While the 2006 Minor League Baseball season has come to an end, it is only the beginning for a number of our former Baseball Factory and Team One players, whose baseball dreams are beginning to unfold before them. Drafted to play ball in 2006, a number of our alumni have experienced their first seasons playing professional baseball with some outstanding results.  The following Baseball Factory and Team One alumni were among the top 100 draft picks of 2006:
-Chris Marrero
-Colton Willems
-Adrian Cardenas
-Cory Rasmus
-David Christensen
-Clayton Tanner
-Maxwell Sapp
-Christopher Perez
-Chris Parmelee

The players sent to play in the rookie leagues were Chris Marrero (Team One South 2005 player), Colton Willems (Team One South 2004, Team One South 2005 player, and participant in the 2005 Baseball Express Cape Cod High School Classic), Adrian Cardenas (Team One South 2005 player and participant in the 2005 Baseball Express Cape Cod High School Classic), Cory Rasmus (participant in the 2005 Baseball Express Cape Cod High School Classic), and David Christensen (Team One South 2005 player and participant in the 2005 Baseball Express Cape Cod High School Classic). The Washington Nationals drafted both Marrero and Willems to play for the GCL Nationals. Outfielder, Marrero, finished his first season with a .309 batting average, 16 RBI’s, nine doubles, and 10 runs scored, while Willems pitched his way to a 0-1 record, 3.38 ERA, five saves, and eight strike outs in 16 innings.  Cardenas completed his first season as shortstop for the GCL Phillies of the Philadelphia Phillies organization with a .318 batting average, two home runs, four triples, 16 RBI’s, and 13 stolen bases.  Cory Rasmus played his first season on the GCL Braves of the Atlanta Braves organization, while David Christensen finished his first season playing outfield for the Casper Rockies of the Colorado Rockies organization.   Both players have started off slowly but are sure to have bright futures ahead of them. 

Clayton Tanner (Team One National 2005 and Team One West 2005 player) and Maxwell Sapp (Team One South 2004 player) were both sent to play in the single A short season baseball leagues.  Drafted by the San Francisco Giants, Tanner pitched for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, and finished his first season with a 3.46 ERA, a 2-2 record, one save, and 25 strikeouts in 26 innings.  Sapp was drafted to be a catcher on the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Houston Astros, where he completed his first season with a .229 batting average, one home run, 20 RBI’s, nine doubles and 20 runs scored.
Both Christopher Perez (2003 Baseball Factory All American and participant with Baseball Factory in the USABF World Series) and Chris Parmelee (participant in the 2003 Baseball Factory Rookie Program) were also sent to play in the single A baseball leagues.  The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Perez to pitch for the Swing of the Quad Cities where he silenced his competition with a 1.84 ERA, 2-0 record, 32 strikeouts and 12 saves in 29.1 innings.  Parmelee was drafted by the Minnesota Twins and played left field for the Beloit Snappers where he ended his season with a .227 batting average and two RBI’s.

Next season these players will be at it again, determined to improve upon their numbers and continue moving to the next level.  This is just another example of the caliber of players who participate in our Team One and Baseball Factory events.  We salute each of these players who successfully completed their first intense season as a professional baseball player and wish for them to continue climbing the ladder all the way to the top.