Gaven French, a junior at Heritage High School, has been named the 2026 Prep Baseball Tennessee Player of the Year, a distinction that highlights his standout performance on both sides of the diamond.
A Dual-Threat Star
At the plate he batted .463, adding 16 doubles, a triple and 17 home runs while driving in 56 runs. His on‑base percentage sat at .598 and his OPS topped 1.575, numbers that placed him among the most feared hitters in the state.
He also proved dangerous on the bases, stealing 12 times without being caught, which kept opposing pitchers off balance.
On the mound French went 9‑1 with two saves, posting a 1.17 ERA and striking out 109 batters in 65.1 innings. Opponents managed just a .160 average against him, and his WHIP sat at a razor‑thin .980.
His contributions helped Heritage finish the season at 35‑14, a record that underscored the team’s depth and resilience.
Ranked No. 4 in Tennessee’s 2027 class, French is now viewed as one of the premier prospects in the Southeast, drawing attention from scouts and collegiate programs alike.