Archbishop Moeller High School STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED
GATORADE OHIO BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO (June 3, 2024) — In its 39^th year of honoring the nation's most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Zion Theophilus of Archbishop Moeller High School is the 2023-24 Gatorade Ohio Baseball Player of the Year. Theophilus is the fifth Gatorade Ohio Baseball Player of the Year to be chosen from Archbishop Moeller High School. 

The award, which celebrates the nation's top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Theophilus as Ohio's best high school baseball player. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Gary Sheffield (1985-86, Hillsborough High School, Fla.), Alex Rodriguez (1992-93, Westminster Christian School, Fla.), Clayton Kershaw (2005-06, Highland Park High School, Texas) and Max Clark (2022-23, 2021-22 & 2020-21, Franklin Community High School, Ind.).

At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior right-handed pitcher had led the Crusaders to a 29-2 record and a berth in the Division 1, Region 4 semifinals this season. Theophilus posted a 10-0 record on the mound through 31 games with three shutouts, striking out 78 in 49 innings as opponents batted just .188 against him. He compiled a 0.86 ERA and fanned 1.59 batters per inning. He also batted .333 with 23 runs scored and seven steals. A 2023 WWBA World Championship participant, he's ranked as the nation's No. 69 prospect in his class by Baseball America.

Theophilus has donated his time as an instructor and mentor for youth baseball pitchers. At his school, he has volunteered as an Open House tour guide for two years and has served as a shadow student host for 8th graders visiting the campus. "Zion was the best pitcher we faced all season and one of the best high school pitchers I've seen in my 39 years of coaching high school baseball," said Mark Thompson, head coach at Elder High School. "He always throws with great confidence and poise. Against us, we had him at 95-97 mph on the gun in the 7th inning. He didn't walk a batter and he only went to a three-ball count on two hitters the entire game. He's just a very special talent."

Theophilus has maintained a 4.48 weighted GPA in the classroom. He has made a verbal commitment to play baseball on scholarship at LSU in the fall of 2025.

The Gatorade Player of the Year [playeroftheyear.gatorade.com] program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Theophilus joins recent Gatorade Ohio Baseball Players of the Year Colt Emerson (2022-23, John Glenn High School), Jacob Miller (2021-22, Liberty Union High School), Josh Laisure (2020-21, Olentangy Orange High School) and Kade Kern (2019-20, Archbold High School), among the state's list of former award winners.

As part of Gatorade's commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $4.9 million in grants to winners across more than 1,900 organizations.

CONGRATULATIONS ZION!!! GATORADE OHIO BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR!!! GO BIG MOE!!!



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