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Inside The Rankings: 2017 Risers

March 18, 2016

By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

With the recent release of the updated 2017 Florida rankings, we have highlighted the top 10 players and broken down why those prospects are the best in the state. Today we will be taking a step back and looking at the top 100 and emphasize what players have really made a jump and gotten off to a hot start this 2016 season.

Logan Allen, LHP, University HS
Allen was mentioned in the original rankings story because he is the fourth-ranked prospect, but we must highlight him again because he jumped almost 40 spots in three months to where he is now. He has always been extremely polished and had pinpoint control, but he was a skinny, 5-foot-9 left who would touch 84-85 mph on occasion. The variables that have caused him to jump so high are that he has grown to 5-foot-11 and now weighs 170 pounds, his fastball now sits in the 87-89 mph range, and he has the best statistics in the state thus far—0.00 ERA in 20 innings pitched and a 43:2 strikeout-to-walk ration. Overall, Allen has been unhittable for a year now and that does not look like it will change any time soon.

Brady McConnell, SS, Merritt Island HS
The Florida commit has grown a few inches since the summer as he now stands at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds with a lean, loose, live, athletic, and projectable body. He has quick actions all over the field and plus range with a solid average arm at shortstop. He also possesses plus speed as he runs a 4.0 down the line and was clocked at a 4.34 on the turn. At the plate he has a nice swing plane and consistently finds the barrel. He lacks strength right now but that will come as he matures and begins to work out more. McConnell looks like he is shaping up to be an intriguing draft prospect in 2017. All of these factors have helped him jump about a dozen spots to now being ranked 27th in Florida

Tommy Mace, RHP, Sunlake HS
Mace stands at 6-foot-6, 185 pounds with a tall, long, lean, and projectable frame. The Kentucky commit possesses a loose and easy arm action and clean delivery that signifies that he will add more velocity with added strength and weight. Right now he sit 86-89 mph with life and an above average 72-74 mph curveball that breaks two planes. Mace already has a no-hitter under his belt this season and has jumped roughly 30 spots to now being ranked at number 47.

Freddy Tarnok, SS/RHP, Riverview HS
Tarnok is another projectable shortstop in this 2017 class that is loaded with middle infielders. The South Florida commit stands at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds and possesses plus arm strength and an easy stroke from the right side of the plate. It is his arm strength, however, that has caused Tarnok to receive some attention from scouts and climb in the rankings to the number 48 spot. From shortstop he easily throws out runners from deep in the hole and off the mound he sits 87-89 mph and touches 90-91 mph. His velocity and power at the plate will only increase as he fills out and adds some muscle to his lean frame.

Drew Martin, RHP, Jesuit HS
Martin is the only uncommitted player on this list of risers but he should not remain so for long. He stands at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds with a tall, strong, athletic, and projectable body. Martin has jumped from sitting 81-84 mph last year, to now sitting 86-89 mph this year. The most likely reason for this jump in velocity is his added weight and lengthening of his arm action. Martin also possesses an above average curveball that is sharp with a downward break and has good depth at 75-77 mph. Martin is now ranked 52nd in the state and is one of the top remaining uncommitted prospects.