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Preseason Top 25 Preview: No. 24 Somerset Academy

January 17, 2017

By Doug Freeman
Florida Scouting Director 

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Danny Gleaves
                 SS Jose Varela

Team: Somerset Academy
Preseason Rank: 24
2016 Record: 24-5
FHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Onel Garcia
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Semifinal
Returning Starters: 2


TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Jose Varela, SS, 2017 (St. Johns River CC)
Juan Jose Teixeira, RHP, 2018 (Florida International)
Miguel Useche, C, 2019 (Florida International)
Ryan Cabarcas, LHP, 2019
Jordan Carrion, SS/RHP, 2020 (Florida)

X-FACTOR
Youth Movement. Four of the Panthers top players going into the season are underclassman with minimal varsity experience. Led by incoming freshman Jordan Carrion, the Florida recruit has plus defensive tools, a solid bat and potential on the mound to be a big impact player at a young age. Teixeira and Cabarcas will look to anchor the pitching staff, both having the ability to do so. If the youth can live up to the potential, the Panthers could be set or another deep playoff run. 

KEY PLAYERS LOST
LHP Mark Bejar (Broward CC)
OF Jack Khawly (Broward)
OF Juan Francisco Teixeria (Miami) 
RHP Brandon Valentin (Miami)

OUTLOOK
Somerset is coming off a very solid year, being one of the top teams in the state for the majority of the year. Coming off a run to the Regional Semifinals, the Panthers are losing 4 of their top five hitters from last year as well as  Bejar and Valentin who started a combined 25 of the teams 29 games. They do return senior SS Jose Varela who batted .329 with 20 RBIs and 3 home runs who they will look to anchor a young offense. Surronding Varela in the lineup will be a group of young position players led by Miguel Useche and Jordan Carrion. Both already committed to Division I colleges, the tools are there to produce at a high level, but Useche only had 4 at-bats last season while Carrion is an incoming freshman. If both players can continue to build off of strong a summer and fall against high level travel competition, they should step right in an contribute for Somerset. On the mound, the panthers will look to LHP  Ryan Cabarcas, RHP Juan Jose Teixeira and RHP Jordan Carrion. Carbacas and  Teixeira combined for a total of 32.2 IP in  14 combined appearances and will lead the way. Although inexperienced at the varsity level, both players have proven themselves to be front of the rotation type players throughout the summer and fall. Carrion, the freshman Florida commit, has also been up to 88 with an above average breaking ball and will undoubtedly be a big factor in the teams success this year. 

Make sure to follow @pbrflorida on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the season.

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