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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - With the chaotic 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 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 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 quite a bit of change across the rankings.  From movement 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 expand this class to a total of 150 players (up from 100 pre-summer). This entire class is now prepping for their sophomore year with their high school baseball season rapidly approaching.

The recruiting process for this class is now under one year away for this group with the  August 1st, 2026 date on the calendar for these players. But, make no mistake that college programs are keeping tabs on the top players in this class to build out their recruiting boards to follow this fall into the spring and next summer.

Below you'll find the Top 10, along with notes on several Rankings 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:

+ RHP/INF Striker Pence - Santiago HS - Previous: 4 Now: 1

The triple digit fastball is the holy grail of velocity and we are seeing more of them at the higher levels of baseball. To see a 16 year rising high school sophomore hit that velocity with relative ease against some of the best players in the country is an amazing feat which pushes Pence three spots up the board into the number one spot. A projectable 6'6" frame with intriguing two-way profile, the floor for Pence has always been high with his natural ability, but he continues to find ways to impress those who see him on a baseball diamond.

+ SS Nate Godbold - Mt. Carmel HS - Previous: 5 Now: 4

The San Diego based shortstop joined the top half of the Top 10 on the back of a strong spring showing with his athleticism projecting his higher ceiling talent. But, then Godbold went out and shined on the summer travel baseball circuit posting strong numbers across the board against high level arms which pushes him one spot up the board.

+ SS/RHP Jax Janeski - JSerra Catholic HS - Previous: 6 Now: 5

Janeski has been a steady force in the middle of the Top 10 players in the state with his athletic frame, limb length and projection to add strength on top of his two-way profile. His strong showing was highlighted by the JSerra product posting a pair of dominant appearances to open the SoCal Scouts Association Scout league where the youngster has shined against older competition bringing him up to the number five spot.

+ SS Jacob Gray - De La Salle HS - Previous: 12 Now: 7

Gray was sitting just outside the Top 10 after a solid showing this spring playing for De La Salle in Northern California. Then came the reports into Associate Director NorCal Hank LoForte of the uber athletic shortstops showing this summer where Gray showed he was taking the next steps in his development. The loud showing with intriguing projection still ahead for Gray push him back into the Top 10 heading into his sophomore year.

+ SS Ryan Sheffer - Oaks Christian HS - Previous: 9 Now: 8

Sheffer made a big jump up our board in the post-spring update after a strong showing on the varsity level for Oaks Christian. This summer Sheffer has solidified his spot inside the Top 10 currently by continuing to show the defensive profile to stick at SS long term, but also with the offensive toolset that flashes top of the order impact potential. He is seeing time in the SoCal Scout League this fall where he has held his own with solid results over the first two weeks and will make a trip to Oregon later this month to participate at the West Coast Super Sophomore Games.

+ RHP Kingston Monette - Sierra Canyon HS - Previous: 13 Now: 9 

Monette is a silky smooth operator on the mound whose athleticism is easily noticeable to go with the quality of his present stuff. He pushed his way into significant innings for the Sierra Canyon varsity program in spring with flashes of success, but sat him just outside of a Top 10 spot. Now on the back of a loud summer of performances including his turn at the Prep Baseball National Program Invite tournament at LakePoint Sports Complex in Georgia, he makes his return to the Top 10 in the number nine spot.

TOP-100 RISERS:

+ RHP Daxton Hyde - Mission Hills HS - Previous: 19 Now: 11

An impressive athlete out of San Diego, Hyde is talented basketball player whose athleticism shows up in his operation on the mound. The stuff for Hyde has been solid so far on the high school level, but the future projection for Hyde has him rising quickly up our rankings board. He now sits at number 11 and as his profile continues to develop it would not be surprising for him to make that move in the future.

+ RHP Lucas Yriqui - Eastlake HS - Previous: 49 Now: 16

Silky smooth operations are always a favorite of scouts and Yriqui has those types of movements down the mound from his body control and short clean arm action. His FB sits presently in the mid 80's with comfort while pushing into the upper 80's with an impressive feel to pound the strike zone with the offering. He backs it up with a solid offspeed mix and the type of frame you can dream on to add strength. He made a pair of impressive outings in front of State Director Les Lukach and Associate Director SoCal Steven Hardesty in SoCal Scout League rocketing him up the board 33 spots.

+ SS Jonah Boyd - Ayala HS - Previous: 31 Now: 17

Boyd made his presence known to our staff starting in 2024 with his showings on the Rising Stars series in Southern California which had us paying close attention to him heading into his freshman season at Ayala. Then the super athletic SS put up loud numbers for Ayala to push him just outside the Prep Baseball National rankings for 2028, but now after another series of strong showings in the summer and the reports coming into Lukach bring Boyd 14 spots up the board to inside the Top 20 players in the state.

+ 3B/RHP Riley Salvemini - Woodland HS - Previous: 27 Now: 21

Salvemini made a small slide to the 27 spot heading into the summer after a solid spring in NorCal, but then he claimed the three hole in a talented travel ball program lineup. From there he went out and crushed the ball to go with his 6'3" projectable frame has the look of an impact long term offensive profile and sits him in the 21 spot heading into the start of his sophomore high school year.

+ RHP/1B Russell Del Castillo - Damien HS - Previous: 34 Now: 29 

Del Castillo was the ace of the Team California Junior Future Games squad in 2024 and then went on to see significant innings on the varsity level at Damien last spring. His stuff was centered around a low to mid 80's FB with feel for his offspeed offerings. This summer saw Del Castillo begin to tick up the FB velocity now reaching the upper 80's ranges with the offering and was strong at the 2025 California State Games. Castillo now joins the Prep Baseball National rankings sitting inside the Top 30 players in California.

+ RHP Jayden Singer - Calabasas HS - Previous: 35 Now: 31 

Singer has the type of pitchers frame that instantly catches eyes with length in his arms, high hips, broad shoulders, wiry athleticism and the present stuff to be a prominent name to follow. He saw some time on the varsity level at Calabasas High School as a freshman including a strong showing for Hardesty in the CIF-SS playoffs. He then continued to pitch at a high level this summer and is primed for a push towards a prominent role on the Coyotes staff in his sophomore season and comes with a four spot move up the board.

+ RHP Brayden Krakowski - St. John Bosco HS - Previous: 44 Now: 39

Another arm who saw some varsity time as a freshman, Krakowski was with the Braves for the entirety of their run towards the CIF-SS D1 title and CIF-South Region D1 title. With high quality present stuff, deception in his operation, and a solidly strong present frame giving him a strong present foundation. Krakowski will compete for a prominent role on a Braves staff come the spring time and is steadily moving up the board now into the Top 40 players in the state.

+ RHP/INF Milo Benattar - Sierra Canyon HS - Previous: 60 Now: 40

Benattar was another Team California JFG squad member in 2024 and then found his way to the varsity level for Sierra Canyon in the Mission League last spring. He eventually took over a starting spot in the Trailblazers rotation while still showing some two-way potential as a RH hitter with impact in the bat. Benattar was strong all summer long on the mound and then showed very well at the 2025 California State Games with the bat again. Heading into his sophomore year, Benattar will continue to two-way and is pushing his way up the board with ability into the Top 40 players in the state. 

+ C/OF Gideon Mayo - Orinda HS - Previous: 72 Now: 43

Mayo debuted on our board after a strong spring showing in NorCal and in a live look for LoForte. A LH hitter with feel to hit, emerging impact in the bat, and a solid present profile behind the dish, Mayo received strong reports for his summer performance and pushes himself up the board inside the Top 50 as one of the top players to know in Northern California.

+ C Cooper Cantrell - MLK HS - Previous: 51 Now: 46

Cantrell has steadily continued to improve his game after first popping our radar by earning his was to Georgia with the 2024 Team California JFG squad. After a solid freshman season, he went out and shined on the summer circuit concluding it with another impressive showing in front of our staff at the 2025 California State Games where his continued development were easily recognized. He now jumps inside the Top 50 as one of the stronger catch/throw and hitting backstops in Southern California.

+ OF Micah Mecucci - Mission Hills HS - Previous: 67 Now: 47

Mecucci was another impressive performer on the Rising Stars series during his 8th grade year that made him a name to follow for our staff. The athletic San Diego based product then had a solid freshman season which carried into an outstanding summer circuit. All the reports rolling into Lukach on Mecucci have him as a fast rising name to know in this class as they continue to progress towards the recruiting process next fall. He joins the Top 50 players in the state.

+ INF/RHP Gavin Gorman - Paraclete HS - Previous: 66 Now: 49

Gorman has been a steady performer for our staff since his debut in the Summer of 2024 into a strong SoCal Top Prospect Underclass followed by an intriguing showing at the Central California Preseason All State. He put together a solid first year playing in high school, but took a forward step with his athleticism/strength development into the summer which culminated with a strong 2025 California State Games for the entirety of our staff. Gorman moves 17 spots up the board into the Top 50 as he prepares to head to the West Coast Super Sophomore Games in Oregon.

+ INF Ethan Miller - Centennial HS - Previous: 59 Now: 50

Miller pushes back into the Top 50 of the state after a strong summer circuit where the emergences in his strength, offensive profile, and athleticism were on display. He made his rankings debut after a strong showing for Team California at the 2024 Junior Future Games and slid back slightly heading into the summer. But his 2025 California State Games showing was outstanding giving a strong statement to his present abilty, but also the upward mobility to his profile in the future.

+ 3B/RHP Trace Hoover - Liberty HS - Previous: 58 Now: 51

Hoover has been a strong name to know in the NorCal region since just before he got to high school. He continues to improve his game across the board and the reports coming in to LoForte this summer on Hoover spoke to the need for him to move up the board. Hoover now sits at 51 with a chance to bust back into the Top 50 in the future.

+ SS/2B Josh Calcanas - San Dimas HS - Previous: 63 Now: 55

Calcanas shined for his baseball ability in a late spring live look for Hardesty where he blasted a home run and showed off an overall well-rounded profile. This summer, the RH hitter out of San Dimas, made forward jumps not only with his performance, but his athletic profile with reports of 6.5 second 60 yard times that help to push him up the board eight spots to number 55.

+ RHP/INF Gavin Restad - Windsor HS - Previous: 80 Now: 56

Restad jumped on the board after the spring where put up solid numbers on the varsity level in NorCal. The RH hitter with a two-way profile then took the next steps during the summer circuit. LoForte received huge praise in the reports he got on Restad this summer where he performed at a high level with an upward trending profile heading into his Soph. season.

+ INF/RHP Orion Gonzalez - Castaic HS - Previous: 68 Now: 58

Gonzalez put up a standout freshman season for the Castaic High School program as both a LH hitting INF taking a spot at the top of their lineup and a dominant stat line on the mound including a live look for Hardesty. The two-way product went into the summer with a strong spot in the rankings, but then his showing on the USA Baseball circuit were loud and impressive pushing his profile up the board. Gonzalez returns for his sophomore season at Castaic now within striking distance of a future Top 50 potential ranking.

+ LHP/1B Deegan Martinez - Arrowhead Christian HS - Previous: 69 Now: 63

Martinez showed well during his 2024 California State Games appearance competing against significantly older competition. From there he continued to develop and improve during his freshman season at Arrowhead Christian before posting a solid overall summer. Lukach had a chance to get a live look at Martinez during the SoCal Scout League at UC Irvine where his upward trending offensive profile with power potential from the LH side was on display. It's a small move up the board for Martinez, but unlikely to be his last push upwards as he continues to get better.

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CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS: NEWCOMERS

Top-10 Newcomers:

+ C/RHP Brogan Witcher - Liberty HS - Now Ranked: 10

Witcher is out of Bakersfield and used this summer as a launching pad for his high profile baseball ability (is also a standout football quarterback). From showing off upper 80's to low 90's velocity on the mound out of an intriguing 6'3 165 lbs present frame to an impressive turn on at the Area Codes Underclass Games with the Brewers squad. Witcher looks the part of a long term backstop with strong to potential impact defensive tools while possessing an impressive RH hitting profile with bat speed, loft in his path, and the profile to be a future impact potential offensive piece. All of it combines into a Top 10 debut for Witcher and the makings of a profile that may challenge for a higher spot in the future.

Top-100 Newcomers:

+ SS/2B Emilio Young - Mater Dei HS - Now Ranked: 13

Being a shortstop in Southern California is always an intriguing profile, but being one that is a LH hitter with a smooth operation in the box while displaying an intriguing feel to hit from a wiry athletic frame, is one that makes loud noise. Young popped quickly in a live look for Hardesty at the SoCal Scout League where he collected three hits facing high level advanced arms and showing off the defensive profile to stay up the middle long term. He has the bloodlines, present ability, future projection, and will be able to showcase it all on maybe the biggest stage in high school baseball in the Trinity League with Mater Dei in the coming years. Young debuts at 13 with a potential profile to push into the Top 10 in the future.

+ SS Landon King - St. Francis HS - Now Ranked: 19

King has put together the type of summer that made it not a question of if he would be moving into the rankings, but rather how high up on the board would he debut. The NorCal based SS played at a high level all summer in various tournaments on the circuit, but then cemented his strong summer by earning a spot on the Team USA 15U National team. He joins our board inside the Top 20 heading into his sophomore season.

+ OF Mason Smith - Palm Desert HS - Now Ranked: 26

Smith put together a strong spring performance in Palm Desert earning All-League honors then went out on the summer circuit to take his performance up another level. An athletic OF defender who shows true impact potential in CF with arm strength to be a defensive weapon, Smith also possesses the offensive profile that fits a top of the lineup in both high school and also on the next level. Smith was a dynamic performer across the board during his showing at the 2025 California State Games and now debuts inside the Top 30 players in the state.

+ LHP Chris Woodson - Corona HS - Now Ranked: 33

Woodson has flown a bit under the radar to this point not because of any lack of talent, but rather for the difficulty of opportunity being in the Corona High School program. This summer the southpaw out of the powerhouse program announced his presence with authority to his present ability, but also his high ceiling. He helped his travel ball team earn a title at USA Baseball 15U National title showing a lively upper 80's present FB that has begun to touch the 90 MPH mark with more to come in his future. Woodson jumps into the Top 40 players in California and into the Prep Baseball National rankings.

+ C Conner Cleary - Ukiah HS - Now Ranked: 36

Hailing from a small high school program in Ukiah way up in the Northern part of California, Cleary has been slightly off the radar. But, highly positive reports on Cleary rolled into LoForte this summer and earned him an invite to the 2025 California State Games. Making the trip down to compete against top talent from all over the state and a predominantly older crop of players, Cleary acclimated himself well. Showing a strong defensive profile behind the dish with upward trending offensive potential from the LH side, Cleary joins our board inside the Top 40.

+ OF Hudson Walker - Central Catholic HS - Now Ranked: 53

Walker is a physically well built 6'2 190 lbs. OF product out of the Central Valley who put together a loud spring season playing on the varsity level. Walker posted an average nearing .400 in spring which carried into a summer of strong performances and reports for our staff. He is a two-sport standout who excels on the football field in addition to his baseball background and makes his debut in the 53 spot.

+ SS Tyce Johnson - Linfield Christian HS - Now Ranked: 57

Les Lukach has been receiving high level praise from Johnson's high school coach and former MLB scout. The LH hitter with an athletic frame and long term SS potential profile backed up that praise with a live look for Hardesty during the opening week of the SoCal Scouts League. There is present bat speed at the dish, athleticism to his defensive actions, solid arm for SS with room to add and the type of upside the projects further upward movement on our board. Johnson will head to West Coast Super Sophomore Games at the end of September.

+ SS/RHP Alex Noble - Bishop Alemany HS - Now Ranked: 67

Noble was a name generating buzz towards the end of the spring season for Hardesty and the two-way product out of the Mission League made sure to solidify that buzz in front of our staff. Showing up to the Central California Summer ID, Noble backed up his solid first year of high school baseball with his showing at the event flashing present tools that still have upward development to them and realistic two-way potential. He jumps on the board inside the Top 75 players with a chance to push even higher as he heads to the West Coast Super Sophomore Games at University of Oregon.

+ RHP/INF Cash Wiltgen - Calabasas HS - Now Ranked: 68

Wiltgen saw his playing time on the lower levels at Sierra Canyon in the 2025 high school season, but then put together a loud summer circuit. His raw arm talent was on display at the Central California Summer ID and has flashed upside as a RH hitting INF. Transferring to Calabasas for his sophomore year, Wiltgen will compete for a prominent role on the varsity level of the Marmonte League program. He will also head up to Oregon to play in the West Coast Super Sophomore Games.

+ RHP/1B Colton Dunwoody - Royal HS - Now Ranked: 70

Another younger brother of a D1 commit to join our 2028 rankings, Dunwoody saw his playing time on the lower levels with the Royal program last spring. This summer he put together a strong and consistent performance level while excelling at the Central California Summer ID. A strike thrower with present low 80's FB velocity and emerging offspeed arsenal from a clean operation, Dunwoody has a high ceiling on the mound, but don't discount his RH hitting power profile as a potential tool for his future. Dunwoody jumps on the board in the Top 75 of the class.

+ OF/RHP Justin Howard - Montgomery HS - Now Ranked: 71 

The NorCal based switch hitter is an athletic defender who shows off a smooth swing and natural feel to hit giving him a top of the order profile. He put together a strong spring performance then was outstanding on the summer circuit with numerous positive reports coming into our staff on his present ability. Even more intriguing is the fact Howard is a high quality arm on the mound who is actually an ambidextrous thrower and finds himself on the board in the Top 75 of the class.

+ C/1B Holden Backus - Westlake HS - Now Ranked: 74

Backus is the younger brother of former Westlake standout OF Johnny Backus who has moved on to play D1 college baseball. But, the younger Holden doesn't join this board for that reason, he is on here for his intriguing offensive profile out of a 6'5" projectable frame. The RH hitter impressed with his raw tools when Hardesty saw him in the high school preseason in January of 2025, and Holden has begun to tap into his immense potential. He will figure prominently in the Warriors lineup this spring after seeing varsity playing time in 2025, and is now amongst the Top 75 in the class with all the potential to rise higher in the future.

+ SS/OF Dallas Tucker - Skyline HS - Now Ranked: 78

Tucker is an athletic LH hitting product of out NorCal who has shined for his travel baseball program this summer. Coming off a solid first year of high school baseball, Tucker put his athletic ability, LH hit tool, and up the middle profile on display all summer long. The reports coming in on his ability have been glowing and put Tucker on the board in the number 78 spot. 

+ RHP Caden Nunez - Frontier HS - Now Ranked: 80

Nunez is a Bakersfield based product who took advantage of this summer to make his name known to our staff, with a strong showing during the travel ball circuit that provided exposure to his present arm talent on the mound. Then an electric bullpen session at the Bakersfield Summer ID where his athletic operation, loose fast arm speed, and strong present pitch arsenal popped quickly for our staff. He joins the board in the number 80 spot, but has a high ceiling to his future and the profile to rise in the future.

+ 3B Dylan Lee - Westlake HS - Now Ranked: 83

Lee possesses the strong frame, natural bat speed, leveraged bat path to profile for a corner power offensive profile and has the bloodlines to back it up. Hardesty got a solid look at the upside to Lee's profile during a live look at the opening weekend of the SoCal Scouts League. He will compete for a prominent spot in the Westlake High School lineup come the high school season. If he can polish his intriguing toolset into strong performances, Lee's debut in the number 83 spot will come with a rise up our board.

+ RHP Ryan Haywood - Brentwood HS - Now Ranked: 84

Haywood has now twice impressed in live looks for Hardesty and Vinnie Alfino who have seen the raw present arm talent for the SoCal product. Reaching the upper 80's with relative ease on his FB while touching the low 90's at times, he has the arm strength to project a bright future. There is still some development that will need to occur for his control, offspeed arsenal, and overall pitchability, but if those developments take, Haywood will make a major move up the board in the future.

+ LHP CJ Gamradt - Harvard Westlake HS - Now Ranked: 89

Gamradt is another arm who spent his first year of high school baseball on the lower levels, but his summer performance for our staff demonstrated the high level potential for their profile. An athletic southpaw out of the Harvard Westlake powerhouse program, Gamradt threw an impressive bullpen at the Central California Summer ID before going on to see his present FB velocity climb into the upper 80's with more to come. He flashes a solid offspeed mix and the upside to add strength that boasts a bright future for a potential rise up our board.

+ INF/RHP Ryder Miller - Redwood HS - Now Ranked: 90

Miller made the trip down from the Central Valley to Ventura College to put on a standout showing at the Central California Summer ID, which backed up the high quality reports LoForte received on Miller prior to the event. His strong offensive profile, left side of the INF defensive potential, and solid righthanded pitching profile were on display for Lukach, Hardesty and Alfino bringing Miller onto the board in the Top 100.

+ OF Matteo Zuniga - Mt. Whitney HS - Now Ranked: 92

Zuniga is an athletic LH hitter who has caught the eye of LoForte with his present ability as both an offensive piece, but his up the middle defensive profile in the OF. A two sport athlete who has the type of present ability to merit a spot inside the Top 100, the reports on him project a future potential to push up this board as he continues to improve.

+ RHP/INF Archer Moller - Ojai Valley HS - Now Ranked: 93

Moller was the star of a small school Ojai Valley School program which made a deep run in the CIF-SS playoffs. The two-way product dominated on the mound and at the plate, but his showing at the Central California Summer ID demonstrated his tools have the potential to compete at the next level. Solidly built with a strong feel to throw strikes, emerging stuff, and a starters profile, Moller was solid all summer long on the circuit to earn himself a spot in the Top 100. He will make the trip to Oregon to compete at the West Coast Super Sophomore Games to test his ability against top players from the 2028 class all around the Western Region.

+ C/INF Griffin Arnold - Santa Barbara HS - Now Ranked: 95 

Arnold was a standout on the lower levels for Santa Barbara High School in his freshman season. Now with a older crop of talent graduating from the program he will compete for a varsity spot on the Dons back-to-back league title team. His strong LH hitting offensive profile was on display for Lukach, Hardesty and Alfino at the Central California Summer ID with a loud batting practice performance. Additionally, his defensive versatility shined bright on the day showing real potential behind the plate and on the INF dirt. He debuts in the Top 100, but don't be surprised by future moves up this board.

+ SS Jacob Quintero - Ridgeview HS - Now Ranked: 97

Quintero is a wiry, athletic and projectable framed SS from the Bakersfield area who has impressive raw tools which stood out at the Bakersfield Summer ID. Throwing 87 MPH across the INF with bouncy actions on the dirt, Quintero looks the part of a potential impact SS defender in the future. When you add on an athletic RH hitting operation with strong barrel feel and middle of the diamond approach, there is high quality upside to his offensive profile. Quintero joins the board inside the Top 100 heading into his sophomore year at Ridgeview where they are looking to defend a CIF-Central Section title.

+ RHP Owen Edwards - Ayala HS - Now Ranked: 98

Edwards boasts an imposing 6'8" frame which when he toes the mound will catch eyes quickly, but then has the arsenal to back up his strong present profile. While Hardesty didn't get to see him throw in a game at SoCal Scouts League, he did get to see the upside to his ability as he threw in the bullpen on opening week. Edwards comes on the board inside the Top 100 and if he can reach what looks to be an intriguingly high ceiling will undoubtedly move higher in the future.

+ 1B Siale Tulua - St. Francis HS - Now Ranked: 100

The second half of the Tulua twin brothers in NorCal, Siale joins the rankings board with his brother Sione on the back of a strong summer showing. The LH hitter performed well during the summer circuit showing off emerging power in his offensive profile. He capped the summer by putting together a high quality three days of baseball at the California State Games and heads into his sophomore season earning a spot inside the Top 100.

Names to Know Outside the Top-100 Newcomers:

+ 1B/LHP Romeo Briones - Helix HS - Now Ranked: 102

Briones shined bright for our staff when we had a chance to get eyes on his two-way profile at the San Diego Summer ID. Sturdily built at 6'0" 235 lbs. there is power in the profile and he flashes feel to tap into it during batting practice with a peak EV above 100 MPH. The sophomore showed  sound actions at 1B where his footwork belies his size. For good measure, Briones shows a solid LHP profile on the mound with a FB in the low 80's and room to reach the mid 80's in the near future. He joins the board just outside the Top 100.

+ C Mark Alcala - Warren HS - Now Ranked: 108

Alcala is a wiry lean backstop out of the alma mater of 2x Prep Baseball All American Angel Cervantes who shows off intriguingly strong defensive ability. Alcala lived in the 2.0 range with online accurate throws during a workout, clean actions behind the dish receiving, agility in his block and an upward trending offensive profile. He also showed off his athleticism by playing the OF at the 2025 California State Games and strung together quality at bats over the three games. He earns his way onto the board at number 108.

+ SS/2B Jacoby Gonzalez - Selma HS - Now Ranked: 114

Gonzalez earned his way to the varsity level at Selma HS in the Central Valley in 2025 where he showed off an athletic defensive profile that will stay up the middle long term. Then comes the sneaky good LH hitting profile he shows with some thump to his pull side while showing line-to-line hard contact. Compact in size, but big on present ability with potential for even more in the future, Gonzalez could push for a Top 100 spot in the future.

+ 1B/LHP Ayden Francisco - Frontier HS - Now Ranked: 115

Francisco is a bigger body LH hitter out of the Bakersfield area who made a loud impression on Hardesty during his performance at the Bakersfield Summer ID. Taking an aggressive swing, Francisco finds the barrel consistently with impact from the middle to pull side of the field while being a solid defender at 1B. Mix in a quality LH pitching profile with solid stuff, feel to throw strikes, and the operation to profile as a starter on the mound in the future, and you get an intriguing two-way player. Combined with strong reports about his ability to perform in game, Francisco makes his debut in the 115 spot on our board.

+ 1B/LHP Ryan Miller - Granite Bay HS - Now Ranked: 130

Another NorCal product, Miller stood out during the spring season at Granite Bay High School. But it was the quality of the reports coming in on him to LoForte after his solid showing at the NorCal Preseason All State that help bring him onto the board in the number 130 spot. There is two-way potential to his profile and he put an exclamation mark on his summer showing with a MVP performance during a summer travel baseball tournament. 

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

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