The midseason point of the Florida high school baseball regular season has arrived with the start of spring break.
It’s a perfect time to check in on the best performers from the season’s first half and highlight some of the top players from Palm Beach County varsity programs.
The Palm Beach Post’s Midseason Player of the Year poll was compiled from local public and private school teams competing in the FHSAA this spring. The poll will remain open from Monday, March 16 until Friday, March 20 at 11:59 p.m.
Here’s a look at the nominees for The Post’s Midseason Baseball Player of the Year:
The Palm Beach Post’s Midseason Baseball Player of the Year
Colby Smith, Jupiter: The senior shortstop has been the top producer in the Warriors’ star-studded lineup, hitting .435 and leading the county in doubles (6), home runs (4) and RBIs (23). Smith, a South Alabama commit, missed last year’s run to the state tournament with a hand injury.
Micah Herring, Atlantic Christian: The junior center fielder has posted eye-popping numbers in 10 games: .696 batting average (16 for 23), .800 on-base percentage, 2.148 OPS. He has displayed both power (four doubles, one triple, three home runs) and plate discipline (walked 11 times, hit by pitches five times) and has scored a team-leading 23 runs.
Alec Cabrera, King’s Academy: The sophomore infielder hit for the cycle on March 6 against Somerset Academy-Canyons, but his first-half performance extends beyond one game. Cabrera is batting .487 with three doubles, three triples, two home runs and 15 RBIs. He also has drawn 12 walks against only four strikeouts.
Jack Wilhoit, St. John Paul II Academy: The senior right-hander, a North Florida commit, has been the county’s best starting pitcher thus far. Wilhoit is 3-0 with two saves and a 0.77 ERA, striking out 37 (and walking only four) in 27 1/3 innings. Opponents are batting .138 against him.
Blake Bagwell, Park Vista: The senior shortstop, a transfer from Dr. Joaquin Garcia, has emerged as the Cobras’ top offensive player. He’s batting .469 with five doubles, seven RBIs and six stolen bases. Bagwell’s 13 walks boost his on-base percentage to .622.
Owen Hewitt, Dwyer: The outfielder/first baseman earned a starting job as a freshman in 2025, but his offensive numbers have taken a quantum leap this year. Batting third in the Panthers’ formidable lineup, Hewitt leads the county in hits (23) while batting .469 with 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Joaquin Urrutia, Dr. Joaquin Garcia: During a typical three-game week, coach Nick Franco will start the versatile senior at third base, catcher and pitcher. At the plate, he’s batting .381 with a team-leading 14 RBIs. On the mound, Urrutia is 1-2 but has allowed only one earned run in 19 innings, with 13 strikeouts.
Michael Riaboukha, Seminole Ridge: If he gets on base, he’s going. The junior leads the county in stolen bases (25) by a wide margin and is among the leaders in batting average (.553) and hits (21). He also has drawn 10 walks (while striking out only twice) and has scored a team-leading 21 runs.
Ryan Gonzalez, Forest Hill: The senior second baseman/pitcher has been the Falcons’ most consistent player, batting .436 with 11 runs scored, eight RBIs and five steals while also leading the staff in innings (23 2/3). On the mound, he’s 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Vote on Palm Beach County baseball’s Midseason Player of the Year
Reporting by Eric J. Wallace, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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