Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year

The Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year started in 1985, when the Gatorade Company established an award honoring America's elite high school student-athletes. Now in its third decade, the Gatorade Player of the Year award has become one of the most prestigious accolades in high school sports.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one award winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school boys baseball, football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, boys baseball, girls softball, and boys and girls track & field.

ESPN HS, the multimedia high school division of ESPN, in partnership with The Gatorade Company, administers the selection process for Gatorade State and National Player of the Year awards. All final selection decisions are the result of a collaborative effort between ESPN HS and The Gatorade Company.

For over 25 years, state and national Players of the Year have been honored for their athletic achievements, academic excellence and exemplary character. The Gatorade Company is proud to recognize, celebrate and support the nation's most outstanding high school talents throughout their journey to greatness both on and off the field.

Baseball Almanac is both pleased and prout to present a complete list of every winner of the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award.

"It felt great to surprise Lance (McCullers) with the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award and welcome him into one of the most prestigious legacy programs in high school sports. Gatorade has been on the sidelines fueling athletic performance for years, so to be recognized by a brand that understands the game and truly helps athletes perform is a huge honor for these kids." - Sean Casey (05/31/2012, 'Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year: Lance McCullers', PRNewswire)
Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year

In Chronological Order

School Year

Player of the Year

Position High School

1985 - 1986

Gary Sheffield

IF Hillsborough High School (Tampa, FL)

1986 - 1987

Willie Banks

P St. Anthony High School (Jersey City, NJ)

1987 - 1988

Mark Lewis

IF Hamilton High School (Hamilton, OH)

1988 - 1989

Jeff Jackson

OF Simeon High School (Chicago, IL)

1989 - 1990

Todd Van Poppel

P James W. Martin High School (Arlington, TX)

1990 - 1991

Brian Barber

P Dr. Phillips High School (Orlando, FL)

1991 - 1992

A.J. Hinch

C Midwest City High School (Midwest City, OK)

1992 - 1993

Alex Rodriguez

IF Westminster Christian High School (Miami, FL)

1993 - 1994

Doug Million

p Sarasota High School (Sarasota, FL)

1994 - 1995

Chad Hutchinson

P Torrey Pines High School (Encinitas, CA)

1995 - 1996

Matt White

P Waynesboro High School (Waynesboro, PA)

1996 - 1997

Darnell McDonald

OF Cherry Creek High School (Englewood, CO)

1997 - 1998

Drew Henson

P Brighton High School (Brighton, MI)

1998 - 1999

B.J. Garbe

P/OF Moses Lake High School (Moses Lake, WA)

1999 - 2000

Jason Stokes

IF Coppell High School (Coppell, TX)

2000 - 2001

Casey Kotchman

IF Seminole High School (Seminole, FL)

2001 - 2002

Zack Greinke

P Apopka High School (Orlando, FL)

2002 - 2003

Chris Lubanski

OF Kennedy-Kenrick High School (Norristown, PA)

2003 - 2004

Mark Rogers

P Mount Ararat High School (Topsham, ME)

2004 - 2005

Justin Upton

IF Great Bridge High School (Chesapeake, VA)

2005 - 2006

Clayton Kershaw

P Highland Park High School (Dallas, TX)

2006 - 2007

Rick Porcello

P Seton Hall Prep High School (West Orange, NJ)

2007 - 2008

Kyle Skipworth

C Patriot High School (Riverside, CA)

2008 - 2009

Matt Hobgood

P Norco High School (Norco, CA)

2009 - 2010

Kaleb Cowart

P Cook High School (Adel, GA)
2010 - 2011 Dylan Bundy P/IF Owasso High School (Owasso, OK)
2011 - 2012 Lance McCullers P Jesuit High School (Tampa, FL)

2012 - 2013

Not Yet Announced

-- Not Yet Announced

School Year

Player of the Year

Position High School

Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year



The three main criteria used to select the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year are 1. Athletic Excellence. 2. Academic Achievement. 3. Exemplary Character.

Positions in the chart are those played while at their respective High Schools. Names that appear in gray did not or haven't yet reached the Major League level.

Did you know that two of the players who won the Baseball Player of the Year also played football in the National Football League? They were pitcher Chad Hutchinson (quarterback) and pitcher Drew Henson (quarterback).

     

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