Player Spotlight – Brandon Stone

Grad year – 2017

High School – Fort Pierce Central

FTB – entering his 4th season with FTB

 

Jeff Schwarz called me one day to tell me he had a kid coming to camp that he was very high on.  Jeff is the father of JJ Schwarz (who played for FTB).  JJ was an All American this year at Florida and is a two-time Team USA catcher.  Jeff played Major League Baseball himself and has coached in the minors the last 20 years.  Jeff also served as a coach in the World Baseball Classic.  Jeff is one of the best baseball guys I know, so when he calls and recommends a player, I give it immediate attention.  Jeff talked about the left handed bat and athleticism.  He ended by telling me that Brandon Stone had the type of personality and character that I would love to coach.  Jeff normally is right on the money with his assessments, but he was a bit wrong in this case.  He described him as a great kid that would play Division 1 baseball.  He undersold Brandon Stone!

 

Brandon is a 6’ athlete that has huge forearms and a very strong build.  He is a 2-sport athlete that spends his Falls on the football field.  A standout linebacker, he brings an all-out, hard hitting, aggressive approach to the baseball field.  There is not one time where Brandon will ever do anything less than 100%.  Brandon swings left handed, he has a very short and direct stroke.  He is very strong through contact and drives hard line drives all over the field.  He is fearless with 2 strikes, and it shows in his approach, in which, he works counts and gets on base.  Defensively, his value, is being able to play multiple spots at a high level.  I have seen him play all 3 infield spots, all 3 outfield spots, and he works behind the plate.  The overall value as a teammate and versatility was shown at the Perfect Game Underclass World Championship when he threw 2 clean innings in the championship game to help preserve the PG Championship. 

 

I joke when I say Jeff Schwarz undersold Brandon.  He told me he was going to be a big time player and was a great teammate.  When I say he undersold him, I am saying that there are not enough adjectives to describe Brandon as a player and a person.  This kid makes everyone around him better in every phase a clubhouse has to offer.  He is a recent Boston College commit, when asked by the BC recruiting coordinator about Brandon, I responded simply: “Program Changer!”

 

Jeff did not undersell Brandon.  Brandon will just always exceed lofty expectations!