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Hardy's Hits: MLK Weekend 2026 Coverage

January 20, 2026
Steven Hardesty
Associate Director SoCal

   

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Ventura, Calif. - While the world of High School baseball in Southern California never really comes to a complete stop with the weather we afforded here to be able to get outside and play consistently, the MLK holiday weekend generally serves a launching pad for the rapidly approaching CIF High School baseball season. With multiple tournaments being hosted around SoCal and college team camps on the campuses of several prominent NCAA D1 programs there was plenty of baseball to be seen. My travels for 2026 MLK weekend took me to two different locations taking in five games of the Newbury Park High School MLK weekend event on Saturday/Monday. On Sunday I made the quick hop over to Ventura College to take in the tryouts for the Knights Knation/Dodgers summer scout team with around 60 2027/2028 players in attendance. For this week's version of Hardy's Hits we will be focusing the five games from Newbury Park and next week we will dive into some of the standouts at the Knights Knation Dodgers tryout.

The six team event at Newbury Park entered its fourth year in 2026 with teams from the Mission League, Marmonte League, Coastal Canyon League and the City section in attendance. I traveled out for three games on the opening day of the event with an early morning matchup between the Crespi Celts and Hart Hawks. After that I was treated to a quality game between the Birmingham Braves and Westlake Warriors before wrapping up the day with an outstanding look at the Royal Highlanders Dustin Dunwoody taking on the Newbury Park Panthers. With my travels to the tryout on Sunday I returned back on the Monday morning for a strong pitching matchup between Royal's Colten Rainer and Westlake's Caden Atkinson. The final game of my five game weekend at Newbury Park was highlighted by the opportunity to rising Soph. standout Carlos Acuna from the Birmingham matchup with Crespi.

The five game look allowed me the opportunity to see several standout arms from around my region while getting multiple at bat looks at some of the players of note for the upcoming spring on several of these rosters. I was able to collect video on several standouts and then a few who I didn't get video of still stood out and will be featured in this week's edition of Hardy's Hits.

HARDY'S STANDOUTS:

+ '26 RHP Malachi Wobrock - Hart High School - (MIT Commit)

Wobrock was an attendee at the 2025 Central California Preseason All-State event held at Antelope Valley College. This was my introduction in person to the wiry athletic righthander out of Hart. On that day he showed off a sound mid 80's FB which could touch the high 80's with a quality CHG behind it while still getting feel for his spin offering. Later in the spring of 2025 I got a brief look at him in game during a relief outing against Ventura High School with similar stuff, but some control issues that were giving me pause at the time at being all in on the righthander. Wobrock went to work on his body by adding strength in the lower 1/2 which allowed him to clean up his operation to reduce the effort and be more consistent when working down the mound to get to his quick arm action. Those changes improved the quality of his control as evidenced over a four innning look in which he was highly effective with his control inside the zone and reducing the size of his misses outside the zone since my last look. Wobrock worked off a sound 86-88 MPH FB that peaked at 89 MPH multiple times early in his outing. The shape of his FB plays to the top and bottom of the zone where he can ride it above the barrel at the top while it shows life at the bottom to generate GBs/soft contact down near the knees. He has gone to a SLD versus his previous CB and the offering came in at 75-78 MPH on the day and while it still needs consistency with the shape/location it did flash ability to generate whiffs/chase when executed properly. The CHG for Wobrock has potential as he maintains his arm speed effectively with it to create deception and is able kill enough spin on the offering to generate both arm side fade with vertical separation off the FB. He used the CHG exclusively to LH hitters and simply needs more repetitions to reach its potential during game action. All in all the upward development of Wobrock was a welcome sight for me as he is nearing his potential as a high quality RHP with a starters profile making it readily apparent along with his elite academics why he is bound for the strong academic/baseball program at MIT.

+ '26 OF Joshua Whitson - Hart High School - (Uncommitted)

Whitson has long intrigued me going back to his Soph. year where he was a member of the then named "Indians" of Hart High School's CIF-SS D2 title team. That intrigue has continued as Whitson has continued to develop and improve his feel to get to that potential during live game action in different viewings of him. A two-sport athlete who has been a standout on the football field for Hart the strength he has gained in his frame over the past two years is readily apparent in a solid build while still maintaining enough athleticism to be a solid defender in RF. Where I've been wanting to see better performance from Whitson was in the batters box as he had been inconsistent at times over the last two years in getting a quality look a the RH hitter. But, on a chilly Saturday morning against Crespi Whitson gave me what I had long been waiting to see and that was multiple quality at bats with an effective swing that has a chance to hit at a sound level with quality impact from his strength. Whitson got the day rolling quickly by ambushing an early count offering from the Celts LHP to hammer a line drive that carried over the head of the centerfielder with ease and allowed Whitson to cruise into second base with a double. The bat speed was readily apparent, the impact off the bat flashed as there was never a doubt after contact this ball would land for a hit and his athletic ability was on display with a comfortable quick running stride that moved with athleticism While one at bat doesn't make a performance it was the start of four solid at bats on the day. He would put the next two balls on the ground, but showed the adjustability in his swing to work to low offspeed pitches and hit them with strength to the middle of the diamond. Then in his final plate appearance on the day Whitson jumped on another offspeed pitch, but this time one that was elevated as he rocketed a ball towards the pull side of the field in the air. Unfortunately, the ball was hit right at the LF, but it flashed his ability to elevate soft offerings to his pull side with authority. There is still polish needed to Whitson's profile having split his focus between baseball and football over his high school career, but the strenght/athletic ability is there for him to continue improving as he continues to develop. An uncommitted SR. who is coveted by the local JUCO in Santa Clarita Whitson would be well served to kick start his college career with a stop on the JUCO route to continue working towards his ceiling of potential.

+ '28 C Jordan "Bam Bam" Lindsay - Birmingham Charter High School - (Uncommitted)

Lindsay has been easily one of the more "buzz-worthy" players in my region for the better part of the last year after an outstanding spring with the Braves varsity squad in his FR. season that lead into a loud summer/fall on the travel baseball circuit. My first look at the athletic emergingly physical backstop/RHH was at our LA Preseason All State that was cute short due to rain, but Lindsay was able to complete the athletic testing, batting practice and defensive work before the rain became too heavy to continue. Metrically, Lindsay generates plenty of intrigue while easily passing the eye test with his frame and athleticism. But, over two games on the weekend the uber-talented Soph. showed plenty of feel to get to his tools during game play to back up the high ceiling potential he possesses with his tools/athletic profile. Over the weekend Lindsay took six at bats facing quality arms from the defending Marmonte League co-champs Westlake and Crespi that resulted in four barrels over those six plate appearances. The swing for Lindsay has strength with a well-connected turn that drives the ball with authority from line to line which was on display. There is adjustability in lower 1/2 for Lindsay as he can sink into his legs to get to pitches down in the zone and drive them with authority which he did twice going to RF for a laser L-9 and the turning on a pitch down and in to lace it over the 3Bs head and down the LF line for a double. He smokes pitches out over the plate when the one real mistake he saw all weekend turned in a missile line drive right at the CF. The upper half of the swing is connected turn between his hands/upper body to help create that strong impact, but can lead to some issues with soft offerings from pitchers which resulted in a check swing 4-3 groundout and a solid GB to SS for a 6-3 both on soft pitches. Those can be improved as Lindsay continues to polish/develop his general approach being just a Soph. there is plenty of time to advance what he does as a hitter in the box, but he has the type of swing/impact that provides an intriguing ceiling as the tools blend with the approach over the coming years. His natural athleticism (6.8 runner on a wet field at LA PSAS and posted 4.35 H-1B and 4.55 on a turn H-1B times in game) shows up in how he works behind the plate with mobility in his lower 1/2 to present a low target and move athletically to block pitches in the dirt laterally. The strength in his frame helps him stick velocity while adeptly handling spin/CHGs with grace to quietly present the pitches for umpires. Lindsay boasts natural arm strength which has been as high as 83-84 MPH behind the plate with an efficient transfer that lived at 1.91-2.03 all weekend on in between inning throws. Everything I've seen on the profile of Jordan "Bam Bam" Lindsay in the past two+ weeks has backed up all the buzz his name was giving me going into these live look and will make him one of the top 2028's to follow in the area/state of California ahead of the Aug. 1 date to start his recruiting process.

+ '28 RHP/INF Carlos Acuna - Birmingham Charter High School - (Uncommitted)

Acuna was the other highly touted 2028 out of Birmingham that had generated quite a bit of buzz for me ahead of this first look. I use "other" only in the order of which these two players were presented here because make no doubt the talented Soph. two-way from the perennial CIF-City Section power program has plenty of tools to make him a top name to know in the 2028 class. Acuna is solidly built with strength in his upper body providing a durable look and still has room to polish/improve the strength in his lower 1/2 in the future that can take what is already a strong foundation of tools to another level going forward. On the first day of the weekend Acuna played 2B and hit in the four hole for the Braves with flashes of a strong offensive/defensive profile. The RHH has a loose handsy swing that has bat speed and whip through the zone for impact to the gaps and presents solid defensive actions with flashes of athleticism showing up including a nifty backhand play to the middle of the field which he completed with an athletic throw to 1B showing more than just a "fundamental" defensive profile. While what Acuna does on the position player side of the game is strong it was his three inning outing on Monday where his profile really stood out for me. There are pitchers and there are throwers in the game of baseball and Acuna embodies the first term with a true four-pitch mix and the ability to pitch with that mix. His delivery is low effort with athleticism and body control which helps him maintain solid to strong present control which as he matures has the potential to become an impact control profile that will develop command in the future. While the operation itself would catch your attention Acuna backs it up with strong present stuff in his four-pitch mix. The righthander throws two FB shapes with a lively 87-89 MPH four-seamer that topped at 90 early in the outing and an intriguingly strong two-seam sinker style FB in the 83-86 MPH range that has bowling ball heavy life down in the zone. He has two solid present offspeed offerings that flash real future potential as he betters understands how to command both pitches in a 73-76 MPH SLD with two plane shape and a 78-79 MPH CHG which flashed well vs. LHH. Acuna can attack all four quadrants of the strike zone with his variety of offerings and as he better understands how to command those pitches within their most effective locations his already high level pitching ability will make another jump. The solid frame, four pitch mix, feel for control, athletic operation and competitive nature make his a durable high level workhorse starter for the present with more to come as he continues maturing.

+ '26 RHP/OF Caden Atkinson - Westlake High School - (UCSD Commit)

Atkinson was an attendee of the 2025 Central California Preseason All State event where he showed off a strong two-way profile coming off his fall spent playing QB for the Westlake HS football program. From there Atkinson put a dynamic season for the Warriors Marmonte League co-champion squad as one of the their top hitters and the ace of the pitching staff. An athletic mover in everything he does on the field Atkinson focused in solely on baseball after the spring which brought a more athletic and baseball looking frame versus a football build in this look. But, prior to getting to see Atkinson in person the talented SR. had performed at high enough of a level to pick up a commitment to the competitive Big West UCSD program. On this chilly Monday morning with temps in the high 40's at first pitch and settling in the upper 50's the majority of the game Atkinson's outing brought plenty of heat. Already well regarded for the athleticism in his operation, easy arm speed and natural feel to attack the strike zone with a three pitch mix highlighted mainly by his FB/CB duo and an emerging CHG. What Atkinson displayed on this day was the forward development of the life on all of his pitches while still presenting plenty more to come as he continues to focus solely on baseball in the coming years. Atkinson popped several 90 MPH radar gun readings with a lively arm side running FB that lived consistently over his outing at 86-89 and had comfort to pound the offering to all four quadrants of the strike zone with impressive ability to spot it to his glove side. His vertically shaped CB is showing improved power as it now lives the mid 70's with late action and Caden will throw it any time because of his confidence to conrol the offering. For good measure he dropped in a few 79-81 MPH CHGs over the outing, but it is still his third pitch at this time, but is showing improvement that gives you plenty of reason to anticipate it to become an effective and more used third offering at the next level. While Atkinson's future is likely on the bump full-time don't discount what he does as the Warriors CF and three hole hitter. He has a gap to gap approach with strength the middle of the field for doubles power as he drove several balls with authority to the big part of the field over the two games and is solid defender in CF. The land for the Tritons of the upward trending Atkinson is one that I really like and Atkinson will be a name to follow once he gets on campus with the Tritons as I think there is still plenty of height to his ceiling to go with a high floor future for him.

+ '28 C Holden Backus - Westlake High School - (Uncommitted)

In a weekend that was really highlighted by the standouts in the 2026 and 2028 class the Westlake backstop was right there with the two Birmingham standouts for his present ability and future upside. Backus is the younger brother of former Westlake standout and now Pepperdine Waves LHH Johnny Backus and the physically impressive Soph. is quickly making a strong name for himself. Holden easily passes the eye test with a long limbed strongly built present 6'4ish frame that checks in at 203 lbs. presently with strong defensive actions including good mobility in his lower 1/2 to present a low target and work below pitches down in the zone. His actions behind the plate present not only a long term ability to stick at the spot, but one that has strong to impact level potential as he polishes his feel over the coming years for handling high level stuff. The arm for Backus stood out at the recent LA PSID where he was battling illness, but still popped 80 MPH C velocity with pop times on the weekend living in the 1.93-2.01 range between innings and threw out multiple runners with accurate strikes right into the bag and in or near the tag zone for the middle infielders. Backus has a well-rounded present profile that includes a swing that is becoming more consistent and allowing him to tap into his offensive potential since I first saw him in 2025 at this same event ahead of his FR. season at Westlake. Backus works from a taller set up before getting with a medium leg kick that draws his knee back to the rear hip while staying taller in his posture. The RH hitter stays behind contact with his upper body well while effectively using his hips to turn and allows his hand to stay back and adjust to pitch location/velocities with an uphill path that eventually should produce pull side impact as he better understands his approach/timing in the future With two standout 2028 catchers at this event and both having attended recent events for myself with Prep Baseball California the Soph. crop of backstops in the Central Coast/North Los Angeles is one that college coaches should take note of with Backus being one who should be closely followed in the coming months ahead of Aug. 1st.

+ '26 SS Blake Miller - Westlake High School - (Uncommitted)

Miller put together two strong performances for myself during the summer of 2025 at the Future Games Tryout: Malibu where he made a strong case for the Senior Future Games squad and then repeated it with a stellar showing at the 2025 California State Games. The uncommitted 2026 SS from Westlake is athletic haivng posted 6.6 run times with the actions in his footwork, range, hands to adeptly handle playing SS in high school and potentially at the next level. He doesn't rely on pure arm strength to handle the spot as he can play with tempo downhill and shows quickness/fluidity in his transfers to throw on the run so that his 80 MPH INF arm plays solid at the spot. Even if Miller doesn't stick at SS long term once he moves on to college baseball he will be a strong defender at either 2B or if a program wanted to shift him to CF where his instincts/athleticism/speed all would be  great fit. As much as I like what Miller does on the INF dirt it is more what the RH hitter does in a batters box that makes him for me on the better uncommitted '26s in my region. It's a hitterish profile who has confidence in his pitch recongnition and timing to attack pitches he believes he can handle with a compact/direct bat path quickness in his loose hands and bat speed to work from line to line with hard contact. Miller doesn't look to lift the ball but rather employs a flatter path through the zone to leverage the ball around the field and has the speed to make any GB not hit right at an INF a difficult play with how he can get down the line. While Miller is generally always in hit mode once he gets in the box he does a high quality job of controlling the K-zone to not chase offerings outside of what he wants to hit and is willing to take his walks to set the table. A top of the order profile tablesetter with doubles/triples impact from line to line at present with a high level approach and a defensive profile that sticks up the middle long term college programs would be well served at a variety of divisions from D1-D3, NAIA or JUCO to strongly consider Miller for their 2026 class.

+ '26 3B Joey Moore - Westlake High School - (Uncommitted)

While I didn't collect any video of Moore on the weekend the 2025 Central California Preseason ID and California State Games standout continues to play high level baseball when I see him. Where Moore has always been solid for me is in the batters box with a strong approach that controls at bats well, makes strong swing decision and has a high level bat to ball profile that puts the ball in play solidly at a consistent rate. But, this weekends two game look at the INF defender was more focused on the quality of defense he played at the hot corner. Moore displayed athletic footwork at the spot with ability to attack downhill on soft, play in rhythm laterally to his glove side, athletially to his backhand side and adjustability to work backwards on tough hops to put himself in the best position to allow his consistent hands to softly field the baseball. The arm for Moore is best evaluated as accurate with enough strength to handle 3B at the next level and would likely easily fit at 2B if his bat is a better fit at that spot for a college program. But, the showing Moore gave me over two games defensively was one that in an era of baseball so focused on the "hit or power" tools we forget about the impact a high level defender on the INF dirt could give to a program not only at the high school level, but also the college level. His combination of a solid offensive skill set and strong defensive ability makes Moore a great late grab for a four-year level college still on the hunt for players of his profile or a great grab for a JUCO program where Moore can continue to develop his overall game and his frame in a two-year stint at the level to open potentially more four year options in the future.

+ '27 3B/SS Jett Urbas - Westlake High School - (Uncommitted)

Urbas is a transfer into the Westlake program after two years spent at Chaminade in the Mission League. The 6'2 200+ lbs. left side of the INF defender more than passes the "that's what they look like" eye test that often starts the evaluation process. He has displayed consistency to his tools across two workouts for myself and the Prep Baseball California staff beginning in the fall at the 2025 SoCal Uncommitted Game and then as a 2026 LA Preseason All State attendee who completed his workout at the LA PSID event the following week. While tools are vital for the evaluation process eventually we need to see how those tools play during live game action and across two games on the weekend Urbas showed plenty of ability to get to his tools in game. It was just four at bats on the weekend that I saw as Westlake hit an extended lineup to get repetitions for a large majority of their varsity players, but it was three high quaity at bats. Twice getting to 2Ks on the weekend the RH hitter was ability to capitalize in the disadvantage count of staying on an offering to the middle fo the field for a pair of knocks which was a really welcome sight after seeig him display his power potential during batting practice at our events. The ability to flash an emerging hit tool with a quality approach and the raw impact we see in batting practice in a rising Jr. profile gives the projection of a middle of the order impact bat in not only the short term, but the future for Urbas as he continues polishing his game at bats. The polish for Urbas will be like most young, physical hitters with power is better recognizing the soft offerings from pitchers they can hit with authority versus those that will produce soft contact/whiffs for them as hitters. But, make no mistake Urbas has the work ethic and drive to give me plenty of reason to believe he will reach his potential as a hitter. On the dirt he has worked out well twice with solid actions across the board from his footwork, rhythm, hands and arm to profile at least a solid defender on the left side. This live look gave me a chance to see how those tools combine with instincts/reads during game action and when playing both SS/3B he played sound defense for the weekend, but for my personal preference I liked how he moved slighlty better at 3B than SS. Even if his future home on defense becomes of the corner INF or OF variety the profile to what Urbas presents as an offensive piece can handle a move off the more prominent up the middle defensive positioning. He will be a 2027 name for college programs to be keeping close tabs on this spring and into the summer or fall to determine if he will fit within their programs needs.

 

+ '26 RHP Dustin Dunwoody - Royal High School - (Arizona Commit)

Dunwoody has long been a favorite of mine going back to my first look at him during his Soph. year coming out of the bullpen behind current Oklahoma State RHP Caden Sramek. The live armed RHP would join Team California at the 2024 Prep Baseball Future Games and then made an appearance at the 2025 Prep Baseball ProCase West. He has steadily seen his stuff tick up over the past two years from an already impressive upper 80's FB tickling 90 MPH with high level feel to spin his breaking ball in his Soph. year to the electric stuff he flashed for his first outing of 2026. Having added strength to an athletic frame that development helped Dunwoody showcase improved short burst velocity as he lived at 94-96 MPH in the first inning with easy life out of the hand as he still maintained his athletic, clean operation to reach those velocity levels including spin rates north of 2700 RPMs on his FB. He settled into the 91-94 MPH range for the next three innings, but the 95-96 top end velocity for Dunwoody was an intriguing develeopment and as he continues to settle into his Sr. season I would not be surprised to see him pitch in that range more consistently as the spring goes on. The increase in his FB velocity brought increased life to his power SLD which worked in the 83-86 MPH range with spin rates approaching 3000 RPMs and collected whiff in the zone and chase out of the zone from RHH on the day. In addition, his CHG showed off improved velocity now at 84-87 MPH with heavy downhill vertical separation off his FB and he still spins a really good low 80's CB with sharp vertical break when thrown down in the zone. Across the board each of the offerings has seen an increase in life/power helping inch Dunwoody closer towards what is an intriguingly high power arm ceiling for his profile. But, battling the SoCal cold/flu season prior to the outing Dunwoody was not at full health so there was some of note inconsistency to his control on the day battling missing up with FB and down in the dirt on his offspeed. The outing included a battle with that control during the 3rd inning, but the 1st, 2nd and 4th innings were dominant for the Arizona commit who should see plenty of MLB scout attention in the coming months.

+ '26 SS Matthew Stout - Royal High School - (Uncommitted)

One of my favorite statements I've heard in what is going on nearly 25 years around the college baseball/player evaluation worlds of my career is "hitters hit" and the RHH SS from Royal High School embodies this. Across three looks in the past six weeks dating back to a December scrimmage for Royal against Buena High School and into two looks on this weekend Stout has found the barrel with authority to the middle/pull side of the field on a consistent basis. But, a true "hitters hit" player can find hits even when they are not on the barrel and Stout has been able to showcase that ability across the last three games I've seen him. It hasn't matter the pitching type from facing upper 80's/low 90's velocity to softer FBs with more sink in their shape to spin of the firm/softer shapes, Stout recognizes them well and puts the bat on the baseball with good angles. When he finds the barrel the ball explodes off the bat with authority to the gaps where at present it's doubles power, but has HR carry to his pullside that he can polish his ability to get to as he continues maturing. The quality of his angles comes from a repeatable swing which gets into the zone early with the barrel and a turn/hand path that keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time that even if he is late or early on his timing the ball is going to come off as a line drive to the opposite field or pull side giving him a chance to collect hits even when it isn't a rocket off the bat. As good as what a player can do at the box can be there is still only one DH in the game of baseball so having a defensive home is vital to a player's long term future after the high school level. Stout played mainly 2B in his Jr. season for Royal in deference to now Fresno State INF Brady Hewit, but has slid over to the spot and showed a solid defensive profile over the past three looks at him. He can play laterally with comfort and rhythm, he comes downhill with body control and confidence fielding one handed with enough arm to be a solid accurate thrower at the spot. Stout is not a dynamic defender, but he is a solid defender at the premium SS spot and for the college program that values that type of skill set he could stick there in the future. If a move off the spot is required the RH hitters swing, approach, timing, contact and performance at the plate more than readily can handle a future at 2B/3B in the future.

+ '26 OF Ethan Hall - Royal High School - (Uncommitted)

Hall has been a bit of revelation for me in the past six weeks having gotten three really quality looks at the compact, athletic RH hitter who tops the Highlanders lineup. Flying a bit under the radar for me in spring of 2025 during live looks at the Highlanders squad loaded with D1 arms and D1 bats, Hall has emerged in these last three looks as a quality next level bat with CF/RF defense in his profile. It's a hitterish vibe for me with Hall who is in attack mode at the plate to go after pitches he wants to hit early in the count, but not out of control where he chases at anything coming to the plate outside the zone. He starts from a higher, deeper hand set with bat waggle and a taller posture before taking a medium leg kick in the forward move to reach launch with stretch between his front foot and hands. That position allows him sequence his swing effectively with a direct bat path that hits the ball with solid impact to the middle of the field consistently. His angles are geared more towards the line drive variety which plays well to his doubles profile at present and the flatter path allows him to cover more of the strike zone. It's a table setter profile with solid running ability at the plate and his controlled, but aggressive approach allows him to get on base consistently for the impact bats in the middle of the Highlanders lineup behind him. I'm trending up on the profile of Hall heading into his Sr. season and were I still in my days as a recruiting coordinator at the JUCO level he would be a player I would aggressively be pursuing. 

+ '26 INF Noah Vasquez - Royal High School - (Uncommitted)

Vasquez has been a standout on the Prep Baseball California event platform for the consistently hard hit baseballs he produces during batting practice. There is intent in the operation for Vasquez who loads with intent, gets into the ground during his turn, keeps his upper body behind the baseball and has leverage in his bat path to hit the baseball to the middle of the field with strength at solid angles. The raw tools of what Vasquez does a RH hitter during workouts shows a really good profile for him as an offensive player and the variety of live looks I've had at Vasquez backs that up. While it's not a presently polished offensive profile, having been a steady, but not everyday player during his Jr. season with the Royal program Vasquez will flash that impact during live at bats. On this weekend is consisted of a hard struck single to the pull side an another barrel during multiple at bats, but also some of the polish he still needs in his approach with recognizing hittable offspeed versus offspeed that will generate soft contact or whiff for him. Defensively his in game defensive profile matches his workout profile where he is a fundamentally sound defender who makes the routine play and is reliable on those plays at present. This evaluation was evident as he made all of the routine plays hit in his direction over the last three games I've seen him including the two this weekend. Much like his teammate Hall there is plenty to like about the profile for Vasquez especially with the upside his offensive ability has now and in the future that Vasquez should be a player JUCO programs are aggressively in pursuit of. The time there would help him continue his development towards future four-year college opportunities through this path.

+ '26 RHP Colten Rainer - Royal High School - (UCLA Commit)

Rainer spent most of the last two years at Royal anchoring a spot in the middle portion of their lineup while stabilizing their defense at 1B. This weekend showed he will continue that role for the Highlanders, but it was his development on the mound that earned him a UCLA commitment and profiles to be his long term future. While this was not the most polished outing for Rainer showing some of the as anticipated early January rust, but also the flashes of why there was several MLB scouts in to see this brief outing. With temperatures in the high 40's at game time and Rainer opening the game on the mound at 8 AM the view of his breath floating in the chilly air is well accounted for by me in evaluating an up and down day for the talented righthander. He started slow on the day with his velocity mainly in the 85-87 MPH range in the first but did light up a 90 and 92 in that inning, but control was not there in the early portion of the outing on his FB. His SLD is a intriguing pitch that flashes now life with even more upside as he continues to develop his feel for consistently spinning the best version of a 80-83 MPH sharp two plane offering when executed. The sync of delivery was off early in the game with a longer arm path in the back the timing of his movements down the mound, rotation of his hips/shoulders and hand out of the glove are all vital for his control consistency. But, despite the scuffles with control early in the outing Rainer was able to minimize the damage against him until his delivery, FB control and feel for his SLD all seemed to click during the third inning and he posted solid innigs in the third and fourth to close his day. The FB velocity ticked back into a more normal range for Rainer once he got comfortable in the third sittting at 87-88 with several 89s at that point and he collected whiff/chase on his SLD throughout the outing. His rise on the mound really began in the summer and with the two years of minimal pitching at Royal some of the inconsistency can be expected for Colten, but the ability to compete, adapt and find his delivery/stuff later in this outing gives me plenty of intrigue to the coming months of development for the impressive righthander. I will be back in to see Rainer at least once more this spring to see how the development track for him continues to progress in his Sr. season and first full year on the bump.

+ '27 RHP Chase Renzo - Newbury Park High School - (Uncommitted)

Renzo started on the opening day of the event for the Panthers against the talented Royal lineup. I didn't collect any video on the day really focusing more on watching him pitch while gathering velocity information, pitch type information and seeing how the Chaminade transfer was working. It was not a dominant outing for the compact/athletic righthander on the day, but there was flashes of what type of arm he can develop into as he continues getting better. The delivery is sound with better body control now then in the past allowing him to control the strike zone more frequently with a compact arm action that helps him create some deception giving his present 83-86 MPH FB velocity the opportunity to play above its pure life. He mixed two sound offspeed offerings behind his FB oer the outing with the SLD at present showing better, but there is potential with his CHG to become a quality third offering. Renzo collected all of his whiff/chase for the day on the SLD which has late, sharp break to the glove side when executed properly that helped him collect multiple Ks and comes in at 72-75 MPH. His CHG sat at 77-78 MPH and featured late diving action off his FB shape when he threw it down in the zone, but he doesn't feature it consistently at yet and there is still work to do for the pitch to reach its true potential. Renzo is a different window type of pitcher who is medium in stature with a different arm path delivery that can provide a different look for hitters than your traditional prototype pitcher/arm path. He has steadily improved over the past two years and looks to be in a position to see significant innings for Newbury Park in his Jr. season after sparatic work during two years at Chaminade College Prep. The consisitent workload he should obtain pending him producing quality results for the Panthers should help to keep Renzo on track with an upward trend and will be an arm I check back in on during the spring to see how it has continued to develop.

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