SCF Manatees Draw Large Number of Scouts to Annual Event

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) hosted its second annual Major League Baseball (MLB) Scout Day on Oct. 16 at SCF Bradenton’s Robert C. Wynn Field. More than 40 college and professional scouts representing 22 of the 30 MLB teams came out to watch the SCF Manatees during batting practice, warm-ups and an intrasquad game. The scouts also timed players as they ran a 60-yard dash.

Luke Wrenn, an amateur scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks, said he attended to look for guys who will be successful at pro baseball. Referencing former SCF Manatees second baseman Keshawn Lynch who was drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2016, Wrenn said that he looks for more than just a player’s physical ability. “Keshawn signed with us last year and started out doing really well…but then he hit a slump. He persevered mentally, though. That’s the tough thing about pro ball; you gotta have somebody who has physical tools, but they have to have the drive and the perseverance to get through it mentally. It’s a tough game.”

SCF has a long history of producing top-notch baseball players. In the college’s 60-year history, 225 players have signed professional contracts and 30 have advanced to the major league level.

“We are very thankful to the pro and college scouts for another great turnout at our annual MLB Scout Day,” said head baseball coach Tim Hill, II. “The weather was beautiful and I was very proud of our players on how they handled themselves. Our players come to our program to get this kind of professional exposure and I thought they responded by playing well.”

For more information about SCF Manatees baseball, visit SCFManatees.com.