The College World Series begins May 30th and opens with a host of faces familiar to Ocala residents. On Friday, six former Marion County high school baseball players or area natives will take the field in search of a national championship.
We’re profiling each player who’s set to play on opening day of the tournament right here. That means you’ll find out what former North Marion standout Deric Fabian has been up to as the shortstop for the Auburn Tigers this year.
Interested in how the Florida colleges will perform during the tournament? Stetson and Florida are home to two former Marion County stars.
Those who have an allegiance to the Forest Wildcats will want to pay close attention to this list, as half of the players on it previously donned green and gold.
Dylan Jacobs, Stetson, RHP
Jacobs is an Ocala native but played his high school baseball with TNXL Academy out of Orlando. The right-handed pitcher joined the Florida State Seminoles after graduating in 2021. After a season in Tallahassee, Jacobs transferred to Stetson where he’s made 34 appearances as a pitcher and thrown 98 strikeouts in three seasons.
Jacobs and the Hatters start their postseason on the road at the Auburn Regional, hosted by the Auburn Tigers. There, the Hatters and the host Tigers will be joined by NC State and Central Connecticut.
Deric Fabian, Auburn, SS
Fabian was rated a 10 out of 10 by Perfect Game as he graduated from North Marion High School in 2021. As a Colt, Fabian led his team to an FHSAA Final Four appearance as a senior. After starting his college career at Florida, Fabian transferred to Auburn, where he has posted a .242 batting average, a .975 fielding percentage and a career-high during the 2025 season.
Fabian and the No. 4 overall seeded Auburn Tigers are starting their road to Omaha at the Auburn Regional vs. Stetson, NC State and Central Connecticut.
Kaden Smith, TCU, RHP
Last year, Smith posted 58 strikeouts and a 3.27 ERA as a senior at Forest. Now with the TCU Horned Frogs, he’s been called to the mound 13 times and recorded 12 strikeouts. He’s earned a NIL deal with No Rivals hat company, alongside his brother Kolten Smith, who plays at Georgia.
Smith and the Horned Frogs are starting their postseason at the Corvallis Regional, hosted by Oregon State. Also traveling to the Corvallis Regional is USC and Saint Mary’s.
Mason Laurito, Florida, LHP
Laurito left Forest High School with a fast ball touching the low 90s. It earned him a scholarship Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, where the 32.1 innings he spent on the mound for the Commodores put him on Florida’s radar.
The current sophomore has yet to make an appearance for the Gators, who are slated in the the Conway Regional, hosted by Coastal Carolina. Also visiting Conway is East Carolina and Fairfield.
Kolten Smith, Georgia, RHP
The other half of the Smith brother duo joined the Bulldogs in 2023. Kolten Smith led Georgia in wins (9) and strikeouts (105) as sophomore in 2024. It earned him an invite to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp. As of May 17th, he’s on pace to lead Georgia in wins again with 11.
Kolten Smith and the Bulldogs will start their postseason in the comfort of their own home as they host the Athens Regional and welcome Binghamton, Duke and Oklahoma State.
Cole Bullen, Florida, Catcher
Bullen claims Belleview as home despite graduating from The Villages High School. He spent three season with the College of Central Florida where he won state two state title and the schools first NJCAA national title. Bullen has yet to make an appearance for the Gators.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 6 Former Ocala baseball players in College World Series