USA TODAY Sports unveils 2026 ‘Starting 9’ high school baseball lineup

The high school baseball landscape across the country has been elite, to say the least.

In a perfect world, one might ask: in a winner-take-all state title contest, who and how would we craft a lineup featuring players from across the country?

For this list, we’ve crafted a roster of 20 seniors. The breakdown of the roster is as follows:

Here’s the USA TODAY Sports Starting 9, along with a coaching staff we’d build below in a hypothetical state title game.

Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove (Miss.) OF

Booth is the top prep outfielder available in this year’s MLB Draft, and will be a contributor right away in pro ball for whichever organization he’s in. With Oak Grove this season, Booth hit .481 with 20 extra-base hits, 31 RBI and 55 runs scored. He walked 45 times and swiped 23 bases, making him the ideal leadoff hitter in this hypothetical state title game.

Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian (S.C.) LHP

Bolemon was nearly unhittable this season for the Sabres, pitching to a 0.17 ERA over 41 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run. Over that span, he allowed just 11 hits and 13 walks while striking out 91 batters. Expect Bolemon to be a likely first-round pick, considering the emphasis clubs place on prep left-handed pitchers on a yearly basis.

Coleman Borthwick, South Walton (Fla.) RHP

Borthwick is a big fella at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, but he can sling it from the right side with a fastball that has been awfully close to hitting triple digits. With South Walton this spring, Borthwick pitched to a 0.21 ERA, allowing just 18 hits and 7 walks over 65 2/3 innings, striking out 121 in that stretch. Borthwick could see himself break into the first round, but picks 31-40 seem a lot more likely should he choose to forgo his Auburn commitment.

Blake Bowen, JSerra (Calif.) OF

Bowen’s a prime DH candidate in this starting lineup at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, with a power grade of 60 by MLB.com. Bowen also played football for JSerra and has plenty of athleticism to make things happen in the outfield in his pro career. At the MLB Combine, he registered 15 hits that had an exit velo north of 100 MPH.

Will Brick, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) C

Brick gets the start at catcher on this roster, hitting .517 with 10 extra-base hits for Christian Brothers this season. Originally part of the 2027 class, Brick decided to reclassify after a highly successful stint with Team USA’s 18U team, which competed in Japan in October, where he hit .333 while playing strong defense behind the dish. While the bat is a work in progress, many believe his defensive skills will translate to the next level.

Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan (Mass.) LHP

While Bumila wouldn’t start this game, he’s an elite lefty who is poised to make the big leagues at some point in his career. His fastball has reached triple digits and features a lot of inverted vertical break, making life tough for hitters. At 6-foot-9, the arm slot is especially tough.

Trevor Condon, Etowah (Ga.) OF

The younger brother of former Georgia star and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Condon, Condon had a stellar senior year for Etowah, hitting .504 with nine home runs, 42 RBI and 17 doubles in 36 games. His decision-making at the plate is strong despite being a teenager, making him a long-term player in many organizations that value that in their philosophies. With elite speed as well, expect Condon to make an impact on this squad.

Sean Dunlap, Crown Point (Ind.) C

Dunlap has largely been a consistent player behind the plate for Crown Point, and is very fast despite the toll catching takes on the knees. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder hit .473 with nine home runs, three doubles, 11 doubles, and 45 runs batted in, adding 32 runs scored and with just six strikeouts over 112 plate appearances.

Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian (Texas) INF

Expected to be a top-three pick in this year’s draft, Emerson’s set to become the next big shortstop to come out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Following the footsteps of Bobby Witt Jr., Emerson grades out near the top in hitting, power, running, arm and fielding, making him a franchise player for whoever drafts him.

Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (Calif.) OF/LHP

Grindlinger’s likely to go pro as a left-handed arm, but we’re going to start him in left field. In a Huntington Beach uniform this year, Grindlinger hit .376 with a team-high 41 hits, adding 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI, striking out twice in 125 plate appearances.

Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) INF

The younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr., Jacob Lombard is primed to be even better than his big brother. With Gulliver this year, Lombard batted .477 with 10 home runs and 25 RBI, leading the way with 42 hits and 52 runs scored. His 1.471 OPS led the team, and he will be a likely top-five pick in this year’s MLB Draft.

Bo Lowrance, Christ Church Episcopal (S.C.) INF

Lowrance’s 6-foot-5 frame, at least on this team, makes him a likely first baseman despite primarily playing third. He has a solid left-handed bat at the plate and will be able to make an impact in pro ball. Whether or not he forgoes his Virginia commitment remains to be seen.

Taj Marchand, James Island (S.C.) INF

If you want all-around tools and defensive value, Marchand’s your guy. His arm is elite, along with his bat, making him a second-round prospect with clear potential to make a splash. While he may not start on this squad with Emerson, Lombard, and others in the infield, it does not take away from the fact that he starts on virtually any other squad.

Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights (Miss.) C/INF

Prosek simply couldn’t be stopped this season for Magnolia Heights, hitting .585 (76-130) with 18 home runs, 19 doubles, a pair of triples and 79 RBI with 62 runs scored. He added 31 walks and had a 1.855 OPS against Mississippi competition. While he is currently a primary third baseman, Prosek could project as a catcher in pro ball and make this roster as one of three catchers.

Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) LHP

Rojas gets the nod as the starting pitcher in this theoretical state title game, and is the top left-handed arm on many draft boards. The Stoneman Douglas product transferred from the Denver area after his freshman year, helping the Eagles win three straight state titles. In a Stoneman uniform, Rojas was 28-1 with a 0.65 ERA with 285 strikeouts over 162 innings, allowing 73 hits and 36 walks against elite competition in South Florida.

Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook (N.Y.) INF

Ruiz is a fascinating prospect because he’s a switch-hitter and an ambidextrous thrower, making him exclusive on this roster in that regard. His defense is the best on this team, grading out with a 70 in the field and a 60 arm. With Team USA’s 18U team, his defense forced Grady Emerson over to third base, something we’re replicating here. His speed and fielding are too good to keep on the bench.

Logan Schmidt, Ganesha (Calif.) LHP

Schmidt’s young for his age here at 17 years old by the time the Draft rolls around, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t up there with Rojas and Bolemon in terms of quality. The California product can attack the zone but still has some room to grow, making him a secondary option out of the bullpen if need be.

Landon Thome, Nazereth Academy (Ill.) INF

The son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, Landon Thome has an impressive bat from the left-hand side with exit velos in the high 90s and low 100s. With his power, much like his dad had with the Indians, Phillies, and White Sox, among others, Landon could see that it would come with maturity and a bigger build beyond the 6-foot, 177-pound frame he’s currently in.

Kaden Waechter, Jesuit (Fla.) RHP

Kaden Waechter, another son of a former big leaguer (Doug Waechter), has starred for Jesuit since his sophomore year, making him a well-known product in the high school space. Waechter has delivered and then some for Jesuit over the years, pitching to a 13-5 record with a 1.01 ERA, striking out 135 over 104 1/3 innings. Over that stretch, his WHIP sits below 1.00, as he also generates ground ball and fly ball outs.

Noah Wilson, McCallie (Tenn.) OF

With McCallie, Wilson hit .385 as a senior with 45 hits, 17 extra-base hits, and 41 runs scored to go along with 23 stolen bases. Not many teams wanted to pitch to the prospect, as he walked 33 times as well. While he may not start on this team, he very well could come off the bench in a pinch-hit or pinch-running role, depending on the situation.

COACHES

Manager: Todd Fitz-Gerald, Stoneman Douglas (Fla.)

Fitz-Gerald’s been around some elite prospects over the years, and joins this staff alongside his palyer Gio Rojas. The Stoneman Douglas coach has built a national dynasty in South Florida, winning six consecutive state titles in Florida’s toughest classification. The Eagles defeated then-national No. 1 Venice 2-1 in the Class 7A title game behind a masterful effort from Rojas.

Assistant Coach: Rick Arnold, Trinity (Ky.)

Arnold’s Trinity Shamrocks were deemed the MaxPreps and Perfect Game National Champions after a 41-3 season that concluded with a KHSAA Championship. Trinity scored 411 runs in 44 games and conceded just 85 runs.

Assistant Coach: Jared Halpert, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.)

One of two coaches from the Golden State on this staff, Halpert has been at the school for over a decade, churning out consistent results in the nation’s largest state. The Wolverines went 26-6 this year and were the second best squad in California behind St. John Bosco.

Assistant Coach: Andy Rojo, St. John Bosco (Calif.)

Speaking of the Braves, Rojo’s Bosco team was the best in California this year, going 27-6 with a CIF Southern Section Division I title over Norco. The Braves have eclipsed 20 wins in each of Rojo’s first three seasons with the program.

Assistant Coach: Doug Rush, Tomball (Texas)

Rush and Tomball were virtually unstoppable all season long, going 44-1 with a UIL 6A DII State Championship, beating Houston Memorial 9-1. The Cougars conceded just 79 runs over 45 games, and scored 328 during that span.

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet the high school baseball stars in USA TODAY Sports’ Starting 9