Fort Worth-area Baseball All-Area individual awards: Player of the Year, more
Introducing the Fort Worth-area High School Baseball 2026 All-Area individual award winners.
Editor’s note: The full 2026 All-Area Team will be released Friday.
Player of the Year
Lucas Nawrocki, senior, Aledo
The LSU pledge was a two-way force for the Bearcats in another run to a Class 5A Division I state championship victory. At the plate, Nawrocki hit .513 with 39 hits, nine home runs, 49 RBIs and seven strikeouts in just 76 at-bats.
On the mound, he went 12-0 with a 0.63 ERA, striking out 134 batters in 66 1/3 innings while touching 94 mph with his fastball. He earned District MVP and THSBCA First Team All-State honors as a pitcher.
Pitcher of the Year
Cole Koeninger, senior, Keller
The two-way Tennessee pledge was a driving force for the Indians’ 40-4-2 season and Class 6A Division I state title run. At the plate, Koeninger hit .432 with 64 hits, nine home runs, 30 RBIs and 34 stolen bases while posting a .520 on-base percentage.
On the mound, he went 12-1 with a 1.13 ERA, striking out 138 batters in 80 1/3 innings. He totaled a combined 16 strikeouts over two dominant state tournament starts against Rockwall and Lake Travis. He earned District 4-6A MVP, UIL 6A Division I State Tournament MVP and THSBCA All-State honors.
Offensive Player of the Year
Grady Emerson, senior, Fort Worth Christian
The Texas pledge and Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year capped his prep career by leading the Cardinals to the TAPPS Division II state title game. Emerson hit .532 with seven home runs and 31 stolen bases on the year, combining elite offensive production with defense regarded among the best at the high school level.
MLB.com projects Emerson to be the No. 2 pick in the upcoming 2026 MLB draft.
Newcomer of the Year
Carrick McPadden, freshman, Fort Worth Country Day
In a dominant 28-1 season for the Falcons that saw the squad capture the SPC 3A championship, McPadden made an immediate impact as a freshman. He earned SPC All-Conference honors as a pitcher, recording a stellar 1.31 ERA and holding opponents to a .169 batting average in 42 2/3 innings.
He tallied eight wins and no losses, establishing himself as one of the SPC’s top pitchers.
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