Florida League prospect reports

Official league website: www.floridaleague.com
2014 Summer Collegiate top prospect index
Florida League top prospect list

Several summer leagues around the country continue to improve their overall profiles each summer — the Florida League is one of those leagues, thanks in part to an aggressive front office.

The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs captured the Florida League title for the second-straight summer with talented outfielder Stephen Dezzi (Tampa) and others leading the charge. While Dezzi helped lead Winter Park to the championship, plenty of other talented prospects had impressive summers, including Jacksonville outfielder Austin Hays and Seminole State’s Rock Rucker, among others. Rucker was the league’s batting champion, while Hays was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.


Year Established: 2003
States Represented: Florida
No. of Teams: 6
Regular Season Champion (best overall record): Sanford River Rats, 23-13
Post Season Champion: Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
No. 1 prospect, 2013: Tyler Palmer, ss/of, Sanford River Rats (Seminole State, Fla.; signed as NDFA by Yankees in 2014)'
First 2013 Player Selected, 2014 Draft: Eric Skoglund, lhp, College Park Freedom (UCF; Royals/3rd round)

Player of the Year: Austin Hays, of, DeLand Suns
Pitcher of the Year: Arturo Martoral, rhp, Sanford River Rats

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Rock Rucker, of/lhp, Sanford River Rats (.424)
Slugging Percentage: Rock Rucker, of/lhp, Sanford River Rats (.620)
On-Base Percentage: Rock Rucker, of/lhp, Sanford River Rats (.491)
Home Runs: Colby Lusignan, 1b, Leesburg Lightning (Lander University); A.J. Arroyo, 3b, DeLand Suns (Webber International); Taylor Becerra, dh, Winter Garden Squeeze (Grayson County, Texas, CC) (5)
RBI: Hunter Melton, 3b/1b, Sanford River Rats (Texas A&M) (33)
Stolen Bases: Tagg Duce, 3b, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (Dallas Baptist); Josh Greene, of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs; Tobias Moreno, of, College Park Freedom (Embry-Riddle) (20)

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Devin Raftery, rhp, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (Nova Southeastern); Alexander Smith, rhp, Sanford River Bats (North Florida) (6)
ERA: Arturo Martoral, rhp, Sanford River Rats (1.46)
Saves: Thomas Belcher, rhp, DeLand Suns (Indiana); Alex Deise, rhp, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (Florida State) (4)
Strikeouts: Devin Raftery, rhp, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (61)

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Rock Rucker, of/lhp, Sanford River Rats
Best Hitter: Rock Rucker, of/lhp, Sanford River Rats
Best Power: Austin Hays, of, DeLand Suns
Best Speed: Josh Greene, of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
Best Defender: Josh Greene, of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
Best Velocity: Spencer Trayner, rhp, Winter Garden Squeeze
Best Breaking Ball: Arturo Martoral, rhp, Sanford River Rats
Best Command: Arturo Martoral, rhp, Sanford River Rats


TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Rock Rucker, of/lhp, Sanford River Rats (Seminole State/JR in 2015)
Rucker's two seasons at Auburn University didn't turn out as planned, but he's a toolsy prospects who just oozes with potential. Rucker, a former Perfect Game High School All-American, has an outstanding frame at 6-foot-5, 225-pounds and can get the job done a variety of ways. In addition to his impressive offensive skill set, which includes a good approach, solid power and speed for someone his size, Rucker also has the ability to pitch at the next level with a fastball up to 93 mph from the left side, tallying 15 strikeouts in just 9 2/3 innings this summer.