2026 High School Team Previews: El Diamante Miners
February 11, 2026
The 2026 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across California.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview these individual programs across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, podcasts, and much more.
Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today with the El Diamante Miners.
High School: El Diamante Miners
Head Coach: Andrew Riddle
CIF Section: Central
Team Strengths: Starting pitching.
2025 Record: 11-16-1
Returning Starters: 6
TOP RETURNING UNCOMMITTED PLAYERS
- RHP Jordan Rhyner (2026)
- INF/RHP D’Angelo Dalle Mese (2026)
- RHP Eli Palomino (2027)
- OF Aden Robles (2027)
- SS Noah Pena (2027)
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- RHP/1B Trent Lira (2028)
- C DJ Gonzalez (2028)
- INF Roman Acevedo (2029)
- INF Cameron Bollman (2029)
TEAM OUTLOOK
El Diamante enters 2026 looking to build momentum off an 11–16–1 season, with head coach Andrew Riddle returning six starters and a roster that leans heavily on its biggest strength: starting pitching. The Miners, coming off a CIF Central Section Division 3 Playoff appearance, feature a talented trio at the front of the rotation in RHP Jordan Rhyner (2026), RHP Eli Palomino (2027), and RHP/1B Trent Lira (2028), giving them a chance to compete in every series. Rhyner sets the tone with a mid-80’s fastball he locates well, pairing it with a quality splitter and deceptive arm action, while Palomino brings a strong frame, an solid heater, and a changeup that consistently disrupts timing. Lira adds another high-upside look as a young arm who already shows the ability to impact games.
Offensively and defensively, El Diamante returns a core of athletic contributors. OF Aden Robles (2027) provides elite defense in the outfield with a smooth swing and pull-side power, while SS Noah Pena (2027) anchors the middle of the infield with good range, reliable hands, and a good bat-to-ball skills. INF/RHP D’Angelo Dalle Mese (2026) adds versatility as a strong, athletic two-way piece whose bat continues to trend upward and who features a quality breaking ball on the mound. Behind the plate, C DJ Gonzalez (2028) already stands out, thanks to his advanced receiving skills and power shown from both sides of the plate.
The Miners also boast an intriguing freshmen class with INF Roman Acevedo (2029) and INF Cameron Bollman (2029) already showing they can compete against varsity pitching, giving the program plenty to build around moving forward. If El Diamante can pair its frontline pitching with continued offensive development, this group has the tools to take a meaningful step forward in 2026 and establish a strong base for future seasons.
Quote from the Coach
“We have young talent emerging with intriguing underclass names coming up. With great pitching and defense to rely on, we should be competitive throughout league play if our offense progresses.”
Find more information on the 2026 El Diamante Miners program below:
+ @EDMinerBaseball
+ High School Previews