Adam Mercado, a junior at Casa Grande High School, has been selected as The Press Democrat’s baseball player of the year for the 2026 season, capping a breakout year that helped his team to a 20‑win campaign.
Team Triumph
At the plate he batted .434, drove in 14 runs, stole 13 bases and posted an OPS of 1.125, while on the mound he posted a 1.77 earned run average, struck out 92 batters and walked 34 over 75 innings.
The Gauchos not only secured a 20‑win season but also claimed the VVAL co‑championship and advanced to the North Coast Section semifinals, a feat achieved for the third time in the past four years.
Mercado said the support of his coaches, the camaraderie of his teammates and the encouragement of his family have been instrumental, and he looks forward to one final run with the group he has grown up with on the diamond.
As the new season approaches, the young talent surrounding Mercado promises to keep the Gauchos competitive, and the player of the year is already planning how to build on the momentum of a historic year.