By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

With the fall season getting ready to begin, we have updated and expanded the Class of 2018 player rankings in Florida. With only one year of high school baseball under their belts, this class has been nothing short of impressive over the last year. It seems that the talent is getting better and better every year, as many of these young men are making the transition to advanced baseball seem easy.

The updated list of the Top 75 players features sophomores with highly advanced tools, pitchers who already run their fastballs up into the low 90s, and hitters who blast 400-foot home runs with wood.

Not surprisingly, 13 of the top 20 players are already verbally committed to Division I schools and, as usual, these Florida rankings will have a major impact on the national scale.

Starting at the top, the No. 1 spot is currently held by a projectable and athletic outfielder who exploded onto the scene with an outstanding freshman season and very strong summer. OF/LHP Connor Scott (Plant HS) seemed to rise to the occasion this year when he fluctuated between the top three spots in the lineup for the historic Tampa program that attracted scouts and press to almost all of their games because of their two first-round picks (Kyle Tucker and Jacob Woodford). Scott, already standing at 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, made playing against juniors and seniors seem extraordinarily easy. He shows long, loose strides with good speed, a loose arm with a strong, accurate arm from the outfield, and gap power with an easy swing that will produce power as he gets older and stronger. The University of Florida commit can also run his fastball up to 86-87 mph from the left side on the mound. Overall, Scott will be a fun prospect to watch develop over the next few years.

Following Scott at No. 2 is LSU commit Levi Kelly. Kelly, a right-hander who recently moved to IMG Academy from West Virginia, is not only the top pitcher in Florida, but he is one of the top arms in the country. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he has a strong and mature frame that gives him the ability to throw a 90 mph fastball with a sharp mid-70s curveball. The addition of Kelly to this already talented group of players will really set Florida apart from almost every other state in the country.

The No. 3-ranked player in Florida is a talented left-handed hitting shortstop from Jacksonville who already is committed to Florida State. Alec Sanchez (Providence HS) may very well be the best hitter in the 2018 class at this point. At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Sanchez possesses a lean, athletic, and projectable body with strength. He has soft hands in the field with quick, light feet and a short, loose arm action with carry across the diamond. He shows good rhythm at the plate and has a leg kick for his stride. Sanchez, despite having such a big leg kick at a young age, shows excellent balance, timing, and pitch recognition that really sets him apart from the rest of the players.

Ranked No. 4 in Florida, RHP Lyon Richardson (Jensen Beach HS) is the top uncommitted prospect. The highly athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pounder helped lead USA Baseball’s 15U team to a world championship. A two-way talent, Richardson can run his fastball up to 92 with it seems more in the tank.

Enough reading about it. See for yourself. Here’s a look at the top 10 players in Florida from this deeply talented 2018 class:

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Connor Scott	FL	Plant	2018	OF	Florida
2	Levi Kelly	FL	IMG Academy	2018	RHP	Louisiana State
3	Alec Sanchez	FL	Providence	2018	SS	Florida State
4	Lyon Richardson	FL	Jensen Beach	2018	RHP
5	Jonathan Gates	FL	Nature Coast Tech	2018	LHP
6	David Luethje	FL	Vero Beach	2018	RHP
7	Doug Nikhazy	FL	West Orange	2018	LHP	Mississippi
8	Christian Robinson	FL	Viera	2018	OF	Florida
9	Kristofer Armstrong	FL	Benjamin	2018	RHP
10	Chase Sanguinetti	FL	Tampa Prep	2018	1B	Florida State

CLICK HERE to view complete Top 75 2018 Rankings