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2025 Player of the Year: GRIFFIN RARDIN

June 19, 2025
Prep Baseball KY Staff

As we wrap up our end-of-year awards, we think back over the course of the 2025 high school season, with so many fantastic performances from players across the Commonwealth. There were several prospects worthy of Player of the Year consideration, which is given to the top senior player in the state. No one, however, was quite as deserving as South Warren senior Griffin Rardin.

The #19 overall prospect in the KY 2025 class, Rardin is an all-round athlete and true two-way threat. It was his offense that landed him this award, but the young man is a competitor on the mound as well. With a max FB velocity of 91mph and spin rates north of 2300rpm, he struck out 22 in just 11.2 inning this season for a 1.20 ERA. Offensively, Rardin has been a staple in the Spartans' lineup for years now, but no season was quite as special as his senior campaign. From his numbers in the scorebooks to his leadership in the infield, the senior SS/RHP answered the call in more ways than one this year. Early in the season, when classmate and crucial two-way Ethan Reynolds went down with an injury, there were some questions among the KY staff about how the Spartans would respond. South Warren always plays a tough schedule, and losing a core bat and pitcher like Reynolds was a significant blow. Rardin stepped up in a huge way, being the catalyst that the Spartans needed to win.

After losing two of three to begin the month of April, Rardin reignited the Spartans' offense over Spring Break in the Sunshine State. After an 18-1 victory over Pine Forest (FL), Rardin led the offense with a 3-4 day at the plate (just a single shy of the cycle) in a win against Milton (FL). These two wins kicked off another win streak, taking them all the way into district play. By this point, Rardin was on statewide individual stat leaderboards in several offensive categories, and South Warren had climbed to #6 overall in our state rankings.

Fast-forward to the postseason, Rardin had already put together some of the most impressive offensive numbers in the state as South Warren prepareed for a run at a 4th Region Title. The 5'10" 185lb righty posted a staggering .611 batting average during the postseason, where he played in six of seven matchups. In the Spartans' opening round win over Highlands, Rardin reached base all four plate appearances, going 2-2 with a RBI triple to take the lead late in the game.

Rardin finished the season with 55 hits, more than anyone else in the Commonwealth. He totaled 29 doubles (T-2nd overall), 6 triples (T-4th overall), and 4 bombs. He also led the state in RBIs with 48, and was tied for 9th overall in runs scored with 44. He finished in the top ten in the state with a 0.891 slugging percentage, and, in what might be his most impressive stat, an even .500 batting average. We mentioned that the Spartans always play a tough schedule... this year, they played 14 games against teams in our final Power 25 rankings. The ability to sustain a season like this against good competition really stood out to the KY staff!

Rardin turned a new corner at the plate this year, boosting his already impressive .363 average from last season by almost 150 points. A Shelton State Community College commit, there are certainly big things ahead at the next level for the young two-way, and all of the Prep Baseball KY staff is excited to watch him compete in the future. Congratulations to our 2025 Player of the Year, Griffin Rardin.


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