About Community Grant
Winners
National Winners
State Winners
Winner Access Nominate
mobile navigation - click to open mobile navigation - click to close
Gatorade 2023 - 2024: Player of the Year

Baseball - South Carolina

athletes playing Baseball
The POY Logo
BASEBALL

P.J. Morlando

CF
SUMMERVILLE HS
SUMMERVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
SENIOR
Height: 6-FOOT-3
Press Release

Peak Performance

.392

Batting Average

1.202

OPS
“In my more than two decades of coaching high school baseball, P.J. Morlando is one of the most talented players against whom I have coached. He embodies what it means to be a five-tool player. One of the things that is most impressive is the respect that he shows for his teammates and his opponents, as well as for the game. In victory and in defeat, Morlando has shown incredible maturity. I believe his future is without bounds, and wherever he ends up, he will be an incredible asset to his program and organization.”
Christopher Dague
Head Coach head coach at West Ashley High
excellence star

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior center fielder batted .392 and reached base in more than 60 percent of plate appearances this past season, leading the Green Wave (23-1) to the Class AAAAA Lower State Championship game. Morlando racked up 44 walks and an OPS of 1.202 this spring. Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2024 by Perfect Game, he was the 2023 High School Home Run Derby champion, a member of the 2023 USA Baseball 18U National Team and a 2023 Perfect Game All-American Game selection.

a graduation cap

Academic Achievement

Morlando has maintained a 3.62 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball on scholarship at the University of South Carolina this fall, but is projected as an early round selection in July’s Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

first place ribbon

Exemplary Character

Morlando has volunteered locally on behalf of the The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, the Lowcountry Food Bank, the Summerville Miracle League and as part of an after-school youth literacy program at elementary schools.