2026 Colorado Player of the Year: '27 RHP/SS Cooper Vais

Cooper Vais RHP / SS / Arvada West, CO / 2027

For the better part of the last several years, Cooper Vais has been regarded as Colorado's top prospect in the 2027 class. This spring, the Texas commit showed exactly why.

A true two-sport standout who carries a 4.1 GPA and also averaged 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game on the varsity basketball court, Vais put together one of the most dominant all-around seasons Colorado has seen in recent memory on the baseball field as a junior. The Prep Baseball Super Sophomore Games and Future Games standout excelled on both sides of the ball while leading Arvada West to an undefeated in-state regular season and a run to the Class 5A State Championship series.

On the mound, Vais established himself as possibly the most impactful arm in Colorado, finishing a perfect 13-0 with a microscopic 0.62 ERA across 68 innings. He struck out 113 hitters while walking just 15 and allowing only 41 hits all season. His postseason performance elevated his campaign even further, as he took over the 5A State Tournament and carried the Wildcats deep into May. In the championship round, Vais tossed a complete-game gem with 10 strikeouts and no earned runs, sending Arvada West to a winner-take-all state championship matchup against eventual champion Regis Jesuit and one of the state's toughest lineups.

His dominance stems from an advanced arsenal with high pitchability and competitiveness. Vais attacks hitters with a low-90s fastball that features natural cut, deception, and command, while pairing it with elite spin rates approaching 2,900 RPM on both his slider and curveball. His ability to manipulate multiple breaking-ball shapes gives opposing hitters little chance to get comfortable, even against the state's top competition.

As impressive as his pitching numbers were, Vais was equally dangerous at the plate. The two-way star hit .458 with seven home runs, 30 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and only a 10% K rate, consistently impacting games with both power and athleticism.

Between his academic success, multi-sport excellence, elite prospect status, and unmatched production against Colorado's highest level of competition, Vais delivered a season worthy of Player of the Year honors. In a state loaded with talent, no player had a bigger impact on winning in 2026 than Cooper Vais.

‘27 @TexasBaseball commit RHP Cooper Vais (Arvada West)

FB: 88-91 T92 🔥 (~2600)
SL: 83-84 (2800+)
CB: 74-75 (2800+)

11Ks across 6IP (3H, 0ER, 0BB) for the state’s #1 ranked 2027 prospect

Feel for spin 🌪️, manipulates the SL/CB combo exceptionally well & for strikes@cvais_02… pic.twitter.com/mthf41Tbpx

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) March 31, 2026

💣 𝑵𝑶 𝑫𝑶𝑼𝑩𝑻𝑬𝑹 💣

‘27 SS/RHP Cooper Vais (Arvada West) with some easy strength and extension to send a lazer over the LF fence 💥@TexasBaseball commit helping Colorado’s #1 ranked team get out to an early 9-1 lead here in the 5A Region 1 championship game

3 for 3… pic.twitter.com/qHtIeJW6Xc

— Prep Baseball Colorado (@PrepBaseball_CO) May 16, 2026