Baseball
The Jesuit baseball program has an extraordinary tradition of excellence. It includes seven state titles – 2024, 2022 (pictured at right), 2019, 2014, 2000, 1997, and 1994 – as well as 25 Region titles and dozens of District crowns. Many Tiger baseball teams have been nationally ranked, including the 1997 National Champions and the No. 1-ranked 2020 team whose season was cut short by the pandemic.
Hundreds of Jesuit alumni have played baseball collegiately and professionally, including Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Al Lopez Sr. '27, legendary New York Yankee Lou Piniella '61, and more recent major leaguers Joe Hudson '09, Lance McCullers '12, Kevin Quackenbush '07, and Shane Robinson '03. (See below for a full listing of Tigers in MLB.)
Among the program's top collegiate players in recent years are Florida State All-American pitcher Jamie Arnold '22, who was part of an all-Jesuit starting rotation for FSU in 2025 along with Joey Volini '21 and Wes Mendes '23; Missouri State infielder Nick Rodriguez '21, who was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2025 after having a 40-game hitting streak and astronomical 1.146 OPS; and Cole Russo '21, who slugged a grand slam in the championship game to help the University of Tampa win the national title in 2025.
Beautiful Paul Straub Field at Hyer Family Park has been the home of the Tigers since 2011. The facility features the Joseph Capitano Sr. '56 Trophy Hall and was named Field of the Year by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. Prior to the 2015 season, former University of Tampa star Miguel Menendez was named the Tigers' head coach, and he enters his 12th season at Jesuit in 2026 with three State titles.
In 2024, the Tigers captured the program's 7th State title and 3rd under Menendez with a 5-2 victory over Plantation American Heritage in Fort Myers. Pitchers McCall Biemiller '24 (University of Florida) and Wilson Andersen '26 combined to go the distance, and OF D.J. Pirela '24 (Florida Gulf Coast) and 3B Noah Sheffield '24 (Florida State) sparked the offense, with Pirela adding a spectacular diving grab in the 7th inning. Jesuit also captured its second straight Saladino Tournament title in 2024, the Tigers' 3rd Saladino crown in 4 years. In 2025, Jesuit, led by C Vincent DeCarlo '25 (N.C. State) made it 11-for-11 District titles under Menendez and earned its 6th Region crown in the past 8 seasons.
The top returning players in 2026 include Andersen, P/SS Kaden Waechter '26, P/1B Samir Mohammed '27, P/OF Ben Burke '26, OF Cannon Murtagh '26, 3B Bryce Besece '27, and IF/OF Christian Sheffield '26.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
* Livestream on the YouTube channel Jesuit Tigers Sports Network
* X/Twitter: @JesuitBaseball
* Instagram: @jesuit_tigers_baseball
* GameChanger for pitch-by-pitch action of each game
SCHEDULES
For the most updated Jesuit athletics schedule go to the Athletic Calendar on the homepage of the website.
ROSTERS & STATISTICS
For the most updated Jesuit baseball rosters and stats go to the Jesuit Baseball page on MaxPreps.com.
COACHING STAFF
Varsity Head Coach
Miguel Menendez, 12th season in 2026, mmenendez@jesuittampa.org
Varsity Assistant Coaches
Louie Martinez, Tim Nalls '97, Daniel Gibson '10, Ryan Stanley '02, Mike Swenson
JV Head Coach
Carmelo LoSauro '10, closauro@jesuittampa.org
JV Assistant Coaches
Carm LoSauro, Dominic DeCarlo '21
Analytics - Corey Perich
Freshman Head Coach
Kevin Bacon
SALADINO AWARD
Hillsborough County outstanding high school senior baseball player
Awarded since 1971 - Jesuit recipients
2024 – Noah Sheffield
2012 – Lance McCullers
1999 – Ryan Gloger
1993 – Troy Carrasco
1992 – Troy Kent
1980 – Dave Magadan
Jesuit baseball in the Final Four
25 State Tournament appearances through the 2025 season
7 State Championships, 6 State Runners-Up
Year - Class - Record - Coach
2025 (4A) – 0-1 – Miguel Menendez
2024 (5A) – 2-0 – Miguel Menendez – State Champions (7th title)
2023 (5A) – 1-1 – Miguel Menendez – State runner-up
2022 (5A) – 2-0 – Miguel Menendez – State Champions (6)
2019 (6A) – 2-0 – Miguel Menendez – State Champions (5)
2017 (6A) – 1-1 – Miguel Menendez – State runner-up
2014 (5A) – 2-0 – Richie Warren – State Champions (4)
2013 (5A) – 0-1 – Richie Warren
2012 (5A) – 0-1 – Richie Warren
2011 (4A) – 1-1 – Richie Warren – State runner-up
2010 (4A) – 1-1 – Richie Warren – State runner-up
2006 (4A) – 0-1 – John Crumbley
2005 (3A) – 0-1 – John Crumbley
2004 (3A) – 0-1 – John Crumbley
2003 (3A) – 0-1 – John Crumbley
2000 (4A) – 2-0 – John Crumbley – State Champions (3)
1997 (4A) – 2-0 – John Crumbley – State Champions (2)
1996 (4A) – 0-1 – John Crumbley
1995 (5A) – 1-1 – John Crumbley – State runner-up
1994 (4A) – 2-0 – John Crumbley – State Champions (1)
1993 (3A) – 0-1 – John Crumbley
1992 (3A) – 1-1 – John Crumbley – State runner-up
1977 (3A) – 0-1 – Sonny Hester
1959 (2A) – 0-1 – Jack O’Connell
1958 (2A) – 0-1 – Jack O’Connell
TIGERS IN THE SHOW
13 JESUIT ALUMNI HAVE PLAYED MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Sam Dyson ’06 made 376 major league appearances with the Blue Jays, Marlins, Rangers, Giants, and Twins from 2012-19, earning 59 saves with a 3.40 ERA, the best ERA of any Jesuit alumnus in MLB.
Joe Hudson ’09 became the 13th Jesuit High School alumnus to play major league baseball in 2018, as a catcher with the Los Angeles Angels. Hudson was one of an incredible 5 Jesuit Tigers active in MLB during the 2018 season, along with Sam Dyson '06, Lance McCullers '12, Kevin Quackenbush '07, and Shane Robinson '03.
Al Lopez ’27 is the only Jesuit alumnus in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 1977 as the first Tampa native in the Hall. Lopez played 19 big league seasons with four teams from 1928-47 and held the MLB record for most games as a catcher, 1,918. He managed the Indians and White Sox for 17 seasons, winning the pennant in both Cleveland and Chicago and finishing second 10 times.
Dave Magadan ’80 played 16 major league seasons with seven teams, including the first seven with the New York Mets, from 1986-2001, playing in the playoffs in 1988 with the Mets. Magadan, who played 3rd and 1st base, has the highest on-base percentage (.390) and OPS (.767) of all Jesuit alums to play MLB.
Sam Marsonek ’96 played in one major league game, with the New York Yankees in 2004, allowing two hits and no runs in 1 1/3 innings vs. the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on July 11, the day after his 26th birthday, finishing off a 10-3 New York victory in Yankee Stadium.
Lance McCullers ’12 through the 2023 season, which he missed due to injury, McCullers has a career record of 49-32 from 2015-22 with the Astros. His best season was 2021, when he was 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA and finished 7th in Cy Young Award voting. McCullers was instrumental in helping pitch the Astros to the World Series championship in 2017.
Jason Michaels ’94 played 11 major league seasons with four teams – the first five with the Philadelphia Phillies – from 2001-11. Primarily a leftfielder, Michaels appeared in the 2007 postseason with the Cleveland Indians. He ranks second among Jesuit alumni in MLB on-base percentage (.335), slugging percentage (.407), and OPS (.742).
Lou Piniella ’61 played 18 MLB seasons, including 11 with the New York Yankees. He ranks first among Jesuit alums in MLB home runs (102), doubles (305), RBI (766), and average (.291), with a .305 postseason average. Piniella had a stellar 23-year managerial career that includes a World Series title with Cincinnati in 1990 and a historic 116-win season with Seattle in 2001.
Kevin Quackenbush ’07 made 204 career MLB pitching appearances (all out of the bullpen) with a 4.41 ERA from 2014-21 for the Padres, Reds, and Dodgers. Quackenbush's best seasons came with San Diego from 2014-16 when he went 13-12 in 173 relief appearances with a 3.50 ERA.
Brad Radke ’91 pitched for 12 big league seasons, all with the Minnesota Twins, and is a member of the Twins’ Hall of Fame. A model of consistency, Radke won 11 or more games 10 times, pitched 200+ innings 9 times, and was a 20-game winner in 1997. He holds most of the pitching records for Jesuit alumni in MLB.
Shane Robinson ’03 played for four MLB teams over nine years, making the postseason in 2012 and 2013 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He homered in the 2013 National League Championship Series. He played 25 games in the outfield in 2018 for the New York Yankees, his final big league season.
Ken Suarez ’61 played seven seasons in the big leagues, primarily as a catcher, with the Kansas City Athletics (2), Cleveland Indians (3), and Texas Rangers (2) from 1966-73. His best season was his last, when he played in 93 games and had 11 doubles among his 69 hits in 278 at bats. For his career he played in 295 games.
Marc Valdes ’90 pitched from 1995-2001 with the Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves. He joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999-2000 but did not make an MLB appearance. Made 144 career MLB appearances, including 22 starts, and his best season was 1997 with Montreal, 4-4 with a 3.13 ERA.