MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year Watch: Best at Each Position

Video: Justin Hooper highlights (De La Salle, CA)
See the top left-handed pitcher in the nation

The MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year Watch this week features the top player in the country at each position, including a left-handed and right-handed pitcher and three outfielders.


RHP – Mike Nikorak, Stroudsburg (Pa.)
The nation's top-ranked righthander by Perfect Game has pitched sparingly this year, posting a 1-0 record in 26 2/3 innings pitched. He has struck out 45 batters and walked 19 with a 1.57 ERA. He began the year in spectacular fashion at the plate, going 5-for-5 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs in the season opener. He's hitting .408 with 19 RBIs, six home runs and seven doubles on the year.

LHP – Justin Hooper, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
The nation's top left-handed pitching prospect, Hooper had his best outing of the season last week with a 3-0 complete game shutout of nationally ranked College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.). He struck out a season-high 10 batters without a walk. For the season, Hooper is 5-2 with 51 strikeouts and a 1.12 ERA in 37 2/3 innings pitched.

C – Chris Betts, Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.)
Betts continues to impress with his hitting, and he could be the first catcher taken in the Major League Baseball Draft next month. He had two home runs last week against Compton to give him eight for the season. He is batting .471 with 28 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

1B – Devin Davis, Valencia (Calif.)
Davis should be the top high school first baseman from the United States to be drafted (Josh Naylor of Canada is rated higher than Davis) and he has shown plenty of pop this spring. He has six home runs and 26 RBIs while batting .398 for Valencia.

2B – Jagger Rusconi, West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.)
The highest-rated middle infielder by Perfect Game who is listed strictly as a second baseman, Rusconi has improved his hitting tremendously over this season. After batting .318 with one home run and one triple as a junior, Rusconi is batting .416 with five triples and four home runs as a senior.

3B – Ke'bryan Hayes, Concordia Lutheran (Tomball, Texas)
Hayes led Concordia Lutheran to the TAPPS 5A state championship and a 23-6 record. He batted .436 on the season with 16 doubles and three home runs to go with 27 RBIs.

SS – Brendan Rodgers, Lake Mary (Fla.)
Rodgers' season ended early, as his team did not advance to the postseason. He ended the year with a .360 batting average (27-for-75) with 23 RBIs, eight doubles and eight home runs. He also committed just four errors at shortstop and turned 15 double plays. He is still considered by most experts as the No. 1 high school player in the country and the first high school player most likely to be taken in the Major League Baseball Draft.

OF – Dazmon Cameron, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.)
Cameron is the top-rated outfielder in the nation and will likely go among the top 15 picks in the June MLB Draft. He batted 35-for-77 (.454) with 38 runs scored, 10 doubles and eight home runs to go with 32 RBIs.

OF – Trent Clark, Richland (North Richland Hills, Texas)
One of the top players for Team USA 18U last summer, Clark is batting .541 (33-for-61) for Richland with seven doubles, two triples and three home runs.

OF – Kyle Tucker, Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
Tucker finished the season as one of the top home run hitters in Florida with eight. He batted .407 with 21 RBIs and six doubles. He is considered one of the top three outfielders in the nation by Perfect Game and is a likely first round draft pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.