Prep Baseball Report

2018 Florida Trials: Corner Infielder Breakdown


Doug Freeman
Florida Scouting Director

Saturday, July 14, the University of Central Florida in Orlando hosted PBR’s Florida Trials. This event was open to all high school graduating classes (2019 to 2022) and served as an integral identifier for upcoming high-profile, invite-only events, like All-State Games and Future Games, as well as Preseason All-State and the national Super 60 showcase.

Over the course of the next week we will break down each and every player in attendance. We have announced the Future Games and All State Games Invites, and will announce top standouts following all of the positional breakdowns. Today, we take a look at the corner infielders in attendance, in no particular order:

Christian Soto 3B / 1B / CPCA, FL / 2022

Currently stands at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds with an athletic frame and strong lower half. His all around actions were impressive. He has a strong lower half and hope to see it stay lean as he matures. Shows advanced defensive action with above average hands. Offensively, he is advanced for his age. He is balanced and uses his strong lower half well. Clearing his back side there is present bat speed and barrel awareness Translated to a hard line drive single into right field during gameplay. Overall, he shows a lot of all around potential in the present tools and will be a high follow to see how they progress as he matures.


William Hagen 1B / RHP / Eau Gallie, FL / 2021

Big, strong frame standing at 6-foot, 210 pounds. Creates hard, solid contact on the ball and registered the top exit velocity of 88 mph in the cage. Has a small leg kick trigger and overall simple, compact swing. Generates power from a strong lower half, especially showed pull side power.  Drove a ball down the right field line during game play for an RBI single. Defensively, he moves well at first. Hands and feet work well together. Overall, the bat has real power potential to follow.


Jimmy Thies 3B / SS / St. Thomas Aquinas, FL / 2021

Athletic, projectable frame standing at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds with room to fill out. Offensively, he has a toe tap trigger, but the lower half tends to get in a quality position. He has some length and steepness at times, but clears the backside well and has present leverage and bat speed, so there is power potential. Exit velocity was 86 mph and had a single in the game. Defensively, he moves under control, but with rhythm. His hands and feet work well together and show above average defensive tools. All around, has upside with the projection.  


Avery Thomas 3B / SS / Coral Springs, FL / 2020

Uncommitted. Currently stands at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with a long, athletic frame. Offensively, the right handed hitter is somewhat stiff and upright, creating some rotational action in the swing. The hands are quick and level through the zone though and shows present bat speed. Defensively, he shows athletic actions with the hands and feet synced up. He funnels the ball and shows sound hands to go with the rangy atheticism.