2021 commit Jonah Diaz is all Florida: 'They're the best of the best'
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The Gators' 2021 recruiting class is loaded with some of the top high school prospects in the country, and ranked second in the nation according to Perfect Game.
They have 19 commits in their class, including 11 who are ranked inside the top-100. One of those 2021 commits is middle infielder, Jonah Diaz.
Jonah Diaz, a 6-foot, 165-pound infielder, attends North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida. On Perfect Game, Diaz is the nation's 440th-ranked prospect and 86th-ranked shortstop.
Diaz was one of the first 2021 commits to make a pledge to the University of Florida. He was offered on Sept. 8 of 2018, and then made his pledge to Florida just 10 days later.
“My recruitment was a really cool process to get through, talking to coaches and learning about each program,” Diaz told GatorsTerritory. “My recruitment happened really fast, but it was awesome getting the calls that dream of when you’re a kid.”
During his baseball recruitment, Diaz received five offers from Florida, Miami, Jacksonville, South Florida and Tulane. However, when it came to taking that next step in his recruitment, Diaz says choosing Florida was simply a no-brainer decision.
“They’re the best of the best in each category from baseball to academics,” Diaz told GT. “The atmosphere at the camp I went to from the coaches to the players that were helping out, it just felt like home.
“They told me to choose the school that I thought I would feel most comfortable with," Diaz said of the message from Kevin O'Sullivan and Craig Bell. “The Florida coaching staff also talked about the new stadium that is being built.”
Even though the Gators have 19 commits, they still may be looking to add with the high probability of losing a few of their top commits to the 2021 MLB Draft. Diaz is recruiting two South Florida players to join him at Florida.
“I’m playing with the Elite Squad National team over the summer and trying to recruit two of my teammates in Marcus Franco and Ty Hollandsworth,” Diaz told GT.
Marcus Franco is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound first baseman out of Doral Academy. He’s the 135th-ranked prospect and fourth-ranked first baseman in the class of 2021. Franco was originally committed to FIU but eventually backed off his pledge.
Ty Hollandsworth is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound outfielder out of Calvary Christian High School. On Perfect Game, Hollandsworth is the 406th-ranked prospect overall and 76th-ranked outfielder. Hollandsworth is a speedy outfielder who hits for contact and plays good defense. He’s also the son of former NL Rookie of the Year and World Series champion, Todd Hollandsworth.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Diaz’s season cut short, but it didn’t affect him much as he was rehabbing from a minor shoulder injury. The cancellation of his season has given him more opportunities to rehab and strengthen up his shoulder.
“I’m lifting weights, running, throwing and hitting every day just to keep my body in shape and ready for the summer,” said Diaz. “I have a small workout area in my garage that I’ve been able to use which is fortunate.”
The Florida commit has not heard from any schools since committing to Florida and doesn’t plan on talking to any additional schools either. Diaz also added he's 100 percent committed to the Florida Gators.
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