1. Jesuit

This is a loaded Tigers squad with a high-octane pitching staff featuring a trio of mid-to-upper 90s fastball pitchers in senior and 2025 All-813Preps Most Valuable Player Wilson Andersen, senior righty Kaden Waechter, and junior right-hander Samir Mohammed. Andersen, a Mississippi State signee got it done on the mound and at the plate last season posting a 9-4 record with a 1.04 ERA and 105 strikeouts, while also batting .286 with 21 RBI and five homers; Waechter, an FSU commit, was sidelined for the first half of the 2025 season with a knee injury, but once he returned he was a spark for the Tigers, helping Jesuit claim district and region titles and reach the state semifinals. Mohammed, a powerhouse and LSU commit made 11 appearances last year with 45 strikeouts, and rounds out the trio – but they are just a few of the talented standouts for the Tigers. All three will also be big part of the offense, but will have help along the way from last year’s All-813Preps first teamer Bryce Besece (.342, 23 RBI), seniors Cannon Murtaugh and Christian Sheffield, as well a junior newcomer Griffin Boesen; while potential closer Ben Burke and Hector Rivera will also factor in on the mound. Jesuit has again put together a gauntlet of a schedule – which features an opening game against Class 5A state finalist Wesley Chapel and a game at Steinbrenner Field on Friday against 2A state semifinalist Berkeley Prep.

2. Bloomingdale

The Bulls are coming off back-to-back state semifinal appearances (losing just three players from last year’s team), and are hungry to stretch the season out by a few more wins and potentially challenge for the program’s second state title. A 28-7 record last year featured stellar performances from a pair of returning righty pitchers, both named All-813Preps First Team selections in East Tennessee State signee Vaughn Osting (8-1, 1.28 ERA, 65 K’s) and Florida Southern signee Javier Navas-Hoyer (7-3 with a 1.62 ERA, 88 strikeouts; Saladino Tournament MVP). Outfielder Mason Johnson was voted team MVP as a sophomore a season ago, after batting .361 with 22 runs scored, 3B Isaiah Perez (.315, with 22 runs and 19 RBI) and Luke Long (11 runs, 11 RBI) will both factor in as significant parts of the Bulls offense and pitching staff. Catcher Even Plusquellic (23 hits, 23 runs) has transferred over from Newsome and should have an immediate impact. Bloomingdale visits Lennard to open the regular season on Tuesday, then hosts East Bay on Thursday.

3. Plant

The Panthers always impress us as one of the most fundamentally sound baseball teams we see every year. They couple reliable pitching, with patient hitting, and perennially strong defense. That should not change this year. Plant returns a lot of depth from last year’s district title and region semifinal run with an offense led by All-813Preps first team selection third baseman Urban Ellis (.344, 36 runs, 21 RBI; College of Central Florida signee), junior catcher Jordan Olivia (.359, 34 RBI, five homers), and catcher/utility player Wyatt Patterson (.368, 10 RBI). Senior righty Nick Townley returns to lead the way on the mound after a nine-win season last year, and he’ll be flanked by senior lefty Coy Keller and junior righty Truman Mayer on the mound. The Panthers travel to Strawberry Crest on Wednesday, and will host South Tampa rival Robinson on Thursday to open regular season play.

4. Alonso

The 2025 Ravens put together an incredible region tournament run, going on the road for 6-of-8 region games, toppling Windermere, Sarasota and Venice along the way to reach the 7A state final four. With last year’s retirement of King’s Jim Macaluso, in his 28th year (24th at AHS) Alonso skipper Landy Faedo enters this season as the new dean of Hillsborough baseball coaches. His Ravens have a very experienced pitching staff led by Julian Batista (5-3, 2.98 ERA and 71 strikeouts) and Marcello Diaz (5-3, 0.97 ERA and 34 strikeouts), who combined for 109 innings last year. And the deep senior class also includes outfielders Raymond Llanes (.342 avg, 22 runs, 10 RBI), Ionathan Perez (.277, 18 runs) and Jordan Brautigam (.299, 12 RBI). Alonso will host Gaither on Tuesday and visit Leto on Thursday.

5. Wharton

The Wildcats look to build off of last year’s incredible 27-8 season with a lot weapons returning. Senior righty and Embry-Riddle signee Daniel Duno went 8-3 with 67 strikeouts during an All-813Preps first team season, and will be a part of a senior-heavy pitching staff, which also features RHP Connor Evans (46 K’s) and LHP Chase Andress (45 K’s) returning; as well as the addition of Academy at the Lakes transfer Cooper Antelek. Back offensively is catcher Chase Anello, who was another All-813 first teamer thanks to 36 hits, 34 RBI and six home runs; and second baseman Jairius Morris, who hit .312 with 22 runs and 16 RBI; and Andress also swung it well, driving in 22 runs. Sadly, we lost a couple of HCPS teams in the county this year with Blake, Middleton and Tampa Bay Tech unable to field teams, and in an odd twist of luck the Wildcats had two of those teams scheduled for Week 1. So, we’ll have to wait a bit to see how Wharton starts the year.

6. Berkeley Prep

Yet another of Hillsborough County’s five state semifinalists a season ago, the Buccaneers return four All-813Preps smaller classification First Team members including 2025 Hitter of the Year Parker Mitzel, a pitcher and outfielder signed with Rice. Mitzel had 40 hits and 41 RBI for the 25-win Bucs; Carson Binder, a Holy Cross commit will be behind the dish looking to build on a .367 average last season and 11 doubles; centerfielder Josh Herrmann is signed with Wake Forest and hit .325, drove in 24 and stole 20 bags last year. Ben O’Brien went 9-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 78 strikeouts last year, and leads the rotation, with Mitzel also factoring in for starts. And this just scratches the surface of a stacked Berkeley Prep team, which also includes junior by shortstop Lucas Farrar (a USF commit; who scored 23 runs and drove in 18 last year), third baseman George Cook, senior utility man LJ Ulmer and outfielder/pitcher Jett Walters. Berkeley Prep will travel to River Ridge on Tuesday, then square off with Jesuit at Steinbrenner Field on Friday, and host Georgia’s Whitefield Academy on Saturday.

7. Jefferson

A 15-10 season which wrapped up in a region quarterfinal berth was a little bit of a down year compared to the success during Coach Spencer Nunez and his staff’s first five years, which includes two state semifinal appearances. The Dragons will be a pretty youthful team, but will rely heavily on its three seniors – including returner Kaiden Johnson at catcher, and two transfers in second baseman AJ Cruz (an HCC signee; who hit .286, with 18 RBI and 22 runs scored for 6A state semifinalists Bloomingdale) and righty Sam Hyman (a Barry signee; who had a 2.26 ERA across 55 2/3 innings with 50 strikeouts at Robinson). Junior Ethan Savinon returns on the mound after the righty posted a 4-2 year in 2025, with 49 strikeouts and a 2.02 ERA. Savinon and Hyman (who also had 33 hits and scored 17 runs last year) will both see time at third base as well. Jefferson starts the regular season at Armwood on Tuesday, and visit Hillsborough on Thursday.

8. Tampa Catholic

Coach Paul Russo Jr. enters his fifth season as the Crusaders head coach and looks to build on back-to-back district title runs and 74 wins over his first four years. The Crusaders graduated a deep senior class, but have plenty of talent returning to lead this year. Senior captain and catcher Cole Bitman hit .297 with three homers and 16 RBI; likely leading off on the lineup card will be shortstop Jack Smythe, who hit .323 with 20 runs and 14 RBI; while Talan Miranda (3-2 last year with a 1.85 ERA & 31 Ks), Ty Fraga & Jack Giovenco will eat up innings on the mound, before setting up projected closer Christian Serralles. The Crusaders have a three-game week to start the season, traveling to IMG to face its Silver squad on Tuesday, then host Tampa Prep on Thursday and IMG Blue on Friday.

9. Sickles

The Gryphons have posted five-straight seasons of 22-plus wins and reached the region final each year, including last year’s 25-11 district championship squad led by All-813Preps MVP and Detroit Tigers’ first-round pick Jordan Yost. The injury bug bit Sickles in the offseason, but there’s still plenty to be excited about for the Gryphons attempt to continue one of the most-successful winning legacies in the 8-1-3. Senior catcher and HCC commit Emilio Salgado returns to the meat of the order after hitting .325 with 26 RBI a season ago and earned second-team All-813Preps honors; lefty pitcher and OF Jake Taylor was also a second team member after going 7-4 with a 2.26 ERA and 52 strikeouts. He’ll be joined at the top of the rotation by junior RHP Peter Tsikouris, who averaged just over a strikeout per inning last year. Zach Dial had 33 hits and tossed 19 innings in 2025 and will mix in with Ben Durda (19 appearances, 2.54 ERA) for late-game opportunities on the mound. Sickles travels to Steinbrenner for Game 1 on Tuesday and visits 5A state runner-up Wesley Chapel on Thursday.

10. Newsome

The Wolves are coming off of back-to-back 21-win seasons, and enter 2026 under new head coach Kevin Ohme, who takes over after 12 years as the team’s pitching coach. Newsome claimed a district title and reached the region semifinals last year, while going 21-9. The team returns its top two hitters from a season ago in Holy Cross-signed shortstop Ocean Cozart (.388, 18 runs) and outfielder and Thomas College signee Alec Chin (.377, 18 RBI, 21 runs). A trio of seniors – righties Robertson DiPietro (Monmouth commit), Cooper Topp (Embry-Riddle signee) and left-hander Joe Calabria (Thomas College commit) will lead the show on the mound for the Wolves. Newsome opens the regular season at Plant City on Tuesday, and host Lennard on Thursday.

Bubble Teams

11. Durant 

A region qualifier and district runner-up last season, we have a bit of a “wait-and-see” attitude toward the Cougars this year. Junior righty and FSU commit Tristan Macpherson had great swing-and-miss stuff on the mound last year, finishing 3-3 with a 2.29 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings, and returns to lead things on the mound. Juniors Shawn Graves (.306, 16 RBI) and Brady Kelley (14 runs, 14 RBI), along with seniors Aidan Junttila, Jackson McClellan and Jacob Purcell round out the rest of the heart of Durant’s lineup. The Cougars open up on the road at Sumner on Tuesday, and host crosstown rival Plant City on Thursday.

12. Plant City

The Raiders finished 16-12 last year as the district runner-up to Newsome and come in to the 2026 season with some exciting players leading the way. That group starts with 6-foot-6, Mississippi State-signed righty Jake Carbaugh, who was 6-2 with a 1.65 ERA and 53 strikeouts last season. Shortstop Alex Rodriguez looks to build on his breakout freshman season last year, where he was named to the All-813Preps second team after batting .366 with 23 RBI; senior OF Drew Cothren had 25 hits and scored 18 times last year; senior RHP Merrick Smith and junior lefty Hunter Carbaugh flesh out the pitching staff, each returning after 20+ innings pitched a season ago. The Raiders open at home on Tuesday against Newsome and face Durant on the road on Thursday.

13. Strawberry Crest

The Chargers went 19-9 last season, were the Saladino Tournament runner-up and a region qualifier. Crest has a great foundation including key offensive returners like outfielder and Barry commit Reuben Vasquez (.357, 23 runs, 15 RBI), defensive standout SS and Polk State commit Nico Cappucci (.365, 27 runs, 19 RBI), along with three-year starting catcher Toby Highsmith. Saxon Shah returns after a steady dual-threat season with a 4-0 record on the mound with a 2.27 ERA. Senior FAMU signee Zalen Hicks should be a nice addition to the starting rotation after transferring in from Armwood, where he made 11 appearances last year going 4-4 with a 3.13 ERA. Though there is a good group of experienced returners for this Chargers squad, it is a younger group as a whole with 10 freshman and sophomores on the roster. Crest hosts Freedom and Plant, before wrapping up Week 1 with a visit to King on Thursday.

14. Cambridge Christian

The Lancers went on one of the more exciting late-season runs last year – winning eight-straight and capturing the in-season Sunshine State Athletic Conference state title, and reaching the region semifinals. CCS will have to adjust to life after the graduation of two-time All-813Preps first teamer Brody Bellomo, but have an exciting offense including first team selection sophomore Blake Hafner, who had 35 hits and 20 RBI last season, senior and Eckerd signee Alex Quintero (22 RBI and 11 extra-base hits last year), sophomore SS Ian Jansen (.308, with 25 RBI), and transfer Jayden Jardine (who drove in 17 for SLAM last year). Hafner will also factor in as a late-inning lefty arm for the Lancers, supporting returning ace Trigg Listerman (4-4, 2.79 ERA) and senior Will Snider (6-3, 1.52 ERA) heading the rotation. The Lancers open the year with a home-and-away with Lakeland Victory Christian and host Georgia’s Whitefield Academy at Skyway Park on Friday.

15. Gaither

The Cowboys are one of two teams (along with Steinbrenner) celebrating the 10-year anniversary of a 2016 state championship, and this year’s Gaither team comes in at No. 15 on our preseason rankings. The Cowboys offense will look to some new leadership after graduating a number of solid producers like All-813Preps first teamer Jackson Mirza and second team selection David Pina. Senior Albert Antinori returns after posting a .347 average last year, with outfielder SJ Branham looking to be a key returning contributor, along with newcomers to this season’s team Martin Galo and first baseman Jacob Butler factoring in. On the mound should be a strength for the team with returning pitchers like FAMU commit Matthew Altman, who had 41 strikeouts in 15 appearances last year, and Noah Lockler who went 4-4 last year, with Galo rounding out the projected rotation. Gaither begins the year on the road at Alonso on Tuesday and hosts Steinbrenner on Thursday.