Top West, Southwest Orange baseball players to watch in 2025

The 2024 season was another example of the high-level baseball played in West Orange and Southwest Orange. Five area teams won 17 or more games (three topped the 24-win mark), four reached the regional playoffs, two won their respective district and regional championships, and one area team, the 28-4 Windermere High Wolverines, got within one run of pulling off an upset for the ages against four-time defending 7A state champions, Stoneman Douglas High, and winning its first state title.

Expect more of the same type of success on the diamond for the area’s top teams in 2025, as this crop of clubs will be led by a heap of college-level players, budding superstars and a colorful collection of savvy and experienced managers; this group even includes the sons of two former big-leaguers. 

Editor’s Note: Players are listed in alphabetical order by school, then last name. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The First Academy Royals 

Blake Fields, senior, outfielder

One part of the four-man wrecking crew of Royals batters who all managed 30-plus hits last season, Fields was one of the most electric offensive players in the state. In 2024, he hit for an average of .403 (31-of-77), scored 36 runs, drove in 22 runs, stole 11 bases and hit five home runs.

Remo Indomenico, senior, outfielder

In his first season at TFA, the Oklahoma State signee led the Royals with a .445 batting average, 26 RBIs and a .577 on-base percentage. He also added 31 runs scored and four homers.

Austin Pierzynski, senior, catcher

The son of former big league pitcher AJ Pierzynski, the Royals catcher not only helped lead TFA to a regional championship from behind the plate, he also showed significant improvement with his bat — hitting .371 (33-of-89), 25 RBIs, 29 runs and two home runs.

Foundation Lions 

Barak Boston, senior, infielder

In his first season at Foundation, the Army West Point signee has been a dynamic addition to the Lions lineup. Through five games — as of press time — Boston has hit for an average of .636 (7-of-11) with an OBP of .778, six runs batted in, eight runs scored and six stolen bases.

Rylee Gibson, senior, pitcher

After a breakthrough season in 2024 during which the Lions ace finished the year with a 1.11 ERA, 58 strikeouts over 56.2 innings and a 3-0 pitching record — Gibson is ready to lead Foundation to another historic season before heading off to play college ball at The Citadel.

Horizon Hawks

Alex Galan, senior, outfielder

A five-tool player, the senior centerfielder has been crucial to Horizon’s 6-0 start in 2025 — the best in the program’s short history — thanks to his ability to get on base. In 20 plate appearances, the Hawks’ leadoff hitter has reached base 11 times for an on-base percentage of .550 OBP — which is up from his .486 OBP in 2024.

Ocoee Knights

Gunnar Patterson, senior, pitcher

After striking out 66 batters over 49 innings in 2024, the Knights ace has continued that type of form to kick off 2025 with 10 Ks in 10 innings and an ERA of zero. With a mix of four pitches to lean on, all of which he can throw for strikes and locate well, expect the Ocoee High lefty to continue to give opposition batters fits. 

Olympia Titans

Robby Hoffman, junior, infielder, DH

As one-half of the Titans’ top bats returning in 2025, the first-team All-Metro Conference team selection brings a combination of speed and power to the Olympia lineup that can change a game at a moment’s notice. 

Ethan Rathmann, junior, outfielder

A two-time All-Metro Conference team selection and three-year starter at Olympia, Rathmann is the area’s best example of a true five-tool player and possibly the best player that West Orange and Southwest Orange has to offer in 2025. At only the beginning of his junior season, the Miami commit already has more varsity playing experience (57 games) than most seniors. Across his two seasons and change at Olympia, Rathmann has a batting average of .352 (57-of-162), a .505 OBP, 50 runs, 37 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and three home runs — all while patrolling center field. 

West Orange Warriors

Charlie Eidelman, senior, outfielder

A Thomas University commit, Eidelman was a key bat for the Warriors in 2024, hitting for an average of .338 (22-of-65), scoring 16 runs, driving in 10 and stealing five bases. He’s continued to be a big factor in the West Orange offense on the early season, seeing a bump in his average from last season to .353 (6-of-17) with a .455 OBP and four RBIs in six games.

Parker Hohnstock, senior, pitcher

With 50 Ks in 37.1 innings pitched last season — with a 2.62 ERA — the Saint Leo University signee not only returns in 2025 as West Orange’s leader in strikeouts but also is one of the key arms in a Warriors pitching staff that should be a big part of the success of the Warriors’ success this season.

Sims McClusky, senior, pitcher

Another key arm in the West Orange pitching staff, the Coker University commit struck out 36 batters over 30.2 innings last season with an ERA of 2.74. Early in 2025, McClusky has been the closest thing to an ace a staff this deep could have by leading the team with 12.2 innings pitched, 12 strikeouts, an ERA of 1.11 and a player-of-the-game type performance against Windermere High on the road, handing the Wolverines their first home loss since Feb. 28, 2023.

Windermere Wolverines

Connor Fink, senior, pitcher

As a core member of Windermere’s 2024 pitching staff, the 6-foot-1 lefty returns to the Wolverines staff as its lone senior and leader in innings pitched (54.1), strikeouts (36) and wins (8-0) to go along with a 1.93 ERA. With various young arms — four sophomores and a freshman — set to see time on the mound this season, Fink will be expected to not only produce but also lean on his experience and be a leader in the bullpen. 

Randy Ruiz Jr., junior, outfielder

Other than his teammate Ty Head — now a member of the NC State baseball team — the son of former big-leaguer Randy Ruiz Sr. had one of, if not, the best, season from any area player from the batter’s box. With a team-leading 35 runs batted in and three home runs, Ruiz Jr. also scored 28 runs, stole 15 bases and hit for an average of .396 (38-of-96) with a .543 on-base percentage. The most impressive part of his 2024 season — it was his sophomore campaign.

Joey Waddingham, sophomore, pitcher

Along with Ruiz Jr., the younger brother of current Stetson player and Windermere Wolverines great Jack Waddingham, Joey Waddingham is one of the budding stars on this Windermere team. After breaking into the pitching rotation last season — throwing 35 Ks with a 0.8 ERA over 34 innings pitched — the younger Waddingham brother also has shown his ability in the batter’s box in 2025, driving in six runs in six games.