Vote: Who is the top South Florida baseball position player?
It’s almost time for South Florida baseball teams to take the field, and “play ball!”
On Monday, high school baseball teams take the field, and SBLive Sports Florida will be covering the action in South Florida all season.
The talent rich area produced two state champions in 2023 – Class 6A Marjory Stoneman Douglas won its third-straight title, and American Heritage Plantation won it all in Class 5A.
South Florida once again is loaded with talented players and teams.
As we prepare for baseball to start up, SBLive Sports Florida is conducting our first poll. We ask, “Who is the Top position player?”
We aim to add as many players from as many teams as possible, and in our introductory poll, many terrific players will be left off. But stick with us, because our coverage will be expansive, and plenty of players will receive recognition.
Fans are encouraged to vote as often as you want. Voting ends February 14, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Spread the word!
Candidates are:
Austin Bertsch, C, Sagemont: As a junior, Bertsch was a .344 hitter, and showed plenty of power with four doubles, two triples and five home runs.
EJ Burns, SS, Taravella: Clearly one of the top players in South Florida, Burns is a team leader who hit .413 with a .581 on-base percentage as a junior with eight doubles, a triple and three home runs. The right-hander also pitches.
Greg Caban, 2B, Archbishop McCarthy: As a junior on a talented Mavericks team, Caban hit .364, collecting 28 hits with 18 RBIs, three doubles and a home run.
Devin Fitz-Gerald, SS, Stoneman Douglas: Realistically, we could nominate almost the entire Eagles’ roster. We’re narrowing it down. Fitz-Gerald, who has signed with North Carolina State, was a .410 hitter with 6 home runs and 32 RBIs as a junior.
Franklin Francisco, OF, Columbus: Listed at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds, Francisco has immense power. The senior batted .299 with 17 RBIs.
Jonathan Gomez, INF, Calvary Christian Academy: Consistency underlined Gomez’s junior season, as he batted .429, while scoring 31 runs. Gomez added four doubles, a triple, three home runs and 17 RBIs.
Jacob Lombard, INF, Gulliver Prep: One of the best sophomores in the country, Lombard’s older brother, George, was drafted by the New York Yankees last year. A soccer and baseball star, Jacob hit .318 with six doubles and two doubles as a freshman.
Rylan Lujo, 3B, Stoneman Douglas: A power-hitting third baseman, Lujo hit .415 a year ago with 10 doubles and six home runs.
Riley Luft, 3B/OF, North Broward Prep: A gamer, and a leader, Luft batted .378 as a junior with 28 RBIs.
Daniel Ortega, INF, Western: There’s plenty of really talented players on Western. We’re going with Ortega, a senior who had four home runs and 16 RBIs as a junior.
Bradyn Potter, OF, NSU University: The Sharks have a talented, young roster, and Potter stood out a year ago as a sophomore, hitting .431 with four doubles and six triples.
Alejandro Puig, SS, Pembroke Pines Charter: One of the most athletic players in South Florida, Puig had a breakout junior season, batting .367 with seven doubles and two home runs.
Jordan Rich, OF, American Heritage Plantation: A two-sport star, Rich had a breakthrough 2023 season on the diamond. A speedster, who also plays defensive back on the football team, Rich batted .414 with a .509 on-base percentage and 17 stolen bases.
Bruno Schafer, INF, Flanagan: With a .319 career batting average, Schafer is one of the Falcons’ top performances.
Michael Torres, OF, Doral Academy: Committed to the University of Miami, Torres is an elite talent, sporting a .351 batting average with 10 doubles and five home runs last year.
Jason Wachs, OF, West Broward: Doubling up as an outfielder and pitcher, Wachs has a .333 career batting average with four home runs and 40 RBIs.
