Minnesota’s top high school baseball players: Meet the state’s best position players (Pt. 1)

Over the next week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top players across the Minnesota baseball scene this season.

Vote now: Who is the top pitcher in Minnesota high school baseball?

This list will begin to cover the state’s premiere position players. Part two will be posted on Saturday.

The following athletes will be included in our "Who is the top position player in Minnesota high school baseball?" poll posted on Sunday.

There are hundreds of standout baseball players in Minnesota and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

Note: Some statistics have been updated more recently than others by nature of variance in games played.

Drew Rogers, junior, Mounds View

Rogers, a Georgia Tech commit, is the “type of player that single handedly changes the dynamic of the baseball game when he steps on the field,” coach Nik Anderson said.

In 2022, Rogers hit .449 with a .770 SLG, 23 RBI, six homers and 35 total hits.

He is currently rated the No. 1 2023 prospect in the state, and this season “teams are refusing to pitch to him. Anderson went on to say, “his presence is felt beyond just what he personally can do as he has a knack for elevating the play of the rest of the team around him.”

Tyler Guerin, junior, Mounds View

Guerin, a first baseman, has also found immense success in Anderson’s program and will be headed to University of Iowa next fall as a two-way player.

Last season he hit .395 with an OPS of 1.081. He’s nursing an injury right now, but should return in May and is “poised to be a major contributor to one of the top teams in the state down the stretch.”

At 6-foot-7, Guerin top five player in the state in the 2023 class, and one of the “best two-way players in a loaded conference this year,” according to coach Anderson.

On the mound he’s been clocked at 92 miles-per-hour. Defensively, Tyler has the footwork and glove skills of a shortstop, but in a body that just seems to keep growing.

“The combination of his defense and smooth lefty stroke at the plate that hits for both high average and power leaves you hard-pressed to find a first baseman in the state,” Anderson said.

Dakota Retterath, junior, Austin

Retterath, a junior captain and catcher for Austin, has been playing varsity since he was a freshman. Last year, he hit .417 with a .478 OBP, .978 OPS, .500 SLG, 25 hits, 17 RBI and only struck out 5 times all last season.

He led the team in batting last season and was named all-conference.

“He is a talented player with a good work ethic and is a natural leader,” coach Jacob Nelson said.

Peyton Ransom, junior, Austin

Ransom is another junior captain for Austin. This is his second year on varsity, playing shortstop while also serving as a standout pitcher. Last year he hit .302 with a .373 OBS, .694 OPS, .321 SLG, 16 hits and 9 RBIs.

“He throws in the mid to high 80’s,” Nelson said. “A natural Leader — athletes look up to him and his baseball knowledge.”

Hunter Goetzinger, junior, Caledonia

Goetzinger, “a stalwart behind the plate” is Caledonia’s starting catcher. He is batting .300 this season with a triple, a double and several singles.

“He is a great lefty cleanup hitter and hits it all over and with power,” coach Shawn Bauer said. “(He) never misses a game even though he plays through pain as a catcher. Very strong arm and elite blocker behind the plate and does an incredible job framing pitches.”

Kyle Bechtel, senior, Caledonia

Bechtel is the leadoff hitter and shortstop for Caledonia. He had a .325 batting average last year with 12 stolen bases and 14 runs scored.

This year he is batting .350 and is an “absolute menace on the basepaths,” Bauer said. “Kyle is the leader of the defense and a great field general on the team and plays harder than anyone we have. He’s a great right-handed gap hitter and can set the table for the offense very well.”

Will Whelan, senior, Centennial

Whelan, a University of Minnesota commit, plays both pitcher and first base and in his first start this season went six innings with zero hits and 17 strikeouts. He is also 2-of-6 at bat this season with a run, RBI and two walks.

Wilson Magers, junior, Mankato West

Both a pitcher and a shortstop for Mankato West, Magers is, “about as coachable of a kid you can ask for,” according to coach Scott Kaminski. 

He’s 1-0 as a starter this season, striking out 12.

“Whether it is playing catch or pitching in the biggest game, his attention to detail is phenomenal,” Kaminski. “As one of the captains on the team, he is the vocal one who the team listens to. When Wilson has mastered the simple things in baseball, he accepts new challenges. There is not an ask too small or a task too big for Wilson. He is a special player and a great young man who means a lot to West Baseball.”

Andrew Orf, junior, North Branch

Orf plays both shortstop and third in addition to pitching.

Last season he batted .486 with a .528 OBP 22 RBI, eight doubles, two triples and a homer. On the mound he was 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.

Adam Puder, senior, Blaine

Puder’s a three-year starter for Blaine. He batted .353 with a .895 slugging percentage last season. He turned in a 1.47 ERA on the mound as well and at shortstop, fielded at .998 percent.

“He has demonstrated exceptional leadership both on and off the field,” coach Ted Erickson said. “With three years of starting experience at Blaine he became the first two-year captain in the school's history.” He will play next season at University of St. Thomas.

Parker Huebsch, senior, New Life Academy

Huebsch, a Bethel University commit, starts at catcher for New Life Academy but is also a valuable bat for coach John Horner’s program. In one game this year he was 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a home run.

Last season he hit .444 with 30 RBIs, four homers at .500 OBP and .708 SLG.

Ben Trucke, senior, Watertown-Mayer

Trucke is a third baseman and pitcher who is a deadly bat.

“Ben is one of the best right handed hitting players in the state of Minnesota with extreme power,” coach Ryan Trucke said. “Pitchers rarely threw him strikes with men on base in 2022.” One of the state’s top 10 players, he is committed to play at the University of St. Thomas.

Kade Lewis, senior, Sartell-St. Stephens

Lewis, a third baseman, had 11 homers in 27 games last season, batting .468 with 38 RBIs and a .578 OBP.

“He’s a hard working kid,” coach Jerome Nemanich said. “A powerful hitter that hits the ball to all fields well.” Lewis is a Butler commit.

Cale Haugen, senior, Esko

Haugen is a three-year starter and Minnesota State commit. Last season he batted .465 with a .606 OBP and .901 SLG.

He knocked in 32 RBIs and stole 21 bases with six homers. On the mound last season he turned in a .8333 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 42 innings.

“Plays the game the right way: Hard, yet he keeps his emotions in check and carries himself as a baseball player should,” coach Ben Haugen said.

Haugen broke several season records last year as a junior, both offensively and as a pitcher, and was named to the all-state teams.

"He also has a chance to break several career records this year, including strikeouts on the mound and home runs. “He can run his fastball into the low 90's, can play anywhere in the field, and hits for power and average as well as demonstrating characteristics that makes him a prototypical leadoff hitter,” his coach said.

Aiden Smith, junior, Rockford Area Schools

Smith is a first baseman who batted .443 last year with six doubles and a triple in 22 games to go along with 17 RBIs.

“He is a hard working player that plays the game the right way and represents what our program is about,” coach Cody Hallahan said.

This season he will also be the team’s second starter on the mound. Hallahan said he “has a lot of upside and can easily play in college.”

Isaiah Hasz, senior, Pine City

As a junior third baseman and pitcher last season, Hasz batted .492 with five doubles, two homers and on the mound turned in a .70 ERA in 40 innings with 78 strikeouts.

He is a Gustavus College commit.

“Isaiah is a very good two-way player who has worked hard and put in a lot of time on the diamond,” coach Ted Hasz said. “Isaiah is our shutdown pitcher and bats three in our lineup. He is one of the best third basemen in the area.”