Heartland shortstop Sam Antonacci was named the 2023 NJCAA DII Baseball National Player of the Year, per an announcement on Monday by the NJCAA.
 
Antonacci was a major catalyst on Heartland's National Championship team this season, as the sophomore led the nation in NJCAA DII in batting average (.515), RBI's (103), runs (105), hits (106), doubles (32) and on-base percentage (.618). He also finished sixth in slugging percentage (.903), and concluded the 2023 slate with 14 home runs and 33 stolen bases.
 
The Springfield, Ill. native joins current Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher and Heartland alumni Colin Holderman as the only Heartland baseball players to win the award. Antonacci also received the 2023 Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and was named a NJCAA DII First Team All-American. Sophomore catcher Ben Hartl also landed on the NJCAA DII All-American list on the second team.
 
The Coastal Carolina commit, who was named a NJCAA DII First Team All-American in 2022 as well, is currently one of the top-rated junior-college prospects for the MLB draft. The draft begins at 6 pm on July 9 at Lumen Field in Seattle, and runs through July 11.