By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

Last week we released the 2016 Florida rankings and a few major changes were highlighted by the top tier players on that list. We are well into the season and some of these prospects have really stepped up their game as we creep closer to the draft in June. But enough about the class of 2016, it is now time to release the updated Top 100 rankings for the Class of 2017.

Like 2016, the top three players in 2017 have remained the same. 1B Alejandro Toral is one of the best pure hitters in the country and a true power bat that already looks like a future first-round selection. Not to put too much pressure on the young man, but some scouts have compared Toral to Adrian Gonzalez. Toral has proven over and over again that he can drive top-level pitching out of any ballpark.

After Toral is Flanagan HS standout Mark Vientos. The Miami commit is a projectable 6-foot-3 shortstop who possesses the arm strength and glove to stay at that position for a long time. In a class that is loaded with shortstops, Vientosstands slightly above the rest because of the combination of his size, arm strength, and power.

Behind the two position players, LHP Jake Eder comes in at the No. 3 spot. As you might recall, Eder burst onto the scene in the fall when showed up out of nowhere in Jupiter and was touching 93 mph with a plus curveball. The 6-foot-4 lefty has not even thrown a pitch for Atlantic HS this spring but he is scheduled to start throwing next month. Whenever he does make his first start, do not be surprised if dozens of scouts are in attendance to see if he is still the top 2017 arm in Florida.

The No. 4 and 5 spots in the rankings are very interesting for similar reasons. The fourth-ranked player has jumped up about 40 spots on the list and the fifth-ranked player was not even in the rankings at all three months ago.

LHP Logan Allen made a name for himself last postseason when he shut down nationally ranked Olympia HS and led University HS to a state championship game. The Alabama State commit was an undersized wiry lefty who threw about 84 mph and had two advanced off speed pitches he could throw for strikes in whatever count he wanted. Fast forward to present day where Allen is now 5-foot-11, 170 pounds and is sitting 87-89 mph with a plus curveball and changeup and has the same control he has always had. Some still may still question his frame, but his numbers speak themselves as he boasts a 0.00 ERA in 20 innings pitched anda 43:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Allen should also continue to add velocity and improve as he gains weight and matures. Any time Allen takes the mound, all he does is carve up hitters.

OF Christian Robinson comes in at No. 5. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he has moved up from the class of 2018 and reclassified as a 2017 graduate. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder has been committed to Florida since his freshman year and he is potential future five-tool player. He already possesses three above-average tools as his speed, arm strength, and power are well beyond his years. Look for Robinson to continue to make tremendous strides over the next few years as he has an extremely high ceiling.

A look at the Top 10:

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Alejandro Toral	FL	Archbishop McCarthy	2017	1B	Miami
2	Mark Vientos	FL	Flanagan	2017	SS	Miami
3	Jake Eder	FL	Atlantic	2017	LHP
4	Logan Allen	FL	University	2017	LHP	Alabama State
5	Christian Robinson	FL	Viera	2017	OF	Florida
6	Freddy Zamora	FL	Miami Killian	2017	SS	Miami
7	Jordan Butler	FL	Alonso	2017	LHP	Florida
8	Francis Villaman	FL	Olympia	2017	SS	Florida State
9	Robert Touron	FL	Gulliver Prep	2017	RHP	Miami
10	Joseph Perez	FL	Archbishop McCarthy	2017	3B	South Florida

 
>> CLICK HERE for Complete Top 100 Florida 2017 Rankings