The best 40 players in Colorado
The Denver Post’s 2023
All- Colorado baseball team, a 40- man roster determined by statistical analysis, a player’s relative value to team success, coaches’ feedback and the old- fashioned eye test.
MR. COLORADO BASEBALL Walker Martin, Eaton, Sr., SS:
The most hyped Colorado prep position player since Grandview’s Greg Bird, Martin led the nation with 20 homers and posted a 1.632 slugging as Eaton ran the table to the Class 3A title.
PITCHERS Tate Smith, Eaton, Sr., RHP ( Oklahoma State):
One of two dominant arms for the undefeated Reds this spring, Smith was 9- 0 with a 1.52 ERA, with 54 strikeouts and no extra- base hits given up.
Hunter Smith, Valor Christian, Sr., RHP, ( South Mountain):
Smith ( 5- 1, 2.02 ERA) threw a completegame shutout in the Class 5A semis and then 6 2/ 3 shutout innings in the title win over Cherokee Trail.
Laif Palmer, Golden, Sr., RHP ( Oregon State):
As the Colorado prep pitcher with the most interest leading into next month’s MLB draft, Palmer lived up to the hype with a 9- 0 record and 1.86 ERA.
Hunter Gotschall, Douglas County, Sr., RHP ( Hawaii):
The Huskies’ best pitcher this year had a 1.69 ERA in 10 games and also contributed on offense, hitting .302 with eight homers.
Jake Syverson, Holy Family, Sr., RHP ( Montana State):
The Tigers’ ace was 10- 1 with a 1.41 ERA while helping lead them to the Class 4A Final Four; he also hit .392 with a team- leading four homers.
Brayden Epperhart, Denver Christian, Jr., RHP ( uncommitted):
Epperhart led the entire state ( min. 40 innings) with a sparkling 0.40 ERA and was 9- 1 while pitching DCHS to the Class 2A title.
Mitch Haythorn, Eaton, Jr., RHP ( Oklahoma):
The righty was 10- 0 with a 0.82 ERA and 113 strikeouts this year, with no extra- base hits given up, and got the win in the
Shortstop Walker Martin of the Eaton Reds, winner of The Denver Post Mr. Colorado Baseball honor, led the nation with 20 home runs this season as Eaton won the Class 3A state title. title victory over University. Dugger led his team with a hit .569, too, with 52 RBIS. .493 average and .598 onbase Andrew Bell, Regis Jesuit, percentage; only one Jr., SS ( uncommitted): The error defensively. Raiders’ star hit .436 with 44 RBIS, 11 doubles and eight homers to help propel them to the Class 5A Final Four;
.829 slugging, 1.344 OPS.
Mason Bright, Severance, Sr., RHP ( Northern Colorado):
Bright threw six shutout innings in the regional title and a complete- game shutout in the Class 4A state title win over Golden; 12- 3, 1.81 ERA.
Ben Leikham, Valor Christian, Sr., LHP ( Wichita State):
One of three aces on a deep Valor Christian staff, Leikham was 6- 1 with a 1.59 ERA, 77 strikeouts and no extra- base hits given up.
Ethan Dillinger, Erie, Sr., LHP ( Air Force):
He was 7- 2 with a 2.13 ERA, including four complete games, 81 K’s and no extra- base hits given up; Dillinger set an Erie record with 193 career K’s.
Will Niles, Mountain Vista, Jr., RHP ( uncommitted):
The Continental League pitcher of the year helped the Golden Eagles back to the Class 5A state tourney; he was 3- 1 with a 1.17 ERA in 11 games.
Jax Pfister, Grandview, So., RHP ( uncommitted):
The Wolves’ ace was 5- 2 with a 1.84 ERA to earn Centennial League pitcher of the year; had 46 K’s and two complete games.
CATCHERS Cashel Dugger, Valor Christian, Sr. ( UCLA):
The heart and soul of the Eagles’ first Class 5A title team,
Noah Wicks, Golden, Sr. ( Hutchinson CC):
Wick was solid behind the dish and a homer waiting to happen at the plate with 16 bombs, tops in Class 4A, in addition to his 7- 0 mark and 1.78 ERA on the mound.
Campbell Framke, Denver South, Sr. ( Johns Hopkins):
The Denver Prep League star hit .519 with 27 RBIS and 12 doubles, plus a .600 on- base percentage and 1.350 OPS; elite defensively with a strong arm.
Bowen Tabola, Cherokee Trail, Sr. ( Western Carolina):
Tabola was a pillar on the No. 25- seeded Cougars team that upset its way into the state title game; Tabola batted .338 with six homers and a 1.124 OPS.
INFIELDERS Chase Jaworsky, Rock Canyon, Sr., SS ( Utah Valley):
Smooth in the field and at the plate, Jaworsky batted a team- best .444 with a
.595 on- base percentage, 12 homers, 30 RBIS and a 1.644 OPS.
Matt Rhoades, Lewis Palmer, Sr., 1B ( Concordia, Neb.):
The Rangers’ slugger ranked third in the state in homers with 15, behind only Martin and Wicks; Rhoades
Carson Tinney, Valor Christian, Sr., 3B ( Notre Dame):
Another one of the Eagles’ Division I studs, Tinney mashed all season to the tune of a .400 average, four homers and a .591 on- base percentage.
JT Shank, Rock Canyon, Sr., 1B ( Pacific):
Another big reason the Jaguars made the Class 5A Final Four, Shank hit .383 with seven doubles, two triples and six homers; elite scooper on defense.
Eze Rojas, Lakewood, Sr., SS ( Gulf Coast St.):
The Jeffco League star batted .507 with six doubles, three triples and 10 homers, plus a 1.134 slugging and 1.734 OPS.
Finley Bates, Douglas County, Sr., SS ( San Diego State):
The son of former Rockies infielder Jason Bates lived up to his lineage this season, with plus defense, a .433 average and four homers.
OUTFIELDERS Sean Barta, Rock Canyon, Sr. ( Pima):
The Jaguars’ Mr. Do- Everything was a rock this year, batting .442 with 44 RBIS and 10 homers, plus going 8- 2 with a 1.73 ERA on the hill.
Athan Kroll, Valor Christian, Jr. ( Dallas Baptist):
The Eagles standout batted .387 with 21 RBIS; also 5- 0 with a 3.47 ERA, and went 2 for 3 with a triple in the state title game despite playing with a slipped disc.
Eli Morgan, Lutheran, Jr. ( uncommitted):
The centerpiece of the 4A Final Four team in the Lions’ first year in the classification, Morgan batted .453 with 11 homers and also pitched in 16 games.
Nathan Hopkins, Legend, Sr. ( Seward County):
The Continental League player of the year led the Titans with a .551 average, including nine doubles, two triples, six homers and a .604 on- base percentage.
Christian Wood, Rocky Mountain, Sr. ( uncommitted):
The Lobos’ star hit .538 with 28 RBIS to help Rocky Mountain back to the Class 5A state tournament; .615 on- base percentage.
Eddie Esquivel, Cherry Creek, Jr. ( uncommitted):
The speedy Bruins center fielder hit .324 with 24 RBIS, five triples, five homers and a .433 on- base percentage, in addition to playing elite defense.
Brayden Munroe, Chaparral,
Sr. ( Northern Colorado football):
The Wolverines’ catalyst led them back to the Class 5A state tournament; Munroe ranked first in Class 5A with 26 steals and hit .385 with seven homers.
Christian Lopez, Regis Jesuit, So. ( uncommitted):
Perhaps the fastest player in the state, the Raiders center fielder had 25 steals, led his team with a .448 average and made chasing down gappers a habit.
Marcus Romero, Legacy, Sr. ( South Mountain):
One of several potent hitters in the Lightning lineup, Romero batted .405 with five homers, a .494 on- base percentage and a 1.183 OPS.
UTILITY Hunter Smolinski, Fruita Monument, Jr., INF ( uncommitted):
The Western Slope star hit .606 with ten doubles, six triples and four homers, including a 1.084 slugging and 1.752 OPS.
Nolan Hertzke, Severance, Sr., 3B/ RHP ( Kansas City, Kansas):
Severance’s other stud besides Bright, Hertzke batted .423 with 10 doubles and five homers; also 8- 0 with a 2.91 ERA on the mound.
Ashtin Gilio, Dawson, Sr., SS/ OF ( Georgetown):
The Class 2A switch- hitting superstar was second in the nation with a .784 average; he led Colorado with an .889 on- base percentage and 1.811 slugging.
Matt Hansen, Air Academy, Jr., SS/ RHP ( BYU):
The Kadets’ star batted .574 with 10 doubles, four triples, eight homers, 37 RBIS and a 1.865 OPS; smooth with the glove, strong arm.
Tommy Marsh, Cherry Creek, Sr., 3B/ RHP ( Tulane):
The Centennial League player of the year batted .375 with a 1.414 OPS and a teambest seven homers, playing lockdown D at the hot corner.
Brok Eddy, Brighton, Sr., RHP/ CF ( Arizona State):
The Bulldogs’ star batted .484 with eight doubles and five homers and was also 4- 1 with a 2.58 ERA and 71 strikeouts on the mound.
Noah Scott, Broomfield, Sr., RHP/ UTL ( Iowa Western):
The Front Range League player of the year helped lead the Eagles back to the Class 5A state tournament with a .453 average and 23 RBIS, in addition to a 12- 1 record and 1.16 ERA.