Prior to Opening Day, Baseball America announced their 21st annual Top 100 Prospects for the 2010 Major League Baseball season. Baseball Factory is proud to announce that 16 of the 100 exceptional players included on the list came through the Baseball Factory program; seven of whom were named to the top 50. Here is a closer look at some of Baseball Factory’s alumni who earned recognition among the best young players heading into the 2010 season.
 

Jacob Turner, #26 Prospect, Detroit Tigers	Zach Wheeler, #49 Prospect, San Francisco Giants	Donavan Tate, #53 Prospect, San Diego Padres

After graduating from Capistrano Valley High School in 2009, Tyler Matzek was drafted in the 1st round of the MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies and is considered the 23rd rated prospect for the upcoming season by Baseball America. Matzek, who was selected to play in the 2008 Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory, is a left-handed pitcher with an excellent fastball. It is believed that Matzek will begin playing in the Major Leagues by the year 2012.

Followed closely behind Matzek is 20-year-old Casey Kelly, who is ranked 24th on the top 100 prospect list. While attending Sarasota High School, Kelly participated in the 2007 Cape Cod High School Classic, now the Under Armour All-America Game. In 2008, Kelly was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round of the MLB draft and will begin the season with the Double-A affiliate Portland Sea Dogs.

Jacob Turner, a right-handed pitcher in the Detroit Tigers organization, comes in at 26th on the list. Turner, along with Matzek, participated in the 2008 Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory. Experts estimate Turner will debut his exceptional fastball by 2012.

Ranking 27th and 28th in the Top 100 list respectively are Brett Wallace and Chris Carter. Wallace, originally from California, is both a first and third baseman in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Brett was selected to participate in the 2004 Team One West Showcase; Team One Baseball is the showcase division of Baseball Factory. Carter, a 23-year-old outfielder, has been playing in the Oakland Athletics organization since 2005 after being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 15th round of the 2005 draft. As a rising senior in high school, Carter was selected to participate in the Baseball Factory Pre-Season All-America Tournament.

Coming in at 41st is Jason Castro, a 22-year-old catcher originally from Castro Valley, California. While attending Castro Valley High School, Jason participated in the 2004 Team One West Showcase. Castro is expected to make his major league debut this season for the Houston Astros.

Zack Wheeler, a 19-year old native of Texas, comes in at 49th on the list. The right-handed pitcher was drafted in the 1st round of the 2009 amateur draft by the San Francisco Giants. Wheeler demonstrated his above average fastball in the 2008 Under Armour All-America Game, held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. It is believed that Wheeler could arrive on the major league baseball scene as early as 2012.

Ranked 53rd on the list of Top 100 prospects is Donovan Tate, a 19-year-old outfielder currently playing in the San Diego Padres organization. The Padres drafted Tate as the 3rd overall pick in the 2009 draft. Tate, who participated alongside Wheeler in the 2008 Under Armour All-America Game, is known for his game changing speed.

Born in Anaheim, California, Josh Vitters comes in at 70th on the list. In 2007, Vitters was drafted out of high school in the 1st round of the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. Vitters participated in the 2005 Team One National Underclass game as well as the 2006 Cape Cod High School Classic.

In addition to these nine outstanding players, Baseball Factory would like to congratulate Brett Lawrie, 59th on the prospect list, Tim Beckham, 67th, Mike Leake, 72nd, Brett Jackson, 74th, Jaff Decker 82nd, James Darnell, 90th, and Phillippe Aumont, 93rd. Baseball Factory wishes all 16 former players the best of luck as they begin the 2010 season.