Ariel Antigua

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #268 prospect in 2023 draft
  School: Trinity Christian Academy, Lake Worth, Fla. Source: HS
  
  Commit/Drafted: Tennessee
  Age At Draft: 18.7
  Antigua went off at the Area Code Underclass Games in August 2021, winning the Most Outstanding Player award by going 7-for-14 with two home runs over the 37-foot wall in left field at Loyola Marymount and drawing two walks. He showed off his power again in October 2021 at the Minority Baseball Prospects All-American Games, where he won the home run derby and hit two home runs in the game. That high-end offensive performance carried into his junior season this spring, when Antigua hit .419/.519/.935 in 77 plate appearances with as many home runs (seven) as he had strikeouts (seven). Antigua has a smaller frame with a thicker lower half and doesn’t jump out immediately, but he performs well when it’s game time. He’s difficult to strike out with a knack for putting the barrel to pitches in different areas of the strike zone or even outside the zone with his aggressive approach. He stays through the middle of the field well when he needs to and has surprising sock for his size when he gets a pitch he can turn on for damage. Antigua has a good internal clock for the game that shows up in the batter’s box, on the basepaths and in the infield. He’s a slightly below-average runner who is an instinctive defender in the middle infield, with quick reactions off the bat, soft hands and good body control. His body type and future range might lead him to second base, but catching could be another option as well. He doesn’t catch for his high school team, but he does have experience behind the plate. When he caught in games this summer during the PDP League, he looked comfortable there. With his high baseball IQ, Antigua’s catching potential will only make him more intriguing to clubs. Antigua is committed to Tennessee.