MaxPreps 2014 All-American Baseball Team

When a player earns National Player of the Year honors as a junior, the first question that has to be asked during that player's senior year is, "Did he do anything to hurt his chances of being chosen again?"

For Harvard-Westlake's Jack Flaherty, the 2013 MaxPreps National Player of the Year, the answer to that question is, "Absolutely not."

In fact, Flaherty's senior season was nearly identical to his award-winning junior campaign. The only difference is that his team was eliminated from the playoffs early and he did not have a chance to expand on his statistics and impressive high school resume.

Consider that Flaherty ended his career with a no-hitter in a 5-0 playoff win over J.W. North (Riverside, Calif.). He also had an identical ERA from last season at 0.63. He finished the year unbeaten at 10-0 (compared to 13-0 in 2013) and struck out 125 batters in just 78 innings pitched (compared to 112 strikeouts in 89 innings as a junior).

For his career, Flaherty posted 35 wins and just three losses with 324 strikeouts and a 1.19 ERA in 265.2 innings pitched.

Flaherty was named the Southern Section Division I Player of the Year and was also named Player of the Year for the Los Angeles area by both the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Daily News. He was also chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals with the last pick in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft, and elected to sign.

"If you were going to win a game tomorrow, Jack Flaherty is the guy you'd want," Harvard-Westlake coach Matt LaCour told Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times. "Jack is willing to make the big pitch at the big time. That's a special quality when you have the stuff he has to go along with his competitiveness."

Thus Flaherty is our National Player of the Year for the second-straight season. He is joined on the All-American first team by 29 other players, including Player of the Year candidates Chase Vallot of St. Thomas More, Brady Aiken of Cathedral Catholic, Alex Jackson of Rancho Bernardo and Cody Reed of Ardmore.

Past MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year Winners
2013 - Jack Flaherty, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
2012 - Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2011 - Dylan Bundy, Owasso (Okla.)
2010 - Stetson Allie, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
2009 - Matt Hobgood, Norco (Calif.)
2008 - Jake Odorizzi, Highland (Ill.)

Coach of the Year
Jamie Corr of Lambert (Suwanee, Ga.) has taken the Longhorns to great heights in five short seasons. The original coach of the program that started in 2010, Corr guided the Longhorns to a 36-2 record in 2014 and a Class 6A state championship. Lambert also finished second in the MaxPreps Xcellent 50 National Baseball Rankings and did it all with a lineup dominated by juniors and sophomores.

"I knew we would be pretty good when we went to the USA Baseball Classic in Memphis and defeated three defending state champions in a row," Corr told USA Today.

Lambert challenged Barbe for the national championship the last two months of the season and was undefeated heading into the Class 6A state championship. Lambert knocked off defending state champion Milton in the finals in three games.


First Team

P – Jack Flaherty, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 6-4, 210, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Los Angeles Times All-Area Player of the Year; Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Player of the Year; Southern Section Division I Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 34 overall by Cardinals.

Stats: 10-0 record, 0.63 ERA, 125 strikeouts, 78 innings pitched, 12 walks.

P – Tyler Kolek, Shepherd (Texas), 6-5, 230, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Texas High School Baseball Coaches Class 3A All-State First Team; Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Team.

Draft: No. 2 overall by Marlins.

Stats: 5-2 record, 0.52 ERA, 126 strikeouts, 8 walks, 60.3 innings pitched.

P – Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 6-4, 205, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; BCA Region 8 Player of the Year; Baseball America Third Team All-American; USA Today Player of the Year; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Cal-Hi Sports State Player of the Year; San Diego Section Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 1 overall by Astros.

Stats: 7-0 record, 111strikeouts, 15 walks, 1.06 ERA, 59.2 innings pitched.

P – Cameron Varga, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, 6-4, 200, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; BCA Region 4 Player of the Year; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Ohio Coaches Association All-Ohio Division III Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 60 overall by Rays.

Stats: 10-0 record, 0.00 ERA, 119 strikeouts, 4 walks, 50 innings pitched.

P – Cody Reed, Ardmore (Ala.), 6-3, 250, Senior
Honors: Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American Pitcher of the Year; Alabama Sports Writers Association All-Super State Mr. Baseball.

Draft: No. 54 overall by Diamondbacks.

Stats: 10-2 pitching record, 0.46 ERA, 226 strikeouts, 17 walks in 92 innings pitched, .494 batting average, 33 RBIs, 40 runs, 10 doubles, 6 home runs.

P – Brian Gonzalez, Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 6-3, 235, Senior
Honors: Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Florida Dairy Farmers State Player of the Year; Sun Sentinel Broward County Small Schools Player of the Year; Miami Herald All-Broward County Team.

Draft: No. 90 overall by Orioles.

Stats: 10-1 record, 0.50 ERA, 129 strikeouts, two no-hitters, 69.1 innings pitched, .342 batting average, 3 home runs, 18 RBIs.

P – Kodi Medeiros, Waiakea (Hilo, Hawaii), 6-1, 195, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Scoring Live Division I All-State Team.

Draft: No. 12 overall by Brewers.

Stats: 7-1 record, 0.97 ERA, 83 strikeouts, 15 walks, 43.1 innings pitched.

P – Justus Sheffield, Tullahoma (Tenn.), 6-2, 195, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade National Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Nashville Tennessean All-MidState Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 31 overall by Indians.

Stats: 10-0 record, 0.34 ERA, 131 strikeouts, 61.2 innings pitched.

P – J.B. Bukauskas, Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.), 6-2, 195, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Washington Post All-Metro Player of the Year; Virginia Group 5A All-State Team.

Draft: No. 600 overall by Diamondbacks.

Stats: 7-0 pitching record, 0.00 ERA, 88 strikeouts, 6 walks, 43.1 innings pitched.

P – Mac Marshall, Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), 6-2, 190, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Gwinnett Daily Post All-County Pitcher of the Year.

Draft: No. 616 overall by Astros.

Stats: 9-0 pitching record, 0.58 ERA, 86 strikeouts, 27 walks, 60.2 innings pitched.

C – Alex Jackson, Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), 6-2, 215, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Baseball America Player of the Year; USA Today First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; San Diego All-Section Team.

Draft: No. 6 overall by Mariners.

Stats: .400 average (40-for-100), 45 runs, 31 RBIs, 7 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs.

C – Jakson Reetz, Norris (Firth, Neb.), 6-1, 195, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America Second Team All-American; USA Today Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Lincoln Journal Star All-Super State Captain.

Draft: No. 93 overall by Nationals.

Stats: .486 batting average (36-for-74), 13 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 37 RBIs, 13 stolen bases.

C – Chase Vallot, St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.), 6-0, 205, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; BCA Region 6 Player of the Year; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American Hitter of the Year; Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 4A State Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 40 overall by Royals.

Stats: .545 batting average (54-for-99), 15 doubles, 1 triple, 13 home runs, 62 RBIs.

1B – Sam Hentges, Mounds View (Arden Hills, Minn.), 6-6, 240, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Star Tribune All-Metro Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 128 overall by Indians.

Stats: 7-0 record, 0.78 ERA, 43 innings pitched, 77 strikeouts, 27 walks, .361 batting average, 22 runs, 18 RBIs, 5 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs.

1B – Braxton Davidson, Roberson (Asheville, N.C.), 6-3, 215, Senior
Honors: Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Asheville Citizen Times All-Western North Carolina Team.

Draft: No. 32 overall by Braves.

Stats: .462 batting average, 20 RBIs, 3 runs, 11 doubles, 5 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 4-2 record, 1.94 ERA, 81 strikeouts, 47 innings pitched.

IF – Nick Gordon, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), 6-2, 170, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Florida Dairy Farmers Class 8A State Player of the Year; Orlando Sentinel All-Area Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 5 overall by Twins.

Stats: .512 batting average (44-for-86), 31 runs, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 28 RBIs, 14 stolen bases.

IF – Michael Chavis, Sprayberry (Marietta, Ga.), 6-2, 205, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team.

Draft: No. 26 overall by Red Sox.

Stats: .580 batting average (47-for-81), 30 runs, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 13 home runs, 37 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.

IF – Ti'Quan Forbes, Columbia (Miss.), 6-4, 175, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; USA Today Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Mr. Baseball; Hattiesburg American All-Area First Team; Mississippi Coaches Association All-State Team.

Draft: No. 59 overall by Rangers.

Stats: .427 batting average (47-for-110), 49 runs, 12 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 32 RBIs, 13 stolen bases.

IF – Jacob Gatewood, Clovis (Calif.), 6-5, 200, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; USA Today Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Fresno Bee All-Area Team; Tri-River Athletic Conference Silver Slugger Award.

Draft: No. 41 overall by Brewers.

Stats: .389 batting average (44-for-113), 30 runs, 9 doubles, 5 home runs, 28 RBIs.

IF – Gavin Lavalley, Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 6-3, 235, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today First Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-State Player of the Year; Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-Big City Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 125 overall by Reds.

Stats: .554 batting average (63-for-112), 11 doubles, 1 triple, 19 home runs, 75 RBIs.

IF – Trevor Ezel, Bryant (Ark.), 5-9, 175, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Arkansas Class 7A All-State Team; Northwest Arkansas All-Area Player of the Year; Arkansas Democrat All-Arkansas Player of the Year.

Draft: Undrafted.

Stats: .518 batting average (43-for-83), 50 runs, 11 doubles, 8 triples, 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, 22 stolen bases.

OF – Monte Harrison, Lee's Summit West (Mo.) 6-3, 200, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Missouri Coaches Association Division 5 All-State Team; Kansas City Star All-Metro Team.

Draft: No. 50 overall by Brewers.

Stats: .433 batting average (39-for-90), 45 runs, 14 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 35, RBIs, 26 stolen bases.

OF – Michael Gettys, Gainesville (Ga.), 6-1, 210, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Gainesville Times All-Area Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 51 overall by Padres.

Stats: .368 batting average (39-for-106), 41 runs, 8 doubles, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, 17 stolen bases.

OF – Derek Hill, Elk Grove (Calif.), 6-1, 185, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Baseball America First Team All-American; USA Today Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team.

Draft: No. 22 overall by Tigers

Stats: .500 batting average (47-for-94), 11 doubles, 7 triples, 21 stolen bases, 30 RBIs.

OF – Lane Thomas, Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.), 6-1, 180, Senior
Honors: Baseball America First Team All-American; Knoxville News Sentinel All-Area Team Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 144 overall by Blue Jays.

Stats: .410 batting average, 57 runs, 8 doubles, 4 triples, 17 home runs, 40 RBIs.

OF – Beau Jordan, Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 5-10, 195, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Baseball America Third Team All-American; Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Team.

Draft: Undrafted.

Stats: .396 batting average (57-for-144), 58 runs, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, 37 stolen bases.

OF – Alex Destino, North Buncombe (Weaverville, N.C.), 6-2, 208, Senior
Honors: Baseball America Third Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Asheville Citizen Times All-Western North Carolina Player of the Year.

Draft: Undrafted.

Stats: .529 batting average, 43 runs, 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 43 RBIs, 10-1 record, 1.43 ERA, 116 strikeouts, 73 innings pitched.

UT – Tyler Frost, Greenway (Phoenix), 5-10, 160, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; BCA Region 7 Player of the Year; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Arizona Republic Large Schools State Player of the Year; Arizona Republic All-Division II Team; Arizona Baseball Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year.

Draft: Undrafted.

Stats: .406 batting average (43-for-106), 34 runs, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 42 RBIs, 12-1 pitching record, 80 innings pitched, 92 strikeouts, 0.26 ERA, 12 walks.

UT – Seth Beer, Lambert (Suwanee, Ga.), 6-3, 185, Sophomore
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Forsyth County News All-County Player of the Year.

Stats: .589 batting average (63-for-107), 49 runs, 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 56 RBIs.

UT – Brendan McKay, Blackhawk (Beaver Falls, Pa.), 6-2, 215, Senior
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team; BCA Region 2 Player of the Year; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Baseball America Second Team All-American; Louisville Slugger All-American First Team; Pennsylvania High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Class AAA Team; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-Area Player of the Year; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review All-Area Player of the Year.

Draft: No. 1,017 overall by Padres.

Stats: 7-0 pitching record, 0.00 ERA, 101 strikeouts, 7 walks, 45 innings pitched.



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