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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - With the spring high school portion of the baseball calendar in the state of California completed, our staff was able to get eyes on players in the 2029 class throughout the past few months, and with the kickoff of the summer circuit for our staff. The first evaluation period of the year allowed our staff to observe the continued improvement/development of players in the 2029 class. With the visibility provided to our staff for opportunities to evaluate players over the last couple of months, we present our updated Class of 2029 Player Rankings.

With the extensive exposure provided for our staff this spring to the 2029 class, we see changes across the rankings.  From shifts within the Top 10 players in the class, players moving into the Prep Baseball National Rankings, and others making their rankings debuts through their spring performances.

The recruiting process for this class is still nearly two years away, with the recruiting rules limiting contact with this class until Aug. 1st of the summer before their JR. seasons in high school. But, make no mistake that college coaches around the country are paying close attention to the names appearing on this board and will be keeping tabs on this class over the next 12+ months of their development in anticipation of when these players become eligible to begin contact with those coaches.

Below you'll find the Top 10, with notes on ten players making moves up the board and ten names who are making their rankings debut.

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

CLASS OF 2029, TOP TEN

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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NINE 29s ON THE RISE:

+ OF Mattias DiMaggio - Dos Pueblos - Now: 1 Previous: 3

Few players have acquitted themselves in high school baseball as quickly and dominantly as DiMaggio did on the Central Coast of California. The impact LH hitter was named the MVP of the Channel League during his Fr season with an electric overall season that included breaking his older brother Jesse's single-season home run record at Dos Pueblos. For the entirety of his season, Matti posted a .500/.645/1.042 slash line in 100+ plate appearances with 42 total hits, including 21 extra base hits with 11 homers, nine doubles, and one triple. Even more astounding a display of his offensive prowess was the 34 walk to one strikeout rate he posted over the season. DiMaggio scored 37 runs while driving in 26 in what can only be described as a dominant season. He pushes his way two spots up the board into the number one spot and heads into the summer circuit as one of the more anticipated watches to see how he can continue to develop on his already eye-opening ability.

+ SS Blake Barberana - La Mirada - Now: 6 Previous: 13

Barberana smoothly found his way onto the varsity level at traditional power program La Mirada, where he posted a strong first high school season playing full-time for a program that made a deep run in the CIF-SS D1 playoffs. His .333/.408/.478 slahs line in 100+ plate appearances was a taster of his potential over the course of the spring season and going forward in his amateur career. The LH hitter flashes long-term impact defensive actions on the middle portion of the INF dirt and was impressive defensively at the high-level Prep Baseball NPI tournament in front of Vice President of Scouting Shooter Hunt. The talented Orange County-based product earns its way into the Top 10.

+ LHP Sheriff Hall - Loyola - Now: 13 Previous: 17

Hall comes with plenty of praise from his coaches and others around him, and it's not just for an impressive arsenal of pitches from the left-hand side, but also for the drive he possesses to reach the ceiling of his abilities as a baseball player. In a live look for Assistant Director Steven Hardesty during the latter portion of the spring season, in which he stymied a deep and talented Sierra Canyon offense using an FB reaching the mid-80s with deception and feel for a pair of high-quality offspeed pitches. That was far from his only strong outing as he ascended to the ace role for a Loyola team that earned its way into the CIF-SS D2 playoffs, where Hall was handed the ball in the title game. The foundation is strong, but the ceiling for Hall is high as he continues to move up our board.

+ SS Nathan Perez - Etiwanda - Now: 19 Previous: 56

Perez earned a role on the varsity level at Etiwanda during the spring season with 50+ plate appearances in 26 games played while demonstrating flashes of his upside in a Baseline League championship season for the Eagles. His athletic ability on the INF dirt, offensive upside, and future ceiling, though, bring him on our board inside the Top 20 heading into the summer circuit, which was kickstarted by an outstanding showing during his time at the Prep Baseball NPI tournament.

+ RHP Zach Partee - Agoura - Now: 25 Previous: 34

Partee quickly made his presence known to our staff during the fall portion of his freshman season when the new staff at Agoura raved to Hardesty about the dynamic young group of players in the program, highlighted by an athletic right-hander with an upper 80's FB, an intriguing offspeed arsenal, and an advanced feel to pitch. Those qualities show up easily when you see a video of how Partee operates, moving down the mound and the confidence with which he pitches. It culminated in one of the better Fr. seasons in the SoCal region with Partee earning Co-Pitcher of the Year honors in the Marmonte League as the Chargers made a run into the CIF-SS D3 title game. Still scratching the surface of his future potential Partee makes a sound move up the board into our Top 25.

+ SS Brandon Manivong - De La Salle - Now: 26 Previous: 36

Manivong entered his Fr. season expecting to back up one of the top MLB draft prospects in the country at the SS position. But, when circumstances changed in the De La Salle program, and he was pressed into an early full-time role in his career, the athletic defender and table-setter profile hitter showed up at a high level across the spring in live looks, including for State Director Les Lukach at the National Classic in SoCal and then again for Shooter Hunt at the NPI tournament. Smaller in build at present, there is a projection in the profile for Manivong in how big and strong he will get, but make no mistake, his baseball ability and athleticism help push him 10 spots up the board to just outside the Top 25.

+ OF/1B Pierce Buckey - Liberty (Bakersfield) - Now: 37 Previous: 41

Power hitters in the Bakerfield region are a common occurrence with the physical nature of the style of baseball played in that area, but generally, it is from older players in programs. But Buckey quickly made his presence felt as one of the top impact bats in the area as a middle-of-the-order thumper for the Liberty program as it went on to claim the CIF-Central Section D1 title. A top football defensive line recruit already, Buckey is showing there is real two-sport potential for him at the next level with his athletic ability, physical build, and already strong offensive skill set that has room to keep improving as he matures. He finished with 100+ plate appearances while hitting .309 with 23 extra base hits (11 doubles and 12 homers) with 40 RBIs in the spring season.

+ C Joey Dresch - Menlo Atherton - Now: 44 Previous: 50

Dresch was electric during his showing at the NorCal Preseason All-State event in January of this year to solidify his spot on our rankings board, but as NorCal Director Hank LoForte tracked the talented backstop over the spring season, he showed the need for a move up our board. The arm strength is advanced for Dresch, and he shows the type of receiving and blocking acumen that hints at an impact profile defender behind the dish long-term. With the upward potential for him at the plate, his six-spot move up the board may not be the last one he makes.

+ OF/C Andrew Garcia - Rio Mesa - Now: 46 Previous: 52

Garcia demonstrated an intriguing LH swing and versatile defensive profile when he attended the Los Angeles Preseaon ID in front of Hardesty to find his way on the rankings board early in his career. He went out this spring and earned a full-time role in the lineup for a Rio Mesa program that made an impressive run deep into the playoffs. Garcia was a key piece of the run with his offensive performance. Fronting the top of their lineup, he took 100+ plate appearances while finishing his Fr. campaign with a .922 OPS, a nearly even BB to K rate, 11 of his 23 hits went for extra bases with four homers, four triples, and three doubles. He topped their squad in homers, RBIs, triples, and SLG percentage on his way to second-team all-league honors and multiple impressive live looks for Hardesty.

FIVE NEWCOMERS IN THE TOP 50:

+ SS Joey Koenig - JSerra Catholic - Now: 7

6'3 athletic movers who show present strength with room to add already early in their high school careers are going to open eyes. Now, stick that profile at the premium SS spot with the actions there to be a potential impact defender, you are now looking at one of the best profiles in any graduating class. Koenig has elicited high praise from numerous people in reports coming into State Director Les Lukach about his present ability, but even more so about the height of his ceiling in the future. At a program like JSerra, which has produced countless high-level college players, MLB draft prospects, and big leaguers, the pedigree is high to be the next name to know in that program, but Koenig has quickly asserted himself as the next name to know there. He debuts inside the Top 10 in the number seven slot.

+ SS Barrett Grieve - Bishop's School - Now: 11

Grieve boasts the type of frame, actions, and bloodlines that are going to attract attention quickly for anyone in the baseball world, and San Diego Scout Vinnie Alfino was uber-impressed in his live looks at Grieve. The 6'2 Grieve shows a swing that gets in the zone early with length through the zone and an intriguing awareness for his barrel that boasts not only a hit potential, but one that will hit with power. He adds the long-term profile to stick at SS with his range, and as the arm continues to add strength with maturity could be an impact defender at the spot. He jumps on our board just one spot outside the Top 10, but if he maintains the trajectory he is on, there is reason to believe he could push his way into that section of our board in the future.

+ INF/RHP Grady Klovstad - Mater Dei - Now: 16

Klovstad was impressive during his appearance at the Inland Empire Preseason ID in front of both Lukach and Alfino, who each noted him as a name to follow into the spring season. Then Lukach had a chance to get eyes on him multiple times in the spring season, both in high-level tournament play and in Trinity League action, and the talented Orange County product showed he was more than just a name to know; he is a must-see 2029 player. Standing 6'3 with an athletic 175 lbs. frame that has room to add the actions he showed as an INF, the swing he displays at the plate, and his present profile on the mound as a righthander all boast strong foundations, but even more intriguing upside to their ceilings as he matures. Klovstad jumps into the rankings in the Top 20.

+ 3B Dylan Hood - Torrey Pines - Now: 22

Hood was a favorite of Vinnie Alfino during his live looks throughout the spring season as a physical right-handed hitter who presents the ability to hit, posting a .349 average, but with the strength in his profile has the upside to add impact in the coming years after knocking three doubles and a homer in his fr. campaign. His 30 total hits were tied for second on the Torrey Pines squad. He is a talented two-sport athlete who has projection in his profile as he continues to mature. His foundation is strong, but the ceiling is even higher in the future. Hood jumps onto the board inside the Top 25.

+ C Jimmy Stout - St. John Bosco - Now: 32

With Bosco looking to defend one of the most spectacular SoCal high school seasons in memory, they turned to a Fr. catcher in Stout for a majority of their games, and the talented backstop made a stellar impression during his first high school season. Stout is durably built at present with polish in the profile to take his present strength to another level as he continues to mature. His actions behind the dish hint at a long-term impact profile there. His summer kicked off with a strong showing at the Prep Baseball NPI tournament in front of Shooter Hunt, and brings him just outside our Top 30 to debut on this board.

FIVE NEWCOMERS TO KNOW OUTSIDE THE TOP 50:

+ SS/OF Grant Menges - Tustin - Now: 51

Menges is an intriguing blend of strong present athletic ability, an up-the-middle defensive profile, and a high-level offensive player who still boasts upside as he continues to polish all of his profile. During a freshman campaign at Tustin, where he quickly asserted himself into a full-time role for the Tillers, Menges slashed .305/.366/.439 with eight doubles, one homer, 25 total hits, all coming in just under 100 plate appearances for the year. His sound performance was backed up by a strong showing at the OC Summer ID for the trio of Lukach, Alfino, and Hardesty, and brought Menges onto our board for the first time.

+ RHP/1B McKay Skarlanic - Carlsbad - Now: 52

Skarlanic was known to our staff heading into his Fr. season after standing out at the 2025 Prep Baseball SoCal Rising Stars Game, where he showed real potential as a two-way product to go with a frame you can dream on. The San Diego-based product has started to turn some of those dreams into reality. While he opened his high school career on the lower levels, make no mistake, his future is to be a force on the varsity level of not only San Diego high school baseball, but potentially on a national scene. His FB now runs into the low 90's at its peak with consistent life in the upper 80's, and his power-based RH swing has shown consistent in driving the ball to all fields. His spot at 52 on this board has the potential of being his floor as he continues forward in his amateur career.

+ OF/3B Brock Paz - Arroyo Grande - Now: 61

In a lineup at Arroyo Grande that featured a predominantly upperclass feel, Fr. Paz was an underclass force who helped the program make a run into the CIF-Central Section D2 finals. Fronted by an intriguing LH swing that features a smooth turn with athleticism, length in the zone for the barrel, present feel to hit, and the type of emerging impact that hints at a high ceiling. Over 33 games played, Paz made over 100 plate appearances with 32 hits, 14 extra base hits (7 homers, five doubles, and two triples), 49 runs produced (24 runs / 25 RBIs) with a .359/.433/.689 slash line. His foundation is that of a top-to-middle-of-the-order bat from the LH side at present, and as his frame continues to fill out, he solidifies his defensive profile and unlocks the next step of his development. We may see a future rise up the board.

+ C Christian Macias - Rio Mesa - Now: 80

Macias was part of a two-headed Fr. duo at Rio Mesa that solidified the top of their lineup, while the LH hitting Macias brought one of the better overall approaches and feel to make solid contact that Hardesty saw across his spring travels, evoking comparisons to former Pacifica standout and current Big West Freshmen of the Year at Cal State Bakersfield Devon Wilkes at a similar stage in his career. Macias is balanced in his load and turn, his hands are quick and direct with a barrel that stays in the zone for a long time. Macias drew an impressive 27 walks on the spring against just nine strikeouts while collecting 16 hits with 17 runs scored. His profile behind the plate is sound with a quiet hand, wrist strength, mobility, and an accurate throwing arm. His foundation is strong to join our board inside the Top 100.

+ SS Nate Quijas - Highland (Palmdale) - Now: 88

When the SS position at Highland opened over the winter break due to a transfer, Fr. Quijas rose to the occasion, claiming the job quickly and showing plenty of ability in his present profile to be a name to follow in the high desert. During a spring live look for Hardesty in a rivalry game with Quartz Hill, the quality of his baseball ability was easy to see from his defensive actions at SS with quick feet, consistent hands, accuracy to his throws, a bat to ball profile that worked from line to line, and a solid frame that can add strength as he matures. He debuts on our board just outside the Top 75.

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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