Ohio's best: The top 24 baseball players in the state ahead of the 2023-24 season
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 USA Today Network's 21 Ohio newspapers and websites compiled a who's who of the Buckeye State's prep baseball players.
This is part of a series that included boys and girls basketball's top 24 players this winter and, in fall, included football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls soccer.
How they were ranked
USA TODAY Network Ohio staff across the state researched and compiled a list of its respective area's top players. The journalists voted on these players using a point system. Those points were tabulated to determine the top 24 players.
1. Kellen Klosterman, Moeller
Prep Baseball Report has ranked the right-hand senior pitcher and the University of Notre Dame commit as the No. 3 player in Ohio’s Class of 2024. The senior, whose fastball reaches 91 mph, had the second-most strikeouts in the Greater Catholic League-South in 2023 with 53 for the returning Division I state champions.
2. Ashton Martin, Jonathan Alder
The junior pitcher and shortstop was first-team all-state in Division II and Player of the Year in the Central District and Central Buckeye Conference last spring. On the mound, the Ohio State commit was 8-0 with a 0.39 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 55 innings. He batted .422 with eight doubles, one triple, 25 RBI and 25 runs scored.
3. Zion Theophilus, Moeller
Ranked the top player in Ohio for the class of 2025, Theophilus led the Greater Catholic League-South in strikeouts with 61 and was second in wins behind last year’s staff ace Toby Heuber for the defending Division I state champions. He's committed to playing baseball for LSU.
4. Jake Hanley, Mason
The senior first baseman was second-team all-state in Division I, batting .375 in 80 at-bats with 30 hits, 29 runs, 20 RBI, five doubles, four triples and one home run. He's an Indiana University commit. Prep Baseball Report ranks Hanley, who plays club ball for Cincy Flames, as first in the class of 2024.
5. Caden Sheridan, Thornville Sheridan
The senior catcher was first-team all-state in Division II. At the plate, he batted .582 with 50 runs scored, 39 RBI, 11 doubles, three triples and five home runs in 98 at-bats. He also had a .630 on-base, .889 slugging and .972 fielding percentage. He is committed to Morehead State.
6. Aaron England, Fairfield
The senior left-handed pitcher was first-team all-state in Division I a season ago with a 6-2 record and 0.63 ERA in nine games. He had 93 strikeouts, four earned runs and 26 walks. England has committed to Louisville.
7. Keegan Holmstrom, Grove City
Holmstrom, a senior pitcher, first baseman and an Ohio State commit, led the Greyhounds to a Division I regional final last spring. He was 8-2 as a junior with a 2.02 ERA, 56 strikeouts and 16 walks in 62 1/3 innings. He batted .310 with two doubles, two triples, 14 RBI and 18 runs scored. He was first-team all-district and all-state.
8. Sawyer Solitaria, Cleveland St. Ignatius
A 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior infielder and right-handed pitcher, Solitaria has signed with Kent State. With a fastball hitting 90 miles per hour, he will be the staff ace for St. Ignatius and is a power hitter. He had a 1.44 ERA and 46 strikeouts a season ago.
9. Konner Daughriety, Mount Vernon
The senior third baseman was first-team all-state in Division I a season ago after batting .512 in 82 at-bats with 42 hits, 31 runs, 36 RBI, nine doubles, five triples and five home runs. He has committed to playing baseball at Ashland University.
10. Andrew Karhoff, Akron Hoban
The junior utility player, who recently announced his intention to play baseball at Ohio State, was second-team all-state. On the mound, he posted a 7-0 record with a 0.88 ERA, three complete games (two shutouts) and 63 strikeouts in 55⅓ inning. At the plate, he batted .370 with 27 hits in 73 at-bats, 19 RBIs, four doubles, a triple and 10 stolen bases.
11. Grant McGuire, Bucyrus Wynford
Last year, the senior infielder batted .500 with 38 hits, 15 doubles, 32 RBI and five home runs and scored 38 runs. He has already broken or will shortly break every school and league record for a position player. McGuire is a two-time first-team all-state honoree in baseball and likely will receive those honors in basketball, too. McGuire has committed to the University of South Carolina-Upstate.
12. Hunter Richardson, Vandalia Butler
The junior utility player (first base, pitcher) was second-team all-state in Division I with a 7-4 record. The left-hander was the starting pitcher in nine games, boasting a 1.09 ERA and pitching two complete games. He had 78 strikeouts in 58 innings. Behind the plate, Richardson hit .376 in 85 at-bats with 32 hits, 23 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 32 runs. He is committed to Kentucky.
13. Carter Weaver, Ontario
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior outfielder and pitcher was first-team all-state in Division II. Weaver batted .432 with 48 hits, seven doubles, three triples, a home run, 28 RBI and 23 runs scored. He had the best fielding percentage on the team at .983 with 56 putouts and just one error. He has signed with Ashland University.
14. Kaden Holman, Upper Sandusky
The senior utility player was second-team all-state a season ago. On the mound, he had a 9-0 record and a 0.00 ERA in 61 2/3 innings pitched with 135 strikeouts and 28 walks. He started 10 games, completed eight and had seven shutouts. He batted .482 with 20 RBI and 29 stolen bases. Holman is committed to the University of Findlay.
15. Nick Kudika, Watterson
The senior pitcher and third baseman has committed to Baldwin-Wallace. He was first-team all-district and second-team all-state in Division I last spring, when he went 7-0, allowing only five runs all season. He had a 0.56 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 14 walks in 50 innings. He also batted .424 with 21 runs scored and 20 RBI.
16. Brady Marshall, Orrville
The senior utility player was second-team all-state in Division II and is a Kent State commit. In his junior year, Marshall batted .400 with 39 hits, 17 RBIs, 10 doubles and 39 stolen bases.
17. Anthony Hutter, Elyria Catholic
The senior outfielder was second-team all-state in Division II as a junior. He had a .452 average with 28 hits in 62 at-bats, 33 runs scored, 14 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He is committed to Eastern Michigan.
18. Deacon Nelson, Hunting Valley University School
The sophomore third baseman was the only freshman to earn all-state in Division I, being named to the second team. He hit .402 in 92 at-bats with 37 hits, 32 runs, 33 RBI, eight doubles and two triples. He's committed to playing baseball for the University of Virginia.
19. Hunter Hoffman, St. Clairsville
The senior utility player was second-team all-state in Division II. He had an 8-1 record on the mound with a 1.25 ERA in 61.2 innings with 70 strikeouts and 13 walks. At the plate, Hoffman had a .494 average with 25 RBI, 25 runs and eight doubles in 79 at-bats. He's committed to playing baseball for Walsh University.
20. Luke Burroughs, Springboro
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior pitcher and infielder was honorable mention all-state in Division I after an 8-1 junior season on the mound and a 0.44 ERA in 11 games, 10 of which he started. He had four shutouts and nine complete games over 63 innings with 65 strikeouts.
21. Taylor Echols, Wapakoneta
The senior right-handed pitcher was honorable mention all-state in Division II with a 5-2 record. Echols had a 0.34 ERA, started six games and completed four games, with three shutouts. He also had 55 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. Echols has signed with Miami University.
22. Connor Barber, Toledo Whitmer
The senior third baseman and outfielder was second-team all-state in Division I after hitting .400 in 70 at-bats. He had 28 hits, 29 RBI, 25 runs, eight doubles and two triples. He has committed to the University of Toledo.
23. Parker Falkenstein, Akron Hoban
The senior outfielder made second-team all-state in Division I with a .365 average in 85 at-bats. He had 31 hits, 25 runs, 14 RBIs, five doubles, two triples and two home runs. He has committed to Wright State University.
24. Roy McCrandall, Toledo Bowsher
The junior outfielder and first baseman hit .500 in 72 at-bats as a sophomore, helping him earn second-team all-state in Division I. He had 36 hits, 32 runs, 24 RBI, five doubles and five triples.
Others receiving votes
Jacob Berry, Rayland Buckeye Local; Keegan Snyder, Chillicothe Unioto; Jase Hurd, Waverly
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio high school baseball's top 24 players for 2023-2024
