2025 Louisiana Player of the Year Watchlist
January 22, 2025
While it's too early to tell, several players come to mind when attempting to predict who will be 2025 Player of the Year in the Bayou State. William Schmidt's stellar senior season earned him the award in 2024, after leading Catholic BR to the Select Division I State Title, with a perfect 10-0 record, 0.44 ERA, and 102 K's to only 17 BB's. The LSU recruit also posted a 0.57 WHIP and he held his opponents to a .093 BAA.
This years' class features several front runners with a pretty strong track record and the talent to match. Today, our staff looks at the five front-runners and five darkhorse candidates that could take home the award.
Stay on the lookout for more high school preseason coverage in the coming weeks, as we continue to roll-out our Team Previews, Power 25 Rankings, and much more.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCHLIST
Five front-runners for the Prep Baseball Louisiana Player of the Year award heading into the spring...
Jack Ruckert SS / RHP / Baton Rouge Catholic, LA / 2025The LSU recruit started off hot last season and never slowed down, on route to helping Catholic BR claim the Select Division I State Title. A former Jr. Future Gamer that will also be in attendance at the Super 60 next month, Ruckert returns a .452 AVG, 5 HR, 15 2B, 2 3B, 40 RBI, 40 R, and 22 SB to a Bears squad this is looking to repeat in 2025.
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Marshall Louque SS / RHP / Lutcher, LA / 2025The reigning Class 4A Most Valuable Player returns for one more season, after leading the Bulldogs to another State Title in 2024. Louque has been regarded as the state's top two-way talent for quite some time, and his numbers last year as a junior prove why. The LSU recruit hit at a .413 clip with 7 HR, 11 2B, 4 3B, 39 RBI, and 43 R, while also posting an 8-2 record on the mound with a 1.76 ERA and 92 K's across 67 2/3 IP.
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William Patrick OF / C / St. Frederick, LA / 2025The former Future Gamer and LSU recruit will undoubtedly have a lot of eyes on him this spring, and those numbers will likely increase after next month's Super 60 event in Chicago, IL. Patrick hit .429 with 3 HR, 29 RBI, and 15 SB last season for St. Frederick. A likely outfielder at the next level, Patrick will play shortstop this spring for the Warriors and will pitch as well.
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Presley Courville C / OF / Barbe, LA / 2025Courville battled a hamstring injury for a good portion of last season, but is back 100% healthy, which is good news for the Bucs. The Texas recruit logged 40 AB's and hit at a .400 clip last season with 12 RBI and struck out only one time. He's the best defensive backstop in the state and he's packed on some good weight this off-season, which should give his power numbers a boost this spring.
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Christian Turner OF / 2B / Haughton High School, LA / 2025The Arkansas recruit was impressive on the circuit last summer, after a jam-up junior campaign for the Haughton Bucs. Turner hit at a .406 clip with 7 HR, 40 RBI, and 16 SB last season. A left-handed hitterr and twitchy athlete with speed to impact the game in a variety of ways, he's sure to have his fair share of MLB scouts in attendance to see him this spring.
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DARK HORSE CANDIDATES
Five additional players who could throw their name in the mix for Player of the Year this spring...
Andrew Ferguson RHP / OF / West Monroe, LA / 2025Rankings StateRank: 24 / POS: 6
The former Future Gamer and Louisiana Tech recruit went 9-2 with a 1.35 ERA and 77 K's across 67 IP, and held opponents to a .147 BAA. Ferguson has had an impressive run so far during his career with the Rebels, as he's been a part of two State Championship teams and owns a career record of 28-4 with a career 1.61 ERA.
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Sawyer Pruitt RHP / Live Oak, LA / 2025A University of Louisiana-Lafayette recruit; Pruitt returns for a third straight season as the Eagles ace. Last year, he finished his junior campaign with a 6-3 overall record and 1.40 ERA with 81 K's across 53 IP. If Live Oak can make a playoff run and he puts up solid numbers, then he'll likely be on the short list for our Player of the Year award.
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Ryan Darrah SS / 3B / Brother Martin, LA / 2025Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 5
Darrah was voted the Catholic League Hitter of the Year as a sophomore in 2023 and kept on hitting last season as a junior. The former Future Gamer and Arizona State recruit hit at a .423 clip last spring with 1 HR, 11 2B, 39 R, and 22 SB. The Crusaders look poised to have a really good 2025 season with Darrah and a strong senior class leading the way.
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Bryce Robinson SS / OF / St. Augustine, LA / 2025Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 3
Robinson is one of the more intriguing two-way talents in the state, thanks to a uber-projectable 6'3" frame and a loose arm stroke that produces a fastball into the low-90's. The Tulane recruit is also a talented hitter, as he hit .417 with 40 total hits and 35 stolen bases last season for St. Augustine. If he posts good numbers this spring, both on the mound and at the plate, then that means the Purple Knights likely had a successful season, which means Robinson would be firmly in the discussion for Player of the Year.
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Bradyn Cupit LHP / LHP / West Monroe High School, LA / 2026The state's top ranked southpaw in the 2026 class had an impressive sophomre spring for the Rebels last year. Cupit finished the year with a 9-1 record and 1 save with a 1.57 ERA and 89 K's. He earned the win in the State Title game for West Monroe, after tossing 5 1/3 IP giving up 1 ER on 2 H with 4 BB's and 5 K's. The LSU recruit will likely draw quite a few tough matchups, and if he can put up similar numbers to last season and West Monroe wins another State Title, then he will be in the conversation for Player of the Year.
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