Each January talented young players from across the nation gather in Tucson, AZ for the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, powered by Baseball Factory.   Held at the Kino Sports Complex (former Spring Training Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks), the event provides players with a chance to represent their region, showcase in front of professional scouts and compete against the best young players in the country.  The top caliber event has produced 120 MLB draft picks since 2009. For other high level players, the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament serves as a stepping stone to Wrigley Field and the Under Armour All-America Game.  In fact, several top players have been selected to the Under Armour All-America Game based on their performance at the Pre-Season Tournament, including 2011 Under Armour All-American, Carson Kelly. 

A highly touted prospect, Carson Kelly will be in Tucson again this January, attending the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament for the fourth straight year. The projected first round draft pick has committed to finishing his Baseball Factory career with one last accolade, joining an elite class of four-time Under Armour Pre-Season All-Americans. Carson first joined Baseball Factory after attending an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in November of 2008.  His strong performance at the National Tryout in Portland, OR led to his first selection to the Pre-Season Tournament the following January.  Despite his freshman status, Baseball Factory scouts took notice of his clean arm delivery and fastball that touched 81 MPH.  Carson also demonstrated his strength as a 2-way player, showing clean infield actions and a high ceiling. His projected ability left scouts excited to watch Carson develop into a standout student-athlete.

Throughout the following year Carson participated in a number of Baseball Factory events before being selected to his second Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament. His hard work and dedication to player development in the off-season paid off as the scouts rated his arm action cleaner and his fastball hit 87 MPH. His presence at 3B also improved over the course of the year.  In addition, it was difficult to ignore his powerful stroke and quiet, rhythmic approach at the plate (he had hit .458 with 31 RBIs as a freshman at Westview High School).  Carson’s junior year only brought additional improvement and more impressive statistics:  .473 avg., 14 HRs and 51 RBIs while maintaining a 9-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and 71 Ks over 61 IP.  He attended the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournamentonce again in January 2011.  Scouts took note of his development, describing Carson as “a tremendous two-way player” who “pounds the strike zone.”  Carson’s hard work, consistent improvement and strong performance at the Pre-Season event led to his selection to the 2011 Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory.  After impressing coaches and scouts at the All-America event at Wrigley Field, he was tapped by USA Baseball to join the USA 18U National Team.   At the COPABE 18U/AAA Pan American Championships,Carson put up a 2-0 record to help lead Team USA over the host country Colombia, as well as Team Canada in the Gold Medal Game (Carson also went 3-3 at the plate in the championship).

Carson is committed to join the Oregon Ducks next fall.  With a Division I commitment and first round draft buzz for the upcoming 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Carson is returning to the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament this coming January. As it’s proven to be for Carson, the event will be a tremendous opportunity for players to impress scouts and showcase their ability among other talented young baseball players. Baseball Factory would like to congratulate Carson on this tremendous achievement! We wish him the best of luck at this year’s Pre-Season Tournament and in all his future endeavors.

For more information on this year’s event as well as past tournaments and participants, visit the Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament page.