2025 Mississippi Player of the Year Watchlist
January 20, 2025
While it's too early to tell, several players come to mind when attempting to predict the to-be 2025 Player of the Year in Mississippi. Konnor Griffin's stellar season in 2024 earned him the Player of the Year honors in at the state level and nationally. This years' class features several front runners with a strong track record and the talent to match. Several others have clear paths to the award in both the 2025 class and 2026 class in the Magnolia State.
Today our staff looks at 5 front-runners for the POTY award in Mississippi, 6 breakout candidates that could take home the award and 5 darkhorses who are poised for breakout spring season and could earn POTY honors.
Stay on the lookout for more high school preseason coverage in the coming weeks, including team previews, team rankings, and much more.
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PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCHLIST
5 front-runners for the Prep Baseball Mississippi Player of the Year award heading into the spring...
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Joseph Parker SS / 2B / Purvis, MS / 2025It's hard to not mention either of the Parker brothers when talking Player of the Year honors in the Magnolia State. JoJo has established himself as one of the top middle infielders both on the state and national level. A former Prep Baseball All-American that will also be in attendance at the Super 60 in early February, the Mississippi State signee returns a .464 average, 39 hits, 7 HR's and 28 RBI's to a Purvis squad that looks to make a deep run in 2025. |
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Jacob Parker OF / RHP / Purvis , MS / 2025As mentioned above, Jacob can also plead his case in 2025 for Player of the Year honors as he sits in the No. 1 overall rankings spot in the 2025 Class in Mississippi. Jacob also attended the 2024 Prep Baseball All-American game and will be at the Prep Baseball Super 60 in a few weeks. Jacob, who is also a Mississippi State signee welcomes back a .406/.520/.663 in 2024. He also added 41 hits, 5 HR's, and 35 RBI's to his resume last season. |
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Landon Harmon RHP / OF / East Union Attendance Center, MS / 2025A lot to like when looking at '25 RHP Landon Harmon. Athletic 6-4, 184-pound frame that has plenty of upside. The fastball works into the mid-90's and was up to 96 mph at the Prep Baseball All-American game in Miami, FL. Harmon posted a 1.43 ERA, .146 BAA, and 128 K's on the mound in 2024. |
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Maddox Miller LHP / 1B / Oak Grove, MS / 2025Miller's stock continues to trend up as he will make the trip to Chicago in a few weeks for the Prep Baseball Super 60 and will be one of four from the Magnolia State at the event. A leaner and long frame at 6-4, 165-pounds with plenty of projection. The Mississippi State signee missed some time on the mound last year but returns 33.2 innings, 57 K's, .122 BAA, and a 1.87 ERA from a year ago. Over the past two seasons Miller is 9-1 with a 1.14 ERA including 117 K's in just 67 innings. |
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Talon Haley LHP / OF / Lewisburg, MS / 2025Haley is another front runner for the POTY award, soon to be Super 60 participant as well representing Mississippi. The Lewisburg southpaw missed some time on the hill last season due to injury but is poised for a strong senior season. In 2024, the Vanderbilt signee logged 23 innings on the mound, picked up 43 K's, had a .117 BAA and recorded a 1.83 ERA for a loaded Lewisburg pitching staff. In his career the lefty is 13-2 with a 1.94 ERA, including 152 K's in just 90 innings. |
BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
6 more players with a clear path to win the award
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Lafeyette Luke Romine 1B / LHP / Hernando , MS / 2025Romine had a breakout season his 9th grade year and unfortunately dealt with an injury his sophomore year that forced him to miss considerable time. He was back last season in full force hitting .359 with 9 home runs while driving in 38 runners. The Ole Miss signee can also provide big time help on the mound for the Tigers as he logged 34 innings in 2024 finishing with a 2.24 ERA and 52 strikeouts. |
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Eric EJ Booth Jr. OF / 1B / Oak Grove, MS / 2026Recently announcing his commitment to Vanderbilt University, the No. 2 player in the MS 2026 Class could easily walk away with POTY honors in 2025. Booth, who was a Future Gamer this past summer recorded the events best 60-yard time at a 6.37, an obvious threat on the bases, but also swings for some power from the left side. In 2024, Booth posted a .432 BA, tallied 35 hits, 21 RBI's and scored 39 runs in 29 games for the Warriors. |
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Treydric Barnes OF / 1B / Taylorsville, MS / 2026Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 5
Barnes has made a significant jump in the 2026 rankings in the state as of late. Coming off a state title run in 2024, the Southern Miss commit played a vital role in the Tartars success last season. At the plate, hit for a .350 clip, collected 28 hits, 35 RBI's and scored 25 runs. Another player that could breakout this spring and be named POTY. |
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Leo Odom RHP / 1B / Sumrall, MS / 2025Odom was a major contributor on the mound last season as the Bobcats captured the 4A State Championship. The Ole Miss signee gets his fastball into the low 90's and uses a slider with up tp 3300 spin to induce plenty of swings and misses. Odom went 9-0 with a 2.68 ERA including 89 strikeouts in 2024 and is looking to repeat that success once again this spring. |
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Tanner Beliveau C / 3B / PETAL HIGH SCHOOL, MS / 2025Beliveau is the definition of a "breakout" candidate as he could abrupt at any time. The Mississippi State signee has big time power potential and the arm to match. Last season the 6-4, 220 pounder connected on 5 home runs and that total could easily double in 2025. The righty also possesses a fast ball in the low to mid 90's and could play a major role in the success of the Panthers this year. |
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Tre Bryant 3B / RHP / Jackson Prep, MS / 2025Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 1
Bryant was in the same lineup as Konnor Griffin, the Prep Baseball's National Player of the Year last season, and led the Patriots with 55 RBI's. The Arizona State signee is ready to punish opposing pitching once again in 2025 in hopes of Prep winning their 8th consecutive MAIS State 6A Title. |
DARKHORSES
5 players looking for big springs to throw their name in the mix for Player of the Year...
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Jay McQueen OF / Brandon High School, MS / 2025The athletically gifted McQueen has been a fixture in the Brandon outfield for the past couple of seasons and is looking to help the Bulldogs repeat as the 7A State Champions in 2025. Last year the South Alabama signee led the offense with .351 batting average after hitting .394 as a sophomore. McQueen could also come into play more on the mound as a senior after some very solid innings late last season. |
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Kevin Roberts Jr. SS / RHP / Jackson Prep, MS / 2026The No. 1 player in our 2026 class looks to have a strong spring season as Jackson Prep will defend yet another state title. Without first round draft pick, Konnor Griffin, you have to anticipate that the Patriots will turn to Roberts and several others to lead the team in 2025. Roberts welcomes back a .323 batting average, 32 hits, 3 HR's, and 32 RBI's at the plate on the offensive end. On the mound in 2024, Roberts logged 27.2 IP, 41 punchouts, and recorded a 5-1 record. Expect Roberts to be in the mix for POTY in 2025 as Jackson Prep chases another championship. |
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John Austin Wood C / 3B / Itawamba Agricultural, MS / 2025Rankings StateRank: 13 / POS: 3
A highly recruited two-sport athlete who has signed with the University of North Alabama as a C/QB1. JA Wood serves as a middle-of-the-order bat for the Indians offense, but did miss time due to an injury last spring. Wood was north of the .400 mark early on in the spring and is poised for a strong senior season and could find himself in POTY talks come May. |
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Gabe Hodges RHP / Northwest Rankin, MS / 2025Hodges, a Pearl River CC recruit finds himself in talks for POTY in Mississippi as he will be a go-to arm for Northwest Rankin again this spring and looking to fill in the shoes of Wes White, who was another top arm for the Cougars last season. Hodges, who was also a Future Gamer back in the summer of 2023, welcomes back some strong numbers from a year ago. On the mound the right-hander was a perfect 5-0 on the hill, tossed 31.2 innings, picked up 38 K's and had a .165 BAA. |
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John Abt SS / RHP / Hartfield Academy, MS / 2025Abt, a Jacksonville State signee has found himself in the POTY consideration for his senior campaign. Coming off a solid season a year ago where he hit for a .315 clip at the plate in 39 games. Collected a total of 35 hits, 27 RBI's, 13 doubles and 6 HR's in 2024. Look for a breakout spring season from Abt and a very talented Hartfield Academy squad. |
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