Texas signee Kyle Muller named Gatorade Baseball Player of Year

Dallas Jesuit College Prep School senior and Texas Longhorns signee Kyle Muller was named the 2015-2016 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year on Monday. He was presented the award by Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels in a surprise ceremony at his high school.

“It was exciting for me to be able to surprise Kyle with the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award, especially because he is such a deserving student-athlete,” Hamels said in a release from Gatorade. “Kyle is a well-rounded individual who has already accomplished so much on and off the field, so it's an honor for me to welcome him into the prestigious Gatorade Player of the Year family.”

I got the opportunity to talk to Muller after he received the award:

How does it feel to win the award?

It's unbelievable. I'm so excited right now.

What was it like being presented the award at school in front of all of your peers by Cole Hamels?

It made it so much better that all my friends and family could be there, and the fact that Cole Hamels walked down and gave it to me made it ten times better for me.

How do you feel about the departure of Augie Garrido?

It was saddening. I was definitely looking forward to playing for him. He’s the most winningest coach in NCAA baseball history. Just being able to be coached by a legend like that would have been awesome, but I am looking forward to seeing who they bring in and can’t wait.

Are you looking forward to the draft and how are you preparing for it?

I’m not trying to think about it too much. I’m really just focusing on winning a state championship. I’m just taking it day by day and whatever happens, happens.

The 6-foot-7, 245-pound left-handed pitcher and outfielder has led his school to a 34-8-2 record, along with a Class 6A Region 2 championship. He has contributed to his school tremendously on the mound and at the plate.

On the hill, he has an 8-0 record, along with a miniscule 0.46 ERA, as well as 133 strikeouts, while allowing just 26 hits and 15 walks, in 76 innings pitched. He has also thrown five shutouts, including two no hitters, en route to the Class 6A state semifinals this weekend.

In the batter's box, he has batted .396/.482/.848 (1.331 OPS) over 166 plate appearances, along with 15 home runs, eight doubles, five triples and 52 runs batted in, in 44 games played. He has also stolen 20 bases in 21 attempts on the season.

Muller is ranked as the No. 39 prospect in the May version of Baseball America's Top 100 prospects, so getting him on campus could prove to be extremely difficult, even when factoring out the potential impact of the coaching change.

Regardless of what Muller decides, with the MLB Draft looming Thursday and a state semifinal game on Friday, it's going to be quite a week for the new Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.