Ranch’s Garabitos is baseball’s Player of the Year

The best team in Manatee County this year was successful largely because of its depth. With a magnificent two-way season, though, Pablo Garabitos stood above the rest, which makes him this year’s All-Area Player of the Year.

Player of the Year

Pablo Garabitos, junior, Lakewood Ranch

To his credit: A native of the Dominican Republic, Garabitos was among Lakewood Ranch’s most productive hitters and pitchers during his junior year. He batted .429 with a .516 on-base percentage, four doubles, six triples and 14 stolen bases to help Lakewood Ranch reach the Class 8A-Region 3 quarterfinals.

As a pitcher, Garabitos was just as important, tossing 49 1/3 innings with a 1.84 ERA, 65 strikeouts and only nine walks. He has already verbally committed to South Florida.

ALL-AREA TEAM

Vinny Kasholo, senior, Inspiration Academy

The Army-bound pitcher put up a 1.87 ERA in 48 2/3 innings with 46 strikeouts and 17 walks.

Jacob Josey, junior, Palmetto

The Florida Atlantic commit was a two-way standout for the Tigers, batting .286 as a shortstop and putting up a 1.46 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings as a pitcher.

Colton Vincent, junior, Palmetto

The catcher and third baseman was Manatee County’s best behind the plate, batting .310 on offense and posting a caught-stealing percentage of 45.7 on defense.

Logan Frasier, junior, Palmetto

He posted the best ERA in Manatee County with a 0.82 mark in 51 1/3 innings as a pitcher. As a first baseman, Frasier batted .299 with 15 RBIs.

Jared Richardson, junior, Bayshore

A no-hitter highlighted the pitcher’s season, which ended with a 2.20 ERA. As a middle infielder, Richardson batted .422 with a .469 on-base percentage.

Ryan Duncan, senior, Braden River

The pitcher and infielder helped the Pirates to the Class 7A-District 9 title as their top pitcher and hitter. He led Braden River with both a 1.15 ERA and a .325 batting average. He has signed with Nyack College, a Division II program in New York.

Matthew Golda, senior, Inspiration Academy

The shortstop batted .365 with a .490 on-base percentage and 15 steals, while playing elite-level defense. He is signed with Florida Atlantic, but he should be taken relatively early during the 2017 MLB draft.

Colton Zimring, senior, Lakewood Ranch

The University of Florida-bound senior led the Mustangs with 52 innings pitched, 76 strikeouts and a 1.34 ERA. He has a chance to be taken in the 2017 MLB draft.

Dylan Buck, junior, Lakewood Ranch

The West Virginia University commit led the Mustangs’ offense with a .462 batting average, a .516 on-base percentage and 15 extra-base hits.

Kelton Blohm, senior, Southeast

He batted .479 with 11 extra-base hits to help the Seminoles win Class 5A-District 11. He will attend the University of South Florida.

HONORABLE MENTION

Bayshore: Yiesel Ur, junior. Braden River: John Bean III, senior; James Boldin, junior. Bradenton Christian: AJ Schewe, junior. Lakewood Ranch: Tanner Luke, senior. Manatee: Michael Wood, junior. Out-of-Door Academy: Najee Rhodes, senior. Palmetto: Harrison Thiel, sophomore. Saint Stephen’s: Niko Piccolo, junior. Southeast: Codey Metters, senior.

This story was originally published June 3, 2017 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Ranch’s Garabitos is baseball’s Player of the Year."