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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/11/2017

17u BCS Day 1 Scout Notes

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Tyler Evans (2018, Pembroke Pines, Fla.), the 5-foot-10, 160-pound center fielder for the Florida Burn Premier 2018, showed plus athleticism offensively and defensively. He is a gifted runner who is instinctive on the basepaths. Hitting out of a slightly open stance, Evans has a very simple and uncomplicated approach at the plate. His quick hands, short stroke, and middle of the field swing path allow him to see the ball deep and get his barrel consistently to and through contact. Defensively, he is a college-ready outfielder. He is light on his feet and reads the ball well off the bat. He has playable arm strength and his throws are consistently accurate.

Six-foot-1, 205-pound, Garret Wallace (2018, Sanford, Fla.), a rising senior at Lake Mary High School, is a middle-of-the order basher for the Burn. The barrel-chested first baseman hits out of a slightly open stance and is very quiet and balanced at the ready. His swing path at contact has a slight lift, with plus bat speed. He incorporates his lower half well and gets his barrel to the ball consistently. His approach at the plate projects confidence and certainly appears to have projectable power potential.

Burn shortstop Grant Grodi (2018, Ocala, Fla.) is the Florida club’s slick-fielding shortstop and their leadoff hitter. A rising senior at Forest High School, Grodi is an advanced defensive player. His first-step quickness allows him to always get into an early ready fielding position. His body posture and balance when fielding is fundamentally sound and allows him to get into perfect throwing position. His arm strength is above average and his throws are consistently accurate. Offensively, he is a patient leadoff hitter who appears to understand his role at the top of the order. He is looking always to let the ball get deep and stay in the middle of the diamond with his swing path. He is short, direct, and quick to contact.

Ramon Cordero (2018, Venice, Fla.), is the Burn’s gifted catcher. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound backstop has all of the tools any club could ask for in their catcher. He is easy and smooth with his set-up and has excellent balance and soft hands in receiving pitches. He is an exceptional blocker of pitches and also calls a sound game. He has very advanced catch-and-throw skills. Only one runner attempted a steal and the ball was waiting in the shortstop’s glove at second base when he arrived, courtesy of the 1.93 pop time and on-the-dime throw from Cordero’s right arm.

Carson Weekley (2018, Tampa, Fla.), a rising senior at Tampa’s Berkeley Prep, is the Burn’s rock solid third baseman. He is also their three-hole hitter. He is smooth and quiet at the plate. Hitting out of an even stance, the solidly built, 5-foot-10, 170-pound Weekley’s swing path produces consistent contact and carry. Defensively, Weekley is a classic third sacker. He has a very quick first step and excellent lateral movement. His throwing arm is very strong with consistently accurate.

The Burn closer, righthander Levi Shuck (2018, Cape Coral, Fla.) is a rising senior at Canterbury High School. Shuck is easy and smooth to the plate and uses a high three-quarters arm slot to consistently pound the strike zone. His fastball, which has late life, sink and run, was consistently clocked in the 83-86 mph range. His curve, while not his primary pitch, did show tight spin and 11-to-5 break. His ability to work both sides of the plate and work the lower half of the strike zone allowed Shuck to get ahead and stay ahead of the EvoShield hitters. His pace and ability to consistently throw strikes assisted the Burn in closing out their first-round victory.

Bryce Register (2018, Port St. Joe, Fla.) is the smooth fielding second sacker for the EvoShield Florida Academic squad. He is also their very capable lefthanded hitting two-hole hitter. Register is a calm, controlled swinger who has a great understanding of the strike zone. His balanced, easy, smooth middle-of-the-field swing path helps him to consistently get his barrel to the ball.  He does a great job of keeping his hands inside the ball and hitting pitches where they are thrown. He is a line drive hitting machine.

Five-foot-9, 170-pound, Sam Moore (2018, Satellite Beach, Fla.) is a line drive, gap-to-gap righthanded hitting center fielder. The EvoShield three-hole hitter is a quick-twitch, aggressive swinger who has some slight lift in his swing path that projects to solid power potential as he matures. The rising senior at Satellite Senior High School is also a very athletic outfielder who can cover ground. He possesses a plus arm that shows carry and accuracy.

The EvoShield leadoff hitter is Nick Dean (2018, Vero Beach, Fla.), a consummate one-hole hitter. He works the count, he lets pitches get deep in the zone and he uses his unbelievably quick hands and sound level swing path to hit line drives all over the field. He is also a smooth operator at shortstop. He has very quick feet and exceptional fielding balance. His hands are very smooth and he transitions well to throw. His arm is sound and true.

Vanderbilt commit Ryder Green (2018, Knoxville, Tenn.) barreled up more than a couple of pitches on the day. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound rock solid righthanded swinger is smooth and easy to the ball and extends long through the swing path with slight lift at contact. His approach certainly projects to plus power potential as his career continues.

Tim Borden (2018, Sellersburg, Ind.), a rising senior at Our Lady of Providence High School, showed why he is heading to the University of Louisville to play his college ball. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound righthanded hitter flashed a very quick bat and put the barrel on more than one pitch during game action. He hits from a slightly open stance and is easy with his load and stride. He certainly has the swing path and size that will project to plus power numbers as he matures.

John Malcolm (2018, West Bloomington, MI) is an imposing lefthanded power hitter who is also committed to Vanderbilt University. The 6-foot-4, 217-pounder punishes pitches. One of his hits – that he drove into right-center field – had an exit velocity of 97 mph. Malcolm hits from a slightly open stance and is a gap-to-gap hitter with plus raw power.

Florida International University commit Christopher Williams (2018, Woodstock, Ga.) is a solid 6-foot-1, 195-pound package of power. His approach is not very complicated as he wastes very little energy in getting his bat to contact. He generates almost unbelievable bat speed and does so with relative ease. The ball hops off his bat and travels. His ground-rule double that bounced over the right-center field wall was hit in excess of 390 feet. He is strong through his core and has very quick, strong hands. The sound his bat makes when he contacts the ball was unlike almost all of the players who hit this day.

Parker Meadows (2018, Grayson, Ga.) has a classic lefthanded swing. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound lefthanded hitter is a buggy whipper; he generates lightning quickness through the contact zone and the ball really hops. High hands at the ready, he has great plate coverage and generates great torque through the swing path. The Clemson Tiger commit is a plus power hitter in waiting.

Another Team Elite Prime player who has committed to Vanderbilt, Will Banfield (2018, Lawrenceville, Ga.) is a 6-foot, 200-pound catcher who has a full toolbox. His skills as a receiver are far advanced. He is smooth and easy behind the plate. His hands are soft and his actions in handling his pitching staff are certainly worthy of high praise. His catch-and-throw skills are at a pro-like level right now. He is a sub-2.0 pop time guy today. What helps separate Banfield from other catchers in his class is his ability to swing the bat. The Elite Prime three-hole hitter has power and natural hitting ability. He appears to be on a path that will allow him to hit for average and power as his career continues.

– Jerry Miller



With the 17u BCS National Championship now underway there are plenty of talented high school players in Florida. One of the best lefthanded pitchers got the tournament started on a positive note for Elite Squad 17u Prime. Bailey Mantilla (2018, Hialeah, Fla.) threw a dominant 3 1/3 innings while striking out six batters. Mantilla is a big lefthander coming in at 6-foot-2, 225-pounds. His fastball comfortably sat in the mid- to upper-80s and touched 90 mph a couple times. Despite the good velocity, Mantilla’s delivery is effortless. He throws from a three-quarters delivery, but he throws across his body thanks to an exaggerated step towards first base instead of coming direct to home. He has a long, loose arm out back and that helps play up his already impressive curveball. The pitch comes in at 70 mph consistently, and it shows good depth. Mantilla rarely had to throw his off-speed pitch though, as his fastball was plenty to blow past bats. As a lefthanded pitcher with good stuff and control, Mantilla is one of the better arms in his class. Mantilla is currently verbally committed to the University of Miami.

Mantilla received plenty of offensive help from a stacked lineup featuring numerous players with fantastic talent. Alfredo Soto (2018, Miami Lakes, Fla.) kicked off their deep lineup and did a great job setting the table for the bigger hitters. He went 2-for-3 with a walk while scoring two runs. Soto has a slender 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame that is very projectable. His righthanded swing is short and very much under control. He maintains his balance through the swing and shifts his weight to his front foot effectively. Soto currently possesses gap-to-gap power but his power numbers should increase as he adds strength to his athletic frame. Soto has a lot of potential to be a dynamite hitter.

Julio Cortez (2018, Weston, Fla.) often came to the plate with runners on and in scoring position. He was consistently clutch and finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI. Cortez is a bulky 6-foot, 210-pounds, but his actions as catcher are nimble and fast. He has a good arm from behind the plate with a quick release. Cortez’ pop time clocked in just under 2.0 seconds at 1.9. He showed a good feel for hitting as well. His righthanded swing starts from a wide base. It’s a simple swing that Cortez can repeat consistently. His line drive swing plane shots balls all across the field, but his power comes best to the pull side. Cortez should consistently be able to drive the ball, and more power will certainly come as he refines his approach at the plate.

One of the better pure hitters was Cory Acton (2018, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). His tall 6-foot, 165-pound frame is athletic with long limbs. There still plenty of physical projection as well as he adds muscle. His lefthanded swing has a high back elbow set. Acton’s hands are incredibly quick, and he has a good feel for getting the barrel to the ball. Action will hit for plenty of average as he matures. Although Acton seems to favor contact over power, he gets good rotational power from his hips and balls still jump off his bat. As he continues to fill out his frame the power should arrive as well. His defensive work at third base was solid, too. Acton showed good footwork to continue moving through the ball, and he had plenty of arm strength to make easy, accurate throws to first. Acton has all the potential to continue being a middle of the lineup bat while playing solid infield defense. Acton has a verbal commitment to the University of Florida.

Despite the stat line from Monday’s game, Juan J. Teixeira (2018, Cooper City, Fla.) showed he has the potential to be a frontline starter. The righthanded pitcher is 6-foot-2, 195-pounds with broad shoulders and a strong lower half. His arm action is long and loose before releasing the ball from a three-quarters slot. As he works through his delivery, Teixeira crouches into his back leg and drive toward home. He stays in line with the plate well, and manages to get some downhill action to his fastball. His fastball worked in the mid-to-upper-80s. He occasionally struggled to throw strikes, as seen by his four walks. However, he did mix in his curve well to keep hitters off balance. The pitch has an 11-to-5 shape with good depth and tight rotation. Teixeira showed a good feel for pitching, and as he gains more control of his pitches, hitters will be taking many uncomfortable swings against him. Teixeira has a verbal commitment to Florida International University.

One of the younger position players on hand was Jake Holland (2019, Miramar, Fla.). Despite being over a year younger than most of the other players, Holland shows he has the talent to play with anyone. He’s already a big 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, but he still has room to grow into his athletic frame. His righthanded swing is vicious and has plenty of power. His swing can get long at time, but his great bat speed will play at any level. Holland generates good loft when he makes contact. Holland possesses a special ability to hit for average and good power. He looked comfortable behind the plate as well. His arm strength is tremendous, and he showed good instincts on when to back pick runners at first. Holland could be a legitimate star. He has a verbal commitment to the University of Miami.

Jarrett Hall (2018, Tamarac, Fla.) is another hitter with an advanced feel for hitting. His 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame is still lanky and ripe for projection. His athleticism is visible from his time in centerfield. He has good speed in the outfield grass and around the bases. Hall’s righthanded swing starts from a wide, open stance. He shifts his weight from his back leg to his front side well while closing himself off. His bat is quick through the zone, and he uses his present strength to generate good bat speed. His line drive swing plane should generate lots of hard contact to all fields. Hall offers plenty of upside thanks to his still lean frame and good tools at the plate.

Matheu Nelson (2018, Largo, Fla.) is one of the more intriguing power hitting position players in the 2018 class. He’s stocky 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame is incredibly physical and not what constitutes a prototypical leadoff hitter. Yet, that’s where Nelson found himself in the lineup Monday. His swing is direct to the ball, and his strength allows him to shoot the ball all over the diamond with plenty of thump. The power potential is there, and his work as a catcher should make him a premium bat. He finished the day 2-for-3 with a run scored. Nelson is verbally committed to Florida State University.

Christopher Ruckdeschel (2018, Davie, Fla.) is an immensely athletic 6-foot, 185-pound hitter with good present strength. His righthanded swing starts from a wide, crouched stance with a high back elbow set. His hands are quick and try to inside-out pitches. Ruckdeschel also does a great job of creating torque and power through his quick, rotating hips. His balance remains throughout the swing, and Ruckdeschel shows power to the gaps when he makes contact on time. Although he served as a designated hitter on Monday’s game, he should be a quality defender in the outfielder given his athleticism and speed on the bases. He finished the day with two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Ruckdeschel has a verbal commitment to Clemson University.

Kyle Benedict (2019, Lutz, Fla.) is a slender and lanky 5-foot-10, 160-pounds with great amounts of physical projection that still remain. His swing is nice and simple, and Benedict could consistently repeat it. It starts from an even stance, and then progresses to a simple leg lift. His line drive swing is compact and quick to the ball. Benedict showed he can work the ball to all fields while hitting pitches on a line. His athleticism is apparent during his time in centerfield as well. He showed good range, and the appropriate first step. Benedict showed good arm strength, and it is probably enough if he were moved over to right field. However, his athleticism will allow him to be a solid outfield defender and his bat will keep him in lineups.

It’s not often a 17-year old possesses great command of his pitches. It’s not uncommon for a plethora of walks and bad misses. But Danny Garcia (2018, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) is one of the few with fantastic command of his pitches. Garcia’s delivery is pitcher perfect with a long loose arm out back transitioning into a three-quarters arm slot. His fastball sat in the low-80s but had good running life and a little sink. The movement was enough to miss barrels often. His overtop curve had true 12-6 shape. Although neither pitch were truly outstanding on their own, they played up nicely because of Garcia’s impeccable command. Garcia’s ceiling may not be as high as some, but his talent is clear and he is already a true pitcher. Garcia has a verbal commitment to Stetson University.

On the other range of the spectrum is Brendan Bell (2018, Boynton Beach, Fla.). Bell’s command lags behind the movement on his pitches. Bell’s fastball velocity gets most people’s attention as it sits in the high-80s with explosive, late life that surprises hitters. His changeup was consistently fooling hitters as well. Thrown in the low-70s, the pitch had great fade and drop without sacrificing arm speed. The changeup is a true swing-and-miss pitch that will continue to make batters look silly. Bell’s slider showed late, biting movement as well. However, even with these standout pitches Bell sometimes struggled to retire hitters because of his poor command. Bell could be an incredibly effective pitcher if he manages to find consistency in his control. Bell has a verbal commitment to Florida Gulf Coast University.

Lefthanded pitcher Kyle Petri (2018, Lighthouse Point, Fla.) doesn’t have premium velocity, but his fastball in the high-70s still misses plenty of bats. His delivery starts with a very high leg kick and a slight rotation of his hips. He comes directly to home, but will sometimes open up too early. He pounds the zone with strikes to quickly get ahead of hitters. His fastball showed some arm side run when it was thrown low in the zone. His slider is an impressive secondary pitch with good bite and lateral movement. Petri’s changeup is a little less developed, and his arm speed decreases when he throws the pitch. However, he does a fantastic job weaving his off speed pitches in during counts. Hitters never seemed comfortable while hitting against Petri.

Max Rippl (2018, Fort Myers, Fla.) is another athletic outfielder with present tools. He stands at 6-feet, 190-pounds and has good projection left. At the plate, his feet are shoulder width apart with a slight bend at the knees. Rippl starts his swing with all of his weight on his back foot, but he transfers his weight well into his front foot after a stride towards the pitcher. He has a good feel for the barrel, and has exceptional bat speed as well. He’s a line drive hitter, and he’ll spray the ball to all fields. Rippl will hit for plenty of average, and he’ll drive the ball in the gaps for extra bases. His athleticism in the outfield should make him an above average defender as well. Rippl has a verbal commitment to Kent State.

– Kyle Zweng
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