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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - With the spring high school schedule of the baseball calendar in the state of California completed, our staff was able to get eyes on players through Prep Baseball California events, the tournament circuit, and several other opportunities. One of the busiest periods of the year allowed our staff to observe the continued improvement/development of players in the 2027 class. With all of that visibility provided to our staff for opportunities to evaluate players over the last couple of months, we present our updated Class of 2027 Player Rankings.

With the extensive continued exposure this spring provided for our staff to the 2027 class, we saw quite a bit of change across the rankings.  From movement within the Top 100 players in the class, players moving into the Prep Baseball National Rankings, and others making their Top 100 debuts (movement up the board or newcomers to the rankings) through their spring performances. As well, we have expanded by 25 players to 325 total ranked players in the 2027 class.

Beyond the Top 100, we have seen several players continue their rise up the rankings, and several players coming into the rankings for the first time after this summer. 

The recruiting process for this class remains a large topic of discussion, with a large chunk of the top players in this class selecting their college destinations and plenty of talent across the state still on the board. As well, the summer circuit will bring the scrutiny of MLB scouts on this class as their time under the microscope of decision makers from those organizations is coming front and center.

Below you'll find the Top 10, Top 10 Uncommitted Players, along with notes on Rankings Risers and Ranking Newcomers. 

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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CLASS OF 2027, TOP TEN

***As the 2026 calendar shifts towards the summer circuit of tournaments, showcases, and other events for the class of 2027, here are the Top 10 ranked uncommitted players in California outside the Top 10.

Rank	Player	POS	School
36	Jacob Melendez	LHP/1B	Norco
37	Griffin Fien	OF	Chaparral
38	Nico Busalacchi	1B/LHP	Del Oro
44	Ricardo Hurtado	OF	Orange Lutheran
45	Collin DiRocco	LHP	JSerra
53	Evan Rodriguez	OF/C	Simi Valley
54	Antonio Cuevas	INF/OF	Elk Grove
55	Logan Thien	OF/RHP	Fullerton
57	Mason Park	SS	Fullerton
58	Mason Hackler	INF/RHP	Turlock

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: RISERS

Top-10 Risers:

+ OF/SS Elyjah Mason - Huntington Beach HS - Oklahoma State Commit - Now Ranked: 2 Previously: 5

Mason's rise to the second spot in the 2027 class has been a rapid one over the last year, since his breakout debut for our staff at the Future Games Tryouts last summer, before earning his spot on Team California. Since then, Mason has continued to develop his freakish athleticism into consistent on-field performance, and after a standout spring with the powerhouse Huntington Beach program at the plate where he topped the team with an average at .389 and in centerfield, he makes his move to the number two spot in our rankings.

+ SS Carter Hadnot - Aquinas HS - Uncommitted: Now Ranked - 4 Previously: 6

Hadnot has been a steady presence in our Top 10 for several ranking updates while sitting just outside the Top 5 players in the class in the number six spot for the last four straight updates. Now, on the back of a strong spring showing for an Aquinas program that made a quarterfinal run in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs and posted a dominant year altogether, he pushes two spots up the board into the number four spot. His decommitment from Miami has him on the board as one of the top uncommitted players in California and the nation, and he will continue to be closely watched this summer by power programs looking to garner his commitment.

+ OF Ira Rootman - Harvard Westlake HS- Texas Commit - Now Ranked: 5 Previously: 7

Rootman shifted into CF for his JR. season with the powerhouse Wolverines program and looked the part of a long-term strong defender there all spring long. Combining his already immense offensive ability, which was on display all spring long again, with the shift to the middle of the diamond defensively, and the Wolverines run deep into the CIF-SS D2 playoffs, we see Ira make a two-spot move up the board and into the Top 5 in the class.

+ SS Parker Leoff - Huntington Beach HS - UCLA Commit - Now Ranked: 6 Previously: 9

Leoff transferred into the Huntington Beach program for his JR. season and missed the early portion of the spring season in the transfer, but once he returned to the lineup, he acquitted himself just fine with an average of .314 while topping the team with a .507 OBP in the spring. Leoff spent the spring showing his defensive versatility playing a sound 3B, but will make the move back to SS for his final campaign in high school baseball. We see him make a three-spot jump after sitting in the number nine spot for the past several rankings updates.

+ OF Carson Richter - Newbury Park HS - Michigan Commit - Now Ranked: 10 Previously: 14

Richter has steadily moved his way up our board on the back of his immense athletic ability, projectable frame, and high ceiling potential. That trio of factors earned him a spot on the Team Southern California squad at the 2025 Future Games while landing a commitment to Michigan. This spring saw Richter begin to turn his immense upside into more consistent performance in games. Richter posted a .321 average with 16 extra base hits on the spring, including 11 doubles and five homers with a loud 1.108 OPS. This is Richter's debut inside the Top 10, and if he continues to track on the same path should solidify his spot amongst the top players in the 2027 class.

10 TOP-100 RISERS TO KNOW:

+ RHP Andrew Carlson - Trinity Classical Academy - TCU Commit - Now Ranked: 21 Previously: 28

With an FB approaching the mid-90s and power breaking stuff, the Santa Clarita-based Carlson has steadily made a move up the board, which coincided with a commitment to TCU. This spring, he was dominant facing smaller school competition, as you would expect of a big-name arm. Throwing 76 innings as the Knights have advanced deep into the playoffs, he has 11 wins, 150 strikeouts against just 15 walks, allowing an opponents batting average of .121 and an opponents OBP of .175 with an eye-popping .83 ERA. Carlson moves just outside the Top 20 before the start of the summer circuit, and with another strong showing this summer could push even further up the board in the future.

+ LHP Roy Kim - Great Oak HS - Stanford Commit - Now Ranked: 28 Previously: 58

Kim has long been a favorite of State Director Les Lukach for his combination of stuff and pitchability, which both continue to tick steadily up and have earned him a Stanford commitment. This spring, he utilized that duo to throw 49.1 innings with 73 strikeouts vs. 19 walks in the spring. Facing good competition in the Inland Empire region, he held hitters to a .175 batting average with a .272 OBP while collecting five wins with a 2.27 ERA. Kim makes a healthy 30-spot jump up the board in the Top 25 range ahead of his final year in the high school ranks.

+ LHP/1B Jacob Melendez - Norco HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 36 Previously: 80

Melendez made the move over to Norco this spring as a transfer to help push the Cougars to the number one seed in the CIF-SS D1 playoffs, and help he did with his high-level ability on the bump and impact in the LH batters' box. Showing off real impact at the plate, he has hammered 11 extra base hits in just 21 games with five doubles, five homers, and one triple. But, his upper-80's to low-90's FB and outstanding offspeed arsenal made a loud impression on the bump with six wins in six starts, throwing 36.1 innings with 26 strikeouts, allowing a .191 opponents average with a 1.35 ERA. Melendez's two-way talent continues to solidify him as one of the top uncommitted players in the 2027 class for college programs and pushes him into the number 36 spot.

+ 1B/LHP Nico Busalacchi - Del Oro HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 38 Previously: 126

Busalacchi was a force in NorCal high school baseball this spring, and the powerful LH hitter has backed up his outstanding showings at several Prep Baseball California events with the numbers he posted. He showed both hit and power on the spring with an average of .413 while blasting 16 extra base hits with an even eight doubles and eight homers. Even more impressive was his 32 walks this spring, which helped contribute to an astounding 1.447 OPS. Working as the Del Oro program's top reliever, Busalacchi threw 11 innings with 12 strikeouts. He showed two-way ability at the high school level. But the bat is what will be attracting college coaches' eyes as a top uncommitted player, and brings him nearly 90 spots up our board.

+ OF Ricardo Hurtado - Orange Lutheran HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 44 Previously: 68

Hurtado earned a full-time role on the varsity level for the Lancers this spring and made the most of the opportunity. An athletic, versatile defender in the OF with tools that have shone bright on the Prep Baseball California event platform, he performed at a high level this spring against elite competition to the tune of a .337 average, eight extra base hits, including five doubles and three homers, walked more than he struck out with 18 BBs, and a stellar .924 OPS for the spring season. Hurtado pushes inside the Top 50 players and makes his Prep Baseball National rankings debut with this rise.

+ RHP Jonah Cohen - Palos Verdes HS - UCLA Commit - Now Ranked: 46 Previously: 104

Cohen made his mark on our staff last summer when he earned an invite to the 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games and posted a solid outing against the elite competition of that event. From there, Cohen has steadily improved on his already impressive ability on the mound with a FB that previously touched the low-90's to one that now lives in the range while ticking the life on his breaking ball up this spring and packed on about 15+ lbs. of strength to his prototype pitcher's frame. An impressive spring of performance now brings Cohen from the fringes of the Top 100 soundly into the Top 50 players in the class.

+ SS/OF Trey Howell-Chase - Rio Americano HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 65 Previously: 79

Howell-Chase oozed athleticism during his showing at the 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games with Team Northern California as a three-sport athlete who has an uncle who played big league baseball. Now fully focused on baseball and earning a move into the INF at SS this spring, the high upside ability of Trey has transformed into loud performances in game action. In 33 games, he took 120 plate appearances while posting an eye-popping .491 average, 1.240 OPS, 14 extra-base hits with seven doubles, six triples, and one homer, while for good measure stealing 38 bases in those 33 games. Howell-Chase is still scratching the surface of his potential and sees himself moving 16 spots up the board with plenty of potential for even more upward movement in the future.

+ SS/RHP Nolan Riesenberg - Culver City HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 78 Previously: 84

Riesenberg has been a steady force for the Culver City program over his high school having already established new records in the program's history books with his performance. This spring was no different for the talented two-way product as he continued to perform at a high level, both as he hit .433 with 17 extra base hits for the spring, including eight doubles, four triples, and five homers with a 1.240 OPS and a nearly even strikeout to walk rate. For good measure, he punched out 26 hitters in 21.2 innings of work on the mound. Riesenberg continues to move towards the Top 75 players in the class with another six-spot move up the board this spring.

+ OF Abraham Ramirez - Saugus HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 94 Previously: 112

Ramirez has displayed loud tools during his workouts at Prep Baseball California events and has steadily performed at a high level for the Assistant Director Steven Hardesty during live looks in both his Soph. and JR. high school seasons. This spring, his bat has played an integral role for the Centurions, who have made a deep run in the CIF-SS playoffs. Ramirez topped the team in nearly every offensive category, including his .413 average, .815 slugging, nine homers, 35 runs scored, 38 hits, and 36 runs batted in for the spring season. With a long-term impact defensive profile in CF or RF and the upward development of his impact bat, Ramirez now finds himself solidly inside the Top 100.

+ INF Austin Olness - Mira Costa HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 95 Previously: 118

Olness has come on like a force this spring, showing the upside in his RH bat, which has been evident in several Prep Baseball California events could play at a high level against strong competition. Olness has been hammering the baseball over the course of the spring with loud power and driving in runs at a high clip. With a defensive profile that should suit a corner home in the long term, the impact coming on his bat has helped push him inside the Top 100.

5 NAMES TO KNOW OUTSIDE-TOP-100 RISERS:

+ INF Chase Mattoon - El Segundo HS - Stanford Commit - Now Ranked: 112 Previously: 187

Mattoon makes a large move to just outside the Top 100 as the Stanford commit put together a strong spring for the El Segundo program. With the upward trend to his offensive profile, including a spring that saw him blast 10+ homers while looking the part of a long-term left side of the INF defender, Mattoon has put himself in position for a strong summer that, with similar performances against the competition he will face, could find him inside the Top 100 in the future.

+ 1B/RHP Dylan Yencho - Laguna Beach HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 141 Previously: 163

Yencho announced his presence to our staff at several Prep Baseball California events and then backed up the tools he showed a power RH hitter during the spring season for Lukach, and for good measure, displayed real ability on the mound. Yencho hit nearly .450 with 21 extra base hits for the spring (18 doubles and three homers, both leading the team or tied for the team lead) while adding 1.184 OPS on the year. Then on the mound, his .98 ERA in 21.1 innings with 24 Ks was aided by a .141 opponents average against him. Yencho is pushing himself up the board and is becoming a name to know for college programs looking for impact pieces in the 2027 class.

+ C Ryan Burgess - Bakersfield Christian HS - Cal Baptist Commit - Now Ranked: 144 Previously: 152

Burgess earned a commitment to Cal Baptist last year on the strength of his defensive profile, which was impressive in a pair of live looks for Steven Hardesty last year and during this spring's high school baseball season. But, as he makes the move up the board, it's more for the upward development of his offensive ability in the spring. Burgess showed the feel to hit with a .354 average while flashing the impact in his bat with 10 doubles, one triple, and four homers, while driving in 24 runs, tied for third on the team. With a strong defensive profile and a bat that is flashing middle to top of the order potential at the next level, this might not be the last move up the board for Burgess as he continues forward.

+ C Andrew Nicklaus - Simi Valley HS - Now Ranked: 177 Previously: 199

Nicklaus played full-time as a Soph. at Simi Valley, but was mainly the DH while getting some time behind the plate. This spring, with some movement defensively in the program, he found himself behind the plate full-time. The spring was a revelation for Nicklaus, not only as a defender who showed real ability to be a solid to strong defender at the premium spot, but also solidified the upside in his RH hitting profile. His .395 average was good for tops on the team, while he also fronted the Pioneers in homers with five, hits with 34, runs batted in with 27, slugging at .733, doubles with 12, and was third on the squad with a .475 OBP. Nicklaus will be a name for college coaches to dive into this summer as an uncommitted 2027, and has a chance to keep moving up our rankings in the future.

+ C Tristan Puga - Lemoore HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 181 Previously: 197

Puga stood out at the 2025 California State Games, but the rising 2027 wasn't satisfied with just his baseball ability. He went to work on his athleticism and frame, making major changes to himself, and the improvement he made to his frame shone through with his performance during the 2026 spring season. He posted a .364 average with seven doubles, six homers, and 32 runs batted in on the season, while adding 1.178 OPS and a nearly even strikeout to walk rate. In addition, he added 10 stolen bases for the year with a strong .973 fielding percentage behind the dish this spring. Puga moves 15 spots up the board is on track for potentially more upward movement in the future, especially heading to the NorCal ProCase with NorCal Scouting Director Hank LoForte.

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CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: NEWCOMERS

TOP-10 NEWCOMERS:

+ C/RHP Brogan Witcher - Liberty (Bakersfield) HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 3

Witcher joins our Top 10 in the number three spot this update on the back of an explosive season in Bakersfield and his reclassification from the 2028 class into the 2027 class. The physical and athletic backstop showed real ability behind the plate during a live look for Steven Hardesty, including uncorking a 1.9 strike to second base to nail a runner by nearly 15 feet trying to steal 2B. Then you add in the high upside in his RH hitting profile, which showed an impressive hit/power profile all spring long, posting a .463 average with 24 (14 HRs, 10 doubles) of his 44 hits on the year going for extra bases heading into the CIF-Central Section D1 title game with a perfectly even 14/14 K-BB ratio and 14 HBPs adding to his 1.592 OPS for the spring. While what Witcher shows as hitter alone would justify his Top 5 placement, it doesn't account for what is one if not the best pitching profiles in the nation with a FB that reaches the upper-90's with ease and a power breaking ball coming from a low-effort athletic operation he was explosive on the mound in live looks for Vice President of Scouting Shooter Hunt, LoForte and Hardesty in a three week span of live looks. Witcher is currently uncommitted with his recent reclassification, but will be a hot commodity amongst power programs for his commitment and undoubtedly will garner extensive heat in the coming year as an MLB draft prospect.

+ RHP/INF Jordan Ayala - Norco HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 9

Ayala is another newcomer to the Top 10 players in the 2027 class on the back of both a loud spring performance and a recent reclassification from the 2028 class into the 2027 class. Ayala has been explosive on the mound this spring, where he has thrown 59 innings with 81 Ks for the spring, posting eight wins with four complete games, two shutouts, a .71 ERA, and opponents have hit just .119 against him while posting a .198 OBP against him. He achieves the results on the bump with a mid-90's FB that has true life through the zone and power breaking stuff as a righthander who has impact stuff for the long term. But don't label him just a PO yet because there is the ability for Ayala as an RH hitting INF who posted a .406 average with 14 extra base hits, fronted by nine doubles, four homers, and a triple. Ayala posted a 1.109 OPS for the spring, which was second on the team behind only the number 1 player in the class, Dylan Seward. He is uncommitted at this time due to the reclassification, but will be a priority recruit for numerous high-level programs and a hot commodity amongst the MLB scouting world as they begin to bear down on the 2027 draft class.

10 NEWCOMERS TO KNOW:

+ RHP Johnny Bowes - Mission Bay HS - USC Commit - Now Ranked: 13

Bowes made a big jump from his Soph. season ability to the profile he now boasts as a JR. in terms of the quality of his pitch arsenal, the operation he utilizes on the mound, and the performance he produces when he toes the rubber. Bowes fronts his arsenal with a mid-90's FB, which has real life out of the hand and through the zone to make it difficult on hitters while backing it up with the makings of a power breaking ball. His delivery movements profile as a long-term starter who has Friday night potential should he reach campus at USC in the future. He impressed during live looks for San Diego-based scout Vinnie Alfino and will be in attendance at the 2026 SoCal ProCase to start the MLB draft analysis process for himself next year.

+ 1B/LHP Parker Lipp - Jesuit HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 83

Lipp put together a loud Jr. season in NorCal where he stood out for LoForte with his combination of ability both on the mound and in the batter's box. He makes his debut on our board inside the Top 100 with the type of profile that can make a move up in the future. Standing 6'4 with a FB that reaches the low-90's on a consistent basis, he was a member of the A's Underclass Area Code team in 2025, and then add in a bat which has real impact, blasting four homers on the year, coaches will be wanting to pay close attention to this uncommitted 2027 this summer.

+ RHP Brayden Borges - Pleasant Valley HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 87

Another NorCal revelation on the scouting trail for Hank LoForte, NorCal Scouting Director Borges, is an uncommitted arm from the region who is going to garner plenty of attention in the coming year. With feel for three pitches and a FB which lives in the low-90's at present while consistently touching 93 MPH, he may be under the radar for now, but is not going to be that way for long. He was impressive in a live look for LoForte and will be in attendance at the NorCal ProCase, where his number 87 debut on our board is likely to be the floor for this talented righthander.

+ LHP Kyle Sweeney - Sacred Heart Prep - Notre Dame Commit - Now Ranked: 96

Sweeney is a wiry, athletic lefthander who oozes both present ability and high upside projection in his future and was quickly liked by Hank LoForte this spring as he put together a loud Jr. season for Sacred Heart Prep. The Notre Dame commit was dominant on the mound this spring with eight wins in nine starts, throwing 54 innings with 67 strikeouts while allowing only 30 hits on the season. Opponents had a .155 average against him while only posting a .219 OBP with an ERA of .78 for the season. As good as Sweeney was this spring, it's even more intriguing when you consider there is still plenty of height to his future ceiling as he continues to fill out his frame and add life to his high-level arsenal in the coming year. His debut at 62 likely will be the low point of his rankings post on this board, as he has the type of profile to rise in the future.

+ 3B Mikey Martinez - Bishop Alemany HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 136

Martinez saw varsity time at Crespi in the spring of 2025 as that program made a deep run in the playoffs before transferring over to Bishop Alemany for his Jr. season, where, after missing time in the transfer sit-out period, he made his presence felt on their lineup as part of a deep run in the CIF-SS playoffs. This spring, the physically well-built Martinez slid comfortably into the 3B spot, where he showed long-term strong defensive ability there for Hardesty in a live look, and the bat has middle-of-the-order potential at the next level. As an uncommitted 2027 Martinez should garner plenty of attention from programs on the hunt for bats who can improve their lineups in the future.

+ OF Chase Stevenson - Bishop Alemany HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 137

Stevenson burst on the scene this spring for Alemany, where he moved into the top portion of their lineup and took a full-time role in RF, and with those opportunities, the athletic RH hitter made a major impact on the fortunes of the program. With the type of frame that quickly passes the eye test, showing present strength, but projecting to have room to add more in the future, you can dream on the type of power/speed profile player he could be once he reaches a collegiate campus. This spring showed that the power in the profile is not just raw power, but the type that shows up during game play as he posted 21 extra base hits on the year with 13 doubles and eight homers while posting 34 total hits for the year with a .324 average and 1.026 OPS. He will be another name for college programs to be diving into for the 2027 class this summer, and joins our rankings for the first time.

+ C/3B Rusty Ducharme - Del Oro HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 143

Ducharme is another NorCal ProCase-bound product who announced his presence to LoForte this spring as both a bat with real power and can really throw behind the dish. For the 2026 spring, Ducharme posted a total of 40 hits with an average over .400 for the year and is looking like a real middle to top of the order offensive piece who can stick at a premium spot long term with a strong defensive profile. He joins our board in the Top 150 and could track towards a rise in future updates.

+ 1B/OF Camden Nishnick - Torrey Pines HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 157

Nishnick caught the eye of Vinnie Alfino this spring, and the uncommitted San Diego-based product joins our rankings board for the first time on the strength of his full season of performance. A 6'4 corner profile player, he hit over .370 while winning the player of the year award in his high school league this spring. He added to the high average with power at the plate, collecting 14 extra base hits on the spring, with eight of them going for doubles, while posting six more doubles. He joins our board in the Top 150 with room to move up in the future.

+ 3B/RHP Martin Castro - Ridgeview HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 167

Castro stood out at a pair of Prep Baseball California events for both LoForte and Hardesty, showcasing his two-way potential to impact the Ridgeview program and the next level. This spring, he backed up those workout performances with a strong Jr. campaign in Bakersfield, posting a .308 average with five doubles and two homers while driving in 18 runs with 20 total hits for the spring season. Then on the mound, he had the third most innings for Ridgeview with 36.2 while striking out 26 hitters, and opponents hit just .195 against him for the year. Castro added a 2.48 ERA with one win and two saves in his role on the mound. 

+ C/SS Seth Humphreys - Quartz Hill HS - Uncommitted - Now Ranked: 229

Humphreys has now impressed two times for Hardesty in live looks during his scouting trips to the High Desert, and with Quartz Hill finishing second in the Golden League while making a run in the CIF-SS playoffs, the talented Jr. factored heavily in their success. This spring, he hit .459 with five doubles while driving in 24 runs and scoring 29 runs. He had a 1.079 OPS with a 12 BB to 3 K rate for the spring, showing the advanced approach that fits at the top of an order to set the table. He has shown in two live looks the skillsets to handle a pair of premium positions at the next level. He joins our rankings for the first time as one of the top names to know in the High Desert.

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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