2016 State Draft Report: Florida

CROP RATING
	Solid, not spectacular
Rating compares this year’s group to what a state typically produces, not to other states

Outside of Coral Gables and Gainesville, this is a lackluster year for Florida in the draft. Fortunately, Florida and Miami make up for any shortcomings elsewhere with prospect-laden rosters. The Gators, particularly, provide plenty of prospects for scouts to watch, with potential first rounders in A.J. Puk, Buddy Reed and Logan Shore, as well as Peter Alonso, Shaun Anderson and Dane Dunning, who likely won’t have to wait long to hear their names called.

On the high school side, Florida has several high-profile infielders such as Bo Bichette, Luis Curbello and Drew Mendoza, but it lacks the no-doubt shortstop it has produced so often in recent years. In addition, lefthander Jesus Luzardo, the state’s top prep pitcher, was sidelined by injury most of the season. Still, while the state may have fewer elite high school players this year, there will still be plenty of players drafted from the Sunshine State.

 

NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS

BA 500 Scouting Reports

1. A.J. Puk, lhp, Florida (National Rank: 1)
2. Zack Collins, c, Miami (National Rank: 16)
3. Buddy Reed, of, Florida (National Rank: 33)
4. Logan Shore, rhp, Florida (National Rank: 34)
5. Drew Mendoza, ss/3b, Lake Minneola HS, Minneola, Fla. (National Rank: 43)
6. Bo Bichette, 2b/3b, Lakewood HS, St. Petersburg, Fla. (National Rank: 46)
7. Austin Hays, of, Jacksonville (National Rank: 47)
8. Jesus Luzardo, lhp, Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. (National Rank: 50)
9. Cole Ragans, lhp, North Florida Christian HS, Tallahassee, Fla. (National Rank: 55)
10. Dane Dunning, rhp, Florida (National Rank: 60)
11. Braeden Ogle, lhp, Jensen Beach (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 69)
12. Tyler Baum, rhp, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, Fla. (National Rank: 91)
13. Luis Curbelo, ss, Cocoa (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 99)
14. CJ Chatham, ss, Florida Atlantic (National Rank: 101)
15. Carlos Cortes, 2b/of/c, Lake Howell HS, Winter Park, Fla. (National Rank: 128)
16. Peter Alonso, 1b, Florida (National Rank: 139)
17. J.C. Flowers, of/rhp, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville (National Rank: 142)
18. Todd Peterson, rhp, Lake Mary (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 150)
19. Shaun Anderson, rhp, Florida (National Rank: 151)
20. Francisco Thomas, ss/3b, Osceola HS, Kissimmee, Fla. (National Rank: 160)
21. Bryan Garcia, rhp, Miami (National Rank: 161)
22. Chris Rodriguez, rhp, Pace (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 162)
23. Austin Bergner, rhp, Windermere (Fla.) Prep HS (National Rank: 165)
24. Colton Welker, 3b, Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. (National Rank: 168)
25. Keenan Bell, of, Episcopal School, Jacksonville (National Rank: 185)
26. Travis MacGregor, rhp, East Lake HS, Tarpon Springs, Fla. (National Rank: 186)
27. Mike Amditis, c, Boca Raton (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 200)
28. Willie Abreu, of, Miami (National Rank: 207)
29. Andrew Baker, of/lhp, Ridge Community HS, Davenport, Fla. (National Rank: 215)
30. Jake Noll, 2b, Florida Gulf Coast (National Rank: 240)
31. Reynaldo Rivera, of, Chipola (Fla.) JC (National Rank: 270)
32. Austin Franklin, rhp, Paxton (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 278)
33. Jacob Heyward, of, Miami (National Rank: 291)
34. Tommy Eveld, rhp, South Florida (National Rank: 297)
35. Austin Langworthy, of, Williston (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 300)
36. Greg Veliz, rhp, North Broward Prep HS, Coconut Creek, Fla. (National Rank: 304)
37. Tobias Myers, rhp, Winter Haven (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 324)
38. Nick Nelson, rhp, Gulf Coast State (Fla.) JC (National Rank: 325)
39. Scott Moss, lhp, Florida (National Rank: 326)
40. Tyler Dyson, rhp, Braden River HS, Bradenton, Fla. (National Rank: 340)
41. Alek Manoah, rhp, South Dade HS, Homestead, Fla. (National Rank: 349)
42. David Lee, rhp, Santa Fe (Fla.) JC (National Rank: 352)
43. Todd Lott, of, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville (National Rank: 353)
44. Mark Potter, rhp, Melbourne (Fla.) Central Catholic HS (National Rank: 357)
45. Brandon Lawson, rhp, South Florida (National Rank: 362)
46. Danny Zardon, 3b, Nova Southeastern (Fla.) (National Rank: 373)
47. Jake Godfrey, rhp, Northwest Florida JC (National Rank: 387)
48. Deaundre Roberts, rhp, Atlantic Coast HS, Jacksonville (National Rank: 389)
49. Willie Rios, lhp, Florida SouthWestern JC (National Rank: 395)
50. Jarrett Montgomery, rhp, Northwest Florida JC (National Rank: 405)
51. Santiago Espinal, ss, Miami-Dade JC (National Rank: 409)
52. Austin James, ss, Bloomingdale HS, Valrico, Fla. (National Rank: 413)
53. Mitchell Jordan, rhp, Stetson (National Rank: 418)
54. Troy Bacon, rhp, Santa Fe (Fla.) JC (National Rank: 421)
55. Ben Deluzio, of, Florida State (National Rank: 425)
56. Kirby Snead, lhp, Florida (National Rank: 427)
57. Brandon Lopez, ss, Miami (National Rank: 432)
58. Greer Holston, rhp, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (National Rank: 443)
59. Walker Sheller, rhp, Stetson (National Rank: 454)
60. Mason Studstill, rhp, Rockledge (Fla.) HS (National Rank: 455)
62. Edmond Americaan, of, Trinity Christian Academy, Lake Worth, Fla. (National Rank: 458)
63. Herbert Iser, c/1b, Osceola HS, Kissimmee, Fla. (National Rank: 463)
64. Danny Garcia, lhp, Miami (National Rank: 465)

 

OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE

2016 Draft Map

65. Michael Hernandez, c, Nova Southeastern (Fla.)
66. Evan McKendry, rhp, North Broward Prep, Pompano Beach, Fla.
67. Nick Long, rhp, Sarasota (Fla.) HS
68. Casey Scoggins, of, Tampa (Fla.)
69. John Sansone, 3b, Florida State
70. Max Guzman, 1b, Calvary Christian HS
71. Jim Voyles, rhp, Florida State
72. Bryan Baker, rhp, North Florida
73. Tyler Carr, rhp, St. Johns River JC (Fla.)
74. Collin Sullivan, rhp, Fort Pierce (Fla.) Central HS
75. William Durruthy, rhp, Florida International
76. Mack Lemieux, lhp, Palm Beach State (Fla.) CC
77. David McKay, rhp, Florida Atlantic
78. Travis Hostermann, lhp, Hagerty HS, Oviedo, Fla.
79. Robby Howell, rhp, Central Florida
80. J.J. Gould, ss, Jacksonville
81. Chase Cheek, of, Dr. Phillips HS, Orlando
82. Matthew Cronin, lhp, Navarre (Fla.) HS
83. J.J. Bleday, of/lhp, Mosley (Fla.) HS
84. Tyler Myrick, rhp, Lake City (Fla.) HS
85. Christian James, ss/rhp, East Lake HS, Tarpon Springs, Fla.
86. Landon Faulkner, rhp, Chipola JC (Fla.)
87. John Silviano, c, Lynn (Fla.)
88. Dylan O’Connell, lhp, Flanagan HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
89. Camyrn Williams, ss, Gaither HS, Tampa
90. Antonio Velez, lhp, Brandon (Fla.) HS
91. Christian Calleja, lhp, Palm Beach State (Fla.) CC
92. Hunter Tackett, of, Northwest Florida State JC
93. Trevor Holloway, rhp, Venice (Fla.) HS
94. Ed Voyles, rhp, Florida State
95. Handsome Monica, c, Northwest Florida State JC
96. John Sternagle, ss, Florida Tech
97. Scott Dubrule, ss, Venice (Fla.) HS
98. Jack Khawly, 3b, Somerset Academy Charter, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
99. Wood Myers, 2b, Chipola JC (Fla.)
100. Nick Rivera, 1b, Florida Gulf Coast
101. Anthony Gonnella, of, Riverview HS, Sarasota, Fla.
102. Andrew Belcik, rhp, East Lake HS, Tarpon Springs, Fla.
103. Reese Cooley, of, Chipola JC (Fla.)
104. Nelson Alvarez, rhp, Braddock HS, Miami
105. Zach Zientarski, 1b, Boca Raton (Fla.) Community HS
106. Pablo Cedeno, ss, Lyman HS, Longwood, Fla.
107. Clayton Kwiatkowski, lhp, Tampa Jesuit HS
108. Frank Rubio, rhp, Florida
109. Johnny Ruiz, 2b, Miami
110. Rylan Thomas, 3b, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, Fla.
111. Ruben Garcia, rhp, Eastern Florida State
112. Anthony Molina, rhp, West Broward HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
113. Anthony Holubecki, rhp, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

 

ADDITIONAL SCOUTING REPORTS

Michael Hernandez, c, Nova Southeastern (Fla.) – In a strong class for catching, Hernandez is among the most impressive defenders. His feet work well behind the plate and he shows the ability to catch the ball to either side of the plate, and he’s able to block balls in the dirt well. His best tool may be his above-average arm strength and plus accuracy. Hernandez routinely fires strikes to second base, controlling the running game well, though he will need to improve the quickness of his transfer and release as he advances. Hernandez’s bat is not potent–he was arguably the worst hitter in the regular lineup for the NCAA Division II champs, but he shows the ability to hit a line drive to the gap from time to time. His offense will require instruction and projection, but it could eventually be enough for him to carve out a role as a backup.

Mack Lemieux, lhp, Palm Beach State (Fla.) CC – As a lefthander with a powerful arm (up to 94 mph) who throws strikes, Lemieux could intrigue some team later in the draft.

Anthony Molina, rhp, West Broward HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla. – Molina was a showcase star early in his high school career, but his stuff has gotten no better in the three years since.