2024 Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year
This year we will be announcing our 3rd annual Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year Award for the 2024 high school season on Tuesday (5/7) This award encompasses a player who has not only had an outstanding year personally, but has elevated their team throughout the year and put them in a great position heading into the playoffs. The 12 players nominated with their stats will be listed under the rules of the award selection on Tuesday, April 30th.
Award Rules and Selection
The Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year award will be decided by three different aspects which will be voted on. Below are the parameters of the final decision:
-Fan Vote: On Wednesday (May 1st) at 10AM our Twitter account (@DiamondProMedia) will have a 3 part vote (12 players total) which will go for 24 hours each. At the conclusion of each vote, we will then select the top 3 from each along with a “wild card” (whoever receives the most votes outside of the top 3) from each and put them in a Final Four Vote which will begin at 5PM Thursday night (May 2nd) and go for 24 hours. Whoever wins the Final Four Vote will win the Fan Vote.
Twitter Vote Update on 05/02/2024
The Final Four Fan Vote will be decided on by the following four players:
-2024 RHP Aidan King (Bishop Snyder HS, FL)
-2024 RHP/OF Blaine Rowland (Durant HS, FL)
-2024 RHP Wade Walton (Newsome HS, FL)
-2024 RHP/OF Chase Mobley (Durant HS, FL)
Twitter Vote Update on 05/03/2024
Final Four Fan Vote Winner:
2024 RHP Wade Walton (Newsome HS, FL)
*In the event of a tie for the Final Four Vote (two receive the same overall percentage and are within that percentage point of each other) there will be a Vote Off between the two that will begin within an hour of the initial Final Four Vote ending. For example, if two nominees both receive 32% of the vote but one is 32.8% and one is 32.2% it will go to the Vote Off. If one is 33% and the other is 32%, the one with 33% will win.
-DPM Staff: The scouting staff of DPM (outside of the Scouting Director) will vote amongst themselves and come up with a pick from the 12 players nominated.
DPM Staff Pick 05/04/2024:
2024 RHP/OF Chase Mobley of Durant HS, FL is the staff pick for the 2024 “Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year.” The Florida State commit has pitched to a 1.35 ERA in 41.1 innings with 80 strikeouts. With a fastball that has most recently topped out at 99 mph to go along with a slider that has a sharp break action with valued spin. He’s been lights out on the mound with above average control of his pitches. He also finished the regular season hitting for a .348 batting average with 4 home runs and 21 RBI in 88 plate appearances. Chase has a very bright future and will either make an impact at Florida State or have a chance to not only be drafted this coming summer, but coming out of college as well.
-Scouting Director: Mike Maerz will turn in a pick as well from the 12 players nominated.
Scouting Director Pick 05/06/2024:
DPM Scouting Director’s Pick
2024 RHP/OF Chase Mobley of Durant HS, FL
This was a really tough choice as it came down to four players to me that were worthy of the pick. 2024 LHP/1B Johnny King of Naples HS, FL was dominant throughout the season and was almost unhittable. 2024 LHP/OF Talan Bell of Hagerty HS, FL got it done in multiple ways as usual, both on the mound and offensively. Chase’s teammate in 2024 RHP/OF Blaine Rowland of Durant HS, FL was obviously a huge contributor on the success of their season.
Ultimately what stood out to me was Mobley’s overall impact and how it helped propel the Durant Cougars to not only a standout season, but helped set them up for a long postseason run. His presence since transferring over to Durant this season was tough to ignore. While the stats Mobley has put up this season have been outstanding, his high-end tools on the mound have been a can’t miss opportunity to watch when it’s been his turn to throw. A fastball up to 99 mph and all the makings of a player with a high ceiling and whose name we will hear for plenty of years to come.
*The winner will be decided by having 2 of the same picks from the 3 areas listed above. If all three are different, then the tiebreaker will be the leading vote getter of the Final Four Fan Vote to determine the award winner.
Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year Award Nominees:
-2024 RHP Aidan King (Bishop Snyder HS, FL)
Florida commit
7-1 in 55.1 IP
107 Ks/1.01 ERA
-2024 RHP Wade Walton (Newsome HS, FL)
High Point commit
8-1 in 54.1 IP
96 Ks/.64 ERA
-2024 LHP/1B Johnny King (Naples HS, FL)
Miami commit
7-0 in 37 IP
89 Ks/.19 ERA
.511 BA/1.337 OPS
22 RBI/2 HRs/11 2Bs
-2024 RHP/OF Blaine Rowland (Durant HS, FL)
Florida commit
6-0 in 43 IP
73 Ks/1.46 ERA
.541 BA/1.354 OPS
26 RBI/2 HRs/9 2Bs
-2024 LHP/OF Talan Bell (Hagerty HS, FL)
Clemson commit
7-1 in 48.2 IP
75 Ks/1.01 ERA
.389 BA/1.125 OPS
25 RBI/3 HRs/6 2Bs
-2024 IF Chris Rembert (Pensacola Catholic, FL)
Auburn commit
.519 BA/1.611 OPS
34 RBI/8 HRs/8 2Bs
14 SBs
-2024 RHP/IF Dylan Ziels (Marathon HS, FL)
Palm Beach St commit
7-1 in 59 IP
93 Ks/.47 ERA
.356 BA/1.005 OPS
20 RBI/4 2Bs
-2026 IF Gavin Byrd (Lakeland Christian, FL)
Uncommitted
.444 BA/1.193 OPS
33 RBI/6 HRs/3 2Bs
10 SBs
-2025 RHP/1B Rylee Gibson (Foundation Academy, FL)
Uncommitted
3-0 in 49 IP
53 Ks/1.00 ERA
.455 BA/1.173 OPS
25 RBI/9 2Bs
-2024 RHP Andreas Alvarez (Northside Christian, FL)
Auburn commit
8-1 in 45.1 IP
74 Ks/1.39 ERA
-2024 RHP/IF Ryan Maggy (Cypress Creek HS, FL)
West Virginia commit
7-2 in 51 IP
57 Ks/1.10 ERA
.450 BA/1.300 OPS
17 RBI/4 2Bs/3 HRs
-2024 RHP/OF Chase Mobley (Durant HS, FL)
Florida State commit
4-1 in 41.1 IP
80 Ks/1.35 ERA
.344 BA/1.082 OPS
21 RBI/4 2Bs/4 HRs
