Minnesota’s top high school baseball players: Meet the state’s best position players (Pt. 2)

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

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

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

This list will continue to cover the state’s premiere position players.

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.

Gamble Bye, senior, Perham

A St. Cloud State commit, Bye is a standout shortstop for James Mulcahy’s Perham program. By has a strong arm across the diamond (92 miles-per-hour, according to Mulcahy) and a “very smooth glove.”

An all-conference player last season, he “drives the ball gap to gap and has the speed to put pressure on the defense,” Mulcahy said.

Ben Shumansky, senior, Perham

Shumansky plays both catcher and first baseman for Perham. He broke the school record for most hits in a season last year and now holds the record for most hits in a career in school history.

The Concordia College commit, “continues to be one of the hardest working and strongest players in our program,” according to Mulcahy.

He was an all-conference and all-section player each of the last two seasons.

Jake Quinn, junior, Cretin-Derham Hall

Quinn is committed to the University of Minnesota, and he can play multiple positions including shortstop and outfield.

Paul Jones II, junior, Cretin-Derham Hall

Jones II is another Raider on the list. He is committed to the University of Maryland and he can play first base and pitch.

Mason McCurdy, senior, Stillwater

McCurdy, a Creighton commit, is a standout catcher for Stillwater, where he’s started since he was a freshman.

Last season he not only caught for the 4A state champs, but hit .395 and led the team in RBIs. Coach Michael Parker called him “the best receiver in the state,” too.

Jack Spanier, senior, Rocori

A three-year starter for Jeff Illies’ program, Spanier plays shortstop as well as some pitcher. He’s a two-time all-conference player committed to the University of Minnesota.

Last season, he batted .340 with a .481 OBP and scored 20 runs. He had 77 total fielding chances last season with just two errors.

“He’s a very smooth defensive player,” Illies said.

Brady Schafer, senior, Rocori

Schafer is another three-year starter for ROCORI. The catcher will play at Dakota County Technical College next fall.

“He’s a very solid catcher with plus arm velocity from behind the plate,” Illies said.

Last season he batted .360 with five doubles and a home run.

Ben Kruse, senior, North Woods

Kruse plays second, third, shortstop and pitcher and has been a varsity starter at North Woods for four seasons now.

Coach Andrew Jugovich said he has a strong arm and excellent glove and went on to say he “hits well and should show some power this year, and he’s a great senior leader for our young team.”

Louie Panichi, sophomore, North Woods

Panichi is one of the youthful team members that Kruse has been instrumental in guiding.

The catcher is a returning starter from last season who coach Jugovich lauded for his excellent athleticism and “great baseball knowledge.”

He’s got a strong arm and is a lefty who can hit it all over the field.

Talen Jarshaw, sophomore, North Woods

Much of the reason for Kruse’s positional versatility has been the fact that several young players, such as Panichi, and Jarshaw, have flashed early in their careers.

Jarshaw is a standout shortstop who pitches, as well. He, like Panichi, started last season as a freshman.

“Strong arm and excellent range in the field,” Jugovich said. “Very coachable player and has the ability to play every position on the field.”

Brady Grupa, junior, La Crescent-Hokah

Grupa was an all-conference outfielder last season that has “tremendous power and speed,” according to coach Ryan Niedfeldt.

Grupa is a team captain who batted .297 with a .416 OBP, 15 singles, two doubles, two triples, 12 stolen bases and 11 RBIs.

“His instincts are one of the best that I have ever coached,” Niedfeldt said.

Sam George, senior, New Life Academy

George is both an outfielder and pitcher who is committed to Iowa Central Community College. He’s already thrown a complete game shutout this season and in the same game he went 4-of-4 at the plate with two singles, a double and a home run with two RBIs.

Last season in 49 innings, he had 72 strikeouts with a 2.255 ERA and opponent batting average of .200. He also hit .345 with three homers. 17 RBIs and six stolen bases and an OBP of .519.

Lincoln Becker, senior, Fairmont

Becker has had a prolific bat this season. He has 21 hits on 53 at bats according to MNbaseballhub.com

Will Haas, sophomore, Rockford Area Schools

Last season as a freshman Haas had a 1.34 ERA in 41 innings pitched with 68 strikeouts and just 21 hits conceded. He was the ace and also manned the outfield.

“He has tremendous upside and the chance to go far in baseball,” coach Cody Hallahan said.

He is highly recruited already as a sophomore and was recently listed by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 1 prospect for Minnesota in 2025. Already a proven pitcher, he will continue to establish himself as a rangy defender in the outfield.

Easton Breyfogle, senior, Benilde-St. Margaret's

The senior committed to Arizona is one of the best athletes in the outfield in Minnesota high school baseball.

Garrett Konz, sophomore, Caledonia

Konz is establishing himself as a young swiss army knife for coach Shawn Bauer. Early in his career he’s already played first, left field and pitcher.

Last year, he was called up as a freshman hit a homerun in his first at bat, flashing potential that Bauer is infatuated with.

“He has made some big catches in the outfield already, is 1-0 on the mound, and is our biggest threat in our lineup,” he said.

Josh Och, senior, Chanhassen

Och doubles as a shortstop and a pitcher, and he had a fantastic .364 batting average in the MSHSL state tournament last season.

Cole Spitzer, senior, St. Paul Central

Last season as a pitcher, Spitzer, a pitcher and outfielder, saw 40 innings on the mound. He gave up 22 hits, striking out 79 with an ERA of .689 and WHIP of .934. As a hitter he was .344 on the plate with a .512 OBP and 1.043 OPS to go along with nine RBIs.

Spitzer also plays center field and is a University of Wisconsin Milwaukee commit — the first Division I commit out of Central in coach Adam Hunkins 17 seasons.

“Cole has made our entire program strive for more and to realize that hard work can get you to where you want to go,” Hunkins said.

Charlie Sutherland, senior, Duluth East

The third baseman is committed to the University of Minnesota, and he had a .424 batting average and 21 RBIs last season.