The Kansas high school baseball season is just around the corner, and the 2026 landscape is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and talent-rich in recent history. Each year, our staff identifies the state's premier standout to be named the Prep Baseball Kansas Player of the Year. The honor carries significant weight, with a fraternity of past winners that includes Carson Liggett, Nick English, Eli Lovich, and last year’s recipient, Michael Winter, who capped off a historic senior campaign on the mound.

While it is far too early to crown a winner this season, this year’s race is headlined by a powerhouse quartet: three elite seniors and a standout junior, each boasting a decorated prep resume. While these four represent the clear frontrunners, they are closely pursued by a deep pool of Contenders and a select group of Small-School Sleepers with a legitimate path to the trophy. Below, our staff breaks down the names to watch as the road to the Player of the Year award begins.

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HEADLINERS

4 front-runners for our Player of the Year award heading into the spring...

Beau Peterson 3B/RHP / Mill Valley, KS / 2026 Peterson enters his senior campaign as the Sunflower State's top draft prospect and a frontrunner for Player of the Year honors. A two-time Prep Baseball All-American, he was a finalist for last year’s award after a dominant dual-threat season: hitting .468 with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs, while posting a 1.38 ERA with 56 strikeouts on the mound. His performance was instrumental in returning the Jaguars to the state tournament for the first time since 2019. Now ranked as a top-15 player nationally, the Texas signee serves as the cornerstone for a Mill Valley squad poised for another deep postseason run. Expect Peterson to further cement his draft status with another massive spring.

Carson May C / Olathe East, KS / 2026 Undoubtedly one of the premier power bats in the region, May turned heads at the Prep Baseball Super 60 earlier this year. He looks to carry that momentum into a high-stakes spring as a major offensive engine for a talented Olathe East squad contending for a state title. Since hitting .375 with five home runs and 19 RBIs last spring and following it up with an even more impressive summer, the Kentucky signee has seen his stock trend steadily upward. If May continues this trajectory and leads the Hawks on a deep postseason run, a double-digit home run season and a Player of the Year title would come as no surprise.

Keaton Neal SS/RHP / Spring Hill, KS / 2026 A well-established prospect with a decorated prep career, Neal has the opportunity to cap off his high school tenure with a bang. The Florida signee is one of the premier two-way threats in the state and serves as the catalyst for a Spring Hill squad capable of contending for a 5A state championship. A high-level draft prospect in his own right, Neal is coming off a season where he hit .345 with a 1.085 OPS and 22 RBIs. If he delivers another loud statistical spring on both sides of the ball while leading the Broncos deep into the postseason, he’ll be a difficult candidate to ignore for Player of the Year.

Grant Westphal OF / Blue Valley, KS / 2027 The lone junior in our "Headliners" category, Westphal has earned his place at the peak of this list. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier pure hitters, the recent Texas commit and Prep Baseball All-American has seen his stock skyrocket over the past year. After a sophomore campaign where he hit .408 with 16 extra base hits and 23 RBIs, Westphal has established himself as a dynamic force for a strong Blue Valley squad. With the ability to truly impact the game in every facet, a massive spring from Westphal could be in line and easily culminate in a Player of the Year award.

CONTENDERS

7 names that would be no surprise to come away with our award at the end of the spring...

Milo Burton 3B / Olathe East, KS / 2026 Another vital piece of the talented Olathe East core, Burton pairs with May to create one of the most formidable duos at the top of any order in the state. The Missouri signee is a standout athlete whose powerful right-handed stroke is complemented by an advanced, mature approach that sees Burton rarely strike out, posing a constant threat to opposing pitching staffs. After posting a .359 average and a 1.111 OPS last spring, he appears poised for another significant leap forward in his senior campaign.

Max Hamilton RHP / Olathe West, KS / 2026 Long established as one of the premier arms in the region, Hamilton remains the anchor for an Olathe West program that seemingly always has a chance to win it all every season. The Oklahoma State signee has been consistently dominant throughout his prep career, and his senior campaign looks to be no different. Over the past two seasons combined, Hamilton has posted a stellar 1.31 ERA, racking up 149 strikeouts in just 101.1 innings. With one of the most uncomfortable looks for hitters in the state, he enters the spring as a frontline ace poised for a massive finale.

Zane Shaw RHP / Lawrence Free State, KS / 2026 Shaw took a monumental step forward last season, serving as a cornerstone for a Firebirds squad that went 28-2 and captured the 6A State Championship. A Player of the Year finalist, Shaw turned in a nearly flawless junior campaign, finishing with a spotless 9-0 record and a staggering 0.39 ERA with 73 punchouts. As the Firebirds enter the spring as one of the 6A favorites once again, there is every reason to believe Shaw will replicate that dominance and remain a contender for the state's highest individual honors.

Parker Clubb C/RHP / Mulvane, KS / 2026 Clubb was one of the primary catalysts behind a record-breaking spring for a talent-rich Mulvane squad that shattered a 70 year old state record for strikeouts in a single season. An explosive two-way talent, the Louisville signee was dominant on the mound last spring, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.11 ERA and 91 punchouts while being equally impactful at the plate, hitting .366 with 22 RBIs. With a newly polished swing and added power showcased this preseason, Clubb’s draft stock is firmly on the rise. If Mulvane reaches even greater heights this spring, expect Clubb to be a central figure in the Player of the Year conversation.

Lincoln Boyle OF/RHP / St. Thomas Aquinas, KS / 2026 Boyle remains one of the premier two-way talents in the state, anchored within one of Kansas’ most consistent powerhouses. The Saints have captured back-to-back 5A state titles and are eyeing a historic three-peat this spring, with Boyle set to play a pivotal role on both sides of the ball. The reigning 5A Pitcher of the Year is just as dangerous at the plate, where he posted a .388 average and 36 RBIs last season. If Boyle delivers another high-octane spring while leading the Saints to a third straight championship, he will find himself firmly in the running for Player of the Year.

Grey Sanders RHP / Mulvane, KS / 2026 The other headliner in Mulvane’s record-shattering rotation, Sanders is one of the most electric arms in the state and enters the spring with a clear path to Player of the Year honors. The Kansas signee was untouchable last season, posting a staggering 0.80 ERA and racking up 97 strikeouts in just 44 innings of work to help lead the Wildcats to the state tournament. After taking another significant leap late last summer, Sanders now runs his fastball into the mid-90s. A 100+ strikeout season is well within reach-as is the state's POTY award.

Axton Brewer RHP/1B / Seaman, KS / 2027 Last season, Brewer emerged as one of the state's most electric young power arms. On the mound, the Auburn commit turned in a dominant 7-1 record with a 1.34 ERA and 59 strikeouts, while proving equally dangerous at the plate with a .444 average and 35 RBIs. Since then, Brewer’s velocity has continued its upward trajectory, now working into the mid-90s with his fastball. As he takes the reins for a Seaman squad looking to replace key veteran innings, another dominant spring—and a deep postseason run for the Vikings—could easily propel Brewer to the top of the Player of the Year conversation.

SMALL SCHOOL SLEEPERS

4 small-school names poised for a breakout spring and a legitimate run at the POTY award...

Aven Woods 1B / Chapman, KS / 2026 Woods stands as one of the most physically imposing players in the state, and that raw strength translated into historic production last spring. The Johnson County CC signee posted a staggering .942 slugging percentage and a 1.618 OPS for the Irish, anchored by a .536 batting average and 42 RBIs. A member of the Prep Baseball All-State team, the Chapman standout has shown consistent year-over-year improvement and if he delivers another season of eye-popping statistics, he would be hard to ignore for Player of the Year honors.

Kam Smith RHP / Girard, KS / 2027 Smith enters the spring as one of the most polished arms in the region and will serve as the frontline ace for Girard. Following a dominant sophomore campaign, the Arkansas commit posted a staggering 0.88 ERA and a 0.58 WHIP, racking up 71 strikeouts while walking only seven batters in nearly 40 innings. A standout at the Future Games last summer, Smith offers immense upside backed by baseball bloodlines and a quick arm, projecting as a starter at the next level . With an ease of operation that suggests even more velocity is on the way, Smith is poised for an even more dominant junior season.

Ty Schmeidler OF/LHP / Thomas More Prep-Marian, KS / 2027 The state’s top-ranked junior southpaw, Schmeidler appears poised for a breakout campaign as a premier two-way talent for a 2-1A state title favorite. The Kentucky commit is a fierce competitor on the mound, attacking hitters with a fastball that reaches the low-90s. Last spring, he anchored the Monarchs' rotation with a 1.86 ERA and 78 strikeouts, fueling a deep run to the state tournament. With his stock trending upward and the Monarchs positioned for a championship chase, a dominant junior year could easily put Schmeidler in the talk for Player of the Year honors.

Jake Bartley 1B / Abilene, KS / 2027 Bartley is coming off a massive spring for the Cowboys, culminating in a well-deserved selection to the Prep Baseball All-State team. Currently one of the premier uncommitted bats in the Sunflower State, Bartley’s run production reached elite levels last season; he drove in 44 RBIs on 42 hits while maintaining a .442 average. His 15 extra-base hits proved he is a constant threat for extra bases everytime he steps to the plate, and his swing has only sharpened over the offseason. In a league known for high-scoring affairs, don't be surprised if Bartley puts up even louder numbers this spring and forces his way into the top of the Player of the Year ballot.

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