Four Tampa Bay area players – Jesuit’s Wes Mendes, Calvary Christian’s Liam Peterson, Mitchell’s Aidan Miller and Strawberry Crest’s Arjun Nimmala – were selected to the Preseason MaxPreps All-America team.

Mendes and Peterson were named as pitchers. Miller and Nimmala were chosen as infielders. 

In all, Florida had seven players selected, second-most of any state behind California with eight. 

Mendes, who led the Tigers to their second state title in the past four years, was named the Class 5A player of the year this past season by the Florida Dairy Farmers. 

The Mississippi signee went 10-1 on the mound with a 1.16 ERA and had 93 strikeouts in 60 innings. He also hit .422 with four home runs, four triples, three doubles and 24 runs scored and 21 RBIs at the plate. 

Peterson, a Florida signee, went 5-0 with a 0.75 ERA and had 68 strikeouts in 37 ⅔ innings last season. 

Miller, a Arkansas signee, was a member of the Team USA U-18 squad and was selected MVP of the Perfect Game All-American Game. Last season, he hit .403 with 16 RBIs and three home runs. 

Nimmala, who signed with Florida State, is ranked as the No. 1 shortstop in the nation by Perfect Game. He hit .271 with 14 RBIs and three home runs last season. 

All four players were among six locals who made Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list for the 2023 MLB Draft. The other area players who made it were Calvary Christian’s Hunter Dietz and Landen Maroudis.