Swing for the fences: 2024 Jacksonville high school baseball's top teams, players to watch

The 2024 Florida High School Athletic Association baseball season begins this week across Northeast Florida. The Times-Union previews some of the top teams and players to watch.

9 TEAMS TO WATCH

Bolles

The magic word is pitching. Bolles has that in abundance, beginning with hard-throwing Clemson signee Chayce Kieck (5-5, 1.92 ERA, 98 K in 65 2/3 innings). Kieck enters 2024 among Florida's top mound prospects, and there's depth behind him in Samford signee David Martin (2-2, 2 saves, 3.25 ERA, 35 K in 28 IP) and Tommy Brice (4-3, 1.49 ERA, 65 K in 42 1/3 IP).

Clay

Denied a final-four berth by Columbia in the regional championship last year, Clay enters 2024 especially strong at the top of the order. Center fielder Cole Carnell (.412, 8 2B, 4 3B, 1.138 OPS) made big strides in his sophomore year, and the Blue Devils also return L.J. Martin (.364 average), third baseman Parker Lowrance (.318, 2 HR, 18 RBI) and the junior pitcher pair of Merrick Rapoza (1.77 ERA, 48 K in 35 2/3 IP) and Jacksonville University commit Easton McMahan (7-1, 1.84 ERA, 63 K in 57 IP).

Creekside

The Knights won 18 games last year and should be among St. Johns County's top contenders. Catcher/third baseman Carson McFarlin, committed to Flagler College, provides much of the pop (.324, 6 2B, 2 HR) along with junior Sean Ashenfelder (.333, 3 3B, 25 steals). Creekside really shines on the mound, where Roman Bascelli, Nick Romeu, Matthew Bysheim and Michael Bysheim all return after sub-3.00 ERAs.

Fernandina Beach

When the Pirates get hot, they're really hot, winning 19 in a row last spring. Several building blocks return, including Pensacola State College commit Caden Hartman at first (.440, 7 2B, 26 RBI, 1.114 OPS), UNF signee Sean Benjamin in center (.347, 6 2B, 26 RBI, .900 OPS) and West Florida-bound Xavier Hutton-Corp in left (.429, 13 steals, 1.104 OPS). They'll need an inexperienced pitching staff to take shape quickly.

Oakleaf

How will the Knights follow up a 19-win season? Maybe with even more victories this time. The top two starters are back in Landon McDonald (6-1, 2.12 ERA, 41 K) and Jorden Clarke (3-1, 1.76 ERA, 37 K), and Clarke also bats .333 while playing both the infield and outfield. Also back are infielders J.P. Espinosa (.358, 9 2B) and Jaythan Arriaga (.311, 2 3B, 19 steals).

Providence

Return a pitching pair like the 25-5 Stallions, and the result is an automatic contender. Kyle Powers, signed with Jacksonville University, and Dominic Rabiei, signed with Santa Fe College, were both devastating from the left side: Powers went 5-1 with a 1.83 ERA and 46 strikeouts, while Rabiei was 6-1 with a 1.12 mark and 67 strikeouts. Plus, outfielder Andrew Johnson (Gulf Coast State College signee, .409, 4 3B, 1.052 OPS) and infielder Mason Wortmann (Tallahassee Community College signee, .407, 1.014 OPS) return to lead the batting order.

St. Johns Country Day

Class 2A runners-up a year ago, the Spartans return something close to a North Florida all-star lineup. Among a host of future college players, there's UNF signee Seth Alford (.275, 3 HR, 22 RBI) at third, FAU two-sport athlete Kyle Boylston (.390, 7 2B, 19 SB) in center, Flagler's Kody Daneault (.473, 9 2B, 15 SB) in left, plus the arrival of Florida-signed infield slugger Kolt Myers and fastball-hurling ace Schuyler Sandford via transfer from Bartram Trail. The bullpen is merciless: Flagler commit Trevor Bradley yielded one earned run all season.

Trinity Christian

The fantastic freshmen are now the super sophomores. Florida-committed Brady Harris (.337, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 1.037 OPS) and Ethan Wheeler (4-1, 1.47 ERA, 44 K) and FSU-bound Brayden Harris (1-1, 1.19 ERA, 48 K) are among Florida's premier 2026 prospects, and all of them starred in 2023. Also back are senior pitcher Braden Hansen (FSCJ), junior pitcher Aaron Watson (Virginia), senior infielder Maddox Lee (Santa Fe College) and junior outfielder Aiden Arnett (Florida), plus new arrivals in pitchers Merrick Beamish (UCF) and catcher Gage Petrutz (Maryland).

Yulee

Young but deadly. Sophomores Tripp Hannah (Oklahoma State commit, .278, six doubles, 16 RBI) and Mason Jones (Virginia Tech commit, .327, three homers, 23 RBI) headline a deep lineup. Yulee also picks up newcomers in outfielder/pitcher Preston Matricardi, already committed to Florida State before his first high school game, and former Camden County pitcher Garrett Albright. Expect an increase from last year's 15 wins.

10 NORTHEAST FLORIDA BASEBALL PITCHERS TO WATCH

P Colson Altman, Sr., Baker County: Close to unhittable in 2023, Altman mowed down batters with 108 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings, ending up 9-2 with an 0.71 ERA and only 29 hits allowed. He committed last month to the College of Central Florida.

P/OF Robert Barnett, Sr., Orange Park: Selected to Clay County's all-county squad last year, Barnett has impressed in preseason following his 3-4, 4.11 mark (with nearly a strikeout per inning) last year. He's a proven hitter (.396, 4 2B, .964 OPS) who should be able to help the Raiders improve on their 8-16 record.

P/SS Coron Davis, Sr., Fletcher: He's a two-sport star for the Senators, signed with Shorter for both baseball and football. Davis struck out nearly a batter and a half per inning with a 2.62 ERA in 2023, while batting .346 with a .999 OPS.

P/1B Maxwell Gallagher, So., Baldwin: A double-threat ace for a young squad in B-Town. As a freshman, Gallagher batted .423 with six doubles and 16 RBI, and also recorded a 1.53 ERA in part-time pitching duties.

P Logan Hartman, Sr., Bartram Trail: The Bears hit an unplanned bump in the road with an eight-win season in 2023. Will they bounce back this spring? There's a good chance, with Jacksonville University signee Hartman pitching with power alongside Walker Cloudt (Messiah University) and Jesse Murrell (Middle Georgia).

P Matt Hoag, Sr., Ponte Vedra: This Florida State-committed left-hander refined his technique to become a strikeout machine last year, with 89 K's in 54 1/3 innings and a vastly-improved ERA of 1.55 while delivering fastballs above 90 miles per hour.

P Aidan King, Sr., Bishop Snyder: A future Gator, King stood out as the unquestioned bright spot for the Cardinals in 2023. He struck out 90 batters while walking only 12 with a 2.09 ERA, and also batted .328 with five doubles. Sophomore Cody Boshell, already committed to Tennessee, is next in line for Bishop Snyder.

P Jackson Phillips, Sr., Sandalwood: Phillips returns as a key building block for the 18-6 Saints after numerous major graduation losses, striking out 39 batters in 25 2/3 innings with a rock-bottom 0.27 ERA. Along with senior infielder Tyler Hurst, he leads Sandalwood's charge into 2024.

P Keegan Roach, Sr., Ridgeview: The Panthers graduated a lot of talent from last year's 20-win campaign, but FSCJ signee Roach is a big part of the 2024 blueprint. He finished 5-1 with two saves and a 1.47 ERA, strengthening a pitching staff also highlighted by senior Hunter Beech and sophomore Tommy Glasspoole.

P/1B Aiden Torrez, Sr., St. Joseph: The 6-6 Torrez is an intimidating matchup for any pitcher, or any hitter. Excelling on the mound with a 5-1 record and 1.57 ERA, while also slamming eight doubles and four homers last year as a corner infielder, Torrez is committed to New Orleans.

15 NORTHEAST FLORIDA BASEBALL BATTERS TO WATCH

UT Anthony Brown, Sr., Englewood: A .364 batter last year with 10 doubles and 15 steals, Brown does a little bit of everything for the Rams as shortstop, outfielder and pitcher. Englewood could be a tough opponent, with Dominick Patruno (.355, 12 2B), Ethan Anderson and Brian Cartaya as top juniors.

C Hunter Carns, Sr., First Coast: The 2023 All-First Coast player of the year, Carns is a Florida State signee and potentially an early-round MLB Draft selection. Last year's numbers: a .478 average with eight homers, 25 RBI, 21 stolen bases and a 1.596 OPS.

C Franco Chaluja, Sr., Bishop Kenny: Even with top pitchers graduated from last year's regional champion team, Chaluja (.329, 4 2B) helps keep the Crusaders in the hunt. Also back is Daytona State College signee Andrew McWilliams and infielders Joshmar Carbonell, Derek Heideman and Michael Saunders.

SS Miles Franklin, Sr., Paxon: The top-of-the-order spark plug for the Golden Eagles. He batted .323 with four doubles and 19 stolen bases last year, returning as one of Paxon's leading contributors with the bat along with center fielder Jaquez Jackson.

C Kyle Geib, Sr., Menendez: To fight for a playoff berth in a district with two Alachua County programs, the Falcons will need another big year from the hard-hitting catcher. Geib made an impact in 2023 with a .419 average, nine doubles and a 1.058 OPS, and forms a primary battery with South Georgia State College commit Kason Degrande.

SS Gabe Gerhardt, So., Beachside: Gerhardt is a Barracuda worth watching for the next three years. He batted .338 with two triples and 11 steals as a freshman, and is also developing as a pitcher with impressive velocity.

OF Connor Guy, Sr., Keystone Heights: An athlete of multiple talents, including basketball, football and golf, Guy batted .358 last year with six doubles, four triples, 22 RBI and error-free fielding. He's committed to Daytona State College.

OF Ryan Hansen, Sr., St. Augustine: A Lander signee, Hansen batted .290 last season and looks well positioned to top the .300 mark on a Jackets squad returning seven starters. Senior pitcher Cooper Kiker (2.40 ERA, 50 K) and Tocoi Creek transfer Skylar Kokoszka further bolster the roster.

OF Parker Martin, Sr., Mandarin: A threat in the middle of the order, Martin batted .333 and earned All-Gateway honors for the 14-11 Mustangs. With 11 seniors graduated and ace John Brooks making his way back from shoulder surgery, Mandarin needs big seasons from Martin and fellow returners Dylan McCleod and C.J. Murphy.

C Mason McLeod, So., University Christian: He showed instant promise as a sophomore for UC, batting .431 with seven doubles and a 1.092 OPS. UC also brings back several more returners, including Cam Harnage in the outfield and both Austin Pickett and Caden Worbington on the mound, and adds junior transfer Bubba Crouch from Yulee.

OF Josh Murray, Jr., Fleming Island: Tools in abundance. The all-county outfielder batted .348 with six doubles and six steals for the Golden Eagles in their 16-9 season. With Murray and infielders Ben Abram and Tanner Upton back in the lineup, and Keegan Leckband emerging as a No. 1 starter, a playoff push may be coming.

IF Ayden Phillips, Jr., Columbia: From a roster that graduated stars like Joshua Fernald, Hayden Gustavson and early FSU enrollee Camdon Frier, the cupboard isn't bare for the 2023 state semifinalists: Hard-hitting corner infielder Phillips batted .452 with five doubles, 29 RBI and 1.146 OPS.

C Ben Robinson, Sr., Tocoi Creek: The Northwest Florida State College commit brings all-around skills behind the plate, including home run pop (two last year), defense and even some speed (seven steals).

OF Jordan Smith, Sr., Wolfson: Signed with Edward Waters, the all-around athlete reaches base reliably (.325, 4 2B) with solid plate discipline (15 walks). He's a keystone of a Wolfpack team that won 21 games last year and also returns shortstop Cooper Rowell (Webber International) and corner infielder Brady Toney (Mount St. Mary's).

SS Maddox Spencer, Jr., Nease: Pass-catching on the gridiron (68 receptions, 1,348 yards, 16 TD in the fall) is only one part of the story for Spencer. He batted .296 with five doubles last season on a Panthers team that finished at .500 in the always-competitive St. Johns County baseball scene.

2024 FHSAA BASEBALL DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS

District 1-7A: Atlantic Coast, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Flagler Palm Coast, Mandarin, Sandalwood.

District 3-6A: First Coast, Fleming Island, Fletcher, Gainesville Buchholz, Nease, Oakleaf, Tocoi Creek.

District 2-5A: Columbia, Gainesville, Tallahassee Lincoln, Tallahassee Rickards.

District 3-5A: Clay, Middleburg, Orange Park, Ridgeview.

District 4-5A: Beachside, Englewood, Parker, Ponte Vedra, Riverside, St. Augustine.

District 2-4A: Baker County, Gadsden County, Suwannee, Tallahassee Godby, Taylor County, Wakulla.

District 3-4A: Bishop Kenny, Paxon, Raines, Ribault, Stanton, Westside, White, Yulee.

District 4-4A: Alachua Santa Fe, Gainesville Eastside, Menendez, Palatka.

District 2-3A: Baldwin, Bishop Snyder, Bradford, Trinity Christian, West Nassau.

District 3-3A: Bolles, Episcopal, Fernandina Beach, Jackson, Providence, Wolfson.

District 4-3A: Crescent City, Father Lopez, Interlachen, Keystone Heights, Ocala Trinity Catholic, P.K. Yonge, Pierson Taylor.

District 2-2A: Christ's Church, First Coast Christian, Harvest Community, St. Johns Country Day, St. Joseph.

District 3-2A: Eagle's View, Parsons Christian, Seacoast Christian, University Christian.

District 4-2A: Countryside Christian, Gainesville Oak Hall, Gainesville St. Francis, Peniel Baptist.

District 6-1A: Branford, Fort White, Hamilton County, Hilliard, Mayo Lafayette, Union County.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school baseball: Northeast Florida's top teams, players to watch