Touching base: Top Sarasota-Manatee high school baseball players to keep an eye on for the 2024 season

SARASOTA — Our area has had its share of players reach the big leagues. From Wayne Garrett and Doug Corbett to Scooter Gennett and Ian Desmond, baseball, indeed, has been very, very good to us.

Who's to say one or more of the players to look for in 2024 won't someday follow a similar path? Until then, enjoy the stars of tomorrow today.

Cooper Backman, Riverview, Senior

The Rams’ third baseman will continue playing baseball at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C. But Lander is used to moving around. Riverview’s shortstop last season, head coach Jeremy Schmidt moved him to third for this season. “That’s more of his true position,” Schmidt said. “He is projected at the college level to play third.” A starter since his sophomore year, Backman hit .341 in 26 games. He had a team-high 29 hits, 4 of them doubles. “He’s our most consistent hitter,” Schmidt said. “He’s going to be able to be a power guy. He’s a tall kid and has a good presence at the plate.”

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Bernard Barnes, Sarasota, Senior

As good as the Sailor right-hander is on the mound and in the batter’s box, his head coach, Greg Mulhollen, feels Barnes is even better off the field. “Bernard is the heartbeat of this team,” he said. “He is a great human being who leads through his work ethic and gives the underclassmen someone to model after. Bernard is a very polished player and one of the best kids that I have had the privilege to coach.” Headed to the State College of Florida in the fall, Barnes was a Sailor dual threat last season. On the mound, he went 6-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched. At the dish, Barnes batted .341 with five doubles, 2 home runs and 19 runs batted in.

Brandon Beasley, Out-of-Door Academy, Senior

A quiet leader on the Thunder baseball team, Beasley, said his coach, Mike Matthews, will lead with his actions. “He is coachable and is willing to do what is necessary to help the team,” Matthews said. A player on Out-of-Door since the eighth grade, Beasley was a key component on the 2021-22 team which won the Class 2A-Region 3 title. Last season he batted .402 and knocked in 29 runs. “Brandon’s numbers have continued to improve throughout high school,” Matthews said. Beasley is currently uncommitted.

Caiden Cabral, Riverview, Sophomore

A freshman doesn’t succeed in a program like Riverview’s by accident. He has to possess a certain level of maturity, one of the things that helped Cabral turn heads his first year in the Ram program. “I knew of him from his travel ball team, State Select,” said Riverview head coach Jeremy Schmidt. “He’s just a ballplayer. He comes in every day prepared and works hard. Just the way he goes about his business. At his age, to prepare like he does, that put him in a situation to be successful last year as a freshman.” Riverview’s second baseman, Cabral hit .323 with three doubles and 16 runs scored. A one-time catcher, the 5-foot-7 Cabral was moved to second “and with his athletic ability,” Schmidt said, “he just kind of took to it.” He was put second in the Riverview batting order and he stayed there. “He doesn’t chase,” Schmidt said. “He knows the zone. He always gave a quality at-bat. And he was able to shake it off if he had a bad at-bat. He has the potential to be a really, really good player.”

Tyler Cripe, Parrish, Junior

An infielder/outfielder/pitcher who appeared in 18 games as a freshman, Cripe stepped up as a sophomore for the Bulls. He hit .308, his 19 RBI leading the team. He had 3 doubles, 3 triples, 9 stolen bases, and made two errors in 46 total chances in the field. On the mound, Cripe appeared in five games, pitching a total of 4.2 innings with a 3.00 ERA.

Joshua Doerrfeld, North Port, Senior

Batted .432 as a sophomore, Followed that up last season by hitting .347, second highest on the team. He had 2 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 home run. Doerrfeld also pitched in on the mound, going 4-1 wirh a 3.56 ERA. "He's probably the most dominant two-way player in southwest Florida," said North Port head coach Kevin O'Sullivan.

Nick Dunn, Venice, Junior

The father of the Venice third baseman/outfielder is the vice president of Florida operations for the Atlanta Braves. “So he’s been around a lot of big league guys,” Venice head coach Craig Faulkner said. That can only help Dunn, Venice’s No. 3 hitter, who hit .325 in 26 games. His three doubles tied for the team lead, and he had one of Venice’s two home runs. “His hands are lightning fast,” said Faulkner. “He’s got a lot of potential, a lot of power. He’s not a big kid, either, but he’s one of those powerful, quick hands guys. Really good bat speed.” He’s also the one Venice player who’s likely to make you laugh. “He keeps us loose,” Faulkner said. “He’s kind of a jokester. If you’re looking for someone to have fun with, he’s the guy.”

Keegan Duquette, Parrish, Senior

Andrzejewski calls the right-hander the team’s “hidden gem.” With Duquette coming off an arm injury, Andrzejewski believes he’s primed for a big season. Last year, he had a team-best 0.90 ERA and held opponents to a .136 batting average. Andrzejewski said he’s now healthy and has had a major increase in velocity. “Keegan has worked so hard to come back healthy for his senior season,” he said. “He gives us depth in the rotation . . . and he’s going to make some college very happy.”

Jon Embury, Venice, Senior

The Venice pitching staff didn’t record its 2.05 team ERA last season without some help from the guy behind the plate. And that guy was Embury, Venice’s starting catcher.  “He really commands our pitching staff,” Venice head coach Craig Faulkner said. “He’s a pretty special fellow.” Tied for the team high in games played with 28, Embury hit .289. He tied for team highs in RBI (9) and doubles (2). He also had one of the two home runs hit by Venice. Defensively, he made one error in 114 total chances for a fielding percentage of .991.

Diego Garcia-Gill, Manatee, Senior

The first thing you notice about Garcia-Gill when he plays is his legs. Or the speed he generates with them. The senior Hurricane has been timed in the 60-yard dash in 6.6 seconds. The second thing you notice is when Garcia-Gill throws the ball from his shortstop position. It arrives to the Manatee first baseman in a big hurry. A three-year Hurricane starter, Garcia-Gill batted .406 last season. He scored 23 runs, knocked in 12, and stole 21 bases. “He has solidified his position as the offensive leader and spark plug,” said Manatee head coach Nolan Neiman. “His leadership to Manatee’s group of young, talented players has helped the program grow and mesh at a rapid pace.” Garcia-Gill will play collegiately at Hillsborough Community College. A good high school shortstop, he’ll probably be moved to second base or the outfield.

Troy Guthrie, Parrish, Senior

Every head coach or manager needs a horse at the top of his rotation. Troy Guthrie is Brett Andrzejewski’s horse. The right-hander was voted the 2023 Manatee County Pitcher of Year after throwing 60.2 innings and finishing with a 5-3 mark and 2.54 ERA. Guthrie, a Florida Gulf Coast University commit, combines a fastball in the low 90s and a curveball/slider combination. A 4-year letterman after this season, Guthrie already holds the school career record for wins, innings pitched, and appearances. His next strikeout will make him the Parrish career leader with 150. A selection in the upcoming MLB Draft is a possibility. “Troy is the most talented pitcher I’ve ever coached,” said Andrzejewski. “Today, he’s the best pitcher in the 941 area code, and I wouldn’t want anyone else on the bump in a crucial game.”

Calin Heath, Parrish, Senior

Once again, Heath will occupy the position marked “6” in your scorebook, as he has since his freshman year as a Bull. Last season, he made just three errors in 63 total chances, a fielding percentage of .952. But he also batted .360, drove in 16 runs, had 6 doubles, 3 triples, and finished with an OPS of 1.105. He was also second on the Bulls in steals with 15. Heath will follow in the footsteps of his dad, Eric, by playing baseball at State College of Florida. Off the field, Heath is a member of the top 10 percent of his graduating class. “I am so excited to see how Calin’s senior year shapes out,” Andrzejewski said. “He’s such a great young man who represents our program so well on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.”

Ryan Kaitz, Lakewood Ranch, Senior

The Mustang had a 2023 campaign which saw him fill up the stat sheet with regularity. He finished second on the team in hitting at .365, had 27 hits, scored 19 runs, knocked in 13, had 1 double, 1 sacrifice fly, 17 walks, 15 strikeouts, 4 hit by pitches, and all figured out to an OPS of 1,027. In the field, though, Kaitz needs to improve. He committed 9 errors in 55 total chances for a fielding percentage of .795.

Jackson Lucas, Venice, Junior

Even the head coach for Jackson Lucas admits the junior left-hander doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of opposing hitters. Before or after they face the ace of the Venice pitching staff. Because if it’s after, the typical reaction might be, “How did that guy get me out four times?” “He’s the kind of pitcher you look at and say, ‘Man, we don’t have a couple of hits off this guy,’’’ said Venice head coach Craig Faulkner. “It’s not like he’s blowing it by anyone, but he just keeps everybody off balance. His strength is that he throws three pitches for strikes. He has good command and he really handles himself well on the mound. He is a competitor.” Lucas has success with a fastball that sits around 83-85 mph because his best pitch is the changeup -up. Combining that with a curve, Lucas won seven of the 15 games won last season by Venice, with a 0.88 ERA. He allowed 23 hits in the 24 innings he pitched, but allowed only 3 earned runs. Opponents batted .247 against him, with an on-base percentage of .314. “He can sink it away or run it in,” Faulkner said. After this season, Lucas will pitch next at Troy University. “Everybody knows you’re getting our best pitcher,” Faulkner said.

Jonathan Maassen, Parrish, Junior

Was the Bulls' starting catcher as a freshman, helping the team's pitching staff to a 1.82 ERA. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder hit just .208, but had a fielding percentage of .985 behind the plate. And the team ERA was 2.31.

Jack Muller, Lakewood Ranch, Senior

If a pitcher like Alex Vaillancourt is going to pitch to contact, he must have confidence his defense will make the plays behind him. He has no such concerns when the ball is hit to Mustang shortstop Jack Muller. “Always have him there and he’s got a good arm,” said Ranch head coach Colton Chupp. “He’s a one-step-and-throw guy. He’s smooth in everything he does.” At 6-foot-2, somewhat tall for a shortstop, the senior is able to get to balls that would otherwise find the outfield grass. But it’s not as if Muller is an asset in the field, but a liability at the plate. He batted .329, fourth-highest on the Mustangs, while scoring 14 runs, collecting 25 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 12 RBI.

Will St. Onge, Riverview, Senior

For St. Onge, where he would spend his collegiate years was determined by a fair measure of luck. The Ram right-hander was pitching in a tournament when a coach from Coastal Carolina University happened to catch his performance. The courtship didn’t take long; in the fall, St. Onge, whose dad, Joe, is the Rams’ girls soccer coach, will be wearing Chanticleer teal and bronze. “Will just has a live arm,” said Riverview head coach Jeremy Schmidt. “He’s a big kid, throws hard, has great off-speed stuff. He’s been on the varsity since a sophomore, and each year he’s gotten better and better.” Last season St. Onge pitched 29.2 innings over eight appearances. He finished 1-1 with a team-low 2.12 ERA. He struck out 35 over those 29.2 innings, but also walked 25, threw eight wild pitches, hit six batters, and had 13 bases stolen on him.

Juan Perez, Sarasota, Senior

The senior Sailor catcher must have worked hard between his sophomore and junior seasons. How else do you explain a .154 average as a sophomore exploding to .330 as a junior, with 8 doubles and 19 runs batted in? And Perez is able to do damage from both sides of the plate. “He’s a very powerful switch-hitter,” Sarasota head coach Greg Mulhollen said. Behind the plate, Perez had a major hand in the staff’s 2.34 ERA. He’ll be headed in the fall to State College of Florida to play baseball.

Lochlan Radloff, Lakewood Ranch, Senior

Complementing Vaillancourt on the bump for the Mustangs is a left-hander who forms, according to head coach Colton Chupp, the best 1-2 pitching combination in the area. “I’d probably say they’re the two best around,” he said. “Lochlan, for sure, is one of the best pitchers in the area. He plays with some swag. He’s another bulldog on the mound.” Not only did Radloff win four games last year, tying Vaillancourt for the high on the team, he also batted a team-high .396 with 18 runs scored, 36 hits, 3 doubles, and 1 home run. “He bats well, too,” Chupp said. “It’s like natural for him to do both.” As opposed to Vaillancourt, Radloff will run his fastball, then go to the curve and/or change. “He was around 87 mph to 89 mph, but he’ll probably touch 91 this year,” Chupp said. “He doesn’t care who’s at the plate.” Radloff has committed to State College of Florida.

Will Rawls, Parrish, Senior

Last year, Rawls’ first with the Bulls, was a memorable one. He batted .487, a Parrish single-season record, with an on-base percentage of .487 and a slugging percentage of .576. His 4 triples and 22 stolen bases were also school single-season marks. Rawls had 28 hits, 18 runs scored, 10 runs batted it, and was rewarded for his season by being named the Manatee County Player of the Year. He’s committed to State College of Florida, also his dad’s alma mater. “Will is one of those guys who is a pleasure to coach,” Parrish head coach Brett Andrzejewski said. “All gas, no brakes. He’s one of the few players in today’s age who could have played in the 80s and 90s with his mentality.”

Andrew Schroeder, Lakewood Ranch, Senior

Sure-handed infielder/pitcher for the Mustangs who batted .315, scored 17 runs, had a team-high 18 RBI, 2 doubles and a team-high 3 triples. On the mound, Schroeder pitched 4.2 innings, finishing 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA.

Jacob Traeger, Parrish, Senior

If facing a Parrish team with Troy Guthrie in the rotation wasn’t tough enough for opponents, in Traeger, the Bulls have an arm capable of starting or relieving. Last season the right-hander led the Bulls in wins (8) and appearances (15). As a starter last season, he had three consecutive starts of 4 innings pitched, no hits and no runs. Like Guthrie and Heath, Traeger will become a 4-year letterman after the season. He’s headed to Averett University to play baseball and pursue a career in aviation. “Jacob is a special young man,” said Andrzejewski. “He’s someone who his teammates and coaches all love. He brings a positive energy and light each day to the field. And his execution on the mound is as good as anyone I’ve coached.”

Alex Vaillancourt, Lakewood Ranch, Senior

Opposing hitters shouldn’t smack their lips when the fastball of Alex Vaillancourt appears incapable of breaking glass. That’s not how the soft-tossing right-hander is going to send them back to the bench scratching their heads. “He doesn’t throw hard,” said Mustang head coach Colton Chupp, “but he can hit the spots. He can hit the spots with his fastball and locate three of his off-speed pitches.” Pitch to contact and allow your defense to make plays behind you. The 5-foot-9 senior does make it appear that easy. “That’s what makes him really effective,” Chupp said. “He had five walks in 56 innings the entire year. And he wants the ball. He’s a quiet kid, but he’s got that (bulldog) mentality on the mound.” Last year, Chupp received texts from Div. I schools inquiring into Vaillancourt. The problem was when they learned he was 5-9, they said they would wait. “There is some interest from New College of Florida,” Chupp said. “But does he want to stay in Florida, or move out of the state?”

Kyle Vaughn, Braden River, Senior

As a junior, Vaughn was the Pirates' most solid hitter. His .313 average was a team high, and the outfielder was one of only two Braden River hitters to eclipse .300. Vaughn's 21 hits were a Pirate high, he knocked in 12 runs, and hit the team's only home run.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top Sarasota-Manatee high school baseball players to keep an eye on in 2024