2021 Burn/Scorps Challenge Standouts
By Mike Maerz and Rico Nesler
This past weekend the 2021 Burn/Scorps Challenge took place in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte, featuring not only some of the top teams in the state of Florida, but from Arizona, California, Canada and more. The teams in attendance were the Florida Burn, Orlando Scorpions, West Coast Guapos, Ontario Blue Jays, SWFL Baseball, and the Florida Hardballers. Our scouting staff was on hand for Friday at Terry Park in Fort Myers and then the Port Charlotte Sports Complex on Saturday.
Below is 20 players we were able to see and who made an impact on our scouting staff. Please give us a follow on our social media platforms listed below as we post content with highlights, clips, and announcements on past and upcoming events.
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2022s
2022 RHP Logan O’Donnell (Orlando Scorpions)
UCF commit. Long, lean projectable frame. Sat 88-90 mph in his first inning of work where he also mixed in a slider at 79-81 mph. Settled in at 87-89, reaching back and touching 90 when he needed it on a swing and miss. Still more in the tank.
2022 MIF Matt Rose (Florida Burn)
USF commit. Was an offensive standout throughout the weekend as he delivered multiple extra base hits, including two standup doubles. standup doubles during two of his at-bats. Fast hands through the zone, a present feel for the barrel, and stays balanced throughout his swing. Looks to jump on the fastball and drive the ball gap-to-gap. Top of the order hitter who always seems to get on base.
2022 RHP Matt Marzec (Ontario Blue Jays)
Uncommitted. Sat 81-85 mph, touching 86 during his outing. Changes location and isn’t afraid to challenge the hitter with his fastball.
2022 LHP/OF Nikolas Miller (West Coast Guapos)
Uncommitted. Created lots of swings and misses along with weak contact. Mostly 81-83 with his fastball topping out at 84 and works low and away. Feel for the breaking ball as well. Kept a tough lineup off the scoreboard and racked up multiple strikeouts in his outing. Competes every pitch.
2022 C Liam Fenning (West Coast Guapos)
Uncommitted. Showed off a strong and accurate arm on his throw down to second base, gunning down the base runner for the out. Quick release, receives well, stays in an athletic position to make the throw.
2022 IF Kyle White (West Coast Guapos)
Uncommitted. Showed quick hands offensively when he delivered an RBI single to left center, driving the ball the other way from the left side.
2023s
2023 MIF Manny Alberto (Ontario Blue Jays)
Uncommitted. During one of his at-bats he crushed a ball to deep right-center field for a triple. The switch hitter displayed above average bat speed from the left side, kicked it into the next gear rounding second base.
2023 RHP Grayson Smith (Orlando Scorpions)
Stetson commit. Sat 87-89 mph with his fastball, touching 90. Mixed in a 77-78 mph slider as well. Tall 6-foot-3, 190 pound frame.
2023 C Alex Sosa (Orlando Scorpions)
Uncommitted. During one of his at-bats he ripped a ball into right field for a line drive single. The NC State commit takes smart at-bats, working the count and jumping on his pitch to hit. Easy bat speed from the left side.
2023 RHP Trent Adrian (Florida Burn)
Uncommitted. 6-foot-4, 250 frame and showed a command of the strike zone sitting 82-83 mph, touching 84 during his outing.
2023 RHP Mack Estrada (Orlando Scorpions)
Uncommitted. Long, lean frame frame. Came in for relief where he sat 84-86 mph with his fastball, touching 87 along with a 63-64 mph curveball with 12/6 break. Simple windup, big leg kick before his delivery.
2023 IF Robert Nedry (Orlando Scorpions)
Uncommitted. Shows above average bat speed from the left side and swings with intent. Aggressive hitter who can barrel it up for hard contact. During one of his at-bats, Nedry fouled off a couple of breaking balls with 2 strikes before driving one into right field for a single. Recently named to the South Florida Sun Sentinel All-County First Team. Strong offensive follow with more power to come.
2023 1B Josh Podobnik (Florida Burn)
Uncommitted. Delivered a line drive single to left field during one of his at-bats. Strong with a very compact swing and approach
2023 RHP Kevin Martinez (SWFL Baseball)
Uncommitted. Impressed during his outing where he threw multiple sitting 84-86 mph, touching 87. Showed really good life on his fastball with a little two seam action.
2023 RHP Aidan Knaak (Florida Burn)
Uncommitted. Quick arm, works out of a simple windup. Mostly sat 85-87 mph, touching 88 (2253-2336 RPM) while mixing in a 69-70 mph curveball with depth.
2023 IF/RHP Ben Thompson (Florida Hardballers)
Uncommitted. Laces this ball to left field for an RBI single. Lean, athletic frame with more power to come as he becomes more physical.
2024s
2024 OF Brady Schwartzberg (Orlando Scorpions)
Uncommitted. Big frame and really projects. Squared one up and drove a ball to deep left center wall for a double. Big time power potential.
2024 1B/RHP Bradford Stough (Florida Burn)
Uncommitted. Drove one into right field with two strikes for a single during one of his at-bats. Tall, physical frame and creates loud, hard contact. Pull side power potential.
2024 OF Jace Pasquariello (Orlando Scorpions)
Uncommitted. Showed an above average feel for the barrel during one of his at-bats, keeping his hands inside the baseball well with this base hit to right field.
