Sanford Standouts Part 1
This past weekend, many of the top 14u teams from throughout the state of Florida came together in Sanford, FL for the PGBA 14u Fall Nationals. Florida Baseball Heaven would eventually come away with the championship win, but throughout the event there were multiple players who made an impact.
Below is a break down of 15 players who stood out on the first day of the event (Saturday) with a brief report on each:
2024 RHP/IF Braeden Weckman (Next Level Prospects Blue)
Quick arm and shows confidence on the mound. Was mostly 77-80 mph with his fastball, touching 81 while mixing in a 68-70 mph curveball and a 72-73 mph changeup. Athletic two-way who also laced a ball into the right-center field gap for a two-run triple as well during the same game.
2024 IF Gian De Castro (Florida Hurricanes)
Immediately stands out with his big 6-foot-2, 195 frame. Physical lower half with above average bat speed from the left side. Laced one back up the middle for an RBI single in his first at-bat of the game. Shows high offensive potential.
2024 OF Trey Craft (Team Orlando)
Craft continued to impress offensively as he shows a high ceiling. During the game he crushed one deep over the center fielder’s head for a triple. Athletic, projectable frame and shows easy bat speed from the left side. Strong follow.
2024 OF Ryan McCracken (Gatorball)
Lean, athletic frame with above average bat speed from the left side. More power to come as he fills out his frame. Launched a ball way over the right fielder’s head for a triple during the game.
2024 IF Conrad Burch (Elite Squad)
Hammered one deep into the left-center field gap for an RBI triple during the game. Shows present strength, creates loud contact when he barrels it up. Can get a little long at times, but when he stays direct to the ball it really jumps off the bat.
2024 IF Brandon Sowers (Orlando Baseball)
Confident approach, stays balanced. Took one the other way down the right field line for an RBI single in his first at-bat.
2023 C Isaiah Brauda (Team Impact) (GA)
Quick hands, stays aggressive and looks to drive the ball. Roped one deep into the left-center field gap for a bases clearing triple. Finished the game with multiple line drive hits.
2023 OF Fabian Walker (South Dekalb Tribe) (GA)
Long, lean frame with athleticism. Drove one down the left field line for a single to start the inning. Aggressive runner who creates pressure on the base paths.
2024 MIF Jeffrey Lopez (Miami Giants 14u)
Scorched a ball back up the middle to lead off the inning with a single. Aggressive runner on the base paths as well.
2023 MIF Sam Hoppe (Florida Burn)
Stood out defensively where he showed quick feet. Made a tough play during the game, backhanding it deep at SS with an accurate and strong throw to 1st for the out.
2024 SS Ethan Duncan (Bloomingdale Bandits)
Lean, athletic frame. Crushed a ball over the left fielder’s head for an RBI double during the game, then took 3rd on the throw in.
2024 OF Joseph Seifert (FTB)
Showed off an above average arm as he threw a strike from right field to hold the runner at 2nd during the game. The throw had plenty of carry and was accurate to the bag.
2024 IF Carter Tepfer (FTB)
Went gap-to-gap for extra base hits in back-to-back at-bats. After driving one deep into right-center field for a double in his 1st at-bat before following it up with another double into the left-center field gap.
2024 OF Jackson Phillips (5 Star National)
Long, lean frame with room to fill out. Drove one the other way for an RBI single to right field during the game. Quick hands. Takes a smart at-bat out of the leadoff spot.
2024 C Adrian Camacho (FTB)
Stood out behind the plate with an above average arm, throwing out multiple runners. Also made an impact offensively when he drove one deep over the right fielder’s head for an RBI triple.
