2023 Preseason Classic: Day 1 Recap
February 14, 2023
The 2023 PBR FL Preseason Classic kicked off Monday, February 13th at Lawnwood Sports Complex in Fort Pierce, FL. The event started with a matchup of Elite Squad Baseball Academy vs Miami Springs at 4:00 and JW Mitchell vs TNXL Academy at 7:00.
Game 1
Game one of the 2023 Preseason Classic featured two South Florida teams facing off in ESB Academy vs Miami Springs. Two Miami recruits faced off on the bump with RHP Jordan Vargas for Miami Springs going up against LHP Alex Valentin for ESB.
Vargas was up to 92 early in the first, striking out two with a walk before leaving the game early. FSU recruit David Davila came in and went four innings allowing one run with four strikeouts.
‘23 Jordan Vargas (FL) comes out grabbing some swings & misses on 89-92 (2300+) from a lower slot/lower release height.
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 13, 2023
Landed 82 CH (1st pitch?) along w/ developing feel for SL (82).
Long 6’5” frame || @CanesBaseball #MLBDraft#FLPreseasonClassic || @PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/qc5piSKw2O
On the other side, Valentin got up to 93 mph in four shutout innings of work. The score was tied until the 5th inning when Elite Squad got on the board first. Ignacio Salaverria would single in the 5th and later come around to score to give ESB a 1-0 lead.
Alex Valentin ‘23 (FL)@EliteSquad @CanesBaseball Recruit
— Cayden Hatcher (@C_Hatcher_PBR) February 14, 2023
6’0” 220 lbs.
Intriguing look w/ mound presence and feel to pitch. FB ticked up to 93 w/ feel for an abv avg CH.
4 shutout IP.
FB: 89-92 T93 (2402)
CB: 75-79
CH: 80-82#PBRPreseasonClassic || @PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/lJ7kgkyGUJ
In the bottom of the 6th, Miami Springs would get on the board and take a 2-1 lead. Ivan Membrano would single and Gio Cutino would double to start a Springs rally. Both would score to give Miami Springs the lead.
Tack on another knock for Cutino. This time a double to the opposite field ??@PBRFlorida https://t.co/k2Op8R36y2 pic.twitter.com/umznv7ZpQ6
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 13, 2023
With two men on in the 7th, Miami recruit Daniel Cuvet would come up clutch with a two RBI single giving Elite Squad the lead back. Chipola recruit Zaid Diaz would follow with a sac fly giving them a 4-2 lead.
‘23 Daniel Cuvet (FL) didn’t let a slow day impact his approach late, & comes up with a big 2-run single to give @EliteSquad the lead in the 7th.
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 13, 2023
Simplified here before delivering a firm single. #MLBDraft || #PBRPreseasonClassic@PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/K2SaetCo5u
Cuvet would come into pitch to close out the 7th. He worked a scoreless inning running the fastball up to 92 mph and would earn the save. ESB Academy would take Game 1 4-2 over Miami Springs.
Game 2
The nightcap on Monday featured JW Mitchell taking on TNXL Academy. FSU recruit Trevor Harrison got the start for Mitchell. The right-hander ran his fastball up to 94 mph. He would go three innings allowing one run with seven strikeouts.
Trevor Harrison ‘23 (FL)@JWMitchellBase2 @FSUBaseball Recruit
— Cayden Hatcher (@C_Hatcher_PBR) February 14, 2023
6’3” 225 lbs.
??
Hard work is evident as Harrison continues to make big strides getting the FB up to 94 ?
7 K’s in 3 IP.
FB: 91-94 (2446)
SLV: 70-74
CH: 76-79#PBRPreseasonClassic || @PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/KAIjA3kIub
On the other side, NWFS recruit Sam Schafer got the start for TNXL. He sat 87-89 and threw four shutout innings with seven strikeouts.
Sam Schafer ‘23@TNXLAcademy @NWFRaiders_BSB Recruit
— Cayden Hatcher (@C_Hatcher_PBR) February 14, 2023
Schafer turned in a quality outing w/ 8 K’s over 4 IP w/ sinking action on the FB paired short breaking SL at 2500+
FB: 86-89
SL: 77-79 (2517)
CH: 77-79#PBRPreseasonClassic || @PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/AYuEw782pZ
TNXL scored early as FSU commit Jack Lines would walk then score in the first. Uncommitted Cullen McConathy pitched in relief for TNXL going three shutout innings with seven strikeouts. He ran his fastball up to 84 mph.
Cullen McConathy ‘23@TNXLAcademy @PBR_Uncommitted
— Cayden Hatcher (@C_Hatcher_PBR) February 14, 2023
6’0” 155 lbs.
Dominant performance from the #Uncommitted southpaw out of the pen w/ no hits over 3 IP w/ 7 K’s.
FB: 83-84
CB: 69-70
CH: 78-80#PBRPreseasonClassic || @PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/KTl4fw7POQ
TNXL would add a second run in the 6th on a bases loaded walk. In the 7th, FGCU recruit Charles Davalan launched a triple to right center driving in a run to give TNXL a 3-0 lead.
TNXL Academy would go on to defeat Mitchell 3-0 in Game 2 of the Preseason Classic.
Follow us on Twitter @PBRFlorida for all the coverage of the 2023 FL Preseason Classic.