Valley View’s Slade Caldwell named Gatorade Player of the Year

In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Slade Caldwell of Valley View High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Arkansas Baseball Player of the Year.

Caldwell is the first Gatorade Arkansas Baseball Player of the Year to be chosen from Valley View High School. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Caldwell as Arkansas’ best high school baseball player.

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award to be announced in June, Caldwell joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Jackson Holliday (2021-22, Stillwater High School, Okla.), Bobby Witt Jr. (2018-19, Colleybille Heritage High School, Texas), Clayton Kershaw (2005-06, Highland Park High School, Texas) and Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo High School, Mich.).

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior outfielder and left-handed pitcher led the Blazers to a 27-5 record and the Class 5A state final this past season. Caldwell batted .512 with five home runs, 31 RBI and 54 runs scored, also stealing 40 bases and walking 40 times.

Ranked as the nation’s No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2024 by Perfect Game, he compiled a .656 on-base percentage and a .930 slugging percentage. On the mound, he went 7-1 with a 2.31 earned run average over 54.1 innings pitched, striking out 72 and walking just 16.

An All-State running back in football and a member of both the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes member, Caldwell is also a student council representative in addition to volunteering locally as a youth baseball coach and at a holiday toy drive for underprivileged children.

“Slade is a true five-tool guy—he’s very intellectual, one of those people that just stands out,” said Isaac Dulaney, head coach of Joe T. Robinson High School. “He’s got a presence when he steps in the box, he’s a guy you don’t want to pitch to. Then, he can track balls that are sure doubles in the outfield. When you put him on first, he’s at third in two pitches. He does it all, one of those rare people you only get one or two of in your entire coaching career.”

Caldwell has maintained a 3.97 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school in the fall.