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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!"
Baseball: Field Renovation Project | Drone Tour
Friday, February 13
Baseball: Seth Alford Preseason Interview
Tuesday, February 10
Baseball: Brad Wilkerson Preseason Interview
Tuesday, February 10
Baseball: Glove Day Recap
Tuesday, February 10
