Elijah Green highlights an impactful Day 1 for Florida players selected in MLB Draft

With the fifth pick in the 2022 MLB Draft on Sunday night, the Washington Nationals selected outfielder Elijah Green from IMG Academy.

The announcement was made by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, and the frenzy of prep or college players with ties to the state of Florida began.

The Sunshine State was well represented in Day 1 of the Draft, which covered the first two rounds and the compensatory rounds in between.

Headlined by Green, there were 10 players total who either played their high school ball in Florida. Several of them were preps in the state and went on to also play college ball in Florida.

The story of Elijah Green is one of the more fascinating ones in the draft, simply because no other player has a higher ceiling, yet carries as much risk as the son of former NFL Pro Bowl tight end, Eric Green.

“When you get this type of person and this skill set where we did, we’re all thrilled,” Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline told the media on Sunday night.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, Elijah Green is an imposing presence capable of impacting the game with his power, speed and defense. In his senior season at IMG, he hit .462 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs and 40 runs in 25 games.

Green’s been on the showcase circuit for years, and has faced top competition, which has raised some questions about his swing-and-miss rate at the plate.

According to one MLB team executive, Green was the most polarizing player on his team’s board. Some wanted him, while others were scared off.

And yet, another scout who has followed Green for years envisions a future 40 homer, perennial All-Star. As for strikeout concerns, the scout noted the sport is filled with high-strikeout players who don’t match Green’s overall skillset.

“This guy could be an impactful superstar,” Kline said.

To the Nationals, the risk is certainly worth the reward.

To Green, once he signs, he gets to live out his baseball dream.

“To be called by the Washington Nationals is truly a blessing,” Green said during his Zoom call on Sunday. “I’m going to go out there, work hard and hopefully bring a championship back to Washington.”

After Green, left-hander Brandon Barriera (American Heritage School, Plantation) is the other prep standout to be a first-rounder. The Toronto Blue Jays took the southpaw with the 23rd pick.

Other players with Florida-roots worth noting are:

Round 1:
C, OF Sterlin Thompson (University of Florida/North Marion High School), was picked by the Colorado Rockies.
3B Sal Stewart (Westminster Christian School) was picked by the Cincinnati Reds.

Round 2:
LHP Hunter Barco (University of Florida/Jacksonville Bolles) was taken by the PIttsburgh Pirates.
LHP Jackson Ferris (IMG) went to the Chicago Cubs
LHP Parker Messick (Florida State University/Plant City High School) was the choice of the Cleveland Guardians.

Competitive Balance Round B:
OF Jud Fabian (University of Florida/Trinity Catholic) was selected by the Baltimore Orioles.
RHP Walter Ford (Pace High School) landed with the Seattle Mariners.

Round 2C:
OF Roman Anthony (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) ended up with the Boston Red Sox.

Projections for Barriera were the middle of the first round, and he ended up a few spots below there.The 6-foot-2, 180-pound southpaw went 5-0 with a 2.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts at American Heritage. But in April, he shut down his season after eight starts and 37 innings, opting to preserve his arm and prepare for the draft.

Barriera is the latest prep star to come out of American Heritage, which has produced San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer, Blue Jays catcher Zack Collins and Red Sox first base prospect, Triston Casas.

“It’s obviously about the arm talent that Brandon possesses, the big velocity and the plus slider, but most importantly the athleticism is what really stood out to all of us,” Blue Jays director of amateur scouting Shane Farrell said to the teams local media.

Being picked where he was has put a chip on Barriera’s shoulder, and he said as much during MLB Network’s Draft Show.

“Looking at those 22 teams before me, they’re going to regret this,” Barriera said on MLB Network.