The Early Days
On July 22, 1994 Steve Sclafani left a makeshift office in his apartment for Prince George’s Community College (MD), where he led the first-ever Baseball Factory event. Along with one professional scout, Sclafani videotaped four players using his father’s video camera. 

And so it began . . . a humble quest to help aspiring college baseball players find their place at the next level. 

“My love of the game, desire to work with players and the business opportunity combined with my frustrations as a player, drove me to create the Baseball Factory,” said Sclafani, CEO. “I wanted to help kids get placed at a college that was right for them.”

Today
Ten years later, Sclafani has returned his father’s camcorder and has recruited a staff that boasts 46 years of combined college coaching experience.  The thirty-five full-time staff members that flank Steve today also include professional scouts and former professional players. 

Sclafani’s quarters were not adequate for long. Baseball Factory’s headquarters has grown to a 10,000 square foot facility 

Baseball Factory’s success in placing its first four players into college programs soon became a trend.  Since then, the Factory has been responsible for over 5,000 college success stories.  In addition, more than 150 players have been selected in the amateur draft including David Wright and B.J. Upton who were recently called up by the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Devil Rays respectively.

Each year more players turn to Baseball Factory for its nationally recognized college recruiting and player development programs. In 2004, Over 1,200 players will receive professionally edited videotapes as a part of the Exclusive and B.AT.S. Programs, and nearly 1,000 will participate in one of Baseball Factory’s tournaments and camps. 

“It is incredibly rewarding to be able to help families make a good decision about where their son should go to college and to help them prepare for what it is like at the next level,” said Baseball Factory President Rob Naddelman.

“The biggest difference between now and then is that we have incorporated player development programs and national tournaments into our schedule,” said Naddelman.

“Player development programs were necessary because of the mistakes young players were making,” said Sclafani.

Making it All Happen
Joining Sclafani and Naddelman on the executive team are Steve Bernhardt, Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, Kelly Kulina, Vice President of the Exclusive Program and Harry Grumet, Vice President of Player Development. Each of them possess years of coaching and playing experience as well as countless contacts within the baseball community. 

Bernhardt’s baseball background includes a five-year stint with the Colorado Rockies organization and a collegiate career at the University of Richmond.  Bernhardt is now a scout for the Rockies. 

“I originally joined Baseball Factory in 1998, because I believed in what Rob and Steve were doing,” said Bernhardt.  “I was very excited about the opportunity to help young student-athletes to find a perfect fit athletically and academically.”

Kulina has eighteen years of coaching experience – ten as the Associate Head Coach at the ACC’s University of Maryland College Park where he also served as the Recruiting Coordinator.

Kulina left UMCP in 2000 to join Baseball Factory.  He said it was the Baseball Factory philosophy that attracted him to the company. 

“I truly believed in what the Baseball Factory was doing for players and their parents,” said Kulina.  “As we continue to grow in every area, I strongly believe that if you’re a high school baseball player and have aspirations of playing college ball and your NOT involved in the Factory, then you are going to be facing an uphill battle because of the connections and contacts we have.”

Grumet joined Baseball Factory in 1999 after his son went through Baseball Factory’s Exclusive Program. Now the Vice President of Player Development, Grumet is proud to be a part of the program that helped his son and so many others around the country.

“After 30 years, I finally found what makes me happy when I work – helping kids achieve their dreams,” said Grumet.  “No other career can have more impact on your life.”

Grumet’s extensive background in coaching strengthens the player develop program.  In his coaching career, Grumet led many of Long Beach Little League’s World Championship players in travel baseball and was known for forming championship clubs that dominated tournaments across the country for almost a decade. Grumet also coached at the high school level.

Tomorrow
“Baseball Factory will continue to grow,” said Sclafani.

Already Baseball Factory is looking to expand to an even larger facility to accommodate the rapid growth of the lessons department. 

Improvements will continue to be made to each of the departments in order to provide players with premium service and guidance.