Similar to prior seasons, Florida high school baseball will be absolutely loaded with talent across the state in 2024. Headlined by some of the nation’s premier high school prospects, let’s take a dive into some of the biggest names taking the field this spring, and rank our top 10 players entering the 2024 Florida high school baseball season.
10. Talan Holiday, RHP – American Heritage
We begin with a pitcher in Talan Holiday, who is a North Carolina commit entering his junior season at American Heritage. Helping lead the Patriots to the Class 5A state championship a year ago, the right-hander posted a 9-1 record with a 1.28 ERA and an 83:30 K:BB ratio across 65.2 IPs.
9. Lazaro Collera, RHP – Westminster Christian
An offseason transfer, Lazaro Collera joins Westminster Christian for the 2024 campaign from Class 2A’s Florida Christian. Collera, a right-handed pitcher committed to Miami, posted a 3.09 ERA with a 88:20 K:BB ratio across 54.1 IPs.
8. Chase Mobley, RHP – Durant
One of Florida high school baseball’s top offseason transfers was Chase Mobley, who made the move to Class 7A’s Durant from 6A’s Plant City. The Florida State commit held a 2.41 ERA and a 48:24 K:BB ratio across 32 IPs last season as a junior, while also slashing .278/.381/.444 with two HRs and 12 RBIs offensively.
7. Johnny King, LHP/1B – Naples
Johnny King is coming off a stellar junior season in which he helped lead Naples to a Class 5A regional semifinal appearance and a 20-8 overall record. The Miami commit made an impact in multiple facets of the game, slashing .443/.519/.670 offensively with 27 RBIs and six SBs, while also owning a 1.11 ERA and 73:10 K:BB ratio on the mound.
6. Angel Santiago-Velazquez, SS/2B – Sunset
After helping lead Sunset to the Class 4A state semifinals a year ago as a junior, Marshall commit Angel Santiago-Velazquez enters 2024 as likely the biggest name returning for the Knights. Offensively last season, Santiago-Velazquez slashed .535/.629/1.000 with seven HRs, 23 RBIs, and 22 SBs.
5. Rylan Lujo, SS/3B – Stoneman Douglas
The top five begins with Rylan Lujo, a Dayton commit who helped lead Stoneman Douglas to a 29-0 record and a Class 7A state title a year ago. As a junior, Lujo slashed .415/.515/.756 with six HRs, 28 RBIs, and 10 SBs.
4. Hunter Carns, C – First Coast
Arguably the state’s top catcher, Hunter Carns enters the 2024 season coming off a memorable junior campaign at Class 6A’s First Coast. The Florida State commit slashed .478/.596/1.000 a year ago with eight HRs, 25 RBIs, and 21 SBs.
3. Dylan Jordan, RHP – Viera
Dylan Jordan, a Florida State commit, is squarely in the conversation for Florida’s top pitcher entering his senior season at Viera. Helping lead the Hawks to a 24-6 record and the Class 6A state championship game last season, the right-hander owned a 7-2 record with a 0.69 ERA and an 87:22 K:BB ratio across 51 IPs.
2. Devin Fitz-Gerald, SS/2B – Stoneman Douglas
Devin Fitz-Gerald is arguably the state’s top infielder coming off a season in which he helped lead the Stoneman Douglas Eagles to an undefeated 29-0 record and yet another Class 7A state title. As a junior, Fitz-Gerald, an NC State commit, slashed .410/.543/.769 with six HRs, 32 RBIs, and three SBs.
1. Noah Franco, OF/LHP – IMG Academy
Likely the state’s top two-way player, Noah Franco sits in the top spot after helping lead IMG Academy to an undefeated 25-0 record a year ago. Franco, a TCU commit, slashed .320/.469/.680 during the 2023 campaign with three HRs, 13 RBIs, and six SBs a year ago offensively, while also owning a 4-0 record with a 1.62 ERA and 47:16 K:BB ratio across 30.1 IPs on the mound for the Ascenders.
