The Denver Post’s 2026 All-Colorado baseball team comprises 40 players who were selected based on statistical analysis, a player’s relative value to their team’s success and feedback from coaches around the state.
Player of the Year
Cooper Vais, Jr. RHP/SS, Arvada West
The Texas commit was an unstoppable force for the Class 5A runner-ups, batting .458 with seven homers plus a 0.62 ERA and 113 Ks on the mound.
Coach of the Year
Matt Eades, Pueblo County
In his ninth season, the 2005 Pueblo County graduate guided the Hornets to their first crown with a 4-0 mark the Class 4A state tournament.
Pitchers
Blake Swift, Sr. RHP, Pueblo County
The CHSAA Class 4A Player of the Year and Otero College commit put the Hornets on his back en route to the title with a 1.51 ERA in 15 games.
Hudson Alpert, Sr. RHP, Regis Jesuit
After returning at midseason from elbow surgery, the Vanderbilt commit had a 1.91 ERA in seven games, and also hit .449 for the Class 5A champs.
Ethan Wachsmann, Sr. RHP, Grandview
The Wake Forest commit touched 100 mph this season as opponents hit .159 vs him; threw a no-hitter, and had a 2.10 ERA in 9 games with 66 Ks.
Hunter Vitello, Jr. RHP, Denver South
The DPS standout threw a no-hitter against Ralston Valley in the Class 5A regional opener. He logged 101 strikeouts and just 15 walks, with a 2.17 ERA.
Gunnar Garrison, Sr. RHP, Eaton
The Arizona State commit with a mid-90s heater was a centerpiece of Eaton’s Class 3A Final 4 team, with a 1.62 ERA in 11 games with 116 strikeouts.
Jake Watts, Jr. RHP, Ralston Valley
The Mustangs’ ace and Evansville pledge posted a 2.50 ERA in 8 games, with 70 strikeouts while limiting hitters to a paltry .146 average.
Colten Smith, Jr. RHP, Legend
The BYU commit with a low-90s fastball was critical in Legend’s Class 5A Final 4 run, posting a 3.00 ERA in 10 games and rising up down the stretch.
Mikey Kroll, Jr. RHP, Regis Jesuit
A one-two punch in the Raiders’ rotation behind Alpert, Kroll threw four shutout innings in the Class 5A title game and had a 2.73 ERA in 8 games.
Josh Weaver, Sr. RHP, Fruita Monument
In addition to being a force in the lineup, the Wildcats’ ace and Cowley commit had a 1.52 ERA in 11 games, including 92 Ks to just 11 walks.
Sawyer Tipton, Sr. RHP, Mountain Vista
With a 1.84 ERA in 12 games, Tipton was the Golden Eagles’ unquestionable ace, and the Lehigh commit also racked up 79 strikeouts to 23 walks.
Max Goldberg, Sr. LHP, Cherry Creek
The Boston College commit dominated this spring, with a 1.79 ERA in 10 games, 73 Ks to 21 walks, and held opponents to a .195 average.
Catchers
Cole Teltschik, Sr., Discovery Canyon
The Thunder’s powerful backstop and Missouri State commit led all classifications with 13 homers while hitting .593 with a ridiculous 2.096 OPS.
Brayden Reiner, Sr., Arvada West
A two-way senior pillar for the Class 5A runner-ups, the Newman University commit had a .410 on-base percentage; also was 11-0 with a 0.92 ERA.
Peter Worth, Sr., Northfield
The Washington University in St. Louis commit dominated with a .492 average, 26 RBIs and a 1.428 OPS in a spring that featured a natural cycle.
Walker Blanchard, Sr., Elizabeth
The Scottsdale Community College commit helped the Cardinals to the Class 3A state tournament, hitting .403 with a .494 on-base percentage.
Infielders
Damian Alvarez, Sr. SS, University
CHSAA’s Class 3A Player of the Year and centerpiece of UHS’s title team hit .546 with 26 extra-base hits; McLennan Community College commit.
Luc Gaca Thiele, Sr. 3B, Fossil Ridge
The Columbia commit batted .479 with a .585 on-base percentage and 33 RBIs as part of a dynamic infield duo alongside junior Brady Bradford.
Bret Baldwin, Jr. SS, Ralston Valley
The Washington commit hit .429 with a team-high seven homers while showcasing range, athleticism and arm strength from the middle infield.
Deion Cesario-Scott, Sr. 1B, Regis Jesuit
The Alabama A&M commit was a feared power presence in the Raiders’ lineup, batting .427 with seven homers, a .780 slugging and 1.344 OPS.
Cory Dean Carver, Sr. SS, Montezuma-Cortez
The Navy commit showcased speed, power and a high-contact approach, with a .580 average, seven homers, 21 steals and a .649 on-base percentage.
Matt Hegerle, Sr. SS, Bear Creek
The athletic UC Davis commit was the heartbeat of Bear Creek; he batted .477 with a .575 on-base percentage, 26 steals and a 1.267 OPS.
Chase Massey, Sr. SS, Regis Jesuit
The Continental League Player of the Year and Boston College commit led the Raiders with nine homers; hit .404 with an .830 slugging, 1.317 OPS.
Hunter Howard, Sr. SS, Palisade
The Glendale Community College commit hit .463 with six homers, 30 RBIs and only six Ks; also dominated on the mound with a 1.22 ERA.
Nick Hernandez, Sr. 2B, Pueblo County
The Hornets’ intelligent, dynamic leadoff hitter was the highlight of a deep lineup, hitting .435 with a .547 on-base percentage and 1.123 OPS.
Bryce Jackson, Sr. 1B, Broomfield
The Fort Hayes State commit was a force to be reckoned with in the box, with a team-high .480 average, .570 on-base percentage and six homers.
Outfielders
Zach Mediavilla, Sr., The Classical Academy
TCA’s do-everything speedy superstar batted .527 with seven triples, 25 RBIs, 31 steals and broke the school record for hits in season with 49.
Jackson Crawford, Jr., Mountain Vista
The Golden Eagles’ preeminent power hitter and USC commit blasted seven homers with a .349 average, .476 on-base percentage and a 1.211 OPS.
Dylan Paulson, Jr., Golden
The Demons’ top hitter batted .548 to lead Golden to its sixth straight Class 4A/3A Jeffco League title; had eight homers, 42 RBIs and a .946 slugging.
Silas Meuli, Sr., Legend
The Chandler Gilbert Community College commit was an offensive pillar for the Titans, batting .392 with four homers and a .568 on-base percentage.
Tanner Craytor, Sr., Fairview
The Knights’ slugger and Wofford commit led Class 5A with 11 homers to help Fairview to the Class 5A state tournament; batted .469, 1.660 OPS.
Baylor Schultz, Sr., Ponderosa
Schultz was key to a youth-laden Mustangs team that made the Class 4A Final 4, batting .393 and posting a 1.30 ERA in 12 games.
Tyce Smith, Sr., Cherry Creek
A multi-year cog in the middle of the Cherry Creek lineup, Smith led the Bruins with a .468 average, .602 on-base percentage and 1.279 OPS.
Jacob Olson, Sr., Regis Jesuit
The Oregon commit consistently flashed leather in center field for the Class 5A champs while hitting .388 with six homers, four triples and a .728 slugging.
Beau Friesen, Sr., Arvada West
A breakout star for the Wildcats en route to the Class 5A state title game, the San Diego pledge hit .438 with 44 RBIs and also blasted nine homers.
Utility
Maddox Burnett, Sr. RHP/UTL, Erie
A BYU commit who could hear his name called in the upcoming MLB Draft, Burnett hit .551 and also posted a 1.77 ERA with 105 Ks in 11 games.
Dane Dial, Soph. 3B/RHP, Pine Creek
Dial was key in Pine Creek’s Class 5A Final Four run, batting .400 with a .504 on-base percentage and seven homers; also had a 1.77 ERA in 12 games.
Aaron Jaquez, Sr. RHP/1B/OF, Falcon
The centerpiece on the Class 4A runner-ups was a two-way behemoth; McLennan Community College commit hit .629, and also had a 2.60 ERA.
Tristan Mullis, Jr. INF/OF, Pine Creek
Mullis paced Pine Creek with a .514 average, which included 6 triples, 6 homers, a .581 on-base percentage, .916 slugging and 1.497 OPS.
Andrew Henderson, Sr. 3B/RHP, Grand Junction
The Indiana State commit was the Tigers’ star en route to the Class 4A state tournament; hit .437, and posted a 1.53 ERA in 11 games with 86 Ks.
