National Player of the Week: 5/12 to 5/18
May 22, 2025
Today, we’re announcing our 10th National Player of the Week of the 2025 campaign, as regular seasons across the country wind down and the postseason winds up.
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 May 12 to May 18 into account when determining these awards.
🏆 NATIONAL POTW
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Patrick Connors OF / Hinsdale Central, IL / 2026“Setting a school record is always a special accomplishment, and Connors picked the perfect time to do so, helping his team to a perfect 6-0 week while going an eye-opening 14-for-18 at the plate with one triple, five doubles, eight RBIs, 11 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and four walks – all while setting his school’s single-season stolen base record when he surpassed the 35 mark. Connors got his week started in a 10-0 win over Proviso West, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, double, RBI, three runs scored, three stolen bases and a walk. He rolled right into Tuesday where they took down West once again 9-0 as Connors went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, run scored, two stolen bases and a walk. Wednesday was much of the same in an 8-2 win over Oak Park-River Forest as he went 3-for-4 with a double and two stolen bases, also scoring four times. Thursday saw them back in action with West as they won 10-3 behind Connors’ 2-for-2 day with three RBIs, a run scored, a stolen base and a walk. On Friday they faced off with Riverside-Brookfield in a one-sided 16-1 victory for Central, as Connors went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. He capped off his week on Saturday in a 3-0 win over Hinsdale South, going 1-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases. As mentioned above, Connors set his school’s single-season stolen base record as he now sits at 43 on the season, totaling 10 swiped bags on the week. If that wasn’t enough, he also earned a save on the mound and threw a runner out at the plate from centerfield to end their game on Saturday. It’s no surprise that Connors is able to steal the amount of bases he has, boasting well above-average speed with a 6.64 in our laser-timed 60. He also has loud tools across the board to pair with his speed, as he can get up to 98 mph for his max EV and reach up to 90 mph from a crow hop in the outfield. Connors is the No. 59-ranked player in Illinois, and he will be one to watch as he heads into the summer uncommitted.” – Peter Hamot, Asst. Scouting Director, Illinois & Wisconsin |
STATE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Illinois
+ Shea Glotzbach, RHP (Lemont HS, 2025) | Missouri-St. Louis:
“Lemont has been one of the top teams in the state all spring long, currently finding themselves at No. 13 in the Power 25. Much of that success has been at the hands of Missouri-St. Louis commit Glotzbach, taking on the role of the ace of the staff while also holding down a spot in the middle of their lineup. He had one of his most dominant stretches of his career over the course of this past week, combining for 13 shutout innings pitched with just two hits allowed, two walks and 14 strikeouts – earning him this week’s Illinois Pitcher of the Week honors.
Glotzbach’s first outing came in a win over No. 10 Lincoln-Way West, twirling a complete game (7 IP) shutout with just two hits allowed, two walks and eight strikeouts. His second outing was even more impressive, as he fired a perfect game against Romeoville, going all six innings in a 10-0 win with six strikeouts. On the other side of the ball, Glotzabach finished his week at a 6-for-16 clip with a triple, two doubles, three RBIs, three runs scored, a stolen base and a walk.
Currently ranked No. 89 in the state, Glotzbach looks to be a college-ready arm that can make an impact the second he steps on campus. Equipped with a low-90s fastball and curveball that plays in the mid-70s with swing and miss action, Glotzbach has made it a common theme of dominating hitters all season long – boasting 40.1 innings with a 4-0 record, 41 strikeouts, 16 walks, a 0.87 ERA and 1.041 WHIP.”
– Peter Hamot, Asst. Scouting Director, Illinois & Wisconsin
Indiana
+ Tyler Denny, OF (Mooresville HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“Denny, a riser in our recent '26 class rankings update, put together an ultra impactful week for No. 23 Mooresville last week. The uncommitted outfielder went 11-for-19 (.579) in five games, clubbing four doubles and three homers. He scored five runs, swiped three bases, and his most impressive stat was the 12 runs he drove in throughout the week. Through 22 games played this spring, Denny boasts a .448 average with eight doubles, two triples, and five homers, and he's also stolen 30 bases already.”
– Cooper Trinkle, Indiana Scouting Director
Kansas
+ Beau Peterson, 3B/RHP (Mill Valley HS, 2026) | Texas:
“For the first time ever, we have a back-to-back Prep Baseball Kansas Player of the Week. After an eye-popping offensive week, Peterson followed it up last week with a perfect game on the mound punching out 11 against a tough 6A opponent. For good measure, the left-handed-hitting Texas commit also had three hits in six at-bats with a triple, three walks, three runs, and an RBI.”
– Andy Urban, Central Region Supervisor
Kentucky
+ Kevin Moore, 3B (Ballard HS, 2025) | IU Southeast:
“It was a memorable week in more ways than one for the senior two-way, as Moore committed to Indiana University Southeast just days ago, shortly after his stellar outing on the mound. With the Bruins entering the season with one of the most intimidating rotations that the Kentucky staff has ever seen, it has been Moore who has risen to the top of the rotation. In his last regular season start, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound righty went up against No. 5 Sayre School and tossed a complete game no-decision as the top-5 matchup ended in a 1-1 tie. Moore allowed a solo bomb to the second batter of the game and was lights out afterwards, allowing no hits in his final 6.2 innings of work. On top of this, the IU Southeast commit allowed no walks, including only reaching a three-ball count once, and struck out an impressive 14 hitters in a talented Spartan lineup. Despite the outcome, it was a fantastic way to finish the regular season for the senior two-way.
Going into the postseason, Moore leads the Bruins' staff with a ridiculous stat line of 53.1 innings, five earned runs with eight walks and 71 strike outs, leading to a 6-0 record and a 0.66 ERA. To add to this success, the two-way has totaled 36 hits, 24 runs, 33 RBIs, and 15 doubles while batting .391.”
– Jamie Tessoff, Kentucky Scouting Director
Minnesota
+ Owen Marsolek, LHP/OF (Duluth Marshall HS, 2025) | Western Kentucky:
“The Duluth Marshall senior was excellent in two starts last week, throwing a no-hitter in his first start followed by a complete-game shutout on Baseball Day 2025, a game in which he punched out 15 batters. Marsolek allowed just one hit and one walk in his 14 innings pitched last week, and he K'd 27 total.”
– Andy Judkins, Minnesota State Director
Oregon
+ August Ware, LHP (Glencoe HS, 2026) | Portland:
“Ware, a 6-foot-5 lefty and the No. 6-ranked player in Oregon's junior class, spun a gem last week, going seven innings of hitless ball on the mound. The junior struck out a remarkable 18 batters, walking just two, while not allowing a run. The Portland commit was most recently seen at PNW State Games last summer.”
+ Joe Mendazona Jr., C (Central HS, 2027) | Uncommitted:
“The No. 2-ranked sophomore in the state and a premier talent, Mendazona earns Oregon's Hitter of the Week after going 7-for-10 last week. The sophomore hit a home run and two doubles, driving in two runs as a part of his huge week. The Central High product also scored eight runs and walked three times. Mendazona is the top-ranked uncommitted player in the Oregon sophomore class.”
– Dylan Grenz, PNW Associate Scout
Texas
+ Dean Hannah, 1B/C (China Spring HS, 2025) | Louisiana-Monroe:
“The ULM recruit earns Texas' Player of the Week honors after having a great week at the plate for the Cougars. He went 5-for-6 with two home runs, two doubles, eight RBIs, four runs, and two walks. This helped China Spring advance to the Region Finals this week. Hannah has had a monster senior season so far as well where he has hit .495 with 48 hits and 48 RBIs.”
– Brandon Gowins, Texas State Director
Virginia
+ Benjamin Cardone, 2B (Highland School HS, 2025) | VMI:
“Cardone went 6-for-8 in the state semifinals and championship game, finishing with five total extra-base hits (2 HR) that produced seven RBIs and he scored five times. The VMI recruit was Highland's spark plug, in the state's DII semifinals and championship games. In the title game, helping lead the Hawks win Virginia's DII state championship for the second time in program history.”
– Jason Burton, Virginia/DC State Director
Washington
+ McCrea Curfman, INF/RHP (Bainbridge HS, 2026) | Utah Valley:
“Curfman earned Washington's Hitter of the Week award after a great playoff performance, going 7-for-9 overall. The Bainbridge High prospect finished with a home run, a double, six runs, three RBIs and three walks in his huge week at the plate. The Utah Valley commit was a part of Team PNW at last summer's Prep Baseball Future Games.”
+ Riley Young, LHP (R.A. Long HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“A 6-foot left-hander spun a gem in the playoffs for 2A side R.A. Long, going seven innings of shutout baseball on the mound. Young did not allow a hit or a walk while striking out 14 batters in his incredible outing. The uncommitted prospect was seen at the PNW Preseason ID this winter and will be in attendance at PNW State Games this July.”
– Dylan Grenz, PNW Associate Scout
Wisconsin
+ Macay Wagner, 3B (Slinger HS, 2025) | Bryant & Stratton JC:
“Wagner swung a hot bat for the Owls, helping them to a 4-1 week while improving their record to 16-3 on the year. Multiple standout performances for Wagner throughout the week, going 9-for-16 with five doubles, 11 RBIs, three walks, and scoring seven runs.
Starting against West Bend East, Wagner would go 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs, and a double in the sixth inning. A couple days later, Wagner had a 4-for-4 day with two doubles and five RBIs and a run scored. Three of the five RBIs came on a bases-clearing double in the top of the third inning.
In a doubleheader over the weekend, Wagner would go 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, a walk and three runs scored in a run-rule win over Ashwaubenon. In game two Wagner would round off his week with a 1-for-3 performance with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
The 6-foot-2, 201-pound infielder swings a strong and heavy bat from the right-side with feel to leverage the ball in the air with authority. While showing a consistent, mature approach at the plate, rarely expanding out of the zone and knowing when to do damage while also more than twice the amount he strikes out.”
+ Braylon Branter, RHP (Hortonville HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“Brantner has operated as the ace for the Polar Bears the entire year, stringing together strong outings throughout the spring. Last week, the junior completed a seven-inning perfect game, striking out 10 batters in one of the most efficient starts we've seen in Wisconsin this spring.
In the conference matchup against Appleton West, Brantner retired 21 straight batters, only needing 71 pitches (52 strikes), while striking out 10 batters. The right-hander can really pitch using his entire arsenal, locating each pitch in the zone.
Branter has been a follow in the state’s 2026 class for some time now, with his stuff continuing to tick up each year while maintaining the same pitchability and feel for his arsenal. The fastball reaches the upper-80s, while maintaining mid-80s velo throughout outings with a firm curveball and a fading changeup in the low-80s that he uses against left-handed hitters.”
– Josh Fields, IL/WI Data Analyst, Scout