2012 Under Armour Game Announced



Under Armour announced Tuesday that the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory, will be held at Chicago's Wrigley Field for the fifth-consecutive year and will take place on Saturday, Aug. 18. The game will air live nationally on MLB Network and showcase 36 of the country's top high school prospects.

The game has seen its share of future stars come through and featured the top prep position player taken in the 2011 draft in outfielder Bubba Starling, who was taken by the Royals with the fifth-overall pick. Last year's game featured the current top position player for the 2012 draft in Byron Buxton, an outfielder from Appling County High in Baxley, Ga. In the last three years, the game has had 20 players picked in the first or first supplemental rounds, including Starling, outfielder Brandon Nimmo (13th overall in 2011), righthander Jameson Taillon (second overall pick in 2010) and righthander Jacob Turner (ninth overall in 2009).

The rosters are not finalized, but listed below are the first 10 commitments for the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game with scouting reports and video provided by Baseball Factory.

Willie Abreu, of, Mater Academy, Hialeah Gardens, Fla.
At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Abreu is an athletic outfielder with a sweet lefthanded stroke. He generates bat speed that leads to power to the pull side. Willie moves well in the outfield and has enough arm to play either corner spot. Overall, he has a run-producing bat and has verbally committed to Miami. Click here for video of Abreu from Baseball Factory.
 
Trey Ball, lhp/of, New Castle (Ind.) HS
Ball is the top two-way talent in the 2013 class. As a lefty, his long 6-foot-6, 170-pound frame produces easy low-90s velocity and gets on hitters quickly. At the plate, he has a quick, fluid lefthanded swing with leverage. This outstanding athlete also runs the 60-yard dash in the 6.6-second range and can play all three outfield spots. He is verbally committed to Texas.
 
Zack Collins, c/1b, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.
Collins, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound catcher, has one of the best bats in the 2013 class and consistently drives balls both in BP sessions and game play. His lefthanded stroke works the barrel through the zone with authority. He also shows arm strength from behind the plate and the makings of a solid receiver. He is a Miami verbal signee. Click here for video of Collins from Baseball Factory.
 
Thomas Hatch, rhp, Jenks (Okla.) HS
Hatch is a strong, durable righthander at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, and has an outstanding arm. He pounds the strike zone with his heavy, sinking fastball that gets up to 94 mph. He complements that pitch with an extremely advanced and deceptive changeup with sink as well as a tight breaking ball with depth. Overall, this young pitcher has the look of a workhorse starter at the next level. Click here for video of Hatch from Baseball Factory.

Jeremy Martinez, c, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif.
A 5-foot-11, 195-pound catcher, Martinez was one of only two underclassmen in the 2011 Under Armour All-America Game. He is the most polished and well-rounded catcher in the class. His swing is consistent and compact and he shows the ability to drive balls to all parts of the park. His arm strength and receiving skills are advanced behind the plate. He has verbally committed to Southern California. Click here for video of Martinez from Baseball Factory.
 
Terry McClure, of, Westlake HS, Atlanta
McClure is an explosive athlete at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds and has the ability to patrol center field. He is a 6.5 runner with excellent instincts both in the field and on the bases. His righthanded stroke is loose and quick and results in hard contact. His strength leads to some present power giving him the hard-to-find power-speed combination.
 
Oscar Mercado, ss, Gaither HS, Tampa
Mercado's defensive skills make him one of the top middle infielders in the country. Standing at a projectable 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, his actions are loose and lively, and his throws carry across the infield with ease. At the plate, he shows a good feel for the barrel and has consistently squared up top pitching regardless of velocity and stuff. He has verbally committed to Florida State. Click here for video of Mercado from Baseball Factory.
 
Corey Ray, of, Simeon Career Academy, Chicago
Ray is a quick-twitch athlete who profiles as a top-of-the-order bat at the next level. He has a short, quick lefthanded stroke that results in line drives to all fields. He has excellent range in the outfield and his instincts and arm allow him to play all three outfield spots. The 6-foot, 175-pound Ray is verbally committed to Louisville. Click here for video of Ray from Baseball Factory.
 
Chris Rivera, ss, El Dorado HS, Placentia, Calif.
Rivera is a smooth-fielding shortstop with soft, sure hands and a quick release. His actions are polished and advanced and he has an excellent feel for the game. Standing at 6-feet, 175 pounds,  Rivera's swing is clean and he shows the ability to hit hard line drives to all fields with flashes of pop to the pull side.  He is verbally committed to Cal State Fullerton.
 
Justin Williams, 3b/of, Terrebonne HS, Houma, La.
Williams is a strong, physical young man at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, and is one of the top hitters in the 2013 class. A lefthanded hitter, he possesses the bat speed and leverage to hit balls out of the park from foul pole to foul pole. Defensively, he is a versatile athlete who plays shortstop at the high school level, but profiles best in the outfield or at third base in the future. Williams is verbally committed to Louisiana State.



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3 Comments

Those are some great kids lined up so far. Congrats. Nice to see Jeremy Martinez back as he was truly impressive behidn the plate in 2011. I thought last year's Under Armour group was one of the best I'd seen, but this one has a chancd to rival them. Can't wait until August!   

[...] 10 players are committed to play in this year’s Under Armour All-American Game on August 18.  Players include Thomas Hatch, Jeremy Martinez, and Oscar Mercado.  -LINK [...]

[...] Nathan Rode wrote: Under Armour announced Tuesday that the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory, will be held at Chicago’s Wrigley Field for the fifth-consecutive year and will take place on Saturday, Aug. 18. The game will air live nationally on MLB Network and showcase 36 of the country’s No related posts. [...]


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