Privateer Baseball 2024 Preview: Outfielders

In a season where there are a lot of new faces fans will get to know during the course of the 2024 season, one of the positions that remained constant was the outfield. Anchored by fourth-year senior center fielder, Issac Williams and returning Southland All-Conference right fielder, Mitchell Sanford the Privateers have a pair of guys who were vital parts to the squad both at the plate and in the field.

Williams made the All-Southland Team in 2022 and had an even better year statistically in 2023 when he hit .302 with nine home runs, 13 doubles and 41 RBI. His batting average went up by 31 points, his walks increased from 19 to 30 and his strikeouts decreased from 52 to 38. Williams also did not make an error in 130 chances.

Sanford wound up as the team leader in batting average by season’s end. He hit .324 with 10 doubles, eight home runs and 60 RBI. The RBI total ranked second in the Southland Conference. For his efforts, Sanford earned a spot on the All-Southland Team at the end of the regular season. He also added six steals in eight attempts.

“Those two guys are two of the best there is in the conference,” said Head Coach Blake Dean. “Issac has proven it in his time here and I’ve gotten to see him grow and develop over four years. And Mitchell overcame injuries and was a great player for us. Both are great defensively and can track balls down.”

One of the guys who has stood out in the build up to the season is Victor Castillo. The Tallahassee native has been at Florida Atlantic and Liberty with a stop at College of Central Florida in between. He was First Team All-State at College of Central Florida in 2022. In high school, Castillo had a .377 career batting average.

“Victor had a great fall. His bat plays and he showed he has some good power. He can definitely be another option for us in the outfield this year.”

There are several other options who can vie for time in the outfield. Sean Sparling and Brady Drawbaugh are transfers who have also gotten some run in the outfield. Sparling hit .329 with 70 RBI in 77 career games at Daytona State JC. Drawbaugh played at Mount St. Mary’s where he compiled 23 stolen bases in the last two seasons.

“Sparling came back strong in the spring and is hitting the ball extremely hard. He has a lot of power from the left side. Drawbaugh was a Division I transfer who hit 10 home runs last year and he plays really well defensively in the outfield. I feel very comfortable with him in the outfield. Our most depth is probably in the outfield.”

Alexander Saunier and Maika Niu, who could be candidates at first base, are both in the picture for the outfield as well. Marco Mueses, a freshman from the Dominican Republic who was All-District in high school, is also battling for a spot.

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