PBR Florida Preseason Classic Day 3

TNXL 6 vx George Jenkins 3

On the final day of the Preseason Classic, George Jenkins matched up against TNXL Academy in game one and Jensen Beach matched up against Eau Gallie in the second game. Due to Jensen Beach and Eau Gallie deceing to hit in the cage, we had the opportunity to see a few of the top hitters in the state hit again all in the same group. Brady Allen, Brandon Howlett, Jake Herbert and Brandy Sundean hit for George Jenkins while Elijah Cabell, Miguel Soto, Chris Verovoordt and Noah Dickerson hit for TNXL. Howlett and Cabell are both ranked in the top 10 in Florida for 2018 and the bat is the main reason why. Howlett shows and advanced, gap to gap approach with consistent hard contact and seemingly drove ball out from gap-to-gap on command. Cabell was equally as impressive, but n a slightly different manner. He has plus bat speed and is more aggressive to loft and to the pull side. The ball really jumps off of his barrel as well and flashes plus power potential. Allen, who has a very physical frame, showed his pure raw strength during batting practice. While Soto continues to impress and improve offensively. There is a easines to the bat speed and power continues to come.

As for the game, these impressive offensive players struggled to get anything to hit as the teams combined for 10 walks while also hitting three batters. Jake Herbert did get into one in the sixth, staying more compact and showing his easy pull power with a ball driven out to left field for a two run home run. Allen may have had two of the harder hit ball, albeit foul, before drawing back to back walks. Howlett would reach on an error, hit-by-pitch, fly out to the catcher before nearly tying the game up with an opposite field home run in the seventh that ultimately fell just short of the wall in right-center.

TNXL’s big bats would struggle to get anything to hit as well. Cabell would finish 0-2 with two walks after skying a fly ball to center in his first at-bat. Hylan Hall would put a nail  in the 6-3 win with a big, no doubt, home run to left.

+2018 OF/LHP Brady Allen (George Jenkins HS)
South Carolina recruit.  As mentioned, Allen is a very physical bodied player. He has a lot of present strength and uses that strength well in his swing. He had two hard hit balls foul and showed power in batting practice. The velocity was a bit down on the mound, but overall he is going to be a very impactful two-way player at the next level.

+2018 3B Brandon Howlett (George Jenkins HS)
Florida State recruit. Howlett has an advanced approach at the plate with present power and hit tools. The results didn’t come as they did in game one, but the talent is clearly there. He moves well enough at third to project to stay there and what he shows with the bat is above average hit and power tools that should play at the professional level.

+2019 C Jake Herbert (George Jenkins HS)
Florida recruit. The big bodied catcher showed a little more mobility and flexibility behind the plate on day two. He has strong hands and solid receiving skills. His in game pop times ranged from 1.96-2.15. He has made some adjustments to his hand set and load, but when he is on time and compact he has real power, and that showed up in the home run in the sixth.

+2021 INF/RHP Dom Scavone (TNXL)
Uncommitted. The freshman barrel up yet another baseball for a hit during the game while also drawing a walk finishing 1-2. He has also been intriguing on the mound and will continue to be a high follow for the 2021 class.

+2019 RHP/OF Hylan Hall (TNXL)
Florida recruit. Hall showed his quick arm and potential on the mound in their first game and showed his offensive potential in this one. Going 1-2 with a home run and a stolen base he looks extremely comfortable offensively. He has above average bat speed with quick hands and a compact swing. Will continue to be a very high follow and potential 2019 draft.

+2018 INF Gabriel Ferrer (TNXL)
The strong bodied third baseman pinch hit late in the game and came in with authority. He has present strength and it shows in the swing. The is some swing and miss but the power is there and will be a quality late corner bat addition. 

Eau Gallie 6 Jensen Beach 6

In the final game of the Preseason Classic, the true preseason work started to show up some for both teams. The teams combined for six errors, but competed to work around most of them to finish with a 6-6 tie. In a tournament led by the big arms, it is almost fitting that both Carter Stewart and Lyon Richardson also led their respective teams offensively. Stewart finished the day 3-4 with a double and an RBI while Richardson went 1-2 with a two-run home run in the first. Following up RIchardson’s home run in the first was freshman William Hagen for Eau Gallie with a three-run home run in the second. The offenses would mostly stall until a few errors in the bottom of the seventh allowed the tying run to score, but in a hard fought game, a few other players stood out as well.

+2019 SS Kyle Abbott (Jensen Beach)
Uncommitted. The athletic frame shortstop made an early error on a tough play, but overall moved well and showed solid actions at short. He also wen 2-4 with an RBI and shows a short, level, line drive swing and overall athletic actions.

+2020 C Caleb Pendleton (Jensen Beach)
Uncommitted. The athletic, projectable catcher may have been one of the most eye opening surprises of the entire event. Uncommitted, he shows plus future defensive tools behind the plate. Back-picking a runner at second once, and what should’ve been twice, he shows a feel for the game with a strong arm. He also showed exceptional blocking and receiving skills. His pop times ranged from 1.9-2.1 with carry. Offensively, the swing works. It is level and projects well with strength. He wen 1-2 on the day and would expect a lot of schools to be heavy on him in the near future.

+ 2019 3B Samuel Teter (Eau Gallie)
Uncommitted. The strong third baseman has some present athleticism and quick twitch. He was 1-4 with a double on the day and will be a player to follow.

+2020 RHP/SS Trey Jackson (Eau Gallie)
Uncommitted. While he did not have the velocity we saw earlier in the month, you can see the potential. He is extremely athletic and the arm works. He will be a two-way player to follow and schools will surely do so as well.

+ 2021 1B William Hagen (Eau Gallie)
Uncommitted. The only freshman to start for Eau Gallie and you can see why. He moved well a first, making a nice diving play early. He has a big, strong frame that will continue to lean out with age. He showed power potential driving the home run out to left-center. He will be a young bat with power potential to follow.