Commitment Spotlight: Junior Flores
August 11, 2020
Today, We had the pleasure of catching up with 2021 LHP Junior Flores from Mountain Pointe High School. Flores recently made a commitment to the University of Hawaii. Flores was a member of #TEAMARIZONA for the 2019 PBR Future Games. He has been a strong left-handed pitching prospect for quite some time with some of most deception and life on his pitches in the class. He is currently the No. 5 ranked LHP in the state of Arizona with another update coming up soon. Today, He took some time to answer some questions for us about his college recruiting experience.
Valentin Flores Jr
Class of 2021 / LHP
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2021
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Primary Position: LHPSecondary Position: OF
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High School: Mountain PointeState: AZ
- Summer Team: Sandlot
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Height: 5-9Weight: 160lbs
- Bat/Throw: L/L
Statistics
Videos
(7/31/19)
PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?
Flores: It just felt like the perfect fit for me.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Flores: I was committed to Central Arizona, so if I did not find the right fit for Division 1 I was going to attend Central.
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with him?
Flores: They just saw me over film, with this whole COVID situation it was hard for them to make a trip and watch me play.
PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
Flores: Yes definitely, it feels good knowing I can enjoy my senior year without having to worry about the process of being recruited.
PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
Flores: The coaching staff for sure, they made me feel very welcomed and wanted.
PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
Flores: My parents and as well as all my coaches and close friends.
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
Flores: I knew from the start it was going to be difficult, you just got to put in the work and good things will happen.
PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
Flores: The coaches expect me to come in and have immediate impact on helping the team win.
PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
Flores: Probably playing in the Georgia National Tourney last summer with my sandlot team.
PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
Flores: I haven’t really competed against but definitely Two of my former teammates, Carson Tucker and Ethan Long.
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Scouting Report
The athletic 5-foot-9 160 pound low angle lefty showed a better FB than on Thursday, touching 86 and working 81-85 today. He mixes tempos to his delivery and absolutely attacks hitters with his FB. He doesn’t throw many secondary pitches, but did bust out a CH at 71 and a SL at 69. His innings don’t take long – his works fast, throws strikes and forces early count contact.
5’9 160-pound frame. Fastball was up to 83 MPH, from a low ¾ slot. Added angle by throwing slightly across his body. Tons of life to his arm side with sink. Works into front side well, rotating around lead leg to get the most out of his lower half. Sweeping breaking ball was 67-78 MPH, a tough look for lefties and occasionally went backfoot with it to righties. Changeup had dept and quality arm speed at 69-71 MPH.
10/14/18 - 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame. Flores is an intriguing 2-way prospect. On the mound, a low 3/4 arm slot and 80-82 mph fastball generates heavy arm side run and sink. A slightly closed front side help him hide the ball well and creates big angle/deception. Consistently threw sweeping curveball in zone at 65-66 mph. Change-up at 69-71 mph, is still developing and floats out of the hand at times. Profiles as left-on-left reliever at the nexy level. Offensively, shows rhythm and balance in aggressive swing; 85 mph exit velo. Possesses strong forearms and generates impressive bat speed with a short path to the ball. Ran 7.58 60-yard dash that could make Flores more of a pitching prospect or possible 1B/DH who can contribute as a two-way player.