Catchers

Jean Rodriguez (George Washington, New York, N.Y.) Sr.

He led the Trojans to a 46-2 record and the city Public School Athletic League title while earning city Player of the Year honors. In the regular season, the 10th round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies batted a torrid .563 with four home runs and capped his career with a .389 average in the post-season playoffs.

Kyle Skipworth (Patriot, Riverside, Calif.) Sr.

Argbuably the best pure hitter on this team, Skipworth set a state record early in the season with a streak of getting 18 hits in 18 consecutive at-bats. The sixth pick overall in the MLB Draft by the Florida Marlins ended up hitting .543 with 51 hits and 51 runs scored. Skipworth also had 13 homers, 47 RBI and 13 other extra-base hits. He led his team to a 27-3 record, but the Warriors were upset in the CIF Southern Section Div. IV playoffs.

Pitchers

Gerrit Cole (Lutheran, Orange, Calif.) Sr.

Before the season, Cole was ranked as the top high school prospect in the nation by Baseball America. He ended up as a first-round pick by the New York Yankees. The flame-throwing right-hander struck out 121 batters compared to just 18 walks during the season and had an 8-2 record with a 0.47 ERA. Cole, who reached 98 mph on the radar gun, also struck out nine straight batters in one game in which numerous scouts were on hand.

Brett DeVall (Niceville, Fla.) Sr.

The state Class 5A Player of the Year was the 40th overall draft selection by the Atlanta Braves after posting big numbers as a senior. He was 12-1 on the mound, plus two saves, with an 0.41 earned run average. He struck out 140 in 86 innings and gave up only 21 bases on balls.

Ben Flora (Plano West, Plano, Texas) Sr.

Blossoming with a 13-0 record on the year and a 0.91 ERA, Flora was named the Dallas Morning News Player of the Year. In 77 innings, he struck out 112 and has signed with Texas Tech. During the postseason, Flora was 5-0 with a 0.37 ERA, including a win in the state semifinals. Plano West won its first Class 5A state championship and was No. 5 in the final Rivals.com FAB 50 national rankings.

Chase Hawkins (Brookwood, Snellville, Ga.) Sr.

The lefthander led the Broncos to a 34-3 record, a state Class AAAAA title and No. 7 ranking in the Rivals.com FAB 50 national ratings by tying a school record with 14 wins in 15 decisions. The University of Georgia recruit also owns the school record with 26 career victories as the No. 1 hurler on the state champion staff.

Danny Hultzen (St. Albans, Washington, D.C.) Sr.

The lefthander was selected the D.C. metro Player of the Year after helping St. Albans to a 32-2 record. A University of Virginia recruit who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks, he won all his starts for a 13-0 record while striking out 140 batters in 73 innings and posting an 0.74 ERA. He also batted .386 with eight doubles, five triples and four homers while driving in 37 runs and scoring 36 times.

Taylor Jungmann (Georgetown, Texas) Sr.

The two-time All-Central Texas player of the year was a perfect 14-0 on the year, including a shutout win over nationally-ranked Plano West in a best two-of-three series. In 83 innings, he struck out 146 and was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels. Jungmann was an Area Code Games participant last summer and was an Aflac All-American. He has signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Texas.

Trevor May (Kelso, Wash.) Sr.

May went 11-1 with 128 strikeouts, picking up his final win in the state semifinals before being drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Phillies. On the year, he threw six complete games, four shutouts and back-to-back no-hitters. May had signed with the University of Washington before being the highest amateur to be drafted from the state.

Eric Pfisterer (Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.) Sr.

The lefthanded Duke University recruit was an all-around player for the 33-0 record Ironmen, which capped the first unbeaten season in talent-rich Bergen County since 1950 with a state Non-Public A title and No. 1 ranking in the Rivals.com FAB 50 ratings. A draft selection by the Cincinnati Reds, he was 10-0 on the mound including the state final win over Christian Brothers. For good measure, he also batted .525 with 52 hits.

Jake Odorizzi (Highland, Ill.) Sr.

There's nothing odorous about what Odorizzi did this season. The Gatorade State Player of the Year was selected 32nd overall in the recent draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. On the field, he led Highland to its first state title and top ranking overall in both Illinois and for the St. Louis metro area. He allowed just one run all year on the mound going 14-0 with 146 strikeouts and just six walks. At the plate, he hit .412 with 15 homers, 41 RBI and stole 33 bases.

Tyler Stovall (Hokes Bluff, Ala.) Sr.

The lefthanded three-sport standout put up state record pitching and hitting numbers while starting on five straight state Class 3A title teams. This season the Eagles were 28-3 as the Auburn recruit, and 64th overall draft selection by the Atlanta Braves, posted a 14-1 record with three no-hitters, 187 strikeouts in 84 innings and an 1.00 ERA. The state Mr. Baseball set state career records with 54 wins and 683 strikeouts and also with 94 doubles at the plate.

Infielders

Tim Beckham (Griffin, Ga.) Sr.

The EA SPORTS National Player of the Year was the first No. 1 overall pick in this year's Major League Baseball Draft. Two others from Georgia also were among the first eight selections.

Andy Burns (Rocky Mountain, Fort Collins, Colo.) Sr.

The Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado player of the year for the second straight season is bound for the University of Kentucky. Burns dominated during the Class 5A playoffs once again as he hit .481 with 10 homers. He was walked 25 times but was still able to drive in 34 runs. Before his final season with the Lobos, he was selected as an Aflac All-American.

Anthony Hewitt (Salisbury School, Salisbury, Conn.) Sr.

The Brooklyn, New York native and Vanderbilt recruit was the 24th overall draft selection by the Philadelphia Phillies after posting big numbers at the boarding school. The shortstop, who also can play outfield, batted .536 with eight homers, nine doubles, and scored 30 runs.

Brandon Loy (Rowlett, Garland, Texas) Sr.

Loy was one of the top players in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and led Rowlett to a 32-3-2 record. Headed for the University of Texas, he hit .527 on the year with 33 RBI. Loy also had 17 doubles and four triples while scoring 48 times and stole 38 bases to help his team reach the Class 5A regional semifinals.

Steve Proscia (Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.) Sr.

The state Player of the Year honoree led the 33-0 record Ironmen to the state Non-Public A title and the No. 1 spot in the Rivals.com FAB 50 national rankings. A third baseman who signed with the University of Virginia and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, Proscia batted .545 with 55 hits, including 24 extra base blows, and scored 56 times. He also belted nine home runs and drove in 45 runs.

Outfielders

Xavier Avery (Cedar Grove, Decatur, Ga.) Sr.

A two-sport standout who also stars as a football tailback, he batted .561 this season with eight home runs, 42 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases. The speedy lefthanded centerfielder was the 50th overall draft selection by the Baltimore Orioles.

Joey Belviso (American Heritage, Plantation, Fla.) Sr.

The state Class 3A Player of the Year, and runner-up for overall state honors, led the hard-hitting Patriots with 15 home runs and a .507 batting average. He also knocked in 34 runs for the 31-2 record Patriots, who captured a state title and was ranked No. 3 in the Rivals.com FAB 50 national ratings. The center fielder was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels.

Jaff Decker (Sunrise Mountain, Peoria, Az.) Sr.

Was named The Republic's West Valley and Big Schools Player of the Year after a standout final season. On the mound he was 9-1 with a 1.02 ERA and struck out 122 in 68.2 innings. At the plate, Decker batted .565 with 56 runs, 17 homers, and 53 RBI. He also stole 21 bases and is headed to Arizona St. unless he signs with San Diego after the Padres selected him 42nd overall.

Aaron Hicks (Wilson, Long Beach, Calif.) Sr.

With blazing speed in the outfield, a quick bat at the plate and a super throwing arm, Hicks was the Mr. Baseball State Player of the Year in California. The 14th pick in the first round of the recent MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins added dominant pitching to his resume this season. He went 8-2 with a 1.16 ERA, reached 97 mph on the gun and had 112 strikeouts. Offensively, Hicks, who led Wilson to the CIF Southern Section Div. I title game, batted .473 with 12 doubles, four homers, 23 RBI and 37 stolen bases. As a junior, Hicks stole 44 bases in 45 attempts and led Wilson in runs scored when it was the No. 1 team in the state.

Multi-Purpose

Tyler Chatwood (East Valley, Redlands, Calif.) Sr.

A second-round MLB Draft pick by the Los Angeles Angels, Chatwood is a two-time San Bernardino County player of the year honoree. He won it last year as an outfielder and this year as a shortstop-pitcher. Chatwood came back from Tommy John surgery during his sophomore year and this season went 9-1 with 95 strikeouts and a 0.81 ERA. He also batted .521 with 23 RBI and 18 steals in leading his school to the CIF Southern Section Div. II championship game.

Zack Cox (Pleasure Ridge Park, Louisville, Ky.) Sr.

The third baseman-pitcher helped the Panthers to a 38-4 record and the state one-class championship. The University of Arkansas recruit, and Los Angeles Dodgers' draftee, sported a 10-0 mound record, including two no-hitters, with an 0.97 earned run average and 108 strikeouts. At the plate, he batted .457 with 46 RBI and seven home runs.

Matt Hobgood (Norco, Calif.) Jr.

Despite being a junior, Hobgood was a serious candidate to be state player of the year in California. He was 10-0 as a pitcher with a 1.34 ERA and beat Orange Lutheran and fellow EA SPORTS All-American Gerrit Cole in the playoffs. With the bat, Hobgood cranked out 15 homers with a .489 average and 45 RBI. Hobgood, who reached 96 mph on his fastball, has already committed to Cal State Fullerton.

Eric Hosmer (American Heritage, Plantation, Fla.) Sr.

After EA SPORTS Player of the Year Tim Beckham, Hosmer was the next high school player chosen in the MLB Draft at No. 3 in the first round by the Kansas City Royals. He was a leader on a team that went 32-2 and was No. 3 in the final Rivals.com FAB 50 national rankings with a .471 batting average, 11 homers and 27 RBI. Hosmer also was used to pitch in relief where he picked up five saves and had a 0.93 ERA. He was a legitimate national player of the year candidate, but in Florida fellow EA SPORTS All-American and teammate Joey Belviso was the Class 3A state player of the year.

Jonathan Hughes (Valley Christian, San Jose, Calif.) Sr.

A finalist for Mr. Baseball State Player of the Year in California, Hughes led his team to a second straight CIF Central Coast Section Div. I title. As a hitter, he batted .432 with 10 doubles, one homer and 35 RBI. As a pitcher, he went 14-1 with a 0.82 ERA. Hughes, who got the wins in his team's final two games, was named the San Jose Mercury-News and San Francisco Chronicle player of the year. He is bound for the University of Santa Clara.

Casey Kelly (Sarasota, Fla.) Sr.

The state Player of the Year selection helped his team record a 25-3 record while starring as a shortstop-pitcher. A University of Tennessee recruit as a football quarterback and baseball player, he batted .473 with 13 doubles, one triple and five home runs with 47 runs and 31 RBI. For good measure. Kelly was 8-1 on the mound with a 1.16 ERA and 77 strikeouts. He was a first round draft pick, and 30th overall, by the Boston Red Sox.

Jeff Malm (Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, Nev.) Jr.

One of only two juniors named first team EA SPORTS All-American is a 6-3 first baseman and pitcher who led the Gaels to their second straight Class 4A state title. Malm batted .582 with 61 RBI and scored 59 times. He also hit 25 doubles and seven homers while also going 5-2 on the mound where he struck out 62 in 41 innings. He has earlier been named the Southern Nevada Baseball Player of the Year.

Ethan Martin (Stephens County, Toccoa, Ga.) Sr.

The 15th overall selection in the Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the third baseman-pitcher batted .528 with 12 home runs this season. The Clemson recruit also was 9-1 on the mound with a 1.36 earned run average with 112 strikeouts in 60 innings.

Logan Verrett (Calallen, Corpus Christi, Texas) Sr.

Verrett was more than very good in leading the Wildcats (No. 2 in the final Rivals.com FAB 50 national rankings) to a 42-1 record and Class 4A state title. He finished the season a perfect 18-0 with an ERA under 1.00. Verrett hit a home run in the team's mercy-rule shortened championship game and batted .420 overall. He has committed to Baylor