2025 VA/DC Player of the Year Watchlist: 20 Picks to Click

March 17, 2025
Staff
Prep Baseball Virginia/DC

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Our staff has compiled a Preseason Player of the Year watch list that is made up of twenty high impact players from across the state. These are players that have the ability to impact the game in multiple facets. Most of these players are upperclassmen who are high level players that have shown their impact on the game in years past. Although there is a good chance that the Prep Baseball Player of the Year comes from this list, potential candidates are not limited to the twenty inside of this list.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCHLIST

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Clayton Armah	2025	RHP	St. John's College
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Armah is one of the highest profile draft follows in the VA/DC area. The body, the makeup, the operation, the potential stuff, and the ceiling that is still left are all areas that make him such an intriguing follow. While those come into play a bit with being a potential Player of the Year, it is more so his potential two-way contributions that push him into this catgory. While long term he is most certainly an arm, he has the ability and opportunity to be a major contributor to this St. John's team this spring, especially considering what they lost on the offensive side from last season.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Derek Baker	2025	RHP	Maury
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Baker has been one of the more dominant arms in the 757 for the past two years. He has been key in some major wins for the Maury program, both on the mound and at the plate. While this season we expect more of the same, Baker's numbers and contributions could pick up even more. Brycen Hamilton was also a big part of this program the past few years and with him now at VMI, Baker's production will become even more important. In the past Baker has taken a fair share of the catching duties, as well as being one of the most important arms for this team. How will he be used this season? That we are unsure of, but make no mistake about it, we expect his numbers and contributions to take an even bigger step forward.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Ethan Ball	2025	IF	McLean
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Ball was Prep Baseball VA/DC First Team All-State last season after hitting .463 with four homeruns, 22 RBI, and 22 Runs Scored. He was one of the biggest offensive keys in McLean's run to a Class 6 State Championship. He is a gamechanging, dynamic left handed hitter that will be a big focal point for opposing teams. In addition to his ability to change the offense in the box, he has the speed and athleticism to change it on the bases as well, but will need an uptick in stolen bases this spring. Like many on this list, Ball is a draft follow this spring and if he can produce offense like he did in '24, expect McLean to make another run at a state title.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Trey Campos	2025	RHP/OF	Landstown
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Campos not only is a candidate for Player of the Year, but is quite possibly the most important part of this Landstown team, in that his consistent production on the mound and at the plate could be the difference maker for this team when it comes playoff time. The Eagles have plenty of talent and "household names", but at playoff time they have struggled to get over the hump, so to speak. Some of that could be contributed to the starting pitching and the inability at times to get deeper into games. This is where Campos comes into play. The JMU commit has the stuff to be a dominant arm, but needs to be more efficient in the zone and allow him to get through a lineup 2-3 times and save some of the arm depth that they have. In addition to his abilities on the mound, Campos can really go get it in center and has shown some juice at the plate as well. The Eagles' star two-way player has the experience and talent to be in the top tier group for POY contention, but will he take that step forward with production this spring?

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Sy Crider	2025	C	Broadway
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. The West Virginia commit is such a vital piece to the success of the Gobblers' program. His left handed bat is a tone setter, a run producer, and a steadying force for that offense. He has the ability to change the game when he is at the plate, and that is what a Player of the Year candidate should be able to do. In addition to his offensive abilities, he has the arm strength and defensive ability to help control the running game on opposing offenses. Crider has been a regular producer for Broadway since he has been in high school and we expect no difference this season, except maybe some bigger numbers this season.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Patrick Dudley	2025	LHP	Atlantic Shores
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Dudley's stuff alone puts him in prime position for a Player of the Year candidacy. His breaking ball is one of, if not the best breaking ball in the state. If you know anything about high school baseball, when you can spin at a high level, you will have a chance to win a lot of games. The South Carolina commit has taken a small step forward in the velo department and has added a quality changeup for a third pitch. If he can stay healthy and be more efficient with his pitch count, he has a chance to be one of the best arms in the state. The past few years he has not had a ton of help around him, potentially affecting his numbers. However, Shores has added some quality pieces over the past year and we think it will benefit Dudley because of their ability to defend behind him. While his biggest production will come on the mound, he is an everyday bat in the lineup and has shown the ability to drive in some runs and be a positive force in the lineup.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Ryan Gocio	2025	C	Ocean Lakes
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Trending up. Those are the two words for Gocio coming out of the summer and fall. Bat to ball, impact, and leader. Those are three things he brings to the game essentially every time our staff is able to evaluate him. He has protection in the lineup to force some teams to pitch to him and has added to his hit tool, showcasing best the middle and backside of the field. While it is not a shutdown arm behind the plate, he gets rid of it and is fairly accurate to the bag. He is a solid receiver and handles a pitching staff well, as showcased in working with a very very young staff last year at OL. Watch for a big spring from Gocio.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Keegan Haesler	2025	1B/OF	First Colonial
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. While it is very well deserved, it is virtually impossible to keep the reigning Class 5 Player of the Year off of a POY candidate list. Haeslar had an extraordinary year in 2024, showcasing his high end bat to ball and hit tool. Seemed like every time we showed up last spring, it was a multi-hit day for the First Colonial product. It is not a big impact bat and is more hit for average, but he has shown the ability to run it out of the yard every once in a while. He is a versatile piece at the top of the lineup and can not only get on base at a high clip, he can drive runs in as well.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Evan Hankins	2025	1B/LHP	Miller School
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. The Tennessee commit is one of the best combinations of hit tool and power potential in the state. The barrel stays in the zone allowing him to adjust when teams try to soften him up and he has the bat speed and strength to impact the baseball. In addition to his offensive ability, he is simply the best defensive first baseman in the state. Effortless actions around the bag, is a solid athlete for his size, and can save some runs for his defense. In addition to his positional prowess, some of his biggest contributions to this Miller School team may come on the mound. When our staff saw him this summer, it was one of the best pitching performances we have seen from Hankins. Can he parlay some of those outings and turn them into a season long effort in 2025? If there were odds for a POY frontrunner, Hankins would be at or near the top of that list.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Noah Haught	2025	RHP/IF	Bishop O'Connell
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. This Richmond commit has continued to make strides forward, especially on the mound. The velo has ticked up, he is an athletic mover, and continues to add to his secondary arsenal. He was and is the premier arm for the Bishop O'Connell staff and will be huge in determining their success this spring. When Haught is not on the mound he is showing his premium arm strength and athleticism at shortstop. The bat is a contact driven bat that is more line drives from gap to gap and he can change the game when on base with his well above average run tool. Talent alone Haught is deserving of being on this list, but in addition to his tools, it is the variety of ways that he can impact the game that gets his name on this list.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Jett Humphreys	2025	RHP/IF	Abingdon
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Since he was a freshman, Humphreys has been a vital piece of Abingdon's success. The William & Mary commit was kind of thrown in the fire early after an injury to a teammate and carried a little bit more of the load than he might would have prior to the injury. The two-way talent hits in the middle of the order, is a frontline arm for the Falcons, and is a multi-year starter. Almost every time we see Humphreys he seems to always be up in a big spot and more times than not, he delivers. He seems comfortable in those spots and carries a little bit of the clutch gene that Player of the Year candidates should have. Humphreys is a part of, potentially, one of the best Abingdon teams in recent memory and has the pieces around him to aid in their successes. It should be an exciting spring down in southwest Virginia.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Colin Lebel	2025	RHP	Cape Henry
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Lebel is coming off of a stellar 2024 campaign, including being selected for VISAA DI First Team All-State. While his contributions last season were big, they should only increase in the statistical areas, as well as in terms of level of importance. Cape lost multiple run producers and one of their best arms, so they will more than likely turn to Lebel as someone who can pick up where those guys left off. The George Washington commit has been one of their best arms for a few years, but he also has the capability to run the ball out of yard, something that could be missing on this Cape Henry team this year. He brings leadership, the ability to be a frontline arm, and run production to this perennial power program.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Sean McCabe	2025	RHP	St. John's
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. When McCabe gets his name writte on the lineup card, you know your team has a chance to win a game that day. That is what he does, he wins. It is not overpowering, it is not flashy, but he simply gets it done. Mid-upper 80's fastball, multiple secondary pitches for strikes, and does not give the other team an inch to breathe. You will have to beat him, because he simply does not beat himself. The College of Charleston commit brought home Co-Pitcher of the Year honors last year after bolstering a .59 ERA and only allowing 18 hits in just over 47 innings pitched. He does not get the cupcake games, not that there are many on the SJC schedule, so he is doing this versus top level competition. Watch for yet another big year from the senior right hander.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Caden Merritt	2025	OF/RHP	Gainesville
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Athletic, plays hard, and is the true definition of an impact guy. With his tools, ability, and motor, Merritt has the potential to change games when he is on the field. Whether it be on the bases, at the plate, or on the mound, the Coastal Carolina commit is primed for a huge spring. In addition to his abilities, Gainesville has some pieces surrounding him that will allow some protection and not put too much pressure on him. He is a talented two-way player that was Prep Baseball First Team All-State last spring and have no reason to believe that there will be a let up this year.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Luke Smyers	2025	LHP	Mills Godwin
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. Like many of the arms on this list, Smyers is an arm only at the next level. However, there may not be another on this list that has the potential offensive output at their disposal that Smyers could potentially have this spring. In an offense that needs run production, he will quite possibly be in a position to really put out some significant power numbers this spring. Now to the most important part, his contributions on the mound. In the past this Godwin staff has had massive depth, cutting down on season numbers, which in turn have some effect on postseason honors. While the Eagles still have depth, it is not what it was, and Smyers could see an uptick in usage and all-around production this spring.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Myles Upchurch	2025	RHP	St. Alban's
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. The best combination of pitchability, stuff, and starter potential, in the area, which are three things that make him the #1 2025 in VA/DC. Upchurch's velo continues to creep up and he has the secondary stuff to shut down opposing offenses. While he is certainly an arm long term, he should also contribute his fair share of offense to the St. Alban's lineup. The Alabama commit and Super 60 alum has a strong case for the most intriguing draft follow this spring, and now add to it his potential for a Player of the Year type of spring.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Aaron Van Tuyle	2025	RHP/Util.	Heritage (Leesburg)
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. While Van Tuyle will certainly impact the offensive lineup during his senior season, it is his ability to shut down oppoosing offenses that gives him an edge when it comes to potential Player of the Year honors. Heritage has seen their success take steps forward every year that this senior right hander has grown and this could be a special year for the Richmond commit, as well as for Heritage. He will certainly drive in his fair share of runs, which will only enhance his case for postseason recognition.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Kaleb Williams	2025	SS	West Springfield
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. The former Future Games participant does a little bit of everything for West Springfield. He is the keys to the car that is the offense and he locks down shortstop on the defensive side. While there were end of the year stats submitted for Williams last year, every single time we showed up he was on barrel. He is an above average runner that plays a little quicker in game, has solid bat to ball, and raises the level of play when the competition picks up. He has a quietness about his game, but his play speaks loud enough that he is certainly in the conversation for potential Player of the Year honors.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Jake Wise	2025	RHP	Benedictine
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. If you are looking for a consistent, know what you are going to get type of frontline arm, this is the guy. Wise, like some others on this list, has the ability to shut down every single team he faces. The velo has creeped up just a touch and the pitchability remains. You will be hard pressed to find a more confident and competitive arm on the mound and it translates into his production. The offensive help may quite possibly be a little more scarce this season, potentially effecting his end of the year stats, but with Wise being Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2024, he is a name that you cannot leave off of this list.

Player	Class	Pos.	School	Commit
Noah Yoder	2025	RHP	Atlee
+ Click here for notes & video on the Player of the Year candidate. There is not another "power arm" in the state like Yoder. His ability to make at bats uncomfortable for hitters of every level and his ability to take over games is a little unlike any arms that we have seen in recent years. The Duke commit still maintains some funk and deception to his delivery that allows the mid 90's fastball to play even firmer. There are other arms with more pitchability, better command, better starter projection, etc, but there is not a single one that has the ability to take over a game with power stuff like he does. While "pitcher only's" are tough selections when it comes time to pick an overall Player of the Year, Yoder's stuff and shutdown ability makes it impossible to leave him off of this list.