Best of 2021 header

2021 marks PressBox’s fifth annual Best Of edition celebrating the top people, performances and moments of the year.

Best High School Male Athletes

Some of the most entertaining games in baseball the past few years have involved the Dodgers and Padres. Here’s hoping two Baltimore-area kids can add to the rivalry in the future.

The Padres picked shortstop Jackson Merrill out of Severna Park High School in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft, while the Dodgers selected right-hander Peter Heubeck out of Gilman School in the third round.

Merrill hit .500 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs for Severna Park this spring, while Heubeck posted a 1.20 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 64.1 innings for Gilman.

Both got their feet wet in the Arizona Complex League this summer.

Photo Credits: Colin Murphy and Courtesy of Gilman School

For more Best Of, visit PressBoxOnline.com/BestOf

Plus: Check out PressBox’s 2021 Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Year, Justin Tucker.

Justin Tucker

Issue 272 December 2021 / January 2022

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