MLB.com recently released the Top 50 Prospects to watch in 2011 and Baseball Factory is proud to have 12 alumni named to the list. Baseball Factory alumni Bryce Harper and Eric Hosmer both broke into the top ten, Harper at third overall and Hosmer at eighth. Harper, at just 18 years of age, is one of the most touted prospects of the last decade, drafted first overall in 2010 by the Nationals. He has shown that his hitting skills can handle professional pitching, as he hit an impressive .343 in the Arizona Fall League. Hosmer, who was selected third overall in 2008 by the Royals, was the highest ranked first basemen on the list. Hosmer hit for an overall average of .338 in 2010, .354 in 87 games at Single A Wilmington and .313 in 50 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. His power numbers are on the rise, as his homerun total increased from six in 2009 to 20 in 2010, his RBI total grew from 59 to 86 and his slugging % went from .361 to .571. The 21-year old will likely be a big part of the Royals’ future.

In addition to Bryce Harper, Baseball Factory alum and fellow 2010 draft classmate Jameson Taillon also made the list. The Pirates took Taillon right behind Harper with the second overall pick in last year’s draft. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound, 19-year old ranked sixth on this list of prospects among right-handed pitchers, and 18th overall on the list of prospects. Another alum to break the top 20 is starting pitcher Jacob Turner. He went to the Tigers as the ninth overall pick in the 2009 draft and has the opportunity to enter the Tigers’ rotation midseason should a spot open up. He put together a solid 2010, with a 3.67 ERA in 54 innings at Class A West Michigan and improved his numbers further after a promotion to Class A Advanced Lakeland, where he threw 61.1 innings with a 2.93 ERA.

Arguably the biggest trade of the off-season sent Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego to Boston. In return, the Padres received three prospects, most notably right-hander Casey Kelly, who is ranked as the 22nd overall prospect for 2011. Kelly has a 3.69 ERA over two seasons of pitching in the minors. He was drafted as a shortstop, where he played during the 2008 season, so he may prove to be a strong hitting pitcher as he works his way up the Padres system in the National League.

Outfielder Brandon Belt ranked 26th on the list of prospects and looks to join the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants. Belt began the 2010 season in high Class A Ball, worked his way up to Double-A after 77 games and eventually reached Triple-A Fresno where he finished the season. The Giants, known for their pitching, could surely use his bat.  He totaled 23 homeruns, 112 RBIs and a .352 batting average in 2010. Belt has been invited to Spring Training, but if he doesn’t make the opening day roster he will likely be contributing to the Major League team by the end of the season.

    More Baseball Factory alumni made the top 50 as middle-infielders, including Blue Jays’ second basemen Brett Lawrie (28th) and Mariners’ shortstop Nick Franklin (38th). Lawrie was acquired by the Blue Jays this off-season in a one-for-one swap with the Brewers for Shaun Marcum. Both show good speed and consistent hitting; Lawrie with 30 stolen bases, Franklin with 25 and each hitting above .280 in 2010. In addition, Franklin has displayed impressive power from the shortstop position with 23 home runs last year.

Other former Factory pitchers who made the list include Tyler Matzek of the Rockies (33rd) and the Royals’ John Lamb (34th).  Both players are 20-year-old lefties who have displayed dominance early in their Minor League careers. Matzek, the 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft, tops out at 97 mph and went 5-1 with a 2.92 ERA over 89.1 innings pitched in 2010. Lamb was a workhorse in 2010, throwing 147.2 innings across three Minor League levels for a total ERA of 2.38.

Outfielder Brett Jackson also impressed MLB.com.  Brett was drafted 31st overall by the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and jumped to Double-A in his first full professional season.  After finishing 2010 with a strong batting average of .297 and 30 stolen bases, he has the potential to be a future leadoff hitter.

    The Reds have a promising young catcher in Baseball Factory alum Devin Mesoraco. Mesoraco was the 15th overall draft pick in 2007 and proved he could hit with some pop in 2010. Playing for three different teams, he reached Triple-A Louisville by the end of the year. Mesoraco hit a combined 26 homeruns with a .302 batting average and showed prowess behind the plate, throwing out 41 of 100 would be stealers.

All 12 prospects continue to represent the Baseball Factory well, having attended a number of Baseball Factory and Team One events during their amateur career. For example, Jacob Turner, Nick Franklin and Tyler Matzek played together in the 2008 Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory.  Jameson Taillon participated in the same event a year later. Casey Kelly and Brett Lawrie both played in the Cape Cod High School Classic in 2007 (now know as the Under Armour All-America Game). Each of the players named to MLB.com’s Top 50 Prospects possess very promising skills and many can be expected to contribute at the major league level in the near future.  Baseball Factory would like to congratulate these player’s on their recognition and we wish them the best of luck for the 2011 season!