The Republic's Richard Obert picks his Arizona high school baseball lineup last 40 years

Forty years go fast. During that time of watching high school baseball, I saw future Major League Baseball players and players who I thought would become future MLB stars. One of those "can't-miss guys" is playing now, Scottsdale Saguaro's Cam Caminiti, who is winding down his high school career in the next month.

With the state high school baseball tournaments underway, I figured this would be a good time to do my all-time Arizona high school baseball lineup card from the past 40 years. And, yes, Caminiti is a part of that. I've seen him play enough this year to be convinced he might be the best high school player I've ever seen.

Richard Obert's Arizona HS Baseball Lineup Card 40 years

1. Cam Caminiti, Saguaro, 2024, two-way player, LHP/CF

At the leadoff spot, he once was intentionally walked five times in a game this season. That's how well-respected he is at the plate. On the mound, simply dominant, featuring a 98 mph fastball, crazy good offspeed stuff, and all of Major League Baseball following him every time he's got the ball.

2. Tim Salmon, Phoenix Greenway, 1986, RF

He was known for his mammoth shots into the school's northwest Phoenix neighborhood. His Grand Canyon College (as it was called back then) career led to a 14-year MLB career with the Angels, hitting 299 home runs, before retiring in 2006. He was the AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2002, helping the Angels win the World Series that year with two home runs in one game against the San Francisco Giants.

3. Cody Bellinger, Chandler Hamilton, 2013, CF

I covered him in the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania, so I caught a glimpse of his future stardom quite early when he starred for Chandler National. Even then, he had that "it" quality. He became a sensation at Hamilton, before becoming the National League MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's now in his second season with the Chicago Cubs.

4. Paul Konerko, Scottsdale Chaparral, 1994, DH

He was an All-Arizona catcher for Jerry Dawson in high school, leading the Firebirds to the 4A state title in 1994, hitting .558, but he's at designated hitter here. He was the 13th overall pick of the MLB draft in 1994, chosen by the Dodgers. His stardom came with the Chicago White Sox, where in 2004 he hit 41 home runs with 117 RBIs. He had a grand slam during the World Series, helping the White Sox win the championship in 2005.

5. Khris Davis, Glendale Deer Valley, 2006, LF

He started at Glendale Cactus, before playing his final two years in high school at Deer Valley, where he was All-Arizona. He hit .592 his senior year with 10 home runs and 58 RBIs, leading the Skyhawks to the state title. He played at Cal State Fullerton, after being taken in the 29th round out of high school. His MLB career took off with the Oakland A's. He led all of Major League Baseball in 2018 with 48 home runs.

6. Ike Davis, Chaparral, 2005, 1B/LHP

One of the greatest two-way players in Arizona high school history, he ended up breaking Paul Konerko's school record for the best batting average in a season by hitting .559. He had plus power and was a dominant left-hander on the mound. His two-way ability made him a favorite of Arizona State coach Pat Murphy. He had 32 home runs and 90 RBIs in 2012 with the New York Mets, but an assortment of injuries and ailments shortened his career.

7. Paul Lo Duca, Glendale Apollo, 1990, C

Always having to prove himself every step of the way in his career, he was one of the best high school catchers I've ever seen. Called great games, great arm, glove, instincts. Teams didn't run on him. He could hit everything and anything. Shockingly, he had to walk on at Glendale Community College after he didn't receive any Division I college offers. He ended up being The Sporting News college baseball Player of the Year in 1993, his only season at ASU, where he hit .446 with 129 hits. He went on to start for the Dodgers, playing with them from 1998-2004, followed by stints with the Marlins, Mets and Nationals. He made four All-Star Games (2003-06).

8. Nolan Gorman, Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor, 2018, 3B

He starts at second base for the St. Louis Cardinals, but he was a third baseman in high school, leading the O'Connor Eagles to the state championship with one of the most powerful left-handed bats I've ever seen. Power plus all the way through, it seemed like you could hear his home runs from a mile away. And they would travel quickly out of parks. He was a first-round MLB draft pick of the Cardinals, who wasted no time raising him through the ranks.

9. J.J. Hardy, Tucson Sabino, 2001, SS

There have been so many great players to come through Tucson, but he might be the best shortstop the state has seen. Injuries derailed his MLB career, but his career was resurrected in 2011 with the Baltimore Orioles with 30 home runs, 80 RBIs and a .269 batting average.

10. Ian Kinsler, Oro Valley Canyon del Oro, 2000

He hit .500 with 26 stolen bases during his senior year in high school. It was a prelude to a 14-year MLB career after ending up at Missouri in his college career. He had a career MLB batting average of .269 with 257 career home runs and 909 RBIs, mostly starring for the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers.

RHP: Curt Schilling, Phoenix Shadow Mountain, 1985

Stellar in high school, he came into his own at Yavapai College and in the majors, helping lead the Diamondback to the 2001 World Series championship. He won two more World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox. Simply, he is one of the best big-game pitchers ever.

RHP: Tim Alderson, Scottsdale Horizon, 2007

One of the most dominant right-handers in Arizona preps history, he was lights out his senior year at Horizon, going 12-0 with 111 strikeouts and a 1.05 ERA. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2007, but spent his career with minor league teams until 2015.

RHP: Mike Jones, Phoenix Thunderbird, 2001

He was the 12th overall pick of the 2001 MLB draft. He didn't get to the show before finishing his career in 2010.

RHP: Bobby Howry, Deer Valley, 1991

A hard thrower at 6-foot-5, he ended up with a 13-year MLB career, eight of those in the American League, the first four with the White Sox. He had 28 saves for the Sox in 1999.

LHP: Matthew Liberatore, Glendale Mountain Ridge, 2018

Part of that great 2018 class in Arizona, he was drafted in the first round like his best friend Nolan Gorman. Now they are teammates with the Cardinals.

Others of note

Position player: Roch Cholowsky, Hamilton, 2023, SS. He's one of the best fielding shortstops I've ever seen but to get him in the lineup, I put him at second base. He was a clutch hitter with plus power, too, leading the Huskies to back-to-back state championships. He was the Gatorade Arizona high school baseball Player of the Year last season. Now, he is playing at UCLA.

Position player: Shelley Duncan, Canyon del Oro, 1998, OF. Son of former MLB pitching coach Dave Duncan, he was a phenomenal outfielder and power hitter, teaming up with Kinsler on CDO's 1997 state championship team. He was Freshman All-American at Arizona in 1999.

Position player: Scott Kingery, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, 2012, 2B. One of the most versatile fielders ever to play in Arizona high schools, he flashed stardom on the MLB level with the Philadelphia Phillies after being the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2015.

Position player: Kevin Kron, Mountain Pointe, 2011, C: His 27 home runs his senior year is still a single-season state record. His 60 homers in his career still stand as the all-time most in Arizona high school history.

Position player: Andre Ethier, Phoenix St. Mary's, 2000, CF. He had to prove himself out of high school, where he was tremendous in the field and at the plate. He showed ASU how productive he could be, before launching an MLB career with the Dodgers. He had a 12-year career in the majors with his best season coming in 2009, when he drove in 106 runs, had 31 home runs, 42 doubles and hit .272.

Position player: Kody Huff, Horizon, 2019, SS/C. After having one of the greatest state championship performances in Arizona high school history, leading his team to a 16-inning win over Nogales, he took off at Stanford, where he made first-team All-Pac-12. He was drafted by the Rockies in 2022.

Position player: Corey Myers, Phoenix Desert Vista, 1999, SS. He had one of the greatest senior seasons in state history, which led to being the No. 4 overall MBL draft pick by the home-town Diamondbacks. It didn't turn into big-league brilliance, but that senior year in '99, leading the Thunder to the state title, was a season to remember.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Richard Obert's Arizona high school baseball lineup last 40 years