Prep Baseball Report

Sophomore State Games: South Region Analysis


Doug Freeman
Florida Executive Director

The inaugural Sophomore State Games took place October 31 - November 1 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, FL. The event featured some of the top 2023's in the state competing for regional bragging rights. Day one featured two showcase workouts and two live games. Day two featured four games.

After a dominant three wins, the West Region are your Sophomore State Games Champions.

If you missed our Stats Story, featuring all the statistics from the event, CLICK HERE. Last week we began our Player Analysis from the Sophomore State Games. We will break down every player in attendance region by region. So far, we have broken down the NorthEast, and West Regions. Today, we continue with the South Region. Check out complete scouting reports on every player from the South Region at the Sophomore State Games. 

South Region Analysis

Mauricio Bejarano SS / 2B / Monarch, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted, Very advanced defender who really stood out. A switch hitter, right handed will really improve as he matures and adds strength, but left handed has a chance to be a hitterish side as the approach and swing overall are further along. A lot of overall upside.
Body: 5-foot-10, 130-pounds. A bit undersized, wiry, athletic with some projection.
Defense: Advanced defender for his class. Moves confidently, with a decisive, quick first step. Rhythm to and through the ball and showed potential to stick at short long term.
Arm: RH. INF - 75 mph. Average arm, but gets rid of the ball quickly and on time in workout but really showed up in game.
Hit: Switch. Switch hitter, looks more natural from the left side. Right handed, he has a simple load and really pushed into the back side. Left handed, he has a more rhythmic load and separation. Gets through the ball well and transfers weight on the back side.  Right handed, path tends to be cut off at times. Hands work and has some present bat speed, but will see jumps as he works through the ball. Left handed is more hitterish. Loose hands and more balanced through the ball while staying connected.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity. Some feel to hit, a little raw now offensively, but plenty of upside.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60.  

Justin Breitenstein 1B / RHP / Estero, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: 1B/RHP - Uncommitted, Projectable frame two way player. The frame and tools have some upside offensively, but on the mound he showed one of the tougher sinkers and a lot of room for upside and growth.
Body: 6-foot-5, 215-pounds. Big, long. XL frame with room to grow.
Defense: Sound defender.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Above average arm with upside.
Hit: LHH. Stands tall, short stride and load. Works tall, very handsy and out front.  Some steepness in the path, but does get leverage from frame, hands swing that attacks out front.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity.
Run: 8.42 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Stands tall and stride could use lower half more. Arm works free and easy. Very projectable.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, easy 3/4 arm action
FB: T83, 80-83 mph. A lot of late arm side life and sink. Consistently getting ground balls, played heavy and late
CH: 76-78 mph. 

Blake Busbee OF / SS / North Fort Myers , FL / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/SS - Uncommitted, Bat is a potential carrying tool. Above average bat speed. Tools translated in game where he was on time consistently and especially aggressive from the left side.
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Athletic, lean with room to add strength.
Defense: Solid defender who likely projects in corner outfield.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Average arm that was accurate and had some carry.
Hit: Switch. Switch hitter with both sides showing potential. Right handed is upright with small leg kick and quiet load while left handed has more of a knee to knee load and shoulder turn.  More aggressive left handed where he really fires the hips and clears them well. Working slightly uphill with above average bat speed. Right handed is more compact, level, line drive swing.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity. Has a chance to be an above average hitter from both sides with gap power especially from the left side.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60.  

Zaid Diaz OF / LHP / Archbishop McCarthy, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/LHP - Uncommitted, Competition with a passion for the game. The hit tool is top of class type talent. He has an advanced approach with potential plus tools. A lot to like how it all comes together in game.
Body: 5-foot-10, 187-pounds. Stocky, a lot of strength in the lower half.
Defense: Solid defender, versatile.
Arm: LH. INF - 86 mph. OF - 89 mph. Above average arm with carry and quick release
Hit: LHH. Knees slightly bent, bat on shoulder, simple, but quality load. Gets into and utilizes lower half well.  One of the more advanced swings in attendance. Really balanced and innate timing. Clears back side, but shows adjustability in the hands and natural feel to hit.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity. True hit tool, may be a future 60/70 type hit tool. Power to come, especially with strong lower half.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Simple, compact  athletic
Arm Action: LH. Clean, half circle arm stroke with quick arm.
FB: T86, 82-85 mph. Played with life through the zone.
CB: 67-72 mph.
CH: 71-73 mph. Above average, throws with confidence, late diving action. 

Ayden Elixson 1B / OF / Union County, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: LHP/1B - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot-3, 165-pounds. Long, lanky, high waisted and projectable.
Defense: Sound defender.
Arm: LH. INF - 72 mph. Average arm, but has upside.
Hit: LHH. Wide base, no stride, long load to fire. Some lengths with long lanky frame, creates leverage and stays in the zone well, but will continue to improve as he becomes more compact with maturity and strength.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Knees bent, big leg lift, lands slightly closed with some deception. Will see jumps as he matures and adds strength and learns to translate the strength in the lower half.
Arm Action: LH. Very compact short arm action, pushes at times, but comes from a tough low 3/4 slot
FB: T75, 72-75 mph. Some late arm side run. Threw strikes and located down in the zone well.
CB: 69-71 mph. 

Cayden Freels C / 3B / Stoneman Douglas, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: C/3B - Uncommitted
Body: 6-foot-2, 188-pounds. Lean, long and room to fill out.
Defense: 2.09-2.25 pop times.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Above average arm with quality release.
Hit: RHH. Stands tall, small leg kick trigger. Compact, but could benefit from getting into the lower half more and cheating the back side to get on plane earlier. Shows some present bat speed.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.  

Jason Lashley SS / 2B / Park Vista, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Stocky, athletic with strength in the lower half.
Defense: Stays tall, short strides, under control and trusts his hands. Showed sound defensive ability all weekend.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Average, accurate arm.
Hit: Switch. Tall, slightly open and a knee to knee load, full length separation, some length and rotation in load. Quick hands, a little long at times, but when on time worked with above average bat speed out front. As he matures and adds strength and simplifies the swing he could make some jumps with the present bat speed.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60.  

Matthew Lashley SS / 2B / Park Vista , FL / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted, Very sound all around player, bat is one to follow as has a chance to hit at a fairly high level.
Body: 5-foot-10, 166-pounds. Stocky, athletic with strength in the lower half.
Defense: Works from the ground up, under control, confident through the ball.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Average arm with some carry.
Hit: Switch. Stands tall, toe tap load, laid back barrel load and creates torque with the lower half.  In his slot and in the zone early, stays in the zone and through the ball. On plane and shows present bat speed that played in game.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity. Feel to hit with above average torque and bat speed. Hit tool projects well.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60.  

Wesley Loveless 2B / RHP / Providence, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: 2B/RHP - Uncommitted
Body: 5-foot-10, 176-pounds. Average, athletic frame.
Defense: Much more fluid in game, has some stiffness, but works through the ball and sound hands.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. Accurate throws in game and workout.
Hit: RHH. Knees bent, stride and separation load, Somewhat rotational with the top half, level through the zone
Power: 88 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Simple, in line, repeated well.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, threw strikes.
FB: T75, 72-75 mph.
CB: 62-66 mph. 

Dillon Moquin OF / RHP / Stoneman Douglas, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/RHP - Uncommitted, Young, athletic left handed hitter who has a lot of present tools, especially offensively, The swing will continue to mature, but the foundation is there for above average power with solid feel to hit.
Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Carries strength in the lower half, upper half has room to mature and add strength.
Defense: Solid outfielder, tracked balls well, projects in the corner outfield
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Above average arm with some carry.
Hit: LHH. Stands tall, leg kick trigger, got into more of a stride in game and into a strong, balanced lower half.  Works inside out and showed the ability to drive the ball the other way in gameplay. Has present bat speed and strength with more to come as he matures.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity. Present power to the opposite field and as he matures and learns to pull the ball, should show above average power to all fields.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Stands tall, fairly simple, could use the lower half more effectively to drive down the mound and use the strength in the lower half.
Arm Action: RH. Fairly compact, comes straight back to slight offline, works quick and potential as he matures and learns to sync everything together.
FB: T84, 79-82 mph. Some late life when gets to extension
CB: 67 mph. Some feel to spin with depth
CH: 73-78 mph. Depth and fade.

Robert Nedry SS / 2B / Westminster Academy, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/2B - Uncommitted, Athletic and projectable all around, the swing stood out more so in gameplay, which bodes well for the future. Defensively, he looked the part on the left side of the field and made plays with athleticism and rhythm.
Body: 6-foot-1, 165-pounds. Long, lanky and projectable.
Defense: Above average, versatile defender who played third, short and second and looked comfortable at all three. Moves athletically and with confidence and has a natural feel.
Arm: RH. INF - 85 mph. Above average arm and quick release.
Hit: LHH. Tall setup, especially in BP, but more adjustable posture in game, also gets more stride in the lower half to a better base in game. Knee to knee load and small shoulder turn to get into athletic position.  Hands work freely and adjusted well, has a feel for the barrel and path adjusts well with pitch. Overall, the hands work freely and stays level through the ball.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity. Loose hands and quality posture lended to him being on time and competitive offensively all weekend. Also lends to a fairly high ceiling as he incorporates strength as he matures.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60.  

Pavlos Piperakis OF / LHP / St. Thomas Aquinas, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/LHP - Uncommitted, An athletic and projectable two-way player. The bat has a lot of upside as the swing is very efficient with the chance to hit for power with strength. On the mound, the arm really works and will also make some big jumps.
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Athletic, lean, frame appears prime for growth as he matures.
Defense: Athletic mover and solid all around defender.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Above average, loose and live arm.
Hit: LHH. Tall, slightly open, knees slightly bent, small leg kick and shoulder turn separation. Quiet and adjustable with the upper half, hands work freely and present bat speed with leverage.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity. Long arms, but gets compact and adjusts well. Creates bat speed with leverage and has a lot of upside.
Run: 7.05 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Tall, in line, uses lower half and will see jumps as that improves.
Arm Action: LH. Loose, easy, live 3/4 arm action with a lot of potential.
FB: T83, 79-83 mph. Life out of the hand with much more to come.
SL: 66-71 mph. Sweeping slider that has some late action at times.  

Marc Quarrie OF / Riviera Prep, FL / 2023

Positional Profile: OF/C - Very strong young man with a lot of tools that are still developing. They show up more naturally in game and with the compact, simple swing and athleticism, he should grow into power in the future.
Body: 6-foot, 180-pounds. Athletic, strength throughout and very projectable to add strength as he matures.
Defense: Solid in the outfield. Really like the potential behind the plate with the strength and athleticism that plays well there.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Slightly above average average with more to come.
Hit: RHH. Slightly wider than shoulder width, knees bent, athletic, simple quiet load. Compact, level and direct to the ball. Stays connected well and will grow into the strength
Power: 92 mph exit velocity. Really strong frame and showed flashes of the power potential as he learns to sync everything together consistently.
Run: 7.04 runner in the 60. 

Dylan Radtke 3B / RHP / North Broward Prep , FL / 2023

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP - Uncommitted, Very competitive young man who really showed well on the mound and his ability to compete.
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Average, athletic with some projection.
Defense: Sound defender.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Average arm with some carry.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, small leg kick and small hand load.  Compact swing that works out front consistently.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Simple, in line and stays square to home well down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, half circle, clean arm action.
FB: T82, 77-81 mph. Showed some downhill plane at times with some life.
CB: 63-66 mph.
CH: 73-76 mph. 

 

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