Where Are They Now? 2012 Baseball Factory MLB Draft Selections
The 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft begins next Monday and many of Baseball Factory’s top athletes are in the mix to have their names called during the three-day event.
We take a look back at Baseball Factory alumnus who made an impact as Under Armour All-Americans and who participated in the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout program, in today’s edition of “Where Are They Now?”. These four players are 2012 MLB Draft selectees and all have made steady contributions for the teams that selected them.
Here are today’s Baseball Factory players and how they are performing during their professional careers so far.
Lance McCullers, Jr. (1st Round – 41st overall – Houston Astros)
The 2010 Under Armour All-American has been a nice addition for the upstart Houston Astros, who hold the best record in the American League. McCullers made his major league debut May 18 against the Oakland Athletics, pitching 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, walking three and striking out five.
His most recent start was his best, a downright dominant performance of the Baltimore Orioles on June 3, throwing his first complete game in a 3-1 victory. He threw 107 pitches, allowed four hits, one earned run, walking none and striking out 11 to lower his ERA in four starts this season to 1.88.
Byron Buxton (1st Round – 2nd overall – Minnesota Twins)
The second-overall pick by the Twins was invited to the major league camp heading into the 2015 season as he rounds back into shape after being plagued by a fractured finger that required surgery and a 2014 season that came to an end after slamming into the outfield wall and sustaining a concussion on August 13.
This season, Buxton, the Twins top prospect and 2011 Under Armour All-American, plays for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts ball club, hitting .256 with six doubles, a Southern League-leading 11 triples, six homers and 35 RBI, which is tied for third in the Southern League. He was the Southern League Player of the Week winner in the beginning of May, is healthy and productive and back on track for his journey to the majors.
Jose Berrios (1st Round – 32nd overall – Minnesota Twins)
Berrios is a teammate of Buxton’s with the Lookout and the right-hander has been solid for Chattanooga as their top pitcher this season.
He’s 6-3 in 11 starts with an ERA of 3.25 in 69 1/3 innings pitched and has a stellar minor league career so far, compiling 38 wins with an ERA of 3.09. Berrios has struck out 77 batters and has held opponents to a .244 batting average this season.
Jose, who also was a 2011 Under Armour All-American, picked up a complete-game shut-out on May 13 against Birmingham, allowing just two hits, two walks, while striking out eight on 113 pitches.
Stephen Piscotty (1st Round – 36th overall – St. Louis Cardinals)
Piscotty attended an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout in San Jose, California, and at the time showed top notch skills, leading many to believe he would be a pro prospect at the next level and he has been so far for the Cardinals organization.
He played a full season at Triple-A last season with the Memphis Redbirds, hitting for a solid average (.288) with 203 total bases, 32 doubles, nine home runs and 69 RBI, while also walking 43 times.
The 2014 MILB.com organization All-Star for the Cardinals has shown the power this season for Memphis, hitting seven home runs in 52 games, driving in 24 runs with 17 doubles, good for a tie for third best in the Pacific Coast League. He’s hitting just .251 but has shown the good eye at the plate, drawing 26 walks in 195 at-bats.