Bay Area Preseason ID: Quick Hits
February 20, 2025
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NOVATO, CALIF. - On Sunday, February 16th, the Prep Baseball California staff traveled to Novato High School in Novato, CA for the Bay Area Preseason ID.
Players were put through a Pro-Style workout beginning with official measurements for their height, weight and grip strength. From there they were run through athletic testing on the VALD platform with laser timed 10,30, and 60 yard run times. All position players underwent a defensive workout/evaluation (OF/Corner INF/Middle INF/1B/Catcher) to showcase their defensive actions with video and arm strength recorded. Players also completed testing on Vizual Edge which offers a comprehensive assessment that analyzes an athlete's core visual skills, including alignment, depth perception, convergence, and more. This baseline evaluation helps identify strengths and weaknesses to tailor training programs.
The workout concluded with on-field batting practice with Trackman Technologies and Blast Motion providing data feedback on the player's offensive tools with video. All pitchers who took the mound were also on Trackman Technologies to gather data on their pitches from velocity, spin rates, movement patterns and more.
Below, you can find our Quick Hits from the event, highlighting noteworthy information and metrics from each prospect in attendance.
QUICK HITS
C/SS Jaydin Castro (Eleanor Roosevelt, 2027)
Castro made the trip from Southern California to the Bay and put on an impressive all-around performance. The C/SS posted an event-best 76 MPH velocity from behind the plate, with pop times ranging from 2.13-2.25. His athleticism was on full display, taking reps at shortstop as well, and showing quick hands with a rapid release. He could benefit from working through the ball more, but his natural athleticism is evident on both defensively and hitting. At the plate, Castro showcased his bat speed and feel for contact. He recorded a max exit velocity of 92.3 MPH, with an average of 85.6 MPH. His best ball traveled 319 feet, and he found the sweet spot on 76% of his batted balls—spraying line drives all over the field in his BP session. Additionally, he posted the event’s top Vizual Edge score at 77.01.
C Conner Cleary (Ukiah, 2028)
Cleary made an immediate impression upon arriving at the stadium, standing at a solid 6-foot, 183-pounds - far from your typical freshman frame. He posted a 7.55 60-yard time with a max run speed of 17.9 MPH. Defensively, Cleary displayed above-average skills behind the plate, with a quick transfer and release that helped him record a top pop time of 2.04-2.12 seconds. His actions are clean, and it will be exciting to watch his development as he matures. At the plate, Cleary wasted no time showcasing his ability, driving the ball to all parts of the field. He recorded a max distance of 323 feet, an average exit velocity of 83.3 MPH, and found the sweet spot 52% of the time. His advanced bat speed stood out, posting a max of 87.4 MPH, with a max hand speed of 25.3 MPH and an average of 21.4 MPH. For a player his age, Cleary’s mature approach at the plate is rare. Though he attends a smaller school, his bat will make plenty of noise up North.
OF Ethan Flynn (Valley Christian, 2025)
Flynn is a strong, physical player who brings plenty of energy to the field. His 60-yard time improved to 7.33 seconds, reaching a max run speed of 18.6 MPH—numbers that could continue to improve with more development. In the outfield, Flynn moves well, showing good range and consistently accurate throws, topping out at 82 MPH. He’s set to be a key piece for a talented Valley Christian squad, projected to start in the outfield. At the plate, Flynn impressed with a max exit velocity of 91.7 MPH and an average of 83.6 MPH. His raw strength was further highlighted in the grip test, posting elite numbers—150 (LH) and 156 (RH). With his tools and energy, Flynn is primed for a breakout season. A school will be lucky to land him.
OF/RHP Willem Loveless (Albany, 2026)
Loveless returns after competing in the Backyard Boyz Scout Day this fall, now showcasing his skills as a true two-way player. In the outfield, he displayed twitchy, athletic movements and an event-best velocity of 84 MPH. He comes through the ball well and follows his throws with intent. At the plate, the lefty’s sweet swing was on full display, launching multiple home runs over the RF/RCF fences with plenty of backspin. He posted a max hand speed of 24.9 MPH and an average of 20.6 MPH, showing strong barrel control. His growing confidence as a ballplayer is evident in his performance. On the mound, Loveless topped out at 80.7 MPH, sitting comfortably between 78-80 MPH with an average spin rate of 2322. His curveball projects as a strong secondary pitch, featuring high spin (2517 rpm) and a velocity range of 64.6-70 MPH. As he continues refining his mechanics, he’ll be an exciting player to watch develop.