2021 Sunshine East (05/22/2021 - 05/23/2021)

5/23/2021 6:41:46 PM

Christian Perez (2023 C, Miami, FL) had one of the lone hits for the Gold team late in the action as he used his strength to pull an outer half fastball into the corner for a very well-struck double.

Joseph Contreras (2022 2B, Miami, FL) had the other hit as he showed a calm approach at the plate while controlling the barrel well and lining a ball through the infield.

Jordan Kahn (2022 SS, Windermere, FL) is an athletic up the middle prospect who impressed with his strength off the barrel as he took a fastball back through the middle registering an 88 mph exit velocity on the single. 

Zachary Miller (2022 1B, Bradenton, FL) impressed on both sides of the ball today as the projectable left-hander worked fluidly on the mound showing three pitches for strikes while also finding the barrel on a well-struck fly out to the deep part of centerfield. 

Aidan Knaak (2023 RHP, Fort Myers, FL) was extremely impressive in his time on the mound showing excellent present stuff and good upside long term. He worked 86-89 mph from the right side generating a ton of life to the fastball, spun in both a hard vertical curveball and a tight slider for swing and miss and then flashed a quality changeup that fades well and tunnels nicely off the fastball.

5/23/2021 6:01:19 PM

Jacob Smith (2022 RHP, Delray Beach, FL) Big left handed bat that took a lefty on lefty fastball to one hop the fence in right field. He has a toe tap for timing and took some smooth controlled swings. Power potential to all fields. 

Jerryk Caceres (2021 RHP, Hialeah, FL) Went four strong innings striking out seven. Really settled in with an 82 mph fastball that was getting on hitters. Fastball heavy mix but flashed a curveball that was 12 to 6 to keep hitters off balance. Bigger frame with a repeatable motion.

Derek Lopez (2023 C, Windermere, FL) Jack of all trades at the field today pitching, catching, and showing some nice swings. On the mound he was up to 83 and got a lot of swings and misses on it, striking out multiple. Soft hands and a good pop behind the plate, and really liked his hustle backing up bases. 

5/23/2021 5:59:31 PM

Adan Longoria (2023 RHP, Plant City, FL) In his four innings of work he struck out five batters working off a slow breaking ball that had swing and miss movement. The windup and arm swing are smooth and has some shoulder tilt to get some downhill angle using his size. He showed the ability to pitch on both sides of the plate keeping the hitters uncomfortable.

Joshua Martin (2022 OF, Miramar, FL) Had a two knock day both to the left side of the field, one down the line for a double and the other snuck through the hole. The Righty has a smaller frame but shows great bat to ball skills

Colin Cymbalista (2022 C, Pickering, ON) Big Righty who has the ability to hit for power and also spray the ball around the field. A deep drive to center his first at bat hoped over the fence for a ground rule double and later had the ability to serve an outside fastball to right for a base hit. He was on time and really used that back hip to generate  good bat speed. 

Javier Barrenechea (2022 OF, Coral Gables, FL) Ripped two balls into the left centerfield gap for a triple and a double. The swing was compact, quick, with a level swing plane. He really showed off his legs going around the bases it was not a for sure triple but he was thinking three out of the box. 

Noah Kuhaneck (2022 C, Ludowici, GA) At the plate he hit one of the hardest balls of the day into left field for a double. The swing was short and through it and the contact was loud. On the mound he rang his fastball up to 84. Lively arm and smooth windup made the ball jump out of his hand. 

5/23/2021 5:09:53 PM

Pablo Torres (2022 St Cloud, FL) ran his fastball up to 89 while showing feel for two breaking pitches with the slider being a late S/M pitch. The bat plays too as he hammered a triple to the opposite field gap, easily motoring around the bases.

Conner Melady (2022 Mount Dora, FL) shot an rbi single through the 6-hole doing a good job of adjusting his hands to get there barrel to it.

Jorge Bello (2022 Orlando, FL) really grinds out at bats, controls the zone, and knows when he can hunt. After a couple long at bats he drove a hard line to the pull side in his second at bat. There is plenty of strength in the swing to feel like the power will play too.

Yahir Ortiz (2022 Saint Cloud, FL) had a couple knocks in the game. The first was a hard single into left field that got through the 6-hole. The second was a towering homerun that was lofted well past the leftfield wall. Excellent defensive actions at shortstop to go with the offensive production.

Logan Cooke (2022 Delray Beach, FL) showed off a quick shoulder and low-80s fastball with sink. He threw it down in the zone throughout. His SL/CU both have good traits for swing and miss or soft contact.

Joshua McGuin (2022 Toronto, ON-Can) sat back on a mid-80s fastball and hammered a single the opposite way. Strong frame that produces good impact. Looked the part behind the dish as well with solid receiving skills and a accurate arm.

Tyler Michanowicz (Navarre, FL) ripped a ground rule double to the pull side gap that got over the wall in a hurry. The sound off the bat was different.

Derick Morillo (Trujilo Alto, PR) is a suave defender and made a great diving play in the whole at second base to get an out. He also lined a single to left, rounding out an impressive weekend.

5/23/2021 4:35:01 PM

Jeremy Weaver (2022 RHP, Winter Haven, FL) struck out ten hitters over four innings and did a good job at pounding the zone with his fastball. He's an athletic right-hander with arm speed and sat 83-87 mph with feel for three pitches including a curveball and sharp cutter. 

Yoender Alexander Nunez Oropeza (2022 C, Miami Beach, FL) hooked a ground ball down the third base line and showed the speed to leg it out into a double. He has good strength in his wrists and showed the barrel control to keep the ball fair.

Giovanni Febus (2022 SS, Miramar, FL) hard a hard hit single back up the middle. Febus has a smooth swing with plenty of right-handed bat speed and the power upside is significant given the physicality. 

Hunter Possehl (2023 LHP, Venice, FL) stayed on an outer half pitch and smoked it to the opposite field for a single. There's obvious leverage and strength to the stroke and his ability to stay on the outer half pitch stood out. 

Marlin Takovich (2023 OF, Summerland Key, FL) has a quick arm, projectable frame, and an aggressive demeanor on the bump. The fastball worked up to 84 mph with good life while he showed two sharp breaking balls to lock up hitters looking. 

5/23/2021 2:33:32 PM

Matt Rose (2022 SS, Clearwater, FL) is a talented all-around athlete and the barrel skills continued to show here today as he just missed sending one out to left on a very high fly ball to the left fielder. He also showed well around the middle of the infield.

Guillermo Rivera (2022 C, Coamo, PR) engages his lower half well at the dish and there was some pop on display today when he roped a double to the pull side gap. He also showed off a strong arm from behind the dish while receiving well and playing with good energy.

Tanner Reid (2023 3B, Orlando, FL) shows good athleticism down the line and also hopped on the mound and showed solid arm talent working 81-83 with good life from a low slot while also spinning in a sharp vertical breaking ball for swing and miss.

Yahil Melendez (2023 SS, Guanica, PR) is an uber-projectablle left-handed hitting shortstop who puts his upper-80s arm strength on display on throws across while at the dish it's a sound approach where he uses the looseness in his wrists to adjust to pitches around the zone like he did in going down and getting a two-strike breaking ball and lining it for a hit into right.

Austin Olander (2023 RHP, Bradenton, FL) filled up the zone early in his outing working with good tempo and commanding two pitches, which included a good slider with some swing and miss components to it and good cut on the fastball. 

5/23/2021 2:12:04 PM

Reynaldo Plasencia (2022 Hialeah, FL) timed on up and hit a single into centerfield. Looks the part with a strong frame and also showed good actions on the infield with a strong enough arm to stay on the left side.

Mark Alvelo (2023 Saint Johns, FL) has a tight swing with some strength at contact and showed ability to pull the hands in as he smashed a double down the leftfield line. It was a really good job of keeping the ball inside the line on a well located inside heater.

Ethan Firestein (2022 Hollywood, FL) there is some arm talent as he runs the heater up to 84 mph and has some natural cut to the pitch that can miss barrels. The slider has depth and sharp darting action and he got a couple of swing and misses on a sinking changeup.

Emmett Meeks (2024 Palm Harbor, FL) is a craft lefty that moves the fastball around well to all quadrants of the zone. He threw four shutout innings mixing a sharp breaking ball that was a real weapon. He also throws a cutter that can get in on righties.  

Jackson Hiatt (2022 Cantonment, FL) took a monster batting practice the day before and then jumped on the mound with his upper-80s fastball that has big downward angle, His secondary offerings were impressive as well throwing a big breaking curveball and got a strikeout on a changeup with late movement. He also smothered a line drive single to the pull side in his last at bat.

Ethan Strojie (2023 Lake Mary, FL) has a country strong frame and hammered an outer half fastball up the middle for a single. Solid job of taking what the pitcher gave him and staying through the pitch.

Carlos Luca Tosca (2023 Miami, FL) used his loose swing to loft a long double to the right centerfield gap. It’s a really low effort swing that creates good jump off the barrel. Really interesting young left-handed bat.

Blake Bryden (2022 Orlando, FL) looked good in relief outing throwing three pitches for strikes and using his 80 mph sinker well to the arm side. The righty got a good amount of empty swings and soft contact. He also drove a deep drive to centerfield that was caught at the warning track.

5/23/2021 1:37:30 PM

Austin Parcels (2022 RHP, Bradenton, FL) showed things to like moving forward with a whippy arm stroke and a fastball that topped out at 84 mph. The right-hander has a three pitch mix with a deep 12/6 hook and a fading changeup as well. 

Drew Reaves (2023 SS, Pensacola, FL) was loud in relief with a fastball that topped out at 86 mph and sat in the mid-80s consistently. He's a physical and athletic righty with a good slider and cutter as well as Reaves missed a ton of bats and posits two-way upside. 

Jan Avila (2022 SS, Toa Alta, PR) showed smooth actions at shortstop with comfort to the backhand and plenty of arm strength to make plays in the hole. He also singled in the game as he kept his hands inside nicely to still impact a hard ground ball up the middle. 

Raul Torres (2022 SS, Caguas, PR) made the play of the day with a spectacular and ranging play up the middle at shortstop. He fielded the ball right behind the bag, turned, and fired to nail the runner at first in terms of a true highlight reel play. 

5/23/2021 11:41:09 AM

Jameson Caro (2022 OF, Hialeah, FL) is a FIU commit with a strong 6-1/200 build and a calm right handed approach at the plate.  He can really put a charge into the ball and creates big back spin at times for plus carry in the air.

Amari Daniel (2023 3B, Orlando, FL) has quick hands at the plate and a line drive approach that enabled him to square up the ball consistently.  He projects as a high contact/high average hitter with gap to gap power.

Drew Faurot (2022 SS, Tallahassee, FL) is a highly athletic middle infielder with a UCF commitment in hand.  He's a switch-hitter at the plate with a similar approach from both sides but had what looked like better bat speed and strength at contact from the left side.

Liam O'Neil (2023, 1B, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) is an extra big and strong 6-4 left handed hitting first baseman with a loose and extended swing and huge power potential.  It's a calm and repeatable approach for a big young hitter.

Oskar Amaya (2023 RHP, Homestead, FL) is a primary right handed pitcher but he has the strength and bat speed to be a hitting prospect as well.  His hands are short and direct to the ball and he consistently drove the gaps with carry.

Luis Martinez (2022 C, Vega Baja, PR) has plenty of strength to add to his 5-11/165 build but he has quick hands and a really nice swing to build on.  He barreled up the ball consistently to left centerfield.

Michael Thomas (2023 SS, Pompano Beach, FL) is another slender sophomore with lots of strength still to gain and a nice right handed swing.  He has classic hitter's hands that enable him to barrel up everything.

Miles Curley (2022 3B, Largo, FL) might of had the best BP round of any hitter on Saturday.  The strong and mature East Carolina commit simply dominated baseballs the entire round, showing a simple swing with big bat speed and huge jump off the barrel.

Sean Shelly (2022 1B, Clearwater, FL) has long levers on his 6-3/195 build and fast hands to drive them.  The right handed hitter has the type of future power potential that could enable him to be the type of hitter who can leave the yard from foul poll to foul pole.

Matt Rose (2022 SS, Clearwater, FL) is a South Florida commit with a short and strong swing that does a nice job of engaging his hips to help create bat speed.

Derick Morillo (2022 SS, Trujillo Alto, PR) is only 5-11/175 but he showed some of the best raw bat speed and power of any hitter at the event.  Aside from aggressively attacking the ball, he gets about as much extension as is possible in a swing out front.

Conner Melady (2022 RHP, Mount Dora, FL) is 6-8/240 and may have length issues taking his swing into games but it sure was fun watching him take BP.  Baseballs left his barrel like golf balls off a Five Iron as he hit about a half dozen deep into the parking lot.

Adrian Vidal (2023 SS, Miami, FL) is a young right handed hitting sophomore with nice present hand strength and bat speed.  He gets into his lower half well and has the present ability to drive the ball.

Fabian Amaro (2022 C, Las Piedras, PR) has quick hands with good young strength in them and explodes them well at contact.  He's another hitter who already knows how to get his lower half into his swing to help his strong hands drive the barrel.

Noah Kuhaneck (2022 C, Ludowici, GA) is extremely strong with a 6-0/205 build and the ability to overpower the baseball.  His right handed approach is short and consistent and he barrel up almost every ball hard.

Arquimedes Barrios (2022 2B, Pembroke Pines, FL) has a very smooth left handed swing that projects very well as he adds strength to his 6-0/170 build.  He gets very nice loose extension out front and is aggressive attacking the ball.

5/23/2021 11:13:30 AM

Kelvin Y Ayala (2022 SS, Toa Baja, PR) is a switch-hitter whose left side is his strongest side, which is always an encouraging thing to see in a young switch-hitter.  He was very fluid as a left handed hitter with nice bat speed.

Luis Gonzalez Rodgriguez (2022 C, Patillas, PR) is an extra big and strong switch-hitter with the same attributes.  He has faster hands from the left side than the right and those hands really get into his strength well.

Ty Grover (2023 3B, Spring Hill, FL) has a strong and compact young third baseman's build with lots of present strength.  He explodes his hands hard at the ball and showed big ability to drive the ball with hard jump.

Yahir Otero (2022 SS, Vega Alta, PR) has a very projectable 6-2/165 build and a nice short hand path to the ball.  He showed an advanced ability to create back spin on the ball without hunting for it and got some balls to travel high and deep with the wind at his back.

Yeniel Laboy (2022 SS, Arecibo, PR) was another young Puerto Rican middle infielder whose 6-2/190 body stood out for it's projectability and whose left handed swing has big potential down the road.

Yandel Lopez (2022 C, Las Piedras, PR) was the Yermin Mercedes of the batting practice, with a 5-9/200 build but a big and loose swing that was full of bat speed and intent.  He got the ball in the air consistently and showed his power.

Preston Herce (2022 SS, Key West, FL) has a rock solid 5-11/195 build but lots of quick twitch fiber running through his strong muscles.  He showed a calm and polished right handed swing with a gap to gap approach and big jump off the barrel.

Giovanni Febus (2022 SS, Miramar, FL) is another middle infielder who combines present strength tons of quick twitch athleticism.  His swing is a bit timing intensive but there is big jump there when the barrel is on time.

Marlin Takovich (2023 OF, Summerland Key, FL) looks the part of the prospect outfielder with his 6-2/180 build and highlights his swing with very quick hands and an aggressive lower half shift into contact.  There is lots of projection here as he gets stronger.

Jackson Hiatt (2022 1B, Cantonment, FL) is an intimidating presence in the batter's box at 6-5/215 and the right handed hitter gets even more intimidating once he starts swinging the bat.  He launched some missiles into the parking lot during his round that made it look easy.

Luis Garrido (2022 SS, Palmetto, FL) has quick hitter's hands and is one of those hitters who seemed to get better the harder he swing and the more aggressive he was attacking pitches.  He wore out the left centerfield gap with line drives.

Ethan Pues (2022 OF, Plant City, FL) has a very nice base swing that is simple and easy to repeat, with short and quick hands to the ball.  He's 6-2/175 with lots of strength still to gain and is going to take a big step forward as a hitter when he gets stronger.

Logan Hughes (2023 1B, Deland, FL) has a strong athletic look and his left handed swing is certainly athletic.  He has present bat speed and a nice looking swing that produced line drive after line drive.

Jack Quick (2023 OF, Miami, FL) is another athletic looking sophomore with a nice swing and growing bat speed.  He put the ball consistently in the air with good carry and more to come as he matures.

Drew Reaves (2023 SS, Pensacola, FL) has very strong hands and he uses them well to drive his right handed swing.  He overpowered some baseballs with those hands and showed big jump off the barrel.

Danny Kilmer (2023 C, Libertyville, IL) is a left handed hitting catcher and those are hard enough to find as it is.  The young Illinois native needs some strength but has a nice and clean swing that produced a round of consistent barrels.

Lucas Ramirez (2024 3B, Weston, FL) is another young left handed hitter who still has lots of strength to gain but whose swing is loose, extended and projectable.

5/22/2021 8:33:28 PM

Ethan Phillips (2022 RHP, Dunedin, FL) was fantastic during his four inning performance, pounding the zone and showing two different breaking balls in the process. He sat 86-89 mph for the most part with a sharp lateral slider as well as a curveball he could land. 

Eric De Jesus (2022 RHP, Orlando, FL) worked his fastball up to 84 mph with good sink and run down and in. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot and also features a short cutter and a low-70s curveball. 

Waldemar Edgardo Caro (2022 SS, Aguada, PR) had one of the fastest 60 times on the day with a 6.56 mark and he showed those wheels on a triple. Caro took a terrific at-bat, battling and fouling off tough pitches before lacing the ball into the opposite field gap. 

Miles Curley (2022 3B, Largo, FL) showed his two-way potential by notching a single and running his fastball up to 87 mph. He's a physical hitter with quality bat speed as he lined a single back up the middle and has a quick arm on the mound. 

Sean Shelly (2022 1B, Clearwater, FL) had one of the louder knocks on the day with a smoked double into the left field corner. Shelley is big and physical with present impact and his size and leverage portend massive future power. 

Matthew Mateo (2022 OF, Kissimmee, FL) has really smooth actions at shortstop and also knocked a double to the opposite field gap. He took an elevated 87 mph fastball to the other gap and his actions, size, and arm strength all project well at shortstop. 

Pablo Torres (2022 RHP, St Cloud, FL) is a quality two-way prospect who ripped a hard single to the opposite field and let his legs work after that. He stole second and third base with ease thanks to his 6.5 speed and later came around to score on a wild pitch. 

Ethan Strikowski (2022 1B, Lake Worth, FL) fouled off some tough pitches and lined out hard to center in his first at-bat before doubling to the opposite field in his last at-bat. Strikowski has some whippiness to the barrel head along with feel for contact and uses the whole field nicely. 

5/22/2021 8:33:02 PM

Josh Cone (2022 LHP, Bradenton, FL) Dominate performance for the southpaw with multiple strikeouts through two innings. The fastball was up to 86 and had a big sharp breaker to accompany it. The arm was quick and had a little deception turning his back slightly to the hitter. 

Conner Melady (2022 RHP, Mount Dora, FL) Big kid on the mound that used his frame to work downhill with a fastball that was up to  86. It was fastball heavy mix that challenged the hitters to catch up, this led to nine strikeouts in four innings of work. At the plate added a backside double that was deep to RCF. 

Nicholas Rodriguez (2024 C, Miami, FL) At the plate this lefty bat is very quite in the box with a smooth load and then when he swings it explodes and looks to do damage. He smoked a single through that side for an RBI and later added a liner over the second baseman's head that went for a triple. Behind the plate he receives the ball very well and has a quick release on the throw. 

Joshua McGuin (2022 C, Toronto, ON) One of the smoother lefty swings you will see. Big frame in the box that scorched a ball through the left side and then showed ability to go backside as he hit a deep fly ball to left. Also showed something on the mound up to 86 in two innings of work.

Abdiel Mael Texeira (2022 C, Juana Diaz, PR) Right handed bat that had one of the loudest sounds of the day off one of the better pitchers of the day. He took a high fastball to right centerfield for a ground rule double. The swing was short, direct and really showed the ability to stay through it. 

5/22/2021 7:30:51 PM

5/22/2021 7:30:20 PM

5/22/2021 7:29:37 PM

5/22/2021 7:26:04 PM

5/22/2021 7:25:34 PM

5/22/2021 6:22:24 PM

Alejandro Quiles (2022 3B, Guanica, PR) Big bat that showed great bat speed. Hit one the harder balls of the day into centerfield. He showed speed around the bases and a good first step as he broke to steal second. 

Hunter Possehl (2023 LHP, Venice, FL) Dominate pitching performance striking out seven batters in four innings. Tall left hander who throws from a close 3/4s arm slot that worked both arm and glove sides of the plate. The slider was a sweeper that was very effective against lefties and could even spot it back foot to righties. 

Yawuum Acaad (2022 SS, Gainesville, FL) Had two barrels on the day. First was a liner to center that was caught, but the second one he made sure they couldn't catch it hitting it over the centerfielders head for a double. Has some pop in his bat. Looked smooth in the infield as well. 

Diego Aponte (2022 1B, Bayamon, PR) If it were not for the wind blowing straight in we would of had a no doubter to center. Stayed on plane with a high fastball and at that crack of the bat it just had that different sound. Hands were quick and bat speed was there. 

Juan A Cabrera Melendez (2022 OF, Rio Grande, PR) Another loud contact guy this time for a double to left field. Turned on a middle in fastball that again without the wind had a shot to leave. It was a violent controlled swing that showed the ability to get the bat head out and stay through the ball. 

5/22/2021 5:40:25 PM

Lucas Elissalt (2022 RHP, Miami, FL) had a clean and efficient outing and showed a repeatable operation and a fastball that topped out at 85 mph. He sat in the low-80s with a good three pitch mix highlighted by a sinking changeup and curveball with good feel. 

Luis J Perez (2022 RHP, Sabana Seca, PR) showed two separate breaking balls that allowed him to pitch backwards and rack up six strikeouts while allowing just one hit. The curveball shows good 12/6 shape while the slider missed bats as well. 

Dylan Oborne (2022 RHP, Pompano Beach, FL) has a lot of tools on the mound with good physicality, athleticism, and a very fast arm. He was up to 89 mph multiple times and challenged hitters up while flashing a sharp curveball to give him big upside. 

Jackson Hiatt (2022 1B, Cantonment, FL) got a fastball he could take a hold of and crushed it directly into the wind and still one hopped the wall. Hiatt creates a ton of leverage in his 6-foot-5 frame and has immense power and impact potential. 

Ethan Pues (2022 OF, Plant City, FL) had the lone RBI of the day as he went down to get a fastball and run it up the middle for a hit and run RBI. Pues is athletic in the box and showed some two way potential by running his fastball up to 82 mph. 

5/22/2021 5:00:00 AM

Ryan Slattery (2022 RHP, Windermere, Fla.) is a strong athlete that makes the most of his strength by driving down the mound well.  The Pitt commit sat 88-90 mph and flashed 92 mph with his fastball.  He knew the heater was working and attacked hitters early and often with it.  In his four innings of work, he racked up six strikeouts while only allowing three walks and not surrendering any hits or runs.  Slattery features a smooth delivery that allows him to stay balanced, and fires from a ¾ arm slot with his loose, whippy arm.

Noah Avey (2022 C, St. Petersburg, Fla.) paired his quick hands with his pull side approach to launch a double over the right fielder’s head in his first at bat today.  Avey is a twitchy player with room to add strength.  As he continues to get stronger, it is safe to say this will be a familiar result for Avey.

David Mora (2022 C, Orlando, Fla.) is an athletic player that keeps it simple at the plate.  He has a nice compact swing that he was able to use to drill a line drive to centerfield that burned the outfielder for a double.  He pairs his simple approach with quick bat speed leading to some pop off his barrel.

Jadiel J Hernandez (2023 RHP, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) is a strong player that looks to do damage on mistakes at the plate.  He was able to take advantage of a pitch that leaked over the middle and crushed a ball for a double in the left-center field gap.  Hernandez has some natural lift to his swing that will lead to plenty of extra base hits as his career advances. 

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.