Congratulations to all the former Team One and Baseball Factory players that participated in the 78th Major League All-Star Game. Team One and Baseball Factory have a proud history of producing Major League players, over 150 in total. These players not only have made it to the big leagues, but also have excelled.  With fourteen former players who have made the All-Star team, this marks the sixth straight season with alums participating in the event. This year, eight former players are among those selected to play in this elite game. Players include C.C. Sabathia, Justin Verlander, Brian Roberts, Prince Fielder, David Wright, Brian McCann, Orlando Hudson, and J.J. Hardy.

Cleveland Indians’ star pitcher, C.C. Sabathia has been having a remarkable 2007 season. Sabathia has an ERA of 3.58 with 119 K’s in 133 1/3 innings pitched, and threw one complete game shutout. With 12 wins, Sabathia leads the American League at the All-Star break. Most recently, Sabathia was named AL Player of the Week for the week of July 2.  Sabathia attended the 1997 Team One National Showcase.  This was his second All-Star appearance.

Team One alum Justin Verlander is another American League All-Star and entered the game with a 10-4 record, 3.14 ERA and 97 K’s in 109 innings pitched.  He also recently threw a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, striking out 12 batters in the game. Verlander was named the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year after compiling a 17-9 record with a 3.63 ERA and 124 K’s in 186 innings pitched.  He attended the 1999 Team One Midwest Showcase.  This was his first All-Star appearance.

Brian Roberts is currently in his sixth year as the Baltimore Orioles second baseman. With five home runs, 56 runs scored, 27 stolen bases and a .322 batting average, this was Brian’s second appearance in the All-Star Game. Brian leads the American League in stolen bases and is fifth in base hits entering the second half of the season.  Brian attended the Team One National Showcase from 1993 – 1995. 

Prince Fielder, a first baseman with the Milwaukee Brewers, is another Team One alum that has excelled in the Majors. Prince is the son of former Major Leaguer and three time All-Star, Cecil Fielder. Prince reached the All-Star break with a .284 batting average and 62 runs scored.  He also leads the National League with 29 home runs this season and is second in the league with 70 RBI’s. He set a club record for most home runs in a month with 13 in May. Prince participated in the State Farm Home Run Derby this year as well.  He attended the 2001 Team One National Showcase.

David Wright, another Baseball Factory and Team One standout, is in his third full season with the New York Mets. With 51 RBI’s this year, 18 stolen bases,16 home runs and a .292 batting average, Wright has become one of the league’s most coveted third basemen. In 2004, Wright won MLB.com’s Rookie of the Year award voted on by the fans, and in 2005, won MLB.com’s Most Outstanding Play of the Year for his bare-handed, over-the-shoulder catch in San Diego. With this being Wright’s second trip to the All-Star Game, he proves to be one of the National League’s stars of the future.  Wright attended the Baseball Factory Rookie Program and the 2000 and 2001 Baseball Factory All-American Showcase in Dodgertown.  He also displayed his skills at the 1999 Team One East Showcase and the 2000 Team One National Showcase

Catcher Brain McCann is in his third season with the Atlanta Braves. He has nine home runs and 49 RBI’s so far this season. In 2006, McCann won the National League Silver Slugger award, which is given annually to the best offensive player at each position. He finished last season with a .333 batting average, 24 home runs, 93 RBI’s and a .572 slugging percentage.  This was also McCann’s second trip to the All-Star game.  McCann attended the 2001 Team One National Showcase.

In his sixth season as a Major League player, Orlando Hudson made his first All-Star Game appearance. The second baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hudson is hitting .296 this season with seven home runs, 40 runs scored and 47 RBI’s. In 2006, Hudson won the National League Gold Glove award, and finished with a career high fifteen home runs.  Hudson attended the 1995 Team One National Showcase.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is in his third season with the Milwaukee Brewers. He entered the All-Star break hitting .280 with 18 home runs and 54 RBI’s.  He has already set career highs for home runs, RBI’s, and runs scored.  He currently ranks first among all shortstops in the Majors for home runs and is second in RBI’s.  This was Hardy’s first trip to the All-Star game.  He participated in the Team One National Showcase in 2000.

Team One, along with the Baseball Factory, congratulates all players that competed in the Major League All-Star Game! Team One Baseball, is a showcase division of Baseball Factory for top-level student-athletes. With showcases around the nation, athletes perform for numerous college coaches and professional scouts. To learn more about Team One showcases, or to nominate a player for this prestigious program, go to http://teamonebaseball.com.