July’s MLB Draft features two potential first-rounders from South Florida
American Heritage lefty pitcher Brandon Barreira and former Coral Park shortstop Zach Neto are two strong candidates to get selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, which is set to start on July 17.
In the past 10 drafts, there have been 12 baseball players with Miami-Dade or Broward ties who have been selected in the first/compensatory round.
That list includes Calvary Christian pitcher Andrew Painter No. 13 in 2021); American Heritage first baseman Triston Casas (No. 26 in 2018); North Broward Prep shortstop Xavier Edwards (No. 38 in 2018); Monsignor Pace shortstop Jeter Downs (No. 32 in 2017); University of Miami catcher Zack Collins (No. 10 in 2016); Miami native/pitcher Carlos Rodon (No. 3 in 2014); Coral Springs Christian pitcher Touki Toussaint (No. 16 in 2014); Mater Academy center fielder Albert Almora (No. 6 in 2012); Archbishop McCarthy pitcher Nick Travieso (No. 14 in 2012); ex-Plantation American Heritage shortstop Deven Marrero (No. 24 in 2012); and Coral Springs center fielder Lewis Brinson (No. 29 in 2012).
Casas (No. 2) and Downs (No. 5) are top Boston Red Sox prospects; Edwards is Tampa Bay’s No. 6 prospect; and Painter is Philadelphia’s No. 1 prospect.
Among the major-leaguers on the aforementioned list, Rodon was an All-Star last year, when he fired a no-hitter. Toussaint is part of Atlanta’s rotation; Almora is with Cincinnati; and Collins is with Toronto. Downs made his major-league debut on June 22.
Marrero and Brinson are working to return to the majors, and Travieso hasn’t made it to the show and is now pitching in independent ball.
As for this draft’s top prospects with Miami/Broward ties, here are thumbnail sketches:
▪ Barreira, a 6-1, 185-pounder with a scholarship to Vanderbilt, is a rare lefty who can touch 99 mph.
▪ Neto, a 6-0, 185-pounder, had a phenomenal 2022 season at Campbell University, batting .407 with 23 doubles, two triples, 15 homers, 65 runs, 50 RBIs and 19 steals in 20 tries. He also had a .514 on-base percentage and a 1.283 OPS.
▪ Carson Palmquist, a 6-3, 185-pound lefty for the Miami Hurricanes, is ranked 80th by Baseball America. He went 9-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 16 starts. In 2021, he served as a closer with 14 saves – which ranked third nationally -- and a 2.21 ERA.
▪ Sal Stewart, a 6-3, 215-pound third baseman at Westminster Christian, is ranked No. 91. In 91 career prep games, he posted 31 doubles, three triples, 30 homers and 95 RBIs. He also had a .621 on-base percentage and a 1.621 OPS.
▪ Roman Anthony, a 6-3, 195-pound outfielder at Stoneman Douglas, is ranked No. 100. A lefty hitter with power potential, Anthony has signed with Ole Miss. In 61 career prep games, he hit .443 with 20 doubles, two triples, 15 homers and 61 RBIs. He also stole 46 bases in 46 tries, and he had a .556 on-base percentage and a 1.376 OPS. It remains to be seen if Anthony – who has been compared to ex-American Heritage star Eric Hosmer – ends up in center or at a corner-outfield spot.
“I think he’s a first-rounder,” Douglas coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said. “He won’t go past the second round. He can hit, he has power, an above-average arm, he’s athletic, and he has a good work ethic.”
▪ Jake Clemente, a 6-3, 210-pound right-hander at Stoneman Douglas, is ranked No. 120. A Florida Gators recruit, Clemente has a fastball that touches 97 mph, a slider and a changeup. His fastball, which has arm-side run, sits 92-95 mph.
“He comes after you,” Fitz-Gerald said. “I think he’ll be drafted between the second and fifth rounds.”
▪ Jurrangelo Cijntje, a 5-11, 190-pound switch-pitcher and switch-hitter at Champagnat, is ranked No. 130. A Mississippi State recruit, he touches 96 mph with his right hand and 92 with his left.
▪ Patrick Pridgen, a 6-4, 220-pound right-hander at FIU, is ranked No. 141. The Minnesota native made his FIU debut this year, going 2-7 with a 4.77 ERA in 14 starts. He struck out 112 batters in 71 2/3 innings.
▪ Victor Mederos, a 6-2, 225-pound right-hander at Oklahoma State, is ranked No. 145. He played for Westminster Christian and the Miami Hurricanes before his transfer. At OSU this year, he went 4-4 with a 5.59 ERA in 14 games, including 13 starts.
▪ Alex McFarlane, a 6-4, 215-pound right-hander for the Hurricanes, is ranked No. 191. He went 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 27 games, including four starts.
▪ Adam Tulloch, a 6-1, 205-pound left-hander at Arizona State by way of Broward County, is ranked No. 312. He played at seven schools in the past eight years, finishing his prep career at Western. His fastball, which touches 96 mph, makes him an interesting prospect.
▪ Maxwell Romero Jr., a 6-1, 220-pound Hurricanes catcher, is ranked No. 341. A Vanderbilt transfer, Romero hit .272 this year with 15 doubles, 12 homers, 54 RBIs and an .885 OPS in 59 games.
▪ Jason Torres, a 6-3, 215-pound third baseman at Miami Springs, is ranked No. 386. A Hurricanes recruit, Torres has a short swing with big power. In 76 career prep games, he hit .470 with 20 doubles, two triples, 24 homers, 99 RBIs, a .571 on-base percentage and a 1.480 OPS.
