Risers and Newcomers in the Florida 2017 Rankings

August 22, 2015

By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

The recent release of our top 100 2017 Rankings represented players from all over the diamond and all over the state. Many of the names are ones that are familiar to those who keep track of high school baseball and the summer circuit, especially those ranked in the top 25. However, there have been a significant amount of players who have had an outstanding summer and really made a jump in the rankings. Here are the top five players who have really been turning heads at showcases and tournaments throughout the summer:

+ Bubba Sangster, 1B/RHP, Pabolo Academy, 2017
Sangster stands at 5-foot-10, 215 pounds with a strong, stalky body with athleticism. He possesses soft hands at first base with good footwork. He has a long arm action and average arm strength across the diamond. At the plate his hands are low, he gets a good separation, and has a nice swing plane. Bubba stays inside the ball well and the ball explodes off his bat with above average ML power. This summer he has proven to be one of the top power bats in the state as he has shown well in showcases and tournaments. His play attracted many division I schools and he recently committed to the University of South Florida. His bat alone has propelled him into the number nine spot of the 2017 Florida rankings.

+ Bryson Hutchinson, 1B/RHP, Spruce Creek HS, 2017
Bryson Hutchinson, like Sangster, is one of the top power bats in the state. The Kentucky commit stands at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds with an extra-large, thick, strong, and tall frame. He gets a good separation for his load and has good leverage in his swing. Bryson transfers his weight well and has above average ML power. He shows a loose, over the top arm from first base with an above average ML arm across the diamond. Hutchinson’s size, ability to consistently 400-foot home runs in batting practice, and a swing that transfers to the game has caused him to jump to the number 15 spot in the 2017 rankings.

+ DeAndre Shelton, 2B/SS, West Orange HS, 2017
DeAndre Shelton is a well-rounded player and young man. This summer he has shown his ability to hit from both sides of the plate against quality pitching and make all the routine plays up the middle. At our Florida Underclass Games, Shelton showed very good actions at shortstop with an average ML arm across the diamond. He has good defensive instincts with plenty of range and very good fielding mechanics. DeAndre reads the ball well off the bat, takes good angles, and possesses soft hands while fielding through the ball well. Shelton has shown that he can play shortstop and that he’s not just a second baseman. His play throughout the summer and his ability to stand out at the Florida Underclass Games propelled him into the number 37 spot of the rankings.

+ Clemente Inclan, 3B/P, The Bolles School, 2017
A player who has attended both the Florida Top Prospect Games and Florida Underclass Games and really stood out at both events is Clemente Inclan. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds with a strong, thick, and athletic body, Clemente has the frame and actions that attract division I schools. At the plate he is quiet, relaxed, and gets a small separation for his load. He possesses an easy swing with a nice plane and good bat speed. The ball really jumps off his bat and he has average ML power already. On the mound he has an easy delivery with a loose, high ¾ arm action from the left side (ambidextrous). His fastball was 77-81 mph, curveball was 67-71 mph, and his changeup was 71-73 mph. His tools, along with his ability to perform in the game, have catapulted him into the number 43 spot in the rankings.

+ Chris Williams, SS/OF/RHP, St. Petersburg Catholic, 2017
At 6-foot-1, 170 pounds Williams has a lean, athletic, and projectable body with strength. He is an above average ML runner (saw him run a 6.8) and possesses a loose, quick arm from all over the field. He has an average to above average ML arm from the outfield with good carry and an above average ML arm across the diamond. Chris has average hands in the infield and is athletic enough to play SS now but will likely end up in the outfield. At the plate he is open and gets a good separation and hand trigger for his load. He possesses good bat speed, a nice swing plane, and the ball jumps off his bat. From the mound he sits 85-87 mph without using much lower half. Chris has a sharp 11/5 curveball at 67-70 mph and also showed a solid changeup at 75-76 mph with good arm speed and the same spin as his fastball. Williams shows raw talent with tools and may turn into a 2017 draft prospect. He recently showed well at his Suncoast Select tryout and propelled himself from unranked to number 66 in the 2017 Florida rankings.

Risers and Newcomers in the Florida 2017 Rankings

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