LAKE MARY — The Florida Collegiate Summer League is pleased to announce the 2024 All-Florida League teams. The teams are broken up into first and second teams, and recognize the best players in the Florida League this season.
FIRST TEAM:
CATCHER: Aris Rivera (UCF), DeLand Suns _ The UCF commit had a breakout summer in his second season as a DeLand Sun. Rivera, in just 20 more at-bats, more than tripled his RBI output from the 2023 season, driving in 17 runs in 27 games in a DeLand uniform. Rivera's biggest moment of the season came in his final home game as a Sun, belting a walk-off, two-run home run to give the Suns a 6-4 victory over the Winter Garden Squeeze.
FIRST BASE: James Strom (Akron), Leesburg Lightning _ A native of Odessa, Florida, Strom was a mainstay in the middle of Leesburg's lineup, hitting .310 with 18 runs batted in. Strom's summer was marked by a pair of huge moments - his game-tying home run in the bottom of the 10th of the Florida League All-Star Game, and his improbable catch against the wall for the second out of the ninth inning in the FCSL Championship Series clincher.
SECOND BASE: Stewart Puckett (South Florida), Sanford River Rats _ Puckett is on the All-Florida League Team for the second year in a row, and put together one of the best offensive seasons in the FCSL for 2024. Puckett was the lynchpin of a dangerous Sanford lineup, and proved to be one of the league's most feared hitters. The two-year River Rat finished either first or second in the Florida League in home runs, batting average, hits, runs batted in, OPS, slugging percentage, and runs created.
SHORTSTOP: Titan Kamaka (Mercer), Winter Garden Squeeze _ The 2024 Florida League Player of the Year had one of the most productive seasons in recent FCSL history. The Mercer commit set a new Florida League record with a .651 slugging percentage, topping a record that had stood for more than a decade. He was also the Florida League leader in hits, doubles, runs batted in, and runs created, while also finishing in the top five in OPS and batting average.
THIRD BASE: Hutson Guinn (Louisiana Tech), Orlando Snappers _ Guinn proved to be the most consistent hitter in Terry Abbott's lineup, logging 32 hits in 31 games played, including 12 extra base hits. The Louisiana Tech product finished the season ranked in the top ten in the Florida League in five major offensive categories - hits, doubles, runs created, slugging percentage, and home runs. Despite a loss, he was excellent in the Florida League Wild Card game, going 2-for-4 with a home run.
OUTFIELD: Garrett Byrd (Valdosta State), Winter Garden Squeeze _ Byrd was one of just four Florida League players - all of whom are on this All-Florida League team - to post an OPS of 1.000 or better. Byrd ranked in the top five in the FCSL in all three slash categories - batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage - and his 26 runs scored ranked third in the League. A Florida League All-Star selection, Byrd doubled eleven times on the season, second most in the league.
OUTFIELD: Michael Furry (Rollins), Leesburg Lightning _ Furry is one of two players to be named a First Team All-Florida League selection for the second year in a row. Furry was the Florida League batting champion with a .406 mark, and finished second in the FCSL with 27 runs scored. Furry was superhuman once the calendar turned to July, as the Rollins commit went 20-for-40 with 17 runs scored, leading the Lightning to the regular season pennant and eventually the Florida League title.
OUTFIELD: Zack Stokes (West Florida), Winter Garden Squeeze _ Stokes returned for his third season in a Winter Garden uniform, and was the heart and soul of one of the best Squeeze teams in franchise history. The Jacksonville native drove in 20 runs in his 30 games, and reached base at a .473 clip, good for fifth in the Florida League. Despite Winter Garden falling to DeLand in the playoffs, Stokes was excellent in the postseason, going 5-for-7 and driving in two of the Squeeze's six runs.
EXTRA HITTER: Jalen Hairston (State College of Florida), Sanford River Rats _ Before his selection in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, Hairston helped power one of the Florida League's most potent lineups. In 16 games with the River Rats, Hairston logged an OPS of nearly 1.000, putting together a slash line of .367/.468/.531. He drove in 15 runs in just 16 games, and was a menace on the basepaths, stealing 13 bases.
EXTRA HITTER: Xavier Lopez (Appalachian State), Sanford River Rats _ Lopez proved to be one of the League's best hitters, putting together a summer that helped him earn a commitment to Appalachian State. The Orlando native drove in 23 runs and scored another 19, all while posting a .356 batting average. Lopez was especially stellar in the Florida League's trip to Lynchburg, Virginia, going 5-for-7 in the NACSB Prospect Games.
EXTRA HITTER: Collin Priest (Clemson), Leesburg Lightning _ Priest, who committed to Clemson during the Florida League season, made an immediate impact for the Leesburg Lightning, winning the first edition of the Florida League Player of the Week award. Ten of Priest's 21 hits this summer went for extra bases, including four home runs. The Mount Dora native was one of just four players with a slugging percentage of .500 or better with more than 100 plate appearances.
UTILITY: Mathew Farner (Rollins), DeLand Suns _ The Rollins infielder joined the Suns a week into the season, and immediately became one of the toughest outs in the Florida League. Farner was one of just two players in the League to reach base more often than not, ending the regular season with a .511 on base percentage. Farner also ranked in the Top 10 in the Florida League in doubles, OPS, and batting average.
STARTING PITCHER: Haro Baez (Missouri Baptist), DeLand Suns _ Before departing for the professional MLB Draft League, Baez may have been the FCSL's most dominant arm. The Daytona Beach native allowed just two earned runs across 24.1 innings of work, good for a 0.74 earned run average. Baez struck out 23 hitters with just six walks, with the Suns posting a 5-2 record in his seven appearances. Baez was also named to the FCSL All-Star Game and FCSL Prospect Games team.
STARTING PITCHER: Tyler Donay (Embry-Riddle), Leesburg Lightning _ In his second summer in Leesburg, Donay helped to ensure a second straight title for the Lightning. The righthander finished second in the Florida League with a 1.51 earned run average across 29.2 innings, all while striking out 30 hitters. The Embry-Riddle product ended his summer on a high note, tossing 4.2 innings with just one earned run allowed in Leesburg's Game 1 win over DeLand in the Florida League Championship Series.
STARTING PITCHER: Lucas Hartman (Florida Gulf Coast), Orlando Snappers _ Although Hartman made just four appearances for the Orlando Snappers, he went deep in each appearance. The FGCU product tossed at least six innings in all three of his starts, striking out 26 hitters in 22.2 innings of work. He had a stellar outing with ten strikeouts against DeLand on July 6, then finished his summer with six shutout innings against a dangerous Winter Garden lineup on July 17.
STARTING PITCHER: Micah Takac (Mercer), Winter Garden Squeeze _ The 2024 Florida League Pitcher of the Year was the ace of staff for the Winter Garden Squeeze, going 5-0 with a 1.55 earned run average. The FCSL All-Star was the winning pitcher in five of his six regular season starts, and peppered the strike zone, walking just four batters in his 29 innings of work. In a stretch from June 8-to-July 18, Takac was the winning pitcher in five consecutive starts for Winter Garden.
STARTING PITCHER: Jace Trautner (Lipscomb), Leesburg Lightning _ After serving in a relief role in his first summer with the Lightning, Trautner became a trusted starter for Rich Billings' team in 2024. Trautner logged an earned run average of 1.82 across 24.2 innings of work, allowing just 19 hits and six walks in his six starts. The Lipscomb commit played a major role in Leesburg's run to another FCSL title, winning Game 2 of both the FCSL Semifinals and the Florida League Championship Series.
RELIEF PITCHER: Joel Core (Bethune-Cookman), DeLand Suns _ The 2024 Florida League Reliever of the Year was excellent in a long relief role for the Suns, striking out 37 hitters in 21.2 innings of work. Core became just the third pitcher in FCSL history to work 20 or more innings with a K/9 ratio of 15 or better, and the first since 2012. The Kissimmee native ended the regular season with a 3-0 record, and a 2.49 earned run average.
RELIEF PITCHER: Mark Chapa (Texas A&M International), Winter Garden Squeeze _ Chapa played a major role in the winningest season in Winter Garden history, coming out of the bullpen ten times for the Squeeze. The Texas native struck out 21 hitters in 14 innings of work, locking down three saves. Chapa did not allow an earned run in 10 of his 11 appearances (including the FCSL Semifinals), and held opposing hitters to a .128 batting average against, surrendering just six hits.
RELIEF PITCHER: Clayton Hendry (North Florida), Sanford River Rats _ For the entirety of the 2024 Florida League regular season, a Hendry appearance meant a Sanford River Rats win. Sanford was 8-0 in games pitched by Hendry, who logged an earned run average of 0.57 across 15.2 innings of work. The North Florida commit saved his best pitching for the postseason, striking out 14 hitters over 7.2 innings, including a win in the FCSL Wild Card game against Orlando.
RELIEF PITCHER: Andrew Lepine (Stetson), Sanford River Rats _ As an incoming freshman, Lepine earned the role as closer for the Sanford River Rats, and made the most of the opportunity. The Stetson Hatter gave up just eight hits and three walks in 17 innings of work this summer, locking down two wins and another four saves. Lepine did not give up an earned run in 12 of his 14 regular season appearances, and posted a 2.11 earned run average.
RELIEF PITCHER: Dylan Wolff (Florida Gulf Coast), Orlando Snappers _ In nine appearances for the Orlando Snappers, Wolff was nearly the definition of unhittable. In 10.2 innings on the mound, Wolff allowed just one hit. He did not allow any hits in his final seven appearances, picking up three saves as Orlando's most reliable bullpen option. Opposing hitters ended the season with a .032 batting average against Wolff, who finished the season with a 1.68 earned run average.
TWO WAY: Jacob Riegel (Tallahassee State), Sanford River Rats _ Riegel did a little of everything for Sanford, logging nearly 50 at-bats with seven appearances on the mound. Riegel ended the summer with a batting average of .298, as well as an on base percentage at .459. On the mound, he struck out 16 hitters in 13.2 innings, all while walking just five hitters. His efforts were rewarded with a playoff start, where he held the league champion Leesburg Lightning to one earned run over four innings.
SECOND TEAM:
CATCHER _ Joel Collado (Rhode Island), Winter Park.
FIRST BASE _ Ben Maskin, Winter Garden.
SECOND BASE _ Gabriel Santiago (Coker), Leesburg.
SHORTSTOP _ Isaac Nunez (Southeastern), Winter Park.
THIRD BASE _ Damion Kenealy (Lipscomb), DeLand.
OUTFIELD _ Sam Downey (Stetson), Winter Park.
OUTFIELD _ Dawson Mock (South Florida), Orlando.
OUTFIELD _ Jordy Oriach (New Mexico), Leesburg.
EXTRA HITTER _ Todd Clay (UAB), Winter Garden.
EXTRA HITTER _ Jacob Harper (Valdosta State), Sanford.
EXTRA HITTER _ Matt Rose (South Florida), Sanford.
EXTRA HITTER _ Maverick Stallings (Old Dominion), Winter Park.
UTILITY _ Camden Williamson (Lake Sumter State), Sanford.
STARTING PITCHER _ Garrett Caropreso (Seminole State), Orlando.
STARTING PITCHER _ Nolan Maroth, Winter Garden.
STARTING PITCHER _ Tyler Mecchella (Presbyterian), Winter Park.
STARTING PITCHER _ Austin Waring (South Florida), Sanford.
STARTING PITCHER _ Logan Wirt (Bethune-Cookman), DeLand.
STARTING PITCHER _ Phillip DeVita (Mars Hill), Winter Garden.
RELIEF PITCHER _ Jacob Iverson (Emory & Henry), Winter Garden.
RELIEF PITCHER _ Peyton Petry (Saint Leo), Leesburg.
RELIEF PITCHER _ Ethan Stephens (Florida Tech), Leesburg.
RELIEF PITCHER _ Tanner Walker (Florida A&M), Leesburg.
