2019 Florida Diamond Club Classic Game 2 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 second game of the Florida Diamond Club Classic which was played on Saturday morning between the East (Giants) and the South (Tigers)
EAST (GIANTS)
2020 OF Dylan Crews (Lake Mary HS)
Louisiana State commit. Currently stands at 6-foot, 190 pounds on an athletic frame. Arguably one of the top prospects in attendance, Crews showed off multiple above average tools throughout the day. Offensively, he has a very confident and balanced approach as he can not only spray the ball anywhere on the field, but shows gap-to-gap power as well. The ball really explodes off the bat and sounds different when he squares it up. Defensively, he takes efficient routes to the ball and gets behind his throws which are accurate and to the bag with carry at 90+ mph.
2020 RHP Najer Victor (East Ridge HS)
Florida State commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with a projectable, athletic frame. Had one of the more electric performances on the weekend where he ran his fastball up to 95, showing off his plus arm strength. Fastball mostly sat 91-94 mph, touching 94 multiple times while mixing in a 84-85 mph changeup and a 75-76 mph curveball with depth. The ball really jumps out of his hand. At times he can he can let his pitches tail out of the zone, but when he stays in line with the plate he shows command of the zone. Big arm with a high ceiling.
2020 RHP Grayson Moore (Lake Mary HS)
Vanderbilt commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds on a long, lean, projectable frame. Quick arm and gets extension out in front. His fastball mostly sat 89-91 mph, touching 92 with run while also mixing in a curveball with depth at 69-71 mph and a 77-78 mph changeup. There’s more velocity to come as he fills out his long frame and along with running his fastball up to 92 on the mound, Moore was an offensive standout over the summer as a gap-to-gap type of hitter.
2020 RHP Cade Udell (Lake Mary HS)
Duke commit. Big, strong frame standing at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. Creates downhill action on his fastball and is somewhat of an imposing presence on the mound with his size. Threw a heavier fastball that sat 90-93 mph, touching 94 while also mixing in a slider at 79-81 mph, showing depth and inducing multiple swings and misses with it. At times he can let his fastball tail up in the zone, but when he works down in the zone and in the corners, he is tough to hit. Big arm to follow.
2020 C McGwire Holbrook (Bishop Moore HS)
West Virginia commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds on a strong, durable frame. Really stood out offensively on the day, especially during batting practice where he seemed to find the barrel on every pitch, driving the ball gap-to-gap with pull side pop. Stays balanced throughout and seems very confident in the box. Middle of the order type hitter who can drive in runs.
2020 C Caleb Pendleton (Jensen Beach HS)
Florida Atlantic commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-1,185 pounds. After being listed as a standout the week before at the MLB States Play, Pendleton continued to show off his plus defensive actions behind the plate. Displays an above average arm behind while getting into a quality, athletic position to receive the ball well. Also showed a feel for the barrel and took several solid rounds of BP as well.
2020 OF Brandon Fields (Dr. Phillips HS)
South Carolina commit. Currently stands at 6-foot, 200 pounds on an athletic frame with a very strong lower half. Offensively, he showed above average bat speed and when he barrels it up, it not only jumps off the bat but can go a really long way. During batting practice he took a couple over the wall and then followed it up during the game when he laced a ball deep into the left-center field gap for a triple. Above average runner on the base paths and can turn on the next gear when he gets going. Fields is not only known for his athleticism on the baseball field, but on the gridiron as well where he is a high caliber running back.
2020 OF Zac Veen (Spruce Creek HS)
Florida commit. Currently stands at 6-foot4, 190 pounds on a long, athletic frame with plenty of room to still fill out. Offensively, he shows above average bat speed from the left side and looks to drive the ball with a level to uphill finish on his path to the ball. Not only shows pull side pop. but can drive the ball right back up the middle which was seen during gameplay. There’s still much more power to come and with the frame and the above average hit tool Veen possesses, look for him to continually and steadily improve.
2020 OF AJ Shaver (South Lake HS)
Florida State commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds on a strong, athletic frame. Stood out offensively where he showed strong hands through the zone and an aggressive approach, looking to drive the ball with intent. Hunts the fastball and looks to jump on it and drive it deep into the gap. Barreled up several during batting practice with loud, hard contact.
SOUTH (TIGERS)
2021 C Jayden Melendez (Westminster Christian)
Florida International commit. Melendez may have been one of the youngest players in attendance but he was more than up to the challenge as he put on several extremely impressive rounds of batting practice which included four of six balls going over the wall during his last round. Really works in rhythm with a big leg kick and shows a feel for the barrel from the right side. Above average defender behind the plate as well where he shows soft hands with strong and accurate throws to the bag.
2020 RHP/SS Jordan Carrion (American Heritage Plantation HS)
Florida commit. While Carrion shined on the first day as a position player, he hopped on the mound during his Saturday game and showed a quick arm with life on his fastball, sitting in the 88-90 mph range. Mixed in an 83-84 mph changeup with some sink along with a 75-76 mph curveball. The athleticism really shows up all over.
2020 C Sebastian “Bazz” Jimenez (Coral Reef Senior HS)
Florida State commit. Currently stands at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds on a long, athletic frame. Had a standout summer offensively and carried that right into Diamond Club where he used his long levers to drive the ball with intent into the gaps. Also shows pull side pop as well. During the game he took an outside pitch the other way for a line drive single to lead off the inning. Still more to add to his frame with more power to come.
2020 OF Mario Zabala (International Baseball Academy, PR)
Florida International commit. After standing out during his first game, Zabala again made an impact on the following day when he scorched a ball into the left-center field gap for a double. Above average bat speed and seemed to kick it into another gear when rounding first and looking for the extra base hit. Shows some higher baseball IQ.
2020 C Carlos Perez (Florida Christian)
Miami commit. Currently stand stands at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds on an athletic frame with a strong lower half. Impressed all over as he stood not only offensively but defensively as well. Offensively, he shows strength throughout, driving the ball back up the middle along with gap-to-gap power. Creates loud, hard contact. Also showed above average instincts and soft hands behind the plate. Accurate throws to the bag with carry. Strong catching prospect.
2020 OF/1B CJ Kayfus (Palm Beach Central HS)
Miami commit. Currently stands at 6-foot, 165 pounds with a lean, athletic frame and room to still fill out. Defensively, he shows range and instincts on the ball, fielding it under control and out in front. Accurate throws to the bag that showed carry during I/O. Offensively, he has quick hands from the left side and while he drove the ball into the right-center field gap and down the right field line, he also showed pull side pop as well.
