Fri May 20, 2016
By Justin Burgess
Florida Scouting Director
The inaugural Prep Baseball Report Florida ProCase will take place Saturday, May 21 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. The event serves as an identifier for the professional scouting community and will showcase approximately 30 draft prospects from the state of Florida.
The PBR ProCase is a kickoff to identifying the top prospects in the 2017 class, and even a couple of the top 2018 prospects.
Even though the Super 60 Pro Showcase has been a staple of the Prep Baseball Report’s pro coverage over the last 13 years, it is difficult for the Florida prospects to make it up to Chicago in early February because their seasons have already started by then. The Florida ProCase will add to our pro coverage and give scouts the first look into the 2017 draft class.
This year’s roster is sure to excite with several top players from the PBR Overall Rankings in attendance. LHP Jake Eder (Atlantic HS, FL), a Vanderbilt recruit, will likely be the top prospect at the event as he is ranked third in the state, sixth overall, and is the top-ranked 2017 pitcher Prep Baseball Report's coverage area. The 6-foot-3 lefty has been clocked up to 93 mph and spins an advanced curveball that has good depth and sharpness.
A couple of other highly-ranked prospects that possess some pro-level tools are OF Justin Farmer (Riverview HS, FL), a Florida recruit, and RHP/1B Bryce Hutchinson (Spruce Creek HS, FL), a Kentucky recruit. Farmer is a toolsy, athletic outfielder who has above average speed, arm strength, and some raw power at the plate. Hutchinson has an extra-large frame at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds and he runs his fastball up to 91 mph while showing off impressive power at the plate.
One of the major themes of this event will be the two-way player between shortstop and pitcher. Graham Hoffman (Calvary Christian HS, FL), Cooper Swanson (Canterbury HS, FL) and Freddy Tarnok (Riverview HS, FL) are all highly-touted players who shine on both the mound and in the field. All three of these players have plus arm strength, can really swing the bat, and have the bodies and actions to stay at shortstop. Hoffman is a South Florida recruit and has put on some muscle over the past year, which has translated into some extra power in games. Swanson, a Vanderbilt recruit, can run his fastball up to 90 mph and has been viewed as one of the top shortstop prospects in this class for a while. Tarnok is another South Florida recruit and he shows loose and easy actions all over the field with the ability to run his fastball up to 90 mph as well.
Infielders, Outfielders, and Catchers
Check-In Time: 8:15-8:45 am
-Position Players and Catchers will begin stretching promptly at 9 a.m.
-Once we are stretched, position players will go through a pro style workout beginning with the laser timed 60 yard dash, defensive evaluations and offensive evaluations which will include cage work, BP, and live game action.
Pitchers Only
Check-In Time: 11:15-11:30 am
-Pitchers will throw simulated innings, throwing no more than three outs or 25 pitches. Simulated innings will be played at game speed, innings will only be cut short due to pitch count.
-We anticipate game action to begin at 12pm and end between 2:30-2:45pm
Address
IMG Academy- 5500 34th Street West, Bradenton, FL, 34210.
Here is the full roster for the PBR Florida ProCase:
| Oakley Albinson | RHP | Indian Rocks Christian | FL | 2017 | |
| Austin Bates | C | IMG Academy | FL | 2017 | North Carolina |
| Joshua Crouch | OF/3B | Sebring | FL | 2017 | |
| Jake Eder | LHP | Atlantic | FL | 2017 | Vanderbilt |
| Tim Elko | 3B/1B | Hillsborough | FL | 2017 | Mississippi |
| Willy Escala | SS/OF | South Dade | FL | 2017 | |
| Andrew Eyster | OF | Forest | FL | 2017 | |
| Justin Farmer | OF | Riverview | FL | 2017 | Florida |
| Duncan Hunter | OF | Jesuit | FL | 2017 | |
| Graham Hoffman | SS/RHP | Calvary Christian | FL | 2017 | South Florida |
| Brandon Howlett | 3B/SS | George Jenkins | FL | 2018 | Florida State |
| Bryce Hutchinson | RHP/1B | Spruce Creek | FL | 2017 | Kentucky |
| Levi Kelly | RHP | IMG Academy | FL | 2018 | Louisiana State |
| Greg Lewandoski | SS/2B | Spruce Creek | FL | 2017 | Kent State |
| Drew Martin | RHP | Jesuit | FL | 2017 | |
| Sam McMillan | C | Suwannee | FL | 2017 | Florida |
| Jake Molle | C | University Orange City | FL | 2017 | Central Florida |
| Frank Niemann | C | Lake Mary | FL | 2017 | |
| Gabriel Rivera | OF | Columbus | FL | 2017 | Miami |
| Shane Roberts | RHP | Dwyer | FL | 2017 | South Carolina |
| Cameron Robinson | RHP/OF | University Orange City | FL | 2017 | North Florida |
| Jordan Schulefand | SS/RHP | Pine Crest | FL | 2017 | Richmond |
| Chris Seise | SS | West Orange | FL | 2017 | Central Florida |
| DeAndre Shelton | SS/2B | West Orange | FL | 2017 | Alabama |
| Jason Swan | SS/2B | Atlantic Coast | FL | 2017 | Florida International |
| Cooper Swanson | SS/RHP | Canterbury | FL | 2017 | Vanderbilt |
| Freddy Tarnok | SS/RHP | Riverview | FL | 2017 | South Florida |
| Alex Wiederhold | RHP | Faith Christian Academy | FL | 2017 | South Florida |
| Dalton Wingo | OF/2B | Plant City | FL | 2017 |
