Here are Polk County's top 100 high school baseball players to watch in 2024
There's no shortage of baseball talent in Polk County. Fort Meade's Carson Montsdeoca has signed with the University of Florida, and McKeel's KJ Scobey has signed with SEC competitor South Carolina. Both athletes also are standouts in a second sport. Montsdeoca was small school offensive player of the year in football last fall, and Scobey is one of the top boys golfers in the county.
Behind the duo is Mulberry's Nic Partridge, who transferred from Lakeland, as well as a number of players from defending state champion Lakeland Christian.
We'll take a look at how the teams are shaping up in a couple of weeks. For now, we'll take a look at who's who in Polk County baseball for 2024.
More spring athletes: Here are Polk County's top 20 softball players plus 64 more players to watch in 2024
Here are the top 18 players to watch, followed by 83 more players to watch.
1. Carson Montsdeoca, Fort Meade
A quarterback in football, the senior is one of the top pitchers and hitters in the county. In his first year at Fort Meade last year, he batted .372 with 13 extra-base hits, 19 RBIS and 24 runs scored. Pitching, he went 7-0 with a 0.89 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
2. KJ Scobey, McKeel
The senior shortstop batted .377 with 13 extra-base hits, including six home runs, and 18 RBIs during his junior season.
3. Nic Partridge, Mulberry
A junior, Partridge played third for Lakeland High last year and batted .378 with 26 RBIs and a 1.169 OPS last year.
4. Gavin Stedman, Santa Fe Catholic
A junior, Stedman is one of the top pitchers in the county. He went 4-2 with a 1.05 ERA with 10 shutouts and 71 strikeouts last season.
5. Gage Chandley, Lake Wales
Chandley, a senior, emerged last season as a top pitcher with a 0.91 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched.
6. Colby Brewington, Lakeland Christian
A senior, Brewington excels on the left side of the infield. He's coming off a season where he batted .423 with two home runs, 29 RBIs and an 1.076 OPS.
7. Bear Testerman, McKeel
The senior second baseman batted .400 with 12 doubles and 31 RBIs last year.
8. Marvin Montenegro, Santa Fe Catholic
A junior catcher/third baseman, Montenegro batted .463 with 19 RBIs and 19 stolen bases last season.
9. Trey Bentley, Lakeland Christian
A senior outfielder, Bentley batted .337 with nine extra-base hits, 18 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a .491 on-base percentage in 2023.
10. Mookie Rodriguez, Lakeland Christian
A junior catcher, Rodriguez batted .322 last year and is a Florida State commit.
11. Xavier Glover, George Jenkins
The senior pitcher went 7-0 with a 1.04 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 53 2/3 innings.
12. Carson Martin, Lakeland Christian
A junior, Martin was the winning pitcher last year a sophomore in the state championship game. He finished 10-1 with a 1.76 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings pitched.
13. Lance West, Bartow
A junior corner infielder and pitcher, West batted .462 with 28 RBIs, a 1.157 OPS and 58 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings last year.
14. Gage McCrystal, Winter Haven
A junior, McCrystal continued is rapid rise as a top player by batting .352 in 2023.
15. Wilfredo Ortiz, George Jenkins
Ortiz, a junior, batted .385 last season with 17 RBIs.
16. Joshua Cruz, Winter Haven
A senior second baseman, Cruz is coming off a season when he batted .362.
17. Shakoii Richards, Davenport
The senior center fielder holds team records for hits and home runs.
83 Other High School Baseball Players to Watch in Polk County
Auburndale
IF/P Colin Holmes, junior.
UT Carter Brattlie, sophomore.
OF/P Angel Santiago, senior.
IF/P Xander Martinez, junior.
Bartow
SS Austin Coward, senior
3B Johnnie Womble, senior.
Davenport
C/3B Jomar Ceceres Rios, sophomore.
SS Yonathan Sanchez, senior.
OF/P Miguel Diaz, sophomore.
P Hecxiel Pagan, junior.
P/IF Andrew Miller, junior.
Discovery
OF/P Cameron Brown, senior.
IF/OF/P Jamor Richardson, senior.
Fort Meade
Jeremiah Cabrera, senior.
Eli Harrell, junior.
Demarion Abrams, junior.
Garrett Sims, senior.
Noe Jaramillo, junior.
Frostproof
IF/P Josh Brewer, senior
IF/P Luke Thorntan, junior.
IF/OF Liam Howard, senior.
George Jenkins
C/OF Armani Cozza, junior.
P/OF Braden Smith, junior.
C Caleb Smith, senior.
P/UT Austin Dadey, senior.
OF/P Seth Patterson, senior.
Haines City
P/SS Andrew Brooks, junior.
OF/UT Elvis Vera, senior.
OF/P Mason Stripling, junior.
OF/P Zach Brooks, junior.
Kathleen
1B/3B Gunnar Adkins, sophomore.
OF Juan Rivera, junior.
IF Edrick Ayala, junior.
Lake Gibson
Landon Cuzzone, sophomore.
Dalton Cone, junior.
Lake Region
SS JD Richardson, senior.
P/SS Alexander Trujillo, senior.
P/EB Jordan Gonzalez, senior.
1B Gage Calcutt, junior.
OF Ayden Wheelis, sophomore.
P/OF Koden Bechtel, junior.
P Jordan Kinney, junior.
Lake Wales
IF Diego Colon, senior.
1B/OF Clayton Fletcher, senior.
P Levi Cutts, junior.
Lakeland
IF Danny Hernandez, senior.
P Cooper Emery, senior.
P Chris Conde, senior.
P Jose Garcia, senior.
OF AJ Sierra, senior.
Lakeland Christian
OF Zach Lester, senior.
IF Gavin Byrd, sophomore.
McKeel
P/3B Kaden Howell, junior.
OF Austin Garrison, senior.
P Braxton Plemons, senior
P/DH Austin Peddycourt, senior
C Brock Spurgeon, sophomore.
C/1B Wyatt Thomas, sophomore.
P JC Diaz, junior.
Mulberry
P/OF Noah Campbell, senior.
1B/P Cooper Wright, senior.
OF Brock Thielen, junior
2B Danny Gotauco, junior.
OF/P Noah Campbell, senior.
Ridge Community
IF/OF Deniel Serrano, sophomore.
Santa Fe Catholic
P Jacob Knisley, senior.
P Ethan Crawford, senior.
P Gavin Stedman, junior.
SS Easton Beach, junior.
3B/C Marvin Montenegro, junior.
C DJ Flores, junior.
P/IF Michael Welling, junior.
1B Angel Andujar, junior.
OF/P Hudson Link, junior.
P Jameson McGuire, sophomore.
C/1B Cole Bedenbaugh, sophomore.
Victory Christian
CF Caiden Whittington, junior.
SS/P Haiden Smith, junior.
C Aiden Flannery, sophomore.
3B/P Merck Smith, sophomore.
1B/P Nathan Thomas, junior.
Winter Haven
2B/OF Mason Respond, senior.
C/P Matthew Phieffer, junior.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida High School Baseball: Top 100 players in Polk County for 2024
