A roster of 20 senior high school baseball players—pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders—comes together in a hypothetical winner-take-all state title game lineup, with coaching staff built from elite programs in Florida, Kentucky, California and Texas
The idea is a simple one: if you could build one “best of” lineup from across the country—winner-take-all stakes, state title pressure, and all—you’d need more than highlights. You’d need a roster stacked with impact talent.
This Starting 9 is built from 20 senior players, laid out with specific roles: 6 pitchers, 3 catchers, 6 infielders and 5 outfielders. The result reads like a draft-day forecast, where production, arm strength and defensive value all point toward an incoming wave of pro-ready prospects.
At the top of the hypothetical order is Eric Booth Jr. from Oak Grove (Miss.). a right now kind of outfielder. Booth is described as the top prep outfielder available in this year’s MLB Draft. with the expectation he could contribute right away at the next level. In his season with Oak Grove. he hit .481 with 20 extra-base hits. 31 RBI and 55 runs scored. while walking 45 times and swiping 23 bases—numbers built for a leadoff role.
Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian (S.C.), is the left-handed pitcher who brings the rare “nearly unhittable” profile. Over 41 1/3 innings, he posted a 0.17 ERA, allowing just one earned run. The detailed stretch includes 11 hits and 13 walks while striking out 91 batters. and the outlook is that he could be a likely first-round pick given the steady demand for elite prep left-handed pitching.
Coleman Borthwick, South Walton (Fla.), is the towering right-hander listed at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds. His fastball is described as close to triple digits. This spring, Borthwick pitched to a 0.21 ERA, allowing 18 hits and 7 walks over 65 2/3 innings, with 121 strikeouts. The piece suggests his draft range could lean toward selections in the 31-40 range if he chooses to forgo his Auburn commitment.
In the outfield, Blake Bowen from JSerra (Calif.) is built as a possible DH candidate, listed at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. His power grade is listed as 60 by MLB.com. The profile also notes he played football for JSerra. At the MLB Combine, Bowen registered 15 hits with exit velocity north of 100 MPH.
The catcher slot goes to Will Brick of Christian Brothers (Tenn.). Brick hit .517 with 10 extra-base hits for Christian Brothers this season. Originally part of the 2027 class. he reclassified after a successful stint with Team USA’s 18U team that competed in Japan in October. While there, Brick hit .333 while playing strong defense behind the dish. The bat is called a work in progress, but his defensive skills are expected to translate.
Rounding out the pitching-left-hand mix is Brody Bumila from Bishop Feehan (Mass.). described as an elite lefty who could reach the big leagues at some point. The fastball has reached triple digits and features inverted vertical break. and at 6-foot-9 the arm slot is described as especially difficult for hitters.
Trevor Condon, Etowah (Ga.), fills another outfield spot. He’s the younger brother of former Georgia star and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Condon. In his senior year at Etowah, Condon hit .504 with nine home runs, 42 RBI and 17 doubles in 36 games. He’s also credited with strong decision-making and elite speed.
Sean Dunlap, Crown Point (Ind.), is the second catcher option on the roster. He’s described as consistent behind the plate for Crown Point and also “very fast. ” despite the toll catching takes on the knees. The profile lists him at 6-foot-3. 205 pounds. with a .473 batting average. nine home runs. three doubles. 11 doubles. and 45 runs batted in. plus 32 runs scored and just six strikeouts over 112 plate appearances.
Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian (Texas), is positioned as the next shortstop-type franchise prospect. The profile says he’s expected to be a top-three pick in this year’s draft and is set to become the next big shortstop to come out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Emerson is described as grading near the top in hitting. power. running. arm and fielding. following the footsteps of Bobby Witt Jr.
Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach (Calif.), is listed as an OF/LHP. He’s described as likely to go pro as a left-handed arm. but the hypothetical lineup has him starting in left field. This season, Grindlinger hit .376 with a team-high 41 hits, including 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI, striking out twice in 125 plate appearances.
Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (Fla.), is the younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. The profile says Lombard is primed to be even better than his big brother, batting .477 with 10 home runs and 25 RBI. He led with 42 hits and 52 runs scored, and he posted a 1.471 OPS. The piece calls him a likely top-five pick in this year’s MLB Draft.
Bo Lowrance. Christ Church Episcopal (S.C.). is described as a 6-foot-5 player whose size makes him likely first baseman on this team. despite primarily playing third. He has a solid left-handed bat and is expected to be able to make an impact in pro ball. though the question of whether he foregoes a Virginia commitment remains open.
Taj Marchand, James Island (S.C.), is the all-around tools-and-defensive value option. His arm is described as elite. and his bat is part of why he’s labeled as a second-round prospect with clear potential to make a splash. Even if he may not start on this squad with Emerson. Lombard and others in the infield. the piece says he starts on virtually any other squad.
Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights (Miss.), is described as someone who “simply couldn’t be stopped” this season. He hit .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 recorded a 1.855 OPS against Mississippi competition. The profile says he is currently a primary third baseman. but could project as a catcher in pro ball and could fit into the roster as one of three catchers.
Gio Rojas. Stoneman Douglas (Fla.). gets the starting pitcher nod in this theoretical state title game and is described as 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. Against elite South Florida competition in a Stoneman uniform. Rojas went 28-1 with a 0.65 ERA and 285 strikeouts over 162 innings. allowing 73 hits and 36 walks.
Aiden Ruiz. The Stony Brook (N.Y.). is singled out as a fascinating prospect because he’s a switch-hitter and an ambidextrous thrower. His defense is described as 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. and that effect is described as something the lineup is replicating. His speed and fielding are framed as too good to keep him on the bench.
Logan Schmidt. Ganesha (Calif.). is listed as an additional left-handed arm option and described as young for his age at 17 years old by the time the Draft rolls around. Still, the profile places him alongside Rojas and Bolemon in quality. He can attack the zone and still has room to grow, setting him up as a secondary bullpen option.
Landon Thome. Nazereth Academy (Ill.). is the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome. and his power is described as coming with exit velos in the high 90s and low 100s. Listed at 6-foot. 177 pounds. Landon Thome is said to have an impressive left-hand bat and. like his dad’s power profile with the Indians. Phillies and White Sox. is expected to come with maturity and a bigger build.
Kaden Waechter, Jesuit (Fla.), is described as another son of a former big leaguer—Doug Waechter. He has starred for Jesuit since his sophomore year and is described as a well-known product in the high school space. Waechter has delivered results over the years, posting a 13-5 record with a 1.01 ERA and striking out 135 over 104 1/3 innings. The profile also notes his WHIP sits below 1.00, and that he generates ground ball and fly ball outs.
Noah Wilson, McCallie (Tenn.), is listed as an outfielder. As a senior, Wilson hit .385 with 45 hits, 17 extra-base hits and 41 runs scored, adding 23 stolen bases. The piece notes that teams didn’t want to pitch to him, as he walked 33 times as well. He may not start on this team. but he could come off the bench in a pinch-hit or pinch-running role depending on the situation.
This lineup is matched by a coaching staff built from programs that, in the story’s framing, have been producing winner-after-winner talent.
The manager is Todd Fitz-Gerald, Stoneman Douglas (Fla.). The profile says Fitz-Gerald has been around some elite prospects and joins the staff alongside his player Gio Rojas. It also credits him with building a national dynasty in South Florida. winning six consecutive state titles in Florida’s toughest classification. The Eagles are described as beating then-national No. 1 Venice 2-1 in the Class 7A title game behind a masterful effort from Rojas.
Rick Arnold, Trinity (Ky.), is listed as an assistant coach. His 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.
Jared Halpert, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.), is the other California assistant coach. The piece says Halpert has been at the school for over a decade and points to consistent results. This year, the Wolverines went 26-6 and were described as the second best squad in California behind St. John Bosco.
Andy Rojo, St. John Bosco (Calif.), is the next assistant coach. Rojo’s Bosco team is described as 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.
Doug Rush, Tomball (Texas), completes the staff. Tomball is described as 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.
Taken as a whole, the roster is less a trivia exercise and more a portrait of how high school baseball talent is being funneled into the pro pipeline: elite arms, immediate production at the plate, and defensive value that coaches can build around when the stakes get real.
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