Announcement
Twenty one new players were added to the rosters of eight teams making draft selections at yesterday's Open Tryouts at Seminole Palms Park in Royal Palm Beach. The Royals, moving into the 18AAA league for the first time, have added a big bat in 23-year old Tony Flores, a slugging third baseman-first baseman from Jupiter. Flores was the outstanding hitter at the tryouts, and has played at High Point University and Palm Beach Atlantic, as well as with a travel team in his home town of Jupiter. The Royals added middle infielder Andrew Rubin, 20, of Lake Worth, with their second round pick. Rubin played at Santaluces and Park Vista High Schools and American Legion ball with Post 164. Rubin also played at the beginning of the spring season with the Warriors.
Three other 18AAA teams made one selection apiece in the first round. The Warriors, moving up after winning the 18AA league championship, chose 18-year old Alex Reynolds, who can play center field and first base and can pitch. He played high school baseball in the Netherlands and is currently enrolled at Florida Atlantic University. Another team that is moving up is the Rangers, who played as the Mets last season, and they drafted 23-year old middle infielder Steve Sharon of Boca Raton. Sharon played high school ball at Pope John Paul High School. The Leones' first pick, 24 year old Mike Welch of Plantation, was a Division III All American at York, PA University and played in a strong semipro league in Delaware before moving to Florida. Welch is an outfielder and first baseman.
Quality and depth marked the 18AA selections: The Brewers tabbed 19-year old Brian Knapp of Boca Raton. He is a catcher who can also play third base, first base and second. Knapp played high school ball at West Boca and American Heritage, American Legion ball in Kansas and played for one year at Division II Newman University. They also drafted 31-year old first baseman/pitcher Tony Amatucci, who played with Palm Beach League's Atlantic Sails. The other Brewers' picks were 45-year old pitcher/third baseman Jack Williams, who played college ball at Western Michigan University and 26-year old outfielder/infielder Jason Ramos of Royal Palm Beach. Ramos played at John I. Leonard High School.
The Super Sox took three players. Ryan Pender, a 25-year old infielder, played at Olympic Heights High School in Delray Beach. Miguel Espinol, 23, played four years of high school ball in Queens, NY, two years of Adult League ball in New York and a couple of games with Los Potros in the Palm Beach League. The Sox also took 23-year old first baseman/pitcher Reggie Cruz, who has Palm Beach League experience with the Mariners and Royals.
After veteran catcher Bob Chamberlain moved to St. Augustine, the Marlins had a need for a catcher and they tried to address that by selecting 19-year old Jeremy Stewart, who played high school ball in Maryland before moving to South Florida. They also picked up 31-year old veteran Norberto Labrador, who played college ball at Northwood, as well as in Adult Leagues in Broward County. The Marlins got a supplemental pick in outfielder/infielder Andy Caballero, who played with the Palm Beach League's Atlantic Sails for three years.
The expansion Pirates rounded things out by selecting six players in the draft. Twenty-seven year old catcher Peter DiGiovanni has played high school ball and Adult League ball in White Plains, New York. The Bucs also chose versatile Lucas Scuteri, 25, who has Palm Beach League experience with the Giants, a former Pirates team, and last season with the Super Sox. The Bucs also drafted 32-year old outfielder James Francis, who played with the Palm Beach League Brewers last season, 20-year old pitcher/outfielder Frank Mieses, 37-year old pitcher/outfielder Ramon Jimenez and 32-year old infielder Rafael Soto.
