MaxPreps continues to search the country looking for players who will vie for the title of National Player of the Year. This week we feature 10 more athletes who are having outstanding seasons on the diamond.
MaxPreps will select the national player of the year in late June.
MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year Watch
Kenny Meimerstorf has put together an outstanding season for Bishop Gorman, placing him in the thick of the National Player of the Year discussion.
Photo by Kevin French
The Gaels haven't had quite the same offensive output this year as they have in years past, but that's no fault of Meimerstorf, who ranks among the national leaders in home runs. He has 14 round-trippers on the season to go with 15 doubles and 47 RBIs.
Reid Humphreys, Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Considered to be the top player in Mississippi, Humphreys has won all-state honors the past two seasons. The senior shortstop could earn state player of the year honors this year after leading Northwest Rankin into the third round of the playoffs. He's batting .419 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 32 RBIs.
Dustin Peterson, Gilbert (Ariz.)
A shortstop, Peterson had an outstanding year for Gilbert, batting .549 with 11 doubles, six triples and 10 home runs. He also drove in 39 runs and scored 41 in leading his team to a 21-9 record.
Christian Arroyo, Hernando (Brooksville, Fla.)
Hernando is still alive in the Florida 5A playoffs thanks in large part to Arroyo. He's batting .520 on the season with 35 RBIs, 12 doubles and 11 home runs.
Keegan Thompson, Cullman (Ala.)
Keegan Thompson, Cullman
Photo by Theron Malone
The state player of the year as a sophomore, Thompson had another big season as a senior. In leading Cullman to a 32-21 record, Thompson batted .433 with 19 doubles and nine home runs. As a pitcher, Thompson was 9-2 with a 1.25 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched.
Anfernee Grier, Russell County (Seale, Ala.)
Grier had a prolific season for Russell County, which is still alive in the Alabama 5A state playoffs with a 42-6 record. He is batting .400 with a team-best 53 RBIs to go with 14 doubles, six home runs and 42 runs scored.
Connor Jones, Great Bridge (Chesapeake, Va.)
Jones has hit 96 mph on the radar gun in leading Great Bridge to an 18-0 record. He is 7-0 on the season and has yet to allow an earned run in 38 innings pitched.
Brett Morales, King (Tampa, Fla.)
King has advanced to the third round of the Class 6A playoffs in Florida with Morales leading the way. He's 10-1 on the mound this year with 100 strikeouts and a 0.39 ERA in 71 innings pitched. Five times he's had double figures in strikeouts, including 11 in a playoff game against Dixie Hollins.
Josh Pettitte, Deer Park (Texas)
The son of New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, Josh has been unbeatable this year. Besides starting the year with a no-hitter, Pettitte has an 11-0 record with six shutouts to his credit with 105 strikeouts and a 0.65 ERA in 73 innings pitched. He's also batting .372 with eight doubles and 22 RBIs for the 26-3-1 Deer.
See a slideshow of photos featuring Pettitte.
Drew Ward, Leedey (Okla.)
Playing at the smallest enrollment level in Oklahoma, Ward was neutralized much of the season as teams chose to walk him rather than pitch to him. As a result he walked an incredible 56 times during the year. He still managed to bat .556 with 55 runs scored, 40 RBIs, seven doubles and nine home runs. He also had three grand slams on the year. Originally in the Class of 2014, Ward has completed enough credits to be reclassified as a senior.
