There will be a mostly new cast of top baseball players in Polk County this season as seniors dominated The Ledger’s All-County team. Of the 29 players who were selected for either the first or second team, only six players return as 21 players graduated and two underclassmen are now at A3 Academy in Tampa.
Of the top six returning players, three are from Lakeland Christian. The Vikings should remain one of the top teams in the county. Mulberry, which advanced to the state tournament, was decimated by graduation and returns just one position player starter, but the Panthers could be a surprise team.
McKeel, George Jenkins and Santa Fe Catholic should also be among the top teams.
Here are the top six returning players along with 75 more players to watch for the 2026 season.
Top 6 returning Polk County baseball players
P Jameson McGuire, Santa Fe Catholic, Junior: McGuire was a dominant pitcher last season as he went 8-1 with a 0.71 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 68 innings. Be also batted .354 with six extra-base hits and 14 RBIs.
IF Gavin Byrd, Lakeland Christian, Senior: One of the top hitters in the county, he was batting over .400 before slumping in the final four games. He still batted .360 with four home runs, 19 RBIs, 30 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
IF/P Nate Diaz, Lakeland Christian, Senior: Went 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 28 innings. He also batted .382 with six doubles, 18 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
P/OF Anthony Iatarola, George Jenkins Junior: Committed to Stetson, he batted .382 with a team-high 18 RBIs.
P Alex Arthur, Lakeland Christian, Junior: Second on team in innings pitched last year, he went 5-0 with a 2.57 ERA.
C Brock Spurgeon, McKeel, Junior: Batted .333 and led the Wildcats with 11 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs.
75 more players to watch
Auburndale
IF Carter Brattlie, Senior: Was second on the Bloodhounds with 14 RBIs after batting .244.
IF Luke Slagel, Senior: Is the top returning hitter for the Bloodhounds who batted .333.
Bartow
SS Elijah Jenkins, Senior: The top returning hitter who batted .281 with a .450 OBP.
P Laz Martinez, Senior: Had wins over McKeel, Winter Haven and Lakeland and held opposing hitters to a .212 batting average.
1B/P Landon Thompson, Freshman: Is expected to play a major role as a freshman.
Davenport
P/OF Brylandd Canode, Junior: One of the Broncos’ top returning players, he batted .257 last year and was tied for third with 16 RBIs.
UT Luis Escalera, Senior: Joins Canode as the other top returning players. He batted .333 with 11 RBIs and was second with 25 runs scored.
IF/P Cameron Haigh, Junior: One of three top newcomers.
P Blaze Roland, Sophomore: Will be another top newcomer and will be a key pitcher on the staff.
P/SS Jhonny Vasquez, Junior: The third top newcomer for the Broncos.
Discovery
OF/SS Zion Philpot, Junior: Will be an impact new player for the Spartans. At Winter Haven last season, he was second on the team with a .329 batting average and led the Blue Devils with three triples, 16 RBIs, 18 runs scored, 10 walks and 14 stolen bases.
2B/OF/P Jose Quintero, Junior: Batted .382 last year and is the Spartans’ top returning hitter.
Fort Meade
UT Owen Harrell, Senior: Batted .310 last season and led the Miners with 19 RBIs.
C Ty MontsDeOca, Junior: Batted .333 in limited action.
IF Caleb Hermelbracht, Junior: Is expected to improve on his .240 batting average as a sophomore
SS Kaden Mincey, Senior: One of just six Miners with varsity experience.
Frostproof
IF Brad Roberts, Sophomore: Possesses a strong bat — .377 with team-high 21 RBIs last year — and is solid defensively.
C Colton Paulk, Freshman: Will start behind the plate for the Bulldogs. He batted .281 with 11 RBIs as an eighth-grader.
George Jenkins
P/1B Brayden Abdon, Senior: Will be one of the top hitters for the Eagles after batting .306 with 17 RBIs.
OF/P Ryan Currie, Senior: Was a back-up last season but will have a bigger role.
P/OF Christopher Glover, Junior: A transfer from Bartow who compiled a 2.90 ERA, the left-handed pitcher is committed to Florida International.
P Revy Gomez, Senior: A solid pitcher who went 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA and is the Eagles’ top returning pitcher.
C Jennings Harden-Haag, Senior: Was a back-up last season but will have a bigger role.
3B Trent Hicks, Senior: Expected to make a bigger impact at the plate after batting .274 as a junior.
P Junior Jacquez, Senior: A power right-hander who will see more action after posting a 0.81 ERA in 17 1/3 innings last season.
OF Jose Negron, Junior: Returns as the starting shortstop.
Haines City
UT Dominic Cutrupi, Sophomore: Batted .271 last season.
UT Juan Valbuena-Iaballos, Senior: Returns as the Hornets’ top hitter. He batted .306.
Lake Region
OF/1B Abraham Ponce, Junior: Strong, talented player who is that’s putting it together both offensively and defensively with the potential to be dangerous at the plate.
3B Jomar Caceres, Senior: Posses power at the plated is solid defensively at third base. He batted .333 and was second with 23 RBIs last year and has college potential
C Logan Love, Sophomore: Has potential to be one of the top catchers in the county. Hits well to all fields.
SS/P Luis Toro, Junior: Plays with tremendous confidence.
1B/P Matt Adkins, Junior: Has power act the plate and a strong arm.
OF/P Kenneth Britt, Sophomore: Has speed on the bases and the field with an improving bat at the plate. Possesses a lot of upside.
OF Christian Pringle, Junior: Has potential through the roof and is refining his game.
Lake Gibson
IF/OF Addiel Fundora, Senior: Batted .312 in 50 plate appearances.
IF Ryland Lund, Senior: Batted .400 in 50 plate appearances.
Lake Wales
1B/3B Connor Clark, Sophomore: Should make a bigger impact on the team after batting .345 in 13 games.
OF/P Keaton Kohl, Senior: The top returning hitter who batted .321 with 15 runs scored.
Lakeland
IF Stuart Norman, Senior: Batted. 417 in part-time action last season.
IF Casin Benton, Senior: A solid performer who batted .271 and was third on the Dreadnaughts last season with 19 runs scored.
P Max Estroff, Junior: A returning pitcher who went 2-0 with a 2.23 ERA in 15 2/3 innings.
P Chase Fredenburg, Senior: Pitched the most innings last year among the returning pitchers with 28 1/3 innings, which was tied for third on the team. Went 2-0 with a 4.45 ERA with 34 strikeouts.
OF/IF Cam Fuse, Sophomore: One of the top freshmen in the county last year, he batted .329 and was tied for second on the team with eight extra-base hits, including four triples and was third with 17 RBIs.
Lakeland Christian
OF Brooks Blankenship, Junior: Expected to be a bigger run producer after batting .281 and was tied for fourth with 18 RBIs.
CF Brody Brenneman, Junior: The starting quarterback who also a talented baseball player, he batted .301 with six extra-base and 13 RBIs.
P Fin Donay, Senior: Was the team-leader in wins last season after going 7-3 with a 3.69 ERA and a team-high 56 strikeouts in a team-high 55 innings.
OF/DH Maclain Irby, Senior: One of the top returning hitters who batted .316 and was tied for fourth with 18 RBIs.
1B Parker Kant, Junior: A solid performer who batted .288 last season with six extra-base hits and 14 RBIs.
McKeel
3B/P Jorge Cordova, Sophomore: One of the top returning hitters for the Wildcats, he batted .318 with eight extra-base hits and 19 RBIs.
SS Logan Gill, Sophomore: An impact freshman last year who batted .318 with six doubles and 21 runs scored.
1B/P Brody McMillan, Sophomore: Expected to be a run producer who was third with 18 RBIs last season.
CF Carter Rouse, Senior: One of the top center fielders, he batted .313 with 20 runs scored.
2B Wyatt Thomas, Senior: Look for Thompson to rebound after seeing his batting slump from .392 as a sophomore to .243 last season.
LF/P Aedan Tompkins, Junior: Led the Wildcats with 24 runs scored and batted .301.
Mulberry
OF Caleb Arocho, Senior: Another new player, he will play center and bad leadoff.
1B Cole Bedenbaugh, Senior: The only returning starter in the field for the Panthers, he is expected to be a run producer and power.
2B Nate Hagan, Junior: A transfer from Bartow, he has a middle of the order bat and is a college prospect.
SS Kingston Kost, Senior: Kost is new to Mulberry having transferred from Indiana. He’s a college prospect who will be a middle of the order bat and has a strong arm at shortstop.
P Josh Lacy, Senior: One of two senior pitchers for the young Panthers’ pitching staff.
P Tristan Leham, Sophomore: Will help lead the pitching staff. He throws in the low 90s.
P Elias Resendez, Junior: He throws in the high 80s and be part of the rotation.
OF Austin Tyree, Junior: A transfer from McKeel he’ll be the new starter in right field.
Ridge Community
C/OF Edger Olmeda, Senior: Batted .304 and scored 11 runs.
OF/P Hector Maysonet, Senior: Batted .308 last year.
OF/P Juan Pino, Senior: Coming off a slid season when he batted .279
IF/OF/P Deniel Serrano, Senior: Led the Bolts with a .500 batting average and 28 runs scored and was third with 17 RBIs.
Santa Fe Catholic
P/IF Aaron Walsh, Senior: Will join McGuire to lead a strong start. Went 6-3 with a 2.10 ERA as the No. 2 pitcher.
P/UT Nathan Arnold, Senior: Expected to be another key pitcher after going 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA in spot duty.
OF Brody Lanier, Senior: Batted .243 last season and is the top returning non-pitcher.
OF Brody Ray, Senior: A reserve last season who will have a bigger role as a senior.
Tenoroc
IF/OF/P Trenton McCain, Senior: Battted .343 as the only bright spot for the winless Titans in 2025. Led Tenoroc to a win in its 2026 season opener.
Victory Christian
IF/OF Cru Slocum, Junior: Was second on the team last year with a .361 batting average and 10 extra-base hits while leading the team with 25 RBIs.
IF/C Aiden Flannery, Senior: Was third last year with 21 RBIs while batting .344.
Winter Haven
1B/P Gerado Sandoval, Junior: After graduations and transfers, he is the top returning player for the Blue Devils who batted over .300 last year.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Here are 81 Polk County high school baseball players to watch in 2026
Reporting by Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
