2022 Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year

This year we will be announcing our inaugural Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year Award for the 2022 high school season on Friday, May 6th, 2022. 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 8 players nominated with their stats are listed under the rules of the award selection. 

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 Tuesday at 10AM our Twitter account (@DiamondProMedia) will have a 2 part vote (8 players total) which will go for 24 hours. At the conclusion of each vote, we will then select the top 2 from each and put them in a Final Four Vote which will begin at 6PM Wednesday night and go for 24 hours. Whoever wins the Final Four Vote will win the Fan Vote.

Update on 05/04/2022
The Final Four Fan Vote will be decided on by the following four players:
-2023 Caden McDonald
-2022 Bradley Hodges
-2022 Roman Anthony
-2023 Cade Kurland

Update on 05/05/2022
-2023 MIF Cade Kurland wins the Final Four Fan Vote on Twitter with the most overall votes at 42%

-DPM Staff: The scouting staff of DPM (outside of the Scouting Director) will vote amongst themselves and come up with a pick from the 8 players nominated.

DPM Staff Pick 05/06/2022: Our staff pick for high school player of the year is 2023 IF/RHP Caden McDonald of Sickles High School (UCF Commit). After a quiet start to his high school career, McDonald emerged onto the scene and let his presence be known all throughout his junior season. He put up video game numbers and did it as a two-way player. At the plate, he hit .652 with 8 HR and 41 RBIs. On the mound in 51 IP, he posted a 6-2 record with a 2.05 ERA with 61 Ks. With an athletic and projectable frame, present power to all fields, and superb playmaking abilities as a two-way guy, McDonald proved he is more than worthy of receiving this honor.

-Scouting Director: Mike Maerz will turn in a pick as well from the 8 players nominated. 

Scouting Director Pick 05/06/2022: This was an extremely tough call as all four players of the Final Four are worthy of winning Player of the Year. Each one of them have been a huge part of their overall team’s success and put up numbers that are nothing short of spectacular. 

2023 IF/RHP Caden McDonald of Sickles HS, FL gets my selection and the slight edge over 2022 LHP/OF Bradley Hodges who had a tremendous season as a two-way for St. John’s Country Day HS, FL. McDonald recently committed to UCF towards the tail end of the regular season and for good reason as he made an undeniable impact as a two-way player. McDonald not only put up record breaking numbers on the offensive side, but was the front line starter each week for the Gryphons who finished at 19-6 for the regular season. McDonald continues to elevate his entire team and has them poised for a deep playoff run. 

*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 winner. 

Update 05/06/2022: 2023 IF/RHP Caden McDonald of Sickles HS, FL wins the 2022 Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year Award

Diamond Prospect Media Player of the Year Award Nominees

2023 IF/RHP Caden McDonald (Sickles HS, FL)
UCF commit
.652 BA/.720 OBP/1.166 SLG
41 RBI/8 HRs
2.05 ERA with a 6-2 record and 61 Ks in 51 IP

2022 OF Roman Anthony (Stoneman Douglas HS, FL)
Ole Miss commit
.512 BA/.592 OBP/.950 SLG 
34 RBI/9 HRs

2022 LHP Isaac Sewell (The First Academy, FL)
Virginia Tech commit
8-1 record with a 1.41 ERA and 70 Ks in 54.2 IP

2022 LHP/OF Bradley Hodges (St. John’s Country Day HS, FL)
Virginia commit
.481 BA/.554 OBP/.911 SLG 
25 RBI/9 HRs
8-0 record with a .993 ERA and 101 Ks in 49.1 IP (Faced 184 batters)

2022 MIF Cade Kurland (Berkeley Prep, FL)
Florida commit
.486 BA/.634 OBP/.958 SLG
30 RBI/10 HRs

2022 OF/LHP Erik Blair (American Heritage HS, FL)
Florida commit
.422 BA/.568 OBP/.687 SLG
32 RBI/4 HRs
6-0 record with a 2.26 ERA and 52 Ks in 31 IP

2023 OF/LHP Wes Mendes (Jesuit HS, FL)
Vanderbilt commit
.432 BA/.511 OBP/.729 SLG
4 HRs/4 triples/
7-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and 70 Ks in 42.2 IP

2022 RHP/IF Ben Barrett (The First Academy, FL)
FSU commit
.547 BA/.607 OBP/.986 SLG
33 RBI/8 HRs
5-1 record with a 1.10 ERA and 72 Ks in 44.2 IP