A Season of Stars
Giacomo Iorio of Damascus High School was voted Maryland Baseball Player of the Year for 2026, capturing 42.18% of the ballots cast. His .411 batting average, .634 on‑base percentage and 1.545 OPS underscored a campaign that also featured 23 hits, 25 RBIs, seven home runs, 25 walks and 25 stolen bases.
The honor was shared with his brother Raffaele Iorio, who earned Player of the Week honors for the April 20‑26 period. Together they highlighted a Damascus squad that blended power and speed, setting the tone for a competitive season in the Maryland high school ranks.
Close Contenders
Ryan Zanni from Sherwood finished second with 27.22% of the vote. The Warriors’ pitcher posted a 0.72 ERA, struck out 50 batters and threw a no‑hitter, guiding his team to back‑to‑back MPSSAA 3A state championships.
Arian Vargas of Archbishop Spalding placed third with 15.86% support. The Cavaliers’ ace recorded 94 strikeouts, a 0.673 ERA and a perfect game, helping the club capture the MIAA A Championship.
Other notable names on the ballot included Landon Daniel, Cooper DeWaal, Billy Swaney, Kayden Lipscomb, Joey Coudon, Luke Crawford, Jack Grossi, Logan Powell, Ethan Pletter and Jack Young, each contributing to a deep pool of talent across Montgomery County and beyond.