My son just received an invitation to this tournament in Arizona Jan-16-18. He attended a Baseball Factory/Team One showcase last spring and did very well, they offered several times for him to play in various tournaments on one of the Under Armour teams, but the cost was exhorbitant ($2500-3000). Today he received a letter saying he was selected as a 2009 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American, and a registration form for the event, which costs $799. As I read it, the tournament consists of 20 teams representing their region of the country. Also included is video, webpage, personal rating, Under Armour gear, etc. The letter says it's the first step toward making the All-American team that plays at Wrigley next year. Anyone with experience, or any thoughts on this? It's sounds more prestigious that the previous offers, but I still wonder. I hate to be so suspicious, but I have spent a ton of needless money on baseball events.
Posts: 161 | Location: Alabama | Registered: November 24, 2008
There is a local kid whose dad is worth many millions. He can hit a bit for power, but he's slow and overall just an average high school player. But he's a preseason "All-American" because he attended one of their events. In fact, there were 4-5 kids off the kid's Summer team that made it, too, and NONE of the six guys drafted in our town made it.
Just a nice tag line for the Juco profile.
"Thanks for the memories"-- The Carol Burnett Show
Posts: 1856 | Location: Las Vegas | Registered: July 11, 2005
Interesting, I did find quite a bit from last year's event. I felt like the $3000 per player tournament teams they put on were clearly money-makers, but I was trying to convince myself that for considerably less ($800) and considering the Under Armour gear and webpage with video you get, this was more designed for the top echelon. Clearly most on here are unimpressed with Baseball Factory.
Posts: 161 | Location: Alabama | Registered: November 24, 2008
Originally posted by Wayne: 2009 Under Armour Pre-Season All-American, and a registration form for the event, which costs $799. As I read it, the tournament consists of 20 teams representing their region of the country. Also included is video, webpage, personal rating, Under Armour gear, etc. The letter says it's the first step toward making the All-American team that plays at Wrigley next year.
Wayne, Welcome to HSBBW! Congratulations on being recognized by Baseball Factory/Team One!
Posts: 1398 | Location: CA | Registered: March 12, 2003
If this thing is $799, it is a bargain for an Underarmor event. I'd say do it. I think the $2000 events are moneymakers for the most part, but this one sounds very good. Baseball Factory/Underarmor/Team One is a very good organization. It can be expensive, but they put on good events and if you are true top-drawer talent, you can benefit from their events.
Posts: 207 | Location: Virginia | Registered: April 04, 2008
Hello Wayne! If you have an unlimited money stream and don't mind overpaying for the experience then sign up for the Baseball Factory! You can read the threads but this is probably the most expensive option available for those who do not know or want to take the college recruiting process on. I work with a lot of college coaches and they used to get so many unsolicited college video tapes from recruiting services they would just give them to players to record over without even watching them!! They also commented that for the several thousand dollars that were spent at a recruiting service, the dad should have used it to get some instruction and actually improve their son's skills. We could debate this forever and there are so many things to add to this but this would be a large thread!!
Remember you are trying to get a coach to see your son play and then decide if he would like him to play for his team. The process is basically an attempt to get your son a "baseball" interview for the coach to evaluate him. For example if your son really wants to play at a certain college check and see if the coach conducts any camps. For a fraction of the cost of a recruiting service, the coach and his staff/players can work hands-on with him for a period of time. You can't get a better look than that!!
Try reading some of the following publications before you invest a lot of money because you can save a lot of your hard earned money and more often than not receive the same result. These are two sources that might help you to take on the process and save money:
My son also received the above mentioned invitation yesterday. I had the same skeptical reaction when I saw the price associated so I called a local Area Scout that I know pretty well.
His comment was that it is NOT NECESSARY. This is strictly a money making showcase and it will only be scouted by Area Scouts and SOME local colleges. Come draft time, it will play NO part in what decision the higher ups in a pro organization decide. As for the college guys, PG puts on several tournaments throughout the year that are scouted very heavily by both college and pro guys, and are much cheaper (Jupiter, WWBA tournament, etc.).
Posts: 73 | Location: Indiana | Registered: January 08, 2007
Son received a phone call invitation about 4 weeks ago and a follow up invitation in the mail. our understanding is that for the 2010s this is the selection process for the game at Wrigley Field in July. 2011s are not eligible.
We opted out for a couple reasons, the above reason included. Isaac is right - $799 is way cheap compared to the $3500 paid for JOs in August. BUT there are half the number of games, and flights are expensive to Arizona from this coast. In addition, no meals or hotel paid for the athlete.
Other factor was that this is the "quiet" period - although the cost does include video coverage and coaches can access that info any time.
In this economy, we felt it is more important than ever to balance money out versus interest in.
Posts: 147 | Location: va | Registered: April 17, 2008
He also said that from a pro standpoint that there were really only 3 showcase type events that mattered or were heavily scouted by scouting directors & cross checkers (Area Code, East Coast Pro & Tournament of Stars)........ALL OF WHICH ARE FREE!!!
This is not true.
While those events above are among the very best and do have many crosscheckers and Scouting Directors in attendance... The #1 draw is the PG WWBA Jupiter event in October. Other events that draw a "large" number of crosscheckers and Scouting Directors include The PG National Showcase, The PG WWBA events in Georgia, The PG World Showcase in Ft Myers over the Christmas Holidays. The Aflac Game, etc.
You would need to ask the Scouting Directors and crosscheckers to get the correct answer.
Posts: 5953 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
He also said that from a pro standpoint that there were really only 3 showcase type events that mattered or were heavily scouted by scouting directors & cross checkers (Area Code, East Coast Pro & Tournament of Stars)........ALL OF WHICH ARE FREE!!!
This is not true.
While those events above are among the very best and do have many crosscheckers and Scouting Directors in attendance... The #1 draw is the PG WWBA Jupiter event in October. Other events that draw a "large" number of crosscheckers and Scouting Directors include The PG National Showcase, The PG WWBA events in Georgia, The PG World Showcase in Ft Myers over the Christmas Holidays. The Aflac Game, etc.
You would need to ask the Scouting Directors and crosscheckers to get the correct answer.
PG - You misunderstood what I wrote or I didn't state it clearly enough. He said, and I mentioned in my previous post, that there were plenty of good showcase events and tournaments out there, such as the PG events (Jupiter, WWBA, etc.) that drew more or at least good numbers of scouting directors and crosscheckers.
I did not mean to insinuate that these events did not draw “large” numbers of scouts. They most certinly do. There were more scouts at Jupiter this year than I have ever seen at one place and was well worth the money to attend.
Sorry if what I wrote earlier came across that way!!! To clearify and not to confuse anyone else, I did go back and erase that portion of my earlier post.
Posts: 73 | Location: Indiana | Registered: January 08, 2007
OldSlugger, That's a great list of some outstanding players.
Here is the list of players from the 2006 PG National Showcase. Many of the same names are included
All those PG National players are either in pro ball or college
The Results from that Showcase
16 first round picks
7 second round picks
103 players drafted
212 total players
110 signed with either SEC, ACC, Pac 10 or Big 12 colleges
37 others signed with DI colleges that were nationally ranked last year.
21 signed with top Juco programs
All others signed with various DI programs
There were a half dozen other players we don’t have complete info on, so I couldn't include them.
Draft picks listed first by round
Player - Pos - Home St - College - MLB Club - Draft round Ahrens, Kevin SS TX Texas A&M Blue Jays 1 Alderson, Tim RHP AZ Oregon State Giants 1 Beavan, Blake RHP TX Oklahoma Rangers 1 Bumgarner, Madison LHP NC North Carolina Giants 1 Burgess, Michael OF FL Arizona State Nationals 1 Gilmore, Jon SS IA Wichita State Braves 1 Heyward, Jason OF GA UCLA Braves 1 Jackson, Justin SS NC Arizona State Blue Jays 1 Kozma, Peter MIF OK Wichita State Cardinals 1 Main, Michael RHP FL Florida State Rangers 1 Noonan, Nick MIF CA Clemson Giants 1 Porcello, Rick RHP NJ North Carolina Tigers 1 Ramirez, Neil RHP VA Georgia Tech Rangers 1 Smoker, Joshua LHP GA Clemson Nationals 1 Vineyard, Nathan LHP GA Chipola (FL) JC Mets 1 Withrow, Chris RHP TX Baylor Dodgers 1 Freeman, Freddie 1B CA Cal State Fullerton Braves 2 Griffith, Nevin RHP FL Florida International White Sox 2 Morris, Hunter IF AL Auburn Red Sox 2 Rams, Danny C FL Arizona State Twins 2 Runion, Sam RHP NC Tennessee Royals 2 Tolisano, John SS FL Florida Blue Jays 2 Watt, Michael LHP CA Long Beach State Dodgers 2 Dietrich, Derek SS OH Georgia Tech Astros 3 Harvey, Matt RHP CT North Carolina Angels 3 Toledo, Tommy RHP FL Florida Padres 3 Nash, Garrett SS UT Oregon State Rangers 4 Blair, Kyle RHP CA San Diego Dodgers 5 Gast, John LHP FL Florida State Rangers 5 Striz, Nathan RHP FL North Carolina Twins 5 Demny, Paul RHP TX Blinn JC Nationals 6 McGeary, Jack LHP MA Stanford Nationals 6 Rizzo, Anthony 1B FL Florida Atlantic Red Sox 6 Reckling, Trevor LHP NJ High Point Angels 8 Angelini, Carmen SS LA Rice Yankees 10 Colon, Christian MIF CA Cal State Fullerton Padres 10 Jones, D.J. OF AL Auburn Rays 11 Davis, Kentrail OF AL Tennessee Rockies 14 Hernandez, Chris LHP FL Miami Tigers 14 Robles, Tanner LHP UT Oregon State Angels 14 Arnold, Patrick RHP WV North Carolina State Nationals 15 Paciorek, Joey SS WA Washington Brewers 15 Bailey, Austin RHP AL Alabama Red Sox 16 Buckborough, Colin RHP ON Evansville Mariners 16 Matthews, Jaren 1B NJ Rutgers Red Sox 17 Rodriguez, Jose OF FL South Carolina Twins 17 Rhoderick, Kevin RHP AZ Georgia Tigers 18 Adzick, Mark LHP PA Wake Forest Phillies 18 Solis, Sammy LHP AZ San Diego Diamondbacks 18 Chambers, Evan OF FL Florida Rockies 19 Robulack, Cameron 1B ON Nebraska Brewers 20 Brule, Kyle RHP AZ Arizona State Tigers 21 Hoehn, Connor RHP MD Alabama Brewers 21 Jackson, Terrance OF TX North Central Texas Astros 22 Navarro, Nicholas C FL Miami Dade Community College Pirates 22 Britton, Drake LHP TX Texas A&M Red Sox 23 Hage, Joseph OF FL Florida International Cardinals 23 Carranza, Joel C FL Broward CC Rays 23 Patterson, Kevin 1B AL Auburn White Sox 24 Peavey, Greg RHP WA Oregon State Yankees 24 Flynn, Conrad RHP TX Arkansas Mariners 25 Ovens, Hunter OF FL Virginia Tech Padres 25 Clark, Kelvin OF GA Lake City CC Nationals 26 Keyes, Kevin OF TX Texas Rangers 26 Cervenka, Hunter LHP TX Texas Red Sox 27 Grandal, Yasmani C FL Miami Red Sox 27 Hurst, Caleb RHP CA Long Beach State White Sox 27 Epps, Christopher OF GA Clemson White Sox 28 Bulman, Gary RHP VA Tennessee Diamondbacks 31 Hayenga, Keaton RHP WA Washington State Royals 31 Stewart, David OF MO Nebraska Nationals 31 Thomas, Rafael OF TX San Jacinto JC Dodgers 31 Bohlken, Richard MIF NM New Mexico Angels 32 Moore, Forrest LHP LA Mississippi State Tigers 32 Danieli, Evan RHP NJ Notre Dame Twins 33 Lawler, Travis RHP AR Florida Rockies 34 Holle, Greg OF NY TCU Yankees 35 Ruettiger, John OF IL Arizona State Rangers 35 Terdoslavich, Joseph C FL Miami Rays 35 Schaus, Jeff OF FL Clemson Rangers 35 Washington, Demetrius OF SC North Carolina State Angels 35 Wilson, Ross SS AL Alabama Padres 35 Dupra, Brian RHP NY Notre Dame Rangers 36 Johnson, Glen SS FL Jacksonville Mets 36 McGee, Mike SS FL Florida State Cubs 37 Leftridge, Joseph OF TX Navarro Twins 39 Yermal, Joseph RHP MD UNC Charlotte Orioles 39 LeMahieu, DJ SS MI Louisiana State Tigers 41 Nazario, Iden 1B FL Miami Nationals 41 Mahler, James RHP UT Arkansas Phillies 42 Rupp, Cameron C TX Texas Pirates 43 Zarraga, Shawn C FL UNC Greensboro Brewers 44 Jones, Zach C UT Stanford Rockies 45 Barroso, Yoandy OF FL South Florida Rangers 46 Bernatz, Connor OF CA San Francisco Athletics 46 Krill, Brett OF CA UCLA Braves 46 Blair, Seth RHP IL Arizona State Athletics 47 Lincoln, Joe C MO Bradley Braves 48 Gray, Cameron RHP ON Tripoli JC Reds 49 Newman, Mathew OF AZ Arizona State Diamondbacks 49 Hagen, Stephen 3B WA Oregon State Athletics 50 Peterson, Mark LHP FL Florida State Rays 50 Sanchez, Victor 3B CA San Diego Cubs 50 Alfonso, Raiko MIF FL Florida International Allen, Cody RHP FL Central Florida Amorosso, Greg LHP VA Elon Annarummo, Gregory 3B MA Elon Bailey, Samuel "Brock" IF GA Elon Bayko, Steven C KY Irvine Valley College Bodjiak, Brian RHP MA Elon Brazeal, Todd 3B FL South Florida Brewer, Aaron RHP TX Navarro Brooks, Steven OF NJ Wake Forest Brown, Jace MIF FL Georgia Brunelle, Parker C GA Florida State Buckner, Bobby MIF ID Texas Butts, Jason C GA Mercer Candelier, Jonathan C NY New Mexico JC Carpenter, Tyler C TX UT San Antonio Carrow, Alex OF TX North Central Texas College Casali, Curtis C CT Vanderbilt Chmielewski, Nick RHP IL Illinois Christopher, Nicholas RHP TX Lamar Cobb, Andrew OF FL Western Carolina Cook, Cole RHP CA Pepperdine Cooper, Casey OF AR Northeast Texas CC Dehler, Kirk RHP MT Yavapai JC Dishon, Johnny OF TX Louisiana State Duren, Davis MIF OK Oklahoma State Elorriaga-Matra, Daniel C FL San Diego State Emsley-Pai, Kawika C WA Texas Eubank, Jeffrey OF FL Seminole CC Feldman, Gabriel RHP MD Wake Forest Ferguson, Timothy MIF TX Mississippi Fitzgerald, Derrick (DJ) MIF VA Georgia Southern Fletcher, Brian MIF GA Auburn French, Justice SS GA Mercer Fuda, Michael MIF TX Rice Gibbs, Micah C TX Louisiana State Gilmer, Weston SS AL Auburn Gipson, Michael RHP FL Florida Atlantic Goeddel, Erik RHP CA UCLA Gosselin, Philip MIF PA Virginia Green, Cole RHP TX Texas Greenwalt, Kyle RHP PA South Carolina Gullickson, Craig LHP FL Clemson Hamilton, Jace OF TX Hill College Hawn, Cody OF TN Arkansas Hoelscher, Sean 3B TX TCU Hom, Nicholas 3B CA San Diego Hooker, Deryk RHP CA San Diego State Jacobs, Jon Luke RHP AL Auburn Jensen, Nicholas LHP WI Iowa Johnson, Jake C CA Fresno State Johnson, Chase RHP AZ Arizona State Johnson, Patrick RHP NC North Carolina Jones, Nathan OF MO Kaskow, Jonathan 1B TX Stanford Kenny, Alex OF NJ Fordham Korbal, Kendall RHP TX Arkansas Leonard, Darryl OF FL St. Petersburg CC Lucas, Jordan SS FL Western Carolina Luciano, Tom OF NY Duke Lytle, Casey OF AZ Kansas Mann, Tyler OF VA Old Dominion Martinez, Trenten MIF NY Wagner Martz, Blake C AL Troy Mathews, Ryan 1B FL Florida McGuire, Deck RHP VA Georgia Tech Means, Josh RHP GA East Tennessee State Meintel, Michael RHP OH Wright State Mercurio, Relly 1B TX TCU Mikalsen, Ryan LHP NY Connecticut Miller, Braxton C CA Nevada Miller, Matt RHP FL Tallahassee CC Moore, Andrew OF TX Yale Morgan, Courtney MIF CA Wake Forest Natale, Nicholas OF NJ Rice Nettune, Andrew C TX Texas A&M O'Campo, Kyle RHP CA Cal State Fullerton Osich, Josh LHP ID Oregon State Pavone, Joe C NY Connecticut Pineda, Ryan MIF NV Cal State Northridge Poovey, Justin RHP NC Clemson Prohovich, Kyle 1B MA Boston College Pugh, Tillman OF CA Arizona State Quackenbush, Kevin RHP FL South Florida Quinones, Raymond MIF NY UNC Greensboro Reeves, Taylor RHP VA Mississippi Gulf Coast Regoli, AJ OF FL South Florida Rice, Nick LHP WI Southern Illinois Riley, Braden MIF TX Sam Houston State Roberts, Sam 3B VA VMI Sammons, Scott 1B AR St. Petersburg JC Sandbrink, Dan RHP MO Stanford Sheffield, Austin 1B FL Manhattan Shepherd, Tant 3B TX Texas Shepherd, Jaron OF TX Mississippi State Sherry, Gregory SS NJ Notre Dame Shore, Brian RHP TX Navarro College Small, David LHP CA Saint Mary's Smith, Travis RHP TX Michigan Sorrell, Matt 3B FL Stetson Stobbs-Bultema, Evan 3B FL Central Florida Stonecipher, Sequoyah OF CA San Diego Swatscheno, D.J. LHP FL Miami Tomkins, Ian C IL Kentucky Tomshaw, Matthew LHP NY Jacksonville Weinkofsky, Keith C NJ UNC Greensboro Westlake, Aaron 1B CA Vanderbilt Williams, Logan SS AR Mississippi Williams, Leslie RHP ON Northeastern Wilson, Remington C UT Kansas Wilson, Tyler RHP VA Virginia
Posts: 5953 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
I really appreciate the well-meaning opinions and advice given on here. Being new, I did not realize that this topic apparently comes up every year about this time. I'm much less impressed with the invite than I originally was, and am leaning towards not going. However, some part of me realizes that the days of baseball trips with my son that I have taken for granted are rapidly appoaching the end, and wonder if maybe we shouldn't go just to say we did. As with most folks, financial factors will ultimately make the decision for us, but I was encouraged to see plane flights from Alabama to AZ are unbelievably low ($150 each round trip)and I know my son would love to see this under the Christmas tree. Thanks to all of you who posted, and to the previous year's posters as well. If we do decide to go, it will be with open eyes and the expectations of a great baseball experience only.
Posts: 161 | Location: Alabama | Registered: November 24, 2008
Wayne, it's good to see that you're looking at this from both points of view, financially and personally. Your last post hit home with me and let me be the first (but not last) to tell you that when it's over, i.e. traveling to tournaments/showcases, talking in the car, eating at the fastfood joints, etc. it is most defintely over. My son is home for the holiday break and I was telling him how I missed those times with him. Granted, I have the distinct pleasure of watching him play college ball next spring, but it will be different going to watch instead of riding with him getting in some great Father/son time. These were the best times to me for bonding.
Enjoy these last few tournies, games, travels with him as much as possible. If you can afford it, then go!
"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital" ~ Joe Paterno
Posts: 807 | Location: Georgia | Registered: July 15, 2005
Wayne, if your son is a good player that can flash good tools (especially running)and you have the money then GO. BB Factory and TeamOne are good people too.
My son got the same invite. My son is already D-1 committed, but the invite mentioned MLB so this is what I did and suggest you do for every invite you get.
Go to company's web site. Look up the roster for the same event from last year, or see if you can get a "top prospect list". Match what the top players from the event did against your goals. I was looking MLB and the kids that went to the event last year were round 25 and later. I declined the invite because that is not what we are looking for. If you are looking for college committments then see how many kids from that showcase last year got committments, if you are looking draft see who got drafted and where in the draft they went. (This will take a while, but earning eight hundred dollars takes a while too.)
Now the Wrigley field thing is for about 40 players. Half of them never did a BB Factory thing before the Wrigley event but because they are the top guys in the country they get the invite. Does your kid fit into that? Ask those questions of yourself and your player before you decide to go.
Here is my advice. The PG Nationals is for about 220 kids. To say every college and MLB team is represented might be an overstatement, but not by much. The number 220 is much more inclusive and accessable to the average really good player. It was the most important thing my kid did. My son earned his invite out of the "Sunshine" event in the spring. Every college that called my son said "I saw you at the PG Nationals". Figure out how to get there.
"When you make 100% of the effort you can always live with the result."
Posts: 186 | Location: Orange County, CA | Registered: November 06, 2008
It's late for me to check the 2008 information right now, but of the 111 seniors who attended this event in 2007 only 9 were selected in the entire 2007 MLB Draft.
Have fun!
Posts: 1285 | Location: Left Out | Registered: January 03, 2007
Of the 126 Underarmour Pre-season All America seniors that were on the roster in 2008, the following 13 were drafted last summer. A pair of Aflac All-Americans attended the event; one signed. Overall, three of the 13 players signed.
(name round/overall) Niko Vasquez 3/91 Jarek Cunningham 18/534 Andy Burns 25/767 Garrison Lassiter 27/830 Tommy Collier 29/878 Ryan Curl 31/925 James McCann 31/930 Justin Marrero 32/960 Joe Pond 39/1186 Patrick Johnson 44/1315 Joey Hainsfurther 46/1374 Matt Ramsey 46/1395 Hector Acosta-Carillo 50/1503
Have fun!
Posts: 1285 | Location: Left Out | Registered: January 03, 2007
