The Denver Post’s 2024 All-Colorado baseball team, a 40-man roster determined by statistical analysis, a player’s relative value to team success and coaches’ feedback.
Mr. Colorado Baseball
Sean Togher, Fort Collins, Sr RHP/OF
The Cal Baptist commit led the Lambkins to the Class 5A state tournament with a classification-best .507 batting average plus a 1.483 OPS, and he was 8-2 with a 2.16 ERA on the mound as a dominant two-way player.
Coach of the Year
Marc Johnson, Cherry Creek
In his 52nd and final year on the Bruins’ bench, Johnson led Cherry Creek to its ninth state championship, running the table to the crown from the consolation bracket by beating Regis Jesuit twice on the final day. A fitting end for a legend.
Pitchers
Ryan Falke, Cherry Creek, Jr RHP
The Washington State commit was 7-1 with a 1.07 ERA with a high-80s fastball as well as a plus changeup. He threw a complete-game gem in the deciding Class 5A title game against Regis Jesuit.
Wyatt Rudden, Cherry Creek, Jr RHP
The Michigan commit got the Bruins off to a fast start on the final day of the state tournament, allowing one run over five innings to force a winner-take-all title. He finished with a 3-1 record and 1.73 ERA.
Favi Gaeta, Prairie View, Jr LHP
The Thunderhawks southpaw featured a high-80s fastball with arm-side run, plus a curveball and slider, that baffled hitters to the tune of a 1.65 ERA and 107 strikeouts. He helped put Prairie View on the map.
Grant Shepardson, Mountain Vista, Sr RHP
The San Francisco commit was 4-3 with a 3.13 ERA and a fastball sitting in the mid-90s that topped out at 98 this year. He also has a plus slider; diced up Cherry Creek in a 2-1 win on April 10.
Trey Gregory-Alford, Coronado, Sr RHP
The Virginia commit is the most projectable major league arm out of Colorado in this year’s draft class. The state’s Gatorade Player of the Year has a 99-mph fastball; 1.84 ERA with 94 strikeouts.
Liam Mosley, Regis Jesuit, Sr RHP
The Dallas commit was nearly untouchable all season, with a 8-1 record and a 1.79 ERA. He induced tons of weak contact and filled up the zone, with 46 strikeouts to just seven walks and only one homer allowed.
Hudson Alpert, Regis Jesuit, Soph RHP
After starring as a freshman, Alpert took another step forward to enable the Raiders to reach the state championship game. He was 5-3 with a 2.43 ERA with 52 strikeouts and pitched well in the state tourney.
Mitch Haythorn, Eaton, Sr RHP
The Oklahoma commit was a centerpiece of the Reds dynasty that won its fourth straight title amid a 70-game win streak. Haythorn, a four-year starter, was 11-0 with a 1.99 ERA and 88 strikeouts.
Athan Kroll, Valor Christian, Sr RHP
The Dallas Baptist commit was the state’s other top flamethrower besides Shepardson and Gregory-Alford. The Eagles’ star was 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA with 64 strikeouts after a back injury ended his 2023 season.
Easton Miller, Fossil Ridge, Sr RHP
The Air Force commit was 7-0 with a 1.09 ERA and 100 K’s with a low-90s fastball and a wipeout slider. Consistently mowed in the Front Range League; the Prep Baseball Colorado Player of the Year.
Jerry Stone, Prairie View, Jr RHP
The Thunderhawks’ co-ace along with Gaeta, Stone was 7-0 with a 1.88 ERA across 13 games. He racked up 93 strikeouts along the way with a mid-80s fastball, a 12-6 curveball and a knuckleball.
Catchers
Gunnar Duncan, Eaton, Sr
The Butler commit was a big reason the Reds were able to survive some stress tests in the Class 3A state tournament. He led Eaton with a .519 average, including seven doubles, eight triples and a 1.444 OPS.
Finn LaVelle, Holy Family, Sr
The Benedictine commit backstopped the Tigers to the Class 4A crown. In addition to premium defense via a .983 fielding percentage, LaVelle led Holy Family with a .438 average and also posted a .533 OBP.
Sloan Steimel, Thomas Jefferson, Sr
A Chapman commit, Steimel paced the Spartans with a .392 average, .534 OBP, four homers and a 1.299 OPS. The City League Player of the Year was lockdown behind the plate with no errors while throwing out seven of 10 runners.
Dalton Yaste, University, Sr
The Western Nebraska commit raked via a .480 average that included 18 doubles and a couple of triples to help the Bulldogs to the Class 3A title game. He K’d just three times and had a 1.232 OPS; elite glove with a .991 fielding percentage.
Brendan Fritch, Broomfield, Jr
The Davidson commit was far and away the Eagles’ best hitter, with a .452 average along with 15 extra-base hits and a .534 OBP, .726 slugging and 1.260 OPS. Strong receiver behind the dish with just two errors.
Infielders
Brayden Yasuzawa, Cherry Creek, Sr 2B
Pledged to Villanova as a catcher but flashed Gold Glove defense at second base throughout the state tournament; the leadoff man hit .407 with a .546 OBP while drawing 12 walks and 14 hit by pitches.
Tate Deal, Arvada West, Jr SS
The Evansville commit batted .420 with seven doubles and four homers, with a .495 OBP, .679 slugging and 1.174 OPS via his high-contact approach to lead the Wildcats to their best season in recent memory.
Trevor Nordstrom, Regis Jesuit, Sr 3B
As the Raiders’ pillar at the hot corner, Nordstrom led RJHS with a .476 average and .544 OBP and also had a .619 slugging and 1.163 OPS. Also a football star, he’ll play baseball at Mines.
Owen Morgan, Fossil Ridge, Sr SS
The Oregon commit tied for second in Class 5A with a .500 batting average, was fifth in slugging at .833 and was a black hole at shortstop while leading the Sabercats to the Front Range League title.
Ethan Fillinger, Windsor, Jr SS
The slick middle infielder was a primary reason for the Wizards’ Class 4A state tourney showing. He hit .416 with eight homers, nine doubles and two triples, with a .486 OBP, 1.317 OPS and state-best 47 RBIs.
Andrew Bell, Regis Jesuit, Sr SS
Along with Nordstrom, Bell made the Raiders’ left side of the infield ultra-potent. The Duke commit flashed range and athleticism on defense and hit .390 with a team-best six homers, .780 slugging and 1.308 OPS.
Evan Raabe, Thompson Valley, Jr SS
The Reporter-Herald Player of the Year did it all for the Eagles. He hit .526 with a .577 OBP, and tied for the state lead in homers with his teammate, Riley Suarez. Raabe also had nine doubles, two triples and a 1.524 OPS.
Mason Scott, Cherry Creek, Jr 3B
The CHSAA Class 5A Player of the Year will play at Army, and his bat showed up in the biggest moments of the state tournament. He led the Bruins with a .439 average and had a .540 OBP and 1.296 OPS.
Danny Cook, Lewis-Palmer, Sr 3B
The Pepperdine commit starred for the Rangers this year as they made the Class 4A state tournament. The versatile infielder hit .516 with 12 doubles, six triples and three homers with a .571 OPS and 1.442 OPS.
Bryce Robinette, Ponderosa, Sr SS
The Azusa Pacific commit demonstrated advanced range and glovework at short, while also mashing. He hit .494 with a .584 OBP, including 15 doubles, three triples and three homers to go along with a 1.448 OPS.
Connor Larkin, Cherry Creek, Jr 1B
The Oklahoma commit brought plus defense to first base, and he could swing it as one of the most dangerous hitters in the state. A .422 average along with eight homers and a 1.277 OPS.
Outfielders
Aiden Wilson, Pine Creek, Jr
The left-handed hitter did it all for the Eagles, with a .466 average paired with a .528 OBP, .931 slugging and 1.460 OPS. He also had 32 RBIs, eight doubles, four triples and six homers.
Luca Casali, Golden, Jr
Casali, who also played first base, raked all spring. The Demons star mashed via a .486 average with eight homers, 10 doubles and two triples, plus a .553 OBP, 1.000 slugging and ridiculous 1.553 OPS.
Ben Knox, Castle View, Sr
The pillar of the Sabercats’ order could hit for average and power. He batted .474 with a .559 OBP, with nine doubles, three triples and four homers while amassing an .820 slugging and 1.380 OPS.
Riley Suarez, Thompson Valley, Sr
Like his teammate Raabe, Suarez was a dominant power hitter. The two tied for the state lead with nine homers to lead TVHS to the Class 4A state tourney. He hit .474 with a .559 OBP, .897 slugging and 1.456 OPS.
Trevor Gottsegen, Highlands Ranch, Jr
The Iowa commit was solid with the glove and dominated at the plate for the Falcons, with a team-best .440 average and .538 OBP paired with four homers, 21 RBIs and a .900 slugging.
Parker Noah, Fruita Monument, Sr
The Phoenix College commit did it all while helping the Wildcats to the Southwestern League crown. He hit .440 with six homers, a .500 OBP and a 1.286 OPS, and also pitched a bit.
Utility
Finn Royer, Denver South, Sr RHP/3B
Royer starred for the Rebels while leading them with a .462 average, .532 OBP, eight doubles and a 1.270 OPS. On the mound, he was 5-0 in 11 games with a 1.70 ERA, with 86 Ks to just 10 walks.
Roy Higinbotham, Pueblo County, Sr 1B/3B/RHP
A big reason the Hornets made the Class 4A state title game, Higinbotham hit .393 with four homers. The Garden City commit also had a .522 OBP and his 1.236 OPS led PCHS; 8-1 with 1.47 ERA on the mound.
Asher Hawes, Denver Christian, Sr C/OF
The Thunder senior centerpiece hit .527 with 45 RBIs, including nine doubles, eight triples and eight homers. He had a .567 OBP and 1.633 OPS, and was stellar with the glove with a .988 fielding percentage.
Keon Bandy, Limon, Sr RHP/3B
The Northeastern commit led the Badgers to the Class 2A state title game, batting .524 with a .655 OBP. He racked up a state-leading 45 stolen bases, and in 18 games on the mound was 13-1 with a 1.83 ERA.
Lucas Stone, Eaton, Sr LHP/OF
The Northern Colorado commit was the CHSAA Class 3A player of the year, batting .494 with a .632 OBP that included 29 walks to five strikeouts. On the mound, he was 9-0 with a microscopic 0.30 ERA.
Robert Whitaker, Horizon, Sr, SS/RHP
The South Mountain commit helped the Hawks to the Class 5A state tournament as a two-way standout. He hit .396 with a .472 OBP and .988 OPS, and was 5-4 in 11 games pitching with a 1.83 ERA.
