Baseball / 2020 SFCBL Top 20 MLB Draft Prospects

2020 SFCBL Top 20 MLB Draft Prospects

Date:  Source: South Florida Collegiate Baseball League

The 2020 SFCBL season was full of outstanding players and competitive baseball as the league has continued to grow exponentially over the last ten years of play. In the last 7 years of play, the SFCBL has had 173 players drafted by MLB teams including 17 players being taken in the top 10 rounds as well as 2 players in consecutive years being named to the prestigious Golden Spikes Award Watch List which is handed out to the top amateur player in the country. Top MLB players such as Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg have won the Golden Spikes award. The league also saw several alumni players achieve their dreams of reaching the Major League level this season.

The 2020 season was historical for the SFCBL and the baseball world as the league was the first in the nation to play competitive collegiate baseball after the spring season was cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The SFCBL also paved the path for others by proving the mitigation plan set forth kept players, coaches and staff members safe.

Several league records were also broken including a complete shakeup of the SFCBL batting average record holders. Zack Neto (Campbell University) set the new league record at .439, Daniel Labrador (University of Miami) was second at .437 and Cade Doughty (LSU) was third at .429. RHP Mason Black (Lehigh University) put up the 3rd lowest ERA in SFCBL history with a 0.64 ERA and RHP Jermaine Vanheyningen (Florida International) set a new fastball velocity record at a blistering 102 MPH which was recorded in the Friday July 31st playoff game.

Demographically the league attracted 336 players from 6 countries and 33 states. Most of the players came from NCAA Division I schools with 161 players. Division II was second with 76 players, NJCAA was third with 65 players, NAIA was fourth with 24 players and there were 10 NCAA Division III players. The powerhouse Southeastern Conference (SEC) led the way with 23 players and Conference USA was second with 19 players. Florida Atlantic University sent the most players to the league with 14 and LSU was second with 9 players. The University of Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida International University were all tied for third sending 6 players each.

The West Boca Snappers captured their 3rd consecutive SFCBL Championship defeating the Florida Pokers 9-3 at Little Fenway in Delray Beach. Derek Cartaya (Florida International) was named the Championship Series MVP going 3 for 5 with 2 RBI’s and a run scored. Lehigh University right-handed pitcher Matt Svanson put on a stellar performance in the semi-finals striking out 11 batters in 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits.

We would like to thank the SFCBL Advisory Board and all Florida Area Scouts who contributed to our 2020 Top 20 MLB Prospects.

Note: The prospects were selected based off their overall tools, projectability, summer stats, prior draft history, medical history, strength of college program, college program draft history, bloodlines and school stats. All players were graded on a 20-80 MLB Scale with 50 being an average MLB tool. Please advise that an “average” MLB tool is considered to be outstanding at the collegiate level. Please refer to the following scale: 20 poor, 30 well below average, 40 below average, 45 fringe, 50 average, 55 solid, 60 good/plus, 70 very good, 80 excellent.

 

1. Mason Black
Lehigh University (PA)
Boca Raton Blazers
RHP
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’3/220
R/R
Archbald, PA
Draft Status: Undrafted

Every time Mason Black threw this summer you were sure to see scouts in the stands as he dominated on the mound this summer with a miniscule 0.64 ERA. Black led the league in strikeouts with 42, only gave up 2 earned runs and 10 hits in 28 innings pitched. Black has a strong durable pitchers frame at 6’3/220 pounds. He throws from a ¾ arm slot with his fastball sitting 93-96 and will hit 97/98 in his starts. Black will hold his velocity deep into his outings and maintains velocity from the stretch as well. He has good mechanics with a clean delivery and pounds the zone throwing lots of strikes. He features three breaking pitches: a cutter at 90-92, a plus slider at 84-88 and an average curveball at 79-81. He also throws a change up in the 83-86 range that has some depth and fade. His slider gets the most swing and miss from hitters and is his out pitch. His slider developed and became more effective during his time in the SFCBL. Mason will go into the 2021 MLB Draft as a potential top round selection as he showed signs of potentially being a starter at the next level.

 

2. Cade Doughty
Louisiana State University (LA)
Boca Raton Blazers
IF
RS Freshman (draft eligible 2022)
6’1/195
R/R Baton Rouge, LA
Draft Status: 39th Rd 2019 DET

A pure hitter Doughty showed scouts his hitting ability by consistently barreling balls throughout the summer. Doughty finished the summer hitting .429 with 9 doubles, 3 HR’s and 17 RBI’s. At LSU in the spring Doughty started all 16 games as a true freshman in the shortened season hitting .278 with 2 HR’s and 12 RBI’s. Doughty has a quality swing, is short to the ball and has lower half balance. He has natural gap to gap power right now with power potential in the future. Defensively he projects as a 2B or 3B showing upside and athleticism. He is an average runner and has average arm strength. Doughty should continue to develop into potential top round selection with 2 more years until the 2022 MLB Draft.

 

3. Hunter Furtado
Wake Forest University (NC)
Boynton Beach Buccaneers
LHP
Freshman (draft eligible 2023)
6’4/165
L/L
Wellington, FL
Draft Status: Undrafted
Video:

Furtado flashed signs of high upside this summer with his projectible and athletic frame. At 165 pounds Furtado has plenty of room to fill out his frame. He has a projectible fastball that sat anywhere from 85-91 and topped at 92 in his outings. He is balanced over the rubber with an upright finish. His curveball has good spin and depth with solid projection. The change up flashes some fade and finish. Although Furtado’s numbers this summer were not stellar, scouts see the foundation and potential in the tall left-handed freshman.

 

4. Cade Beloso
Louisiana State University (LA)
Phipps Park Barracudas
1B
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’0/235
L/L
Riverridge, LA
Draft Status: Undrafted

Beloso made quite a splash in Baton Rouge and in the SEC during the 2019 season hitting 10 HR’s with 52 RBI’s as a true freshman. In the shortened 2020 season Beloso hit .313 with 1 HR and 12 RBI’s. The success followed him to South Florida where he hit .412 with 1 HR and 7 doubles. Beloso has a strong, compact frame with present power. He has a balanced lower half with good bat speed and consistently makes solid contact. Defensively he is athletic and moves well around the bag with a secure glove. We see him staying at 1B at the professional level. Beloso has consistently put up solid numbers in the best college baseball conference in the country which will make a solid selection in the 2021 MLB Draft.

 

5. Zack Neto
Campbell University (NC)
Delray Beach Lightning
IF/RHP
RS Freshman (draft eligible 2022)
5’11/180
R/R
Miami, FL
Draft Status: Undrafted

Neto put together the single best offensive performance in SFCBL history and was 1 RBI away from the Triple Crown. Neto set a league record for batting average hitting an astounding .439 and also led the league in home runs with 6. Neto has a medium type frame with natural baseball instincts. He has a high leg kick which is on time during games and showed pull side power with bat control. Defensively he projects as a 2B or 3B at the professional level and the player comp that buzzed around the scouting community was Kike Hernandez. On the mound Neto was 88-92 and touched 94. His slider is currently above avg and was arguably the best breaking pitch in the league sitting in the 80-83 range. The change up was 84-85 with fade. Overall scouts like Neto better as a position player but he does offer some intriguing upside on the mound as well. Neto saw only two games of action during the 2020 Campbell season due to a fractured right wrist during pre-season but is expected to be a major part of the lineup during the 2021 season. Neto loves to play the game and has the potential to be a top round type draft pick. We see Neto continuing to develop into a very solid prospect as he has two more years until he is eligible for the 2022 MLB Draft.

 

6. Caleb Roberts
University of North Carolina (NC)
Delray Beach Lightning
C
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’1/195
L/R
Coral Springs, FL
Draft Status: Undrafted

As a true freshman Roberts started 40 games and played in 50 for the Tar Heels hitting .227 with 17 RBI’s. Summer 2020 was a breakout season for him as he was named to the SFCBL North Division All-Star Team and finished hitting .295, 5 doubles, 2 HR’s, 23 RBI’s and 33 walks. Roberts has a large frame with an athletic build and projectible glove skills behind the plate. He has a solid 55 arm and consistently threw runners out with a 1.97 pop time. He has a good swing with a balanced lower half. Roberts sprayed the ball to all fields and showed confidence in the box. Showed gap to gap type power now with more to come in the future.

 

7. Matt Svanson
Lehigh University (PA)
West Boca Snappers
RHP
Senior (draft eligible 2021)
6’5/215
R/R
Hawthorn Hills, IL
Draft Status: Undrafted

Another solid arm out of Lehigh’s arsenal made his way South Florida this summer and did not fail to impress scouts. The 6’5 large bodied righty ran his fastball up to 96 in outings and was consistently 91-94 with plus life, natural run and sink. Svanson also flashed the ability to get to the glove side showed good lower half drive. Svanson’s slider was anywhere from 76-83 with ¾ tilt. His change up was 81-84 flashing finish and fade. We see him more as a sinker slider guy in the future as his slider continues to develop. Svanson put up excellent numbers with a perfect 4-0 record, 1.00 ERA while striking out 41 batters in 27 innings pitched. It’s safe to say that scouts will be making their way to Lehigh to see their starting pitchers this spring.

 

8. Mark Adamiak
University of Arkansas (AR)
Delray Beach Lightning
RHP
RS Freshman (draft eligible 2022)
6’4/220
R/R
Chicago, IL
Draft Status: Undrafted

Another piece of the loaded Delray Beach Lightning staff Adamiak impressed scouts as the consensus was that he has the potential to be a starter at the professional level. His fastball generally sat 90-93 touching 95/96 and was up to 98 in the spring. Adamiak also showed that he could hold his velo into later innings. Mark has a long, strong and lean pitchers frame with room to fill out. He has a balanced online delivery with lower half drive to the plate. His slider was 79-83 with tilt and his change up showed some fade. The slider is an out pitch for him and induced swing and miss from hitters. Adamiak had a 3-1 record with a 2.70 ERA while striking out 17 batters in 16.2 innings pitched.

 

9. BJ Murray
Florida Atlantic University (FL)
Pompano Beach Clippers
3B
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’0/205
S/R
Nassau, Bahamas
Draft Status: Undrafted

Local FAU product BJ Murray was a solid bat in the Pompano Beach Clippers lineup during the 2020 season hitting .299 with 1 HR, 6 doubles, 18 RBI’s and 29 walks. The switch hitting 3B has a strong, athletic frame with a pretty swing from both sides of the plate. From the left side he has fluid hands through the zone and from the right side he’s more rotational, but the hands still work well enough. He has a developing approach in the box and looks more comfortable and in control than the past. Murray has power potential in the future as he matures. Defensively he has solid footwork and enough arm strength to stay at 3B.

 

10. Zack Morris
University of Arkansas (AR)
Delray Beach Lightning
LHP
RS Freshman (draft eligible 2022)
6’3/210
L/L
Cabot, AR
Draft Status: Undrafted

As a true freshman this shortened spring Zack Morris had a 3.18 ERA in 5.2 innings of relief. Summer 2020 was Morris’s opportunity to log innings and bring back experience to Arkansas. In 18.2 innings Morris had a 1-2 record with a 2.41 ERA and 35 strikeouts. As a starter his fastball sat in the 88-93 MPH range and in relief he was 91-93 and touched 95. Morris has a clean delivery with good extension and finishes online. He fills up the zone and threw strikes. The breaking ball has potential and was tight with sharp bite and depth in the 77-83 range. His change up was 80-83 with fade action and good sell with a solid feel for the bottom of the zone. He works quick and efficient on the mound holding his velocity deep into his outings. Morris has top round type potential with two more years of development before he is draft eligible in 2022.

 

11. Ryan Bruno
Stanford University (CA)
Pompano Beach Clippers
LHP
Freshman (draft eligible 2023)
6’4/195
L/L
Wellington, FL
Draft Status: Undrafted

Ryan Bruno was one of the youngest players during the 2020 SFCBL season but that did not hold him back from being successful. Bruno opened some eyes when during the All-Star Game when he touched 97 MPH and sat 94-96. In short stints he gained confidence on the mound. He has a great pitchers frame and broad shoulders with more room to fill out at 6’4/195 pounds. He features a breaking ball which is his out pitch that has bite and depth. Bruno will enter his freshman year at Stanford this fall and has the potential to develop into a top round prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft.

 

12. Nick Toney
Florida Atlantic University (FL)
West Boca Snappers
C
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021)
6’2/210
R/R
Royal Palm Beach, FL
Draft Status: Undrafted

Local FAU product Nick Toney was a defensive force for the West Boca Snappers this summer putting an end to the run game for most teams. Toney has a strong, athletic frame with a Charles Johnson look to him. He receives the ball well with quick feet and has a present plus arm. He has a clean release and has a polished glove. Offensively he has pull side raw power with a short leg kick. In the shortened season this past spring he hit .262 with 3 HR’s and 3 doubles.

 

13. Zack Arnold
Louisiana State University (LA)
Phipps Park Barracudas
SS
RS Freshman (draft eligible 2022)
6’2/200
R/R
Temecula, CA
Draft Status: 34th Rd 2019 BAL

Arnold is a strong framed, athletic short stop out of LSU and had a solid summer while with Phipps Park. He hit .294 with 2 doubles and 3 triples. Arnold has a pretty swing with quick hands through the zone. He has gap to gap type power now with more to come in the future. Defensively he is solid and has smooth, fluid actions with quick footwork. He does have the potential to stay at short stop in the future. His demeanor is calm and confident. He has above average baseball IQ and runs the bases well.

 

14. Christian Scott
University of Florida (FL)
Delray Beach Lightning
RHP
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’4/215
R/R
Coconut Creek, FL
Draft Status: Undrafted
Video:

Christian Scott has been a major part of the Gators staff for the last two seasons seeing significant mound time. As a true freshman he threw 52 innings with a 6-3 record and 44 strikeouts. In the shortened 2020 season he threw 15 innings all in relief striking out 16 batters with a 1.20 ERA. In the summer of 2020, he struck out 15 batters in 8.1 innings. Scott has a long athletic frame with lower body strength. He has a clean balanced delivery and finishes online. His fastball sits in the 88-93 range and topped out at 95 with arm side run and life. He has a feel for his breaking ball with short tight break sitting in the 77-81 range. His changeup showed some fade and depth with finish. Scott has the potential to be a starter at the professional level and will be a major part of the Gators pitching staff during their 2021 campaign.

 

15. Cade Fergus
George Washington University (DC)
Delray Beach Lightning
CF
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’3/195
R/R
Plantation, FL
Draft Status: Undrafted

Cade Fergus was an intriguing player for scouts to watch this summer as he is a toolsy player with high upside. Fergus is a twitchy athlete with a strong, wirey athletic frame. He has good balance and coordination. He’s an athletic defender in center field with some rawness to his skills but is athletic enough to fill above average projection and above average arm strength. He’s an above average runner with a good swing and quick, whippy hands through the zone. He did show some power potential hitting 3 HR’s, 4 triples and 9 doubles. Fergus will need to put up solid numbers this spring in order to boost his draft stock for the 2021 MLB Draft.

 

16. Jermaine Vanheyningen
Florida International University (FL)
Delray Beach Lightning
RHP
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’7/225
R/R
Tampa, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Jermaine Vanheyningen simply has tools that are unteachable as he touched a blistering 102 MPH with his fastball during the 2020 playoffs. His fastball explodes out his hand sitting in the 93-97 range and bumping it up to triple digits at times. Jermaine flashed signs of plus plus stuff at times and improved every outing. Scouts do believe that there is more velo to come as he fills out his frame and gains more experience. He has a plus splitter which has sharp depth and bite in the 85-89 range. His slider is 80-85 with shape and tilt with feel. Mechanically he has a quick, clean arm action and stays online. With continued improvement and control Jermaine has a very high ceiling showing signs of being a top round pick and developing into a Major League reliever.

 

17. Hal Hughes
Rice University (TX)
Florida Pokers
SS RS
Junior (draft eligible 2021)
5’11/178
R/R
Norman, OK
Draft History: Undrafted

Hal Hughes put on one of the best defensive performances the SFCBL has ever seen as he did not make a single error at short stop in 127.1 innings played. The super defender started 105 games for the LSU Tigers in his freshman and sophomore year and will spend his junior year at Rice University. Hal has a secure glove with above average footwork and average Major League arm strength. Florida Pokers Head Coach Ryan Combs had the following to say about Hal. “Hal is without a doubt the best defensive short stop I have ever had the chance to coach. He has the ability to make even the most difficult plays look routine. The pitchers remarked on multiple occasions that it was so nice to know you had that guy playing behind you”.

 

18. Willie Escala
Barry University (FL)
Palm Beach Diamond Ducks
2B
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021)
5’10/185
S/R
Miami, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Escala transferred to Barry from the University of Miami where he started 53 games at second base as a true freshman hitting .280 with 6 doubles and 2 HR’s. He transferred to Barry after his sophomore year and started to switch hit, which equated to him hitting over .300 from both sides of the plate. During the summer Escala hit .352 with 1 double, 1 triple and 1 HR earning him a spot on the SFCBL North Division All-Star roster. Escala has an athletic, medium frame and makes good contact from both sides of the plate. He has gap to gap power now and barrels the ball. Defensively he is versatile in the infield with good instincts but projects out as a 2B at the professional level with average arm strength. He is a slightly above average runner and knows the game well.

 

19. Salo Iza
University of New Orleans (LA)
Pompano Beach Clippers
SS
RS Senior (draft eligible 2021)
6’0/195
R/R
Miami, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

As a junior Iza won the NCAA Division I Gold Glove award with an outstanding .985 fielding percentage in 265 attempts. Iza has quite the history in the SFCBL as he has played in the league every summer of his collegiate career. In the shortened spring season, he hit .306 with 3 doubles, 1 triple and 1 HR. The senior infielder finished the summer hitting .293 with 3 doubles, 1 HR and 9 RBI’s. He has a good swing with solid bat to ball skills and knows how to play the game. He has instincts at every position in the infield and is a reliable defender. Iza is a proven prospect and will make a solid professional infielder.

 

20. Cory Acton
University of Florida (FL)
West Boca Snappers
IF
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’0/200
L/R
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Draft History: 39th Rd 2018 DET
Video:

Acton is a left-handed hitting 2B with strength and a compact, athletic build. He has a calm set up in the box, produces power with a medium leg kick in his swing and loft to path. He looks to impact the baseball and do damage mostly pull side. Can get overly uphill at times and hurts his ability to make contact. Acton is a solid defender at 2B and can work at 3B as well with average hands and first step. He has above average arm strength for 3B and is an average runner. This summer he hit .304 with 3 doubles and 8 RBI’s. His approach at the plate leads to swing and miss which he will need to cut down on to boost his 2021 draft stock.

 

Watch list prospects in no specific order:

 

Justin Alintoff
University of Florida (FL)
Delray Beach Lightning
RHP
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021)
6’2/205
R/R
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Alintoff has put up consistent numbers wherever he has gone. In the shortened spring season at Florida he threw 9.2 innings striking out 13 batters and in the 2019 season he threw 29.1 innings with 24 strikeouts and was 4th in team ERA with a 4.30. Alintoff is a touch and feel right-handed pitcher with the ability to gather multiple swings and misses from his arsenal. He gets a lot of swing and miss on his fastball due to high spin rate and his ability to pound the zone. This summer he sat 88-90 in his outings. In the past we have seen him up to 93. Justin is a bulldog on the mound and pounds the strike zone consistently. He has a sharp breaking ball that has some depth in the mid 70’s and has added a splitty over the summer that has fade and depth.

 

Luis Aviles
Tulane University (LA)
West Boca Snappers
C
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021)
5’11/205
R/R
Miami, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Aviles was a major part of the Tulane offense spring 2020 hitting .394 with 13 RBI’s, 4 doubles and 2 HR’s in 8 starts. Aviles was named the SFCBL’s Defensive Player of the Year during the 2018 season making only 1 error the entire season. Defensively, we project him to be an average to solid catcher at the MLB level with a quick release and solid footwork. Luis blocks the ball well and is quick laterally with a strong arm. At the plate Luis consistently barrels balls and showed off his power during the 2020 All-Star Game bp launching multiple balls over the scoreboard in left center. With his ability to hit, power and plus defensive tools we expect Luis to be a solid prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft.

 

Jalen Townsend
Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)
Pompano Beach Clippers
OF
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
5’9/160
L/L
Oviedo, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Townsend is a plus runner with very good instincts on the base paths and in the outfield. He has a lean athletic frame and gets good jumps on the ball while taking solid routes. Offensively he has a slashy left-handed swing and showed good contact skills. This summer he stole 27 bases and hit .255 with 1 double and 7 RBI’s. With another year before being draft eligible, we see Jalen developing into a quality prospect for the 2021 MLB Draft.

 

Michael Brooks
University of Arkansas (AR)
Palm Beach Diamond Ducks
SS Freshman (draft eligible 2023)
5’11/177
R/R
Wellington, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Brooks was one of the younger players in the league this summer as he enters his freshman year at Arkansas fall 2020. He has a strong, athletic frame and is defensively sound anywhere in the infield. He showed solid instincts and was the everyday short stop for the Ducks this summer hitting .248 with 8 doubles, 2 triples and 12 RBI’s in 112 plate appearances. He has a balanced swing with average bat speed and showed gap to gap power in bp.

 

Sam Faith
Southeastern University (FL)
Boca Raton Blazers
SS
RS Senior (draft eligible 2021)
6’3/215
S/R
St. Charles, IL
Draft History: Undrafted

Faith is a toolsy switch hitting short stop with potential in the bat from both sides of the plate. He has a strong, athletic frame and runs well. He is fundamentally sound enough to play short stop at the professional level but may project out more as a 3B or 2B. Faith did show power hitting 5 HR’s and 7 doubles in 105 at bats this summer finishing with a .232 average. Before the spring was cut short, Faith was hitting .455 with 5 HR’s and 6 doubles.

 

Nolan Schanuel
Florida Atlantic University (FL)
Boynton Beach Buccaneers
1B/OF
Freshman (draft eligible 2023)
6’3/195
L/R
Boynton Beach, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Nolan will enter his freshman year this fall at FAU with high expectations. He hit .269 with 5 doubles and 1 triple in his first taste of college baseball. He has a large, strong frame with an athletic build. He showed a feel for the box and the ability to barrel balls with a chance to hit for power in the future. He has average arm strength and will be an interesting prospect to follow over the next 3 years.

 

Andrew Martinez
Embry-Riddle University (FL)
Palm Beach Diamond Ducks
OF
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021)
6’3/205
L/R
Jupiter, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Martinez has a large, athletic frame with a short, compact left-handed swing. In the shortened spring season, Martinez hit .432 with 7 doubles, 3 triples and 1 HR. In the 2020 summer season, Martinez finished at .381 with 13 doubles, 4 HR’s and 33 RBI’s earning him All-SFCBL 1st Team honors and a spot on the North Division All-Star roster. Martinez was able to find the barrel very easily this summer and used all parts of the field. Defensively he is an average corner outfielder with average arm strength. The hit tool is what scouts like with the potential to hit with more power in the future.

 

Caleb Pendleton
Florida Atlantic University (FL)
Boynton Beach Buccaneers
C
Freshman (draft eligible 2023)
6’2/190
R/R
Jensen Beach, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Pendleton has a long, wirey, athletic frame with plenty of room to fill out. He has defensive upside with value and athleticism behind the plate. He receives and blocks the ball well showing polished defensive skills. He has a plus arm right now and gets rid of the ball well. He has some projection in the bat but will need to develop more consistency and contact skills. We see the bat catching up to his defensive skills as he has 3 more years to develop before he is draft eligible in 2023.

 

Alan Espinal
Vanderbilt University (TN)
Boynton Beach Buccaneers
C Freshman (draft eligible 2023)
6’0/185
R/R
San Juan, PR
Draft History: Undrafted

Espinal is a young and talented catcher that will enter his freshman year this fall 2020. He has a medium, athletic frame with plus arm strength and flashy actions behind the plate. He has a quick release and quick footwork. He finished the summer hitting .286 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR and 7 RBI’s. Offensively he makes hard contact but tends to expand the zone at times. Overall Espinal has tools and another 3 years of development before the 2023 MLB Draft.

 

Freddie Matos
Butler University (IN)
Pompano Beach Clippers
OF
RS Senior (draft eligible 2021)
6’2/205
L/R
Pembroke Pines, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Matos is a proven college hitter who has put numbers up wherever he plays. Freddie will play his senior year at Butler University after spending the last two years at Barry. This spring Freddie hit .368 with 4 doubles, 2 HR’s and 18 RBI’s. In the summer for the Pompano Beach Clippers, Freddie hit .299 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR’s and 19 RBI’s. Matos has a large, athletic frame and shows confidence in the box. He has quick, whippy hands through the zone and flashes pull side power making solid contact early in counts. He is an adequate defender as a corner outfielder with an average arm.

 

Jerry Huntzinger
Seton Hall University (NJ)
Palm Beach Diamond Ducks
C
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021)
6’2/175
R/R
Staten Island, NY
Draft History: Undrafted

Huntzinger has a large, athletic wirey frame with room to fill out. He showed big arm strength and had the best pure arm of any position player in the league. He receives the ball well and his foot work is fringe. Offensively he hit .244 with 2 doubles and 7 RBI’s. He has fringe bat speed but the arm strength tool has value for scouts.

 
Matt Archer
University of Central Florida (FL)
Boca Raton Blazers
IF
RS Freshman (draft eligible 2022)
5’9/180
R/R
Fort Salonga, NY
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Archer was the everyday 3B at UCF this past spring hitting .291 with 1 double and 1 HR in the short spring season. For the Blazers, Archer put up similar numbers hitting .284 with 1 double, 1 triple and 1 HR. He has a small, athletic frame, plays with high energy and has good baseball IQ. Defensively he has a secure glove with good actions and average arm strength projecting out as a 2B. At the plate he has a short compact swing and make consistent contact. Overall he is a hard-nosed player that has the ability to play above his tools.

 

Mitch Hartigan
Florida Atlantic University (FL)
Ft. Lauderdale Knights
OF
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021)
5’11/180
L/R
Jupiter, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Hartigan has been a major offensive player for the FAU Owls the last two seasons putting consistent solid numbers. In 2019 he hit .322 with 6 HR’s and 14 doubles. In 2020 he hit .308 with 5 doubles and 1 HR. Hartigan has an athletic frame and a pretty left-handed swing. He shows confidence in the box and has an approach. Defensively he has an average arm and profiles as a left fielder. Although his numbers this summer were not stellar scouts see value in his bat and swing.

 

Chris Cabrera
University of Dayton (OH)
Pompano Beach Clippers
OF
RS Senior
5’10/200
L/R
Miami, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Cabrera has been a proven college bat and has put up excellent numbers throughout his college career. In spring 2020, Cabrera hit .400 with 5 HR’s, 5 doubles, 1 triple and 31 RBI’s. For the Clippers this summer, he hit .414 and will spend his senior year at the University of Dayton. Cabrera has a thick, compact frame and swings the bat well through the zone. He consistently squares balls up and his bat/swing has some value for scouts.

 
Jeff Manto
Villanova University (PA)
Delray Beach Lightning
C/UTL
RS Junior (draft eligible 2021) 6’1/210
L/R
Bristol, PA
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Manto has a strong athletic frame and flashes a feel for the barrel. As a catcher he is efficient and works well between the knees. His footwork is quick and he has average arm strength with solid accuracy. This past spring he had 2 HR’s in 20 at bats.

 

Juan Teixera
Florida International University (FL)
West Boca Snappers
OF
RS Senior (draft eligible 2021)
6’0/195
R/R
Cooper City, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Spring 2020 was looking to be a breakout year for Texeira as he was hitting .482 with 4 doubles and 2 HR’s in 56 at bats. As late addition for the Sanppers, Juan hit .333 with 1 double and 4 RBI’s in 51 at bats. He has an athletic frame and projects as a corner outfielder with average arm strength. He has quality make up and has some feel for the barrel.

 

Ryan Mclinskey
Seton Hall University (NJ)
Phipps Park Barracudas
RHP
RS Senior (draft eligible 2021)
6’1/195
R/R
Pearl River, NY
Draft History: Undrafted

Senior right-hander Ryan Mclinskey was off to a solid start in the 2020 season making 4 starts with a 2-0 record and 22 strikeouts in 21.1 innings pitched. Ryan’s fastball sits in the 89-93 range and topped out at 94. He showed feel for his breaking ball which had depth and bite to it in the 80-81 range. This summer he put up solid numbers with 1-1 record, 1.63 ERA and struck out 33 batters in 22 innings pitched.

 

Roberto Pena
University of South Florida (FL)
West Boca Snappers
3B
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’2/200
R/R
Caracas, VZ
Draft History: Undrafted

Pena started his career out at the University of Florida, transferred to the College of Central Florida and will now spend his junior season at the University of South Florida. This past spring, Pena hit .330 with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HR’s and 32 RBI’s. The Venezuelan infielder hit .282 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 3 HR’s and 31 RBI’s for the league champion Snappers. Pena has a strong athletic frame and fringe actions in the infield with a solid arm. He has quick hands through the zone and shows power potential with the bat.

 

Braden Forchic
Lynn University (FL)
Delray Beach Lightning
3B
RS Freshman (draft eligible 2022)
6’0/170
L/R
Boca Raton, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Forchic had a breakout year this summer as the freshman infielder hit .346 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR’s and 33 RBI’s. A local product from Boca Raton, Forchic showed a feel for the barrel and made consistent, hard contact. He has a good swing and has some power potential as he fill out his wirey, athletic frame. An average defender in the field, he mostly played 3B and played short stop at times. He has a solid arm and has the potential to develop into a solid prospect over the next several years.

 

Gavin Casas
Vanderbilt University (TN)
Boca Raton Blazers
1B
Freshman (draft eligible 2023)
6’3/225
L/R
Pembroke Pines, FL
Draft History: Undrafted
Video:

Casas will enter his freshman year at Vanderbilt this fall and is the younger brother of Boston Red Sox 1st round pick Triston Casas. Casas has a big frame with power potential and leverage in his swing. He has quick hands through the zone and a pretty swing. His lower half is balanced and showed power in bp. Defensively he profiles out as a 1B and a 50 defender. The power potential has value and it will be interesting to see how his power translates to the game over the next 3 years in the SEC.

 

Matty Warren
South Georgia State (GA)
Delray Beach Lightning
UTL
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
5’9/175
L/R
Lakeland, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Warren is a high energy player with an athletic, strong frame that can be compared to Adam Eaton. Warren has twitchy actions with a plus arm and is an average defender. He’s a versatile player as he was utilized at 2B, 3B, SS and the outfield. He has a quick, compact swing from the left side and has gap to gap type power. Most of the summer he hit over the .300 mark but finished at .250 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 14 RBI’s and 28 walks.

 

Max Rippl
Kent State University (OH)
Pompano Beach Clippers
RHP
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’0/200
R/R
Fort Myers, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Rippl has a medium, athletic frame and resembles a thicker Sergio Romo. He has a quick arm action with arm side run and sat in the 89-93 range and touched 94. He has some flashy feel to the glove side. The breaking ball is a bit slurvy and has ¾ shape in the 72-75 range. Command is overall below average now but he flashed solid command during several outings. He was 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA, had 27 strikeouts and 17 walks in 18.2 innings pitched.

 

Angel Tiburcio
Florida International University (FL)
West Boca Snappers
RHP
RS Sophomore (draft eligible 2021)
6’2/235
R/R
Wellington, FL
Draft History: Undrafted

Tiburcio has a large, strong frame and showed arm strength with his fastball sitting 90-93 with some arm side life. He has a quick compact windup and stays balanced and online. His slider shows potential and got swing and miss in his outings. It has late tilt and sharp break sitting 81-83. At FIU this spring he had 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings.

 
Giovanni DiGiacomo
Louisiana State University (LA)
Florida Pokers
OF Junior (draft eligible 2021)
6’1/172
L/L
Naples, FL
Draft History: 29th Rd 2018 PIT
Video:

Giovanni’s action was limited this summer due to suffering a hand injury while sliding into second base. During his time in the SFCBL, Giovanni hit .256 with 1 HR and 7 RBI’s in 50 plate appearances. At LSU this past spring, he led the Tiger offense with a team best .351 average. He also had 2 doubles and 1 triple. He has a wirey athletic frame and is a 70 runner with a chance to play centerfield at the professional level. He has a solid arm and is a contact type hitter now with gap to gap type power in the future.