Prep Baseball Report

2021 Florida Preseason Classic: Thursday Highlights


Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

VERO BEACH, FL--On Thursday at the Florida Preseason Classic, the 2022 class took center stage with two highly ranked southpaws facing off, but it was OF Elijah Green (IMG Academy, FL) who shined the brightest.

The No. 1 junior in the country, Green teed off for two big blasts. His first home run was yanked to left field at 97 mph off the bat while his second was launched to left center at a blistering 109 mph, carrying 433 feet. He has tremendous strength throughout his frame and his hands are lightning quick, generating plus bat speed.

OF James Wood (IMG Academy, FL), who showed off easy plus-plus raw power in batting practice, had a home run of his own, taking a breaking ball away to the opposite field for a two-run shot. Wood is super relaxed in the box, patiently waiting for one pitch to annihilate. The swing is very loose and handsy, allowing him to use the whole field with ease.

While IMG vs. American Heritage turned out to be a home run derby, LHP Brandon Barriera (American Heritage HS, FL) and LHP Jackson Ferris (IMG Academy, FL) still flashed electric stuff. A Vanderbilt recruit, Barriera was 92-95 with his fastball and snapped off several sharp sliders at 79-81. Ferris, a Mississippi recruit, sat 90-94.

In the nightcap, SS Edwin Arroyo (Central Pointe Christian HS, FL) and OF Jay Allen (John Carroll Catholic HS, FL) joined the home run parade. Arroyo launched a towering shot to right-center field while Allen hit an absolute rocket to straightaway left that was 106 off the bat.

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