Arizona’s 2026 class is one of the more talented and physically advanced groups we have evaluated in recent years. At the top sits a collection of proven performers who have built strong résumés through in game production, summer dominance, and consistent impact at Prep Baseball events. Several of these seniors enter the spring as established leaders in their programs with the tools, track record, and presence to separate themselves in a major way.

As always, the Player of the Year race is fluid. Production matters. Winning matters. Big moments matter. And in a state as deep as Arizona, there are always a handful of players ready to make a jump.

In addition to our top 2026 candidates, we have included a group of Challengers who have clear pathways to the award if things break right this spring, along with some Darkhorses who have the talent to crash the conversation with breakout seasons.

Click HERE to register for upcoming Prep Baseball Arizona events.

Stay tuned for continued preseason coverage including team previews, updated rankings, and in depth player spotlights throughout the spring.

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PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCHLIST

10 FRONT RUNNERS FOR OUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD HEADING INTO THE SPRING

PLAYER	HIGH SCHOOL	Year	COMMITMENT
Ryan Harwood	Casteel	2026	Texas A&M
Click to view Harwood's Player Profile View Full Profile Ryan Harwood Class of 2026 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 37 / POS: 8 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: RHP High School: Casteel State: AZ Summer Team: East Coast Sox 2026 National Height: 6-2 Weight: 218lbs Bat/Throw: L/R
Alain Gomez Gudino	Sagurao	2026	South Carolina
Click to view Gudino's Player Profile View Full Profile Alain Gómez Gudino Class of 2026 / C Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 74 / POS: 5 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: C Secondary Position: 3B High School: Saguaro State: AZ Summer Team: Saguaro Height: 6-0 Weight: 220lbs Bat/Throw: S/R
Ryne Barker	Casteel	2026	Texas Tech
Click to view Barker's Player Profile View Full Profile Ryne Barker Class of 2026 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 159 / POS: 48 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: 3B High School: Casteel State: AZ Summer Team: USA Prime Detroit Tigers Scout Team Height: 6-1 Weight: 171.7lbs Bat/Throw: L/R
Jet Berry	Queen Creek	2026	Arizona State
Click to view Berry's Player Profile View Full Profile Jet Berry Class of 2026 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 152 / POS: 46 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: 2B High School: Queen Creek State: AZ Summer Team: CBA national Height: 5-10 Weight: 167lbs Bat/Throw: S/R
Abram Sherrin	Liberty	2026	TCU
Click to view Sherrin's Player Profile Abram Sherrin Class of 2026 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 216 / POS: 57 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: RHP High School: Liberty State: AZ Summer Team: Dirtbags '26 Height: 6-1 Weight: 185lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Jackson Weber	Horizon	2026	Arizona State
Click to view Weber's Player Profile View Full Profile Jackson Weber Class of 2026 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 5 OverallRank: 338 / POS: 84 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: C High School: Horizon State: AZ Summer Team: FS21 Stars /GBG National 2026 Height: 6-0 Weight: 183lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
JJ Utash	Williams Field	2027	Texas
Click to view Utash's Player Profile View Full Profile JJ Utash Class of 2027 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 22 / POS: 7 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: RHP High School: EVIT - Williams Field High School State: NM Summer Team: Cane NY Mets Scout Height: 6-4 Weight: 212.3lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Bobby Villa III	Liberty	2027	Alabama
Click to view Villa's Player Profile View Full Profile Robert Villa III Class of 2027 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 53 / POS: 18 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: 2B High School: Liberty State: AZ Summer Team: Canyon Thunder 2026 Height: 5-9 Weight: 174.8lbs Bat/Throw: S/R
Baylor Denny	Casteel	2027	Oklahoma
Click to view Denny's Player Profile View Full Profile Baylor Denny Class of 2027 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 89 / POS: 24 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: 3B High School: Casteel State: AZ Summer Team: Cincinnati Spikes Height: 6-1 Weight: 166lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Soren Etheridge	Phoenix Country Day	2027	Wake Forest
Click to view Etheridge's Player Profile View Full Profile Soren Etheridge Class of 2027 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 113 / POS: 27 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: 3B High School: Phoenix Country State: AZ Summer Team: Biscuits Elite/ Canes West Height: 6-2 Weight: 192.7lbs Bat/Throw: R/R

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CHALLENGER CANDIDATES

10 MORE NAMES WITH A CLAR PATH TO THE AWARD

PLAYER	HIGH SCHOOL	Year	COMMITMENT
Devin Long	Chaparral	2026	Mississippi
Click to view Long's Player Profile View Full Profile Devin Long Class of 2026 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 340 / POS: 119 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: OF High School: Chaparral State: AZ Height: 6-3 Weight: 185lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Ben Ball	Hamilton	2026	Arizona
Click to view Ball's Player Profile View Full Profile Benjamin Ball Class of 2026 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 344 / POS: 64 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: SS High School: Hamilton State: AZ Summer Team: Trosky Brewers Height: 5-11 Weight: 212lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Zander Bratspis	Saguaro	2026	Kansas State
Click to view Bratspis' Player Profile View Full Profile Zander Bratspis Class of 2026 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 327 / POS: 82 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: SS High School: Saguaro State: AZ Summer Team: Swarm Red Elite Height: 5-9 Weight: 169lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Brody Cox	Queen Creek	2026	Cambell
Click to view Cox's Player Profile View Full Profile Brody Cox Class of 2026 / LHP Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 1 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: LHP Secondary Position: LHP High School: Queen Creek State: AZ Summer Team: indiana Prospects 17U Franchise Height: 5-11 Weight: 190.3lbs Bat/Throw: L/L
Brock MacDonald	Desert Vista	2026	Baylor
Click to view MacDonald's Player Profile View Full Profile Brock MacDonald Class of 2026 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 14 / POS: 2 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: RHP High School: Desert Vista High School State: AZ Summer Team: Swarm Red Elite Height: 6-1 Weight: 210lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Colton Floyd	Corona del Sol	2027	Texas A&M
Click to view Floyd's Player Profile View Full Profile Colton Floyd Class of 2027 / 3B Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 93 / POS: 6 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: 3B Secondary Position: RHP High School: Corona Del Sol State: NM Summer Team: Wow Factor National Height: 6-5 Weight: 232lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Grafton Marshall-Inman	Chaparral	2027	Arizona
Click to view Marshall-Inman's Player Profile View Full Profile Grafton Marshall-Inman Class of 2027 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 116 / POS: 28 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: 1B High School: Chaparral State: AZ Summer Team: Rush 18u Height: 6-2 Weight: 185lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Aldo Teilon	Tucson	2027	Arizona State
Click to view Teilon's Player Profile View Full Profile Aldo Teilon Class of 2027 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 90 / POS: 25 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: SS High School: Tucson State: AZ Summer Team: Trosky Height: 6-1 Weight: 167.8lbs Bat/Throw: L/R
Blake Gonzales	Casteel	2027	Brigham Young
Click to view Gonzales' Player Profile View Full Profile Blake Gonzales Class of 2027 / 3B Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 163 / POS: 12 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: 3B Secondary Position: RHP High School: Casteel State: AZ Summer Team: Canes National Height: 6-0 Weight: 193lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Ben Jacobus	Corona del Sol	2027	Texas Christian
Click to view Jacobus' Player Profile View Full Profile Ben Jacobus Class of 2027 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 169 / POS: 33 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: 1B High School: Corona Del Sol State: AZ Summer Team: Trosky/Brewers Scout Team Height: 6-0 Weight: 170lbs Bat/Throw: L/L

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DARKHORSES

5 PLAYERS LOOKING FOR A BIG SPRING TO THROW THEIR NAME INTO THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR TALKS

PLAYER	HIGH SCHOOL	Year	COMMITMENT
Owen Konerko	Cactus Shadows	2027	Michigan
Click to view Konerko's Player Profile View Full Profile Owen Konerko Class of 2027 / 3B Rankings  StateRank: 10 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 340 / POS: 22 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: 3B Secondary Position: OF High School: Cactus Shadows State: AZ Summer Team: Trosky/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team Height: 6-2 Weight: 192.2lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Dre Ethier	Brophy Prep	2027	Miami
Click to view Ethier's Player Profile View Full Profile Dre Ethier Class of 2027 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 325 / POS: 68 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: SS High School: Brophy State: AZ Height: 6-1 Weight: 151.7lbs Bat/Throw:
Chase Fillman	Millennium	2028	–
Click to view Fillman's Player Profile View Full Profile Chase Fillman Class of 2028 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 103 / POS: 25 Player Information Graduating Class: 2028 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: LHP High School: Millennium State: AZ Summer Team: Zona Boys 2028 Height: 6-0 Weight: 215.4lbs Bat/Throw: L/L
Cooper LeRoy	Perry	2028	–
Click to view LeRoy's Player Profile View Full Profile Cooper LeRoy Class of 2028 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 75 / POS: 19 Player Information Graduating Class: 2028 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: OF High School: Perry State: AZ Summer Team: Zona Boys/AZ DBacks Scout Team Height: 6-4 Weight: 188.7lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Macgraw VanWormer	Casteel	2029	–
Click to view VanWormer's Player Profile View Full Profile Macgraw VanWormer Class of 2029 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 1 / POS: 1 Player Information Graduating Class: 2029 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: RHP High School: Casteel State: AZ Summer Team: Ghost National Smith Height: 6-0 Weight: 190lbs Bat/Throw: R/R

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Upcoming Events

Showcase	State	Date	Location
East Valley Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	AZ	04/03	Desert Ridge HS - Mesa, AZ
West Valley Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	AZ	04/11	Verrado HS - Buckeye, AZ
Southern AZ Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	AZ	04/18	Kino Sports Complex - Tucson, AZ
Arizona Rising Stars Games (Invite-Only)	AZ	05/26	Desert Ridge HS - Mesa, AZ
2026 Four Corners ProCase (Invite-Only)	AZ	06/02	Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ
East Valley Summer ID	AZ	06/09	Arizona Athletic Grounds - Mesa, AZ
East Valley Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	AZ	06/09	Arizona Athletic Grounds - Mesa, AZ
Southern Arizona Summer ID	AZ	06/16	Tucson, AZ
Southern Arizona Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads)	AZ	06/16	Tucson, AZ
East Valley Summer ID (Session 2)	AZ	07/07	Desert Ridge HS - Mesa, AZ
Arizona State Games (Invite-Only)	AZ	08/07	Arizona Athletic Grounds - Mesa, AZ

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