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2026 Prep Baseball South Carolina Player of The Year

June 1, 2026
Sammy Esposito

The 2026 high school season has come to a close, and the Prep Baseball South Carolina Player of the Year race delivered on the expectations that formed back in February.  Throughout the spring, a talented group of players built strong cases through production, leadership, and impact on winning.  They served as lineup anchors, rotation leaders, and difference-makers for some of the state’s top programs.

Some dominated on the mound with power stuff and command.  Others controlled games with advanced offensive approaches, producing consistently against high-level competition.  Defense, versatility, and competitiveness all played important roles in separating the field.  Every candidate contributed to a memorable season and helped elevate the level of play across South Carolina.

The Player of the Year Award recognizes excellence from the first pitch of the season through the final out. It honors consistency, durability, performance in key moments, and the ability to impact winning at the highest level.  After a season filled with standout performances, one player rose above an exceptional group of candidates to earn the title of Prep Baseball South Carolina’s 2026 Player of the Year.

Following another spring filled with elite-level performances across the state, one name rose to the top — Taj Marchand, a shortstop / right handed pitcher from James Island Charter High School, has been named the 2026 Prep Baseball South Carolina Player of the Year.

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Taj Marchand

Class of 2026 / SS

Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 17 / POS: 7

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2026
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: James Island
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Aces National/Usa Prime
  • Height: 6-2
    Weight: 200lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Statistics

Pitching
92
Max FB
(02/22/25)
87 - 91
FB
(06/05/25)
69 - 73
CB
(06/29/23)
80 - 83
CH
(06/05/25)
76 - 80
SL
(06/05/25)
Pitching
Max FB
92
FB
87 - 91
CH
80 - 83
SL
76 - 80
View Event
Pitching
Max FB
92
View Event
Pitching
Max FB
88
FB
85 - 88
CB
70 - 72
SL
73 - 74
View Event
Pitching
Max FB
88
FB
86 - 88
SL
71 - 73
View Event
Pitching
Max FB
87
FB
85 - 86
CB
72 - 73
CH
77 - 79
View Event
Pitching
Max FB
89
FB
85 - 88
View Event
Pitching
Max FB
86
FB
82 - 86
CB
69 - 71
View Event
Pitching
Max FB
86
FB
81 - 85
CB
69 - 73
CH
76 - 78
View Event
Position
7.09
60-yard
(07/24/24)
93
INF Velo
(02/01/26)
4.50
H-1st
(09/15/23)
Power Speed Score
(07/24/24)
Position
INF Velo
93
View Event
Position
60-yard
7.09
INF Velo
91
Power Speed Score
View Event
Position
INF Velo
87
Power Speed Score
View Event
Position
60-yard
7.33
INF Velo
86
H-1st
4.5
View Event
Trackman - Fastball
88.3
Velocity (max)
(07/24/24)
85.7 - 87.7
Velo Range
(07/24/24)
86.6
Eff Velocity (avg)
(07/24/24)
2652
Spin Rate (max)
(07/24/24)
2452
Spin Rate (avg)
(07/24/24)
IVB (max)
(01/27/24)
IVB (avg)
(01/27/24)
HM (max)
(01/27/24)
HM (avg)
(07/24/24)
Extension (avg)
(07/24/24)
Release Ht (avg)
(07/24/24)
Spin Score (max)
(07/24/24)
Zone %
(01/27/24)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
(01/27/24)
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
88.3
Velo Range
85.7 - 87.7
Eff Velocity (avg)
86.6
Spin Rate (max)
2652
Spin Rate (avg)
2452
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
View Event
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
84.8
Velo Range
83.6 - 84.7
Eff Velocity (avg)
84.4
Spin Rate (max)
2517
Spin Rate (avg)
2418
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
View Event
Trackman - Curveball
70.7
Velocity (max)
(01/27/24)
70.3
Eff Velocity (avg)
(01/27/24)
2309
Spin Rate (max)
(01/27/24)
2309
Spin Rate (avg)
(01/27/24)
IVB (max)
(01/27/24)
IVB (avg)
(01/27/24)
HM (max)
(01/27/24)
HM (avg)
(01/27/24)
Extension (avg)
(01/27/24)
Release Ht (avg)
(01/27/24)
Spin Score (max)
(01/27/24)
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
70.7
Eff Velocity (avg)
70.3
Spin Rate (max)
2309
Spin Rate (avg)
2309
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
View Event
Trackman - Slider
73.8
Velocity (max)
(07/24/24)
70.6 - 73.0
Velo Range
(07/24/24)
71.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
(07/24/24)
2515
Spin Rate (max)
(07/24/24)
2277
Spin Rate (avg)
(07/24/24)
IVB (max)
(07/24/24)
IVB (avg)
(07/24/24)
HM (max)
(07/24/24)
HM (avg)
(07/24/24)
Extension (avg)
(07/24/24)
Release Ht (avg)
(07/24/24)
Spin Score (max)
(07/24/24)
Zone %
(07/24/24)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
(01/27/24)
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
73.8
Velo Range
70.6 - 73
Eff Velocity (avg)
71.1
Spin Rate (max)
2515
Spin Rate (avg)
2277
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
View Event
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
72.5
Velo Range
70.4 - 72.5
Eff Velocity (avg)
70.8
Spin Rate (max)
2334
Spin Rate (avg)
2227
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
View Event
Trackman - ChangeUp
75.9
Velocity (max)
(01/27/24)
73.6 - 75.4
Velo Range
(01/27/24)
74.8
Eff Velocity (avg)
(01/27/24)
2342
Spin Rate (max)
(01/27/24)
2232
Spin Rate (avg)
(01/27/24)
IVB (max)
(01/27/24)
IVB (avg)
(01/27/24)
HM (max)
(01/27/24)
HM (avg)
(01/27/24)
Extension (avg)
(01/27/24)
Release Ht (avg)
(01/27/24)
Spin Score (max)
(01/27/24)
Zone %
(01/27/24)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
(01/27/24)
Trackman - ChangeUp
Velocity (max)
75.9
Velo Range
73.6 - 75.4
Eff Velocity (avg)
74.8
Spin Rate (max)
2342
Spin Rate (avg)
2232
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
View Event
Trackman - Hitting
107.9
Exit Velocity (max)
(02/01/26)
103.3
Exit Velocity (avg)
(02/01/26)
254
Distance (avg)
(07/24/24)
413
Distance (max)
(02/01/26)
Hard Hit %
(02/01/26)
Barrel %
(02/01/26)
Sweet Spot %
(01/27/24)
Line Drive %
(01/27/24)
Fly Ball %
(07/24/24)
Ground Ball %
(02/01/26)
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
107.9
Exit Velocity (avg)
103.3
Distance (avg)
246
Distance (max)
413
Hard Hit %
Barrel %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
View Event
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
99.6
Exit Velocity (avg)
93.8
Distance (avg)
254
Distance (max)
384
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
View Event
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
97.8
Exit Velocity (avg)
93.4
Distance (avg)
250
Distance (max)
369
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
View Event
Blast - Hitting
24.2
Hand Speed (max)
(01/27/24)
23.1
Hand Speed (avg)
(07/24/24)
79.1
Bat Speed (max)
(01/27/24)
72.7
Bat Speed (avg)
(07/24/24)
Rot. Acc (max)
(02/01/26)
Rot. Acc (avg)
(02/01/26)
On Plane Eff (avg)
(07/24/24)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
(01/27/24)
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
23.5
Hand Speed (avg)
22.8
Bat Speed (max)
73.5
Bat Speed (avg)
69.6
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
View Event
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
23.6
Hand Speed (avg)
23.1
Bat Speed (max)
74
Bat Speed (avg)
72.7
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
View Event
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
24.2
Hand Speed (avg)
22
Bat Speed (max)
79.1
Bat Speed (avg)
72.7
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
View Event

Vizual_Edge

Visual Skills
80.49
Edge Score
(02/01/26)
Visual Skills
Edge Score
80.49
View Event
Visual Skills
Edge Score
79.86
View Event

Pitch_Scores

Pitch Scores - Fastball
Hop+
(01/27/24)
Rise+
(01/27/24)
Sink+
(01/27/24)
Pitch Scores - Fastball
Hop+
Rise+
Sink+
View Event

Swift

Swift
1.68
10-yd
(01/27/24)
3.92
30-yd
(01/27/24)
7.09
60-yd
(07/24/24)
19.5
Run speed (max)
(07/24/24)
2.30
RSI (max)
(07/24/24)
33.7
Jump Height (max)
(01/27/24)
Swift
10-yd
1.69
30-yd
3.93
60-yd
7.09
Run speed (max)
19.5
RSI (max)
2.3
Jump Height (max)
33.2
View Event
Swift
10-yd
1.68
30-yd
3.92
60-yd
7.19
Run speed (max)
18.8
RSI (max)
2
Jump Height (max)
33.7
View Event

Vald

Vald
1.67
10-yd
(02/01/26)
3.91
30-yd
(02/01/26)
7.03
60-yd
(02/01/26)
20.6
Run speed (max)
(02/01/26)
1.31
RSI (max)
(02/01/26)
26.9
Jump Height (max)
(02/01/26)
Vald
10-yd
1.67
30-yd
3.91
60-yd
7.03
Run speed (max)
20.6
RSI (max)
1.31
Jump Height (max)
26.9
View Event

Physical

Physical - Athlete
74.2
Ht
(02/01/26)
200.0
Wt
(02/01/26)
Body Fat %
(02/01/26)
SMM
(02/01/26)
Grip Strgth (RH)
(07/23/24)
Grip Strgth (LH)
(02/01/26)
Physical - Athlete
Ht
74.2
Wt
200
Body Fat %
SMM
Grip Strgth (RH)
Grip Strgth (LH)
View Event
Physical - Athlete
Ht
73.3
Wt
169.5
Body Fat %
SMM
Grip Strgth (RH)
Grip Strgth (LH)
View Event
Physical - Athlete
Ht
73.3
Wt
169.5
Body Fat %
SMM
Grip Strgth (RH)
Grip Strgth (LH)
View Event
Physical - Athlete
Ht
72.4
Wt
167.6
Grip Strgth (RH)
Grip Strgth (LH)
View Event

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