High school baseball: 2026 MaxPreps Player of the Year in every state

Each year since 2008, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school baseball. We continue the tradition this spring by naming the best player in each state during the 2026 season.

The MaxPreps Player of the Year will be announced following the conclusion of championship events in each state.

Jace Riggan, Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville)
6-2 | 195 | Shortstop/Pitcher | Junior
Alaska
Announced June 10

Arizona
Kellan Tom, Corona del Sol (Tempe)
6-2 | 210 | First Base | Senior
The two-way standout earned Conference 6A player of the year honors after leading the Aztecs to the final. He batted .440 with 43 RBI, 29 runs, 10 doubles and 10 home runs. On the mound, Tom was 7-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched.

Arkansas
Keaton Mathis, Valley View (Jonesboro)
5-11 | 190 | Catcher | Senior
A repeat selection as MaxPreps POY, Mathis led Valley View to another state championship as one of the top catchers in the nation. He batted .422 with 37 RBI, 26 walks, nine doubles, four home runs and just four strikeouts. After winning 10 games a pitcher last year, Mathis was used less on the mound as a senior but still went 2-0 with 14 strikeouts.

California
Announced June 10

Colorado
Cooper Vais, Arvada West (Arvada)
6-0 | 180 | Pitcher/Outfielder | Junior
In leading the Wildcats to the Class 5A championship game, Vais handed eventual champion Regis Jesuit its only loss in the tournament with a 10-strikeout performance. For the season, Vais was 13-0 with a 0.62 ERA and 113 strikeouts, walking just 15 batters in 68 innings pitched.

Connecticut
Announced June 17

Delaware
Announced June 17

Florida
Coleman Borthwick, South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach)
6-6 | 260 | Pitcher/Infielder | Senior
A potential first-round draft pick in July, Borthwick dominated on the mound and at the plate for the Class 3A state champions. He batted .460 with 34 RBI, 16 doubles and nine home runs. He posted a 10-0 record as a pitcher with a 0.21 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 65.2 innings.

Georgia
Matthew Sharman, Etowah (Woodstock)
6-3 | 218 | Pitcher/First Base | Senior
Sharman led the Eagles to the Class AAAAAA championship with a pitching win over North Paulding in the first game of the best-of-three series. He then added three RBI in the second game to lead the offense. Batted .419 with 42 RBI, 27 runs, 10 doubles, four home runs and two triples. On the mound, Sharman had a 10-0 record with a 1.22 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 74.1 innings pitched.

Hawaii
Josyah Napoleon-Umeda, Honoka'a
5-6 | 150 | Pitcher/Outfielder | Senior
The two-way player was dynamite all-season long for the undefeated Division 2 champions. He led the state in home runs (6), wins (7) and batting average (.577). He had a 0.42 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 33.2 innings and added 22 RBI, seven doubles and three triples at the plate. In the final, he pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout to defeat Damien.

Idaho
Sage Medeiros, Sandpoint
6-5 | 185 | Pitcher/Outfielder | Senior
Nearly untouchable on the mound for the Bulldogs, Medeiros went 10-0 and gave up just six earned runs in 55 innings for a 0.76 ERA. He struck out 84 and walked just 11. In the state final, Medeiros went 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs with five RBI. He finished the season batting .346 with 33 RBI and three home runs.

Illinois
Announced June 17

Indiana
Announced June 24

Kansas
Grey Sanders, Mulvane
6-0 | 205 | Pitcher | Senior
Sanders allowed just one run all season and finished with a 0.162 ERA. He went 7-0 with 88 strikeouts in 43 innings. Pitched a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts against McPherson. He led Mulvane to the Class 4A state championship with a crucial 1-0 win over Bishop Miege in the quarterfinals.

Kentucky
Announced June 17

Louisiana
Mills Richardson, Catholic (Baton Rouge)
6-2 | 177 | Pitcher | Senior
The Bears won their third straight Select Division 1 championship on the arm of Richardson, who led the team with a 10-1 record and 1.66 ERA. He added 68 strikeouts and 20 walks in 67.2 innings pitched. The state tournament MVP batted .301 with 15 RBI and three home runs.

Maine
Announced June 24

Maryland
Joey Coudon, John Carroll (Bel Air)
5-8 | 165 | Shortstop | Senior
Coudon batted leadoff for John Carroll and scored 46 runs with 31 RBI while batting .491. He also had 12 home runs, nine doubles and a triple.

Massachusetts
Announced June 17

Michigan
Announced June 17

Minnesota
Announced June 24

Mississippi
Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights (Senatobia)
6-1 | 195 | Shortstop | Senior
In leading the Chiefs to a MAIS Class 4A championship, Prosek was among the leading hitters in the nation. His 79 RBI are No. 1 nationally while his 18 home runs ranked second. He cranked out 76 hits, 62 runs and 19 doubles while batting .585 with a 1.177 slugging percentage.

Missouri
Announced June 10

Montana
Paxton Prill, Billings Central Catholic (Billings)
6-3 | 215 | Pitcher | Senior
Prill was nearly untouchable this year for the Rams, who advanced to the Class A consolation finals. He gave up just five hits in 27 innings and allowed only one run while posting a 0.00 ERA. He threw three no-hitters and struck out 55 batters with six walks in 27 innings.

Nebraska
Collin Driffill, Millard North (Omaha)
6-1 | 200 | Pitcher | Senior
Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state by Perfect Game, Driffill was the ace of the Millard North staff while leading the Mustangs to a Class A championship. He went 8-1 with a 0.93 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched.

Nevada
Giovanni Guariglia, Silverado (Las Vegas)
6-0 | 220 | Pitcher/First Base | Senior
The Skyhawks reached the Class 4A championship game thanks in part to Guariglia, who was the top power hitter in the state. His 18 home runs nearly doubled the No. 2 hitter in the state and he had three games with two home runs. He batted .323 with 44 RBI and seven doubles. He went 6-1 on the mound with 74 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched.

New Hampshire
Announced June 17

New Jersey
Announced June 17

New Mexico
Anthony Del Angel, Cleveland (Rio Rancho)
6-4 | 205 | Shortstop | Senior
Del Angel is rated by Perfect Game as the top recruit in the state and he has a shot at being drafted in July. The shortstop batted .500 for the Storm, which finished as the Class 5A runner-up. He scored 59 runs and drove in 43 to go with 13 home runs, 12 doubles and six triples.

New York
Announced June 17

North Carolina
Logan D'Amico, Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw)
6-2 | 190 | Outfielder | Senior
Marvin Ridge won the Class 7A state championship behind the power hitting of D'Amico, who was one of the national leaders with 13 home runs. He had four games with two home runs and had six games where he drove in at least four runs. He batted .444 with 50 RBI, 47 runs, six doubles and a triple.

North Dakota
Alex Seaver, Red River (Grand Forks)
6-3 | 200 | Pitcher | Senior
The Eastern Dakota Conference Player of the Year, Seaver went 6-2 on the mound with 65 strikeouts in 43.1 innings pitched. He also batted .390 with 25 runs, 14 RBI, five doubles, a triple and a home runs.

Ohio
Announced June 17

Oklahoma
Hunter Watson, Tuttle
6-1 | 205 | Pitcher/Catcher | Senior
Although he missed six games with an injury, Watson came on strong down the stretch and led Tuttle to a Class 4A state championship. He batted .505 with 45 RBI, 30 runs, 13 doubles, two triples and eight home runs – including three in the state tournament. He also had a 6-0 record with a 0.24 with 55 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.

Oregon
Announced June 10

Pennsylvania
Announced June 17

Rhode Island
Announced June 17

South Carolina
Taj Marchand, James Island (Charleston)
6-2 | 190 | Shortstop | Senior
For the second straight year, Marchand led James Island to a state championship and earned MaxPreps state POY honors. He batted .531 with 57 runs, 45 RBI, 13 home runs and 11 doubles. As a relief pitcher, Marchand struck out 32 batters in 19.2 innings and had a 0.00 ERA.

South Dakota
J.D. Prorok, Madison
6-3 | 270 | Pitcher | Senior
Named the Class B player and pitcher of the year, Prorok gave up just three earned runs in 46 innings and had a 0.46 ERA with 94 strikeouts. He also batted .426 with 15 RBI and eight doubles.

Tennessee
Michael Teasley, Oak Ridge
6-0 | 190 | Pitcher/Third Base | Senior
Teasley earned Mr. Baseball honors from the state coaches association for Class 4A. He batted .397 with 39 runs, 36 RBI, 13 doubles and five home runs. He was also lights out on the mound with an 11-0 record that included 138 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA in 72 innings pitched.

Texas
Announced June 10

Utah
Harmon Skeen, Desert Hills (St. George)
6-4 | 215 | Shortstop | Senior
The state leader in home runs with 16, Skeen led Desert Hills to a runner-up finish in Class 4A. He batted .451 with 49 runs, 44 RBI, four doubles and a 1.110 slugging percentage. He got four wins on the mound with 19 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA.

Vermont
Announced June 17

Virginia
Announced June 17

Washington
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner
6-2 | 185 | Pitcher | Junior
Sumner claimed the Class 4A championship behind the pitching of Plyler. He won a semifinal game against Kamiakin with 10 strikeouts and one hit. He finished the season with a 10-0 record, 100 strikeouts and a 1.43 ERA in 53.2 innings. He also batted .383 with 28 runs, 25 RBI, eight doubles, three triples and a home run.

West Virginia
Announced June 17

Wisconsin
Announced June 24