On December 30th, the Prep Baseball California team hosted the Orange County Preseason ID at JSerra HS in San Juan Capistrano, Cal. This was an open event for high school classes (2026-2030), and gave our staff an ample look at the area’s top prospects.

• To view the post-event content from the event, click here.
• To find the statistics from the event, click here.
• To view the full event roster, click here.

Today, we will release all catcher’s scouting reports from the event in alphabetical order:

CATCHER ANALYSIS

Fernando Barajas, Academies of Education and Empowerment at Carson High (CA), 2026
Positional Profile: C/3B An INF and C prospect with a powerful swing along with sound defensive mechanics.
Body: 6-0.8, 214-pounds. Heavily built and larger frame.
Hit: RHH. Even stance with a more pronounced leg kick. Quiet hands that fire as the front foot lands. Longer swing, hands are in and out of the zone. Catches the ball deep, leading to a line drive approach. 65.3 mph bat speed with 6g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 86 mph max exit velocity (68.2 avg.); 250-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 71 mph. Clean arm action, consistent accurate throws. Lower arm from the INF compared to C.
Defense: 2.15-2.25 pop time range; Stays low and smooth throughout the ground ball. Funnels the ball well with an athletic shuffle into the throw. At C, clean transfers from a traditional squat.
Athletic Testing: 8.33 runner in the 60-yard dash; 13.50-inch max vertical jump.

Benjamin Gonzalez, Warren High (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP Great presence behind the dish with a quick and smooth swing.
Body: 5-11.6, 147-pounds. Lean frame with a projectable build. Lots of room to gain mass.
Hit: RHH. Comfortable stance that leads into a bigger lead kick and load. Gets in the slot well and stays on plane. Has a scissor kick with the lower half to generate power and bat speed. Gap-to-gap approach with a line-drive swing. Stays inside the ball and hits balls hard the other way. mph bat speed with g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (81.4 avg.); 307-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Very accurate and whippy arm. Uses both a long hop and no hop approach.
Defense: 1.95-2.10 pop time range; Strong hands and athletic behind the dish. Dominant presence.
Athletic Testing: 7.70 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.30-inch max vertical jump.

Conner Kingston, Calabasas High (CA), 2028
Positional Profile: C/3B Lengthy catcher with a smooth swing, accurate arm behind the dish.
Body: 6-4, 193-pounds. Tall and lengthy frame, growing into body.
Hit: RHH. Taller base with bat resting on the shoulders. Slight load and cocks hands back. Rotates quickly and looks to hit the ball in the air. Short and quick hands given lengthy frame. Hits the ball out in front. 66.8 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 mph max exit velocity (81.6 avg.); 334-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Longer arm, throws from a lower slot. Consistently getting the ball in the tag zone.
Defense: 2.08-2.19 pop time range; Works hands from down to up. Sticks the ball well.
Athletic Testing: 7.64 runner in the 60-yard dash; 16.70-inch max vertical jump.

Shane Madrid, El Modena High (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP Stockier athlete with a strong base. Big presence behind the plate. Athletic swing coupled with smooth throwdowns.
Body: 5-6.1, 160-pounds. Smaller but proportional frame.
Hit: RHH. Athletic stance with a smaller load with a toe tap. Torques the bat and brings the hands back into scap load. A simple lower half with a longer swing. Simple lower half with a slight scissor kick. 65 mph bat speed with 12g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 mph max exit velocity (73.9 avg.); 254-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Quick and short arm. Prototypical C armpath.
Defense: 2.18-2.25 pop time range; Clean and smooth pop time. Stays low with momentum going towards 2nd base. Quick transfers.
Athletic Testing: 7.97 runner in the 60-yard dash; 16.20-inch max vertical jump.

Danny Martinez, Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary (CA), 2029
Positional Profile: C/2B Powerful presence behind the dish. Dense frame with a simple swing and clean defensive footwork.
Body: 5-6, 201-pounds. Compact and thick build, lower center of gravity.
Hit: LHH. Relaxed stance, slightly open with a small leg kick load. Scap loads and torques the bat to create bat speed. Corks the back hip and fires once the front foot lands. Opens up during the swing, but able to catch the ball out in front. Line drive approach. 68.2 mph bat speed with 7g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity (78.7 avg.); 318-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. Short and accurate arm, either long hopping or no hopping the ball near the tag zone.
Defense: 2.18-2.25 pop time range; Strong hands with good footwork and quick transfers.
Athletic Testing: runner in the 60-yard dash; 14.00-inch max vertical jump.

Chase Miranda, St. Augustine High School (CA), 2028
Positional Profile: C/3B Sturdy presence behind the plate. Power hitting C with upside.
Body: 5-11.6, 212-pounds. Big and physical athlete. Room to develop quickness and speed.
Hit: RHH. Traditional, balanced stance. Hands are back, nearly in line with the back foot. Gets into deep hip shoulder separation. Strong lower half. Pull heavy swing. Looking to hit the ball hard pull side. 63.7 mph bat speed with 7g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 mph max exit velocity (89.3 avg.); 357-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Whippy arm with a quick transfer.
Defense: 1.99-2.19 pop time range; Good footwork and showed a throw down from the knees. Pop time will improve with added quickness and speed.
Athletic Testing: 8.48 runner in the 60-yard dash; 13.00-inch max vertical jump.

Bryson Nieuwkoop, Castaic High (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: C Lively presence behind the plate. A smooth line drive swing with a quick and repeatable pop time mechanics.
Body: 6-1.1, 165-pounds. Proportional and wiry frame, room to fill in.
Hit: RHH. Athletic and more narrow stance. A slight leg kick while keeping the hands in a powerful position. Rotates well and stays inside the ball. Up-the-middle approach while letting the ball travel. 62.2 mph bat speed with 9g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (81.9 avg.); 324-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm with a whip. Pulls down the ball well creating backspin. Accurate arm, consistently putting the ball in the tag zone.
Defense: 2.14-2.21 pop time range; One knee down stance with a quick transfer. Gets the arm up quick to make an accurate throw.
Athletic Testing: 7.39 runner in the 60-yard dash; 21.20-inch max vertical jump.

Hunter Rich, Harvard-Westlake (CA), 2029
Positional Profile: C/3B Powerful presence behind the plate. Looking to do damage in the box, sound defender with an accurate arm.
Body: 6-1.2, 162-pounds. Lengthy and wiry player, high-upside.
Hit: RHH. Simple swing with a traditional load. Hands stay back throughout the load. Stays inside the ball well. Line drive approach and catches the ball out in front. 65.9 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (82.3 avg.); 334-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Arm is whippy and will improve naturally with added strength.
Defense: 2.15-2.23 pop time range; One knee down during his pop times. Quick transfers and a short arm.
Athletic Testing: 7.99 runner in the 60-yard dash; 17.20-inch max vertical jump.

Eli Rubel, Servite High School (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: C/RHP Legit 2-way prospect with a power swing and power stuff on the mound.
Body: 6-4.1, 214-pounds. Physical build and developed frame.
Hit: RHH. A balanced stance into a quick and fast load. Hands retract and the lower half initiates the swing. A quick and longer swing. Looking to do damage. Hands stay inside the ball well, allowing him to hit for power to all parts of the field. An overall balanced approach. 74.2 mph bat speed with 12g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 103 mph max exit velocity (90.8 avg.); 268-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Quick arm, consistently around the tag zone.
Defense: 1.94-2.08 pop time range; A quicker pop time driven by solid fundamentals. A quick transfer along with a quick lower half. Showed a throw down from the knees.
Athletic Testing: 7.69 runner in the 60-yard dash; 21.50-inch max vertical jump.

Aidann Ruiz, St Anthony High School (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/C Strong and athletic mover. Smooth and short swing along with quality defense at C.
Body: 5-7.5, 175-pounds. Shorter and compact frame. Proportional body.
Hit: RHH. Powerful stance, high hands with a slight toe tap into a larger stride. Hands stay back and lower half initiates a quick swing. Catches the ball out in front and extends well. Hands stay in the zone for a long time. 70.3 mph bat speed with 22g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (87.7 avg.); 308-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 84 mph. Strong and quick arm. Extremely accurate throwdowns. Continuous long or no hops.
Defense: 1.92-2.12 pop time range; Stays low and works towards the ball. Adjusts well to bad hops. Strong hands and a fast pop time behind the plate.
Athletic Testing: 7.33 runner in the 60-yard dash; 21.30-inch max vertical jump.

Caleb Safotu, Polytechnic High (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: C/3B Quick, athletic INF and C. Has a line drive swing paired with smooth footwork and hands.
Body: 5-10.3, 180-pounds. Physical and stockier body, athletic.
Hit: RHH. Traditional relaxed stance. Small load, explodes once the front foot lands. Keeps hands inside and stays on plane extremely well. Quick hands with a gap-to-gap approach. 69.1 mph bat speed with 12g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity (93.3 avg.); 352-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 81 mph. Strong and accurate arm from the INF, Quick and accurate arm from C.
Defense: 2.00-2.08 pop time range; Smooth INF footwork, gains ground and funnels the ball well. Solid pop time from C, moves quick.
Athletic Testing: 7.15 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.40-inch max vertical jump.

Frederik Sondergaard, Patrick Henry High School (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: C/1B Wiry frame and strong presence behind the plate. Makes consistent line drive contact. Projectable with added strength and quickness.
Body: 6-1.1, 170-pounds. Physical and lengthy frame.
Hit: RHH. A more unique stance with both knees pointed in. In a balanced and athletic position. Top hand elbow is slightly flaired up. Smaller load where he gets in the back hip and torques the barrel. Bottom hand dominant swing. Slightly pulls off the ball, but consistently catches the ball out in front. 61.4 mph bat speed with 4g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (79.1 avg.); 292-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Keeps the ball on a line. Arm will improve with maturity.
Defense: 2.10-2.30 pop time range; Sticks the ball well in a newer one leg stance. Clean pop time with a quick arm.
Athletic Testing: 7.79 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.80-inch max vertical jump.

Carter Strauss, La Jolla High (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: C/OF Projectable C with room to fill. Quick hands and does a great job staying on plane. Will develop power with added size.
Body: 5-9.1, 140-pounds. Smaller but wiry frame. Quick twitch with a good feel for his body.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open stance with a smaller load, getting into the back hip and getting his hands in a powerful starting spot. Initiates the swing with the lower half, and the hands follow, keeping them in slot and staying inside the ball. Line drive approach with the ability to go the other way. 56.9 mph bat speed with 6g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 84 mph max exit velocity (74 avg.); 246-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. Accurate arm, consistently putting the ball in the tag zone. Arm will naturally get stronger with added mass and size.
Defense: 2.04-2.26 pop time range; Smooth pop time mechanics with consistent quick transfers.
Athletic Testing: 7.15 runner in the 60-yard dash; 18.30-inch max vertical jump.

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