Future Games Tryout: Malibu - Preview
May 29, 2025
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This Saturday, May 31st, the Prep Baseball California team is hosting the Future Games Tryout: Malibu at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Cal. This is an invite-only event for high school classes (2026-27), and gives our staff an ample look at the area's top players.
For a closer look at the showcase details and the technologies we'll have on-site to assist our in-person evaluation for all in attendance, click here.
2025 ROSTER
This year's roster is already shaping up nicely, just like in years past.
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Cole Munyon SS / RHP / Newbury Park High, CA / 2027From 5/6/25: “While Newbury Park did not have the 2025 season they hoped for as a team the talented Munyon continues to show why he is not only amongst the best rising ‘27s in Ventura County, but amongst all those in the state of California. Looking leaner and more athletic in his frame Munyon has ticked up the impressive offensive profile he showed as a Fr. on the varsity level in 2024 which was readily apparent across three at bats in this live look. The swing for Munyon is explosive with consistent hard contact from a hitterish approach which attacks pitches in the zone and the RH hitter finds the barrel at a very high level with a controlled load that arrives to the launch position on time ready to hit consistently. Munyon stung two balls in his first two at bats (launching a deep drive to CF in a 2K count about 10 feet short of the fence before lacing a first pitch 1B line drive to CF). While I’ve been in on the offensive profile for Munyon from the first look the defensive profile has grown significantly on me with his slide over to SS this year he is moving with increased confidence (especially downhill) play with the tempo, athleticism, body control and showing the arm strength one needs to demonstrate to project as a SS potential prospect for the collegiate level (especially on the D1 level). Munyon is a must follow 2027 who should garner plenty of attention from college programs this summer and into the fall for that recruiting class.” |
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Evan Rodriguez C / OF / Simi Valley High, CA / 2027From 4/5/25: “Rodriguez provided all of the offense for the Pioneers in their 3-1 win against Santa Monica. He finished 1-3 with an RBI single in the 3rd and an RBI fielder's choice in the 5th that scored 2 runs on a throwing error. His single was a sharp ground ball that found a hole past the Vikings diving SS into LCF. I liked his approach in the box. He worked counts and didn't get cheated at FBs in the zone. He was able to keep his approach simple with RISP and put the ball in play to cash in for the Pioneers. There's not much swing and miss with Rodriguez as he's only K'd 6 times this season in his 63 PAs. He has speed and runs well on the base paths and in the OF. He played RF today, but his primary position is behind the plate at catcher. He’s a versatile bat for the Pioneers that has made major contributions in his sophomore season. His Avg. is now .420 (21-50) with 15 RBIs and has an OBP of .508. He’s the No. 43 ranked player in CA for the ‘27 class and the No. 4 ranked catcher in the state and for good reason. He can hit at a high level, is a plus defender at multiple positions, and has an athletic profile that has room to continue to fill out as his high school years progress. Rodriguez has been a major force for SV in 2025 and is a huge reason why they are 11-5 this season. A must know 2027 in CA.” |
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Justin Kirchner RHP / 3B / HARVARD-WESTLAKE, CA / 2027From 6/1/24: |
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Patrick Arranaga RHP / RHP / Notre Dame High School, CA / 2026From 2/18/25: “An athletically built righthander, Arranaga showed the depth of the Knights staff to be the third arm who threw on the day (with an extensive group behind him) that brings a high quality arsenal. He relieved Newhouse after he had to exit the game and posted a strong 2.2 innings of relief with three Ks of his own, all three looking on FB’s. With a clean operation and quickness in the arm stroke Arranaga threw his FB at 87-89 MPH while touching 90 MPH with some running life to the arm side. He tunnels it with a 77-79 MPH SLD which was inconsistent with its shape, but flashed potential when executed properly. Another rising talent for the Knights deep pitching staff.” |
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JuJu Diaz-Jones RHP / SS / Notre Dame, CA / 2026From 4/8/25: “Diaz-Jones got the start for the Knights and made the most of it. He went all 7 for the complete game shutout, only allowing 3 hits and striking out 7. The FB had arm side run sitting 84-87. He worked the heater to all parts of the plate and used it to set up the offspeed. He had a CB sitting at 72-75 and a CH sitting at 77-78. The CB had good shape giving him glove side movement to pair with the arm side movement of the FB and CH. He was able to pick up whiffs off the plate, keeping hitters off balance and guessing. He was also able to freeze up lefties when hitting the backdoor CB. The CH played well with the velo disparity from the FB and its fall off movement. He was able to pick up whiffs over the top of it and catch batters off their front foot. He was very athletic off the mound making some good plays when needed.” |
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Jetner Welch OF / 1B / Santa Barbara High School, CA / 2026From 4/8/25: “Welch has been an interesting follow for the past 2+ years since I first got eyes on him as a FR. at Santa Barbara and then through a solid Soph. campaign where his noticeable tools were on display in multiple live looks and now into his JR. campaign. There have been highs with Welch and some lows across all my looks at him, but coming out of this live look the profile Welch is showing to remain on an upward trend. Welch has been actively working on cleaning up his swing to be more compact/direct and remove some of the length that comes with being a 6’4 long limbed athlete with natural LVG/Loft in his profile and this was my first good look at the interesting progress he has made. Simplifying his load with a quieter forward move and smaller load of the hands, Welch is getting to launch on time consistently and showed the more direct path with his live swings without sacrificing his natural impact. With the improvement in his swing Welch is starting to tap into more impact to his pull side with a loud HR to RCF which cleared the fence easily with carry and then also laced a hard one hop GB down the RF line which the opponents 1B made a spectacular play to rob him off extra bases. In addition to the impact showing up, I was impressed with Welch’s improved swing decisions on the outer half (in the past I’ve seen him chase pitches off the outer portion of the plate) including drawing a walk in his at bat right after the HR. With any longer-limbed player there is some whiff in the profile, but Welch is on the right track in reducing the effect that will have on his profile. An athlete who has plenty of projection still to what remains an up arrow profile I’m intrigued to continue to see the performance levels he puts up through the improvements he is making to his offensive profile." |
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Isaiah Tillman LHP / OF / Royal, CA / 2026From 3/19/25: “This look was one that showed Tillman’s offensive ability solely with him manning LF and hitting in the middle portion of the Highlanders lineup. I’ve been convinced for a while of his ability to be a college level two-way player with a sound LH swing that finds the barrel at a high level and has a starters profile on the bump or high leverage reliever. Today was no different for me with Tillman who strung together three strong plate appearances the first was a well struck ground ball up the middle, but right at the 2B for a 4-3 putout, but then in his next trip Tillman stayed back longer on a FB over the plate to line it right back through the middle of the field for a line drive single to CF. His final trip was a four pitch walk in a bunt situation where he was disciplined enough to not push the envelope and offer at a bad pitch to take the walk.” |
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Mason Crang SS / RHP / San Marcos Senior High, CA / 2026From 5/1/25: “One of my favorite baseball phrases is “hitters hit” and for two years now Crang has simply hit at a high quality level over multiple in-game looks and at the 2025 Central California Preseason All State. In this live look the thing that stood out the most for me with Crang was his ability to adjust to the pitchers during the course of the game (which was an improvement from my look at him during MLK weekend 2025). After getting caught out front and capping a 3-U groundout during his first at bat against spin Crang made the adjustment to keep his hands back at launch while allowing the ball to travel deeper into the zone (staying more through the middle of the field versus looking to do damage to the pull side) and resulted in a trio of well struck baseballs. On a hanging breaking ball Crang crushed a deep foul HR distance drive through the wind blowing in from LF before staying on outer half FB up the middle for an RBI and then in his final at bat repeated the process sting another outer half FB up the middle for another RBI. The apparent conscious adjustment to produce against how he was being pitched was an improvement to the offensive profile for Crang showing maturity in his offensive approach to go with his strong present swing. Another upward move for Crang came in his athleticism as he is noticeably running better down the line with a more athletic frame including clocking a 4.32 home to 1B time in game. Crang continues to trend in the right direction as a college recruit for the 2026 class.” |
Perusing the event roster, we’re set to meet a majority of players who’ve not yet attended a Prep Baseball showcase, and we’re eager to add more names to our follow lists.
EVENT CHECK-IN PROCESS
Because of the high number of prospects set to attend Saturday's event, it is imperative that you read our adjusted showcase itinerary below, which will allow our staff to swiftly and efficiently educate and evaluate the players set to attend.
ITINERARY
*Please bring water and snacks as there will be no break during the day.
Check-in times:
- 8:15-8:45 am - Check-in
- 9:00 am - Defensive workout
- 10:30-11:00 am - Pitcher only check-in
- 11:30 am - Game will begin
MORE EVENT DETAILS
Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan, Vizual Edge, and Blast Motion have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game.
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