Ohio's best 23 high school baseball players for the 2023 season

Melanie Laughman, Andy Resnik and Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer
·10 min read
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Colton Hartman of Lebanon will play college baseball at the University of Louisville.
Colton Hartman of Lebanon will play college baseball at the University of Louisville.

The state of Ohio continues to produce high-quality high school baseball players who will put their talents on display this spring.

As a preview to this season, the high school sports staff of the Gannett Corp.'s 21 Ohio newspapers and websites compiled a who's who of the Buckeye State's prep baseball players.

Ohio's best: The top 22 Ohio high school football players in 2022

Ohio's best: Top 22 high school volleyball players

This is one of a series that included boys and girls basketball's top 23 players in winter and football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls soccer in the fall.

How were they ranked?

USA TODAY Network Ohio staff across the state compiled a list of its respective area's top players. The journalists voted on these players using a point system. First-place players received 23 points, second-place players got 22 and so on until the 23rd player wrapped it up with 1 point. Those points were tabulated to determine the top 23 players.

1. Colton Hartman, Lebanon

The University of Louisville commit earned second-team Division I All-Ohio last season. The senior was ranked No. 2 in Ohio for the Class of 2023 by PrepBaseballReport this preseason. The left-hander pitched in the Perfect Game All-American Classic in Arizona last August. Hartman also pitched in the MLB/USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline. Hartman led the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in strikeouts (114) last season over just 61 innings. He was 4-3 with a 1.60 ERA to help lead Lebanon to a district championship. Hartman has been named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-America first team.

2. A.J. Ewing, Springboro

The University of Alabama signee and senior shortstop is ranked No. 3 in Ohio for the Class of 2023 by PrepBaseballReport this preseason. Ewing helped lead his summer team – Top Tier 5 Star Roos Mafia – to a Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association championship. Ewing led the Greater Western Ohio Conference in home runs last year (3) and was second in RBIs (24) and hits (33) with a .375 batting average. He also led the GWOC in doubles (11), triples (five) and total extra-base hits (19). Ewing has been named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-America first team.

Springboro's A.J. Ewing is an Alabama signee and was named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-America first team.
Springboro's A.J. Ewing is an Alabama signee and was named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-America first team.

3. Colt Emerson, John Glenn

The Muskies' senior shortstop is an Auburn University signee and is a potential early-round selection in the upcoming MLB Draft, ranked No. 1 by PrepBaseballReport for the Class of 2023. Emerson played on the 18-and-under Team USA last summer, starting all nine games at third base. He batted .360 with a 1.035 OPS, 11 runs and four RBIs during the tournament. Emerson was first-team All-Ohio in football as a junior. He would be the first, first-round draft pick in Muskingum County since Jay Payton. Emerson has been named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-America first team.

John Glenn senior Colt Emerson, pictured with Team USA in September, is an Auburn University signee.
John Glenn senior Colt Emerson, pictured with Team USA in September, is an Auburn University signee.

4. Keegan Holmstrom, Grove City

This junior left-hander committed to Ohio State before last season. He then went 9-0 with a 1.50 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 27 walks in 65 1/3 innings. He also batted .377 with 23 runs, seven RBIs and six doubles, earning second-team All-Ohio honors. He was also named first-team all-district and the OCC-Ohio Division co-Player of the Year. He helped lead Grove City to the Division I state championship game with a complete game performance in a 4-1 victory over Mason in the state semifinal. Grove City head coach Ryan Alexander said Holmstrom is also an elite defensive first baseman.

Grove City left-hander Keegan Holmstrom is an Ohio State commit.
Grove City left-hander Keegan Holmstrom is an Ohio State commit.

5. Michael Murphy, Mason

Murphy is a University of Michigan commit taking the mound for nationally-ranked Mason. He was second in the GMC with five wins last season, finishing 5-1 with a 0.81 ERA over 43-plus innings. Overall in high school, he’s 13-2 with a 1.81 ERA, 111 strikeouts (35 walks) over 89 innings and a pair of saves. At the plate, Murphy hit .365, led the league with 31 RBIs and 10 doubles and ranked third in home runs in 2022.

Michael Murphy of Mason is a University of Michigan commit.
Michael Murphy of Mason is a University of Michigan commit.

6. Hunter Richardson, Vandalia Butler

The sophomore pitcher was a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division I last season. The University of Kentucky commit led the Miami Valley League with nine wins (9-0) and gave up just one earned run over 63 innings (0.11 ERA) with 78 strikeouts (second in MVL).

Vandalia Butler sophomore Hunter Richardson, a University of Kentucky commit, was first-team All-Ohio as a freshman.
Vandalia Butler sophomore Hunter Richardson, a University of Kentucky commit, was first-team All-Ohio as a freshman.

7. Luke Vaughn, Elder

The senior University of Alabama commit was named honorable mention All-Ohio in Division I last season. Vaughn was ranked No. 6 in Ohio for the Class of 2023 by PrepBaseballReport this preseason. He helped lead the Midland Redskins to a Connie Mack National Championship in the summer. Vaughn was the Greater Catholic League-South Player of the Year last season, hitting .360 with nine extra-base hits and a league-best 34 RBIs. He had a .444 on-base percentage with 16 walks against just four strikeouts.

Luke Vaughn of Elder will play baseball for the University of Alabama after high school graduation.
Luke Vaughn of Elder will play baseball for the University of Alabama after high school graduation.

8. Mason Eckelman, Walsh Jesuit

The 6-foot, 205-pound senior catcher was a first-team All-Ohio selection last season and is an Ohio State signee. A preseason Perfect Game All-American and three-year starter, Eckelman helped lead Walsh Jesuit to a regional championship game appearance. He hit .430 with a .526 on-base percentage and .568 slugging percentage with nine extra-base hits (five doubles, four home runs), 26 RBIs and 27 runs scored.

9. Lucas Moore, Badin

The senior outfielder was a first-team All-Ohio selection last season and is committed to the University of Louisville. He was ranked No. 8 in Ohio for the Class of 2023 by PrepBaseballReport this preseason. He hit .352 last season and ranked fourth in the GCL-Coed in hits (32) with six doubles and three triples. He ranked second in the league in runs scored (39) and stolen bases (27). Moore was ranked the No. 7 baseball player in Ohio prior to last season.

Badin High School's Lucas Moore will play college baseball for the University of Louisville.
Badin High School's Lucas Moore will play college baseball for the University of Louisville.

10. Blake Bowen, Wooster

The senior infielder was named first-team All-Ohio last season. He hit .568 with a .670 on-base percentage, seven home runs, 13 doubles, four triples, 45 RBIs, 39 runs scored, 22 walks and 16 steals. He is committed to the University of Kentucky.

Wooster senior Blake Bowen hit .568 last season and was named first-team All-Ohio.
Wooster senior Blake Bowen hit .568 last season and was named first-team All-Ohio.

11. Evan Shapiro, University School

The senior pitcher was a first-team All-Ohio selection last season. The Kent State commit posted a 9-0 record with a 0.72 ERA in 2022 and was named the MaxPreps Baseball Player of the Year for the 2021-2022 season. In 2021, he was invited to the Prep Baseball Report Super 60 and PBR Futures.

12. Nik Copenhaver, Badin

The right-handed senior pitcher is a Washington State University signee. Copenhaver was ranked No. 10 in Ohio for the Class of 2023 by PrepBaseballReport this preseason. Copenhaver led the GCL-Coed in strikeouts (70) last season, tossing five complete games in 10 total appearances. He finished 4-3 with a pair of shutouts and a 2.33 ERA.

Badin starting pitcher Nik Copenhaver, a senior, has signed with Washington State University.
Badin starting pitcher Nik Copenhaver, a senior, has signed with Washington State University.

13. Tommy Skelding, Marlington

The senior pitcher and first baseman was the Repository Stark County and Eastern Buckeye Conference Player of the Year last season. Skelding led the county with 32 RBIs while batting .415 with a pair of home runs for the league-champion Dukes. On the mound, Skelding went 8-1 with a 1.15 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 55 innings and earned All-Ohio honorable mention honors. The all-district selection is committed to the University of Kentucky. Skelding was ranked the No. 13 baseball player in Ohio prior to last season.

Marlington's Tommy Skelding was 8-1 with a 1.15 ERA last season.
Marlington's Tommy Skelding was 8-1 with a 1.15 ERA last season.

14. Grant McGuire, Wynford

The junior infielder hit .495 last season with 45 hits, nine doubles, two triples, five home runs, 38 runs scored, 50 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. McGuire also had 21 strikeouts as a relief pitcher. In two seasons, he has 77 hits, 62 runs, 94 RBIs and five home runs. McGuire has already tied, holds or is close to breaking just about every Northern 10 (and school) record in baseball. McGuire is the reigning N-10 Player of the Year, second in District 9 POTY voting and was first-team All-Ohio in Division III.

Wynford's Grant McGuire was a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division III last season.
Wynford's Grant McGuire was a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division III last season.

14. Treston Nemeth, Harrison Central

The senior catcher was first-team All-Ohio in Division III last season. He posted a .523 batting average, .989 slugging percentage and .583 on-base percentage to go with 36 runs scored, 41 RBIs and eight home runs. The University of Dayton commit was the East District Player of the Year, a first-team all-district selection and the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Harrison Central's Treston Nemeth was named to the Division III All-Ohio first team.
Harrison Central's Treston Nemeth was named to the Division III All-Ohio first team.

16. Christian Behrens, Bowsher

The senior first baseman and right-handed pitcher is a team captain for Bowsher who was named second-team All-Ohio, first-team all-city and the co-player of the year. Behrens hit .522 with five doubles, a home run, 22 RBIs and 19 walks as a junior.

17. Sawyer Solitaria, St. Ignatius

The junior first baseman and first-team All-Ohio selection hit .385 last season with a .453 on-base percentage. He finished with 35 hits, 29 RBIs and scored 20 times, helping lead St. Ignatius to a district title and a trip to the regional championship game. He is committed to Kent State University.

St. Ignatius' junior Sawyer Solitaria helped lead his team to a district championship last season, hitting .385.
St. Ignatius' junior Sawyer Solitaria helped lead his team to a district championship last season, hitting .385.

18. Cole Cahill, Olentangy Orange

Cahill, a senior left-handed pitcher and University of Toledo commit, was named second-team all-state, first-team all-district and OCC-Central Co-Player of the Year after going 7-1 with a 1.32 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings. He also played the outfield and batted .295, scored 23 runs and drove in a team-high 25.

Olentangy Orange's Cole Cahill will play college baseball at the University of Toledo.
Olentangy Orange's Cole Cahill will play college baseball at the University of Toledo.

19. Brady Rollyson, Green

The junior pitcher and shortstop hit .391 with five extra-base hits, 11 RBIs and scored 19 runs. He also walked 15 times and stole 13 bases. On the mound, Rollyson went 1-1 with three saves and a 0.50 ERA as the team's closer. Rollyson, an Ohio State commit, also earned first-team All-Federal League and second-team all-district honors. He was a two-year starter on Green's back-to-back Federal League champion boys basketball team as well.

Green's Brady Rollyson, an Ohio State commit, hit .391 last season and had a 0.50 ERA.
Green's Brady Rollyson, an Ohio State commit, hit .391 last season and had a 0.50 ERA.

20. Ethan Stewart, Meigs

The senior pitcher was a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division III last season after posting a 7-0 record and a 0.36 ERA over 58 2/3 innings. He is an Ohio University signee.

Meigs' Ethan Stewart went 7-0 with a 0.36 ERA last season.
Meigs' Ethan Stewart went 7-0 with a 0.36 ERA last season.

21. Nic Bruder, Centerville

Bruder, a second-team All-Ohio selection in Division I, ranked third in the GWOC in batting average (.430), second in runs scored (25), second in stolen bases (16) and led the league in hits (34). The senior infielder is an Adrian College commit.

Centerville's Nic Bruder ranked third in the GWOC in batting average (.430) last season.
Centerville's Nic Bruder ranked third in the GWOC in batting average (.430) last season.

21. Joey Helms, Canal Winchester

Helms pitched complete games in his team’s first two postseason wins, allowing two earned runs with 11 strikeouts and three walks. The Mercyhurst commit finished his junior season 6-0 with a 0.39 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 17 walks in 53 1/3 innings. He also batted .328 and was named first-team all-OCC-Capital and second-team all-district.

Canal Winchester's Joey Helms was 6-0 with a 0.39 ERA last season.
Canal Winchester's Joey Helms was 6-0 with a 0.39 ERA last season.

23. Trevor Vojtkofsky, CVCA

The senior catcher is an NAIA Indiana Wesleyan commit. He was a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division III last season after posting a .514 batting average with 37 hits, 43 RBIs, 13 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 35 runs scored. Vojtkofsky was the National Amateur Baseball Federation batting champion by hitting over .700 for his summer team, the Ohio Longhorns.

Trevor Vojtkofsky, CVCA
Trevor Vojtkofsky, CVCA

Others receiving votes

Ben BoBo, McNicholas; Andrew Edrington, Princeton; Cam Gilkerson, Hilliard Darby; Garrett Grinstead, Johnstown Monroe; Eli Henderson, New Albany; Brady Lester, Fredericktown; Mason Onate, Olentangy Liberty; Noah Prewitt, Talawanda; Garrett Wright, Massillon Jackson.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio's best high school baseball players for 2023