The 2026 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season, and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Florida.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the FHSAA state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Florida. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and releasing our preseason top-25 rankings in the state.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week, we will be releasing our Players of the Week, as well as updating our Power 25 overall rankings.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Venice
Head Coach: Craig Faulkner
Classification: 7A
2025 Record (Finish): 29-5 - Lost in game 3 of Regional Finals (National High School Invitational Champions, District Champions, Number 1 seed in regionals, As high as #2 National Ranking in maxpreps - top 5 national ranking in multiple polls)

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS/TRANSFERS

Graham Houston - SS - 2027 - LSU
Carter Cox - P/OF - 2026 - FAU
RJ Shields - P/OF - 2027 - Mississippi State
Kasen Poplin - P - 2027 - Liberty
Jonathan Mauro - C - 2027 - Columbia
Kohen Poplin - P/INF - 2028 PBR #5 Rank
Randall Riley - Transfer - UTIL - 2026
August Backman - 2027 - made USA Baseball NTIS Team

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

2028 - Kohen Poplin - 2029 - Mac Carey

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OTHER UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Carter Cox - P/OF - FAU
Randall Riley - C/UTIL

Graham Houston - SS - LSU
RJ Shields - OF/P - Mississippi State
Jonathan Mauro - C - Columbia
August Backman - OF/P
Kasen Poplin - P - Liberty

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Projected Starting 9: C - Jon Mauro 1B - TBD - 2B - TBD - 3B - TBD - SS - Graham Houston - OF - Carter Cox - OF - August Backman - OF - RJ Shields
Projected Pitching Staff: Carter Cox - Kasen Poplin - August Backman - RJ Shields - Kohen Poplin - Mac Carey
Team Strengths: Pitching

“Venice will face one of the toughest schedules in the state, including a trip back to Cary, NC to defend their NSHI Championship. They will be anchored by a deep pitching staff and will look for some guys to step up offensively to give them some depth in their lineup. They will look to get over the hump and make it back to compete for their 7th State Championship in school history. ” – Craig Faulkner, head coach

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Find more information on the 2026 Venice program below:

+ Follow them on X, Instagram, or Facebook: X - VHS__Baseball Instagram - vhs__baseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Florida, 2026 HS Team Previews

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FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL FLORIDA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Florida on X
+ Prep Baseball Florida on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Florida on Facebook

 

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Super 60 Pro Showcase	NATIONAL	02/01	The MAX - McCook, IL
Bradenton Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	FL	02/08	IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL
Tampa Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	FL	02/16	Berkeley Prep - Tampa, FL
South FL Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	FL	03/17	Athletic Angels Field - Boynton Beach, FL
Florida Rising Stars Games (2030-2031 Grads)	FL	04/04	Jack Russell Stadium - Clearwater, FL