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The 2026 spring season has come to an end across the Old Line State, and our staff has turned the page to nominating the 'Prep Baseball Maryland All-State Teams'. First up, Jamie Naill and I highlight 40 players across MD who have been nominated for this year's Underclass Team. 

* Players are listed in order by position nominated, and then alphabetically *
* Click each player's profiles for video *

Underclass Team

Catchers

Liam Buck C / Allegany, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .403 AVG, 1.023 OPS, 25 H, 8 XBH, 19 RBI Conference: WestMac Our first name takes us all the way out west as Liam Buck turns in a standout spring for one of the top teams in Class 1A. It's a lean 6'4" frame with more to come, showcasing rhythm in the hands and producing loud barrels all spring long. Also contributes on the mound, working to a 2.34 ERA in just under 25 innings this spring.

Collin Giacalone C / Col. Zadok Magruder, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .511 AVG, 1.360 OPS, 27 H, 9 XBH, 39 RBI, 30 R Conference: MoCo One of the biggest surprises in my eyes was the emergence of Collin Giacalone, who finished with one of the top averages in the county and earned himself multiple postseason awards. My first look came against the 3A state champions, where he mashed a pair of doubles as he finished by totaling a whopping 39 RBIs on the season. One to follow for the next few years at Magruder.

MacGuire Moore C / St. Mary's Ryken, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .345 AVG, .894 OPS, 29 H, 8 XBH, 19 RBI, 21 R Conference: WCAC The number two-ranked catcher in the MD/DE 2028 class turned in an impressive campaign that saw him as one of the top utilities in the conference. He saw time behind the plate, as a corner infielder, and in the outfield, which allowed him to provide in any way possible. On offense, Moore had at least one hit every time we laid eyes on the Ryken product.

Jesse Orford C / Bethesda-Chevy Chase, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .359 AVG, 1.262 OPS, 14 H, 7 XBH, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 16 R Conference: MoCo There was certainly some anticipation behind Orford after the preseason, ever since transferring over from Australia, and he backed up the hype with a solid spring. The switch-hitting 6-foot-4 catcher hit nearly .360 on the season while showing off impressive pull-side strength from the left side of the plate and strong skills behind the dish. Our staff was in attendance during his biggest game of the spring, where he went 3-for-4 with a pair of homers and a double.

Nathan Truman C / Crofton, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .404 AVG, 1.066 OPS, 23 H, 6 XBH, 18 RBI, 7 R Conference: Anne Arundel Inside of Crofton's breakout spring campaign that saw them as the biggest surprise in the county, the first team all-county UTL was a big reason why. The bat-to-ball ability was present in many of our looks this spring, the biggest being a 3-for-4 performance late in the season with a pair of doubles and 4 RBIs. He played a multitude of different positions in 2026, but expect him to thrive once again in that role as he's primed for a big summer.

Infielders

Dylan Baum SS / North East, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .386 AVG, 1.125 OPS, 22 H, 9 XBH, 13 RBI, 23 R, 18 SB Conference: UCBAC Baum, a 2025 Super Sophomore Games alum, turned in one of the best underclass seasons across the UCBAC while showing it off in multiple facets. Hit for a strong average, showed off some extra-base hit power, and had the ability to swipe bases when called upon to do so. Expect the hit tool to continue to make jumps as strength is added to the frame.

Marcus Blaqman SS / Southern MD Christian, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .409 AVG, 24 RBI, 35 R Conference: Old Line / Independent Marcus Blaqman entered the spring as one of the top players in the age class, and he backed it up on the offensive side of the ball. The sophomore hit .409 while playing a mix of SMAC public schools, MD private schools, and the occasional out-of-state competition. On the mound, the numbers may suggest an ugly spring, but Blaqman was pretty dominant outside of two poor starts.

Jonathan Bullough 3B / Severna Park, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .417 AVG, 1.055 OPS, 20 H, 7 XBH, 11 RBI, 16 R Conference: Anne Arundel One of our preseason standouts started the year as a plug guy, but ended the year as a mainstay in the lineup for a Severna Park team that needed extra juice in the lineup. Really swung a hot bat towards the end of the season, and there's some clear physicality in the 5'11" frame with the ability to reach triple-digit EVs.

Bryce Crandell SS / Southern-AA, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .456 AVG, 1.453 OPS, 31 H, 8 XBH, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 34 R, 27 SB Conference: Anne Arundel One of my favorite players to watch across the state this season, Crandell, always puts on an impressive performance in front of our staff. It's a contact-first hitter who can show off his strength. Pair that with clean defensive actions and an above-average run tool, he seems in line to follow in his brother's footsteps and be one of the best in the county. His standout performance came in a non-conference showing vs Parkside, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two singles.

Hayden Defenderfer SS / Colonel Richardson, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .481 AVG, 1.329 OPS, 26 H, 11 XBH, 15 RBI, 22 R Conference: Bayside Defenderfer, as a sophomore, led the Bayside North in batting average, opening eyes as the next name to circle down on the Eastern Shore. It's a simple left-handed swing that doesn't try to do too much and allows the strength and ability to create contact to take over. It feels like Coach Nepert and Coach Lambert always find diamonds in the rough, and Defenderfer may have added himself to that list as we head into the summer.

Charlie Delobe RHP / Severna Park, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .429 AVG, 1.242 OPS, 21 H, 8 XBH, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 16 R // 13 IP, 21 K Conference: Anne Arundel Our 2025 Newcomer of the Year followed up that campaign with an even better showing in 2026, raising his average into the .400s and contributing on the mound as well. It wasn't the sharpest spring on the hill, but the bat made up for it, producing all spring long in the two hole, which included multiple multi-hit games in front of our staff.

Cooper DeWaal SS / Oakdale, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .500 AVG, 1.603 OPS, 41 H, 22 XBH, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 40 R Conference: CMC It's hard to say that anyone, regardless of classification, had a better spring than what Cooper DeWaal put on display. The number-two-ranked player in the class hit .500 while finishing top three in the state in home runs and nearly every other offensive category. The power was evident from Day One, which led teams to start working around him. Oakdale would utilize him in different parts of the lineup throughout the year, but there's no doubt he was the best hitter in the CMC this spring.

Jonathan Kwon INF / Poolesville, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .386 AVG, .990 OPS, 27 H, 7 XBH, 13 RBI, 27 R // 28.1 IP, 8 BB, 22 K Conference: MoCo On a Poolesville team that is filled with underclass talent, Jonathan Kwon is just one of many future stars for this Falcons squad. Kwon made an impression in the first round of playoffs, collecting a pair of hits at the dish and tossing three shutout innings out of the bullpen to secure the win. As outings become more consistent, look for him to emerge as one of the top two-ways in the county.

Timmy Lakey SS / Patuxent, MD / 2029 Spring Stats: .422 AVG, 1.076 OPS, 27 H, 6 XBH, 15 RBI, 24 R Conference: SMAC Our first of two Patuxent nominations takes us to the freshman hitting machine, who stepped up big for the Panthers throughout the year during their run to the state semifinal game. His performance didn't waver in the playoffs, hitting a home run in their regional final to secure the championship. Expect the freshman duo, including Lakey to terrorize the SMAC for years to come.

Reece Leader INF / Linganore, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .522 AVG, 1.222 OPS, 24 H, 11 RBI Conference: CMC Reece Leader led the CMC conference on average this spring as a sophomore, producing consistently in the middle of the order for one of the top teams across the state. Walk-off moments, clutch pitching, and consistency headlined Leader's season as he heads into the summer as one of the hottest names on both sides of the ball. Hitting .522 isn't easy; he did it as a sophomore.

Penn Phillips INF / Clarksburg, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .481 AVG, 1.198 OPS, 25 H, 4 XBH, 14 RBI, 24 R Conference: MoCo For a Clarksburg team that saw a slew of sophomores make impressive impacts on their squad, Penn Phillips led the pack with a staggering .481 average in one of the hardest conferences/counties across the state. It was a contact-first hitter who thrived at getting on base and providing runs in any way possible. Expect Clarksburg to make a jump next spring.

Ryan Rosenthal SS / Bullis School, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .345 AVG, .975 OPS, 19 H, 8 XBH, 8 RBI, 21 R, 10 SB Conference: IAC The compact 5-foot-8 middle infielder was one of Bullis' top hitters, a part of a semifinal appearance. There's some present athleticism with strength that is only becoming more evident, showing it off in the playoffs with a solo homer to dead center. The wiry, athletic sophomore is certainly a future follow as one of the top up-and-coming IAC threats.

Lucas Salebe 1B / Clarksburg, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .443 AVG, 1.226 OPS, 27 H, 14 XBH, 35 RBI, 16 R Conference: MoCo Our second Clarksburg representative is the power-hitting first baseman who broke the Clarksburg school record for most RBIs in a season (35), making him the definition of an impactful underclassman. The fourteen extra-base hits were some of the most in the county as well, as Coach Foxwell's trio of 2028s makes them a team that should continue to see improvement year-by-year.

Outfielders

Ayden Jenkins OF / Sherwood, MD / 2029 Spring Stats: .358 AVG, .990 OPS, 21 H, 13 RBI, 31 R Conference: MoCo One of our finalists for "Newcomer of the Year", it's hard to overlook the impact that Ayden Jenkins had on Sherwood's state title run. It's already rare to see a freshman have significant playing time under Coach Davis, but Jenkins took it one step further by ending the year as the everyday leadoff hitter. He caught multiple barrels in each game we saw this season, including three against Magruder in late April.

Jason Marll Jr OF / Archbishop Spalding, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .410 AVG, 1.146 OPS, 43 H, 14 XBH, 34 RBI, 40 R Conference: MIAA "A" The number-one-ranked player in the Class of 2028 backed up that ranking this spring with standout numbers in the toughest conference in the state. Along with his .410 batting average, he hit a staggering .462 inside conference play and was named MIAA "A" Championship MVP after hitting .750 in that series. The power wasn't at the forefront; instead, the ability to produce in the middle of the order and drive in runs.

Chase Nemec OF / Mount Saint Joseph, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .390 AVG, .978 OPS, 41 H, 7 XBH, 37 RBI, 34 R, 14 SB Conference: MIAA "A" Two weeks into the spring, no hitter in the conference was off to as scorching of a start as Chase Nemec was. Although he did cool down towards the end of the year, he was still strong enough of a hitter that MSJ was forced to keep him in the lineup and played a big role in their conference title appearance. It's a smooth left-handed swing that gets the barrel through the zone, and the contact/speed combo made him a threat at the top of the order. Only struck out six times in 134 PAs.

Jack O'Sullivan OF / Gilman School, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .345 AVG, .962 OPS, 29 H, 8 XBH, 13 RBI, 31 R, 30 SB Conference: MIAA "A" Jack O'Sullivan made an impression on our staff in his first-ever high school game back as a freshman, and this year was the breakout performance many were anticipating. Not only does the average standout as he thrived in the leadoff spot, but he also broke Gilman's single-season stolen base record (30) while playing stellar outfield. The physicality is there, and expect the power upside at the dish to continue to uptick.

Collin Reis OF / River Hill, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .418 AVG, .487 OBP, 28 H, 16 RBI Conference: Howard Another strong spring for Collin Reis has him nominated once again as one of the top underclassmen across the state. It's not a dominant ability on either side of the ball, but the consistency stands out, especially against upper-end arms, as we saw this spring in their game vs Centennial.

Noah Tomasino OF / Park School of Baltimore, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .458 AVG, 1.261 OPS, 12 XBH, 24 RBI Conference: MIAA "B" Park School joined the "B" conference and advanced to the state title in its first year. Noah Tomasino played a big role in that effort, mashing his way throughout the season, which included multiple extra-base hits in the playoffs and a walk-off grand slam. Tomasino is one of the sole reasons why Park made the title game, and I expect them to be the favorites heading into 2027.

Boden White OF / Albert Einstein, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: .432 AVG, 1.157 OPS, 19 XBH, 12 RBI, 12 R Conference: MoCo Boden White is the final outfielder named after leading Einstein in most offensive categories following a strong showing at the winter DMV Prospects Scout Day. Gets the barrel through the zone with a middle approach, showing the ability all spring long to stretch extra-base hits into the gap. As the hit tool continues to progress, it wouldn't be a surprise to see those numbers improve even more.

Pitchers

Ronan Diaz RHP / Stephen Decatur, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: 24.1 IP | 5-0, 1.73 ERA, 29 K Conference: Bayside Whenever it felt like Decatur needed a win during their undefeated regular season in situations where their top two arms were unavailable, the ball was given to Ronan Diaz. The right-hander may not possess the most overpowering mix, but he gets the job done and pounds the strike zone, earning five wins on the season, including one late in the year at Kent Island. Consistency wins ballgames.

Bryce Fulda LHP / South River, MD / 2029 Spring Stats: 25.1 IP | 1.93 ERA, 14 H, 7 R, 7 BB, 39 K Conference: Anne Arundel Bryce Fulda was a substantial piece to South River's rotation during the back half of the spring. Multiple big outings and the ability to attack hitters make him one of the top arms to follow headed into next year. Add on the fact that he turned in a near 3.5 K/BB ratio as a freshman while keeping hits surrendered to a minimum, and Fulda is in line for another standout summer.

Paxton Green 3B / Parkside High, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: 23.3 IP | 5-1, 1.48 ERA, 31 K, .180 BAA Conference: Bayside Paxton Green inserted himself as a reliable #2/3 option for Parkside throughout the year, and although the number of innings wasn't particularly high, the outings were consistent enough to cement himself. It's an unusual delivery with a fastball that runs into the mid-80s with a bigger curveball thrown for strikes at a high rate. Although the bat was the side of the ball that caught attention pre-season, it was the arm that kept his name circling around the Eastern Shore.

Dominic Rivera RHP / Northern High, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: 47 IP | 6-3, 1.92 ERA, 28 BB, 52 K Conference: SMAC The multi-sport athlete broke out this past season both on the gridiron and on the diamond, especially on the mound for a Northern team that fielded a competitive squad. The right-hander worked 47 innings to a 1.92 ERA, allowing occasional base runners but showing the poise to eliminate any threat. The fastball, as of this past weekend, has been seen into the upper-80s, and although it's only a two-pitch mix now, he has feel for both pitches in the zone.

Topher Thatch RHP / Georgetown Prep, MD / 2029 Spring Stats: 32.1 IP | 3-3, 3.25 ERA, 12 BB, 27 K Conference: IAC Topher Thatch was virtually thrown into the fire as a freshman, tasked with turning in formidable outings against top private-school competition. Thatch thrived, throwing the third-most innings on the team and starting his spring off with an absolute bang, throwing six innings of two-run ball against one of New York's top private schools. It's a low-80s fastball with a three-pitch mix for strikes. As velo continues to uptick, the makeup is there for Thatch to be a big time follow 12 months from now.

Garrett Touchet RHP / Oakdale, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: 36.1 IP | 7-0, 2.70 ERA, 20 BB, 28 K Conference: CMC Another arm that performed in the biggest situations, the 2024 Junior Future Games alum was thrown into action and served primarily as the #2 arm in the rotation for most of the spring. His usage could be hybrid at times, occasionally pitching in big moments out of the bullpen. The arsenal is mainly fastball and slider, and although the K/BB ratio may not suggest it, he attacks hitters and forces weak contact.

Ryan Waugh RHP / Archbishop Spalding, MD / 2028 Spring Stats: 24 IP | 2.92 ERA, 21 H, 11 BB, 29 K Conference: MIAA "A" The glorified closer for the MIAA "A" Champions and the top team in the state, Waugh was given that role and embraced it. It was a new challenge, but for the majority of the season, he did exactly as asked, closing games and limiting late comebacks. It's a long-limbed 6'1" frame, but the fastball is already into the upper-80s, expecting to see lower-90s as the frame continues to fill out.

Chase White RHP / Patuxent, MD / 2029 Spring Stats: 46 IP | 4-3, 2.43 ERA, 8 BB, 74 K Conference: SMAC When it comes to freshman arms, nobody had a more impressive season than Chase White did in the SMAC, cementing his name for years to come. The right-hander worked 46 innings on the hill for one of Class 1A's top teams, but what stands out is the control. White finished with a K/BB ratio at 9.25, striking out 74 hitters to only 8 walks. Those splits are unlike anyone else in the state, which made him a big-time contender for "Newcomer of the Year".

Two-Way Players

Diarmuid Gardiner RHP / Walt Whitman, MD / 2028 Offensive Stats: .394 AVG, 1.133 OPS, 26 H, 10 XBH, 18 RBI, 27 R Pitching Stats: 46 IP | 4-2, 3.65 ERA, 21 BB, 41 K Conference: MoCo Puck Gardiner was one of the top two-way players in Montgomery County, not just an underclassman. The division pitcher of the year took the ball as Whitman's ace as a sophomore after limiting PT as a freshman and seemed poised out of the gate. On offense, he was thrust into the top of the order and was an on-base machine with a rising hit tool.

Jayce Kulp SS / Kent Island, MD / 2029 Offensive Stats: .364 AVG, 1.056 OPS, 20 H, 9 XBH, 11 RBI, 13 R Pitching Stats: 17 IP | 2-0, 2.88 ERA, 16 BB, 21 K Conference: Bayside Jayce Kulp had put together one of the quietest seasons across the Bayside Conference, but everyone should know his name now after his effort in the state title game. Of those 17 innings, two came in the state title, where he would be thrown into a tie game in the sixth inning and strike out the side. Not to mention, on offense, hitting over .360 on the year.

Caleb Sutch RHP / Queen Anne's County, MD / 2028 Offensive Stats: .472 AVG, .660 OBP, 24 H, 10 RBI, 17 R Pitching Stats: 15.1 IP | 9 H, 22 K, .184 BAA Conference: Bayside After a preseason circuit that turned heads, all attention was on Sutch and his spring campaign. Offensively, the sophomore was one of the best in the North Division, hitting just under .500 while contributing over 15 innings on the mound. As for many young arms, control was a concern at times, but when he was in the zone, it was mostly weak contact and shut down opposing offenses.

Cooper Thomas SS / Crisfield Academy, MD / 2029 Offensive Stats: .465 AVG, 1.228 OPS, 20 H, 5 XBH, 12 RBI, 19 R Pitching Stats: 35 IP | 4-2, 3.00 ERA, 23 BB, 56 K  Conference: Bayside Crisfield improved from one win in 2025 to six in 2026, and all of that can basically be attributed to the addition of Cooper Thomas. The freshman led the team in nearly every category on both sides of the ball, pitching them to 4 of their 6 wins. Crisfield has been looking for a new face of the program, and Thomas will be that over the next three seasons.

Brandon Toadvine LHP / Saint Michaels, MD / 2028 Offensive Stats: .444 AVG, 1.141 OPS, 24 H, 7 XBH, 25 RBI, 18 R Pitching Stats: 35 IP | 5-1, 2.20 ERA, 19 BB, 50 K Conference: Bayside When it came to consistency on both sides of the ball, no sophomore in the Bayside was as sharp as Brandon Toadvine. The left-hander made massive strides on the offensive side of the ball after a struggling freshman year, hitting .444 and finishing towards the top in the North Division in average. On the mound, it's a polished arm that knows how to pitch and takes advantage of it.

Colt Wanner LHP / Severn School, MD / 2029 Offensive Stats: .404 AVG, 1.080 OPS, 19 H, 4 XBH, 12 RBI, 15 R Pitching Stats: 41.2 IP | 2.35 ERA, 18 BB, 50 K Conference: MIAA "B" I don't want to say Colt Wanner was the MIAA B's biggest surprise after the preseason look our staff got, but he certainly held down the role in replacing what was lost by Caden Blanck. The southpaw tossed over 41 innings while limiting walks against high-level competition. The swing played extremely well in-game and shows promise for the future.

Ryan Yagesh 3B / Urbana, MD / 2028 Offensive Stats: .364 AVG, 28 H, 8 XBH, 16 RBI, 22 R Pitching Stats: 22.1 IP | 4-1, 2.82 ERA, 23 K Conference: CMC One of our biggest preseason winners ended up being a bigger contributor than many would've thought, especially on the mound, being a consistent #2/3 starter. On offense, the physical corner infielder hit in the back half of the order to provide some thump with the ability to turn over the lineup nicely. The maturity has set in and expect the consistency to stay.