5/22/2021 5:00:00 AM
Yahil Melendez (2023 SS, Guanica, Puerto Rico) showed the immense potential he has both with the bat and the glove today. At the plate, he consistently found the barrel, hitting multiple balls hard. He ended the day 2-for-3 at the dish, highlighted with a double he roped into the right center field gap. The lefty swinger has quick hands and a great knowledge of the zone, only swinging at strikes. In the field he made multiple tough backhands look routine. The first was at third when he reacted quickly to grab a ball down the line and showed off the cannon, nailing the runner by multiple steps. The second fantastic play was a ball deep in the hole at short where he got the ball out quickly and was able to beat the runner by half a step to end the game. It will be scary how good he will be when he fills out his frame and adds even more strength to the tool kit.
Adrian Salas Rivera (2022 C, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) was extremely impressive with the bat and the glove today. When hitting, he showed a great feel for the plate, only swinging at balls in the zone. He has a smooth swing with natural lift that allowed him to go 1-for-2 with a hard line drive back up the middle. His one out was a high fly ball to right that hung in the air for a long time, showing that he has power even though he was just under it in this scenario. Behind the plate, he has advanced receiving skills and incredible footwork throwing to bases. He pairs his clean footwork with a strong arm that allowed him to gun down a would be base stealer at third by multiple steps.
Cole Gonzalez (2022 OF, Newberry, Fla.) is a primary outfielder but showed some great potential on the mound today. He worked two scoreless innings, striking out three and only allowing one hit. His fastball sat 80-83 mph and worked up to 86 at times when he reached back for some extra juice. The pitch that turned heads today though, was his tumbling knuckleball. Gonzalez threw it hard at 75 mph and that caused it to drop off the table, leaving hitters with no chance and even dropping the jaw of the umpire.
Clay Emeigh (2022 SS, Farmington Hills, Mich.) put his power ability on display today, crushing a ball over the left fielder’s head for a ground rule double in his first at bat. Emeigh does a nice job keeping his weight back, allowing him to adjust to any velocity he faces. He has good bat speed and barrel control, so it is no surprise he was able to drive the ball today. He is an athletic player that will undoubtedly continue to shine.
Fabian Amaro (2022 C, Las Pierdras, Puerto Rico) made good use of his bat speed, drilling a ground rule double over the right field fence. Amaro is an athletic player who has a quick swing that he trusts enough to let pitches on the outer half get deep. This trust in his swing allows him to use the whole field, making it tough to play defense against him. He also stood out on defense, showcasing a clean glove and advanced ability behind the plate in receiving pitches and earning strikes that others at his position might not. He has a strong arm and clean footwork on his throws to the bases as well.
Carlos Delgado (2022 3B, Miramar, Fla.) has a thick frame with a lot of strength that he frequently looks to utilize. He takes firm swings at pitches and looks to do damage on anything left over the inside and middle part of the plate. This approach paid off in his second at bat when he punished a fastball that caught too much of the plate into right center field for a stand up double. Delgado has a mature approach at the plate and does not chase out of the zone very often, making him a difficult out.
Caden Townsend (2021 OF, Merritt Island, Fla.) takes an aggressive approach at the plate, looking to jump on early mistakes by pitchers. It paid off today in his first at bat when he squared up a hard ground ball down the line and ended on second with a double. Townsend has a short, compact swing that generates good bat speed. This combination will lead to a lot more hard hit balls as his career continues to progress.
Trey Smith (2024 OF, Auburndale, Fla.) showed advanced hand speed for his age today, ripping an inside fastball down the line for a double in his first at bat. He was able to control the barrel and square up the mistake made by the pitcher. Smith has a good frame and has plenty of room to add strength to his frame.
Jackson Easto (2022 SS, Lakewood Ranch, FL) continued his impressive batting practice round, where he squared up multiple balls, in the games recording two well hit singles. Easto is athletic and looks to take advantage of any pitch left over the middle. He also pitched two scoreless innings, sitting 76-78 mph with the fastball and showing advanced feel for his 11-5 breaking ball.