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Updated Florida Class of 2017 Rankings Released

October 6, 2016

By Doug Freeman and Mike Maerz

With the recent release of the PBR Draft 100, there have been some changes to Florida’s Class of 2017 rankings as several seniors have elevated their stock in the last few months. Below is a closer look at the top 5, followed by a list of the top 10. In all, 17 players from Florida made it into the PBR Draft 100 list.

Holding onto the top spot is SS Brady McConnell (Merritt Island HS, FL), who has elevated his game and become one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country. The wiry 6-foot-2, 169-pound Florida recruit is a high-level, quick-twitch athlete with advanced baseball skills and IQ. He generates easy bat speed, takes quality at-bats, and is an advanced defender at shortstop.

Coming in at No. 2 is C MJ Melendez (Westminster Christian HS, FL), who climbed 10 spots from No. 12. Melendez is one of the most impressive defensive catchers in the country, showing flexibility behind the plate, advanced receiving skills and a very strong arm with a quick, clean transfer that produces a pop time as low as 1.89 seconds.  He has quick hands with some present power and a balanced approach from the left side of the plate.

Taking over at the No. 3 spot is 3B/RHP Joe Perez (Archbishop McCarthy HS, FL), who has a strong, athletic body on a 6-foot-2, 208-pound frame. At the plate, Perez has a short, quick step for his load with quick hands. He shows an aggressive approach and good hip rotation with leverage. The Miami recruit possesses some present power and can drive the ball with authority. At third base, his hands are solid and he has plenty of arm strength to make throws from the left side of the infield. He can look like an infielder throwing from the mound, but has sat 90-93 mph, touching 94-95 late in the summer. He has a slight hip turn in his delivery and mixes in a sharp, swing-and-miss slider.

SS Mark Vientos (American Heritage HS, FL) stays at the No. 4 spot as the Miami recruit is a projectable, 6-foot-3 shortstop with plus arm strength and advanced actions. Vientos has an advanced approach at the plate with quick hands and consistently finds the barrel, which has produced multiple line drives into the gaps during game action.

The No. 5 spot belongs to 1B Alejandro Toral (Archbishop McCarthy HS, FL), who has a true presence in the box. He is relaxed at the plate with a good base and rhythm. He gets into a strong hitting position and has an easy swing with an ideal plane through the zone. The ball explodes off his bat and he has proven to be able to drive balls out of the park against some of the top pitching.

Here’s a look at the Top 10:


 Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Brady McConnell FL Merritt Island 2017 SS Florida
2 M.J. Melendez FL Westminster Christian School 2017 C Florida International
3 Joe Perez FL Archbishop McCarthy 2017 3B Miami
4 Mark Vientos FL American Heritage 2017 SS Miami
5 Alex Toral FL Archbishop McCarthy 2017 1B Miami
6 Jake Eder FL Atlantic 2017 LHP Vanderbilt
7 Jeter Downs FL SLAM Charter 2017 SS Miami
8 CJ Van Eyk FL Steinbrenner 2017 RHP Florida State
9 Jack Leftwich FL TNXL Academy 2017 RHP Florida
10 Garrett Hunter Ruth FL Buchholz 2017 RHP Florida

For a complete look at the updated Florida Class of 2017 Rankings, CLICK HERE

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