Francisco Lindor. Kyle Tucker. Triston Casas. Riley Greene. Zac Veen.
There’s one thing that all of that elite talent has in common. That is being a Florida high school draft pick, and all being first round draft picks as well.
Last year we saw Andrew Painter and Jay Allen both go in the first 30 picks, and in the past 10 years, Florida high schools have produced 19 first round picks and there has even been at least one first rounder every year since 2002, and a majority has come from the hitting side of things.
It’s not just first rounders either. Florida has been a hotbed for producing elite bats throughout the MLB draft tracker and D1 rosters year in and year out, and 2022 is set to continue that trend.
This upcoming draft class hailing from the Sunshine State could potentially have the most overall upside in recent memory. A group that at the top has an outfielder with multiple 70 grade tools and a trio of arms that all currently grade out to 1st round picks. Then you add an extremely high upside ambidextrous pitcher along with multiple quality catching prospects following behind, and it starts to become a real interesting.
The talent doesn’t end there though, which is why I’m here to give you a full run down on a deep group of names that litter our Prospects Live Top 300 and beyond and who you need to know going into the spring season. Which I also might add starts in just over a month with the PBR Florida Preseason classic, which will feature a lot of names mentioned today.
First things first, we jump into the hitting side of things with the top prep bats in the state.
(Ranking in the current Prospects Live Top 300 for the 2022 MLB Draft; https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/29/2022-mlb-draft-top-300-prospects)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elijah Green (#3)
IMG Academy
Green might single-handedly be the most famous prep player on the planet for the last 24 or so months, but when your profile starts with present 70 grade run and raw power tools, it makes sense.
The NFL bloodlines make complete sense for Elijah Green who stands with an extremely physical 6’3”, 225lb. frame that resembles a prime Calvin Johnson more than anything else, and somehow still shows some projection.
A veteran on the showcase circuit, the Miami commit flexed his big-time juice throughout this past summer hitting more home runs than anyone (5) across Perfect Game events and slugged north of .600 against quality competition, plus leading U18 USA Baseball in every power category. Hit tool overall is still a main topic of discussion going into this spring due to still expanding out of the zone frequently leading to higher whiff numbers. That being said, Green presents an extremely short swing that uses minimal load and creates a ton of impact and lift off the barrel, and very rarely misses a mistake in the zone.
There’s clear superstar potential in the bat when he puts it together, and a strong spring for powerhouse IMG academy will only solidify his potential as a top 5 pick in July.
Brady Neal (#95)
IMG Academy
Another product of IMG Academy finds its way into our overall Top 100 with LSU commit Brady Neal.
Neal, who just like the previous name on this list has reclassified from the 2023 class and instantly became one of the top catching prospects in the class, as well as the youngest. Neal presents one of the best combinations of approach and hit tool with a compact left handed swing that shows advanced barrel control and ability to create lift without expanding his zone. Posted some of the lowest K and Chase% rates among some of the best bats in the country this summer in an extended sample.
Behind the plate, there’s very few glaring holes in Brady Neal’s game. Above-average abilities to block and receive, and athletic while moving in the crouch. Pop times are near plus with a cannon that shows consistent accuracy to the bases.
There’s a lot to love long term with Neal behind the dish as there’s polish in all facets of his game. It’s becoming real hard to not see the comparisons between Neal and Ole Miss C Hayden Dunhurst, who could be a top 50 pick this upcoming July.
OF Jordan Taylor (#102)
St. John’s Country Day
One of the best table setters in the entire draft class, and there’s still nothing enough people talking about Jordan Taylor.
A linear, line drive approach with elite bat-to-ball skills allows Taylor to show off 6.2 speed regularly, and top of the class bat speed suggests there’s a chance at plus raw power at the next level. Elite actions in the outfield with a great first step and ability to cover ground behind good routes. Easy to see an impact center fielder ceiling when Taylor puts it all together.
The Florida State commit will be north of 19 and a half at draft day, but the type of polish that Taylor brings on both sides of the ball combined with an extremely athletic frame could force a team to overlook an age.
3B/1B Sal Stewart (#103)
Westminster Christian
A long time standout on the showcase circuit and one of the best hit/power combos in the state, Sal Stewart is poised to be one of the top corner infielders in the 2022 class.
Stewart offers a highly advanced approach at the plate that allows himself to find impact throughout the entire zone with a short, right handed swing. Extremely quick hands through the zone and plus bat speed allow the Vandy commit to show power to all fields, with a ridiculous 17 HR in 123 PA last year for Westminster and there’s even more to come as his XL frame matures.
Defensively, Stewart has the arm strength and footwork to play the hot corner, but a move to first base long term could enhance his chances at an above-average glove while allowing his bat to thrive even more.
OF Roman Anthony (#114)
Stoneman Douglas
An anchor of the defending 7A State Champion and one of the best teams in the entire country, Roman Anthony is what they look like when talking about a prototype corner outfielder.
Standing a athletic, projectable 6’3”, 200lbs with tons of room for growth remaining. Anthony showcases above-average to plus run and arm strength tools with the ability to currently play across the outfield but really shines at the plate.
Top-tier bat speed and effortless ability to create loft from the left side allows the Ole Miss commit to tap into plus pull-side juice with regularity, and it could even be double plus raw power. Anthony hit one of the biggest home runs of the summer, sending a ball 451ft and 105 mph off the bat while playing the MLB High School All-American Game.
Stoneman Douglas has yet another stacked roster heading into the 2022 season, and Roman Anthony can can be the key to another state championship while strengthening his draft stock.
Ethan Petry (#126)
Cypress Creek
After manning the hot corner all summer for the eventual 2021 World Wood Bat champion, Ostingers Baseball Academy, Ethan Petry has emerged as one of the best corner infielders in the state.
A hulking 6’5”, 220lb. frame that has plenty of present strength, but shows massive projection throughout with broad shoulders and long levers. Petry shows above-average bat speed that allows him to produce near elite exit velocities and tap into big in-game juice consistently. The future Gamecocks commit has some sneaky athleticism for his frame and plus arm strength to stick at third base long term.
Ethan Petry will be a freshly turned 18-year-old at the time of the 2022 MLB Draft and presents some of the highest upside for any prep third baseman in the draft. If Petry can have a strong spring season then he could be a name that we see flying up boards heading into the summer.
JeanPierre Ortiz (#160)
IMG Academy
If you’re looking for maybe the best infield hands in the entire class then look no further than IMG Academy’s brand new shortstop, JP Ortiz.
A recent transfer from the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico, Ortiz makes playing short almost look effortless. Fluid and athletic when moving in all directions with textbook ability to bend and transfer weight. Easy, plus arm strength across the diamond with consistent carry and accuracy from multiple arm angles. Ortiz will look in control on every type of play, from routine to spectacular.
At the plate, Ortiz uses an aggressive, line drive approach that shows elite bat speed, and could translate into above-average pop with some overall refinement. There’s a ton of upside to unlock as he continues to grow into his wiry 6’0”, 165lb. frame.
Overall the addition of one of the only plus shortstop gloves in the prep class is a welcome sight to the powerhouse that is IMG.
Luke Heyman (#168)
Lake Brantley
Coming off of a Perfect Game All-American Game MVP and impressive power showing throughout the summer, Luke Heyman has solidified himself as one of the best power hitters in the state.
Heyman and his plus raw power showed up in huge spots this summer with big home runs from the high school playoffs, to Perfect Game National and finished it off with a laser shot in the All-American Game off of top tier velocity. An aggressive approach at the plate, the Florida commit shows huge bat speed while creating leverage at the point of attack, and therefore sets himself up for big power production. There is some swing and miss to his game, but the impact is there offensively.
With the glove, Heyman is maxed out behind the plate with 6’3”, 205lb. frame but moves extremely well and showcases some of the best arm strength in the prep class. He is explosive out of the crouch and athletic enough to keep his frame behind the plate long term.
Between Heyman and Brady Neal, the top tier of the Florida prep catching class look poised for a huge upcoming spring.
SS Marek Houston (#191)
Venice Senior
This future Demon Deacon is another mainstay from the 2021 WWBA champion, Ostingers Academy and one of the more sound infielders in the state.
Marek Houston has been a steady mover up boards throughout 2021 by showing off an impressive hit tool that works gap-to-gap and even started to show a look into future all fields juice. Houston offers an ultra projectable, athletic 6’3” frame that will likely add a ton of natural strength as he matures, as he’s going to be 17 for most of the Spring season.
Houston profiles really anywhere on the dirt with the arm strength to play across the field and smooth footwork to stick up the middle.
There's a few similarities between Houston and 2021 Tampa Bay 1st rounder Carson Williams, and coming off a WWBA MVP and championship only makes the comparison a bit more spicy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Others to know
SS/3B Cameron Smith, Palm Beach Central (#220)
A big-time showing with the bat this summer really put the Florida State commit on the map, showcasing impressive hands at the plate and above-average pull side power. Big, physical frame that should continue to add strength as he matures.
SS/2B Blake Cyr, Windermere (#242)
Energetic, quick-twitch infielder who shows the arm strength and advanced footwork to stick up the middle long term. Bat presents a ton of upside with above-average bat speed and ability to attack balls out front with consistent lift. Miami commit.
1B/LHP Yoel Tejada Jr., North Broward Prep (#286)
Standing a lanky 6’7” with long levers and a ton of room to grow into, Tejada Jr. is a switch hitter who has a surprisingly compact swing from both sides of the plate. Impressive barrel control to all fields and shows above-average to plus power potential from the left side of the plate.
C Jaxson West, Lawson Chiles (#300)
West has the ability to be a big riser in rankings this Spring. Elite bat and hand speed that will stand up to anyone in the case, and you pair that with a compact left handed swing that shows some present plus pull-side power. Creates a ton of lift on impact. Really sound actions behind the plate with some of the best pop times in the state.
2B Colby Shelton, Bloomingdale
An Alabama commit who is a bat-first middle infielder who will likely profile better at second base long term. Professional approach at the plate that shows barrel control to all fields as a left handed hitter. Hit over power currently, but could grow into at least above average raw power.
OF Chris Stanfield, Lawson Chiles
One of the more overlooked players in a National sense, but Stanfield presents a ton of upside in centerfield long term. Easy plus arm strength and run tools with an elite foot speed. Above average bat speed stands out at the plate, with a line drive swing that fits his game extremely well.
OF Deamez Ross, Eau Gallie
Spark plug outfielder with above-average speed and quality hit tool that plays well from the left side of the plate. Has some sneaky juice off the bat that plays really well in the gaps with his athleticism. The Florida State commit is known to change games with his defense and base running.
1B/OF Jayden Hylton, Palm Beach Gardens
A Stetson commit who could have the most projectable frame in the state. Hylton stands a lean 6’6” with broad shoulders and already showing above-average raw power. Presently a near plus runner who could really strengthen his profile by showing some corner outfield potential this spring.
Extended Follows
OF Nathan Fink, IMG Academy
2B Matt Rose, Calvary Christian
SS Titan Kamaka, West Orange
2B Bryant Zayas, Miami Christian
SS Greg Pettay, The First Academy
OF AJ Nessler, Jesuit
2B/SS Alvin “Tre” Keels, IMG Academy