Who's Next: Florida 2027s
February 19, 2025
If the performance of the sophomore class at the Kickoff Classic in Florida serves as any indication, college coaches and professional scouts are in for a thrilling two years in the Sunshine State. The 2027 class made their presence felt with undeniable upside, showcasing a blend of raw talent and high-level potential that will have recruiters circling Florida for the foreseeable future. While development is still very much in progress, the foundation these young players have laid down is nothing short of exciting. Throughout the week, a dynamic group of shortstops grabbed the spotlight, with their athleticism and baseball IQ on full display. But they weren’t alone. Future frontline arms with electric stuff and powerful left-handed bats quickly followed suit, signaling that this group is loaded with future stars. Florida, a state synonymous with producing elite talent, has a new crop of prospects ready to carry the torch and continue the legacy of producing some of the nation’s finest players. The next few years in Florida baseball are shaping up to be nothing short of spectacular.
9 to Know:
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Chase Fuller SS / RHP / Lincoln, FL / 2027One of the toughest things to do in scouting upside and talent, is to predict the development curve, but especially the willingness to improve. Already a well-known commodity as the #3 player in the class, Fuller is inherently naturally gifted with a Adonis’ 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame, and easily could have rested on his God given ability. However, the advancements seen in this look presented a prospect who is hardly satisfied to blend in. Especially on the defensive side, Fuller displayed clear jumps in ability, and looked to be a sure thing to stick at the premium spot. Moving around with graceful athleticism and footwork, the glove was more confident before allowing his quick, plus-arm to play with carry across the diamond. An impact bat, the right-handed hitter enjoyed a successful week that was highlighted by a booming home run to the pull side in a hotly contested matchup. Starting with the hands relaxed at the center sternum, he quietly walks them back with a mini leg hang stride before delivering a thunderous barrel through the zone. The quieter walk back of the hands seemed to allow him to slow things down against some good arms, and his control of the forward move allowed the hands to stay back when adjusting late in counts. An impact prospect in the class, his ability to stick at shortstop as a run-producing bat outshines the work on the mound which, on its own, would place the right-hander in consideration as one of the top pitcher-only prospects as the arm talent ran the fastball north of 94 mph in this look along with a quality slider and changeup. Fuller’s tunnel-vision determination to get better should only drive his production to new levels, and should the upward trend of the last year continue, it is scary to think of the possibilities over the next three years.
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