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Baseball Factory
Founded1994 (1994)
FounderSteve Sclafani
Number of locations
  • Columbia
  • Maryland
Area served
USA
Key people
Steve Sclafani (CEO)
ServicesBaseball player development
Websitewww.baseballfactory.com

Baseball Factory, Inc. is a United States company specializing in player development and college placement of high school baseball players. The company is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, approximately 20 miles southwest of Baltimore. Over five hundred events are hosted by Baseball Factory throughout the year, ranging from national tryouts to camps, tournaments and showcases. As of 2012, Baseball Factory has helped over 40,000 baseball players compete at the college level.

Baseball Factory was founded in 1994 by CEO Steve Sclafani, to provide a service that would train and educate players on the college recruiting process. In 2004, Baseball Factory acquired Team One Baseball, a baseball company for top-flight showcases. Baseball Factory provides high school baseball players with professional instruction, showcase opportunities, tournaments, and ongoing guidance in the college recruiting process.

History

Baseball Factory was founded in 1994 in Columbia, Maryland by current CEO Steve Sclafani, in order to train and educate high school players on the college recruiting process. Alongside Baseball Factory, Inc., an inner-city middle school baseball program called B.A.S.E.-H.I.T. Foundation (presently the Baseball Factory Team One Foundation) was also launched. As the B.A.S.E.-H.I.T. Foundation continued to evolve in downtown Baltimore, Baseball Factory took their program nationwide. By 1997 the program reached over 1,000 players from 46 different states and had placed 90% of their players in a college baseball program.

In 1999, the National High School Baseball Coaches Association recognized Baseball Factory as the number one recruiting service in the country. The company also reached the $20 million mark in scholarship money offered to Baseball Factory players. By 2002, Baseball Factory players had received over $65 million in college scholarships. In addition, former Major League manager for the Colorado Rockies, Clint Hurdle, joined the Baseball Factory team as a hitting advisor.

The summer of 2005 marked the first ever Baseball Express Cape Cod High School Classic, powered by the Baseball Factory. The game featured 36 of the best rising senior and junior high school baseball players in the nation, including 17 future selections in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.

On January 1, 2007, Under Armour selected Baseball Factory as the amateur baseball company to launch their baseball products through a grassroots effort. This partnership has included the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory and held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois in both 2008 and 2009. The progression of the Cape Cod High School Classic, the game was telecast live on ESPNU. Each year 35 of the nation’s best rising seniors are selected for the game, many of whom are probable or have become first round picks in the amateur draft.

In March, 2009, Baseball Factory announced a strategic partnership with Little League International in order to provide youth players worldwide with increased player development and college placement opportunities. Little League International named Baseball Factory as the Exclusive and Official Player Development Partner of Little League Baseball. The primary focus of the partnership is the Little League Youth Clinic and Skills Challenges, powered by Baseball Factory. Baseball Factory conducts these events for Little and Junior League division players. The events are held at Little League, minor league, college and high school facilities nationwide.

In July, 2009, Baseball Factory partnered with American Legion Baseball in order to provide amateur players with new opportunities to develop their skills. Together the organizations will provide American Legion players with instructional camps, showcases and baseball clinics to supplement their experience with their local American Legion team.

In 2010, Baseball Factory teamed up with Roberto's Kids, an international non-profit organization, and the Pittsburgh Pirates to host an equipment drive that sent donated baseball gear to underprivileged communities around the world.

In February 2011, after 16 years of success assisting baseball players, the organization announced the launch of Softball Factory, a new division of Baseball Factory. Softball Factory was created to provide authentic training and college recruiting programs for youth and high school softball players. Softball Factory is led by Lea Ann Jarvis, the Director of Softball Operations. Lea Ann was a two-time First Team NCAA All-American while a standout performer at Louisiana Tech University. She went on to coach Division I college softball for 17 years and also played professionally. She then won two World Championships as a player with the USA National Softball Team. In addition to Lea Ann’s experience, the Softball Factory’s coaching staff of former college coaches, former professional players and former college players provides expert softball training and guidance for players nationwide.

Team One Acquisition

In 2004, Baseball Factory acquired Team One Baseball, a baseball company for top-flight showcases. Team One Baseball hosts showcases throughout the country for top players to perform in front of college coaches and professional scouts. Together Baseball Factory and Team One Baseball have assisted players in obtaining over $500 million in college scholarships.

Notable alumni

Ian Kinsler

Services

National Tryouts
The Factory provides instruction, tournament competition, and college planning and placement to high school baseball players nationwide. Together with Under Armour, Baseball Factory holds over 100 Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryouts throughout the year. The tryouts are conducted as pro-style workouts and players are evaluated. Players who attend the national tryouts also become eligible for selection to Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tournaments, Training events and Showcases.
College Recruiting Programs
Baseball Factory offers college recruiting programs, including the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout & Premium Video Program and the Exclusive College Recruiting Program. The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout & Premium Video Program (P.V.P.) offers players a professional video of their pro-style workout, as well as an evaluation from a professional scout. In addition, players receive a personal player web page and contact information for over 1,600 college coaches. College recruiting information and inclusion in the online database from which college coaches search daily is also included in the P.V.P. The Exclusive B.A.T.S. Program offers players the chance, in addition to the services provided in the P.V.P., to speak to personal recruiting directors throughout their college recruiting process. The program provides players with assistance in forming a realistic prospective college list, as well as guidance in contacting and communicating with college coaches. Each player receives personal assistance to further their academic and athletic career at the collegiate level. The Exclusive B.A.T.S. Program provides instruction on college recruiting, academic development, player development and life skills.
Player Development
Through mini-camps and specialty training camps held across the country, Baseball Factory offers players the opportunity to strengthen their game. Mini-camp events give players a chance to work on a more specific aspect of their game, such as hitting or pitching and catching. Baseball Factory also conducts week-long training camps for players to improve their game, including the Cape Cod Select Training & Competition, an event held at the home of the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Training/Lessons
At their facility in Columbia, Maryland, Baseball Factory offers one-on-one and small group instruction to high school and youth players.
Showcase/Tournament
Baseball Factory and Team One Baseball hold numerous tournaments sponsored by Under Armour throughout the year. These regional events showcase 100-180 of the best upcoming high school players in the nation in front of college coaches and professional scouts.

Partners and sponsors

Baseball Factory is partnered with a number of companies in the industry. In 2007, Baseball Factory entered a multi-year partnership with Under Armour, who became the title sponsor for various Baseball Factory and Team One Baseball events. These events include the Under Armour All-America Game, Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryouts, Under Armour National Teams, Under Armour Baseball Factory National Training Camps and Under Armour Showcases, powered by Team One.

Baseball Factory is a Premier Scouting Partner for Baseball America, the leading source in the nation for in-depth articles on high school, college, minor league and major league baseball players. Baseball Factory’s scouting staff provides Baseball America with detailed scouting reports on the thousands of players seen throughout the year.

Baseball Factory announced a strategic partnership with "Little League International" in March 2009 in order to provide youth players worldwide with increased player development and college placement opportunities. Little League International named Baseball Factory as the Exclusive and Official Player Development Partner of Little League Baseball.

In July, 2009, Baseball Factory and The American Legion formed a partnership to provide baseball players nationwide with increased player development and college placement opportunities.

Diamond Sports, a leading sports manufacturer specializing in baseball products, entered a strategic partnership with Baseball Factory on July 31, 2009. As the Official Baseball of Baseball Factory, Diamond Sports will have a presence at all events including the Under Armour All-America game, powered by Baseball Factory.

Baseball Factory announced a partnership with EyeBlack.com in November 2011. EyeBlack.com, the official EyeBlack of athletes and fans, will have a significant presence at Baseball Factory events.

Most recently, Baseball Factory announced the formation of a partnership with HeavySwing, the original handle-weighted training bat. As of March 2012, HeavySwing will have a significant presence at all Baseball Factory event's.

Executive Team Summary

The Baseball Factory executive team is led by partners Steve Sclafani, CEO/Founder, and Rob Naddelman, President. Steve, a former collegiate baseball player at the University of Pennsylvania, started Baseball Factory in 1994 in his hometown of Columbia, Maryland. He is joined on the executive team by:

  • Rob Naddelman, President;
  • Steve Bernhardt, Executive VP of Baseball Operations;
  • Gene Mattingly, VP of Finance;
  • Jason Budden, Senior VP of Marketing & Brand;
  • Dan Forester, VP of Player Development;
  • Matt Kirby, VP of Creative & Technology;
  • Jim Gemler, VP of On-Field Events;
  • Jeff Brazier, VP of Youth Baseball

Baseball Factory Team One Foundation

The Baseball Factory Team One Foundation (originally the B.A.S.E.-H.I.T. Foundation) was established alongside Baseball Factory in 1994, by current CEO Steve Sclafani. The Foundation promotes baseball, education and quality of life for children across America. It provides underprivileged children an opportunity to enhance their baseball experiences through player development camps, national tournaments, showcases and college recruiting programs with Baseball Factory. In addition, the Foundation provides college scholarships to select candidates based on need.

References

National High School Baseball Coaches Association
www.baseballfactory.com

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