Eric Hines wasn’t the only Alabama baseball signee honored with the 2024-25 Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year award in his home state. Virginia’s recipient was Luke Smyers, a standout from Mills Godwin High School in Henrico County, who received the distinction on Tuesday.
“Luke’s understanding of the game is well beyond his years,” said Mills Godwin head coach Josh Gentry. “His ability to rise to the moment in key situations is unlike anything I’ve seen at the high school level.”
Smyers is a standout two-way player, finishing the season with a perfect 7-0 record on the mound, a microscopic 0.41 ERA, and 109 strikeouts. At the plate, he posted a .323 batting average with 21 RBIs, three home runs, and an impressive 1.103 OPS. He holds the school’s all-time strikeout record and limited opponents to a .118 batting average this year. He also contributes as an outfielder.
“He pitched in every major game on our schedule, striking out double digits each time. He had a 24-inning scoreless streak and twice carried no-hitters into the seventh inning,” Gentry said.
Smyers committed to Alabama on September 28, 2022. The left-hander is expected to have the opportunity to continue playing as a two-way player in college, depending on the Crimson Tide coaching staff’s plans. In 2024, team captain Kade Snell did just that before transitioning to a full-time outfielder.
“Luke shines when the pressure is on,” Gentry added. “That’s what makes him such a remarkable player.”