Travel Baseball Teams in Florida

• Find a Youth Travel Baseball Team in Florida
• Coaches, Click Here to Post your Travel Baseball Team Information
• Or read on about some of Florida's baseball alumni and their youth baseball path...

MLB Players from Florida

There are well over 100 Florida-born MLB players -- not historically, but currently. Among them are Andrew McCutchen, Chris Sale, Mike Zunino, Zach Greinke, Josh Donaldson, and Rickie Weeks. There's also Gus Schlosser, making his debut the spring of 2014.

Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen was born in 1986 in Fort Meade. As a preschooler, he used to ask his dad to play ball. Before long, it was evident that he wasn't just passionate about the game -- he was good. When he was eleven, folks in his hometown contributed money to send him to a baseball camp in Puerto Rico (http://www.theledger.com/article/20130129/NEWS/130129159).

McCutchen was playing baseball in Dixie League when the coach at a local school decided he wanted him for the varsity team (http://www.pittsburghquarterly.com/index.php/Team-Sports/andrew-mccutchen-eye-on-the-ball.html). He was then attending a parochial school, but transferred to Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School. As an eighth grader, he was besting seniors.

McCutchen was a first round draft pick in 2005 at age 18. He got his call-up in 2009. Before this, he was playing for AAA Indianapolis.

McCutchen won MVP honors in 2013. He holds baseball camps with proceeds going to Fort Meade Dixie-- yes, one of his alma maters (http://cutch22.com/andrew-mccutchens-raising-the-standard-baseball-camp).

Chris Sale

Chris Sale was born in 1989 in Lakeland. He played in Little League as a boy and has memories of his dad being late for meetings because he wanted to be there for him (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/white-sox-pitcher-chris-sale-cherishes-bonds-with-loved-ones?ymd=20130821&content_id=57745286&vkey=news_mlb). His dad also built him a pitcher’s mound.

Sale's path crossed that of Andrew McCutchen as a high schooler. One difference: Sale was a good player at that stage, not a great one. At the start of high school, he was far from his adult height. He was very thin and not yet an outstanding pitcher.

Sale played some summer travel ball during his teens. He was with the Orlando Scorpions in 17U and 18U (http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=62259). By the end of high school, his play had improved, and he had begun to reach scouts' radar. He declined a 21st round draft pick.

Sale played ball at Florida Gulf Coast University. He spent some time in wood bat league after his sophomore year of college.

In 2010, at age 21, he was a first round draft pick. His big league debut came not long after he was drafted -- in August of 2010.

Mike Zunino

Mike Zunino was born in 1991 in Cape Coral. He was a catcher at Mariner High School. He also did summer ball and showcases with Perfect Game (http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=43821).

He later played at the University of Florida – and went to the College World Series three times.

Zunino was a high 1st round draft pick in 2012 at age 21. He made his MLB debut a year later. In between, he saw some playing time on the Everett AquaSox.

He’s now a Seattle Mariner (hundreds of miles from Mariner High).

Tomorrow's Ball Players

McCutchen says of the baseball camp he attended at age 11, "I think that was kind of a jump-start for me, to get my name out (http://www.theledger.com/article/20130129/NEWS/130129159).”

McCutchen wants today's youth to have the opportunity to play baseball, even if they don't come from families of means. So he teaches ball skills and raises money for youth players. "I love going back to my hometown and being able to give back to my community,” he told The Ledger “.... The money is going for kids who won't be able to buy a uniform or those kids who won't be able to pay."

But success isn't just drive! McCutchen also emphasizes the importance of staying upbeat. He likes positive music. When asked what he would do on a flight after he had gone 0 for 4, he said, "Sometimes if I had a bad day, I'll get up and sit with people who are in a good mood, people who are happy, singing or laughing (http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/qa-andrew-mccutchen/story?id=23036437&page=2).”

Travel Baseball Teams in Florida

Submit your Travel / Elite Baseball Team information that you would like listed here:

* required field.