Hacker was named the Gatorade 2019 Kentucky Player of the Year.

FYI everyone his first name is AJ so it is AJ Hacker, I was wondering about it.

 

Congrats on the Gatorade POY Award AJ!

Ryan Hawks is another candidate I would think. He was Gatorade player of year last year as a junior, committed to UL, more than likely will be highest drafted Ky HS kid and has like 6 no-hitters in his career. I think the thing that separates a player like Castleman or Hawks is they play a lot tougher competition day in and day out than what Rowan faces. Makes Castlemans and Hawks numbers that more impressive.

Has Beechwood played anyone outside of NKY in the top 20? Were they in the LIT or Lexington tourney? Not familiar with their schedule.

Has Beechwood played anyone outside of NKY in the top 20? Were they in the LIT or Lexington tourney? Not familiar with their schedule.

 

Since this is in a thread about Mr. Baseball and the other person being mentioned in this thread plays for Rowan County, I will restrict my answer to your question to the topic in this thread. If we are comparing Roman County's schedule with Beechwood's, Beechwood has played a tougher schedule, but not significantly tougher.

 

On MaxPreps they list strength of schedule, Beechwood's SOS is higher than Rowan County's. Rowan County's SOS is the lowest of the teams MaxPreps has listed in their KY top 25. Beechwood's is the 5th lowest. Rowan County played 2 games against teams in the top 25. Beechwood played 3 games against teams in the top 25.

Edited May 24, 20197 yr by Voice of Reason

Neither has played a tough schedule, so IMO we can throw that measurable out the window.

I think you are under valuing Beechwood northern ky opponents. They may not all be top 25 but they are much tougher than most any of the teams in the 16th region. I would venture to guess there would be 5-6 teams in northern ky that would have a shot to win the 16th whereas Rowan is the only team that would pose a serious threat in the 9th.

Rowan County’s AJ Hacker has been named Kentucky’s Gatorade baseball player of the year, the company announced Thursday.

 

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior right-handed pitcher and infielder led the Vikings to a 35-3 record and the 61st District Tournament title and earned district MVP honors. The 16th Region Tournament begins Saturday.

 

Hacker has gone 9-1 on the mound with a save in 38 games, posting a 0.67 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched. Entering regionals, he’s surrendered 27 hits and issued 18 walks, holding opponents to a .122 batting average. At the plate, he’s hitting .446 with eight home runs, 45 RBI and 38 runs scored.

I was looking at the baseball stats for the teams left in the tournament and I have to update the stats for Logan Castleman. It is hard to fully appreciate the season this young man is having this year. He is literally in the top 25 in every offensive stat posted by the KHSAA. Here is where he ranks as of this morning:

 

Batting Average: #2 at .619

Home Runs: Tied for #21 at 7

Hits: #2 with 60 (1 behind the leader with 20 fewer AB's than most on the leaderboard)

Doubles: #18 with 14

Triples: #22 (tie) with 4

Base on Balls: #7 with 31

Slugging: #2 at 1.062

RBI: #2 with 57

Runs: #1 with 68

Stolen Bases: #11 with 33

 

On top of that he plays fantastic at shortstop.

 

In yesterdays round 1 state tournament game, the opposition played a 4 man outfield leaving 2nd base open. Castleman hit every ball right through that hole at second base. Unfortunately for him one hard hit line drive was caught in right center. He had two hits through the hole the defense gave him scoring the tieing run after one of the hits and driving in the winning run with the other hit. He was on base 4 of his 5 AB's (BB, HBP, 2 game changing singles through the shift). Masterful display of hitting by the best hitter in the state.

I was looking at the baseball stats for the teams left in the tournament and I have to update the stats for Logan Castleman. It is hard to fully appreciate the season this young man is having this year. He is literally in the top 25 in every offensive stat posted by the KHSAA. Here is where he ranks as of this morning:

 

Batting Average: #2 at .619

Home Runs: Tied for #21 at 7

Hits: #2 with 60 (1 behind the leader with 20 fewer AB's than most on the leaderboard)

Doubles: #18 with 14

Triples: #22 (tie) with 4

Base on Balls: #7 with 31

Slugging: #2 at 1.062

RBI: #2 with 57

Runs: #1 with 68

Stolen Bases: #11 with 33

 

On top of that he plays fantastic at shortstop.

 

In yesterdays round 1 state tournament game, the opposition played a 4 man outfield leaving 2nd base open. Castleman hit every ball right through that hole at second base. Unfortunately for him one hard hit line drive was caught in right center. He had two hits through the hole the defense gave him scoring the tieing run after one of the hits and driving in the winning run with the other hit. He was on base 4 of his 5 AB's (BB, HBP, 2 game changing singles through the shift). Masterful display of hitting by the best hitter in the state.

 

Logan's offensive stats are off the charts, but he plays a great Centerfield, not Shortstop.

I have to say that the title of this thread is a little misleading by asking the question if Castleman is the “runaway” choice. He is by no way a runaway choice. Both of these players have had great stats all year and have bright futures. Castleman has great hitting stats as mentioned. AJ Hackers hitting stats may not be as fruitful has Castlemans but they are also very good. What separates Hacker to be the favorite is that along with the hitting stats is he pitching. He has been one of the top pitchers in the state for two year.

 

Hitting:

Batting Average: .446

Home runs: #15 with 9, according to KHSSA

RBI’s. #18 with 49

Slugging % #21 with .828

Walks: #12 with 30

 

Pitching:

ERA: #4 with 0.60

Strikeouts: #3 with 120 (lead the state in 2018)

Wins: 10 with a 10-1 record

Innings Pitched: #6 with 69

 

Castleman had a great first game in the tournament but Hacker was even bigger. CG, 2hits, 9k’s 0 BB’s, 0 runs and was 1-3 with 4 rbis and a shot off the top of the right field netting at Morehead State that was the difference in the game. This was Hackers 6th straight shut out.

Morehead’s short distance rightfield fence is an offensive player’s best friend. Most balls off the right field net would be routine fly ball outs in other fields.

Yes Morehead has a short right field but the but the fence is 50 ft tall and this was no “routine” fly ball. It’s irrelevant any way and I am not sure what your point is.

Logan's offensive stats are off the charts, but he plays a great Centerfield, not Shortstop.

 

He played a great shortstop in yesterday's game versus Montgomery County. At least I thought that was him.

 

I did some research and it looks like John Odom is the shortstop and Castleman is the centerfielder. I had it backwards. Thanks for the correction.

Edited June 2, 20197 yr by Voice of Reason

He played a great shortstop in yesterday's game versus Montgomery County. At least I thought that was him.

 

I did some research and it looks like John Odom is the shortstop and Castleman is the centerfielder. I had it backwards. Thanks for the correction.

 

John Odom is an exceptional athlete that will be playing for NKU next year. One of best DBs in state, sure handed shortstop, shotgun arm and perhaps fastest on the team that has not been CS in 30+ attempts. Easy to confuse with Castleman with both possessing exceptional talent.