With a stiff wind blowing in, a grand total of three home runs were hit in the Valley League home run derby. Todd Brazeal had one of them, assuring his advance to the final round. Although he didn't win the derby (pictured left), he showed his power both in Woodstock and later at the Midsummer Classic in Waldorf, Maryland, when he hammered five home runs in that home run derby.
Obviously, he turned the heads of coaches in the Valley, as he was named the 6th best prospect in the league by Baseball America. Here's his writeup:
A Freshman All-American last spring, Brazeal is a savvy hitter with plus raw power, demonstrated by his .495 slugging percentage and impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio (36-to-32) in his first year with the Bulls. He showed a similar proficiency with a wood bat this summer, belting eight home runs for Staunton and compiling a .507 slugging mark. Brazeal has some length in his swing, but he has advanced pitch recognition. He is a solid defender at first base with good athleticism for his size (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), a soft glove and quick feet that could also play at a corner outfield position. He also draws praise for his instinctive play and good work ethic.
Brazeal hit 348/467/495 in his freshman season for South Florida, with 15 doubles and 5 home runs. The future looks bright for this young man!
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