With high school baseball around the corner, Prep Baseball Washington unveils our Preseason POTY Watchlist. Prep Baseball Washington's Player of the Year has been awarded to several premier talents over the years, including Corbin Carroll and JR Ritchie, among others. The POTY will have a new winner in 2026 after Puyallup RHP Mason Pike secured it in 2024 and 2025, respectively. 

This year's watchlist features four names at the top with decorated prep careers to this point. In addition to the top four, we also include the next tier of clear contenders, as well as several dark horses for POTY if everything clicks.

Stay on the lookout for more high school preseason coverage in the coming weeks, including Power 25 Rankings, Team Previews, and much more... 

Player of the Year Watchlist

4 front-runners for our Player of the Year award heading into the spring...

Eli Herst RHP / 3B / Seattle Academy, WA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 59 / POS: 19 The Vanderbilt commit and two-time Prep Baseball All-American looks to be next in line to contend for POTY after the graduation of Mason Pike and Xavier Neyens heading into 2026. The Seattle Academy talent was as advertised last spring and performed better than expected with the bat as well to earn 1st Team All-State honors from Prep Baseball. Herst threw to a 1.35 ERA in 31 innings with 63 K's, paired with a .424 batting average with 3 HR, 12 other XBH's, 17 RBI and more walks than strikeouts at the plate. Arguably the best MLB Draft prospect coming out of the state this year, Hest will have plenty of eyes on him this spring.

Wyatt Plyler OF / RHP / Sumner, WA / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 287 / POS: 61 Another First-Team All-State winner in 2025 who is poised for a big step forward this spring, Plyler will headline a Sumner side with legitimate 4A state title aspirations this year. The physical righthander oozes tools in a showcase setting, headlined by triple digit exit velocities, a 6.51 60-time, and a fastball north of 90 MPH at its best on the mound. Plyler's skillset translated in-game last season, particularly offensively, where he hit .470 with 36 H and 19 RBI. The then-sophomore also logged 57 K in 39.1 IP on the mound. With increased volume on the mound and similar two-way production, Plyler could be right in the mix for best player in the state.

Michael Revell RHP / OF / Richland, WA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 440 / POS: 156 A 4A state champion for Richland in 2024, Revell shouldered a bulk of the work on the mound and in the middle of the order for the Bombers last spring. The Grand Canyon commit and Future Games alum features plenty of pop from the left side of the plate, with a 100.1 MPH exit velocity posted this summer. Revell has also gained some traction in pro scouting circles for his progression on the mound. His appearance at PNW State Games this summer was as dominant as any, missing bats and running his fastball up to 91.6 MPH with a three pitch-mix. The senior should be right in the mix for Mid-Columbia and Washington POTY talks as he leads what should be one of the best 4A sides in the state once again.

McCrea Curfman RHP / SS / Bainbridge High School, WA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 8 One of the lone 2A players that cracked our Watchlist, Curfman won a state title in his junior season with Bainbridge and posted numbers that few players could match. The strike throwing righthander logged 48.1 IP with a 0.87 ERA, striking out 61 while walking just 9 hitters. Offensively, Curfman hit .451 with 41 hits, 11 XBH, 32 R and 18 RBI en route to winning Olympic League Co-MVP. The Utah Valley commit heads what should be one of the best pitching duo's in the area, paired with Oregon commit Trey Thompson. Prep Baseball is bullish on Bainbridge's chances to repeat as 2A title winners and Curfman's ability to post in 2026.

Contenders

5 Candidates with a clear path to the award

Christopher Moore SS / RHP / Kentlake, WA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 452 / POS: 108 A longtime Washington commit and top-end talent in the area, Moore was a 1st-team 3A NPSL player in 2025 and could easily elevate his game to POTY level in his senior campaign. Offensively Moore played at an elite level last spring, hitting .468 with 29 hits and 25 RBI near the top of the Kentlake order. On the mound, Moore struck out 60 in 37 innings. Moore has the pure stuff to take a big leap statistically this spring, with a fastball up to 90 MPH and one of the better sweeping breaking balls in the state. If he can maintain the offensive numbers and improve on the mound from a results standpoint, few players impact their team more than the senior.

Bryce Collins RHP / OF / Kelso, WA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 306 / POS: 107 One of several Future Games alums on this year's Watchlist, Collins has since secured an SEC commitment to Ole Miss and is a top-end arm in Washington. Last season, Collins allowed just 4 earned runs in 38 IP, striking out 80 and walking 12 to win 3A GSHL Pitcher of the Year. The Kelso product was no slouch with the bat either, hitting .384 with 33 H and 19 RBI overall. The second-ranked prospect in this year's senior class should dominate once again and be right in the mix for POTY by the end of the high school season.

Eli Jones SS / RHP / Woodinville, WA / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 337 / POS: 68 Two-way ability is amongst the most crucial components to POTY-caliber players, and Jones possesses tools both pitching and hitting that few players can match. The righty has an electric fastball into the low-90's with some gap power as a shortstop as well. Last season, Jones logged 35.1 innings to a 2.75 ERA, striking out 52. He also hit .311 offensively with 23 H and 15 RBI. If Jones can elevate his in-game results a tick to match his elite skillset, he should be right in the POTY mix.

Zach Vega SS / RHP / Kamiakin, WA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 10 / POS: 3 The Gonzaga commit headlines one of the best trio of arms in the state for Kamiakin this spring and comes off of winning 4A Mid-Columbia Pitcher of the Year. Vega finished with 46.1 IP and a 1.21 ERA, striking out 62 while allowing just 29 hits. Kamiakin graduates the vast majority of their lineup from a season ago, so Vega may be asked to handle the bat more this spring, which would elevate his POTY case even further. Expect Vega to dominate for one of the best 4A teams heading into 2026.

Luke Overbay OF / 3B / Tumwater, WA / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 295 / POS: 62 One of the biggest arrow-up prospects in 2025, Overbay broke out at PNW Preseason All-State and Future Games before landing a Power 4 commitment to Michigan at the end of last year. A stoic competitor with big league family ties, Overbay features arguably the best power tool from the right side of the plate in Washington, posting exit velocities up to 101 MPH in a showcase setting. Overbay also ran his fastball up to 91 MPH this summer, mixing in a plus changeup for strikes as well. The two-way ability is loud and Overbay should lead 2A Tumwater to state title contention.

Darkhorse Candidates

______ could enter POTY talks IF _______

Cody Ells, OF/LHP, Asotin HS 2026 - IF he matches his production from 2025. The senior was a league MVP last season with eye-popping numbers, with a 0.00 ERA in 56 IP and a .543 average at the plate. Ells would have to vastly outperform players at schools with larger classifications, as Asotin is a 2B school, but if he matches his performance from last season he could force himself into the POTY conversation.

Beckett Turnbow, INF/RHP, Tahoma HS 2026 - IF he stays healthy and dominates. Turnbow has been a mainstay in the Tahoma order for multiple years now, but was limited at times by an upper body injury last spring. In his sophomore spring, he hit .370 with 12 XBH and more walks than strikeouts, and the offensive ability certainly remains. Turnbow can also elevate into POTY conversations with increased volume on the mound, though it may be difficult in arguably the deepest pitching rotation in the state. Turnbow ran an electric fastball up to 92.5 MPH this summer at Senior Future Games before securing his commitment to New Mexico State shortly thereafter.

James Gill III, 1B/LHP, Battle Ground HS 2026 - IF he carries over his previous two seasons. The Washington commit is a physically dominant player with wipeout ability on the mound and power potential at all times offensively. Gill won 4A GSHL MVP last season, largely in thanks to his two-way talent. The lefty worked his fastball up to 90 MPH in his sophomore spring with a mid-70's CB mixed in as well. Gill will headline a Battle Ground side with multiple D1 prospects.

Kealoha Kepo'o-Sabate, RHP/INF, Meadowdale HS 2026 - IF he leads Meadowdale to increased success this spring. The Texas Tech commit possesses raw tools galore, with a fastball up to 93.4 MPH this summer and triple digit exit velocities at the plate with a 6.8 run time as well. If he can translate the tools in-game more consistently to lead Meadowdale a state appearance, he would certainly be a daunting arm to face at the high school level.

Brandon Stone, RHP/INF, East Valley HS 2026 - IF he builds on a breakout 2025. Stone was elite with heavy usage on the mound and at the dish for East Valley, throwing to a 0.89 ERA in over 60 innings and hitting .430 as well. Stone's spring built on a great showing at last winter's PNW Preseason All-State, resulting in a commitment to Washington State in his great 2025.

Rodrigo Montano, LHP/OF, Eastlake 2026 - IF he can lead Eastlake to similar success. The Wolves fell just a few innings short in last spring's 4A state title game, and the lefty was at the center of the action all season long. Montano was particularly special on the mound, throwing to a 1.36 ERA in 56.2 IP, allowing just 29 H while striking out 76 hitters. Montano also hit .280 offensively and manned the outfield well, earning 1st team KingCo and 1st Team Prep Baseball All-State honors.

Rylan Howe, RHP, Union HS 2027 - IF he can increase his volume on the mound. The top-ranked 2027 grad was 4A GSHL Pitcher of the Year last season, finishing with a 1.18 ERA with 32 K/4 BB. The biggest knock was the relative lack of innings compared to the rest of the contending field, as Howe through just 29 innings. The tall righthander could be even better after exceptional outings this summer at PNW State Games and Future Games, resulting in a commitment to the University of Oregon.

Blake Moser, RHP/INF, Lake Stevens HS 2027 - IF he can replace the production of his former teammate and reigning league POTY. Moser had a great 2025 offensively, hitting .373 with 24 runs scored. He also flashed some of the highest arm talent we saw at any high school game last spring, featuring an electric fastball up to 93 MPH in a short stint. He'll look to take on an even bigger role for Lake Stevens this season, who graduate league POTY Aspen Alexander. Also of note - Moser led Lake Stevens to the brink of a 4A football title this fall as one of the most productive dual-threat quarterbacks in the state.

Madden Pike, RHP/OF, Puyallup HS 2028 - IF he leads Puyallup to a 4A state title. Several Vikings could have made our Watchlist, but we'll go with Pike, whose brother is the 2-time reigning POTY in Washington. Madden was a regular contributor to a Puyallup side that finished 28-1 despite his freshman status, already posting a 1.27 ERA in 38 innings. The switch-hitter features a more patient approach at the plate and could see more success as he sees more high school arms. Pike should see an increase in innings pitched and hit higher in the batting order, with plenty of talent to propel himself into POTY talks.

Lincoln Moore, INF, Kentlake HS 2028 - IF he can build on a strong freshman campaign. Moore was a mainstay near the top of the Falcons order in his freshman spring, hitting .379 with 25 H and 14 RBI. Lincoln, alongside his brother Chris, will have to shoulder the bulk of the production for Kentlake this spring, including the possibility of Lincoln pitching at times. Moore is the top-ranked 2028 grad in Washington and ranked 25th in Prep Baseball's national 2028 player rankings.

Collin McGowan, INF/RHP, Battle Ground HS 2028 - IF he contributes as a two-way and helps Battle Ground to a deep state title run. The sophomore is one of the more physically advanced prospects in his class, with real power potential in a 6'3-6'4 RH frame. McGowan delivered multiple extra base hits in an in-game look last spring and has run his fastball into the mid-80's. McGowan will be eyed as a potential Future Games attendee this summer as the second-ranked 2028 grad in Washington.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Northern Washington Preseason ID	WA	02/01	BASE By Pros - Skagit Valley, WA
Central Washington Preseason ID	WA	02/07	The SIX Athletic Training Facility - Moses Lake, WA
Seattle Preseason ID	WA	02/08	Big League Edge Training Center - Kent, WA
Pacific Northwest Preseason All-State (Invite-Only)	WA	02/16	NW Sports Hub - Centralia, WA
Pacific Northwest Preseason ID	WA	02/17	NW Sports Hub - Centralia, WA
Seattle Preseason ID - Session II	WA	02/21	Mariners Training Center - Puyallup, WA

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