While high school baseball players play for championships in the spring, they play to get recruited, and drafted, in the summer. That was certainly the case for Texas’ Jameson Taillon and California’s Dylan Covey.
Taillon was the top pitcher for the USA Baseball 18U team that won the gold medal in the Pan-American Games this summer. He struck out 16 batters and did not allow a run in his stint on the mound and as a result his stock soared. He begins the 2010 baseball season ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the country by Baseball America. Not bad for a player who was not even the most valuable junior player in his district in the spring while at The Woodlands High School in Texas.
Covey, meanwhile, had an impressive outing at the Aflac All-American Game in August, throwing one inning and hitting the mid-90s on his fastball while racking up two strikeouts. Covey has also had strong performances during the fall and has worked his way up to being a projected low first-round selection in the June MLB draft. In high school, Covey was a standout for Maranatha High School, but the school played in one of the smaller divisions of the Southern Section.
Taillon and Covey highlight the MaxPreps list of the best players from each of the 47 states that play spring baseball (Montana and Wyoming do not have baseball and Iowa plays baseball in the summer). Other names on the list who will likely hear their names called in June’s MLB draft include Georgia’s Kaleb Cowart, Alabama’s Reggie Golden, Colorado’s Kevin Gausman and Washington’s Josh Sale.
It should be noted that the list of players does not necessarily name the best recruit in the state. The player may be honored for his performance on the field during last year’s high school season, not necessarily his projected potential as a pro player. However some players have been recognized for their high school performance as well as their summer exploits. Only one player was chosen from each state.
Here’s a look at each of the 47 top players from each state.
Alabama – Reggie Golden, Wetumpka (Wetumpka, Ala.)
Golden is a two-time all-state outfielder for Wetumpka. He ranks among the top outfield prospects in the country by Baseball America after batting .458 last year for the Indians. He also had 38 runs scored, 30 RBI, 12 doubles and nine home runs.
Alaska – Aaron Cohen, Juneau-Douglas (Juneau, Alaska)
Cohen is a right handed pitcher who is ranked as the top prospect in Alaska by Baseball America. He was an all-tournament selection for the state finals as a sophomore.
Arizona – Taylor Lindsey, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Lindsey earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honors last year after making the Arizona coaches all-state team. The senior shortstop had a .573 batting average to go with 55 runs scored, 73 RBI, 14 doubles, six triples and 18 home runs.
Arkansas – Houston Pruitt, Har-Ber (Springdale, Ark.)
One of the top two-sport athletes in Arkansas, Pruitt has scholarship offers from Tulsa and Louisiana-Monroe to play safety in football, but he also has a scholarship offer from Arkansas to play baseball. An all-state pitcher last year, Pruitt has a 92 mph fastball.
Dylan Covey, Maranatha
Photo by Juan Ruvalcaba
California – Dylan Covey, Maranatha (Pasadena, Calif.)
Played against mostly small-school competition at Maranatha while helping lead the Minutemen to a Southern Section title. Although he batted .370 with 25 RBI and three home runs, Covey will be a high draft pick as a pitcher. He went 11-2 last year with a 127 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched with a 1.23 ERA. He also hit 96 mph on his fastball while participating in the Aflac All-American Game.
Colorado – Kevin Gausman, Grandview (Aurora, Colo.)
A member of the USA Baseball national 18U team, Gausman was 1-0 in the tournament with a 1.93 ERA in four appearances. He had six strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched. Last year for the Wolves he was 7-1 with 53 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched with a 2.24 ERA.
Connecticut – Nick Merullo, Hand (Madison, Conn.)
Plenty of baseball history in the Merullo clan where grandfather Boots Merullo played in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and father Matt also played in the Major Leagues. Merullo is the top catching recruit in Connecticut, according to Baseball America. He also played quarterback for the Hand football team this year.
Delaware – Tom Valichka, St. Mark's (Wilmington, Del.)
Headed for Monmouth next season, Valichka was an all-conference and all-state choice for the state champions. He batted .385 with two home runs and 17 RBI and also went 3-1 on the mound.
Florida – Thomas Dorminy, Alonso (Tampa, Fla.)
Florida is filled with A-list players who will likely be drafted higher than Thomas Dorminy, but the Alonso pitching ace gets our nod as the top player in the state after his impressive performance last year when he went 12-0 with 121 strikeouts and a 1.04 ERA in 74 innings pitched while leading the Ravens to a state title. Dorminy will play at the University of Southern Florida.
Georgia – Kaleb Cowart, Cook (Adel, Ga.)
Cowart had a big summer and fall season playing playing in Perfect Game age group and wooden bat tournaments throughout Georgia and Florida. He was the MVP of one tournament and showed his all-around skills at the plate and on the mound. He played in the Aflac All-American Game and was the Tifton Gazette Player of the Year as a sophomore and a junior. Last year he batted .535 with 16 home runs and struck out 107 batters in 74 innings with a 0.85 ERA.
Hawaii – Kahana Neal, Pearl City (Pearl City, Hawaii)
An all-state pick from Pearl City, Kahana was 8-0 on the mound with a 2.06 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched. He also batted .347 with 22 RBI.
Idaho – Cody Anderson, Shelley (Shelley, Idaho)
Anderson, an all-state football player as a defensive lineman, did not sign a letter of intent to Idaho State because he may potentially be selected in the June MLB draft. Anderson, a 6-foot-4 pitcher, is ranked the No. 1 prospect in Idaho by Baseball Northwest.
Illinois – Mark Payton, St. Rita (Chicago, Ill.)
Named the state most valuable player last year, the St. Rita outfielder batted .438 with 10 doubles, 40 RBI, four triples and 11 home runs.
Indiana – Justin O’Conner, Cowan (Muncie, Ind.)
The top prospect in the Hoosier State had a stellar season at the plate and on the mound for Cowan. He batted .521 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI and went 7-0 on the mound with a 0.30 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched. His fastball has been clocked at 96 mph. He also won the home run derby at the Perfect Game National Showcase in June with 15 home runs.
Kansas – Albert Minnis, Lawrence (Lawrence, Kan.)
A transfer from Parkhill, Mo., Minnis led Lawrence to the Kansas state championship as a junior by going 7-0 on the mound with 73 strikeouts and a 0.59 ERA. He has committed to play for the Wichita State Shockers.
Matt Bowles, Bullitt East
Photo by Wayne Litmer
Kentucky – Matt Bowles, Bullitt East (Mt. Washington, Ky.)
The quarterback for the Bullitt East football team, Bowles is also an all-state middle infielder/pitcher for the baseball team.
Louisiana – Garin Cecchini, Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
The only junior on the Louisiana Coaches Association 5A all-state baseball team last year. A member of the USA Baseball 18U team, Cecchini batted .405 at Barbe last year.
Maine – Scott Heath, Westbrook (Westbrook, Maine)
Only a junior, Heath is the top pitcher in Maine after going 6-0 with a 0.00 ERA and just two unearned runs last year as a sophomore in 45 innings pitched. He struck out 64 battles and has hit 85 mph on his fastball.
Maryland – Kyle Convissar, Severna Park (Severna Park, Md.)
The Severna Park shortstop earned a spot on the Baltimore Sun All-Metro Team after batting .481 with eight home runs, 10 doubles and 31 RBI. He also scored 34 runs and had just three errors in the field.
Massachusetts – Mike Calzetta, Lawrence (Lawrence, Mass.)
Named the MVP of the Merrimack Valley Conference last year, Calzetta was 7-1 on the mound with a 1.43 ERA. He also batted .464 and is a two-time all-conference selection.
Michigan – Steve Laudicina, De La Salle Collegiate (Warren, Mich.)
Laudicina earned all-state honors last year while posting a 10-0 record with a 1.45 ERA while leading De La Salle Collegiate to a Division I state championship. He will play baseball next season at Western Michigan.
Minnesota – Rob Youngdahl, Hill-Murray (Maplewood, Minn.)
Youngdahl made the Star Tribune All-Metro team as a sophomore left handed pitcher and was the only underclassman named to either the first or second team.
Mississippi – Deshun Dixon, Terry (Terry, Miss.)
Deshun is the fourth in a line of four brothers, all of whom have been outstanding athletes at Terry and beyond. Deshun is an outstanding football player, making the all-state team this past season. However he can throw a fastball 93 mph and is a preseason All-American centerfielder by Louisville Slugger.
Missouri – Danny Brennan, Fort Zumwalt South (St. Peters, Mo.)
Brennan helped lead his team to the state championship last year while batting .400 with 11 doubles, four triples and three home runs. He also had 31 RBI and 35 runs scored while playing shortstop on defense. He earned all-state recognition and was named to the St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro Team.
Nebraska – Logan Ehlers, Nebraska City (Nebraska City, Neb.)
The Gatorade State Player of the Year in Nebraska as a junior, Ehlers has been a strikeout machine at Nebraska City. Ehlers struck out 161 batters in 68.6 innings pitched and gave up just nine hits on the season while posting a 0.20 ERA. He had four no-hitters, one perfect game and also batted .329.
Nevada – Kris Bryant, Bonanza (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Bryant, an infielder, earned all-state honors at Bonanza after batting .486 with 14 home runs and 34 RBI.
New Hampshire – Michael Montville, Portsmouth (Portsmouth, N.H.)
Montville kept Portsmouth undefeated last season with a state championship. He finished the season with 10 home runs.
New Jersey – Jordan Tabakman Pequannock (Pompton Plains, N.J.)
The only junior on the New Jersey all-state first team, Tabakman was 9-2 on the mound with a 1.22 ERA. He also batted .403 on the season with 24 RBI. Committed to North Carolina, Tabakman threw a three-hit shutout in the Group 2 final.
New Mexico – Blake Swihart, Rio Rancho (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
Swihart helped Rio Rancho win the 5A state championship in New Mexico with an upset win over La Cueva. Swihart was an All-Metro choice in Albuquerque and batted .517 on the season.
New York – Mike Antonio, Washington (New York, N.Y.)
The only junior on the New York Sports Writers Associations’ 2A all-state first team, Antonio was a defensive whiz at shortstop for George Washington and also batted .565 with 26 RBI, 26 runs scored and a pair of home runs.
Connor Naron, Aycock
Photo by Alyson Boyer
North Carolina – Connor Narron, Aycock (Pikeville, N.C.)
An all-state pick by the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association, Narron is graded by Perfect Game Crosschecker as the top infield prospect in the country for the class of 2010. Narron’s father Jerry played Major League baseball as did his uncles.
North Dakota – Zach Lardy, Shiloh Christian (Bismarck, N.D.)
Lardy is a returning all-state player for Shiloh Christian.
Ohio – Stetson Allie, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Allie has committed to North Carolina but will likely be a first-round pick in next year’s Major League Baseball draft. He batted .446 this year with five home runs and 26 RBI. An outstanding infielder, Allie also pitched in relief for the Eagles.
Oklahoma – Dillon Bundy, Owasso (Owasso, Okla.)
Bundy is already a two-time All-Metro first team pick in Oklahoma. He helped Sperry win the state championship and he was the Gatorade state player of the year thanks to a 12-1 record, a 0.85 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched. He also had four no-hitters on the year. Bundy has transfered to Owasso.
Oregon – Ben Wetzler, Clackamas (Clackamas, Ore.)
The pitcher of the year the Three Rivers League last season, Wetzler was also an all-state selection in both football and baseball. He is ranked as the top baseball prospect in the state of Oregon by Baseball Northwest.
Pennsylvania – Mark Donato, Sts. Neumann & Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Donato led his team to the Catholic League title, its first in nearly 50 years, by batting .601 with 30 RBI and 20 runs scored. He was also 9-2 on the mound with 82 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched. Named the Philadelphia Daily News player of the year.
Rhode Island – Chris King, Portsmouth (Portsmouth, R.I.)
Headed to Coastal Carolina on a baseball scholarship, Chris King was an all-state selection last year as a catcher for Portsmouth after batting .486 with 32 runs scored and 31 RBI.
South Carolina – Drew Cisco, Wando (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
An all-state player, Cisco was also the Low Country player of the year after going 6-3 with a 1.87 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. He also led Wando, which reached the 4A state finals, with a .473 batting average that included 13 doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. He has committed to play at Georgia.
South Dakota – Kolton Emery, Stevens (Rapid City, S.D.)
Emery is the top-ranked prospect in the state of South Dakota by Baseball America. He is a right handed pitcher whose fastball averages in the mid-80s.
Tennessee – Phillip Pfeifer, Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Pfeifer has been the top pitcher on a pair of state championship teams at Farragut and he’s been the winning pitcher in both state final games. He was an all-state selection for the second year in a row and boasted a 12-2 record with 138 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA in 77 innings pitched.
Texas – Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands (The Woodlands, Texas)
Taillon earned all-district honors last year, but he catapulted himself into the national spotlight with his performance on the USA Baseball team when he led the US to its first ever gold medal at the Pan American 18U Games. Against Cuba, Taillon struck out 16 batters in 7.2 innings with no runs allowed.
Utah – Marcus Littlewood, Pine View (St. George, Utah)
Named the top all-around player in Utah by the Deseret News, Littlewood batted .531 with 14 doubles, five triples and six home runs on the season. A veteran of USA Baseball, Littlewood helped the 16U team win the gold medal last summer.
Vermont – Shawn Marcelle, Mt. Abraham (Bristol, Vt.)
The first baseman was the leading hitter for Mount Abraham last year, averaging .542 at the plate with 30 runs, five doubles and three home runs. He also went 5-2 on the mound with 38 strikeouts in 36.1 innings pitched.
Virginia – Kyle Crockett, Poquoson (Poquoson, Va.)
The Virginia state AA player of the year and the all-area MVP by the Newport News Daily Press, Crockett led Poquoson to a 28-1 record and the AA state championship. He was 13-0 on the mound with a 0.91 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched. He also batted .434 with three home runs and 21 RBI.
Washington – Josh Sale, Bishop Blanchet (Seattle, Wash.)
One of the top power hitters in the northwest, Sale led the Seattle Metro area with 13 home runs. He also had 48 RBI and batted .475 on the season. He will play at Gonzaga next season.
West Virginia – JR Bradley, Nitro (Nitro, W. Va.)
Bradley has signed to play at North Carolina State next year. He helped lead Nitro to the AAA state finals last year while posting a 9-1 record on the mound with 85 strikeouts and a 1.68 ERA in 69.2 innings pitched.
Wisconsin – Kyle McHugh, Rosholt (Rosholt, Wis.)
McHugh batted .613 as an all-state infielder last year, but he also tossed a no-hitter last season while striking out 20 batters in one game. Also a high-scoring player on the Rosholt basketball team.
