Don't let the winter weather gripping much of the country distract
from the fact that the high school baseball season opens in less than a
month. MaxPreps continues its preseason coverage today with a look at the
best player in every state.
Additional preview material will be released in the coming days and weeks:
Wednesday, Feb. 2 — Preseason MaxPreps All-America Team
Friday, Feb. 4 — Top high school MLB prospects
Wednesday, Feb. 16 — Preseason MaxPreps Top 25
On Wednesday, MaxPreps took a look at the
best teams in each state. Players are selected based on several criteria, including recruiting rankings, 2021 statistics, and postseason honors.
Malcolm Moore, McClatchy
File photo by Dorie Anderson
Alabama
Riley Wayne Quick, Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville)
The Class 7A Pitcher of the Year as a junior, Quick posted a 9-2 record with 116 strikeouts and a 0.99 ERA in 70.2 innings.
Alaska
Curtis Hebert, South Anchorage (Anchorage)
The all-state shortstop led the Wolverines to a state championship and an undefeated record. He batted .385 last year and is headed to the University of Portland.
Arizona
Gavin Turley, Hamilton (Chandler)
Versatile enough to play outfield or middle infield, Turley batted .355 for the Huskies with 28 runs, six doubles and four home runs while earning all-state honors.
Arkansas
Easton Swofford, South Side (Bee Branch)
Led the Hornet to the Class 2A championship game as a junior. The all-state shortstop is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state by Perfect Game.
California
Malcolm Moore, McClatchy (Sacramento)
The Player of the Year by the Sacramento Bee, Moore ranks as one of the top catchers in the Class of 2022 after batting .535 with 55 RBI, 46 runs scored and seven home runs.
Colorado
Trevor Moore, Mullen (Denver)
A hitting and pitching standout, Moore earned all-state honors last year. He batted .385 with three home runs and went 5-1 on the mound with 43 strikeouts.
Connecticut
Ryan Daniels, St. Paul Catholic (Bristol)
Blasted 16 home runs last year with 42 RBI and a .560 average. He earned all-state honors at shortstop.
Delaware
Grant Allen, Sussex Tech (Georgetown)
The Ravens had one of the top teams in Delaware last year behind the pitching of Allen, who earned all-state honors.
Florida
Elijah Green, IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Potentially the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft, Green batted .321 with 26 runs, 21 RBI and six home runs while starring in the outfield for the Ascenders.
Georgia
Dylan Lesko, Buford
The MaxPreps Junior Player of the Year, Lesko posted an 11-0 record with a 0.35 ERA in leading the Wolves to a 32-2 record and a No. 1 national ranking for most of the season. He finished with 112 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched.
Dylan Lesko, Buford
File photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
Beau Sylvester, Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu)
The No. 1 recruit in Hawaii by Perfect Game, Sylvester is headed to play at Washington.
Idaho
Logan Miller, Timberline (Boise)
An All-Southern Idaho Conference selection, Miller led the Wolves offense with a .422 batting average that included 12 doubles, 35 runs and 22 RBI.
Illinois
Owen Murphy, Riverside-Brookfield (Riverside)
A MaxPreps Junior All-American and Player of the Year by Prep Baseball Report, Murphy batted .453 with nine home runs and also went 6-1 on the mound with 97 strikeouts in 42.1 innings.
Indiana
Max Clark, Franklin Community
The MaxPreps Sophomore Player of the Year, Clark batted .450 with six home runs. He also had a 6-0 record with 120 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA in 50 innings.
Iowa
Aaron Savary, Wahlert (Dubuque)
He went 9-1 on the mound for the Class 3A powerhouse, racking up 96 strikeouts in 66 innings. He also batted .319 with 32 RBI and six home runs.
Kansas
Caden Marcum, Paola
Earned multiple player of the year honors as a junior after batting .400 with nine doubles and 24 RBI. He also had a 4-0 record with 53 strikeouts in 29.2 innings.
Kentucky
Korbyn Dickerson, Trinity (Louisville)
Led the Shamrocks to the state championship and earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honors after batting .412 with 49 RBI, 12 doubles and 12 home runs.
Louisiana
Gavin Guidry, Barbe (Lake Charles)
Part of the Buccaneers 1-2 punch that included national player of the year Jack Walker, Guidry went 6-0 with a 0.92 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. He also played shortstop and batted .358 with 12 doubles and 30 RBI.
Maine
Cody Bowker, Thornton Academy (Saco)
Led the conference in batting last year at .448 and was also one of the league's top pitchers with a 7-1 record and 81 strikeouts.
Maryland
Caleb Estes, Archbishop Spalding (Severn)
Named to the preseason all-state team by the Maryland Baseball Coaches Association, he's one of the top shortstops in the nation, according to Perfect Game. He's headed to play at Maryland.
Massachusetts
Matt Brinker, Xaverian Brothers (Westwood)
The All-Scholastics Player of the Year by the Boston Globe, Brinker led the Hawks to a state championship while batting .385 with 25 RBI and four home runs.
Michigan
Brock Porter, St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake)
The top player on what could be the No. 1 team in the nation to start the season, Porter earned All-American honors last year after posting a 12-0 record for the Division 2 champions. He had 127 strikeouts and a 0.56 ERA in 62.2 innings.
Minnesota
Maddox Mihalakis, Hopkins (Minnetonka)
Signed to play at Arizona, Mihalakis is the top-ranked infielder in the state. He led the Royals to a district championship last year and a spot in the state tournament.
Mississippi
Ross Highfill, Madison Central (Madison)
The all-state catcher is the top returning player for the defending Class 6A state champions. He batted .400 with 45 RBI and seven home runs as a junior.
Missouri
Karson Milbrandt, Liberty
A basketball and baseball standout for the Blue Jays, Milbrandt, a 6-foot-5, is creeping up the draft charts after sporting a 96 mph fastball over the summer.
Nebraska
Nate Moquin, Millard South (Omaha)
Excelled on the mound for the state champion Patriots as he posted a 9-1 record with 48 strikeouts and a 2.29 ERA.
Nevada
Robby Snelling, McQueen (Reno)
A football and baseball standout, Snelling batted .433 with 24 RBI and eight home runs for the Nevada state runners-up.
New Hampshire
Joe Allen, Winnacunnet (Hampton)
Ranked among the top 100 players in the country, the 6-foot-4 pitcher has signed to play at Michigan. He helped the Warriors reach the state finals as a junior.
New Jersey
Nazier Mule, Passaic
A force at the plate and on the mound, Mule batted .359 with nine doubles and three home runs as a junior and also struck out 64 batters in 30 innings.
New Mexico
Nolan Perry, Carlsbad
The power pitcher for the Cavemen, who threw five no-hitters as a team last year. He hits 90 mph on his fastball and earned all-state honors as a junior.
New York
Mike Kennedy, Troy
The left-handed pitcher competed for Team USA over the summer. He earned player of the year honors from the Times Union after batting .547 and also striking out 89 batters with a 0.32 ERA.
North Carolina
Isaiah Lowe, Combine Academy (Lincolnton)
A pitcher and third basemen, Lowe hit 94 mph on his fastball over the summer and also hit a home run at Fenway Park. He's headed to Wake Forest next year.
North Dakota
Isaac Pegors, Legacy (Bismarck)Earned all-state honors as a junior while leading the Sabres to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament. He's the top-rated player in the state by Perfect Game.
Ohio
Jacob Miller, Liberty Union (Baltimore)
Prep Baseball Report picked Miller as the state player of the year as a junior after he went 9-1 with 143 strikeouts and a 0.70 ERA in 60 innings.
Oklahoma
Brennan Phillips, Owasso
Phillips struck out 20 batters in one game for the Rams and had 144 Ks in 63 innings pitched. He earned All-World honors from the Tulsa World and was a MaxPreps Junior All-American.
Oregon
Ely Kennel, Santiam Christian (Corvallis)
The No. 1 player in the state by Perfect Game, Kennel is staying close to home after signing with Oregon State.
Pennsylvania
Paxton Kling, Central (Martinsburg)
A MaxPreps Junior All-American, Kling led the Dragon offense batting .482 with 53 runs 39 RBI and six home runs.
Paxton Kling, Central
File photo by David Faber
Ben Brutti, South Kingstown (Wakefield)
Named by MaxPreps as the state's best player as a junior, Brutti remains the No. 1 prospect according to Perfect Game.
South Carolina
Tristan Smith, Boiling Springs (Spartanburg)
Smith ranks as the top player in the state after emerging as one of the top pitchers in the nation. Mock drafts have Smith going somewhere near the end of the first round in the MLB Draft.
South Dakota
Austin Henry, Dell Rapids
A 6-foot-6 pitcher (and quarterback) could make history as the state's highest draft pick this summer. He is expected to go in the early rounds after developing a low 90s fastball.
Tennessee
Dylan Loy, Pigeon Forge
A MaxPreps Sophomore All-American last year, Loy was one of the national leaders in strikeouts with 164. He had a 13-1 record with a 0.42 ERA in 82.2 innings.
Texas
Jayson Jones, Braswell (Little Elm)
The Offensive Player of the Year by the Denton Record-Chronicle, Jones batted .377 with 22 RBI and four home runs. He's the top-rated shortstop in Texas by Perfect Game.
Utah
Fisher Ingersoll, American Fork
The Cavemen won a state championship behind the play of Ingersoll, who earned state player of the year honors. He batted .575 with 43 runs, 37 RBI and four home runs. The shortstop also excelled as a wide receiver in football with 56 receptions for 727 yards.
Vermont
Tanner Wolpert, Rice Memorial (South Burlington)
The George Washington University commit was the Metro Division Player of the Year as a junior after leading the league with 63 strikeouts.
Virginia
Levi Huesman, Hanover (Mechanicsville)
Has developed into one of the top power pitchers in the country with a fastball that has topped out at 95 mph. He helped lead Hawks to the Class 4A championship game as a junior.
Washington
Ian Ritchie Jr., Bainbridge (Bainbridge Island)
Earned Gatorade State Player of the Year honors as a junior while going 6-0 with 54 strikeouts and a 0.38 ERA. He's a potential first round draft choice.
West Virginia
Michael McKinney, Independence (Coal City)
The Patriot shortstop ranks as one of the top middle infielders in the country after earning all-state honors as a junior. He boasted a .443 batting average with 32 runs, 24 RBI and four home runs in 20 games.
Wisconsin
Gavin Kilen, Milton
The top player in the state by Perfect Game, Kilen is a standout on defense and batted .375 on offense. He's headed to Louisville.
