Brendan Rodgers might be the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft this June. He's also one of the leading candidates for MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year.
Photo by Mike Janes
The Major League Baseball draft is just under two months away and the possible No. 1 overall pick, Brendan Rodgers of Lake Mary (Fla.), has worked his way into contention for National Player of the Year honors.
However, Rodgers isn't the only one putting together a strong season. Joe DeMers of College Park, for instance, has excelled on the mound and at the plate for the Falcons in leading them to a second-place finish at the National High School Invitational.
Rodgers and DeMers are two of 10 players who are featured in this week's National Player of the Year Watch.
MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year Watch
Brendan Rodgers, Lake Mary (Fla.), Shortstop
The
expected No. 1 pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft has not
disappointed this season as he ranks No. 4 in the nation with seven home
runs while batting .375. He has also scored 17 runs and driven in 22
while belting seven doubles. In the field, Rodgers has committed just
three errors while turning 12 double plays.
Joe DeMers, College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.), Pitcher
Joe DeMers, College Park
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
DeMers
might be the leading candidate for this award so far. Besides batting .394
with 12 RBIs and three home runs for the 9-2 Falcons, DeMers is 6-0 on
the mound with 46 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched. He handed defending
Tennessee 3A state champion Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.) its only loss at
the National High School Invitational and he defeated Saint Francis
(Mountain View, Calif.), the Boras Baseball Classic – Northern California
champion, on Wednesday. He also has a perfect game against Monte Vista
(Danville, Calif.) to his credit.
Michael Byrne, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), Pitcher
While
teammate Juan Hillman is considered a potential early-round pick
in June's Major League Baseball draft, Byrne has been very impressive
in his own right this year. In 45.2 innings pitched, Byrne has posted a
5-0 record for the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 50 National
Rankings. Byrne has also struck out 65 batters and walked just four
while posting a 0.31 ERA.
Cole Collins, Cullman (Ala.), Outfield
The senior outfielder is having a huge year for Cullman, the No. 1-ranked team in the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A state rankings. Besides leading the nation with 11 home runs, Collins also leads the country with 48 RBIs. He has 60 base hits with 14 doubles and is batting .522 on the season.
Kale Breaux, Sulphur (La.), Pitcher
Breaux is a big reason the Tornadoes started the season 24-0 (not counting this week's loss to Lafayette). Breaux is 6-0 on the season with a 0.17 ERA in 42 innings pitched. He has given up only 14 hits on the season while striking out 72 batters.
Cadyn Grenier, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Shortstop
Grenier has been the catalyst for the Gaels' strong start (14-0) as he is batting .548 with 30 runs scored in just 40 at-bats. He also has five doubles, three triples and three home runs and has driven in 14 runs.
Tyler Halas, St. Rita (Chicago), Shortstop
Halas has been on fire at the plate in the first 13 games for St. Rita. He is batting .525 (21-for-40) with 23 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples and four home runs. He is also 3-0 on the mound for the undefeated Mustangs.
Darius Hill, Dallas Jesuit, Outfield
Hill, a MaxPreps Junior All-American last year, has Dallas Jesuit near the top of the Class 6A state rankings with an 18-1-2 record. He is batting .457 (32-for-70) with 26 runs, 20 RBIs, four doubles, five triples and four home runs.
Luken Baker, Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas), Pitcher
Known more for his pitching, Baker has become a huge threat at the plate. While leading Oak Ridge to a 15-1 start, Baker is batting .405 with three doubles and three home runs. On the mound, Baker is 3-0 with 54 strikeouts and a 1.58 ERA in 31 innings pitched.
Dillon Brown, Mosley (Lynn Haven, Fla.), Pitcher
Brown has been the key player in Mosley's strong showing this season, excelling on the mound and at the plate. He is batting .397 with 18 RBIs, while on the mound he is 8-0 with a 0.16 ERA in 44 innings pitched. He has struck out 55 batters and walked 12.
