11/4/2026 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - University of North Florida Baseball will take the field in 2027 with its first top-50 freshman recruiting class in program history, according to Perfect Game.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Joe Mercadante, Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Brad Wilkerson and Assistant Coach Parker Bangs, North Florida's 2026 recruiting class currently ranks No. 41 nationally.
As of Nov. 4, North Florida's 2026 class ranks ahead of several prominent programs, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisville, Coastal Carolina and Missouri, according to Perfect Game.
Mercadante and his staff signed 12 freshmen to UNF's 2026 class: six pitchers, five position players and one two-way player.
North Florida's freshmen pitchers include Parker Reavis, Lukas McDowell, Jack Wilhoit, MJ Hough, Josh Friedlander and Colin Slep.
"We're very excited about this group of arms," Wilkerson said. "We have added a talented group of high school arms alongside battle-tested transfer and JUCO bullpen options that will create a strong mix of high-upside developmental power stuff and immediate, late-inning durability."
North Florida's freshmen position players consist of Raymond Llanes, Dominic Demarzo, Cannon Koronka, Mark Metcalf, and Holden Barco. Freshman outfielder and right-handed pitcher Chris Reali rounds out North Florida's position players as a two-way player.
"Our focus remains on building a sustainable, championship-caliber program," Wilkerson said. "Landing a top 50 recruiting class in 2026 by Perfect Game validates the standard we are setting at UNF. We will continue to aggressively recruit and develop elite talent out of the high school ranks, while strategically leveraging the transfer portal and JUCO pipeline to address our immediate roster needs. Across the board, this position group brings speed, power, athleticism and a lot of the key traits we value in recruiting. I'm excited to see their overall development as a group."
Raymond Llanes is an outfielder from Seffner, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Llanes played three varsity seasons at Alonso High School in Tampa, Fla. Llanes played in 63 games over three varsity seasons and totaled a .500 on-base percentage, .532 slugging and a 1.032 OPS. Over three varsity seasons, Llanes posted a career .378 batting average with 71 hits total, 61 runs scored total, 27 RBI total and 18 doubles total. As a senior in 2026, Llanes posted a .644 on-base percentage, .781 slugging and a 1.425 OPS. Llanes registered a .500 batting average, 16 hits, 11 RBI, nine walks and five doubles in just 12 games played in his senior year. Llanes was stellar in his sophomore year as well, posting a .433 on-base percentage, .458 slugging and a .891 OPS. He registered a .361 batting average, 30 hits, 17 runs scored, eight walks, six RBI and four doubles over 26 games played in his sophomore season.
Dominic Demarzo is a catcher from Wellington, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Demarzo played for Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Fla. Demarzo played three varsity seasons for Cardinal Newman. As a junior in 2025, Demarzo played in 32 games and notched .533 slugging, a .440 on-base percentage, a .333 batting average and a .973 OPS. Demarzo posted 35 hits, 30 runs scored, 24 RBI, 15 walks, 10 doubles and three home runs over 125 plate appearances in his junior season. As a sophomore, Demarzo played in 29 games and posted .571 slugging, a .505 on-base percentage, a .417 batting average and a 1.076 OPS. Demarzo registered 35 hits, 24 RBI, 16 runs scored, 12 walks, eight doubles and one home run over 103 plate appearances in his sophomore season. Demarzo competed for the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team.
Cannon Koronka is a middle infielder from Clermont, Fla. Koronka was ranked the No. 12 shortstop in Florida in the 2026 class, according to Perfect Game. Prior to North Florida, Koronka played for The First Academy in Orlando, Fla. As a senior in 2026, Koronka played in 33 games and posted .564 slugging, a .530 on-base percentage, a .436 batting average and a 1.064 OPS. Koronka registered 44 hits, 21 RBI, 17 walks, 16 runs, eight doubles and one home run over 124 plate appearances in his senior year. He competed for the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team.
Mark Metcalf is a middle infielder from Tallahassee, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Metcalf played for Sarasota High School in Sarasota, Fla. Over two varsity seasons, Metcalf played in 57 games and posted a career .450 on-base percentage, .468 slugging and a .918 OPS. Metcalf registered a career .360 batting average with 67 hits total, 62 runs scored total, 30 walks total, 28 RBI total and nine doubles total. As a junior in 2025, Metcalf played in 30 games with 117 plate appearances and 97 at bats. Metcalf posted a .453 on-base percentage, .515 slugging and a .968 OPS in his junior year. He recorded 35 hits, 30 runs scored, 16 RBI, 16 walks, six doubles, three triples and one home run as a junior in 2025. Reali competed for the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team.
Chris Reali is an outfielder and right-handed pitcher from Fleming Island, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Reali played at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. Over his junior and senior varsity seasons, Reali played in 70 games and posted 45 hits total, 38 runs scored total, 32 RBI total, Reali made one appearance and pitched 3.0 innings as a senior in 2026. Reali made seven appearances and pitched 19.2 innings as a junior in 2025. He posted a 1-0 record with a 1.07 ERA, a .238 opponent batting average and 20 strikeouts as a junior. Reali allowed just five runs and three earned runs in his junior season against 89 batters faced. Perfect Game described Reali as having a side step into his delivery – with belt-high lift and clean short-arm action. Adding that Reali has an athletic delivery getting down the slope with a tight 11-5 medium depth curveball in the high-60s. According to Perfect Game, Reali has a simple delivery that he repeats well with command of both pitches.
Holden Barco is a first baseman from Tavares, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Barco played for TNXL Academy in Ocoee, Fla. TNXL Academy is designed to prepare elite-level players for collegiate and professional baseball careers. It's an intensive training program where student-athletes typically complete their academics online. Barco also competed for the Canes American 18U Team. Barco's brother, Hunter, is a left-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
Parker Reavis is a right-handed pitcher from Conway, S.C. Prior to North Florida, Reavis played for Carolina Forest High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Reavis' fastball velocity has increased 20 MPH since 2021, topping out at 92 MPH. Over four varsity seasons, Reavis posted a 22-4 overall record with a 1.00 ERA, a .186 opponent batting average and 211 strikeouts. In his high school career, Reavis allowed just 23 walks and 21 earned runs against 575 batters faced over 146.1 innings pitched. As a senior in 2026, Reavis registered a 9-1 record with a 1.19 ERA, a .171 opponent batting average and 105 strikeouts. Reavis allowed just 37, 10 earned runs and six walks against 224 batters faced over 59.0 innings pitched. He didn't allow a double or triple over four varsity seasons and gave up just four extra base-hits total. Reavis for the South Charlotte Panthers Marucci Team.
Lukas McDowell is a right-handed pitcher from Ontario, Canada. Prior to North Florida, McDowell played for Northern Pre-University in Quebec, Canada. He's the first player in the program to be listed at 6-foot-8 since 2015. McDowell's fastball velocity has increased 16 MPH since 2022, topping out at 94 MPH. He's described by Perfect Game as having a fairly simple delivery with a full arm swing and a high three-quarters arm slot. McDowell has elite sinking action on the fastball and works downhill on release. Played club ball for the Canada Reds Baseball Academy.
Jack Wilhoit is a right-handed pitcher from Boca Raton, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Wilhois played for St. John Paull II Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. In four varsity seasons at St. John Paull II Academy, Wilhoit has posted a 16-10 record over 53 total appearances with 209 strikeouts and a 2.46 ERA. In his senior season, Wilhoit registered a 7-2 record with a 1.63 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 16 appearances. He recorded a .210 opponent batting average against 262 batters faced in his senior year. Wilhoit notched a 2.86 ERA and 70 strikeouts over 16 appearances in his junior season. Wilhoit's fastball velocity has increased 17 MPH since 2022.
MJ Hough is a right-handed pitcher from Lake Placid, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Hough played for St. John Neumann High School in Naples, Fla. Hough played three varsity seasons and dealt a career-best 66 strikeouts as a senior in 2026. In his sophomore season, Hough posted a 3-3 record with 1.44 ERA over 10 appearances and 39.0 innings pitched. Hough posted 48 strikeouts and just 11 walks against 157 batters faced with a .191 opposing batting average as a sophomore. He's described by Perfect Game as having a mid-3/4's arm slot on the mound with a rotational delivery, compact arm action that hides the ball well and creates deception. According to Perfect Game, Hough's fastball had hard late running action into right-handed hitters. Perfect Game added that Hough's slider is a good second pitch with good power and bite. Hough was named to the Uncommitted Showcase Top Prospect List. He competed for the Florida Burn Scout Team.
Josh Friedlander is a right-handed pitcher from Boynton Beach, Fla. Prior to North Florida, Friedlander played for Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth, Fla. In his junior season of high school, Friedlander posted a 3.03 ERA over 12 appearances and 30 innings pitched. Friedlander registered 41 strikeouts against 109 batters faced with a .202 opponent batting average as a junior in 2025. Friedlander's fastball velocity has increased 21 MPH since 2021, topping out at 94 MPH.
Colin Slep is a right-handed pitcher from Waxhaw, N.C. Prior to North Florida, Slep played for Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, N.C. As a junior in 2025, Slep posted a 0.00 ERA over 11 appearances and a 7-1 record. Slep competed for the SBA Bolts National Team.
