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Jersey Number 31
Jakob Runnels
- Position:
- Catcher
- Year:
- Senior
- Height:
- 5-10
- Weight:
- 199
- Bats / Throws:
- R/R
- Hometown:
- Winter Haven, Fla.
- High School:
- Auburndale HS
- Previous School:
- St. Johns River State
ASUN Academic Honor Roll (2023-24)
2023
Prior to UNF
Personal Info
Why UNF?
"When I went on a tour of the school and the baseball facilities it felt like the right fit and I'm excited to play for the baseball coaching staff at UNF!"
2023
- Dangerous middle of the order hitter for North Florida, splitting time between catcher and designated hitter
- Finished second on the team in home runs, batting average, slugging and RBI
- Over 50 games, hit .320 with 34 runs, 55 hits, three doubles, 14 home runs, 57 RBI, 100 total bases and a .581 slugging percentage
- One of two Ospreys with over a 1.000 OPS
- Made his UNF debut in one of the most clutch ways possible, turning on a fastball for a walk-off pinch hit RBI single in UNF’s 3-2 win against Murray State in the season opener Feb. 17
- Went for a season-best 10-game hitting streak between Feb. 28 and March 18, tallying five two-hit games during that stretch
- Saved some of his best pop for his former team in UCF, belting two opposite field home runs at UCF March 7
- Homered twice in the series against Fairfield, finishing with eight RBI during that three-game set
- Blasted grand slams in consecutive games at EKU, going for nine RBI in less than 24 hours March 31 and April 1
- Added his third grand slam on the year May 6, going 2-for-4 at UNA
- Was clutch in a pitcher’s duel with UCF March 21, hitting a walk-off three-run home run with two outs in the ninth in a 4-2 win against the Knights
- Launched a mammoth home run in a 10-0 win against USF April 18
- Came through to help lift UNF to a series win against FGCU May 12 and 13, going for five RBI and two roundtrippers
Prior to UNF
- Four-year varsity letterwinner at Auburndale Senior High
- Played high school ball for Tom Taylor and David Saliba
- 2017 second team all-conference
- 2018 first team all-conference
- 2019 first team all-conference
- 2019 Polk County Catcher of the Year
- Hit .510 with 17 hits, 19 RBI, 16 runs and seven home runs as a senior
- 2021 NJCAA Region 8 FCSAA All-Tournament Team
- 2021 Mid-Florida Conference First Team
- Hit .257 with 29 hits, 22 runs, six home runs, 20 RBI and four steals in his first year of junior college ball.
Personal Info
- Played junior college ball with St. Johns River State and UCF
- Favorite player is JT Realmuto
- Mother is the most selfless person he knows
- Favorite movie: "Wolf of Wall Street"
- Intends to major in business
- Son of Janie and Stacy Runnels
- Has two siblings, Taylor and Brooke
- Graduated high school with honors
Why UNF?
"When I went on a tour of the school and the baseball facilities it felt like the right fit and I'm excited to play for the baseball coaching staff at UNF!"
Introductory Interview With Head Coach Joe Mercadante - UNF Baseball Head Coach
Thursday, July 06
Tyler Marincov Postgame Interview (April 7, 2013)
Thursday, July 06
Drew Weeks Postgame Interview (March 30, 2013)
Thursday, July 06
Ryan Roberson Postgame Interview (April 30, 2013)
Thursday, July 06
