2,072 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Summer Collegiate  | Story  | 10/19/2012

Florida League Prospect Reports

Allan Simpson     
Photo: USF
Official League Website
Florida Collegiate League top 20 prospects (list)
Perfect Game Summer Collegiate top prospect coverage

The Florida Collegiate Summer League was at the forefront of the quantum leap in home runs that were struck in many summer leagues around the country this season. The league’s six clubs combined for 158 homers, almost three times the total of 57 that were hit in 2011.

It has been documented that inconsistent quality control of the baseball in use in all the leagues affected, the Diamond ball, was behind the significant spike in home runs. Predictably, one of the spinoffs from the onslaught of long balls was that offense generally increased across the board and did to such a degree in the FCSL that every team set a franchise record for runs scored in a season.

The offensive surge undoubtedly was all about the baseball being used as there certainly wasn’t an influx of elite-level position prospects in the Florida League this summer to account for the uptick. If anything, quality pitching was at the forefront of the talent in the league as seven of the top nine prospects on the accompanying list of the league’s Top 20 Prospects, including the top two, were pitchers.

Not all of the increase in run production was attributed to the surge in home runs throughout the league, however, as the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs generated offense of a different nature by shattering the league record for stolen bases. In 40 games, they swiped 182 bags to not only break the existing league record of 117 but top any other summer team nationally by a wide margin.

Winter Park first baseman Adam Danner made a significant contribution to both the league record for homers and his own team’s single-season mark for stolen bases as he had one of the best offensive seasons in the league nine-year history. He shared the league lead in homers (8) and was tops in stolen bases (32). The distinction earned Danner league MVP honors, though he ranks no better than 10th overall among the league’s best prospects.

Typical of almost every player on the list (17 of 20), Danner has significant Florida roots. He is in the process of transferring from junior-college power Polk State to NCAA Division II power Tampa.

FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 2004.
 States Represented in League: Florida.
 No. of Teams in League: 6 (6 in 2011).
 Regular-Season Champion: Leesburg Lightning (26-15).
 Post-Season Champion: DeLand Suns.
 Teams, PG CrossChecker Summer 50/Final Ranking: No. 37 DeLand Suns, No. 46 Leesburg Lightning.
 No. 1 Prospect, 2011 (per PG CrossChecker): Garrett Nuss, lhp, Orlando Freedom (Central Florida; played in Cape Cod League in 2012).
 First 2011 Player Selected, 2012 Draft: Myles Smith, rhp, DeLand Suns (Miami-Dade JC; Mets/16th round).

Most Valuable Player: Michael Danner, 1b/of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs.
 Most Outstanding Pitcher: Evan Incinelli, rhp, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): David Lee, of, Orlando Monarchs.

BATTING LEADERS (League games only)

Batting Average: Mark Nelson, 1b, Orlando Freedom (.370).
 Slugging Percentage: Mark Nelson, 1b, Orlando Freedom (.600).
 On-Base Average: Mark Nelson, 1b, Orlando Freedom (.476).
 Home Runs: Michael Danner, 1b/of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs; Jason Matusik, 1b, Leesburg Lightning (8).
 RBIs: Tyler Rocklein, of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (41).
 Stolen Bases: Michael Danner, 1b/of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (32).

PITCHING LEADERS (League games only)

Wins: Michael Clutterbuck, rhp, Leesburg Lightning (7).
 ERA: Evan Incinelli, rhp, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (1.66).
 Saves: Trey Norris, rhp, Leesburg Lightning (12).
 Strikeouts: Cary Baxter, rhp, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (55).

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Daniel Sweet, of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
 Best Hitter: Michael Danner, 1b/of, Winter Park Diamond Dogs
 Best Power: Michael Danner, 1b/of, Winter Park Diamond Dawhs
 Fastest Base Runner: Daniel Sweet, of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
 Best Defensive Player: Edward Medina, 2b/of, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
 Best Velocity: Jake Hubbard, rhp, Winter Park Diamond Dawgs
 Best Breaking Ball: Drew Jackson, rhp, DeLand Suns
 Best Command: Mike Compton, rhp, DeLand Suns

TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. NICK GONZALEZ, lhp, Sanford River Rats (South Florida/JR in 2013)
SCOUTING PROFILE: As a 30th-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2010 draft, expectations were understandably high for the 6-foot-4, 220-pound lefthander when he passed up an offer from the Phillies and enrolled at the University of South Florida. Through his first two college seasons, though, Gonzalez was a combined 6-4, 4.83 with 46 walks and 70 strikeouts in 80 innings. He struggled as a freshman (2-3, 7.15) in essentially a starting role, but picked up his pace as a sophomore (4-1, 2.63), though worked mostly in a low-pressure relief role. That brought his career to a crossroads this summer, with the 2013 draft lurking, and Gonzalez responded admirably in a return to the rotation for Sanford. In seven starts for the River Rats, he went 1-0, 3.81 with 20 walks and 41 strikeouts in 28 innings. His fastball was a steady 88-93 mph with good movement and he showed better depth on his breaking ball than in the past, although his changeup remains a work in progress, a potential impediment to his remaining in a starting role. Gonzalez still needs a little tweaking of his delivery to improve his command, and possibly add more velocity to his fastball. With a return to the USF rotation in 2013 and general improvement in his stuff and command, he could emerge as an early-round selection in next year’s draft.


This is PG 'DiamondKast' Level content.
You must be either an DiamondKast, Crosschecker Rankings & Scouting Reports, or Scout subscriber to read the rest.
Sign in
DiamondKast
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.