top pitchers in the country.

Castellanos is athletic as evidenced by his ability to play SS this spring, but he projects as an above average defender at 3B in professional baseball with a quick release and plenty of arm for the position. He is perhaps the best hitter in the high school class with very quick hands and the ability to drive balls to all parts of the park. He seems to have a knack for driving in runs and has shown that he likes to perform in clutch situations and on big stages. His frame can handle added muscle and he should end up a run producer that is a 25+ HR guy for the team that drafts him. He does have a strong commitment to the University of Miami that teams will consider.

The next 3B prospect is a dual position player from Georgia. Kaleb Cowart is a talented 3B and RHP who has organizations split over where he projects best. Cowart has made it known that he wants to be a position player, so the team that selects him will at least start him there. The comp that continues to surface for Cowart is Casey Kelly. The body and skills are similar, and like Kelly, Cowart is a 1st round talent as both an infielder and pitcher. Also like Kelly, Cowart wants to continue to hit and play the field when drafted. Cowart is committed to Florida State University.

Moving out west, Kris Bryant plays the infield for Bonanza High School in Nevada. Bryant has played both SS and 3B during a distinguished high school career, but the consensus seems to be that his 6’5” frame is best suited for 1B in the long run. His raw power may be the best in the high school ranks this year, and it comes from a smooth easy swing. He will swing and miss quite a bit against better pitching, but he can hit a mistake for a high, majestic home run at any time. Bryant has a tall, thin frame that doesn’t appear that it will fill out a lot more, but with some added strength and more consistent contact some team will envision him in the middle of their line-up. Bryant is said to have a strong commitment to the University of San Diego that clubs will have to contend with to sign him.

Staying out west we find another 3B who could be drafted early. Chad Lewis looks the part, with a well-proportioned 6’3” frame. He has easy actions in the field with soft, sure hands and a ML average arm across the diamond – all indications that he will have no problem staying at 3B. At the plate, he generates bat speed with a slight uppercut allowing him to display some loft power. He has had some stretches of inconsistent contact and others with limited power, but when he has it together, he is one of the most complete 3B available to teams in this year’s draft.

One other 1B that has elevated himself into the early round discussion is Christian Yelich. Yelich is a tall, thin LH hitter with a smooth stroke. He makes consistent contact and uses the whole field, but his future power potential is in question. He has room to fill out physically and he is a good athlete, as evidenced by his ML average speed, so there will most likely be a team that bets on the future power and picks him early. Yelich plans to go across the country to play his college baseball at the University of Miami.

Steve Bernhardt is quickly becoming known on a national level as one of the top authorities on high school baseball prospects. Steve was chosen by MLB.com as a special consultant for their 2008 and 2009 Pre-Draft coverage. In addition, over the past three years Steve has been the liaison with Baseball America providing thousands of scouting reports on players from the 200+ Baseball Factory and Team One events nationwide that he oversees.

Steve has also chosen the Top 36 High School Baseball Players each year for the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory. From the 2008 game 29 of the All-Americans were selected in the 2009 MLB draft including seven in the first round.

Currently, Steve oversees the Baseball Factory Top 100, presented by Under Armour which ranks the top high school prospects in the country. Steve has also been featured on the nationally syndicated Diamond Gems Baseball program that airs in thirty cities across America. Steve has also made appearances in the last year on the following programs: Mark Viviano Show – ESPN Radio, 1300 AM, John Thompson Show – 980 AM, Anita Marks Show – ESPN Radio, 1200 AM/MASN TV, Jeremy Kahn: “Playermakers” – 105.7 FM, Bob Harvey: “WNST” – 1570 AM, Grant Paulsen Show – XM Radio

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Shortstops

Date: Tue, Jun 1, 2010

Steve Bernhardt: Draft Report

Shortstops are extremely important and even harder to find. High school players that are expected to eventually play shortstop in the Major Leagues are a rare breed. As we look at this year’s top middle infielders, it appears to be business as usual – talented players who profile to eventually move off of short to another position.

The top shortstop that has emerged in this year’s high school group is Manny Machado from Florida. He seems to have the best chance to actually stick at SS with his sure hands, plus arm and playable range. His actions are easy and fluid, and though some teams are concerned that his frame will fill out to a point that a shift to 3B is necessary, he will be drafted early by an organization convinced that he is their shortstop of the future. At the plate Machado has good barrel accuracy with quick hands and shows flashes of pull power that will continue to develop. His complete skill set coupled with athleticism should make him the first high school position player drafted this year. He is currently ranked 16th on the Baseball Factory Top 100, though he should move quite a bit higher when our updated rankings are released. Machado has committed to attend Florida International University.

Staying in Florida, another top prospect who plays shortstop is Lakeland’s Yordy Cabrera. Cabrera is a strong, mature talent with plus arm strength and present power. Cabrera’s advanced approach and actions are no surprise, since his father has been a Minor League Coach in the Detroit Tigers’ organization for many years. Cabrera’s big frame and range are better suited for 3B than SS, and it has even been rumored that some organizations see him as a future corner outfielder. No matter where he lands defensively, there is little doubt that the team that selects him sees him as a middle-of-the-order run producer down the road. With the bat speed and loft to his swing that were on display when he hit a towering HR at Wrigley Field in the Under Armour All-America Game, he should be a 25+ HR guy once he learns to make more consistent contact. Yordy currently ranks 3rd in our Top 100 and is committed to the University of Miami.

A bit of a wildcard is Garin Cecchini out of Barbe HS in Louisiana. He may not have as high a ceiling as some other players, but his combination of tools and make-up are second to none. Although he is expected to have a full recovery from his ACL surgery this spring, the injury prevented him from showcasing his talents to decision makers during the late surge leading up to the draft. On the field, his LH stoke is quick with great plane. He uses the whole field and flashes power to the pull side. Defensively he has soft hands and adequate arm strength, though his future looks to be at either 3B or 2B instead of SS where he played in high school. Where Cecchini really stands out is in his intangibles. His work ethic, desire and baseball instincts are all off the chart as we learned at last year’s UA All-America Game. Cecchini is our 19th ranked player in the Baseball Factory Top 100 and if he doesn’t sign, expect him to contribute immediately at LSU next year.

Heading out west, California’s Tony Wolters (#17 on the Baseball Factory To 100) has gotten quite a bit of attention as one of the nation’s top middle guys. Though he is a bit undersized, he shares some of the solid intangibles that Cecchini possesses. Wolters plays the game with intensity and has a high baseball IQ. His LH stroke is short, quick and effective and he profiles as an above average defender at 2B in the pro game. Though he is not a burner, good jumps and his high-energy style allow his range in the field to play well and at the plate he puts pressure on the defense similar to better runners. He has missed a few games recently due to an issue with the CIF, but he still should expect to be selected in the early rounds. If he doesn’t sign, he will attend the University of San Diego.

Another MIF from the west who deserves mention is Marcus Littlewood, currently ranked 37th on our Top 100 list. The son of a college coach, he is one of the most polished high school players in the country, yet he also has some of the most divided opinions of any player. There are some organizations that feel that his instincts in the field will allow him to have the range necessary to play shortstop at the highest level, despite his lack of foot speed and first-step quickness. His hands and arm are both above average with a quick, clean release. He is as dependable a defender as you will see in the high school ranks. At the plate he is a switch-hitter with a line drive, use-the-whole-field approach from both sides of the plate. Of the people who feel his range will force him to 3B, there are some that feel he will develop enough power in his solid frame to play the corner spot. Still others don’t see the future HR production to allow the move. With all of the questions, it only takes one team to be convinced, and if that happens, Littlewood could hear his name called early in this year’s draft. If he decides to attend college, he could potentially join Wolters at the University of San Diego.

The last three shortstops worth a mention are all from the southeast. JaCoby Jones (#70 in Baseball Factory Top 100) is an athletic SS from Mississippi who has a wiry strong body and plus speed that may play better in CF in the future. He shows flashes with the bat and is an intriguing high ceiling prospect. It remains to be seen if he will end up on the LSU campus in the fall. The next infielder hails from Georgia and is ranked 50th in our Top 100. Zach Alvord is a strong, compact infielder with surprising power who has committed to Auburn. He has drawn Gordon Beckham comparisons and has enough arm strength to follow in Beckham’s footsteps and make the move to 3B or a team may like his future better as an offensive 2B. The final SS from the southeast is Niko Goodrum. Goodrum is a 6’3” athlete with 5-tool potential. His stroke from both sides of the plate is aggressive with bat speed. Some teams see a move to CF in the future while others feel he can gain the defensive consistency necessary to play shortstop. Goodrum is ranked 99th on our Baseball Factory Top 100 and is committed to Kennesaw State. All of these players could elevate their stock with a good pre-draft workout for a team.

Once again the list of high school shortstops with athleticism and tools is long, but the number of players on that list that figure to stay at shortstop in professional baseball is very short. Regardless, these are often the best athletes on the field and teams should value their tool sets enough to draft them early.

Steve Bernhardt is quickly becoming known on a national level as one of the top authorities on high school baseball prospects. Steve was chosen by MLB.com as a special consultant for their 2008 and 2009 Pre-Draft coverage. In addition, over the past three years Steve has been the liaison with Baseball America providing thousands of scouting reports on players from the 200+ Baseball Factory and Team One events nationwide that he oversees.

Steve has also chosen the Top 36 High School Baseball Players each year for the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory. From the 2008 game 29 of the All-Americans were selected in the 2009 MLB draft including seven in the first round.

Currently, Steve oversees the Baseball Factory Top 100, presented by Under Armour which ranks the top high school prospects in the country. Steve has also been featured on the nationally syndicated Diamond Gems Baseball program that airs in thirty cities across America. Steve has also made appearances in the last year on the following programs: Mark Viviano Show – ESPN Radio, 1300 AM, John Thompson Show – 980 AM, Anita Marks Show – ESPN Radio, 1200 AM/MASN TV, Jeremy Kahn: “Playermakers” – 105.7 FM, Bob Harvey: “WNST” – 1570 AM, Grant Paulsen Show – XM Radio