Junior State Games: South Region Analysis
November 13, 2020
Doug Freeman
Florida Executive Director
The first annual Junior State Games took place October 17-18 at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, FL. The event featured some of the top 2022's in the state representing their region. Day one featured a showcase and two live games. Day two featured four games.
After all the games, the West Region came out victorious as the inaugural Junior State Games Champion.
If you missed our Stats Story, featuring stat leaders and complete statistics on every player in attendance, CLICK HERE.
We also took a look at some of the top uncommitted standouts from the event. To view that story, CLICK HERE.
This week we will start breaking down each player from the Junior State Games. We will break down each player, region by region. We started with the North Region, East Region, and West Region so far. Today, we continue with the South Region. Check out our Player Analysis, featuring complete scouting reports on every player from the South Region.
South Region Analysis
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Nicholas Alonso OF / Belen Jesuit Prep, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: OF - Louisiana Tech, Overall, Alonso has a very high ceiling. There are above average tools across the board and he has started to put them together in game. He will continue to improve, especially offensively as he matures and adds strength as the foundation is there.
Body: 6-foot-1, 150-pounds. Lean, athletic and projectable.
Defense: Athletic defender, with natural instincts and upside.
Arm: RH. OF - 90 mph. Above average arm with carry.
Hit: RHH. Stands tall with a slight rock to create rhythm. Small leg kick trigger and quality separation. Gets into the lower half well and adjusts with the pitch both in his legs and hands. Level swing, some rotational length at times, but hands work and feel to hit.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity. The athleticism and tools really started to translate in game, where he was on time and on the barrel throughout the weekend.
Run: 6.84 runner in the 60. Easy strides, projectable runner.
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Jack Bello 1B / LHP / Cardinal Newman, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/LHP - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot-2, 205-pounds. Stocky, strong throughout.
Defense: Moves well around bag, solid defender.
Arm: LH. INF - 82 mph. Average arm.
Hit: RHH. Slightly wider than shoulder width base. Simple rhythm in hands with small toe lift load and stride. When on time, he gets connected early and from the back side to a firm front side well. Direct, level path through the zone.
Power: 98 mph exit velocity.
Run: 8.16 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Simple, some drop and drive, could benefit from riding down the mound with hip closed longer, but uses strong lower half fairly well and in line.
Arm Action: LH. Arm works fairly clean, gets behind him some but fairly in line with some present arm strength.
FB: T85, 80-84 mph. Some late action when down in the zone.
CB: 71-73 mph. Some depth when extension and on top of it. |
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Jameson Caro OF / 2B / Miami Christian , FL / 2022
Positional Profile: OF/2B - FIU, Caro stands out immediately with an imposing physical frame. He also plays with an energy that is hard to miss as well. With this, he manages to stay within himself offensively and make in at-bat adjustments. He is aggressive with power potential, but also shows ability to hit all types of pitches all over the field. The bat really plays, that with the intangibles he showed over the weekend lead to a very high ceiling, especially offensively.
Body: 6-foot-1, 198-pounds. Very physical and athletic. Strength and twitchiness.
Defense: Athletic, moves well, solid defender.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Average arm, accurate, good release.
Hit: RHH. Wider than shoulder width, simple stride and load, gets separation and simple overall. Direct to the ball and works out in front. Clears hips well and lets above average hands work freely.
Power: 100 mph exit velocity. Has a very strong frame and the power is present. The hit tool though, really stands out. He has adjustability in the swing and keeps the hands back, stays balanced and has innate timing. Worked the entire field and not only is there power potential, but the feel to hit is above average.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60.
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Joey Daniels C / 3B / Steinbrenner, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot, 195-pounds. Strong, stocky frame.
Defense: 1.96-2.01 pop times. Quality receiver and blocker who gets rid of the ball quickly and overall solid defender.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Average arm with carry.
Hit: RHH. Stands tall, knees slightly bent, open stance and works with a leg kick trigger, Really handsy hitter. Quick hands that work direct to the ball. Could use the strong lower half more, but the hands work.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60.
Delivery: In line, could get down the mound more with more extension, but balanced and works with a quiet head.
Arm Action: RH. Full arm swing with a high 3/4 slot, clean and easy.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Armside sink.
CB: 71-75 mph. 11/5 shape. Tumbling action. |
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Positional Profile: OF - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Athletic, lean frame.
Defense: Moves well in the outfield, comes through the ball well.
Arm: RH. Average with some carry.
Hit: RHH. Shoulder width base with weight on the back leg. Simple load with good separation. Works off the back leg, stays in the lower half and works slightly uphill. Some length, but in the zone well and strength plays.
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Ruben Gandarilla 2B / OF / Hialeah Gardens, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: 2B/OF - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-7, 155-pounds. Undersized, but has some strength and athleticism.
Defense: Instinct and twitchy defender, with a quick first step and hands work well.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Quick release, below average arm strength, but plays up.
Hit: RHH. Knees slightly bent and slightly open. Pre-pitch load and separation. Swing is compact, simple, level and direct to the ball.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60.
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Matthew Huembes SS / RHP / Belen Jesuit Prep, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-8, 135-pounds. Smaller frame, lean, with some athleticism
Defense: Works under control with rhythm, hands and feet work soundly.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Some carry, athletic, below average arm strength.
Hit: RHH. Slightly wider than shoulder width setup with heel lift load. Short, compact, level and direct to ball line drive swing.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.
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Griffin Hugus SS / RHP / Wellington, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP - Uncommitted, A true two-way player with potential to do both at the college level. May have more upside on the mound, where the ball jumps out of the hand and the spin is near elite on the breaking ball. But offensively, the bat has true potential as well as he has a lot of present bat speed and lean strength. Overall, present tools play and lot of potential on both sides.
Body: 6-foot-1, 165-pounds. Lean, athletic, long limbs, high waist.
Defense: Athletic defender, super utility, more projectable at third as the hands and arm plays.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. OF - 91 mph. Above average, works quick and clean with life.
Hit: Switch hitter, more upright with some stiffness from the right side and slightly wider, with knees bent and present rhythm from the left side The left side is more advanced. The hands really work free and easy and are able to adjust well. Quick hands with present bat speed and can project well as he adds strength.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity. Switch hitter, the left-handed swing stands out. It is whippy and in the zone a long time. He has some length, but creates bat speed that generates gap to gap power.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Really gets into backside well and drives down the mound. Slightly closed, but chest gets square and gets to extension well.
Arm Action: RH. Arm really works well. Full arm swing, in line to high 3/4 slot, clean quick and more velocity to come.
FB: T87, 83-86 mph. Some late life down in the zone. More velocity to come
CB: 70-73 mph. Really spins it well. One of the best spin rates of the weekend and plays with late depth. |
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Dalton Kuhn C / 3B / Lawton Chiles, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot, 170-pounds. Strong, athletic frame.
Defense: 1.95-2.07 pop times. Athletic frame, quick feet, some stiffness, but athleticism plays well with quick release and solid all around skillset.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Average to slightly above average. Has carry.
Hit: RHH. Stands tall and quiet. Simple shoulder turn load and separation. Level through the zone. More with upper half and could make a stride with power as he uses the lower half more. Had a pair of singles and on the barrel often in BP.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60.
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Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted, A very solid all around player. Worked under control, with confidence both offensively and defensively. A player you feel very comfortable about all around who should have a high floor in the future.
Body: 6-foot, 170-pounds. Strength throughout, athletically built.
Defense: Very solid all around defender. Not super twitchy, but moves confidently and under control. Could play anywhere on infield and overall very sound defender.
Arm: RH. INF - 85 mph. Average and plays up with good release and carry.
Hit: RHH. Quiet, slightly wider than shoulder width setup, gets a really good stretch with leg kick and separation. Gets into slot early, on plane, level with quick hands and present bat speed. Generated a pair of hits on the weekend.
Power: 98 mph exit velocity. A compact and simple swing, he uses the lower half well to generate torque. He is simple and level through the zone and showed a feel to hit.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60.
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Hunter Miller 3B / C / Fort Pierce Central, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/C - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Broad shoulders, room to fill out.
Defense: Solid both at third and catcher. Athleticism plays at both and shows in the above average footwork in both areas.
Arm: RH. Average arm, plays well.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open, upright, knee to knee leg kick load. With hands set lower, he gets really good stretch in separation with front leg and hands. Showed an ability to turn the barrel. Really stays over the back leg well with good rotation while staying compact through the zone. Adjustable plane and really high ceiling swing.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity. Really whippy left-handed swing. Generates above average bat speed and has a frame to add strength. Aggressive through the zone with a chance for above average pull power as he matures.
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Esaid Pena RHP / Miami Christian , FL / 2022
Positional Profile: RHP - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. Long limb with strong lower half.
Delivery: Stays tall and average stride and extension while slightly closed.
Arm Action: RH. Half circle arm action, comes straight back long to short. More to come as he matures.
FB: T83, 81-83 mph. Some downhill action with some late action at times.
CB: 67-70 mph. Average that shows quality shape at times. |
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Zack Robinson RHP / OF / William T. Dwyer, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Long, lean and projectable.
Delivery: Drop and drive, in line and gets down the mound fairly well.
Arm Action: RH. Length in the back and leads to being open at foot strike at times, arm works pretty quick and has upside from 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 82-86 mph. Life downhill when on time, closed at extension.
CB: 70-71 mph. Depth when extended with fingers on top of the ball. |
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Positional Profile: SS/2B - FGCU, An above average all around player with a high ceiling. The athleticism plays more than the 60 and shows up in the range in the middle infield. He is a functional athlete, who should stick at short. Offensively, he has well above average bat speed and overall the tools really project as high end bat at the next level.
Body: 6-foot, 170-pounds. Athletic, with strength and projectable.
Defense: Functional athleticism. Moves athletically with a quick first step, under control and instincts for the ball making several above average plays in gameplay. Can stick in the middle and solid all around defender.
Arm: RH. INF - 90 mph. Above average arm with quick release.
Hit: RHH. Slightly wider than shoulder width with a simple heel lift load while hands get small, simple separation. Shows an ability to turn the barrel, adjust the plane and feel to hit. It is level, but gets into the lower half well, while staying balanced with a high level overall swing.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity. Advanced all around hitter. Bat speed with a balanced and simple approach. He is on plane consistently, with adjustability. Very quick hands and shows feel for the barrel and all around advanced skill set.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60.
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Zachary Root LHP / 1B / Fort Myers , FL / 2022
Positional Profile: LHP/1B - Florida, Very projectable frame and a feel to pitch. Has some potential offensively, but the mound is really where you see the upside. Likely didn't see his best stuff, but the arm action is very clean and easy with a very projectable frame. He also showed his ability to compete and a feel for three potentially above average pitches. The upside is extremely high and is why he is one of the top arms in the state for his class.
Body: 6-foot-1, 163-pounds. Lanky, long, lean strength.
Hit: LHH. Shoulder width to wide separation with hands and front leg. Some length as the separation can be a little long, creates leverage and has present lean strength.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60.
Delivery: Upright, has some lean back in delivery and lands slightly open. Could use the lower half more, but really lets his elite arm do the majority of the work. A very high ceiling with a lot more to come .
Arm Action: LH. Arm gets behind him early, but elite arm talent and working free and clean gets him caught up and out front. The arm is loose and quick with a lot to like in how it works and the overall elite upside.
FB: T87, 82-86 mph. When he gets down the mound and to extension the ball really jumps out of the hand. It always comes out well, but showed much more to come.
CB: 65-69 mph. Depth with above average potential.
CH: 77-80 mph. |
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Yoel Tejeda Jr 1B / RHP / North Broward Prep, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP - Florida, A two-way player and while there is definitely potential on the mound, the offensive profile may have been the best in any class we saw all fall. He has an elite ability to create leverage and bat speed while staying compact and in the zone a long time. There is huge power potential without huge swing and miss. Overall, there is a lot to like in not only how the swing works, but how he approaches his at-bats as well. He was on time and did not miss many pitches he could hit all weekend. Present tools are there with the innate ability to hit and drive the ball.
Body: 6-foot-6, 205-pounds. Large, lean long frame with athleticism and room to fill out.
Defense: Solid defender, athleticism plays around the bag .
Arm: RH. INF - 90 mph. Above average with a lot of carry.
Hit: Switch. Slightly open, knees bent, upper half adjusts well with pitch. Really adjustable swing, balanced and under control. Freddie Freeman-esque with the high back elbow that gets into slot early and a top half that adjusts well for the big frame. He stays compact and still creates a lot of bat speed and leverage. High end bat with top round potential.
Power: 102 mph exit velocity. Has a chance for elite power. Compact, while creating above average torque and bat speed. He has leverage, while also using the lower half well. There is not much to critique as the swing is very advanced and played up all weekend. Will continue to add power as he adds strength to the frame and mature. Very elite hitter.
Delivery: Upright, in line, simple and could get down the mound more, but lets quick arm work.
Arm Action: RH. Simple, half circle, compact, quick and easy.
FB: T90, 86-90 mph. The ball jumps out of the hand, quick arm with late life.
CB: 73-74 mph. |
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Jonathan Xuereb SS / RHP / Calvary Christian Academy, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot, 185-pounds. Stocky, strong throughout.
Defense: Strong arm plays, works under control with trust in solid hands.
Arm: RH. INF - 87 mph. Above average arm with carry.
Hit: RHH. Knees slightly bent and hands preset. Quiet and simple. Simple load and stride. Uses strong lower half to stay balanced and level.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity.
Delivery: Simple, in line, upright, short stride. Could really benefit from more lower half usage.
Arm Action: RH. Arm is short and quick. Gets out in front, half circle arm action, efficient and more to come.
FB: T88, 83-86 mph. Has a lot of life, mainly from pure arm strength. More to come as he utilizes the lower half more.
CB: 72-73 mph. Feel with potential. |
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Bryant Zayas SS / 2B / Miami Christian, FL / 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B - NC State
Body: 6-foot, 175-pounds. Athletic, twitch, strong especially in the lower half.
Defense: Twitchy athlete with high ceiling as a middle infielder. Athletic actions, quick first step, rhythm to and through the ball. Can be almost too quick at times, but very twitchy and athletic with a high ceiling.
Arm: RH. INF - 87 mph. Above average arm with carry.
Hit: RHH. Upright, slightly narrow and leg kick trigger with short, simple load. Upper half adjusts and positions well. Really trusts very quick hands, can get in and out of zone at times quickly, but the above average hand/eye makes up for it as he shows elite level bat speed with strength and overall high ceiling athletic offensive profile.
Power: 97 mph exit velocity. Extremely quick hands. Can get out of the zone quick at times, but when he worked through the ball, it jumps off of the bat. The bat speed and talent in his hands are undeniable. He can continue to access the strength in the lower half and overall has a lot of present tools with even more upside.
Run: 6.59 runner in the 60. Twitchy, quick first step.
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