2019 Florida Diamond Club Classic Game 1 Recap
This past weekend in Tigertown, home of the Detroit Tigers spring training, the top 2020s and select 2021s from all over the state of Florida came together in Lakeland for the annual Florida Diamond Club Classic. All the players in attendance were split into four teams which consisted of: North (Red Sox), South (Tigers), East (Giants) and West (Yankees) All position players went through a pro-style workout before each of their two games, taking I/O and BP on the field while running the 60 as well.
Below are some of the standouts from the first game of the Florida Diamond Club Classic which was played on Friday night between the West (Yankees) and the South (Tigers)
WEST (YANKEES)
2020 IF/C Brock Wilken (Bloomingdale HS)
Wake Forest commit. Big, strong frame standing at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. Wilken has been a big riser over the summer and into the fall as he’s really stood out offensively with his present raw power. Put on a display in batting practice where he crushed several balls way up the berm in left-center field, the ball leaving the bat at a very high velocity. Strong enough to fight off tough pitches and take them the other way. The ball explodes off his bat.
2020 IF Blake Wright (Clearwater Central Catholic)
Clemson commit. Athletic frame standing at 6-foot, 185 pounds and seems to be noticeably stronger in his lower half. Easy bat speed from the right side and really trusts his hands. Went gap-to-gap during batting practice and consistently found the barrel. Confident approach and really looks to drive the baseball. Top of the order type bat who will make an impact at the next level.
2020 MIF Richie Morales (Lakewood Ranch HS)
Florida State commit. Currently stands at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds on an athletic frame. Stood out during batting practice where he showed above average bat speed and sprayed the ball all over the field. Bat stays in the zone, driving the ball deep into the gaps.
2020 C Bennett Lee (Jesuit HS)
Tulane commit. Currently stands at 6-foot, 208 pounds and nas become noticeably more physically all over. During batting practice he showed a very confident and balanced approach, lacing the ball into the gaps and makes hard, solid contact. The added strength really looks to have benefited Lee offensively as he squared it up with intent.
2020 OF Colin Apgar (Lakewood Ranch HS)
Florida State commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds on a lean, athletic frame. Quick hands from the left side of the plate and showed a feel for the barrel. Drove the ball deep into the right-center gap during batting practice along with some pull side pop.
2020 C Jackson Miller (JW Mitchell HS)
Wake Forest commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds on a strong, athletic frame. Stood out all over. Displayed advanced defensive actions behind the plate along with an above average arm with accuracy on his throws to the bag. Offensively, he consistently found the barrel during from the left side, driving the ball gap-to-gap with loud, hard contact along with pull side pop.
2020 LHP Mason Miller (JW Mitchell HS)
Florida Gulf Coast commit. Tall frame standing at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with a strong lower half. Creates some deception in his delivery and natural movement on his pitches. Fastball was mostly 87-90 mph, touching 91 with late movement along with a 74-76 mph curveball that showed depth. When he stays in line, he shows a command of the zone and works the corners of the plate. Still more velo in the tank.
2020 RHP Camden Minacci (Jesuit HS)
Wake Forest commit. Had arguably one of the best outings on the weekend where he struck out five batters in his two innings pitched on Friday night. Stays balanced throughout his windup and works with a quicker pace. Generated plenty of swings and misses on all three of his pitches. Fastball was mostly 89-92 mph, touching 93 with life while he also mixed in an above average changeup at 79-80 mph with fade and a 76-77 mph curveball with tighter spin. Really got into a groove and dominated.
SOUTH (TIGERS)
2020 MIF/RHP Jordan Carrion (American Heritage Plantation HS)
Florida commit. Currently stands at 6-foot, 160 pounds on a lean, athletic frame with room to fill out. Defensively, he showed easy, athletic actions in the field, ranging freely to his right and left while fielding the ball under control and with confidence. Takes efficient angles to the ball. Above average arm across the diamond with accuracy. Offensively, he displayed quick hands with ability to go gap-to-gap with some feel for the barrel. Look for Carrion to see a jump in gap-to-gap power once he strengthens his frame.
2020 MIF Sammy Infante (Pace HS)
Miami commit. Currently stands at 6 foot, 182 pounds on an athletic frame. Had one of the more impressive weekends offensively as he showed an above average hit tool with pull side power. Consistently found the barrel for hard, solid contact during batting practice, driving multiple balls deep into the gaps. Put several over the left field wall as well. Stays balanced throughout and shows a lot of confidence at the plate. Defensively, he shows easy actions and ranges backhand and forehand with strong throws to the bag.
2020 IF Coby Mayo (Stoneman Douglas HS)
Florida commit. Tall, strong athletic frame standing at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. Put on a power display during batting practice where he showed off some of his raw power, driving the ball way over the left center and left field wall. The ball really jumps off his bat and when he gets ahold of the fastball, he can really send it a long way. Above average bat speed and creates leverage with his longer limbs. Solid defender around the bag at the corners with a strong arm. Mayo can really drive it with intent.
2020 OF Mario Zabala (International Baseball Academy, PR)
Florida International commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds with a strong lower half. Put together quite a few rounds of batting practice where he showed a balanced approach with quick hands from the right side. He can get a little cut off at times, but he is still strong enough to drive the baseball, and when he is fluid through the zone he can square it up for extra base hits. Gets out of the box with aggression and looks to take the extra bag. Had a solid weekend offensively.
2020 RHP Mason Manriquez (Wellington HS)
Duke commit. Currently stands at 6-foot, 181 pounds on an athletic frame with a stronger lower half. Controlled windup and repeats well. Stays poised. Works with a quicker pace and looks to jump on the batter early with a first pitch strike. Fastball mostly sat 89-92 mph, touching 93 while mixing in an above average curveball at 77-78 that showed a true 12/6 break and induced swings and misses. Strike thrower with a live arm that gets outs.
2020 OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. (American Heritage Plantation HS)
Vanderbilt commit. Currently stands at 5-foot-11, 150 pounds on a lean, athletic frame. Has plus speed which he not only utilizes by creating constant pressure on the base paths by swiping multiple bags, but can run down a ball deep into the gap. Quick hands from the left side, can drive the ball the other way while also being able to lay down a well executed bunt single at any time. Plays with a higher motor and is a tough out.
2020 LHP Ryan Bruno (American Heritage Delray HS)
Stanford commit. Tall frame with a stronger lower half that currently stands at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. Was able to run his fastball up to 94 mph from the left side, showing off a very quick arm. Also mixed in a 76-77 mph slider with late movement. Some inconsistency finding the zone at times, but when he stays balanced and in line with home plate he shows a better command of the zone. Plenty to like about the left hander with big projection.
2020 RHP Jaden Bruno (American Heritage Delray HS)
Stanford commit. Tall, projectable frame standing at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with room to fill out. Above average arm speed from the right side and creating downhill action on his fastball. Mostly sat in the 90-93 mph range, touching 94 while mixing in a 75-75 mph curveball that showed depth. When he works down in the zone he creates multiple swings and misses. His command will continue to improve as he repeats more consistently.
