A Promising Display in Philadelphia
Tavis Honeycutt, a Florida baseball commit hailing from Newberry, traveled to Philadelphia to take part in the MLB High School Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The event gathered some of the nation’s top prospects, and Honeycutt’s performance was immediately notable, as he was tied for second after the opening round with 13 homers before launching four more in the second round to finish fourth overall with a total of 17.
Joining him among the standout participants was fellow 2027 Florida commit Kinon Bastian, who matched Honeycutt’s early tally with 13 homers and ultimately tied for seventh place in the final standings. Both players demonstrated the kind of power that has made them coveted recruits for the University of Florida’s baseball program.
The weekend also brought attention to Jadan Bastian, Kinon’s brother and a redshirt junior who transferred from Jacksonville. A severe right‑leg injury earlier in the season had sidelined him, but his presence at the derby underscored the personal stakes that many of these prospects carry.
For Honeycutt, the experience was more than a competition; he described the invitation as “unreal” and emphasized how the derby served as a learning opportunity, allowing him to gauge his abilities against a national field and to reflect on the path ahead as he prepares for college.
The event highlighted the growing pipeline of talent that moves from high school diamonds to the national stage, with several future Gators and other collegiate prospects already making impressions that could shape the next era of college baseball.