Florida Diamond Club 2016: Team West (Royals) Breakdown
October 18, 2016
By Doug Freeman and Mike Maerz
Lakeland, FL- The Florida Diamond Club takes place each year the weekend before the Jupiter tournament and consists mostly of the top draft prospects for the 2017 class in the state of Florida and Puerto Rico.
Diamond Club is a three day event that consists of four teams. Each team goes through a pro-style workout, BP and two 10 inning games over the course of the three days at Historic Henley Field.
Over the next two days we will go team by team with reports on nearly every player in attendance this year. Today we will breakdown Team West (Royals) who were led by RHP Connor Churchill (East Lake HS, FL) and 3B/1B Tim Elko (Hillsborough HS, FL)
Churchill, a Florida recruit, showed a loose and easy arm action from a crossfire delivery. He has late life on the fastball that ranged from 90-91 mph, which he consistently located down in the zone to both sides of the plate. What really stood out about him is the slider. It has tight spin with a late, hard sweeping action to it ranging from 79-81 mph and leading to three strikeouts in his two innings of work.
Elko, a Mississippi recruit, continued to do what he has done all summer and fall to this point, which is show an advanced approach and the ability to handle the best arms in the state. He tends to stay to the opposite field, which held true this weekend with a double and single both to right field. He has shown the power potential as well and as he continues to grow as a hitter he will begin to drive the ball to the pull side projecting to be a middle of the order guy at the next level.
Check out below for the full report on both Churchill and Elko along with the remaining Royals teammates.