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Preseason Top 25: No. 7 Tampa Jesuit

January 28, 2016

By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

As we get closer to the end of this fourth week of the release of the preseason top 25, every team that gets ranked has higher and higher expectations. Today’s program is certainly no exception as they are nationally recognized and have a decorated history with multiple state championships.

The Jesuit Tigers are in Class 5A and will be looking to make amends on what was a disappointing ending to the 2015 season. Even though they lost some very good seniors to division I schools, they now boast a solid senior class and impressive junior class who have a good chance of leading them to the state tournament.

The Tigers will be recognized by their pitching depth this year and should be able to hold most of their opponents to less than three runs per game. Their ace will most likely be 2016 LHP and Florida State Signee, Clayton Kwiakowski. Kwiakowski actually was out all of the 2015 season while recovering from Tommy John Surgery. The great news for Jesuit is that Kwiakowski had an excellent fall and was running his fastball up to 91 mph by the end of October. After Kwiakowski, 2016 LHP Michael Sandborn will probably be their number two starter. The Vanderbilt Signee was the team’s ace a year ago and pounds the zone with a fastball that sits 86-89 mph and a solid curveball and changeup that he also throws for strikes. Another senior leader for the Tigers will be OF/RHP Nicholas Baldor. The Miami Signee had his 2015 campaign cut short when he broke his hand sliding into home plate, but that did not slow him down in having an excellent summer and fall. Baldor possesses a strong arm that allows him to throw plenty of runners out at third base and home plate and run his fastball up to 90 mph off the mound. At the plate, Baldor has a smooth lefty stroke and has proven to be able to drive the ball to all fields against quality pitching on a consistent basis.

Their junior class, as noted earlier, is a talented group who could have some draft picks next season. RHP Drew Martin stands at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds and fills up the zone with an 87-89 mph fastball that runs, a good changeup that he keeps down in the zone, and a tight slider that he also throws for strikes. Last year, Martin snuck into the number two role on the mound and out-performed expectations. The young man who will be catching this loaded pitching staff is 2017 Garrett Sheppard. The Coastal Carolina commit shows advanced actions all over the field as he throws a consistent 1.9 down to second, has a strong arm, and hits consistent line drives to all fields. In center field, 2017 Duncan Hunter is a raw athlete who stands at 6-foot-3 and can cover ground with long strides. He also possesses loose and easy actions and has a ton of upside. Another arm that adds to this menacing staff is 2017 RHP Luke Drummond. Drummond has a loose arm that runs his fastball up to 88-89 mph and a sharp curveball that is really tough on righties.

Another underclassman who will provide support for the Tigers will be 2018 SS McGuire Weaver. Weaver, who is already committed to Florida State, will be one of the faster players in the Tampa Bay Area as he has been clocked at a 6.4 in the 60 yard dash. We should not be surprised if he ends up hitting in the leadoff spot, consistently getting on base, and scoring dozens of runs for Jesuit.

As for their schedule, they share a district with Jefferson and Robinson. Jefferson is another historic program and will certainly have a competitive team this spring, and Robinson actually lost to Archbishop McCarthy in the state semifinals last season. If the Tigers are able to get out of their district unscathed, then they should be able to make it to the state tournament without too much trouble. Again, their pitching staff should be able to silence just about every opposing lineup they face but their offense will need to provide consistent support if they want win the state championship in 2016.