Volusia-Flagler alumni secure seven spots in Major League Baseball roster for 2026 season
From five-time All-Star Jacob deGrom to emerging relievers, seven former high school and college players from the Volusia-Flagler region have established themselves in the majors this year.
The Volusia-Flagler area has produced seven former high school and college baseball players who have secured places on Major League Baseball rosters during the 2026 season. This cohort represents a significant concentration of local talent in the sport’s highest tier, with performances tracked by Yahoo Sports ahead of the regular season’s resumption following the All-Star break.
Leading the group is Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom, a DeLand native and Stetson University alumnus. The five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner has started 18 games this season, pitching 100⅔ innings with a 3.49 earned run average and 122 strikeouts. These figures lead all Rangers starters, contributing to the team’s 49-47 record and first-place standing in the American League West. DeGrom holds a 7-5 record for the season, with his ERA marking the second-highest of his career since his major league debut in 2014.
Also representing the region is Austin Hays, a Daytona Beach native and Spruce Creek High School graduate. Hays, who was an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023, joined the Chicago White Sox on a one-year deal for the 2026 season. His inaugural year in Chicago has been interrupted by injury; a calf strain sustained on May 1 has kept him sidelined due to continued soreness. Hays has appeared in 12 games, recording a .233 batting average, seven RBIs, and one home run.
Logan Gilbert, another Stetson University product, continues his tenure with the Seattle Mariners. Selected 14th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, the right-hander has started 19 games in 2026, posting a 3.32 ERA that ranks as the 19th-lowest in the league. Gilbert leads Seattle with 114 innings pitched and 119 strikeouts, holding a 7-6 record. He previously earned All-Star honours in 2024 after making his big-league debut in 2021.
Adam Weaver, a DeLand High School alumnus, is enjoying a career-best season with the New York Mets. Entering his 11th major league season and his first with the Mets, the right-handed reliever has recorded a 1.85 ERA in 39 innings. This performance is on pace to surpass his previous best of 2.89, achieved with the New York Yankees in 2024. Weaver holds a 2-1 record with 43 strikeouts and one save.
Austin Fortes, also a DeLand High School graduate, is in his first full season with the Tampa Bay Rays after being traded from the Miami Marlins in July 2025. The primary catcher is delivering his best offensive season, batting .257 with 19 RBIs and two home runs. Defensively, Fortes has caught 12 runners stealing on 66 attempts and has allowed only two passed balls.
Relievers Tyler Lawrence and Allen have navigated multiple team changes this season. Lawrence, a former Daytona State pitcher, began with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the Minnesota Twins and subsequently claimed by the Washington Nationals. He has made 37 appearances across these teams, posting a 7.34 ERA. Allen, a University High School graduate, has spent most of the season with the Cleveland Guardians’ Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, though he made one major league appearance for Cleveland in May, striking out seven batters over four innings.
