Preseason All-813Preps Watchlist: Infielders
As part of our preseason interactions with head coaches in our yearly survey, we asked each coach for one player from their team and any from outside their program for our preseason All-813Preps watchlist.
Any player that received two or more mentions earned a spot on our watchlist.
Following up on yesterday’s look at the Catchers’ watchlist we move around the diamond and take a look at the infielders area coaches say we should keep our eye on.
Corner Infield
Tate Anich, Bell Creek
Class: 2025, Carolina University
Breakdown: Providing some needed experience to a young Panthers team, Anich will need to be a big spark on offense for Bell Creek. He looks to follow up on his junior year, where he hit .430, drove in 15 runs and hit six doubles. He’ll work some at the corner infield spots and serve as Bell Creek’s designated hitter.
Coach’s Take: “As a junior last year, Tate was a vital part of the team and he will be expected to help lead the way this season for a team that is young and inexperienced.” – Bell Creek coach Frank Burke
Nico Brown (Sr), King
Class: 2025
Breakdown: Brown is set to be a significant part of the Lions offense this year, and brings a ton of experience with 74 games played at the varsity level. He has a career .316 average with 42 runs scored – including a .364 (28 hit) junior, where he led the team with seven doubles and four triples.
Coach’s Take: “Nico and his brother (Nicholas) are just blessed swinging the bat. I expect him to play at the next level as he’s a little bit more of a power guy. I expect that to show up this year where he has previously been more of a gap-to-gap hitter.” – King coach Jim Macaluso
Jaden Nazar, Sickles
Class: 2025
Breakdown: The Gryphons leader in hits (37), RBI (27) and doubles (nine) as a junior – earning All-813Preps First Team honors – Nazar should have a big season at the plate. With table-setting fellow 2024 All-813 recipient Jordan Yost just in front of him in the lineup, the opportunity to improve on those numbers should be there. We expect that, and some more power mixed in for his senior campaign.
Coach’s Take: “JJ is a hard-nosed, blue collar baseball player. Brings grit to our team. (He’s) going to be a large part of our offense this year. He’s a guy we are going to look to when it gets tough late in games to fuel our team.” – Gryphons coach Eric Luksis
Sebastian Peralta, Sumner
Class: 2025, Hillsborough Community College commit
Breakdown: Sumner posted a 15-7 record a season ago, have a talented 2025 program that could make a big impact this season, and Peralta will be a key part of what’s to come. Last season, he led the Stingrays in hits (26; .394 avg.), runs (23) and home runs (three), while driving in 14, with four doubles. A strong defender with quick reflexes and a great arm at the hot corner.
Coach’s Take: “Peralta plays with his hair on fire. He has great motivation and is a clubhouse leader for us. He has great hands at third base and plus power at the plate.” – Sumner coach Kennedy Duran
Middle Infield
Jordan Yost, Sickles
Class: 2025, University of Florida commit
Breakdown: A pitcher AND catcher’s nightmare, Yost is a pitch-ripping machine with one of the best eyes in the county. His .412 average last year (35 hits) included five doubles and three triples, while he scored 32, walked 17 times to just two strikeouts and stole 18 bases. His speed and athleticism shores-up Sickles’ infield and the offense. It will be fun to see if there is a power uptick for the senior Gators’ commit to add even more to his all-around game.
Coach’s Take: “Jordan does everything you would want your leader to do. He leads by example, works extremely hard, and excels in the classroom. Very low maintenance player that any coach/scout would love to invest in. Guys that check every box don’t come around often and we’ve been fortunate to have him for four years with the same mentality.” – Gryphons coach Eric Luksis
Urban Ellis, Plant
Class: 2026
Breakdown: Ellis, a junior who hit .290 last year with 11 runs scored a season ago, figures to factor in for the Panther for the next two seasons. His athleticism makes him adaptable around the field, but slotted in at shortstop allows for senior captain Cash Strayer to continue to patrol in centerfield, while Ellis anchors the infield. We saw a defensive play-of-the-night effort on a long foul ball down the leftfield line at Jesuit on Thursday, showcasing Ellis’ range and speed.
Coach’s Take: “I know I’m lucky. The fruits of Plant – another left-handed batter who can really hit. We are going to go when he goes, and we expect a lot of that this year.” – Plant coach Dennis Braun
Justis Meadows, Wharton
Class: 2025, Florida Tech signee
Breakdown: Meadows has been making an impact for the Wildcats offense for three years, posting a career .369 average in 71 games. In his junior year he had 32 hits, with 24 RBI, nine doubles and three home runs. He’s also proved a versatile defensive player seeing time on both sides of second base and in left field. His power just started to find its hold last season, including a home run in Wharton’s final game, and we look forward to see him build on his career numbers, knocking on the door of the 80th hit of his high school career.
Coach’s Take: “Justis Meadows is explosive and fun to watch. He’s a gamer who plays smart and always has the ability to make something happen. You don’t want to miss too many of his AB’s.” – Wharton coach Anthony Markle
Eli Thomas, Plant City
Class: 2025, University of South Florida signee
Breakdown: Looking forward to getting our first look at the transfer from Shorecrest Prep, who led the Chargers as a junior with 40 hits (.494 avg), 20 stolen bases, 30 runs and 17 RBI, while hitting seven doubles, four triples and four home runs. He enters the year in his fifth season on varsity (starting at Shorecrest as an eighth grader) and has 119 career hits. An impact player and USF commit, who gives the Raiders a significant threat on offense and a strong defensive player up the middle, for a PC team looks to rebound from a 8-16 season in 2024.
Coach’s Take: “Eli is a dude … the culture he creates just by being on the team is the kind every coach would be lucky to have. He’s a first one there, last to leave. I have been around this game for a long time and I don’t know of a harder worker than him. He has a sweet, left-handed stroke and hits for a little power and a good average. But he is definitely a baseball player through-and-through – the very definition of a ball player.” – Raiders coach Mark Persails
