FORT MYERS, Fla.- A season after having more players drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft than any other NJCAA program in the country, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers seemed to have retooled just fine as Prep Baseball Report has 14 Bucs listed in their Juco Top 350 Prospects list, more than any other team in the state of Florida and the second most of any team in the country.
A pair of flame throwing right-handers lead the list for the Bucs as Ben Peterson and Magnus Ellerts are the only teammates both ranked inside the Top 10 of the rankings.
Peterson, a transfer from Appalachian State is the highest ranked Buc on the list at #4. A season ago as a freshman Peterson pitched in 11 games at the Division I level, striking out 16 in 20 innings pitched.
Ellerts checked in at #10 on the list after dominating the juco ranks last year with a 10-2 record and 141 strikeouts in 87 innings pitched at Patrick Henry Community College. He has signed to continue his career at the University of Florida next season.
Frank Ellisalt came in at #44 in the rankings after transferring to FSW from LaSalle University where he was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American a season ago for the Explorers, going 6-4 with a 3.42 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched.
University of Miami transfer Nicholas Regalado was the fourth Buc in the Top 50 as he came in at #49 on the list. Regalado pitched in eight games for the Hurricanes in 2021, averaging over a strikeout per inning. He will pitch at Florida Gulf Coast University next season.
The highest ranked returner on the list for the Bucs is right-hander Ronaldo Fernandez at #72. Fernandez worked in 19 games for the Suncoast Conference Champs last season, posting a 3.19 ERA and striking out 47 in 37 innings pitched on the year.
Kendry Noriega is the highest ranked position player for FSW as he comes in at #111. Noriega flashed five tool potential as a freshman last season, playing in 55 games and hitting .250 with 5 home runs and 26 RBIs on the year while showcasing a golden glove in center field for FSW.
The newest Buc, shortstop Jose Izarra comes in at #123 after transferring from the University of Miami at the break. Izarra played in 14 games for the 'Canes last season, picking up his first career hit and RBIs right here in Fort Myers against FGCU.
The Bucs highest ranked true freshman in catcher Satchell Norman who found himself at #144. Norman was a two time Rawlings All-American at Sarasota High and won a WWBA World Championship playing for the Florida Burn in the summer.
Power hitting slugger Hunter Fitz-Gerald was ranked #157 after clubbing 7 home runs and driving in 24 for Suncoast Conference rival Hillsborough last season. Fitz-Gerald did some damage against his now-teammates, homering twice against the Bucs.
University of Missouri transfer Paul Winland checks in at #208. Before heading to the Show-Me State last season, he was ranked the top prep third baseman in South Carolina in 2020 and was a two-time Under Armour Underclass All-American.
Beginning his third season with the Bucs this weekend, southpaw Grant Besser finds himself at #219. A bulldog on the mound, Besser has pitched in every situation possible for FSW over the past two seasons, posting a 3.78 ERA in 52 innings pitched while striking out over 11 batters per 9 innings pitched.
Another Swiss Army Knife for the Bucs, right-hander Alejandro Valiente is ranked #270. Valiente pitched in 12 games last season, going 4-0 with 34 strikeouts in 32 innings worked.
Transferring to FSW after a season at the University of Dayton, Ben Petschke comes in at #321. Petschke worked in eight games as a freshman last season, striking out a batter per inning for the Flyers.
The final Buc on the list was local product Chase Chatman. The Cape Coral native transfers to FSW from FGCU where he pitched in five games for the Eagles a season ago.
The Bucs 14 players on the list were second most nationally behind San Jacinto's 19. In comparison, the other four teams in the Suncoast Conference had a total of 8 players combined in the rankings.
FSW opens their 2022 season on Friday as they host the Marissa Gusto Memorial Tournament in Downtown Fort Myers. The Bucs begin their campaign Friday at 10:30 AM at City of Palms Park when they take on ASA Miami, followed by a 6:30 tilt with Gulf Coast State at Terry Park. Saturday they will take on Pasco-Hernando at 5:00 at Terry Park, and the 15th ranked Bucs will wrap the weekend up with a showdown with #8 Miami back home at City of Palms Sunday at 1:30 PM.