As the Detroit Tigers took the field for the final game of their 2009 opening series against the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday afternoon, they were led by 20 year-old rookie and Baseball Factory alum Rick Porcello.  Porcello, who made his Major League debut after only a little more than a year in the minor leagues, has already drawn comparisons to the Red Sox’s Josh Beckett.  The Chester, New Jersey native was selected in the first round of the 2007 draft and 27th overall by the Tigers.
 

Prior to his draft selection, Porcello compiled outstanding high school credentials as a standout for Seton Hall Prep.  During his junior year, Rick went 6-0 with a 0.30 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 10 games.   As a senior he collected a 10-0 record, 1.18 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 71 innings.  His exceptional season earned him First-Team High School All-American honors from Baseball America.   Entering his senior year Rick was selected to represent Team One in the 2006 Cape Cod High School Classic, powered by Baseball Factory.  The game, held prior to the Cape Cod League All-Star game, showcased the top 36 high school juniors and seniors in the nation.  Porcello made the start for Team One and struck out three batters in two innings of work. 
 

Several other players from the 2006 Cape Classic have gone on to play at a higher level, in both the minor leagues and college baseball.  Josh Vitters, a third baseman from Anaheim, California, was selected in the first round of the 2007 draft and 3rd overall by the Chicago Cubs.  He is currently on the Peoria Chiefs, Single A affiliate of the Cubs, but looks to make the move to Double A this year.  He has been listed as one of the Cubs top 10 prospects according to MLB.com.  Cape Cod Classic alum, Phillippe Aumont, has also made his debut in professional baseball.  Drafted alongside Vitters in the first round of the 2007 draft (11th overall) by the Seattle Mariners, Aumont was recently ranked in the top 50 prospects on MLB.com. He also appeared in the World Baseball Classic, representing Canada.  At the start of the 2009 season Phillippe was listed on the active roster for the Single A affiliate, the High Desert Mavericks. 
 

Porcello, however, has separated himself from the pack in becoming the first player from the Cape Cod Classic (now the Under Armour All-American Game) to make his major league debut.  Rick’s professional debut came last year with the Single-A Lakeland club.  In his first professional season with Lakeland he was named to both the mid- and post-season All-Star games and Baseball America ranked him as the top prospect in the Tigers organization.  His strong first season, along with a consistent Spring Training, led to him earning the fourth spot in the Tiger’s starting rotation this year.  Porcello’s debut Thursday was also of historic significance, with Toronto sending Ricky Romero to the mound.  It was the first time in Major League history that two first-round draft picks made their debuts as starting pitchers against each other.  (DetroitTigers.com) While Porcello took the loss in the battle of the rookies, he showed some promising moments.  Despite giving up two long balls over five-plus innings, Porcello flashed his breaking ball in the second inning to strand two base runners by striking out Toronto’s Michael Barrett.
 

Baseball Factory would like to wish Rick the best of luck this season.  We hope his Major League career will be long and successful.