Young Hitters Ready To Shine In The Florida Collegiate Summer League
Young Hitters Ready To Shine In The Florida Collegiate Summer League
College stars ready to break out take center stage at the Florida Collegiate Summer League, including five hitters poised for big seasons.
Florida Collegiate Summer League action is underway, and the league's 2023 rosters feature a variety of future stars ready to make their marks in the present.
Check out the following five hitters, some of the leading prospects who could make a real splash during the FCSL campaign.
Joe Charles, Orlando Snappers
Among the more intriguing stories of this year's FCSL could be the progress of Joe Charles as a batter.
The 2023 summer marks his second in the league, having spent a portion of 2021 with the Winter Garden Squeeze, but at both FCSL and with Florida State, he operated primarily as a pitcher.
But in 20 at-bats for the Snappers this season — more at-bats than he accumulated in the entire 2021 stint — Charles has nine hits.
Tyler Gerteisen, Leesburg Lightning
Five RBIs in his first three FCSL games marked an impressive return to competition for Tyler Gerteisen, the North Florida product.
Gerteisen missed the 2023 college season due to injury, but the UNF Ospreys can expect plenty of production from the outfielder — after his work for the Leesburg Lightning, that is.
Gerteisen was a top-500 national prospect coming out of high school in 2021 per PerfectGame.org.
Connor Hujsak, Sanford River Rats
After two excellent seasons at VCU, where he earned Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie recognition in 2021 and All-Regional honors in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, Connor Hujsak transferred to Mississippi State ahead of 2023.
Hujsak had 10 hits in 42 at-bats his first season in the Southeastern Conference with a pair of home runs — one of which came against perennial power Vanderbilt.
Hujsak has kicked off his FCSL season with five hits through his first five games for the Sanford River Rats, resulting in three RBIs, and has shown plate discipline with three walks drawn early into the season.
Rohsean Riley, DeLand Suns
Third baseman Rohsean Riley comes to the FCSL from Florida Southern where, in the 2023 season, he hit a robust .320 in 197 at-bats.
Riley hit four home runs and drove in 31 during the college campaign, following up on a strong tenure at Polk State, where he hit .368 with six homers and 44 RBIs.
John Smith III, Winter Garden Squeeze
One of the hottest starts to the FCSL season comes courtesy of John Smith III, a first baseman and outfielder for the Winter Garden Squeeze.
Smith produced five hits during the opening weekend, including a home run. Once on base, Smith is a serious threat with five stolen bases — and he's able to get aboard proficiently, both with his batting and drawing a number of walks.
Smith arrives in the FCSL off of a college campaign at Pensacola State, where he hit nine home runs, drew 20 walks and stolen 18 bases.