The Times-Union has announced its 2026 All-First Coast baseball team, recognizing the elite high school players from across Jacksonville and the broader Northeast Florida region.
Leading the first team is pitcher Gavin Duprey of Creekside, who posted a microscopic 1.00 ERA and fanned 76 batters, establishing himself as one of the most dominant arms of the season.
Another standout, Brayden Harris from St. Johns Country Day, earned the moniker of Florida’s strikeout king after recording 165 strikeouts with a 1.07 ERA, a performance that placed him at the top of the statistical leaderboard.
The depth of talent extends beyond the mound. Preston Matricardi of Fernandina Beach struck out nearly two batters per inning, compiling 81 strikeouts in 45 innings, while Rylan McMahan of Clay combined a 1.84 ERA with a .292 batting average, adding six doubles and two home runs to his resume.
Offensive firepower is evident in Hunter Rodgers of St. Johns Country Day, who batted .390 and posted a 1.088 OPS, and Bane Barker of Sandalwood, who hit .342 with six home runs and a 1.067 OPS while also pitching to a 1.40 ERA and 108 strikeouts.
Commitments and Future Paths
Across the roster, 30 of the 35 first‑team selections have already committed to Division I programs, signaling a bright future for both the players and the colleges that will soon welcome them.
A Regional Talent Pool
The selections illustrate a concentration of skill that spans multiple schools, from St. Johns Country Day and Trinity Christian to Bolles, St. Joseph, and Ponte Vedra, highlighting a competitive depth that makes the First Coast a perennial hotbed for baseball excellence.