BASEBALL'S GRADY EMERSON AND SOCCER'S MADDIE DIMARIA NAMED GATORADE BEST PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
PR Newswire
NEW YORK, July 15, 2026
Former Gatorade Best Players of the Year Jayson Tatum and Allyson Felix Presented Emerson and DiMaria with the Top Honor in High School Sports at the 2026 ESPYS in New York CityKey Takeaways:Gatorade named Grady Emerson (baseball) and Maddie DiMaria (soccer) as the 2025-26 Best Male and Best Female Players of the Year, recognizing them as the nation's top high school athletes.The awards were presented live at the 2026 ESPY Awards in New York City by former winners Jayson Tatum and Allyson Felix.Emerson, a standout shortstop and #2 MLB Draft pick, and DiMaria, a two-time recipient of the national award, were honored for their athletic achievements, academic excellence, and community impact.The announcement capped a multi-day Gatorade Player of the Year Awards experience, underscoring the brand's commitment to elevating the next generation of athletes.NEW YORK, July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight, Gatorade named Grady Emerson and Maddie DiMaria as the 2025-26 Best Male and Best Female Players of the Year, distinguishing the pair as the best high school athletes in the nation. Emerson receives this recognition on the heels of his second overall selection in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft earlier this week, while DiMaria is committed to play soccer at the University of North Carolina next spring.
