Saints Season Recap: Baseball
Take a look back at the 2025 Saints Baseball Season!
Gainesville, FL
Santa Fe Baseball closed out their 2025 baseball season with a 24-26 overall record and a 15-18 mark in conference play. While the season had its share of ups and downs, the team battled through a tough schedule and unexpected injuries which brought out the team's grit, growth, and camaraderie as the season progressed.
The Saints were led by a pretty good mix of first- and second-year players, with the lineup seeming to be ever-changing with a mix of new and familiar faces throughout.
Wiggs' 19th Saints squad had their special days both on the mound and at the plate, including only allowing two hits and 0 runs while striking out 9 batters in just 5.0 innings in a 19-0 trouncing of South Florida State College on February 1st. The Saints offense also registered a season high 22 hits in a 15-4 win vs Seminole State on March 29th.
March 29th was a very memorable day not just for the Saints offensive performance, but for head coach Johnny Wiggs as he eclipsed both win #600 at Santa Fe and win #800 of his career in the doubleheader sweep.
Johnny Wiggs was additionally notified in January that he would be formally inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in May during the 2025 JUCO World Series held in Grand Junction, Colorado. Wiggs joins Harry Tholen (Class of 1999) as the only two representatives from Santa Fe College to be members of any NJCAA Hall of Fame. Wiggs was accompanied by his members of family, Athletic Director Chanda Stebbins, and Harry Tholen in Grand Junction for the ceremony.
Numerous Saints were honored for their on the field performances this past season, including a total of four All-Citrus Conference and two All-FCSAA selections.
Robert Nedry and Ryan Chase were selected as both All-Citrus Conference First Team players as well as All-FCSAA First Team players. Nedry slashed .422/.512/.630 with 73 hits, 23 of them being for extra bases. His .422 average puts him 2nd all-time in Santa Fe history. Ryan Chase was the everyday first baseman for Santa Fe, hitting .391/.452/.635 while launching 10 home runs. The loudest bat for the Saints offense with 52 RBI's is poised for another high-octane season in 2026 for his sophomore year.
Lucas Johns and Zack Dejesus were selected to the All-Citrus Conference Second Team. Johns was a powerful right-handed arm for the Saints who went 6-1 over 59.0 innings in 14 appearances. Johns saw his numbers jump from his freshman year and struck out 48 batters in 2025, more than doubling his 2024 total. Zack Dejesus was an extremely versatile outfielder for the Saints, playing in all three outfield positions in 2025. Dejesus hit .338 with 45 hits, 16 of them as extra bases. Throughout the season Dejesus became more and more comfortable at the plate, extending at bats and increasing his K/BB ratio from the previous season.
The team's success did not just end on the field, but a successful academic year really proved their commitment to the classroom. Sophomore Griffin Sorrow received the Bill Tuten Award, given to the top baseball scholar-athlete in the state. Additionally, 21 players were part of the All-Saints Academic Team, student-athletes who achieve a 3.0 GPA or better, the most of any athletic team this season.
At the Players Choice Awards, Zack Dejesus received the Kenny Drost Male Leader of the Year Award. This award is given to the top male and female leaders in honor of former Athletic Director Kenny Drost. Dejesus is an ultimate team player and leads with a steady attitude that is unshakeable no matter the situation. As SAAC President, Zack's leadership is unselfish, and he is driven by his servant leadership attitude.
Several Saints will join the long list of players to sign to for year schools to continue their academic and baseball careers. Find below each player and who they have signed with.
Zack Dejesus – University of West Florida
Rex Smith - Virginia Commonwealth University
Javier Soto - University of Tampa
Carlos Garcia - Georgia Gwinnett College
Lucas Johns - University of Tampa
Robert Nedry - University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Macklin Miller – University of West Georgia