National Player of the Week: 4/6 to 4/12
April 17, 2026
Today, we’re announcing our seventh National Player of the Week of the 2026 campaign now that we’re into April and baseball is underway nationwide.
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 6 to 11 into account when determining these awards.
🏆 NATIONAL POTW
 |
Cole Mclean LHP / OF / Taylor County, KY / 2026For the first time since we started announcing this award back in 2024, no player has won it twice in their high school career – until now. Last year, Cole McLean earned the award as a junior after punching out 30 batters in just 13 innings. This year, he's topping himself somehow this spring. This past week, he threw his second consecutive perfect game for Taylor County and his numbers on the year match the dominance that's accompanied him during this particularly overpowering stretch on the mound. "The southpaw comfortably works in the 88-90 mph range with the heater, reaching 92 when he needs a little extra. The Kentucky commit had already built a no-doubt hall of fame high school career going into his senior season, and no he is doing what no other pitcher in Kentucky high school history has done, tossing back-to-back perfect games to go along with another no-hitter earlier in the spring. For the season, McLean has put up absurd numbers on the mound to the tune of 29 innings pitched allowing just two hits, one walk, with 68 Ks and zero runs allowed." – Jamie Tessoff, Kentucky State Director McLean hasn't allowed a hit since March 26, a single in an otherwise immaculate four innings pitched that day. |
STATE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Arizona
+ Soren Etheridge, RHP (Phoenix Country Day HS, 2027) | Wake Forest:
“Soren headlines Week Six in Arizona after a dominant outing on the mound, striking out 17 over 6.2 innings while allowing just three hits and one unearned run. The Wake Forest commit showed complete control of the game from start to finish, consistently missing bats and limiting traffic with just two walks.
The outing not only stands as one of the most dominant performances of the week across the state, but also pushed Soren into the record books, now holding the Phoenix Country Day career strikeout record with 271. The combination of swing and miss ability, command, and poise continues to separate him as one of the top arms in Arizona’s 2027 class.”
+ Cameron Davidson, SS (Willow Canyon HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“Cameron earns Hitter of the Week honors for the second time this season after putting together one of the most complete offensive weeks we’ve seen all year. The uncommitted shortstop went 8-for-11 (.727) across three games, collecting two home runs and a double while driving in five and scoring eight times. He also added three stolen bases and consistently found ways to impact the game in every phase.
Cameron’s ability to combine elite contact rates with power and speed continues to stand out, showing a well rounded offensive profile that translates at a high level. The consistency at the plate, paired with his ability to create runs and pressure defenses, makes him one of the more dynamic bats in the state. Still uncommitted, Cameron is continuing to build a strong case as a next-level follow with his production and all around skill set.”
– Antonio Torres, Arizona State Director
Arkansas
+ Chase Perkins, 1B (Gosnell HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“This week, Perkins had a huge impact at the plate, hitting .857 over 3 games. He added 1 home run and drove in 5 RBIs, showing great power and clutch hitting. His performance helped spark the offense and contributed to the team going 2-1 during the week.”
– Mikel Howell, Arkansas Asst. Director
California
+ Maddox Merrill, 3B (Clovis HS, 2026) | Fresno State (football):
“Two-sport athletes are always intriguing for their versatility and athleticism and Merril fits that bill. After a stellar week in the ultra-competitive TRAC League, Merrill earned his state's 'Hitter of the Week' award. In a three-game set against league rival Buchanan, Merrill finished 5-for-9 with two doubles and a triple as the Cougars took two-of-three to claim the league series. Merrill was also intentionally walked twice during the series as Clovis moved into a three-way tie atop the league standings after the first week of action. On the season Merrill has been hot at the plate for the 12-5 Cougars. He is sporting a .436 average with eight doubles, three triples, 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored all while playing stellar defense at the hot corner. The future Bulldogs football player is showing that being a multi-sport athlete in an uber competitive league is not only possible, but very doable.”
+ Kyle Sweeney, LHP (Sacred Heart Prep HS, 2027) | Notre Dame:
“Sweeney has been lights out this season and last week was one of his most impressive starts of the season. In his last start, Sweeney, a Notre Dame commit, threw six scoreless innings allowing just two hits, zero walks, zero earned runs and struck out 12 batters on just 82 pitches. It was one of his most efficient and sterling stars of the season as the Gators improved to 11-4 on the season. The 6-foot-,185-pound southpaw has been masterful all season for Sacred Heart Prep over his 24 innings pitched. He has a perfect 5-0 record with 44 strikeouts while allowing just eight hits and two earned runs in those starts, and he's currently sporting a 0.58 ERA.”
– Les Lukach, California State Director
Colorado
+ Landry Warner, RHP (Lutheran HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“Warner continues a dominant run on the mound after going six innings against a ranked Discovery Canyon squad last week, allowing zero earned runs while striking out a staggering 16 hitters in the win. He also walked just one batter in the outing. Warner has now picked up three straight wins for the Lutheran Lions, a stretch in which he’s struck out 32 hitters across 15.2 innings with just three earned runs allowed and only three walks, which included another win over a ranked Vista Peak team.
Warner is a surging uncommitted arm worth a close watch in 2026. The 6-foot-2 right-hander features long levers and runs his fastball into the upper-80s.”
– Caleb Dameron, Colorado Asst. Director
Florida
+ Amil Ayoub, LHP (Wolfson HS, 2026) | Florida State College at Jacksonville JC:
“Wolfson senior and FSCJ recruit Amil Ayoub delivered an overpowering performance on the mound this past week, earning Florida's Pitcher of the Week honors. Ayoub took the ball and fired 6.2 shutout innings, holding the opposition to zero hits and zero runs during his time on the hill. While he did issue four walks, his ability to miss bats was impressive as he recorded an overwhelming 17 strikeouts.”
+ Eli Feld, OF/1B (Mount Dora Christian Academy HS, 2026) | Polk State JC:
“Mount Dora Christian senior and Polk State recruit Eli Feld delivered a flawless week at the plate to secure Florida's Hitter of the Week honors. The 2026 outfielder was impossible to get out, going 6-for-6 on the week while constantly circling the bases for six runs scored. When he wasn't setting the table, he was doing damage himself, racking up four RBIs behind four extra-base hits on the week, including two homers.”
– Rocco Iervasi, Florida Director of Ops.
Georgia
+ Holden Borland, RHP (South Forsyth HS, 2029) | Uncommitted:
“Borland is a freshman at South Forsyth who is already on our radar as a Junior Future Games participant just last summer, but he's looking better than ever after tossing a seven-inning no-hitter on just 83 pitches with eight Ks and no walks last week, a game in which he was also up to 91 mph. To specify, he was up to 91 mph with his right arm, considering he's an ambidextrous pitcher who can use both, but since his left arm is currently on the shelf it was just the right one that authored this no-hitter.”
– Hudson Graham, Georgia State Director
Illinois
+ Tristan Steger , C (St. Laurence HS, 2027) | Kentucky:
“Steger took home Illinois' Player of the Week honors after finishing at a 10-for-13 clip with four home runs, a double, 12 RBIs, 10 runs scored and three walks. He homered in each of their four games on the week, helping them to a 4-0 record in that timeframe while also helping to keep St. Laurence as the No. 1-ranked team in the state.”
+ Callum Morrison , LHP (Lake Forest HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“The uncommitted southpaw fired a seven-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts last week, scattering five walks. In the process, he became Lake Forest's all-time strikeouts and appearances leader and earned Illinois' Pitcher of the Week award in the process.”
– Peter Hamot, Illinois & Wisconsin Asst. Scouting Director
Indiana
+ Cole Cheatham, RHP/INF (Union County HS, 2027) | West Virginia:
“The top-ranked player in the state's '27 class is off to a dominant start to the spring for Union County. Last week, he struck out 10 batters in five shutout innings, allowing just a pair of hits as he collected a win on the mound. He helped his team at the dish as well, going 9-for-13 on the week with three doubles, a triple, one home run, tallying five RBIs, and seven runs scored along the way. To this point in the spring, the West Virginia recruit is batting .650 and has struck out 21 of the 34 batters that he has faced on the mound.”
– Cooper Trinkle, Indiana State Director
Kansas
+ Cole Haubold, OF (Topeka HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“The Topeka outfielder was a force to be reckoned with at the plate and on the basepaths, leading the Trojans to a perfect 3-0 week. Across 16 at-bats, Haubold raked in 12 hits, including two doubles and a home run, to finish with a blistering .750 average on the week. He also accounted for 10 RBIs, four walks, and wreaked havoc on the basepaths with seven stolen bases.”
– Eliott Wilk, Central Regions Ops. Director
Louisiana
+ Alex Richardson, RHP (Belle Chasse HS, 2026) | Southern Miss:
“Richardson threw a complete-game no-hitter in seven innings on April 7, and he totaled 20 Ks on just 87 pitches to make it that much more impressive. In that start, the first batter of the game reached base on an error and was then subsequently picked off by Richardson. He then struck out 20 batters in a row. For the year, he’s up to 120 strikeouts across 54 innings and owns a 0.26 ERA.”
– Alex Armand, Louisiana State Director
Maryland
+ Kohen Madden, SS/RHP (Allegany HS, 2027) | Uncommitted :
“Kohen Madden has been a name to follow all spring long at Allegany High, and yet another standout week on both sides of the ball lands the uncommitted junior with Maryland's Player of the Week honors. The physical two-way went 8-for-10 at the plate with two doubles, a home run, and six RBIs, while also working six innings on the bump, giving up just one earned run while striking out 11. This is one of the top uncommitted prospects across the Old Line State, and a strong start to his junior year campaign has sky-rocketed the stock.”
– Jamie Naill, Maryland State Director
Minnesota
+ Kai Larsen, SS (Woodbury HS, 2026) | UW-La Crosse:
“Larsen went 7-for-7 with four doubles, scored six times, and drove in another five runs to earn Minnesota's first Player of the Week award of 2026. By the end of the week, the UW-La Crosse commit was hitting .727 on the season helping the Royals stay undefeated to start the spring.”
+ Quinn Weis, LHP (Kasson-Mantorville HS, 2026) | Uncommitted :
“Weis pitched a 17-strikeout no-hitter against Goodhue on April 7, which became the left-hander's second no-hitter of his career. In 2024, Weis no-hit Red Wing in VFW ball with 19 Ks.”
– Andy Judkins, Minnesota State Director
Mississippi
+ Logan Buckley, LHP (Columbia Academy HS, 2026) | Southern Miss:
“The Southern Miss recruit turned in a flawless performance on the mound, tossing a perfect game against Wayne Academy. The left-hander was dominant from start to finish, working all seven innings without allowing a hit or a walk while striking out 15. Buckley controlled the game entirely, overpowering hitters and filling up the zone in one of the most impressive outings you’ll see this spring.”
+ Drew Stanton, C/3B (Myrtle HS, 2028) | Uncommitted :
“Stanton put together a monster week at the plate, going 8-for-11 (.727) while reaching base consistently and doing serious damage. He recorded one double and launched four home runs, driving in 13 runs while also drawing five walks to cap off an ultra-productive stretch. Stanton continues to establish himself as one of the premier players in Mississippi’s 2028 class with his combination of power, approach, and overall offensive impact.”
– Matt Miller, Mississippi State Director
Nevada
+ Justin Rodrigues, SS/RHP (Bishop Gorman HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“The 2025 Future Games attendee and Nevada’s top uncommitted prospect put together a massive week at the plate. Over three games, Rodrigues posted a .750 average (9-for-12) with four home runs, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored. His week included a perfect 5-for-5 day with three homers, a double and eight RBIs in the same game, which helped land him Nevada's Player of the Week award.”
– Brett Harrison, Mountain West Supervisor
North Carolina
+ Owen Johnson, RHP (North Davidson HS, 2026) | Wingate:
“Johnson delivered a dominant performance on the mound, tossing a five-inning no-hitter in shutting out his team's first-round opponent at North Davidson’s spring break event. The right-hander recorded nine Ks while allowing no hits and just one walk. The Prep Baseball North Carolina staff was in attendance for this gem where Johnson sat 88-90 mph throughout his stellar outing.”
– Brandon Hall, Mid-Atlantic Director
Oklahoma
+ Eli Parkhurst, SS (Edmond Santa Fe HS, 2027) | Oklahoma:
“Parkhurst put together a near perfect week in a four-game stretch. Offensively, he went 8-for-8 and added six freebies getting on base 14 times in 14 plate appearances. Further, the Edmond Santa Fe shortstop added 11 runs scored and nine RBIs with six extra-base hits including three doubles, a triple, and two home runs. On the mound, Parkhurst fired a five-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts. He was a big part of the 4-0 week for the defending 6A state champions working out of the middle of the lineup and on the mound.”
– Bret Schwartz, Oklahoma State Director
Oregon
+ Grady Saunders, RHP/INF (Thurston HS, 2026) | Oregon State:
“The top-ranked player in Oregon's senior class thanks to his prowess on the mound, Saunders showcased his versatility last week with a big series of offensive performances. The Oregon State commit went 6-for-10 with two home runs, a double and a triple. He also added five runs scored, three walks and 12 RBIs. Saunders is an immense talent and is a must-follow for the remainder of the spring.”
+ Chase Austin, OF/LHP (Beaverton HS, 2027) | Oregon State:
“The Beaverton junior pitched phenomenally to win the state's Pitcher of the Week award, tossing six innings without allowing a hit or a walk, while striking out 13 batters overall. The versatile athlete was most recently seen at the Corvallis Preseason ID last winter before securing his commitment to Oregon State.”
– Dylan Grenz, Pacific Northwest Asst. Scouting Director
Washington
+ Preston Bolam, OF (Emerald Ridge HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“The Emerald Ridge junior had a massive week, slugging two home runs and collecting seven hits overall to win the state's latest Hitter of the Week award. Bolam also tallied two walks, five runs and eight RBIs across three games played. He carries over his offensive prowess into the spring after a strong showing at PNW Preseason All-State this winter, where he posted an exit velocity north of 103 mph while running a sub-7.00 time in the 60-yard dash.”
– Dylan Grenz, Pacific Northwest Asst. Scouting Director
+ Brayden Seiber, RHP/INF (Kennedy Catholic HS, 2028) | Uncommitted:
“The Kennedy Catholic sophomore spun a gem last week, throwing seven shutout innings to win Washington's Pitcher of the Week honors. The righty allowed just three hits, walking one with 10 strikeouts in his dominant outing. Seiber has excelled at multiple showcase looks over the last year, most recently at PNW Preseason All-State in February.”
– Dylan Grenz, Pacific Northwest Asst. Scouting Director
Related Content