National Player of the Week: 3/4 to 3/10
March 13, 2024
Today, we’re announcing our second National Player of the Week of the 2024 campaign, now that a larger portion of the country is playing high school baseball – and with each passing week, the number of states playing grows. With the powerhouse, warm-weather states in action, there’s been some huge performances from across the country this spring.
WEEK ONE
The following players were submitted by their coaches to their states through an official ‘Player of the Week’ form. 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 March 4 to 10 into account when determining these awards.
🏆 NATIONAL POTW
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Cameron Caminiti LHP / OF / Saguaro, AZ / 2024
“Caminiti is one of the highest-profile prep draft prospects Arizona has seen in many years, and the LSU commit couldn't have had a better start to his season, tossing a five-inning complete game no-hitter, and he's incredibly averaging over a 3 Ks per nine now, seeing as he actually punched out 16 batters in those five frames with the help of a four-K inning. In the start, he allowed just one walk and he recorded a pair of hits himself and drove in a pair. Last Wednesday, the Saguaro product churned in a record-book performance as he worked five no-hit innings with a pair of eye-popping achievements – he tossed both an immaculate inning, as well as a four-strikeout inning. In total, he picked every single out via the punch-out and the dropped third strike helped him earn a bonus K too. Beyond his work on the mound, he produced on the offensive side with two hits, including a triple, and two RBIs.” – Cam Black-Araujo, West Coast Content Manager |
STATE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Alabama
+ Brandon McCraine, RHP/SS (Smiths Station HS, 2024) | Auburn:
“McCraine was 8-for-9 (.889) on the week with five doubles and a home run while driving in seven runs. He scored six runs and had five stolen bases to go with a walk. On the mound, he went two innings with six strikeouts and he did not allow a run. ”
– David Sharp, Deep South Supervisor
Arizona
+ Gavin Smith, SS (Basha HS, 2024) | Harvard:
“Senior Smith, a Harvard commit, had his power on display all week long, blasting four home runs that helped lead Basha to four wins in as many days including a massive win over top-ranked Casteel. Smith came through with the biggest swing of the season for the Bears so far, as he hit a walk-off blast to close out the game against Casteel which has propelled Basha to No. 3 in our Power 25 Rankings. Smith is one of the top-ranked senior infielders in Arizona and he is looking the part early on this year, hitting .571 with four homers and eight RBIs on the young season.”
– Cam Black-Araujo, West Coast Content Manager
Arkansas
+ Steele Eaves, C/RHP (Lonoke HS, 2024) | Arkansas:
“Eaves started the week off with a six-inning complete game shutout with 12 Ks against Batesville. He also helped himself out, by going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI in that same game. Eaves finished the week hitting .333 with two doubles to go along with his pitching performance. The futue Hog shows his progression on the mound early this season with back-to-back great outings against talented lineups, pumping his fastball at 89-92 mph while showing advanced feel for a slider, 82-84.”
– Griffin Smith, Arkansas Area Scout
California
+ Stevie Jones, OF (Corona Del Mar HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“The sophomore left-hander Jones, from Corona Del Mar High, is the SoCal Pitcher of the Week. The southpaw was absolutely dominant through his 6.1 innings pitched, striking out 15 against one hit, one run and a walk. His only hit allowed came with one out in the seventh. For the season Jones has a 3-1 record in 29.2 innings with 39 strikeouts, 19 hits, and a 1.18 ERA. For good measure, he’s also hitting .450 with 10 BB, seven runs, and four stolen bases.”
+ Logan Asch, INF (El Modena HS, 2024) | Uncommitted:
“Asch, a senior second baseman from El Modena High, is the SoCal Player of the Week after his stellar offensive performance in three games last week. Asch was a combined 9-for-10 at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored, and one of those hits was a clutch two-run double. Asch’s hot bat has helped El Modena win five of their last six games, with the lone loss being of the one-run variety. For the season Asch is slashing .548/.576/.612 with seven RBIs, a pair of walks and doubles, seven runs scored, and he's only struck out four times. ”
+ Dylan Letke, RHP (Washington Fremont HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“Letke is the NorCal Pitcher of the Week after a dominant outing against Livermore High School. The uncommitted righty struck out eight over 6.1 innings pitched that included only three hits allowed and one earned run.”
+ Gilbert Acosta, C (Kerman HS, 2024) | Uncommitted:
“With his team up 1-0 late against Tulare Western, Acosta hit a towering three-run home run to extend the Lions lead and secure the win. For the week, Acosta was 3-for-7 with a double, triple, and that big three-run home run, as well as five RBIs. Acosta is off to a scorching start slashing .480/.581/1.701 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, and eight RBIs for the uncommitted catcher whose defense has been equally impressive.”
– Les Lukach, California State Director
Florida
+ Logan Baisley, RHP (Land O' Lakes HS, 2024) | Saint Leo:
“Baisley threw a perfect game last Tuesday against Sunlake even though the game ended up going to extra innings – Baisley still completed a perfect eight frames, earning Land O' Lakes the win in the process. HIs final line: 8 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K.”
+ Cameron Guise, INF/RHP (Sickles HS, 2024) | Lipscomb:
“Guise had a big week with the bat in Week Three, tallying three home runs that helped him drive in a dozen runs for Sickles. In total, he was 5-for-9 with those three homers, 12 RBIs and he scored five runs.”
– Rocco Iervasi, Florida Managing Director
Georgia
+ Jackson Peavy, LHP (Peach County HS, 2025) | Georgia:
“Peach County's Peavy put together a stellar outing last week in which he K'd 15 batters over five no-hit frames. The Georgia recruit was also up to 94 mph in the outing, and he's arguably the state's top left-hander in its junior class.”
– Hudson Graham, Georgia State Director
Louisiana
+ Marshall Louque, RHP/SS (Lutcher HS, 2025) | LSU:
“Lutcher dropped two games in Week One but have since reeled off eight straight wins to improve their overall record to 10-2, and Louque is a big reason for the Bulldogs' recent success. The LSU recruit did it all in Week Three, as he was stellar both at the plate and on the mound. Offensively, the former Future Gamer went 8-for-15 (.533) with two homers a double and five RBIs, and he scored five runs. On the mound, he earned the win against Teurlings Catholic after going six innings and giving up just two unearned runs on five hits, three walks, and he punched out 12.”
+ Colton Smith, RHP (Parkway HS, 2025) | Jones JC:
“Parkway has slowly been creeping up Louisiana's Power 25 Rankings, currently sitting at No. 6, and Smith's part of the Panthers' success so far this spring. The Jones College recruit got the start last Saturday against Central B.R., and faced off against the state's top southpaw in senior Grayden Harris. The Panthers needed a big-time outing from Smith, and that's exactly what he delivered. The 6-foot-3 right-handed hurler took a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, before his no-hit bid was spoiled on a 3-2 single. While the potential no-hitter would've been awesome, Smith still turned in a brilliant outing for Parkway, as he finished tossing a complete game one-hit shutout with just three walks and 10 Ks, to improve his season record to 4-0 this spring.”
– Alex Armand, Louisiana Scouting Director
Mississippi
+ Cayden Prestage , LHP (Itawamba HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“Prestage threw a seven-inning no-hitter on Thursday with 14 strikeouts, earning the Mississippi Pitcher of the Week award. This is coming six days after throwing another seven-inning gem in which Prestage allowed just two hits while striking out another 15 batters – a huge stretch from this uncommitted sophomore.”
– Matt Miller, Mississippi State Director
Nevada
+ Andrew Kaplan, 3B/RHP (Palo Verde HS, 2024) | College of Southern Nevada JC:
“The College of Southern Nevada JC recruit couldn't have a hotter start to the 2024 season as he has flashed his bat-to-ball skills by hitting .773 so far this spring, and he's launched five homers already as well. He's reaching base safely at an .808 clip and those five homer runs have helped him drive in 15 runs this young season.
Palo Verde picked up a pair of big wins on the week over Bishop Gorman and Bishop Manogue, with a 6-4 loss to Arbor View mixed in, but his performance was no doubt a driving force in the team's early success. Notably, despite it being a losing effort to Arbor View, Kaplan carried the offense with a pair of home runs in the ballgame.”
+ Chase Sorlie, RHP (Faith Lutheran HS, 2024) | Uncommitted:
“Senior right-hander Sorlie got the ball in the Crusaders' home opener against Spring Valley and he worked a scoreless 5.2 innings on his way to earning the 6-0 victory. He was pounding the strike zone all night long and generating swings and misses as he picked up 13 of his 17 outs via the strikeout, and he only surrendered two walks. The 6-foot, 170-pound right-hander is still uncommitted and should be on the radar of college coaches as he looks primed for a strong senior season.”
– Cam Black-Araujo, West Coast Content Manager
North Carolina
+ Brayden Patrick, RHP (Kings Mountain HS, 2024) | Presbyterian:
“This was a huge two-way performance for Patrick, who tossed a one-hitter in a seven-inning outing by the end of which he K'd 20 batters against just a single walk, and on only 108 pitches (69 strikes). He picked himself up offensively, ending the week at 4-for-5, and all four hits went for doubles.”
+ Bryant Kimbrell, 3B/RHP (Pinecrest HS, 2024) | Western Carolina:
“Kimbrell helped push Pinecrest to a 3-0 record in a competitive week, highlighted by a walk-off home run against Myers Park. In total, he collected five hits and eight RBIs, and he was also clutch from the mound where he earned a pair of wins over six innings, allowing just two unearned runs on five hits, no walks, and he punched out five.”
– Brandon Hall, Mid-Atlantic Scouting Director
Oklahoma
+ Weston Thomas, OF (Piedmont HS, 2024) | Cowley County JC:
“While there were multiple prospects from across the state who have gotten off to big starts, nobody is as hot at the plate as Weston Thomas from Piedmont. The Cowley County commit has hit safely in every game so far this season and has also added at least one stolen base to the ledger in each contest. Thomas is currently 12-for-19 at the plate from opening day until now with three doubles, two triples, and three homers, while picking up 10 RBIs. He has also added five walks and nine stolen bases to his senior campaign.
While the numbers are already eye-popping, the hits have also come in big moments including a game-winning solo shot in the fifth inning of the Ponca City contest that gave them the 2-1 victory. Thomas is one of the more projectable left-handed bats in the state, with a large frame and he's showing big power potential early on in the 2024 season.”
– Scott Hood, Oklahoma State Director
Texas
+ Brady Ladusau, OF (Rockwall Heath HS, 2025) | Dallas Baptist:
“The DBU commit was hot at the plate during the final tournament weekend of the spring. In 17 at-bats, the junior collected eight hits, including two home runs, a triple and a double. He drove in six for the Hawks on the week. Ladusau is poised for a big 2024 season at the dish, especially with the power developing.”
+ John Dolan, C/RHP (Huffman-Hargrave HS, 2026) | Missouri:
“The Mizzou recruit is showing well on both sides of the ball this year. He is recognized as the Pitcher of the Week after throwing a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts. We saw him up to 85 mph last summer at LakePoint and he has shown the ability to spin the breaking ball, like at last year's Houston Preseason ID in 2023, where it spun at over 2,300 rpm.”
– Tyler Defibaugh, Area Scout & Content Manager
Utah
+ Cy Chrisman, CINF (Maple Mountain HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“Chrisman was on a tear to open up the season, as he picked up multiple hits in three of his first four games, including a four-hit game in the season opener and three-hit game against Dixie. Chrisman's ability to put the ball in play and reach base 72 percent of the time has earned him Utah Player of the Week honors this time around. The sophomore entered the week 10-for-15 with five RBIs and a pair of doubles.”
+ Hayden Smith, C (Snow Canyon HS, 2024) | Glendale CC:
“Smith batted over .500 on the week with four extra-base hits as his Snow Canyon Warriors went 4-0 to start the season, but it was his Opening Day performance that propelled him to Utah Player of the Week honors.
Against Spanish Fork to open up the season, the Glendale CC commit went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs, along with a double, two runs scored and 3 RBI. On the week, he was 8-for-14 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs.”
+ Chase Johnston, LHP/1B (Maple Mountain HS, 2025) | BYU:
“Johnston got the start in a big matchup for No. 6 Maple Mountain as they took on No. 2 Dixie, and Johnston went seven strong in what was ultimately a losing effort. Johnston allowed just four hits, two runs and one walk while striking out eight as Maple Mountain fell 4-3 in extra innings. He finished his outing with two runs allowed on four hits, one walk, and he K'd eight.”
+ Kyson Goates, RHP/INF (Snow Canyon HS, 2024) | Lassen CC:
“Goates went the distance for Snow Canyon in a five-inning, 18-0 win over Spanish Fork and he didn't surrender a hit or walk in the process. The Warriors' right-hander racked up nine punchouts along the way, too.”
– Cam Black-Araujo, West Coast Content Manager
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