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Top 10 Stories of 2016 Countdown- No.5 Power Baseball Showcase Standouts

December 27, 2016

By Doug Freeman
Florida Scouting Director 

As we continue the countdown of the Top 10 stories in 2016, the Power Baseball Showcase Standouts article comes in at the fifth spot. 

Led by 7 West Orange High School standouts, the Power Baseball showcase highlighted a lot of quality young talent from the central Florida area. This included Logan Keller who later committed to Alabama and Issac Nunez who later committed to Florida as well as five other players who committed following the event. 

Here is a re-post of that story that ran on Thursday September 29th, 2016

NO. 5 POWER BASEBALL SHOWCASE STANDOUTS

Thu September 29, 2016

By Doug Freeeman
Florida Scouting Director

Over the weekend a newly formed travel team in the west Orlando area called Power baseball ran it’s fall showcase for its 2017-2020 teams. They participated in an indoor facility workout, pro-style workout, sim game and regular games. Over the course of the three days many players, especially the young group, stood out. One of the biggest thing that stood out is that perinial power high schools like West Orange and Lake Brantley have some of the best young up and coming talent in the area. Below are a few notes on the standouts from the weekend.

Cameron Recny, LHP/OF, Lake Minneola HS, FL (2017)
He showed potential on both sides of the ball. The swing path from the left handed hitter works level through the zone and he showed some athleticism. On the mound, he shows a feel for pitching, but if he can gain a tick or two in velocity would be helpful at the next level. He can be an interesting two-way guy at the next level.

Kevin Clanton,3B/RHP, Rockledge HS, FL (2017)
11/13/16- Committed to Newberry College.
The 3B/RHP showed a heavy fastball on the mound at 86-87 mph touching 88 mph over the top and also showed an 81-83 mph fastball from a sidearm slot. Offensively, he shows level quick swing but does not use his lower half. He is very interesting on the mound with late life on the fastball.

Bobby Head, 2B/3B, West Orange HS, FL (2017)
Austin Peay commit has a tall, lean and projectable frame. With a medium leg kick trigger, when he is on time he shows a level path through the zone with gap-to-gap power. He has a lot of potential and as he continues to become more direct to the baseball more consistently and puts on some strength he showed grow into a middle of the order guy with some power.

Sam Koruschak, SS, Haines City HS, FL. (2017)
10/15/16- Committed to Polk State 
The left handed hitting shortstop showed good actions at short with good hands and an average arm. The swing is what will take him to the next level. With a strong lower half, he tended to try to go the other way in batting practice. In the sim game and regular game when he showed a more aggressive approach and got extension in the swing he showed the ability to drive the baseball. Showed average defensive actions at short, but the bat projects and could slide to third and be an above average defender there.

Josh Jano, 1B, McKeel Academy, FL. (2017)
The left handed hitting first basemen has a strong, thick lower half which he utilized well in his swing. He shows some bat speed with a good path and projects to have pull side power.

Carson Schlegel, RHP, East Ridge HS, FL. (2017)
10/26/16- Committed to Lander University.
The right handed pitcher showed a fastball that ranged from 87-88 mph and good depth on the breaking ball.

August Haymaker, MIF, Dr. Phillips HS, FL. (2018)
The athletic, high waisted middle infielder has a very lean and projectable frame. He hits from a wide base and uses a simple load, but still manages to use the lower half well. He has a level path through the zone and a gap-to-gap line drive approach in which he consistently found the barrel. He also showed good actions at short with enough arm strength and good enough footwork to project to stay there. Very interesting going forward.

Carter Dahl, C/OF, Real Life Christian, FL. (2018)
The athletic catcher showed a quick transfer and strong arm with pop times in the 1.9-2.0 range including throws from his knee. Offensively, the right handed hitter needs to clear his hips and get more extension. The is some potential in the bat and the defensive skills play well which will make him interesting.

Garrett Evans, SS, Apopka HS, FL. (2018)
10/18/16- Committed to Florida Atlantic University.
The athletic middle infielder and right handed hitter showed the ability to handle the bat. He has an athletic swing with a level line drive path through the zone. He shows good use of a strong lower half with pull side power potential. Defensively he showed average actions at short and looked solid at second as well. The bat projects well and will be interested to see how he continues to develop in the infield.

Noah Dickerson, OF, West Orange HS, FL. (2018)
The left handed hitting outfielder has a long, lean projectable frame. From the left side he has a lot of pre-swing movement, but showed above average bat speed. He drove a home run pull side in batting practice and drove one off of the wall in the sim game. The is some occasional length, but there is a lot of power potential and has a lot of room to grow and fill out to have even bigger pull power potential.

Aramiz Cruz, OF, Olympia HS, FL. (2018)
The big, strong physical right handed hitting outfielder looks the part. At the plate, there is a lot going on pre-swing. With a big leg kick and a hitch in the load with a lot of barrel movement, he still manages to generate big time bat speed. If he is able to simplify the pre-swing movement and really utilize the big time bat speed he could unlock some big time power. Will be interesting to see how he progresses and adjusts.

Ryan Jean, LHP, West Orange HS, FL. (2018)
The left handed pitcher has a strong athletic frame. From a high ¾ slot he has a clean arm action which produces a fastball that ranges from 80-82 mph. He also showed a sharp 76 mph slider with swing and miss potential.

Cale Newton, RHP, West Orange HS, FL. (2018)
The UCF commit showed a quick arm with late arm side life at 84-86 mph. The slider worked at 73 mph with a good shape to it. He is a bit crossfire, but the arm is quick and will have potential to make a big jump.

Noah Janney, RHP, West Orange HS, FL. (2019)
An athletic and projectable right handed pitcher. He showed a clean and easy arm action with a fastball that ranged from 82-84 mph. He still has a lot of room to grow and fill out and would expect the velocity to make a jump soon.

Evan Siegner, MIF, Lyman HS, FL. (2019)
The athletic and stocky middle infielder was impressive all the way around over the weekend. Defensively he showed above average actions with his footwork and glove and moved really well especially at second base. Offensively, the right handed hitter has a balanced and strong lower half which he utilizes well to create a level path and line drive gap-to-gap swing. Interesting follow as above average offensive second baseman.

Logan Keller, 3B/SS, Lake Brantley HS, FL (2019)
11/12/16- Committed to the University of Alabama.
The high waisted, lean and projectable infielder impressed more and more throughout the weekend. At the plate the right handed hitter is lanky with above average bat speed. After being a little long the first round of batting practice, he made the adjustment and shortened the swing resulting in an impressive second round driving balls from gap to gap with pull side power. Defensively he has an average first step with good hands. The frame and bat to project to put on some strength and be an above average power bat. With that he has enough arm to stay on the left side and most likely eventually sliding to third. Very projectable and a high follow.

Caleb Stallings, RHP/OF, Apopka HS, FL. (2019)
The athletic right handed pitcher showed big potential on the mound. With a quick arm and good feel for pitching. His fastball ranged from 82-84 and curveball ranged from 69-70 with depth. Very interesting arm and will see how he continues to grow.

Isaac Nunez, SS, Lake Brantley HS, FL. (2019)
10/04/16- Committed to the University of Florida.
The physical athletic shortstop showed all around impressive tools. Defensive he has plus defensive actions with good footwork, a quick first step and work confidently and under control to the baseball. His hands also work very well with a plus arm from short. Offensively, he showed an advanced approach with plus speed. He got a little long at times, but shows an advanced feel for the barrel and will continue to get better with more at-bats. He also pitched, showing that strong arm ranging from 86-88 mph. All around very impressive with big time upside at a premier position.

William Sullivan, C/1B, Dr. Phillips HS, FL. (2019)
11/07/16- Committed to Troy University.
Big, strong left handed hitter showed some bat speed and pull side power. He got long at times, but has the potential to have some big power in the future. He was a little stiff defensively, but will be an interesting follow to see how he grows into his body and swing.

Marcus Valle, 3B/RHP, Boone HS, FL. (2020)
Big, strong left handed hitting third basemen showed a lot of potential. He has above average bat speed and already shows pull side power. He also showed solid defensive actions and enough arm to stay at third. Will be an interesting follow going forward.

Carson Montgomery, RHP/OF, West Orange HS, FL. (2020)
The Underclass Games participant was able to throw this weekend and did not disappoint. We saw the athleticism and bat speed offensively last week, but on the mound there is big time potential. With a lot going on in the delivery, he still lands on line and showcases an extremely clean and quick arm. His fastball ranged from 82-84 mph with a sharp slider ranging from 76-78 mph and a 73 mph changeup. The all-around tools are present with a frame to continue to build and grow on. There is a lot to like and will make him one of the top 2020’s in the country.

JoJo Coffey, OF/RHP, West Orange HS, FL. (2020)
Underclass Games participant, he continued to show his athleticism and quick twitch. He has above average defensive actions in the outfield with good routes and a strong and accurate arm. Offensively there is a lot of potential. He shows above average bat speed with a present feel for the barrel. The approach and swing work and as he continues to grow and learn how to utilize his lower half the sky is the limit offensively.

Travis Stapleton, C, Real Life Christian, FL. (2020)
Underclass games participant continued to impress especially defensively. He again showed a consistent 2.05-2.1 pop times that were accurate each and every time. He has a feel for the position with flexibility and strength in his wrist to receive well. Offensively, he shows his bat speed but at time blocks himself off with his lower half. When he learns to fully utilize his lower half, the path and bat speed should translate to gap-to-gap power and more.

 

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