Florida Underclass Games: Class of 2019 Breakdown

October 6, 2017

By Doug Freeman
Florida Scouting Director

The Underclass Games is one of the premier underclass events in the state. Over the last year, there have been 29 commitments from the 2018-2020 classes with 23 of those being to Division I programs. Past events have featured players like Jackson Miller (Wake Forest), Juson Fabian (Florida), Brandon Walker (Florida State), Ryan McCauley (Tennessee) and McGwire Holbrook (West Virginia) to name a few.

This year’s event is filled with talented players from the 2019-2021 classes. Today we break down the players from the class of 2019 in attendance, starting with the top five performers.

Mitchell LeRoy RHP / 1B / Freedom, FL / 2019

Rankings State Rank:47 POS:13 Overall Rank:213 POS:76

At 6-foot-3, 185 pound right handed pitcher has long legs and high waist. He has the prototypical projectable pitcher's frame. He has a short, clean, high 3/4 arm action. He lands in line and is mechanically sound. The fastball worked consistently 87-89 mph with late life and worked downhill. There is a lot to like and as e becomes stronger and continues to learn how to get extension he should make some big jumps. He showed quality shape at 74-75 mph, he got around the pitch quite a bit and would become shaper getting extended with his fingers on top of the baseball. He showed a feel, with good arm speed, of a fading changeup. Striking out four in two innings, he has a feel for pitching with an extremely high upside.

Ray Torres C / 3B / IMG Academy, FL / 2019

Rankings State Rank:4 POS:1 State Rank:14 POS:3 Overall Rank:41 POS:4

LSU recruit . The 5-foot-10, 185 pound catcher has a thick lower half and a lot of present tools. Defensively, he has a high motor and a lot of quick twitch actions. He can get sped up at times, but his hands work well and quick feet with a strong arm, topping out at 81 mph and a 1.94-1.96 pop time. As he continues to log innings behind the plate and slows the game down he will have a chance to be a plus defender. Offensively, the right handed hitter has above average to plus bat speed. He can come out of his strong lower half at times, but is extremely aggressive with present bat to ball skills and a very high upside with above average power potential.

Tanner Mink 2B / RHP / Palm Harbor University, FL / 2019

Rankings State Rank:105 POS:3

The 6-foot, 170 pound infielder has continued to add strength on a high waist, projectable frame. Defensively, the actions really work well and project at third. He is athletic and moves well and has the frame for added strength. He showed enough arm strength to stay on the left side and could be an above average defender at third base. Offensively, he has a big leg kick trigger and gets quality separation. There is some length, but he is aggressive and uses the long levers to create present pull side power with more to come. There is a lot of athleticism with above average power potential in the future.

Jakob Runnels C / OF / Auburndale, FL / 2019

5-foot-10, 190 pound catcher has a square shouldered, stocky frame. Defensively, there is some stiffness and sits somewhat upright. His hands works and has a quick transfer and a strong arm, topping out at 78 mph from behind the plate with 2.0-2.1 pop times that will improve with added flexibility. Offensively, the right handed hitter has present strength and although he took a solid batting practice, he stood out offensively in the game. He consistently found the barrel, turning it well, staying in the zone and had a single and two hard hit outs. The bat should play and as he adds flexibility, he has defensive upside behind the plate.

Luis Ruiz SS / 3B / Brito Miami, FL / 2019

Rankings State Rank:76 POS:20

5-foot-11, 155 pound middle infielder continues to show a lot of potential. Defensively, he moves really well. There is a quality first step and shows plenty of range. He works with rhythm to and through the ball with a lot of trust in his hands, which work very well. Offensively, he has consistently shown above average bat to ball skills. He has no load and creates little separation, but has quick hands and finds the barrel. He will see big benefits if he can get some separation in the load. He had a single in the game, but more impressively stole our bases and shows above average base running ability. There is a lot to like and has a lot of room to grow and become stronger.

Now we take a look at the best of the rest in the class of 2019 from the Underclass Games in no particular order:

Ryan Andrews OF / RHP / Steinbrenner, FL / 2019

The 6-foot-2, 160 pound OF/RHP has a wiry frame with a lot of room to fill out. From the outfield he has a short arm action with low accurate throws with carry topping out at 86 mph. Due to cramps he did not pitch, but the arm works from the outfield and will be interesting to follow to see on the mound. Offensively, he has a high back elbow and some steepness in his path. He creates leverage and had a base in the game. Produced an 86 mph exit velocity. A projectable frame with tools to follow.

Tomas Lozano OF / OF / Leto, FL / 2019

5-foot-9, 155 pound outfielder has some quick twitch, running a 6.92 60 yard dash, the best time of the day. Defensively, he comes through the ball well with accurate throws topping out at 76 mph. Offensively, the right handed hitter has a short simple swing. He has a single in the game and an exit velocity of 82 mph.

Jackson Taylor 1B / 3B / Melbourne Central Catholic , FL / 2019

At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he is has broad shoulders and extremely physical. In the infield, there is some stiffness, but his hands work. He played some third base and made a few athletic plays, but the physicality and athleticism should play well at first. Offensively, he uses a small leg kick trigger and uses his strong lower half well. There is some rotation in the swing, but he has present pull side power and the ball jumped off of the barrel well. He had a single in the game and has a chance to have above average power in the future.

Tucker Fine 2B / SS / Berkeley Prep, FL / 2019

Rankings State Rank:77 POS:1

5-foot-10, 160 pound middle infielder is a solid all-around player. Defensively, he moves well, is sound in the infield and makes all of the routine plays. Offensively, He is aggressive through the zone. He can get rotational and long in batting practice at times, but tends to stay shorter to the ball in game. He has a feel for the barrell and produced a single in the game. There are some tools that project, but will be a solid all-around player at the next level.

Jacob Bluffstone C / 3B / Steinbrenner, FL / 2019

The 5-foot-8, 175 pound infielder has a stocky, square shoulder frame. Offensively, the right handed hitter has a short to negative stride. The hands are quick, but he does not utilize the lower half. There is some barrell feel, but the short stride makes him rotational. Defensively, the hands works. Feet could be sped up some, but has clean transfer and works in line with pop times ranging from 2.1-2.3.

Devin Henwood 1B / 3B / River Ridge, FL / 2019

6-foot-2, 225 pound big bodied first baseman. Offensively, there is present strength. Could clear his backside more, but works uphill with some aggression. There is some length and stiffness, but also shows some pull side power. Had an exit velocity of 88 mph. Defensively, he showed solid defensive actions a first base. Topped out at 65 mph.

Dawson Place 1B / RHP / Sunlake, FL / 2019

The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder played outfield and first base. He showed a lot of present tools and upside with his long and wiry frame. From the outfield, he comes through the ball well and shows a live loose arm and had low accurate throws topping out at 86 mph. He did not pitch on the day, but the arm really works and would be interesting to see on the mound in the future. Offensively, he is a switch hitter and with his long levers creates present power from both sides with an exit velocity of 94 mph, which was the best of anyone on the day. From the right side, he has a wide base with low handset. He shows loose hands, there is no separation and could see improvements with separation and say in the zone longer. There is present power with more to come. From the left side, he is a bit more rational, but gets better separation and level through the zone. He has a RBI single from the left side in the game. There is a lot of tools and a high upside.

Edgar Rodriguez LHP / Doral Academy , FL / 2019

6-foot-3, 195 pound left handed pitcher has a long, len frame and is physically mature. He is extremely mechanically sound, working in line, staying tall over his backside and throws from a high 3/4 slot. The fastball worked 79-81 mph, but is had tilt and he commanded the pitch well to both sides of the plate. He mixed in the occasional curveball at 67-68 mph, but worked primarily off of the fastball. Everything works well and shows above average feel for pitching.