The Florida State League boasts one of the deepest collection of prospects with ten Top 100 prospects. The group is led by two former #1 overall picks in Royce Lewis and Casey Mize as well as Victor Victor Mesa, the top international free agent in 2018.
2019 Top 100 Prospects
7. Royce Lewis, SS MIN - Ft. Myers Miracle
18. Jonathan India, 3B CIN - Daytona Tortugas
32. Nate Pearson, RHP TOR - Dunedin Blue Jays
33. Vidal Brujan, 2B TB - Charlotte Stone Crabs
36. Casey Mize, RHP DET - Lakeland Flying Tigers
45. Trevor Larnach OF MIN - Ft. Myers Miracle
73. Deivi Garcia, RHP NYY - Tampa Tarpons
82. Victor Victor Mesa, OF MIA - Jupiter Hammerheads
83. William Contreras, C ATL - Florida Fire Frogs
91. Travis Swaggerty, OF PIT - Bradenton Marauders
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Vidal Brujan, 2B TB
Brujan is an electric athlete. A switch-hitter with wiry strength and strong wrists, Brujan has a good feel for the barrel. Brujan saw a power spike after a promotion to High A to close out 2018. His swing can generate loft but Brujan is at his best spraying the ball and using his 80 speed to impact the game. If the power Brujan flashed in the FSL carries over to a full season, we’re talking top 10 prospect heading into 2020.
All-Prospect Team Pre-season
C - William Contreras, ATL (Florida)
1B - Ryan Noda, TOR (Dunedin)
2B - Vidal Brujan, TB (Charlotte)
SS - Royce Lewis, MIN (Ft. Myers)
3B - Jonathan India, CIN (Daytona)
OF- Trevor Larnach, MIN (Ft. Myers)
OF - Travis Swaggerty, PIT (Bradenton)
OF - Victor Victor Mesa, MIA (Jupiter)
SP - Casey Mize, DET (Lakeland)
SP - Nate Pearson, TOR (Dunedin)
SP - Deivi Garcia, NYY (Tampa)
SP - Spencer Howard, PHI (Clearwater)
Team Reports
Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami Marlins)
The Marlins have a talented young staff led by Trevor Rogers, Braxton Garrett, Will Stewart, and Edward Cabrera. Rogers and Garrett are former first rounders and rank ninth and 10th in the Marlins system. Cabrera is 11th while the newly acquired Stewart is 16th. All four have live arms and tremendous upside. Their health and development will be vital to the Marlins rebuild. The offense will be led by Tristan Pompey and Victor Victor Mesa, two athletic outfielders that flash 5 tools.
Miami Marlins Top 30 Prospects
Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
Nate Pearson finished strong in the AFL after only pitching 1.1 IP in the regular season thanks to an injury. He and fellow 2017 first-round pick Logan Warmoth are healthy and hungry. Pearson may be known for his 80 grade FB but it’s his three future plus offspeed offerings that should excite you. Warmoth struggled all season to make consistent hard contact. However, the biggest riser on this team could be tooled up CF Chavez Young with 2B Samad Taylor close behind.
Toronto Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
Casey Mize, Kody Clemens and Brock Deatherage return to Lakeland. Tarik Skubal joins Mize in the rotation while Clemens and Deatherage lead an otherwise lackluster offense. Both hitters have a lot of nice tools but will need to improve their ability to barrel off-speed consistently. Skubal struggled with command in college but found the zone in Rookie ball where he was far too advanced. If his command remains against advanced hitters, the Tigers will have a steal in the 9th round.With all eyes on Mize, who shouldn’t be in Lakeland long, don’t sleep on RHP Elvin Rodriguez.
Detroit Tigers Top 30 Prospects
Tampa Tarpons (New York Yankees)
Deivi Garcia breezed through three levels in 2018, reaching Double-A, while dominating older hitters at each level. Despite his smaller frame, Garcia features a mid 90’s FB and a plus curveball to go with double-plus command. Clarke Schmidt, the 2017 first-round pick, is finally healthy after Tommy John. Schmidt could be a fast riser due to his advanced feel and plus stuff. Glenn Otto is the sleeper. His FB reaches mid-to-upper 90’s and his curveball is a swing-and-miss hammer.
New York Yankees Top 30 Prospects
Ft. Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins)
2017 1.1 Royce Lewis and Twins 2018 first-round pick Trevor Larnach are the prospects to watch. Lewis finished 2018 in Ft. Myers, flashing five tools and emerging power. He’ll team with Larnach who is a plus hitter with power. They aren’t the only exciting offensive players though. Akil Badoo is as athletic and tooled up as prospects come. Badoo is an OBP machine with a developing feel for the barrel. Ryan Jeffers is an offensive catcher and the team’s second-round pick. Jose Miranda struggled after his promotion to Ft. Myers in 2018 but shows good physical strength and quick, strong wrists. Jhoan Duran leads the pitching staff.
Minnesota Twins Top 30 Prospects
Charlotte Stone Crabs (Tampa Bay Rays)
Ronaldo Hernandez and Moises Gomez are two young power hitters that will combine with Brujan, 2018 second-rounder Tyler Frank and Garrett Whitley to lead a potent offense. Hernandez and Gomez impressed in 2018 showing over-the-fence power with a good feel for the barrel. Tanner Dodson is a two-way player that will continue to develop as both an outfielder and pitcher. Resly Linares will lead a rotation that lacks prospect power compared to previous Stone Crabs rotations.
Tampa Bay Rays Top 30 Prospects
Daytona Tortuguas (Cincinnati Reds)
The past few seasons have seen a loaded Tortugas roster that included Nick Senzel, Shed Long, Taylor Trammell, Jose Siri, Tony Santillian, and Tyler Stephenson. Jonathan India is the big name in Daytona now. Not including the rehabbing Hunter Greene who will miss all of 2019 after Tommy John. India’s bat speed is electric and he probably won’t be here long. Otherwise, keep an eye on Stuart Fairchild, Miles Gordon, and Hendrik Clementina. All three have some intriguing tools but will utlimately need to improve their hit tools to rech their respective ceilings.
Cincinnati Reds Top 30 Prospects
St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets)
St. Lucie lacks the star power that we’ve seen previously with Rosario, Smith, Alonso, Peterson, Kay, and Gimenez. Tony Dibrell is an under-the-radar arm with good upside. Carlos Cortes shows good feel for the barrel and plus bat speed. Despite his small frame, Cortes flashes easy power. Desmond Lindsay made some good strides in the AFL that he will need to carry over in order to reach Double-A.
New York Mets Top 30 Prospects
Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
Spencer Howard will look to continue the success he had in the 2018 second half. In the FSL, pitch sequencing and command are a must. Howard has a live arm and with swing-and-miss offspeed offerings. Joining Howard is Kyle Young, a seven foot tall lefty with projection. Daniel Brito leads the offense in terms of pure tools and projection. He has yet to translate the tools into numbers but his swing has looked compact and quick this spring. The sleeper on this squad is Simon Muzziotti.
Philadelphia Phillies Top 30 Prospects
Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh Pirates)
The offense will be led by 2018 first-round pick Travis Swaggerty and 6’7” SS Oneil Cruz. Swaggerty should rocket up Top 100 lists in his first full season while the 20-year-old Cruz looks to take on the next step in his development. Both are big time prospect bats. In the rotation, keep an eye on Cody Bolton and Aaron Shortridge. Both show good feel for their off-speed while Bolton has plus command.
Pittsburgh Pirates Top 30 Prospects
Florida Fire Frogs (Atlanta Braves)
William Contreras is a future star behind the plate. His feel for the barrel, bat speed, emerging power, and plus throwing arm. Greyson Jenista, the Braves second-round pick last season returns. Jenista struggled against changeups in his first taste of pro ball. His bat profiles as a corner outfielder with power. With so much talent at AA/AAA, the Fire Frogs are not completely barren after Contreras and Jenista. Izzy Wilson is a phenomenal athlete that is still figuring things out at the plate. Tristan Beck leads the rotation. The right-hander out of Stanford has advanced feel, command, and sequencing. Huascar Ynoa and Freddy Tarnok are two high upside arms with Ynoa touching triple digits.
Atlanta Braves Top 30 Prospects
Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
The offense is highlighted by Luken Baker, the physically imposing power hitter, taken 75th overall in June. Baker has plus power with good feel for a guy his size. Junior Fernandez and Johan Oviedo are two projectable righties with upside. Fernandez pitched in relief in Double-A in 2018 but returns to High A where he made 16 starts in 2017. Oviedo flashes swing-and-miss stuff but is ultimately undone by poor command. The 43rd overall pick, Griffin Roberts will start the season on the restricted list but should be in action by May.
St. Louis Cardinals Top 30 Prospects
Wishlist
Young infielders Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, Shervyen Newton, Wander Franco, and Nolan Gorman are all slated to start the season in Low A. While they are young and could benefit from a full season in Low-A, a hot streak could result in a few of these guys getting a taste of the FSL in the second half.