Video: Baseball Player Of The Year WatchHeavy hitters and hard-throwing pitchers highlight the first MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year watch. MaxPreps will name a National Player of the Year at the end of June. These 10 players have gotten their season off to a strong start and are receiving strong consideration.
National Baseball Player of the Year Watch
Kyle Muller, Dallas Jesuit
Muller has come up big at the plate and on the mound for the Rangers this season. He held the national lead in home runs for most of the season with 12 (since passed) while also batting .447 with 38 RBIs, 7 doubles and 4 triples. He has hit two home runs in a game four times this year. He has been even more incredible as a pitcher, striking out a national record 33 straight batters over the course of two games and getting 36 straight outs by strikeout. He is 5-0 with a no-hitter and 75 strikeouts in just 40 innings pitched. He has allowed only two earned runs and has a 0.35 ERA.
Bo Bichette, Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
After sitting out almost all of last season with an injury, Bichette has been one of the nation's top power hitters in 2016. He ranks second in the nation in home runs with 11 and he has two games where he's hit a pair of home runs. He is batting .569 overall with a 1.379 slugging percentage. He has 35 RBIs, 6 doubles and 4 triples.
Jason Groome, Barnegat (N.J.)
Groome has a late start on the season since New Jersey schools don't start play until April, but he has made the most of his two starts. He opened the season with a 10-strikeout performance in four innings while giving up just two hits. He followed that outing with a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Central Regional. Groome has allowed just two hits and no runs in 11 innings pitched. He is considered the possible No. 1 overall draft pick in June's Major League Baseball draft.
* Editor's note: At the time of article submission, Groome was still eligible. He was ruled ineligible by the NJSIAA due to transfer rules but could still play this season via appeal.Owen Lovell, Cullman (Ala.)
The junior took over the national lead in home runs on Tuesday when he hit one out against Hartselle. Lovell has 13 home runs on the year and is batting .403 with 14 doubles and a national-best 56 RBIs.
Thomas Dillard, Oxford (Miss.)
The transfer from Briarcrest Christian has been a big addition for the Chargers, as he is batting .400 with 30 RBIs and nine home runs. He is also 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts and has thrown out three runners trying to steal a base.
Logan Allen, University (Orange City, Fla.)
The
junior has been untouchable on the mound, as he has not allowed a run,
let alone an earned run, in 42 innings pitched this year. He has 81
strikeouts and has allowed just 12 hits and six walks while posting a
7-0 record.
Blake Rutherford, Chaminade
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
Rutherford
batted 9-for-14 with two doubles and a triple at the National High
School Invitational. Considered the top position player in the Class of
2016, Rutherford had a home against St. Francis late last week as well.
Grant Gambrell, Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.)
Besides being 7-0 on the mound with a 0.80 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched, Gambrell has also been a threat at the plate for the 18-1 Bears, posting a .379 batting average with 27 RBIs, 8 doubles and 4 home runs.
Cole Stobbe, Millard West (Omaha, Neb.)
Stobbe has Millard West off to a 12-2 start and among the top teams in Nebraska after batting .410 with 17 RBIs and 5 home runs. He had two home runs in a 13-1 win over Papillion-La Vista South on Tuesday.
Colton Welker, Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Welker is one of several strong candidates for the Eagles, who are ranked No. 11 in this week's Xcellent 50 National Baseball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. He leads the team with a .516 batting average, 29 runs scored and 8 doubles. He is second on the team with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs.
