Florida League prospect reports

Official League Website: www.floridaleague.com
2016 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect Index
Florida Collegiate Summer League Top Prospect List (20)

The Sanford River Cats rode their talented offense during the regular season and clinched the top seed heading into the playoffs. The prohibitive favorites were then defeated by the Altamonte Springs Boom in the championship game. Altamonte came back in the championship game after being no-hit for five innings and was able to hold off a late River Cats rally to clinch the Florida League title by a score of 5-4. Christian Hicks (University of Florida) delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single in the seventh inning to give his team the lead and was awarded the championship game MVP.

In the league’s 13th season a multitude of events were held throughout the course of the year. One of the bigger events was the Southeast Collegiate Prospect Showcase where the Florida League team went 2-0 against the Sunbelt and Southern Collegiate Leagues. More than half of the players who have been selected for the Florida League team in this showcase’s history have either been drafted or been signed to pro contracts including Joe Dudek (Kentucky) this year as he signed a contract with the Royals.

MVP Harrison Scanlon (Western Kentucky) set a record for total bases with 89 and ranks among the all-time leaders in hits, RBI and games played. Cy Young Jarred Neal (Lake Sumter) led the league in innings pitched and excelled in a role that saw him start and come out of the bullpen.


Year Established: 2003
States Represented: Florida
No. of Teams: 6
Regular Season Champion (best overall record): Sanford River Cats, 27-16
Post Season Champions: Altamonte Springs Boom
No. 1 Prospect, 2015: Austin Glorius, rhp, Altamonte Springs
First 2015 Player Selected, 2016 Draft: Austin Hays, of, DeLand Suns (Orioles/3rd round)

MVP: Harrison Scanlon, 1b, Leesburg (Western Kentucky)
Cy Young: Jarred Neal, rhp, Winter Garden (Lake Sumter)

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Omar Villaman, 2b, Sanford (Florida Southern) (.403)
Slugging Percentage: Jay Hayes, of, DeLand (Florida Gulf Coast) (.623)
On-Base Percentage: Jay Hayes, of, DeLand (Florida Gulf Coast) (.468)
Home Runs: Tyler Homer, c, Winter Park (Valdosta State) (7)
RBI: Harrison Scanlon, 1b, Leesburg (Western Kentucky) (38)
Stolen Bases: Dathan Prewett, inf, Sanford (Georgia Gwinnett) (25)

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Jarred Neal, rhp, Winter Garden (Lake Sumter) (6)
ERA: Brady Mintell, rhp, DeLand (Webber International) (1.40)
Saves: Bryon Ferguson, rhp, DeLand (King); Patrick Coffin, rhp, Winter Park (Alabama State); Ivan Coutinho, rhp, Altamonte Springs (Bethune Cookman) (5)
Strikeouts: Trevor Tinder, rhp, Winter Park (Georgia) (52)

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Brant Blaylock, of, Sanford (Mississippi State)
Best Hitter: Carlos Cortes, 2b, Sanford (South Carolina)
Best Power: Joe Dudek, 1b, DeLand (SIGNED/Royals)
Fastest Base Runner: Dathan Prewett, ss, Sanford (Georgia Gwinnett)
Best Defensive Player: Dathan Prewett, ss, Sanford (Georgia Gwinnett)
Best Velocity: Davis Vainer, rhp, Sanford (Alabama)
Best Breaking Ball: Cody Beckman (curveball), lhp, Sanford (North Carolina State)
Best Command: Trevor Tinder, rhp, Winter Park (Georgia)


TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Carlos Cortes, 2b, Sanford (South Carolina/FR in 2017)
The highly touted incoming freshman has already made a name for himself in high school as he was one of the top position players from the 2016 class. Cortes is a former Perfect Game All-American, where he won the event’s MVP award, and is a former draft pick of the New York Mets (20th round) in the 2016 draft. Cortes is an impact bat and has a strong approach at the plate with impressive bat speed and a good amount of power from a smaller 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame. He smashed the baseball this summer for a slash line of .426/.500/.638. Cortes, who has spent some time as a catcher (as well as in the outfielder and as a lefthanded pitcher), excelled at second base this summer defensively. Those who watched him over the summer have noted he is already an above average defender with good arm strength for the position. Cortes was named to the 2nd Team All Florida League at designated hitter and he is poised to make an impact right away when he arrives on campus at South Carolina.