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The 2026 spring season has come to an end across the First State. This week, our staff will highlight the Prep Baseball DE All-State teams, including the Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Underclass Player of the Year, and the Newcomer of the Year. First up, we highlight a player who made huge contributions on varsity as a freshman, leading to a state championship appearance and the nod for Newcomer of the Year.

 

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

2029 Justice Smith (Caesar Rodney)

Justice Smith recently took over the No. 1 spot in the MD/DE Class of 2029 rankings following a huge spring as a freshman. The offensive makeup took a tick up this spring, hitting in the four hole for Caesar Rodney, slashing .352/.489/.926 with 25 hits, 17 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. The real story is on the bump, where the 6-foot-3, 185-pound southpaw has really shined, running the fastball up to 89 with some added feel for the slider/changup mix. Over 16+ innings on the bump this spring, Smith worked to a 0.42 ERA with 17 strikeouts and proved to be a shutdown arm out of the bullpen for the Riders.