National Player of the Week: 4/20 to 4/26

May 1, 2026
By Andy Sroka
National Managing Editor, Scouting

Today, we’re announcing our ninth National Player of the Week of the 2026 campaign as seasons start to wind down across the country and the playoffs are heating up, if not right around the corner.

The following players were submitted by their coaches to our state directors and they went on to earn the Player or Pitcher of the Week award in those states. From there, we sifted through the country’s POTWs and selected the top performer among them, singling them out as the sole National Player of the Week. If you’re a coach interested in submitting a nomination this season but have not yet received that form so far this spring, visit our staff directory to find the contact information for the state director overseeing your state’s season coverage.

Our staff took player stat lines from the week of April 20 to 26 into account when determining these awards.

🏆 NATIONAL POTW

Trey Rangel RHP / The Colony, TX / 2026

“A Prep Baseball All-American and two-time Future Gamer, Trey Rangel delivered a dominant outing, tossing a seven-inning complete game shutout while allowing just one hit and striking out 16 without issuing a walk against Wakeland in game one of districts last week. The Cougars needed his on-mound dominance too, considering the game was still scoreless with one out in the bottom of the sixth and Rangel up to bat. The Texas recruit then launched a no-doubt homer over the left field wall to give Colony the 1-0 lead and then he hopped on the mound and K'd the side in the seventh to secure the huge victory.

In game two of the series, Rangel's bat was again essential to the Cougars' district series win. He opened the scoring right away in the first inning with a two-run homer, and then he slugged a three-run shot in the next frame that gave Colony a big lead that they clung to late, setting themselves up for a series with Frisco Memorial in the 5A D2 UIL playoffs.

Rangel has put together a big-time season on the mound, posting a 0.39 ERA with 102 strikeouts, a 0.410 WHIP, and just nine walks. He's really been showcasing the ability to get swings and misses without sacrificing strikes. He's a premier arm, continuing to perform at a high level.”

– Ben Green, Texas Director

(2/2/26)

California

+ Jeremiah Jennings , RHP (Madison (San Diego) HS, 2026) | UC Santa Barbara:
“Jennings, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander, was dominant from start to finish, tossing a complete-game shutout with 17 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one walk over 102 pitches. He set the tone early by striking out the first six hitters he faced and finished with the final five outs via strikeout, with 13 of his 17 punchouts coming on the fastball as he worked 88-91 mph and touched 92. The outing adds to an impressive season line, as he now owns a 1.74 ERA over 40.1 innings with 63 strikeouts to just 11 walks.”

– Vinnie Alfino, California Content Manager, Ops.

(4/28/26)

Georgia

+ Evan Brand, UTL (Kell HS, 2027) | Georgia Tech:
“The 2025 Future Gamer was a key part of Kell's first-round upset in the playoffs against the region's No. 1 seed. In the three-game set, Brand went 9-for-12 with two doubles, five RBIs, five runs scored, and he also walked three times and stole two bags. He tallied multi-hit days in each game, including a go-ahead RBI double in the winner-take-all game three, and then he hopped on the mound to close out the win and clinch Kell's ticket to the next round.”

– Hudson Graham, Georgia State Director

(4/23/26)

Illinois

+ Dodger Friedrich, RHP (Lane Tech HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“Friedrich is one of the top pitchers in the entire 2028 class, coming in as our No. 2-ranked player in Illinois and No. 43 nationally. He's been dominating so far this spring and this past week was arguably his best stretch yet, firing 10 innings over two outings with just one hit allowed, no runs, one walk and 14 strikeouts.”

(4/11/26)

+ Logan Fernandez , OF (Mount Carmel HS, 2026) | Triton JC:
“Fernandez had one of the more impressive weeks on the year, going 8-for-15 with two home runs, three doubles, an eye-opening 16 RBIs and seven runs scored. He was an instrumental part of a 3-1 week and big Chicago Catholic Blue series split with Brother Rice.”

– Peter Hamot, Illinois & Wisconsin Asst. Scouting Director

(7/6/25)

Kentucky

+ Rowen Burton, SS (North Bullitt HS, 2026) | Bellarmine:
“Burton had himself quite the week setting the all-time hits record along the way with 145 and counting. The Bellarmine commit helped lead the Eagles to a 5-0 record for the week winning 10 of their last 11 and surging into the top-25 rankings. Steady hands in the dirt with the arm to stick on the left side at the next level to go along with a mature approach at the plate offensively. Known for working gap to gap with plenty of power to go with it, especially to the pull side. Look for Burton to make a bid for immediate playing time once he arrives on campus but for now the smooth and steady shortstop is focused on winning the 6th region and a trip to the state tournament to cap off what has been an outstanding high school career.”

– Jamie Tessoff, Kentucky State Director

(7/17/25)

Michigan

+ Ethan Armstrong, RHP/3B (Garden City HS, 2026) | Michigan:
“The top-ranked player in the state turned in a dominant performance on the mound handing No. 4 New Boston Huron their lone loss of the season with a complete game shutout. He was up to 95 mph in the outing, struck out 11 allowing a pair of infield singles. The two-way standout also went 3-for-6 on the week with a triple and two home runs in three games at the plate. Entering the week he has 35 strikeouts and just one walk in 17 scoreless innings, and he's hitting .400 (12-for-30) with a double, two triples and three home runs this season.”

– Spencer Impellizzeri, Michigan Operations Director

(7/19/25)

Minnesota

+ Peyton Tellijohn, RHP (Le Sueur-Henderson HS, 2026) | Iowa Central CC:
“On April 22, Tellijohn tossed a perfect game for Le Sueur-Henderson, needing just 76 pitches to get through seven sterling frames, with 10 Ks along the way in a 3-0 win against Maple River. It was the program's first-ever perfect game, too.”

– Andy Judkins, Minnesota State Director

(6/16/25)

Oregon

+ Malakai Chandler, INF (Ashland HS, 2026) | Chemeketa CC:
“The senior from Ashland High had a massive offensive week, going 9-for-10 overall. The Chemeketa commit slugged two home runs, three doubles and a triple. He also tallied seven runs scored and 16 RBIs in this massive set of games.”

+ Jakoby Goss, RHP/INF (Tillamook HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“The senior had a huge week on the mound, throwing seven no-hit frames while striking out 17 hitters. Goss allowed no runs and walked just two, dominating beginning to end on the mound. Goss was most recently seen at at the Prospect U Scout Day this winter.”

– Dylan Grenz, Pacific Northwest Asst. Scouting Director

(3/2/26)

Texas

+ Cullen Scott, 3B/RHP (Melissa HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“Scott turned in a huge week at the plate, going 8-for-9 with three doubles, two triples, and two home runs while driving in six RBIs.

Well established on the mound, Scott is now starting to show real impact with the bat as well. The bat speed and ability ot impact the baseball are both apparent and will keep refining the approach.”

– Ben Green, Texas Director

(4/28/26)

Washington

+ Wyatt Plyler, OF/RHP (Sumner HS, 2027) | Wake Forest:
“The second-ranked player in Washington's junior class, Plyler had a huge set of games to win 'Hitter of the Week' in Washington. The Sumner product went 8-for-11 with a home run, three doubles and a triple. He also tallied four runs scored and four RBIs. Plyler was most recently seen at PNW Preseason All-State this winter before committing to Wake Forest in recent months.”

(3/19/26)

+ Jack Champion, LHP (Eastside Catholic HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“The Eastside Catholic arm was exceptional once again, throwing his second consecutive no-hitter to win POTW honors in the state. The lefty threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two walks while striking out four batters. The senior has been a breakout star this season and will have eyes on him for the remainder of the spring.”