TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After having two of the most prolific offensive seasons in Santa Fe Baseball program history, Gabriel Esquivel and Tyler Shelnut were both rewarded with FCSAA All-State/NJCAA Region VIII postseason recognition. 

Amongst the best NJCAA players in the state of Florida, Esquivel was selected to the First Team, while Shelnut was a part of the Second Team. 

Each team is comprised of four outfielders, five infielders, two catchers, a designated hitter, and four pitchers. The complete FCSAA list of award winners is included here: FCSAA Release

GABRIEL ESQUIVEL - FCSAA FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE, ALL MID-FLORIDA CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM (INF)

• The native of Doral, Fla. and North Broward Prep graduate excelled in a sensational second season for the Saints
• Appeared in 48 games as the everyday first baseman
• Led SF in hits (64), triples (4), HR (19), RBI (58), walks (36), batting average (.390), on-base percentage (.512), and slugging percentage (.866)
• Paced the FCSAA with his 19 long balls, which currently ranks No. 8 in all of the NJCAA
• Tied the program-record for home runs in a season with 19 alongside Shelnut and Santa Fe Athletics Hall of Famer Matt Armstrong
• The FCSAA leader in slugging percentage who also ranked within the Top-10 in numerous offensive categories
• Hit safely in eight of his final nine games, and recorded 19 multi-hit games
• Had home runs in five consecutive games from Mar. 25 - Apr. 1
• Smacked two home runs against Polk State College on Feb. 4
• Played a part in turning 26 double plays defensively
• Chosen to the All-Region VIII Gold Glove Team 
• Commitment: University of North Florida
• Bio
• Game Log

TYLER SHELNUT - FCSAA SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE, ALL MID-FLORIDA CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM (INF)

• A Lake City, Fla. native and graduate of Fort White High School
• Appeared in 45 games as an infielder in his second season as a Saint, spending most of his time at second base
• Claimed First Team All Mid-Florida Conference honors in 2022 after being named to the Second Team in 2021
• Was part of the dynamic duo at the heart of the order alongside Esquivel
• Tied the program-record for home runs in a season with 19 alongside Esquivel and Santa Fe Athletics Hall of Famer Matt Armstrong
• Led SF with 51 runs scored
• Amassed 58 hits, 57 RBI, and 22 walks while hitting for an average of .333, an on-base percentage of .420, and a slugging percentage of .747
• Had 18 multi-hit games
• Held a 12-game hitting streak from Mar. 18 - Apr. 4 
• Notched three multi-homer games, and cleared the fence in five consecutive games from Apr. 11 - Apr. 18
• Chosen as the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Player of the Week on Apr. 19 | Story
• Played a part in turning 13 double plays defensively
• Commitment: University of Florida 
• Bio
• Game Log

Santa Fe finished the 2022 campaign with a 27-24 overall record and 15-15 mark in Mid-Florida Conference play.

Head Coach Johnny Wiggs won his 500th career game at SF with a 6-1 result over Daytona State College on Mar. 21, then reached career coaching win No. 700 in the next game with the Falcons, a 9-1 victory on Mar. 23.  

Although it is the first time since 2014 that SF will not be making an appearance at the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII State Tournament after six consecutive seasons of doing so under Wiggs, the Saints will look to reload after several departures, including the standouts Esquivel and Shelnut.

So far, eight of the Saints have announced their commitments to four-year programs.

SF Baseball Commitments to Four-Year Institutions  

Zeb Marquis - Montreat College - Release

Santiago Garavito - University of Tampa - Release

Lance Bolton - University of North Florida - Release

Gabriel Esquivel - University of North Florida - Release

Trent Becker - University of North Florida - Release

Garfield Johns - University of South Alabama - Release

Mitchell Gross - Georgia Southern University - Release 

Tyler Shelnut - University of Florida - Release