The rosters have been finalized and we’re happy to announce the 2013 All-Star Futures Game will feature 12 Baseball Factory alumni.  The Futures Game is played every year before the All-Star Game, pitting two teams of the top minor league players from the United States and the rest of the world against each other.  Both teams are comprised of 25 players each, who face-off in a full 9-inning minor league exhibition game.  While it is not the headline event for the All-Star Weekend, this exhibition is a great indicator for who will be the stars of the future in Major League Baseball.  This year the game will be hosted at the New York Mets’ Citi Field.

On the World Team, Francisco Lindor is the lone alumnus from Baseball Factory.  Lindor, a native of Puerto Rico, plays shortstop in the Cleveland Indians organization on their Single-A farm team the Carolina Mudcats.  Lindor has shown great ability with the bat including a .305 batting average as well as some speed on the base paths with 18 stolen bases thus far.  Lindor participated in both an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in 2009 and the Under Armour Showcase: Team One South  in the same year.

For the U.S., Baseball Factory has nine players representing in the game, accounting for 36% of the players on the U.S. roster.  One of these players, C.J. Cron, has participated in three Baseball Factory events including the Under Armour Showcase: Team One West and the Under Armour All-America Game in 2007.  Cron currently plays for the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, the Arkansas Travelers.  He has displayed good power so far this season with five home runs and 44 RBIs.

Byron Buxton has made quite a name for himself after being drafted number two overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.  Buxton, a participant in the 2011 Under Armour All-America Game, has been filling up the stat sheet in the Twins minor league system with eight homers, 57 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.  Buxton’s rare combination of speed and power on the offensive side of the plate will be a huge asset for the Twins in the years to come.

Baseball Factory alumnus George Springer is another player who has displayed a great combination of power and speed in the minors.  Springer, a participant in the 2007 Cape Cod High School Classic, has been on a tear in the Houston Astros minor league system.  So far he’s batting .297 with 19 homeruns and 55 RBIs.

In addition to these rostered players, eight others are Baseball Factory alumni including: Eddie Butler Jr., A.J. Cole, Matt Davidson, James McCann, Addison Russell, Joey Terdoslavich, Christian Yelich and Brandon Nimmo.  From Single-A to Triple-A minor league affiliates, all of these players have stood out against their competition to earn a spot in this year’s Futures Game.

Through hard work and determination, these 12 Baseball Factory alumni have gone from high school graduates looking to continue their playing careers, to winning a position in this much esteemed All-Star game.  This game is just one more step for these players who share the dream of one day receiving their big league call-up.

Baseball Factory Alumni, U.S. National Team:

Eddie Butler- USA Baseball 17U-East (’07), Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout (’07)

CJ Cron- Under Armour Showcase: Team One West (’07), Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament (’07)

Matt Davidson- Under Armour Showcase: Team One West  (’07), Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout (’07)

Addison Russell- Under Armour All-America Game (’10)

Joey Terdoslavich- Cape Cod High School Classic (’06)

Byron Buxton- Under Armour All-America Game (’11)

George Springer- Cape Cod High School Classic (’07), Under Armour National Tryout (’07)

Christian Yelich- Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout (’07)

Brandon Nimmo – Under Armour All-America Game (’10)

A.J. Cole – Under Armour All-America Game ('09)

James McCann – Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament ('08)

Baseball Factory Alumni, World Team:

Francisco Lindor- Under Armour Showcase: Team One South (’09), Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout (’09)