COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball Factory and Team One would like to announce the addition of former major league general manager Steve Phillips to the staff. Phillips will serve as a consultant to both Baseball Factory and Team One Baseball, the company's showcase and tournament division. While there is no affiliation between organizations in this announcement, Phillips joins Baseball Factory amidst his successful career as a major league baseball analyst for ESPN.
Steve Sclafani, CEO and Founder of Baseball Factory, had this to say about Phillips joining the Baseball Factory team: "At Baseball Factory we are continually looking for new ways to enhance the player and parent experience at our events. As a former pro player, general manager and current ESPN baseball analyst, Steve Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that our players and parents will clearly benefit from. We are very excited to have one of the best baseball minds in the industry on board."
Phillips began his professional playing career in 1981 when he was drafted in the fifth round by the New York Mets. He spent seven years in their minor league system before ending his playing career in 1988 with the Detroit Tigers. Phillips re-joined the Mets two years later as an Administrative Assistant for Minor League Scouting. He went on to serve as the Director of Minor League Operations, as well as Assistant to the General Manager prior to taking over as General Manager for the Mets from 1997 - 2003. During his seven year tenure as general manager of the Mets, the team made back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time in club history (ESPN.com).
As an official consultant for Baseball Factory, Phillips will serve as a keynote speaker at various Baseball Factory events throughout the year in an effort to deliver a motivational message to high school prospects from across the nation. In addition, as a voice in the baseball community Steve will look to extend the Baseball Factory's brand.
"I am joining the Baseball Factory team because they understand how to evaluate talent and they know where each player fits in the scheme of high school, college and professional baseball," said Phillips. "With my son going through the Baseball Factory program, I have been impressed with the lessons that they teach these kids about respecting the game and their teammates. Baseball Factory understands what college coaches are looking for when recruiting players. When you put the whole Baseball Factory package together, there's not a better experience these players can get."
After leaving the New York Mets organization, Phillips signed on with ESPN as a full-time baseball analyst in 2005. He currently serves as a game analyst for Monday Night Baseball, as well as a studio analyst for Baseball Tonight. In addition to appearing on Sports Center, Outside the Lines and First Take, he will be joining the Sunday Night Baseball broadcasting team for the 2009 season.
"Steve and the Baseball Factory share a passion and enthusiasm for helping high school baseball players develop both on and off the field," Sclafani said of the recent addition to the Baseball Factory staff. "Phillips will not only bring his knowledge of the game to Baseball Factory but his first hand experience as a Baseball Factory parent."
About Baseball Factory
Baseball Factory provides baseball players nationwide with the very best instruction, tournament competition, and college planning and guidance. From day one, Baseball Factory has understood the uncertainty of being a high school player heading to college. That is why Baseball Factory has developed programs to provide players, parents, high school coaches, college coaches, and professional scouts with year round advice and training so that they all can benefit from Baseball Factory's longstanding relationships in the baseball community. Baseball Factory has assisted over 25,000 players compete at the college level, over 2,500 players have been drafted and over 200 have gone on to play in the majors. For further information, please visit www.baseballfactory.com.
