Former Archbishop McCarthy infielder Antonio Jimenez stands out at MLB Draft Combine
Major League Baseball’s Draft Combine remains a hidden gem in the evaluation process for next month’s MLB Draft.
The showcase at Chase Field, the retractable-roof home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, features hundreds of draft-eligible high school and college players.
This week, the participants went through pro-style workouts, including batting practice, fielding drills, while pitchers threw off the mound for scouts and executives of all 30 Major League teams. Those basic drills were conducted the first two days, and after that, players who chose to, had their running times tested. Players were medically checked as well.
From the club’s perspective, perhaps the most significant part of the combine is it provides a chance to meet individually with players.
In its fifth year, the MLB Draft Combine has a strong track record of getting those who participated selected in the annual draft. In 2024, according to MLB.com, 224 of the 305 who made the trip to Phoenix, had their names called on draft days.
Among them was PJ Morlando, who put on an exit-velocity show, which factored heavily in the Miami Marlins selecting the outfielder with the 16th overall pick. Morlando signed for $3.4 million.
This year, a total of 322 players accepted invitations.
Noticeably absent, however, were players from South Florida.
Just one, Central Florida shortstop Antonio Jimenez, who attended Archbishop McCarthy, is the lone South Florida player on hand.
Being invited is a process that involves rankings by outlets like MLB Pipeline, as well as recommendations by all 30 MLB clubs.
A year ago, from the prep ranks alone, a handful of players from Miami-Dade and Broward counties attended: Devin Fitz-Gerald (Stoneman Douglas), Ronny Cruz (Miami Christian), Michael Torres (Doral Academy) and Manny Marin and Lazaro Collera (Westminster Christian).
Of that group, Fitz-Gerald and Cruz were drafted by the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs, respectively. Torres and Collera ended up at Miami, and Marin went to Tennessee.
For his part, Jimenez represented South Florida well, dramatically improving his chances of getting selected during the MLB Draft on July 13-14.
Formerly a switch-hitter, Jimenez now exclusively bats from the right-side, and the power is evident. The shortstop posted a maximum exit velocity of 108.4 mph during BP, and had several other balls struck more than 100 mph.
“I just wanted to go up there and be nice and loose,” Jimenez told the Miami Herald. “Not try to do too much. Focus on my breathing and being calm at the plate. Just try to put the barrel on it and see what happens. I was lucky enough to hit the ball that hard.”
Jimenez’s 108.4 mph EV performance brought back memories of the 2024 combine when Cruz opened eyes with 107.9 mph EV.
From the Combine, Cruz’s stock skyrocketed, and the shortstop skipped a chance to play for the Miami Hurricanes after being taken in the third round. The Cubs signed Cruz for $620,000, and he is currently ranked 13th in their system, per MLB Pipeline.
“I’m trying to do anything I can to help my stock a little bit,” Jimenez said. “That kid, Ronny Cruz, is a great player, and he put himself in a great position. I’m learning from different players and what they did. I’m trying to follow their footsteps.”
After graduating from Archbishop McCarthy in 2023, Jimenez spent one season at Miami, before transferring to Central Florida. This year he ended up being second team All-Big 12, posting a .329 batting average with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs.
During fielding drills at the Combine on Wednesday, Jimenez showed off his plus arm with several on-the-money throws.
“Around this time, the [on-field] evaluation is done,” Jimenez said. “My job is to come out here, put a smile on my face, and get to hit BP in a big-league ballpark, and hit the ball hard. Show pretty good actions for my position and have fun. Ultimately, just try to be the best person I can at these meetings.”
Jimenez is ranked 167th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 200 pre-Draft rankings.
In its fifth year, the MLB Draft Combine continues to find its footing on how best to assemble players at one venue, while increasing its popularity and the overall popularity of the MLB Draft.
For a market like South Florida, having just one player invited is a little disappointing, considering Miami-Dade and Broward counties have at least a half dozen deserving prep players, including Gabriel Milano (Doral Academy), Mario Magana (Columbus), Jordan Rich (American Heritage), Dylan Dubovik (American Heritage), Nick Diaz (Stoneman Douglas) and Zachary Malvasio (St. Thomas Aquinas).
Next year, it should be a different story with Jacob Lombard (Gulliver Prep), Gio Rojas (Stoneman Douglas) and former Archbishop McCarthy infielder Justin Lebron (at Alabama, for now), eligible to be invited.
Who wasn’t invited, however, doesn’t take away from who was. Jimenez capitalized on his opportunity to perform at Chase Field, and in the process checked a lot of boxes that MLB teams covet.
“Who can just carry themselves like a big leaguer,” Jimenez said. “How calm can they be when every signal scout in the world is watching them hit BP, and take ground balls. How loose and how fun can you be, and how can you handle yourself professionally.”