Pirates and Baseball Factory Extend Partnership

Bradenton, Fla. - The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baseball Factory today announced a three-year contract extension to keep Pirate City as the Southern Home of Baseball Factory. The new contract calls for 27 Baseball Factory events to be held at Pirate City from 2015-2017. Baseball Factory has held events at the Pirates' Spring Training and minor league training facility since 2008.

Baseball Factory is a leader in developing amateur baseball talent and helping educate players on the college recruiting process. Since its creation in 1994, Baseball Factory has helped place more than 50,000 baseball players in college programs that suited their best interests as student athletes. Baseball Factory participants have received more than $1 billion in scholarships. Baseball Factory's system of world class instruction and life-changing experiences provides athletes with unique player development opportunities that lead to future success both on the field and in the classroom. 

"We are extremely excited to continue calling Pirate City the Southern Home of Baseball Factory," said CEO and Founder Steve Sclafani. "The Pirates have always impressed us with the high quality of their facilities and the impending addition of an athletic performance center shows their dedication to continuing to improve the Pirate City venue. We look forward to holding our events at this first-class facility for years to come."

More than 2,800 Baseball Factory participants will come to Bradenton over the three-year life of the contract. Most participants come from outside of Florida. As part of the agreement, Baseball Factory will offer a scholarship to two participants from Manatee County at each future Pirate City event.

"Our partnership with Baseball Factory has made Pirate City a hub of top amateur baseball talent from all over the country," Pirates Senior Director of Florida Operations Trevor Gooby said. "We strive to make Bradenton national sports destination, and hosting Baseball Factory showcases has been a big part of that."

Pirate City is an all-inclusive facility that includes dormitories, on-site dining options, conference rooms, and Major League-caliber baseball facilities. With four full fields, one half field, and a utility field with two infields placed adjacently, Pirate City is ideal for large baseball events like those operated by Baseball Factory. The facility also includes 12 bullpen mounds, six batting cages, and a clubhouse with four team locker rooms, plus separate locker rooms for coaches and umpires. A 10,500 square foot weight training and athletic performance center is currently in advanced stages of construction and will open in 2015.

Pirate City is used by Major League and minor league players during Spring Training. It serves as the home of the Pirates' Gulf Coast League affiliate during the summer. The state-of-the-art facility is frequently rented by outside groups, including high school and college baseball teams, foreign national teams and professional clubs, and Olympic athletes.

The next Baseball Factory Event scheduled at Pirate City begins on December 20, 2014. The Baseball Factory Christmas Camp and Tournament for ages 14-18 runs until December 23.

For more information about Pirate City, visit www.pirates.com/piratecity or call 941-747-3031.

For more information about Baseball Factory, visit www.BaseballFactory.com, call 800-641-4487, or email [email protected].