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Lyle-Pacelli senior Hunter VaDeer brought home his biggest honor yet when he was named Gatorade Minnesota Baseball Player of the Year on Monday.

VaDeer didn’t even know he was a finalist for the award until it was announced during his graduation at Lyle High School and when he found out he won on Monday, he was elated.

“It’s awesome,” VaDeer said. “Everybody on our team has worked really hard over the years. It didn’t end like we wanted it to this year, but we did some pretty great things.”

VaDeer, who has committed to Division I Creighton University, finished with 406 career strikeouts. He was a crucial player for LP advancing to the Class A State Tournament in 2023, when the team took second place in its first ever state tournament, and in 2024.

This season, VaDeer went 5-2 overall with a 0.86 ERA. VaDeer struck out 111 hitters, while allowing 12 hits and 42 walks. VaDeer hit .418 with nine homers, six doubles, a triple and 43 RBIs.

VaDeer has made plenty of sacrifices for baseball over the years, including the choice to give up basketball and football after his freshman year.

“I could’ve continued playing those sports, but it would’ve been really hard to keep up with everything,” VaDeer said.

VaDeer has stood out beyond baseball as he is the president of his school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, he played an active role in the prom committee, he has volunteered to support local cancer fundraising events, and he has worked as a teacher’s assistant in an elementary physical education class the past two years while compiling a GPA of 4.20 in the classroom.

“It’s one thing to be good at baseball, but it’s another thing to go beyond that and give back,” VaDeer said. “Those kids in the P.E. class looked up to me like a role model and it was very rewarding. It’s also important to thrive as a student, as well as an athlete.”

VaDeer thanked his coaches, the administration at Lyle High School, and his summer baseball coaches for all of the work they’ve put in to help him succeed.

The Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports and past winners include MLB stars Gary Sheffield and Clayton Kershaw.