2017 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect Index
www.floridaleague.com
Year Established: 2003
States Represented: Florida
No. of Teams: 6
Regular Season Champion (best overall record): Sanford River Rats (30-12)
Postseason Champion: Sanford River Rats
No. 1 Prospect, 2016: Carlos Cortes, c/of, Sanford (South Carolina)
First 2016 Player Selected, 2017 Draft: Seth Elledge, rhp, Altamonte Springs Boom (Dallas Baptist/4th round/Mariners)
Player of the Year: Sandler Goodwin, 3b, Winter Garden (Troy)
Pitcher of the Year: David Litchfield, rhp, Altamonte (UCF)
The Sanford River Rats captured their second straight championship, and set a new Florida League record for wins in a season (33) while showing off some serious talent to headline the events of the Florida League. Omar Villaman (Florida Southern) was named MVP of the championship after Sanford downed the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs 6-5 in 10 innings.
During the 2017 MLB Draft, there were 22 draft picks of Florida League alumni, as well as multiple free agent signings following the draft. Third baseman Sadler Goodwin (Troy) took home MVP honors for the league and David Litchfield (UCF) received the league’s Cy Young Award.
One of the highlights of the league is the Southeast Prospect Showcase, where the best of various summer leagues compete against one another in games following a showcase for pro scouts. The Florida League went 2-0 against the Sunbelt League and the Cal Ripken League to be named co-champs. One of the highlights from the showcase was the 6.34-second 60-yard dash from the league’s No. 1 prospect, Garrett Zech (USF).
Top 10 Prospects
Rk. |
Player |
POS. |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Hometown |
ST |
2018 School |
YR |
Class |
Last Drafted |
1 |
Garrett Zech |
OF |
R-L |
6-0 |
196 |
Naples |
FL |
South Florida |
JR |
2018 |
Dodgers ’15 (15) |
2 |
Tyler Keysor |
RHP |
R-R |
6-4 |
200 |
Orlando |
FL |
Eastern Florida State |
SO |
2019 |
Never drafted |
3 |
Sadler Goodwin |
3B/RHP |
R-R |
6-3 |
205 |
Cordova |
TN |
Troy* |
JR |
2018 |
Never drafted |
4 |
Elih Marrero |
C |
B-R |
5-7 |
189 |
Miami |
FL |
St. Thomas* |
JR |
2018 |
Reds ’15 (29) |
5 |
Ray Alejo |
SS/OF |
R-R |
6-0 |
170 |
Orlando |
FL |
UCF |
JR |
2018 |
Never drafted |
6 |
Brenton Burgess |
RHP/IF |
R-R |
6-0 |
200 |
Lithonia |
GA |
Middle Georgia Col. |
JR |
2018 |
Yankees ’17 (38) |
7 |
Francis Villaman |
SS |
R-R |
6-1 |
190 |
Orlando |
FL |
St. John’s River CC^ |
FR |
2018 |
Never drafted |
8 |
Jacob Katzfey |
OF/1B |
L-L |
6-3 |
190 |
Lee’s Summit |
MO |
Wichita State |
SO |
2019 |
Never drafted |
9 |
C.J. Carter |
RHP |
R-R |
5-10 |
165 |
Lithonia |
GA |
Troy* |
JR |
2018 |
Never drafted |
10 |
Bryant Harris Jr. |
OF |
R-R |
6-2 |
205 |
Hampton |
GA |
West Florida* |
JR |
2018 |
Tigers ’15 (38) |
* Transfer
^ Incoming Freshman
Top 5 Prospect Reports
1. Garrett Zech, of, Altamonte Springs (South Florida/JR in 2018)
One of the more dynamic athletes of the Florida League, Zech enjoyed a quality season for the Altamonte Springs Scorpions. The South Florida center fielder is an easy plus runner, even registering plus/plus times on occasion, with the tools to stick in center at the next level. The former 15th round pick of the Dodgers in 2015 clocked the fastest 60-yard dash time of the event at 6.34 seconds. There is also surprising raw power in the frame as he came away the champion of the league’s home run derby.
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