Best high school baseball player in each state

By Kevin Askeland Jan 22, 2020, 3:00pm

Returning All-Americans Mick Abel, Jared Jones, Dylan Ray among nation's best.

Video: Two grand slams in the same inning
Ronan Kopp belted two bases-clearing long balls in the same frame.

MaxPreps begins its 2020 coverage of high school baseball with a look at the best baseball players in each state.

Players are chosen not only by potential, but also past performance and all-state honors.

Note: Players are not chosen for Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming as governing bodies in those states do not sanction baseball.

Best High School Baseball Player in Each State

Alabama
Dylan Ray | Bob Jones (Madison) | 6-3 | 205 | Senior | OF

The Alabama State Sports Writers Association Class 7A Hitter of the Year, Ray batted .403 with 11 doubles, 64 RBI and nine home runs.

Alaska
Leland Wilson | West (Anchorage) | 6-4 | 180 | Senior | P/1B

Named to the American Legion All-Star team over the summer, Wilson has already committed to play for Texas Tech next year.

Arizona
Ronan Kopp
| Scottsdale Christian Academy (Phoenix) | 6-5 | 200 | Senior, P
The Arizona Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A player of the year and the Gatorade State Player of the Year, Kopp batted .522 with 39 RBI, 11 doubles and six home runs. He also went 8-0 on the mound with a 0.41 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.



Arkansas
Cayden WallaceGreenbrier | 6-1 | 205 | Senior | IF

A member of the All-Arkansas Preps All-State team, Wallace belted six home runs, six doubles and seven triples while batting .514 with 49 runs scored.

California
Jared Jones | La Mirada | 6-2 | 175 | Senior | P

A two-time California all-state selection, Jones was the Long Beach Press Telegram Player of the Year. He batted .457 with 42 runs and three home runs and went 7-1 on the mound with a 0.77 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.

Colorado
Case Williams | Douglas County (Castle Rock) | 6-3 | 220 | Senior | P

Went 8-1 on the mound last year with 79 strikeouts and a 1.81 ERA in 50.1 innings pitched and also threw a no-hitter.

Connecticut
Jake DeLeo | Avon Old Farms (Avon) | 6-2 | 190 | Senior | OF

Already committed to play at Georgia Tech, DeLeo is ranked as one of the Top 10 outfielders in the country by Perfect Game.

Delaware
Lorenzo Carrier | Appoquinimink (West Middletown) | 6-4 | 188 | Junior | OF

Only a junior, Carrier was an all-state selection last year and is considered the top prospect in Delaware for the Class of 2021. He batted .423 as a sophomore with 22 RBI.

Florida
Dylan Crews | Lake Mary,  6-0 | 175 | Senior | OF

Named to the all-area team by the Orlando Sentinel, Crews is a possible first-round draft pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. He batted .389 with 17 RBI and 28 runs scored.

Georgia
Jordan Walker | Decatur | 6-5 | 212 | Senior | IF

Ranked as one of the top infielders in the nation and a possible Top 10 pick in the 2020 MLB draft, Walker batted .518 with 59 RBI and 17 home runs last year.
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Hawaii
Kalai Rosario | Waiakea (Hilo) | 6-1 | 185 | Senior | OF

An all-state selection last year, Rosario batted .431 with five home runs and 31 RBI.



Idaho
Mason Leavitt | Eagle | 5-10 | 185 | Senior | 2B
A four-year starter at Eagle, Leavitt batted .357 last year with 24 RBI and seven doubles.

Illinois
Ed Howard | Chicago Mt. Carmel (Chicago) | 6-2 | 185 | Senior | SS

Howard has emerged as one of the nation's top prospects at shortstop after he batted .419 with 29 RBI, 12 doubles and three home runs as a junior.

Indiana
Bryce Eblin | Center Grove (Greenwood) | 5-11 | 160 | Senior | SS

An all-state Class 4A pick as a junior, Eblin has signed with Alabama. He batted .451 with 26 RBI, 11 doubles and a home run last year.

Iowa
Calvin Harris | Western Dubuque (Epworth) | 6-0 | 190 | Senior | C

Harris was a two-way standout last summer for Western Dubuque as he batted .408 with seven home runs and 40 RBI while also striking out 63 on the mound.

Kansas
Tanner Leslie | Haysville Campus (Wichita) | 6-2 | 165 | Senior | OF

Leslie led the Haysville team to a Class 6A state championship and was named the state player of the year.

Kentucky
Ethan Wood | Danville | 6-6 | 220 | Junior | 1B

An all-state player as a sophomore, Wood made the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American team after batting .432 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI. He also went 5-0 on the mound with 70 strikeouts.



Louisiana
Brody Drost | Barbe (Lake Charles) | 6-2 | 200 | Senior | OF

A member of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A all-state team, Drost helped lead Barbe to the state championship while batting .364 with 11 doubles, 32 runs scored, seven home runs and an 8-0 record on the mound.

Maine
Hunter Owen | South Portland | 6-5 | 225 | Senior | P

Headed to Vanderbilt, Owen was the Gatorade State Player of the Year after going 5-0 with 0.17 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched.

Maryland
Jack Bulger
| DeMatha (Hyattsville) | 6-0 | 205 | Senior | C
Selected as the Gatorade State Player of the Year, Bulger batted .545 with five home runs and 32 RBI. He's ranked as one of the top catchers in the nation.

Massachusetts
Michael Gemma | Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury) | 6-4 | 180 | Senior | P

Earned All-Scholastics honors after going 5-2 with 75 strikeouts and a 1.14 ERA in 55 innings pitched. Named the Catholic Conference MVP.

Michigan
Luke Leto
| Portage Central (Portage) | 6-2  190 | Junior | IF
The junior class in Michigan is a good one and Leto leads the pack. He was on the Kalamazoo Area Dream Team last year after batting .371 with seven doubles, 10 triples and 36 stolen bases.

Minnesota
Max Carlson
| Burnsville | 6-1 | 175 | Senior | P
An all-state pitcher as a junior, Carlson averaged two strikeouts an innings and has signed with North Carolina.



Mississippi
Blaze Jordan
| DeSoto Central (Southaven) | 6-2 | 218 | Senior |  IF/P
The MaxPreps Freshman and Sophomore of the Year the past two seasons, Jordan reclassified as a senior for 2020. He batted .440 with 46 RBI, 11 doubles and 10 home runs.

Missouri
Jake Eddington
| Doniphan | 6-1 | 175 | Senior | P
A Class 4A all-state pick as a junior, Eddington has already committed to play at Alabama.

Nebraska
Max Anderson | Millard West (Omaha) | 6-0 | 195 | Senior | IF

Selected the All-Super State Player of the Year by the Lincoln Journal Star, Anderson batted .366 with 26 RBI and 27 runs last year.

Nevada
Josiah Cromwick | Palo Verde (Las Vegas) | 6-1 | 190 |  Senior | C

Palo Verde is loaded with senior talent this year, but look for Cromwick to be the heavy hitter. He was first team all-state and Mountain Region player of the year while hitting .465 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI.

New Hampshire
Adrian Siravo
| Gilford | 6-4 | 195 | Senior | P
Led his team to a Division III state semifinals while posting a 6-2 record with a 0.58 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched.

New Jersey
Pat Reilly
| Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft) | 6-4 | 200 | Senior | P
Considered the top recruit in the state by Perfect Game, Reilly signed with Vanderbilt after striking out 66 batters in 40.1 innings last year.



New Mexico
Jacob Kmatz
| Sandia (Albuquerque) | 6-3 | 210 | Junior | P
Ranked as the top player in the state for the Class of 2021, Kmatz had 49 strikeouts as a sophomore and also batted .329.
Jacob Kmatz, Sandia
Jacob Kmatz, Sandia
File photo by Jim Smith
New York
Joey Vetrano
| Lakeland (Shrub Oak) | 6-3 | 210 | Senior | 1B
Picked as the Gatorade State Player of the Year, Vetrano batted .442 with 11 home runs and eight doubles. He also went 9-2 on the mound with a 0.74 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched.

North Carolina
Nolan McLean
| Garner Magnet (Garner) | 6-3 | 220 | Senior | P
The North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association named McLean to the Class 4A All-State Team after he batted .379 with 34 RBI and nine home runs and went 3-0 on the mound with 53 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched.

North Dakota
Cade Feeney
| Century (Bismarck) | 5-10 | 170 | Senior | Pitcher
A three-sport star, Feeney earned Gatorade State Player of the Year honors in baseball after batting .375 with 27 RBI and striking out 84 batters in 48 innings pitched.

Ohio
Kurtis Reid, Hamilton)
| 6-2 | 180 | Junior | SS
One of the top infielders in the nation in the Class of 2021, Reid hit six home runs and batted .342 at Hamilton last year.

Oklahoma
Jace Bohrofen
| Westmoore (Oklahoma City) | 6-2 | 195 | Senior | 1B
Named to the all-state team by the Oklahoma City Oklahoman, Bohrofen batted .479 with 18 doubles, 12 home runs and 66 RBI.

Oregon
Mick Abel
| Jesuit (Portland) | 6-5 | 185 | Senior | P
The Gatorade State Player of the Year went 9-0 on the mound with 1.34 ERA, and 90 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched.



Pennsylvania
Austin Hendrick
| West Allegheny (Imperial) | 6-1 | 195 | Senior |  OF
One of the top prospects, Hendrick is considered a Top 10 pick in several mock drafts. He batted .327 last year.

Rhode Island
Everett Misto
| Mount St. Charles Academy (Woonsocket) | Senior | OF
A player of the year candidate as a junior last season, Misto batted .575 and excelled on defense due to his speed in the outfield.

South Carolina
Ty Olenchuk
Dutch Fork (Irmo) | 6-1 | 190 | Senior | P
A Clemson signee, Olenchuk throws 90-93 mph and he struck out 68 last year while going 7-1 on the mound.

South Dakota
Ganin Thompson
| Washington (Sioux Falls) | 6-7 | 220 | Senior | P
An all-state selection last year, Thompson went .365 with three home runs on offense and was 4-4 on the mound with 56 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.

Tennessee
Robert Hassell
| Independence (Thompson's Station) | 6-2 | 190 | Senior | OF
Named Gatorade State Player of the Year, Hassell went 5-2 on the mound with 113 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA in 59 innings pitched while at the plate he batted .423 with 36 RBI and 14 home runs.

Texas
Jared Kelley
| Refugio | 6-2 | 200 | Senior | P
Named the Victoria Advocate Player of the Year, Kelley went 11-0 on the mound with 144 strikeouts and a 0.22 ERA in 65 innings pitched. He also batted .348 with nine doubles, three home runs and 30 RBI.



Utah
Joey Dixon
| Bingham (South Jordan) | 6-1 | 182 | Senior | IF
Dixon went 3-1 on the mound last year with 36 strikeouts. He was also solid at the plate with a .346 average and a pair of home runs.

Vermont
Owen Kellington
| U-32 (Montpelier) | 6-2 | 180 | Junior | P
The Times Argus Player of the Year as a sophomore, Kellington batted .451 with 21 runs scored and also had 66 strikeouts and a 0.47 ERA in 30 innings pitched.

Virginia
Nate Savino
| Potomac Falls (Sterling) | 6-3 | 195 | Senior | P
Gatorade selected Savino as the state player of the year after he struck out 71 batters and posted a 0.60 ERA in 35 innings pitched.

Washington
Nate Clow
| Beamer (Federal Way) | 6-0 | 180 | Senior | SS
Clow has shown some power as he batted .436 with 15 RBI and three home runs last year. He has a .421 career batting average with six home runs.

West Virginia
Lenny Washington
| Hurricane | 6-2 | 220 | Senior| P/3B
A transfer from St. Joseph, Washington went 7-3 on the mound with 80 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched. He also batted .552 with four home runs, nine doubles and 41 RBI.

Wisconsin
AJ Vukovich
| East Troy | 6-5 | 210 | Senior | 3B
An outstanding basketball player who averaged 26.5 points per game last year, Vukovich is also one of the top power hitters in the nation as he finished second in the MLB All-Star Game High School Home Run Derby.