Minckler named NHIAA’s top player
- Updated: February 12, 2023
Alabama
Coleman Mizell, Hartselle
6-3 | 210 | OF
An all-state player for the 6A state champions last year, Mizell batted .504 to set a school record.
Alaska
Shane Stephan, Dimond (Anchorage)
5-9 | 150 | SS
One of the top hitters in the state as a junior, Stephan batted .444 last year.
Arizona
Roch Cholowsky, Hamilton (Chandler)
6-2 | 185 | IF
Arkansas
Ty Waid, Arkansas (Texarkana)
6-1 | 210 | C
Named the top offensive performer at the Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association World Championships in October. Earned Class 5A all-state honors last year.
California
Roman Martin, Servite (Anaheim)
6-2 | 180 | SS
The Trinity League co-MVP batted .422 last year. Was also a MaxPreps Junior All-American.
Colorado
Walker Martin, Eaton
6-2 | 185 | SS
One of the top athletes in the state, Martin played quarterback in football and was one of the state’s top hitters in baseball. As a junior he batted .566 with 55 RBI, nine home runs and 12 doubles.
Connecticut
Hiro Wyatt, Staples (Westport)
6-1 | 185 | RHP
One of the top pitchers in the state with a 95 mph fastball, Wyatt can also power the ball out of the park after hitting three grand slams as a junior.
Delaware
Tyler August, Delaware Military Academy (Wilmington)
6-2 | 205 | RHP
The state co-player of the year last year by the state coaches association, August batted .510 with five home runs and 25 RBI. He’s also one of the state’s top pitchers.
Florida
Aidan Miller, Mitchell (New Port Richey)
6-2 | 210 | IF
A member of Team USA U-18 and the MVP of the Perfect Game All-American game, Miller batted .403 last year with 16 RBI and three home runs.
Georgia
Drew Burress, Houston County (Warner Robins)
5-10 | 190 | OF
Led the state with 73 RBI and made the all-state team by Georgia Dugout Preview. He batted .486 with 45 runs, 11 doubles and 17 home runs.
Hawaii
Spencer Rego, St. Louis (Honolulu)
6-0 | 175 | RHP
Named the state pitcher of the year by Scoring Live after striking out 43 in a state-high 49.2 innings pitched with a 1.70 ERA.
Idaho
Robert Orloski, Middleton
6-2 | 175 | RHP
One of the top hitters and pitchers in the state last year, Orloski batted .488 with 27 RBI. On the mound, Orloski was 9-1 with 91 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA.
Illinois
Dillon Head, Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor)
5-11 | 180 | OF
A speedster, Head could be one of the top defensive outfielders in the nation this year. He was an all-state pick by the state coaches association as a junior.
Indiana
Max Clark, Franklin Community (Franklin)
6-1 | 190 | OF
Has already been named two-time state player of the year and is ranked by Perfect Game as one of the top players in the nation. He batted .47 with 41 runs, 32 RBI, eight doubles and nine home runs.
Iowa
Carter Woollums, Johnston
6-0 | 170 | P
A first team all-state player by the Iowa Coaches Association, Woollums went 10-0 in leading the Dragons to a state championship. He also had 78 strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA.
Kansas
Austin Young, Blue Valley West (Stilwell)
6-3 | 195 | P
The top pitcher on the defending Class 6A state champions, Young went 8-1 last year with 58 strikeouts in 52 innings. He was a first team all-state pick by the coaches association.
Kentucky
Thomas Howard, Frederick Douglass (Lexington)
6-4 | 225 | RHP
The state’s top tight end, who led the Broncos to a 15-0 season, is also the state’s top baseball player. The Louisville commit for baseball posted a 5-3 record last year with 58 strikeouts and also batted .299.
Louisiana
Jake Brown, Sulphur
6-2 | 190 | LHP
Brown earned all-state honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, finishing the season with an 8-3 record.
Maine
Nicholas Frink, Thornton Academy (Saco)
6-1 | 190 | C
Headed a Trojan team that went 24-1 last year and won a state championship. Frink batted .373 with 19 RBI and six doubles.
Maryland
Chris Hacopian, Churchill (Potomac)
6-1 | 205 | SS
The Bulldogs reached the Class 4A semifinals behind the play of Hacopian, who batted .526 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI.
Massachusetts
Thomas White, Phillips Academy (Andover)
6-5 | 210 | P
Gatorade State Player of the Year went 6-1 with a 0.21 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched.
Michigan
Blake Grimmer, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake)
6-3 | 200 | SS
On a star-studded team that won the MaxPreps National Championship, Grimmer led the team with 49 RBI and 11 doubles. Also batted .343 with eight home runs.
Minnesota
Reagan Reeder, Anoka
6-5 | 215 | IF
One of two juniors to earn Class 4A all-state honors by the state coaches association, Reeder batted .424 with 29 RBI and five home runs.
Mississippi
Cooper Pratt, Magnolia Heights (Senatobia)
6-4 | 195 | SS
Earned all-state honors by the Clarion-Ledger last year after leading the Chiegs to a 33-5 record. Pratt is headed to Ole Miss next year, but is also projected to be an early MLB draft pick.
Missouri
Adam Hachman, Timberland (Wentzville)
6-5 | 210 | LHP
Won a gold medal with Team USA 18U at the World Championships and hits close to 100 mph on his fastball. He went 2-1 last year with a 0.52 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.
Nebraska
Camden Kozeal, Millard South (Omaha)
5-10 | 180 | IF
The Lincoln Star Journal Super State player of the year as a junior, Kozeal batted .420 with 35 RBI, seven doubles and five home runs.
Nevada
Easton Shelton, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
6-5 | 225 | 1B
SLed the Gaels in home runs last year with 12 while batting .346 with 50 RBI and 11 doubles. He also earned all-state honors by Nevada Preps.
New Hampshire
Matthew Minckler, Portsmouth
6-0 | 160 | SS
Also one of the leading scorers for the Portsmouth basketball team, Minckler was a Division I First Team All-State selection in baseball last year.
New Jersey
Steven Echavarria, Millburn
6-2 | 180 | RHP
One of the top pitchers in the state the past two seasons, Echavarria had 101 strikeouts over 92.1 innings during his sophomore and junior seasons. He also batted .366 last year.
New Mexico
Steven Milam, Centennial (Las Cruces)
5-8 | 165 | SS
An all-state pick by the coaches association last year, Milam batted .494 with 44 RBI, 12 doubles, nine triples and four home runs.
New York
Sam Stafura, Walter Panas (Cortlandt Manor)
6-0 | 190 | SS
An All-Section 1 selection as a junior, Stafura batted .273 with 17 RBI, four doubles and three home runs.
North Carolina
Walker Jenkins, South Brunswick (Southport)
6-3 | 210 | RHP
A MaxPreps Junior All-America oick and the No. 1 rated player in the nation by Perfect Game, Jenkins batted .527 with 40 RBI, 13 doubles and 10 home runs.
North Dakota
Tyler Huechert, Red River (Grand Forks)
6-0 | 180 | LHP
A three-sport standout, Huechert also played quarterback on the football team and plays basketball. The Minnesota commit has been ranked as the top infielder in North Dakota since his sophomore season. He batted .290 last year.
Ohio
Colt Emerson, John Glenn (New Concord)
6-1 | 200 | SS
Earned Division II all-state honors by the state coaches association after batting .459 with 12 doubles and five home runs.
Oklahoma
Weston Rouse, Fort Gibson
6-7 | 230 | LHP
Rouse led Fort Gibson to the 4A tournament with a 7-0 record that included a 0.46 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 49.1 innings.
Oregon
Noble Meyer, Jesuit (Portland)
6-5 | 195 | P
The Class 6A state pitcher of the year was 10-0 with 129 strikeouts and a 0.72 ERA in 58.1 innings pitched.
Pennsylvania
Kevin McGonigle, Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast Catholic (Drexel Hill)
5-11 | 185 | IF
Named the All-Delco player of the year by the Daily Times, McGonigle batted .506 with 11 home runs.
Rhode Island
Alexander Clemmey, Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)
6-6 | 205 | LHP
An all-state selection last year, Clemmey went 6-0 on the mound with 79 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA.
South Carolina
Chase Stryker, Ashley Ridge (Summerville)
6-0 | 175 | RHP
One of the top returning pitchers after earning all-state honors by the state coaches association last year.
South Dakota
Jack Radel, Roosevelt (Sioux Falls)
6-4 | 205 | RHP
One of two juniors on the all-state team last year, Radel has committed to pitch at Notre Dame next year.
Tennessee
Ethan McElvain, Nolensville
6-4 | 210 | P
A state player of the year finalist as a sophomore, McElvain went 5-2 as a junior with a 1.76 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.
Texas
Blake Mitchell, Sinton
6-1 | 200 | C
Led Sinton to the Class 5A state title while batting .465 with 49 runs, 17 doubles, five triples, 52 RBI and seven home runs.
Utah
Ryder Robinson, American Fork
6-2 | 175 | SS
Made the Deseret News all-state team after leading the Caveman to the Class 6A championship game. He batted .436 with 55 runs, 27 RBI and six home runs.
Vermont
Ben Alekson, Peoples Academy (Morrisville)
6-3 | 175 | RHP
Led his team to the Division III state championship, earning Mountain Division MVP honors and striking out 17 in the championship game.
Virginia
Bryson Eldridge, James Madison (Vienna)
6-7 | 220 | 1B
Named the MVP of the Word Baseball Confederation as a member of 18-under National Team USA, Eldridge excelled at the plate with three home runs in the tournament
Washington
Bjorn Johnson, Lincoln (Seattle)
6-2 | 185 | LHP
An all-state pick by the coaches association, Johnson struck out 68 batters in 42 innings last year with a 0.89 ERA. He also batted .368 while playing first base.
West Virginia
Aaron Jamison, Morgantown
6-0 | 195 | OF
Named the state player of the year by Prep Baseball Report, Jamison batted .396 with 44 RBI and 14 home runs as a junior.
Wisconsin
Brayden Olson, St. Croix Falls
6-0 | 165 | RHP
Olson was the Division III state player of the year and a member of the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association first team after posting an 11-0 record with a 0.00 ERA.
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