TUCSON, AZ — On Sunday, January 11, 2026, the Prep Baseball Arizona staff hosted their first event of the year; the Southern Arizona Preseason ID at Desert View High School, bringing together prospects from the 2030 through 2026 classes from across the region.

Each participant received a full Prep Baseball profile update that included a headshot, video, showcase statistics, and advanced data. With profiles viewed by hundreds of college programs nationwide, the event offered meaningful exposure while giving our staff a strong early look at the talent heading into the spring. This Quick Hits article highlights the players who stood out most and made an impression throughout the day.

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*PLAYERS LISTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER

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Zack Peura 3B / RHP / Salpointe, AZ / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 140 / POS: 10 Zack was one of the more physical bats in the group and consistently stood out for the way he impacts the baseball with intent. The right handed swing is simple and balanced, and he does a good job working the gaps while showing real power potential that fits his 6'2, 199 pound frame. On the defensive side, the arm strength plays across the diamond and he is comfortable throwing from multiple arm angles, which gives him versatility as the actions continue to tighten up. There is a strong foundation here, and we are looking forward to following Zack closely this spring as he continues to put it all together.

Johan Esmill Martinez SS / OF / Salpointe Catholic School, AZ / 2028 Johan was one of the more well rounded position players we saw all day, showing polish on both sides of the ball for his class. The right handed swing is balanced and repeatable, with a controlled approach that allows him to drive the baseball to all fields while staying on time consistently. Defensively, the athleticism stands out whether he is in the infield or the outfield, pairing clean actions with arm strength that plays with carry and confidence. Johan looks like a player who is just scratching the surface, and he is someone we are excited to keep tracking as he continues to develop.

Oren Tucker OF / RHP / Notre Dame Prep, AZ / 2028 Oren stood out for his ability to impact the game in multiple ways and compete on both sides of the ball. On the mound, he showed feel for his delivery and the ability to mix three pitches, with the breaking ball and changeup giving him reliable options to keep hitters off balance when he stayed on line. Offensively, the right handed swing is compact and produces firm contact when he is synced up, and there is a solid athletic base to continue building on. Oren is a fun follow in this class, and we are excited to keep tracking his development as he gains more consistency and confidence this season.

Mark a Hollonbeck OF / RHP / Desert View High School, AZ / 2027 Mark caught our eye with the way he plays fast and confident in the outfield, pairing solid instincts with a strong, accurate arm that shows real intent coming out of the hand. At the plate, the right handed swing is rhythmic and balanced, and he does a nice job staying through the middle of the field with consistent timing. The hands work quickly and the swing stays on plane, giving him a chance to produce hard contact when he is locked in. Mark shows a steady all around feel for the game, and he is a local name we are excited to keep following as the season moves along.

Josue Javier-Martinez 1B / 3B / Sahuarita, AZ / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 130 / POS: 7 Josue was one of the more physical bats at the event and consistently showed the ability to drive the baseball with authority from the left side. The swing is calm and balanced, and when he stays grounded in his lower half he does a good job working the gaps while still showing real power potential. Defensively, he moves very well for his frame and shows reliable hands with a clean, efficient arm that plays well around the bag. Josue is a strong follow in the 2026 class, and we are looking forward to seeing how his game continues to translate during the spring season.

Yaxel Ledezma 3B / 1B / Catalina Foothills, AZ / 2026 Yaxel stood out for the strength and power potential he brings to the box, consistently showing intent with every swing. The right handed bat looks to do damage, and when he gets the barrel out front the ball jumps off it with authority. There is clear physicality here that gives him a chance to impact the game offensively as he continues to refine the swing and approach. Yaxel is a bat we will be keeping an eye on this spring as he looks to turn that raw power into consistent production.

Adrian Villela OF / 3B / Salpointe Catholic, AZ / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 49 / POS: 11 Adrian was a fun watch offensively, showing a smooth and balanced right handed swing that consistently worked the gaps with intent. He does a good job using his lower half and staying on plane, which allows the ball to come off the bat with carry and impact when he is synced. In the outfield, he moves with control and keeps his momentum through the ball, pairing clean actions with an arm that stays on line. Adrian is a strong all around follow in the 2027 class, and we are excited to continue tracking his progress this season.

Layne James RHP / 1B / Santa Cruz Valley Union High School, AZ / 2029 Layne stood out as one of the more intriguing young arms at the event, showing real strength and promise on the mound for his class. The fastball comes out with life when he stays on line, and he already shows feel for multiple pitches, with both the breaking ball and splitter giving him ways to change looks. There is plenty of room for the delivery to continue syncing up as he matures, but the foundation is exciting for a 2029. Layne is a young arm we are looking forward to following closely as he continues to grow into his frame and game.

Alek Leyva RHP / 1B / Catalina Foothills, AZ / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 106 / POS: 16 Alek really stood out on the mound with how easy and repeatable everything looked throughout his outing. He shows good feel for his delivery and works on line to the plate, allowing the fastball to play with life and giving his secondary pitches a chance to be effective. The overall tempo and arm action are clean, and he looks comfortable mixing three pitches to keep hitters off balance. Alek is a strong follow in the 2026 class, and we are excited to see how his game continues to progress this spring.

Gauge Abalos RHP / 3B / Walden Grove, AZ / 2027 Gauge made an impression with his ability to impact the event in multiple ways, especially on the mound where he showed feel for a deep pitch mix and the ability to repeat his delivery. The fastball has life up in the zone, and he showed confidence going to his secondary pitches to change eye levels and disrupt timing. Offensively and defensively, the athleticism shows up, particularly with the arm strength that plays well when he has space to let it work. Gauge is a competitive, versatile player in the 2027 class, and he is someone we are excited to keep following as he continues to refine his game this season.

Mason Stehling SS / RHP / Ctd - Buena High School, AZ / 2028 Mason stood out as a young two way player who competes and shows feel for the game on both sides of the ball. On the mound, he works with good tempo and intent, showing a loose arm and the ability to mix multiple pitches while staying on line to the plate. Defensively, he brings a steady presence in the infield with reliable hands and controlled actions that allow him to make the routine plays consistently. Mason is an early follow in the 2028 class, and we are looking forward to seeing how he continues to add strength and round out his game moving forward.

Javier Alvarez Jr SS / 2B / Salpointe Catholic, AZ / 2028 Javier caught our eye with his physical presence and the way the bat works with intent through the middle of the field. The right handed swing is clean and repeatable, and he does a good job getting the hands to the ball while staying on time. Defensively, he shows arm strength and the ability to make throws from different angles, allowing him to handle multiple spots in the infield. Javier is a strong follow in the 2028 class, and we are excited to see how his game continues to mature as he gains more experience and consistency.

Robbie Garcia C / OF / Sahuarita, AZ / 2027 Robbie stood out behind the plate with his quickness and ability to control the running game. The arm plays clean with an efficient transfer, allowing him to get the ball out on time and post competitive pop times throughout the workout. At the plate, the right handed swing shows quick hands and solid intent, with room to continue refining the timing as he develops. Robbie is a tough, energetic player and someone we are excited to keep following as he continues to grow in the catching role.

Taran Hogan 3B / 1B / Salpointe Catholic School, AZ / 2028 Taran caught our attention with the simplicity of his swing and the way he consistently produced line drive contact. The right handed bat works short and direct to the ball, and when he is synced up he does a nice job using his lower half to create solid impact. Defensively, he moves well around the infield with smooth actions and a feel for setting his feet to make accurate throws. Taran is a steady player in the 2028 class, and we are looking forward to seeing how his game continues to come together as he gains more reps and experience.

Landon Kern OF / 2B / Hamilton, AZ / 2027 Landon caught our attention with his steady, reliable feel for the game and the way he moves defensively in the outfield. He shows controlled actions with good footwork and direction, and the arm plays with accuracy, allowing him to finish plays consistently. At the plate, the right handed swing is compact and balanced, and while there is still room for added strength and consistency in the lower half, he shows a solid foundation to build on. Landon is the type of player who does a lot of things right, and we are looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop as the season unfolds.

Yadier Acuna SS / 2B / Desert View High School, AZ / 2027 Yadier stood out with his all around feel for the game and the way he plays under control on both sides of the ball. At the plate, the right handed swing is balanced and repeatable, with a middle of the field approach and consistent contact when he stays on time. Defensively, he shows athletic actions in the infield with the ability to work around the ball and make throws from different angles. Yadier is a steady presence in the 2027 class, and we are excited to continue following his progress as the season gets going.

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Upcoming Events

Showcase	State	Date	Location
East Valley Preseason ID	AZ	01/18	Gilbert High School - Gilbert, AZ
Northern Arizona Preseason ID	AZ	01/25	Flagstaff High School - Flagstaff, AZ
Super 60 Pro Showcase	NATIONAL	02/01	The MAX - McCook, IL
West Valley Preseason ID	AZ	02/01	Apollo High School - Glendale, AZ
Preseason All-State: Underclass (Invite-Only)	AZ	02/07	Casteel High School - Queen Creek, AZ
Preseason All-State: Upperclass (Invite-Only)	AZ	02/08	Casteel High School - Queen Creek, AZ