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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - With the busy summer circuit portion 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 Future Games Tryout process, SoCal/NorCal ProCases, combined with the performance of several top players at the Future Games in Georgia, the tournament circuit, and several other opportunities. This vital evaluation period of the year allowed our staff to observe the continued improvement/development of players in the 2028 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 2028 Player Rankings.

With the extensive exposure provided for our staff this summer to the 2028 class, we saw some change across the rankings.  From shifting within the Top 10 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 summer performances.

Beyond the Top 100, we have expanded this class to a total of 235 players now and will continue to grow the class as more players come onto the radar of our staff. This entire class is now prepping for their junior year with their high school year under way and the fall circuit of scout baseball, tournaments, showcases, and portions of the state high school fall/winter baseball about to kick off.

The recruiting process for this class is now fully underway, having passed the Aug. 1 contact date, and several prominent members of this class are heavily involved in that process, and others are beginning to announce their verbal commitments. 

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

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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CLASS OF 2028, TOP TEN

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS: RISERS

TOP-10 RISERS:

+ SS Theo Swafford - Sierra Canyon - Uncommitted - Now: 1 Previous: 2

What has felt like an inevitable possibility: going back to when Swafford started in the Top five of this class, ascended to number one briefly, and then slid back to two, the uber-talented 2026 Prep Baseball All-American Game-bound Swafford returns to the top of our class. Kick-starting his summer with an outstanding showing at the 2026 SoCal ProCase and carrying that into every live look for our in-state staff and Vice President of Scouting Shooter Hunt. With a talented group of 2028s across our state, the top spot in the class is a difficult place to cement oneself, but Swafford has every bit of the ability and performance to make this spot his comfortable home until his high school career is over.

+ SS Tyce Johnson - Linfield Christian - Uncommitted - Now: 2 Previous: 7

Johnson has steadily moved up this board from his initial debut in front of our staff to an excellent West Coast Super Sophomore in 2025 through a strong spring at Linfield Christian. Now, after a dominant showing at the 2026 Prep Baseball Future Games, where he routinely smashed balls north of 100 MPH both in BP and during games, while looking every part of a long-term INF defender on the left side and possessing his big-league bloodlines, Johnson ascends into the number two spot in this class. He will make his way to Miami to participate in the 2026 Prep Baseball All-American Game.

+ SS/RHP Aiden Tavares - Foothill (NorCal) - Uncommitted - Now: 4 Previous: 19

Tavares has long been a name highly regarded by NorCal Director Hank LoForte for his blend of offensive ability, leftside of the INF strong defensive profile, and intriguing upside on the mound as a starter potential righthander. This summer he showed off all those skills across multiple looks for LoForte, including an excellent showing at the Future Games for Team NorCal, which caught the eyes of Shooter Hunt and brought him vaulting up our board 15 spots inside the Top five.

+ SS Landon King - St. Francis (NorCal) - Uncommitted - Now: 6 Previous: 8

King has been a steady presence amongst the top players in this class since its inception, and now the talented LH hitting SS from NorCal has pushed himself right on the cusp of the Top five players in the class. His hit tool excelled during multiple looks for our staff at the Area Code Games, where he earned All-Tournament Team with the A's squad. Now headed into a JR. season in the competitive WCAL, he has the upside to make a push even higher to the third LH hitting INF inside the Top five.

+ SS Jacob Gray - De La Salle - Uncommitted - Now: 7 Previous: 11

Gray is another long-time standout for this class who has been in the Top 10 and just on the fringe over it over the course of all of our rankings. He earned a spot with the NorCal squad for the Future Games and put up an impressive showing with his bat, picking up multiple hits for the week while playing excellent defense on the INF to look the part of one of the Top 10 players in the class, while backing it up with a strong showing at the Area Code Games the following week. Gray pushes four spots up our board into the number seven spot.

+ C Jordan "Bam-Bam" Lindsay - Uncommitted - Now: 9 Previous: 31

Lindsay is another player who has made a strong rise up our board, going back to a debut outside the Top 50, but with a profile that was generating plenty of buzz on the SoCal baseball scene. He has made jumps in each of the last few ranking updates, but this summer he makes his biggest push. After putting together a standout performance for our SoCal staff and Shooter Hunt at the SoCal ProCase, he stood out across the summer circuit of travel tournaments to bring himself up 22 spots and into our Top 10 at number nine heading into his JR. season.

+ SS Kensen Johnson - Bonita Vista - Uncommitted - Now: 10 Previous: 13

Johnson has long been a buzzy name for 2028 in San Diego, where he impressed several of our evaluators in the region. He has comfortably been inside the Top 25 players in this class going back over a year now with his blend of loud raw power, bat speed, arm strength, athleticism, and projection in the frame. This summer he tapped consistently into that blend of eye-opening tools against high-level competition, including the 2026 Prep Baseball NPI tournament and Future Games with the SoCal squad. He makes his debut inside the Top 10.

FIVE TOP-100 RISERS:

+ SS Zion Avina - Orange Lutheran - Uncommitted - Now: 19 Previous: 32

Avina is comfortably described as a "ballplayer" for his ability to perform at a high level once the words "play ball" are uttered in any environment, but only noting that would discount his blend of tools, athleticism, and upside. Hailing from powerhouse OLU, he has been a starter on varsity for two years now in the uber-talented Trinity League and put together strong numbers and this summer was more of the same including an impressive showing at the Future Games Tryout: San Diego and then again on the biggest uncommitted stage in the country the Future Games where he was one of the top performers for a talented SoCal squad. The RH hitting SS makes his move inside the Top 20 with the ability in his game to move even higher in the future.

+ RHP/INF Matthew Prior - St. Augustine - Uncommitted - Now: 22 Previous: 137

Prior boasts the bloodlines to quickly make people take notice of him, but the talented two-way product from San Diego is determined to make his own name in this game and is doing an excellent job of doing just that this summer. He missed some time in the spring with St. Augustine, but he's close to the 2026 summer circuit, including a strong outing for Team SoCal at the Future Games where he worked into the low 90s with an easy, clean operation and showed huge upside as an arm, while, for good measure, posting a double in his lone plate appearance of the event. This translated into another quality showing with the Brewers squad at the Area Cod Games. He makes a massive jump up our board into the Top 25.

+ 1B/LHP Ayden Francisco - Bakersfield Christian - Uncommitted - Now: 67 Previous: 79

Francisco certainly could have been labeled an under the radar player for this class going into the summer circuit siting outside the Top 75 players, but has been a favorite of Assistant Director Steven Hardesty since his first look at the 2025 Bakersfield Summer ID and then again with a dominant showing at the Future Games Tryout: Malibu, where he earned his spot on the Team NorCal squad as a two-way player for the Future Games. Once in Georgia, Francisco took advantage of his opportunity to post a trio of 100+ MPH EVs in-game, including a massive homer for NorCal in a left-on-left matchup while working a strong two innings, showing a FB into the upper 80s from the left side and spinning his breaking balls up near 2900 RPMs. He moves up inside the Top 75 with the potential for more in the future.

+OF William Lynch - Harvard Westlake - Uncommitted - Now: 83 Previous: 134

Lynch saw significant playing time for the Wolverines in the spring to earn himself a spot on our board outside the Top 100, but this summer the RH hitting OF from the Mission League showed he has a case for one of the better-hit tools in the state. He posted a trio of hits at the Future Games Tryout: Malibu to earn his way to the Future Games, where he posted multiple hits against some of the best arms in the country while looking the part of a three-position OF defender at the next level. With projection still in his lean, athletic frame, his move up nearly 50 spots on our board may not be his last.

+ RHP Colt Logsdon - C.K. McClatchy - UCLA Commit - Now: 93 Previous: 189

Logsdon was solidly on the radar of Hank LoForte in NorCal, having earned invites to both the 2026 NorCal Preseason All-State and then a 2026 Future Games Tryout: NorCal invite where he showed the foundations of a high-level arm. He continued to make progress over the course of the summer, ticking his velocity up and pitching to quality performances on the summer circuit, which earned him a quick offer from the Bruins at UCLA that he accepted. The right-hander moves nearly 100 spots up our board on the back of his strong summer with the upside to keep pushing higher in the future.

FIVE RISERS OUTSIDE THE TOP-100:

+ C Zackary Martinez - Camarillo - Uncommitted - Now: 101 Previous: 186

Martinez worked his way onto varsity in the spring for Camarillo and had a pair of solid showings in front of Hardesty during games to earn a spot on the board just inside the Top 200 heading into the summer. Now, after a trio of standout performances for Hardesty and other members of our SoCal staff, including State Director Les Lukach and Vinnie Alfino at the West Coast Program Invite, plus the California State Games. Martinez takes an aggressive RH swing, but has intriguing barrel awareness to go with a strong present approach to hitting that profile to a middle-of-the-order potential bat who can stick behind the plate long term, which he demonstrated at the State Games, earning 1st Team All-State Games honors and pushing himself just outside the Top 100.

+ RHP/OF Sterling Silicz - Bakersfield Christian - Uncommitted - Now: 140 Previous: 146

Silicz just keeps making improvements every time someone on our staff gets the opportunity to see him perform, and this time it was during the summer circuit for Hardesty when Silicz was playing for the Knight/Dodgers Scout team on the circuit. He controlled a riding FB into the upper 80s on the mound with feel for two solid offspeed offerings while taking sound at-bats playing against strong competition. With extensive playing time opening up for Silicz on the varsity level at Bakersfield Christian in the spring, his steady upward movement has the potential for a big rise with a strong performance over the coming JR. year for the two-way talent.

+ SS/2B Jacoby Gonzalez - Selma - Uncommitted - Now: 150 Previous: 164

Gonzalez debuted on our board at this time in 2025 after a strong FR. season in the Central Valley that carried into a solid summer circuit with the NorCal U travel program. The LH hitting INF has continued to improve his overall profile, which showed up at a high level during the 2026 State Games for the entirety of our staff in attendance. His bat has top-of-the-order potential at the next level, with the ability to stick up the middle defensively as his career progresses. He now moves up 14 spots into the Top 150 players.

+ C Ben Bradley - West Park - Uncommitted - Now: 157 Previous: 176

Bradley has been a name that LoForte has spoken highly of, going back to his debut on our board after the fall circuit in 2025. The strongly built backstop put together a solid showing to earn his way to Future Games with the Team NorCal squad, where he looked sound over the four days against high-level competition and should be a strong follow for college programs as a future backstop at the next level. He pushes just over 20 spots up our board to the fringe of the Top 150.

+ SS/2B Brandon Correa - Monache (Porterville) - Now: 167 Previous: 182

Correa hails from a smaller town in the Central Valley that could have him slightly off the radar at times, but make no mistake: the RH hitting up the middle defender has next-level ability. He debuted on our board going back to this time in 2025 with his performance on the summer circuit post his FR. season. He made a strong showing at the Future Games Tryout: Malibu for Hardesty and our staff in attendance and now pushes himself up inside the Top 175 in the state.

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CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS: NEWCOMERS

FIVE TOP-100 NEWCOMERS:

+ RHP/SS Jaxon Becker - Wheatland - Uncommitted - Now: 27

Becker popped on the radar ahead of the summer circuit when he showed high-level arm talent during a live look for Hank LoForte, with the uptick in velocity on his FB from his FR. season into his Soph. season. This summer was an eye-opening showing for the NorCal based righthander when he consistently pumped his FB north of 90 MPH, showing the upside to continue adding more velocity in the future. Looking the part of a high-priority recruit for the 2028 class, Becker makes his jump onto our board just outside the Top 25, but has the tools to push higher in the future with polish added to his talented profile.

+ RHP Lucas Letts - Sierra Canyon - Uncommitted - Now: 57

Letts has been on the cusp of getting on the board for a bit based on his pure talent, but hadn't broken through yet. This summer, the talented right-hander from rising Sierra Canyon took his talent to some prominent stages and put together stellar performances on several occasions to push himself just outside the Top 50 players in the class. Armed with athleticism in his delivery, easy arm speed, low-90s velocity, and the makings of a strong off-speed arsenal if the pitchability continues to trend up as it has, Letts is bound to rise quickly up the board.

+ C Charlie Reyes - Clayton Valley Charter - Uncommitted - Now: 62

Reyes was the starting catcher on the varsity level for Clayton Valley, allowing for an Oklahoma State-bound senior to slide to SS and bolster the depth of the squad. This summer, the strongly built Reyes backed up the praise he received from LoForte during the spring about his potential with an outstanding summer circuit. He displayed not only long-term strong catching defensive ability, but a bat that can slip into the middle of a collegiate lineup and provide real thump. Reyes was a standout for the NorCal squad at the Future Games and pushes himself on the board in the Top 75. With his premium defensive profile and highly talented bat, there is reason to believe that Reyes can work his way up higher in the future.

+ RHP Christian Reis - Palos Verdes - Uncommitted - Now: 63

Reis was a late add to the Future Games Tryout: Malibu event as he didn't receive extensive work at Palos Verdes due to a pair of talented upperclassmen arms garnering the majority of the innings. But once he toed the rubber at Pepperdine, it was quickly apparent that the strongly built right-hander who doubles as a football player during the fall showed he had the requisite talent. Armed with a low-90s cut-FB and high-spin breaking ball, Reis looks the part of a shutdown reliever with wipeout stuff. He elicited strong praise from coaches in the stands at the Future Games as part of the SoCal squad and then was strong in his outing at Area Code Games. Heading into JR. season, where his workload for Palos Verdes should increase, we could also see a future rise for Reis on our rankings board.

+ OF Noah Baker - Chaminade - Uncommitted - Now: 98

Baker is another talented rising JR. who didn't get extensive playing time at his high school due to upperclassmen in the program, but burst on the radar this summer with a trio of outstanding showings for our staff. With one of the best workouts at the Central Coast Summer ID putting our staff on notice of his tools and athleticism, Baker then showed how well they translate in games with strong showings at the West Coast Program Invite and then the California State Games. With Baker likely to take over a full-time OF spot at Chaminade and possessing a bat that could slot in the top of their order, his profile could rise in the future.

FIVE NEWCOMERS OUTSIDE THE TOP-100:

+ C Zak Flinn - Arrowhead Christian - Uncommitted - Now: 126

Flinn was outstanding in both of our staff's looks at him, starting with a strong showing at the OC Summer ID which earned him an invite to our State Games. Over the three days in Fullerton the talented backstop made a case for the best catcher in attendance from a strong workout, into a pair of excellent games receiving behind the plate while showing off a bat which has high level ability to it. He jumps on the board just outside the Top 125 but could make a future case for the Top 100 as he continues developing.

+ SS/2B Matthew Daines - Glendora - Uncommitted - Now: 132

Daines was another standout in a pair of looks for our staff, starting with a strong workout at the High Desert Summer ID where his defensive actions soundly fit a long-term INF profile and showed off a bat with interesting data and actions. He took advantage of his invitation to the State Games by showing well in the workout, and across both games he played, catching the eye of State Director Les Lukach. Transferring into Glendora from Damien, Daines should be a welcome piece to bolster the program's run at a third straight CIF title after winning ones in each of the last two years at separate divisions.

+ C Izayah Najera - Norco - Uncommitted - Now: 138

Najera showed one of the best bats in attendance at the High Desert Summer ID, routinely barreling balls with EVs north of 95+ MPH while leaving the yard to the pullside on multiple occasions. He earned a trip to the California State Games based on his performance there and posted one of the most impressive performances of the three-day event, being strongly considered as an MVP candidate. Najera shows not only pull-side power at the plate, but also demonstrates a sound feel to hit even going into the opposite-field gap for a triple. He is a solid defender behind the plate with enough athleticism to potentially handle an OF corner, but the bat shows impact and should put him on the radar of college programs in the future.

+ SS/2B Micah Wilcox - Murrieta Valley - Now: 200

Wilcox is a smaller-built player with athleticism that has a well-rounded toolset and profile that might not catch your eye immediately during a showcase workout. But once the game starts, the Inland Empire-based product showed that he can compete and excel during a baseball game at a high level, posting multiple hits, playing strong defense up the middle, and flashing his baseball IQ for our staff. He pushes himself onto the rankings board just inside the Top 200.

+ SS Aiden Fox - Simi Valley - Uncommitted - Now: 212

Simi Valley graduated an extensive amount of playing time from their varsity program, which will open doors for several players who saw time on the lower levels to take over full time. Fox is one of those players who stood out during a summer circuit game playing for Strike One Baseball in front of Steven Hardesty. The RH hitter has some present quickness to the swing while showing leverage in the path and moves with bounce on the dirt, playing with tempo and body control to potentially be a long-term fit at SS for the varsity level and beyond. He debuts just outside the Top 200, but with a stellar JR. season could push his way up our board in the future.

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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