Prep Baseball Report

Updated Florida Class of 2017 Rankings Released



By Doug Freeman and Mike Maerz

As we head into the middle of July and the summer season in full swing, it’s time to release the updated Top 100 rankings for the Class of 2017. Along with several players who have seen their stock rise in the rankings, there is a new No. 1 in the 2017 Florida Rankings.

Taking over the top spot is SS Brady McConnell (Merritt Island HS, FL), who has elevated his game and become one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country. The wiry 6-foot-2, 169-pound Florida recruit is a high-level, quick-twitch athlete with advanced baseball skills and IQ. He generates easy bat speed, takes quality at-bats, and is an advanced defender at shortstop. McConnell’s fluid athleticism was recently evident when he ran a 6.4-second 60-yard dash and got down the line in 4.25 from the right side at the Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C. The top ranked player was named to the 40-man roster at the conclusion of the event.

Behind McConnell, LHP Jake Eder (Atlantic HS, FL) comes in at the No. 2 spot standing at 6-foot-4, 213 pounds with a tall, athletic and projectable frame with strength. He throws out of a 3/4 slot with a fastball that sits 89-92 mph, touching 93. It gets downhill with life and he mixes in a curveball at 70-74 mph with good depth. Eder recently showed well at the Tournament of Stars and will continue to be a high follow draft prospect.

Coming in at the No. 3 spot is 1B Alejandro Toral (Archbishop McCarthy HS, FL). Toral has proven over and over again that he can drive the ball out of the park with a smooth, easy swing from the left side.

Following Toral is SS Mark Vientos (American Heritage HS, FL) in the No. 4 spot. The Miami recruit is a projectable, 6-foot-3 shortstop with plus arm strength, advanced actions, and soft hands. Vientos has an advanced approach, quick hands and consistently finds the barrel.

LHP Logan Allen (University HS, FL) comes in at No. 5. His fastball sits at 87-89 mph, touching 90, and he has a curveball that breaks two planes and has good depth along with an advanced changeup he keeps it down in the zone. Standing at 6-foot, 166 pounds Allen is undersized but he has an advanced feel for pitching and has shown a consistent rise in velocity while continuing to throw all three pitches for strikes. He was also recently named to the 40-man roster at the conclusion of the Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C..

Here's a look at the Top 10:


Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Brady McConnell FL Merritt Island 2017 SS Florida
2 Jake Eder FL Atlantic 2017 LHP Vanderbilt
3 Alex Toral FL Archbishop McCarthy 2017 1B Miami
4 Mark Vientos FL American Heritage 2017 SS Miami
5 Logan Allen FL University 2017 LHP Alabama State
6 CJ Van Eyk FL Steinbrenner 2017 RHP Florida State
7 Jordan Butler FL Alonso 2017 LHP Florida
8 Zach Jackson FL Haines City 2017 C Florida
9 Jack Leftwich FL TNXL Academy 2017 RHP Florida
10 Joe Perez FL Archbishop McCarthy 2017 3B South Florida

Click here to see the entire Top 100.