Most high school baseball players never make it to college ball, and those that do probably don’t make it to MLB.
With thousands upon thousands of prospects playing the sport nicknamed “America’s pastime,” spots in the highest league are obviously very exclusive, and only the best of the best are able to find a place on an MLB roster.
Despite the exclusivity, the Volusia-Flagler area has seven former high school and college baseball players that have played in 2026, including three prior All-Stars.
Here’s a look at how each of their campaigns has gone before the regular season resumes after the All-Star break.
Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
The list of active local MLB talent can only start with DeLand native, Stetson alumnus and Rangers starter Jacob deGrom.
The five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner has started 18 games for Texas this season for a total of 100⅔ innings. deGrom’s 3.49 ERA and 122 strikeouts lead all Rangers starters, helping the team to a 49-47 record and current first-place standing in the American League West. deGrom is 7-5 this season.
His ERA is the second-highest of his career, a testament to the success he’s had since being promoted to the majors in 2014.
Austin Hays, Chicago White Sox
deGrom isn’t the only active All-Star from Volusia County. Daytona Beach native and Spruce Creek High School graduate Austin Hays was honored with the Orioles in 2023.
Since then, Hays has played with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, Cincinnati Reds in 2025 and joined the White Sox for the 2026 season on a one-year deal.
Injuries have unfortunately derailed the outfielder’s inaugural season in the Windy City, having last played on May 1 due to a calf strain. Continued soreness has kept him out of the lineup.
Hays has appeared in 12 games with a .233 batting average, .576 OPS, seven RBIs and a home run.
Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners
Gilbert played for Stetson from 2016-18 before he was selected 14th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. After a few years in the minors, he made his big-league debut in 2021 against the Cleveland Indians.
Since then, the right-hander has started 165 games for the Mariners and was an All-Star in 2024.
Gilbert’s started 19 games in 2026, and his 3.32 ERA is the 19th-lowest in MLB. His 114 innings lead Seattle, and he’s turned them into 119 strikeouts, 24 walks and a 7-6 record.
Luke Weaver, New York Mets
Weaver, a DeLand native and DeLand High School alumnus, is in his 11th MLB season with his seventh team, the New York Mets.
The right-handed reliever is in his first season in Queens, and it’s his most successful to date. Weaver has posted a career-low 1.85 ERA in 39 innings so far, on pace to beat his 2024 best of 2.89 with the Yankees.
Weaver is 2-1 with 43 strikeouts, 11 walks and a save.
Nick Fortes, Tampa Bay Rays
Fortes is in his first full season with the Rays after getting traded to Tampa Bay from the Miami Marlins last July.
The DeLand High School graduate is the Rays’ primary catcher and has had his best season at the plate. Outside of the 2021 season with the Marlins, where he was called up in September, Fortes has a career-best .257 batting average. He also has 19 RBIs and two homers.
Behind the plate, Fortes has caught 12 runners stealing on 66 attempts and has allowed two passed balls.
Justin Lawrence, Washington Nationals
Lawrence, a former Daytona State pitcher, has lived in a few cities already in 2026.
The righty reliever began the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, appearing in 23 games with a 5.32 ERA before getting traded to the Minnesota Twins on June 1. Lawrence had an unsuccessful month in Minnesota with an 18.00 ERA in seven appearances.
The Washington Nationals claimed Lawrence off waivers on June 24. He has made seven appearances, including a tenth-inning save in his Nationals’ debut, and carried that into a 4.26 ERA so far.
In total, Lawrence has made 37 appearances and pitched 34⅓ innings with a 7.34 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 28 walks.
Logan Allen, Cleveland Guardians
Allen, a University High School graduate, has spent most of the 2026 season with the Cleveland Guardians’ Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, after starting 73 games on the mound for Cleveland from 2023-25.
He has made one appearance for the Guardians, though, a four-inning relief effort against the Nationals on May 25. Allen struck out seven, walked one and didn’t allow an earned run.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia-Flagler MLB roundup: How 7 local pros have fared in 2026
Reporting by Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
