Cameron Jones (2019, Naples, Fla.) started for FDCU 18U in left field and swung the bat well. Jones has an extremely narrow stance with an aggressive weight transition to the front side of his body when the pitch is coming to home. His up the middle approach is effective, especially with his flat swing plane that gears itself towards line drives. Jones should get plenty of base hits like the laser he hit right past the pitcher. He finished 1-for-3 on the day.
Alex Scarafile (2017, Naples, Fla.) was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3. His slightly open, narrow stance starts with a big, exaggerated leg kick. His hands are quiet throughout and attack the ball directly. Scarafile’s back shoulder does occasionally dip early causing an uphill swing. However, Scarafile manages to keep a level bat despite this inconsistency. He showed good speed on the bases, too. He easily stole second base and took large secondary leads.
Although Weston Boling (2017, Naples, Fla.) is known mostly for his pitching, he impressed with the bat during Monday’s game. He featured a simple swing with minimal moving parts. His wide base and low hands don’t require a substantial load, often needing only a toe tap. Boling’s bat speed plays and he showed he can turn on hard, inside fastballs. He has a natural upper cut that will help his power grow as he matures physically. Boling has also been known to pitch in the low-80 mph range paired with a good curveball. Boling could be an interesting two way player.
One of the few homeruns hit during this tournament came from Vinny Schroeder (2017, Manhattan, Ill.). Schroeder’s homerun traveled 337 feet and was 87 mph of the bat. He easily cleared the right field fence. He featured an exceptionally clean swing with good fluidity. Despite being a lanky 6-foot-4, 177-pound outfielder, Schroeder generates his power from good torque in his hips and quick hands. Schroeder definitely made good use of his time while in Florida by going 2-for-3 with a home run.
Michael Junkin (2018, Fort Myers, Fla.) is one of the few pitchers to get natural cut to their fastball. The velocity wasn’t outstanding, ranging from 77-81 mph, but the movement flummoxed hitters from his over the top delivery. Junkin has a fluid, loose arm and delivery that leaves him in good position to field. He showed good athleticism coming off the mound to get soft ground balls and looked like he could play the infield if needed. Junkin will need to build stamina, however, as his velocity faded and command suffered later in his outing. His curve is also developing, but Junkin has the tools and athleticism to succeed.
The best velocity on the day came from Hamilton Martinez (2019, Kissimmee, Fla.). Martinez is already physically mature with a 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame. It’s no surprise then that Martinez’ fastball lives in the 84-88 mph range. His delivery is smooth except for some jerking motions just before striding to home. This doesn’t seem to have an effect on his command as it was pinpoint throughout the outing. Martinez’ good arm speed will help develop his slider which doesn’t have much movement currently. His curve is already a good pitch, though. He pitched 3 1/3 innings with five strikeouts. Martinez is a polished pitcher with the presence and stuff to continue to throw well.
Christian Proffitt (2017, Cape Coral, Fla.) is an athletic shortstop that showed he can hit. He ended up 2-for-3, but it could have easily been a perfect day. He made solid contact on all the balls put in play thanks to a good swing. His hands stay long through the zone, and he looks to pull the ball with power. Proffitt keeps his weight back for quite some time before transferring it to his front leg. His hands and head are quiet throughout the swing, which will help him hit for average as he ages. If Proffitt continues to physically mature and keeps pulling the ball with authority he could be a player to watch.
Garrett Glover (2018, Buford, Ga.) is a righthanded pitcher with a strange, but effective delivery. He releases the ball from a low three-quarters arm slot after stepping slightly off line to home. The resulting effect is a whip-like arm motion that flies across his body. The good life on his 83-86 mph fastball and hard, biting slider make life difficult for hitters. Glover’s strange mechanics do make it challenging to repeat his delivery. He walked plenty of batters and struggled to find the strike zone at times. If Glover minimizes the walks he should get plenty of ground balls and strikeouts making his job exceptionally easy.
Tyler Borges (2019, Tallahassee, Fla.) is an all-around athlete that can hit, field, and run. He starts with a wide base when he digs in at the plate. His hands stay low, and are always in a good position to stay long through the zone. His above average bat speed and line drive approach should make him a lock for a good batting average. As he grows into his 5-foot-7, 145-pound frame he should add more power as well. Borges ran the bases well, too. He easily stole second and managed to score a run later. His actions while playing shortstop were quick and fluid.
It’s not often you find a true sidearm pitcher. They’re always fun to watch because they’re different, and Hunter Craig (2017, Southwest Ranches, Fla.) fits that mold exactly. His fastball sits in the high-70s and features power sink while producing good tailing run. The low arm slot also helps his slider generate a hard, sweeping break. Craig will have to prove he has the stamina to remain an innings eater, but his unique arm slot and his pitches’ movement could make him a solid bullpen arm in the future.
Dillon Heck (2018, Langhorne, Pa.) packs a punch for a 5-foot-6, 155-pound second baseman. His swing is simple as he excludes a leg kick or toe tap. Instead he spreads his feet wide and drives his hands at the ball. Heck’s above average bat speed and quiet hands should allow him to hit for good average and make consistent contact. He also keeps his hands close to his body during his swings, which should lead to plenty of balls being pulled. This will help promote his power. These two factors combined with his decent range while playing second should give Heck every chance to succeed in the future.
Louis Alberro (2019, Cape Coral, Fla.) is the power hitting third baseman for Xtreme UpperClass. Alberro features an open stance with his hands around the letters. During his swing his hands stay inside the baseball to facilitate an up-the-middle approach. His hitting mechanics are straight forward and easily repeatable. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a double that was powdered to right-center field. Look to see Alberro’s success continue.
– Kyle Zwenge