National Player of the Week: 5/6 to 5/12
May 15, 2024
Today, we’re announcing our 11th National Player of the Week of the 2024 campaign. Quite a few states have begun their postseason play and those states have paused selecting a POTW as a result, which means we have a smaller set of names to choose from for our National Player of the Week this time around. Even still, there are several competitive options, and we're selecting a player who has blossomed into an MLB Draft prospect from the state of Wisconsin, fresh off a week in which he hoisted his high school through two critical conference wins from both sides of the ball.
PAST WINNERS
The players listed below were submitted by their coaches to their states through an official ‘Player of the Week’ form, and they were awarded the Player or Pitcher of the week awards in their respective states. 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 6 to May 12 into account when determining these awards.
🏆 NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
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Eddie Rynders SS / 3B / Wisconsin Lutheran, WI / 2024
“Rynders has enjoyed one of the more successful seasons in the WIAA to date, and he has continued to raise his potential MLB Draft stock as a middle infielder. Standing at an athletic, physical 6-foot-1, 198-pound frame, Rynders put together a week to remember for his Wisconsin Lutheran squad. The left-handed hitting shortstop usually assumes the role of hitting in the second spot for the Vikings, and was the ultimate difference in a 3-1 week. Wisconsin Lutheran was tasked with taking on, at the time, a top-10 ranked Pewaukee program twice. Rynders led the way on offense in game one, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI. His most important stat of the day came on the basepaths though, as the senior swiped three bags—tallying an impressive eight on the week. Rynders then broke open the scoring game two, launching a two-run home run off of one of the top pitchers in the area. He followed that up with a double and two runs scored in the ballgame, as the Vikings went on to sweep the Pirates—putting them in a position to win the Woodland West Conference championship. The star shortstop got up on the mound and excelled against Pewaukee in that game two as well—striking out nine batters over six innings of work. Rynders officially finished 9-for-12 on the week with eight RBIs, two home runs, two doubles and two walks.” – Maddox Durst, Wisconsin Staff Writer |
STATE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Colorado
+ John Rossi, OF/SS (Eaglecrest HS, 2024) | Texas Permian Basin:
“Rossi belted two home runs last Tuesday against Cherry Creek to begin his 'Player of the Week' campaign. The senior is athletic and twitchy from the left-side to go along with plenty of feel defensively across the diamond. Rossi went 5-for-12 (.417) overall in Week Nine with his two homers, a double, three RBIs, three walks, and a sac fly. The Eaglecrest standout will be taking his talents to University of Texas Permian Basin after this spring to continue his baseball career.”
+ Lucas Weaver, RHP/SS (Fruita Monument HS, 2024) | Cowley County JC:
“Another no-hitter tops this week's 'Pitcher of the Week' award thanks to Lucas Weaver racking up 14 strikeouts with only one walk during his gem against Grand Junction. Weaver was nearly perfect in this one had it not been for the one walk, but the righty has been surging overall thanks to a fastball that has touched 90 mph and a deceptive arsenal to go along with it. The Cowley County commit has chucked 38.2 innings with 54 Ks, 13 walks, and a 1.99 ERA this spring at the 5A level.”
– Caleb Dameron, Colorado Staff
Illinois
+ Jackson Stanek, 1B (St. Rita HS, 2024) | Southwestern Illinois JC:
“Stanek has undoubtedly been one of the top contributors in the Mustangs’ lineup so far this year, helping them to a 22-10 overall record as they now sit at No. 18 in our Power 25. This past week was arguably his best of the season, finishing 6-for-10 with two home runs, 11 RBIs, six runs scored and four walks.
Last week started in a tough 12-4 loss to ranked Providence Catholic, but he was one of the bright spots on the day for the Mustangs, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. They bounced back with a dominant 19-8 win over Homewood-Flossmoor last Tuesday and Stanek was once again right in the middle of the offensive production, going 2-for-3 on the day with a double and three RBIs. He only started to gain more steam as the week went on, finishing 1-for-1 with a grand slam, five RBIs and a walk in a 25-1 victory over Westmont.
Stanek capped his stellar week off going 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, three runs scored and two walks in a 16-15 loss to Lincoln-Way East on Saturday. On the season, he is now hitting a team-best .484 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 38 RBIs.”
+ Ethan Bagwell, RHP (Collinsville HS, 2024) | Mizzou:
“Bagwell is one of the top pitching prospects in the state, and he further proved that this past week, firing six innings to notch the win against a strong O’Fallon club. He toed the rubber in a Southwestern Conference matchup Tuesday evening and delivered for the Kahoks in a big way, firing six shutout innings while allowing just one hit, two walks and striking out 12.
Currently ranked No. 10 in the state, Bagwell is an imposing 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander that has been gaining some helium so far this spring, ramping his fastball up to 97 mph in one of his first outings of the season. He displayed his big fastball once again in this look, working around 94-95 mph in the first inning before settling into the low-90s. His go-to weapon was a sharp slider to change up the pace at 78-81 mph.”
– Pete Hamot, Illinois & Wisconsin Asst. Director
Indiana
+ JD Stein, SS (Carmel HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“Stein enjoyed a big week for the 4A No. 16-ranked Carmel Greyhounds. He's one of the top uncommitted shortstops in the class on a national scale, and the top-ranked uncommitted junior in the state of Indiana. Stein went 10-for-16 (.625) on the week, clubbing three home runs, while scoring eight runs and collecting seven RBI.”
– Cooper Trinkle, Indiana Lead Scout
Kansas
+ Blake Sebastian, RHP (Blue Valley North HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“One of the top emerging arms in the region, Sebastian stands an impressive 6-foot-6, 225-pounds and has been up to 91 mph. Last week, the right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout, punching out 11 and allowing just four hits. ”
+ Colten Tadtman, C (Clay Center HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“Last week, Tadtman went 6-for-10 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Defensively, he caught 12 Innings with no errors, pass balls, or stolen base attempts for Clay Center.”
– Andy Urban, Central Region Supervisor
Michigan
+ Luke LaCourse, RHP (Bay City Western HS, 2025) | Michigan State:
“LaCourse threw a no-hitter (7 IP, 9 K, 0 ER) on May 6 against conference foe Flint Powers Catholic. He turned around on Saturday going another seven innings with 13 Ks and allowed just one hit, no walks, and no runs against Rochester Adams in a narrow 1-0 victory. On the week, LaCourse allowed just one hit, three walks, in 14 innings and he K'd 22 batters total.”
– Adam Goodwin, Michigan Scouting Director
Nevada
+ Bryce Intagliata, LHP (Virgin Valley HS, 2024) | College of Southern Idaho JC:
“The College of Southern Idaho signee has continued his outstanding year on the mound where he has amassed 72 strikeouts over his 45 innings (1.6K/Inning) on his way to earning a 1.09 ERA. His most recent outing was no different as Intagliata led the Bulldogs to a spot in the Class 3A State Tournament with another stout performance, going complete-game shutout, striking out 12 over seven dominant innings.”
– Brett Harrison, West Coast Supervisor
Ohio
+ Mason Reckner, RHP (Butler HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“The 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty went 7.2 innings of shutout ball against the No. 1 team in the state and the No. 4 in the nation, Archbishop Moeller. A top-250-ranked prospect in the 2025 class struck out 12, helping lead his team to a win, and handing Moeller just its second loss on the season.”
– Dylan Hefflinger, Ohio Editor-in-Chief & Advanced Scout
Wisconsin
+ Craig Kabat, RHP (Bay Port HS, 2024) | Gonzaga:
“In arguably one of the wildest games of the WIAA season, Kabat was a major influence in a combined no-hitter for Bay Port, as they defeated current No. 21-ranked Notre Dame Academy with a 1-0 final.
The pressure was on for Kabat, who presents himself at a strong 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame. The right-hander’s team was also being no-hit while facing another talent in Avery Duncan (Dallas Baptist), making every moment that much more impactful.
Kabat held strong though for his six innings of work before hitting his pitch count, as the Gonzaga signee struck out an impressive 13 batters against a team that went on to score 31 runs in the next four games.
The senior only walked three batters in his outing, and held onto his team’s one-run lead for the majority of the game before handing it off to the bullpen for the final frame. Bay Port’s pitching has now shutout four of the last five teams they have played against—getting hot at the right time as the WIAA season begins to wind down.”
– Maddox Durst, Wisconsin Staff Writer
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