Prep Baseball California All-State First Team
June 30, 2026
Follow @PrepBaseballCA Follow @LesLukach Follow @hardy03bsblFollow @HankLoForte Follow @vinniealfino42
New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - Another spring season of CIF High School baseball statewide has completed and the season was full of thrilling performances by both players and teams. Based on a season's worth of statistics, achievements, awards and records broken we at Prep Baseball California have received submissions/recommendations from high school coaches around the state to nominate their players for All-State recognition.
Our staff reviewed and discussed the submissions/recommendations made by the coaches throughout the state and selected a pair of All-State teams: First and Second along with an All-Freshman team. For a player to make one of these teams they had to be directly submitted or recommended to our staff via their coaching staff.
With over 300 submissions, this was arguably the most difficult process our staff has gone through to select these teams.
James Tronstein of Harvard Westlake was announced as the California State Player of the Year after his record setting season for the Wolverines.
Today, we announce our First Team All-State honorees.
FIRST TEAM:
PITCHERS:
 |
Jensen Hirschkorn RHP / Kingsburg High, CA / 2026The former Future Games standout saved the best for his last season of high school baseball. The LSU signee was a two-way standout for Kingsburg High School earning first team all-state honors on the mound after a spectacular season. Hirschkorn finished the season with a 9-1 record and two saves with a miniscule 0.71 ERA. He finished every game he started ending with 10 complete games. Hirschkorn finished with 112 strikeouts allowing just 17 hits and six earned runs over 59 innings pitched during his senior campaign. At the plate Hirschkorn hit .568 with 11 doubles and eight home runs. He walked 37 times and struck out five times to go with 15 stolen bases. HIrschkorn earned Player of the Year in his league and threw two no-hitters and two one-hitters this season. He is widely regarded as a first round pick in the MLB Draft. 
|
 |
Jake Ourique RHP / Gahr, CA / 2026The future Oregon Duck had a masterful season on the mound for Gahr en route to earning Gateway League Pitcher of the Year honors. He was an impressive 5-0 with five no-decisions in ten starts against teams ranked in the Top 10 of the Prep Baseball California Power 25. Ourique finished the season throwing 52.8 innings with 83 strikeouts and just seven walks and an impressive 0.93 ERA en route to earning Pitcher of the Year in his league. Ourique allowed just seven earned runs over his 10 starts, all against top teams in the region. 
|
 |
Jordan Ayala RHP / Norco High, CA / 2027A long known name in baseball circles, Ayala made a splash when he reclassified to the 2027 class where he immediately jumped to the front of the line pitching prospects for MLB Draft considerations. A legitimate two-way player for Norco, Ayala was at his best on the mound for the Cougars where he finished with an 8-1 record with his only loss in a complete game effort in the CIF-SS DI Championship game. Over 59 innings pitched, Ayala allowed just six earned runs finishing with 81 strikeouts and a miniscule 0.71 ERA. Ayala threw four complete games with two shutouts to his record. For good measure, Ayala slashed .406/.463/.646 for the Cougars with four home runs and 34 hits on the season. 
|
| |
Julian Garcia RHP / St. John Bosco, CA / 2026Garcia turned in arguably the most dominant performance in the last decade-and-a-half in CIF-SS DI Championship Game leading St. John Bosco to back-to-back championships. Garcia finished with a complete game one hit shutout that included 14 strikeouts, saving his best for last as he set himself up to be a high round draft pick in this year's MLB Draft. In 12 starts, Garcia threw 70.1 innings allowing just eight earned runs and finishing with 108 strikeouts and finishing with a 0.80 ERA en route to earning Trinity League Pitcher of the Year honors. He finished with a 9-1 record with his lone loss coming in a spring break tournament. Garcia was the starting pitcher two seasons ago in the CIF-SS D3 Championship Game where he was the tough luck loser on a late play at the plate. He missed all of last season with an arm injury before bouncing back to post one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory. 
|
 |
Justin Kirchner RHP / Harvard-Westlake, CA / 2027For a program that has two current Big League pitchers, Kirchner turned in arguably the best pitching season in Harvard Westlake history. Kirchner, a Vanderbilt commit, set a new school record with a 0.53 ERA that included a no-hitter against league rival Loyola. In 13 starts, Kirchner threw 66.2 innings en route to an 11-0 record that included three complete games and the aforementioned no-hitter. He allowed just five earned runs and 41 hits and finished with 93 strikeouts. In a huge league matchup against Notre Dame that had first place implications, Kirchner was dominant, throwing a three hit complete game shutout. The former Future Games standout has seen a significant uptick in velocity that has him positioned as a legitimate MLB Draft prospect heading into his season campaign. 
|
| |
Drew Slevcove LHP / Cypress, CA / 2026Slevcove entered his senior season coming off a very strong summer that saw him pitch in multiple championship games of various tournaments. He carried that momentum into his final high school season and put together a record breaking campaign for Cypress. The future UCSB Gaucho set records and was virtually unhittable all season long. Slevcove finished with a 6-0-1 record while breaking the single season school record for strikeouts with 97 while being the ace of a staff that broke the season school record for strikeouts as a team. Two of his best performances of the season came against two nationally ranked teams. One came in a win over Basic (NV.) and the other was holding St. John Bosco to one run over eight innings pitched. For the season Slevcove threw 69 innings with 97 strikeouts against 14 walks. He allowed just 10 earned runs and finished with 1.01 ERA. Slevcove had two complete games and also had two games where he went into the eighth inning of a scoreless game and received two no-decisions in those games. Slevcove earned League MVP honors at the end of his senior season. 
|
| |
Tyler Ritter RHP / Roseville, CA / 2026Rankings StateRank: 119 / POS: 41
There’s dominant, then there’s what Ritter did this season. The senior out of Roseville High School put together a record breaking season to cap off a record breaking career. Ritter set a school record with 124 strikeouts against just 16 walks and finished his career with well over 200 strikeouts to his record. He was 11-0 with three saves and an ERA of just 0.63 in what will go down as the best season in school history for a pitcher. His best performance came in a 17 strikeout no-hitter against league rival Del Camp where he was a walk away from a perfect game. In the section title game he threw 6.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and just one earned run. In the regionals he threw a complete game then came back and closed the championship for the Tigers. RItter was named League MVP after the regular season. The UC Davis commit heads off to college with one of the best pitching seasons in his section under his belt, and at 6’1” 200-pounds, appears to have the look and build of a frontline starter for the Aggies down the road. 
|
INFIELDERS:
 |
Dylan Seward SS / Norco High, CA / 2027Now a two-time Prep Baseball All-American, Seward continues to strengthen the case to become the No. 1 overall selection in the 2027 MLB Draft. Already ranked as the No. 1 player in the nation's 2027 class, the Norco shortstop backed up the lofty expectations with another dominant spring, leading the Cougars to a 27-4 record while cementing his place among the state's elite talents. Seward hit .442 with 46 hits, ranking third all-time in a single season in Norco program history. The standout shortstop also produced nine doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 27 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases while posting a .528 on-base percentage and .750 slugging percentage. The season included a home run in Norco's first-round playoff victory over Maranatha, adding another clutch performance to an already impressive résumé. With another high school season still ahead, Seward remains one of the premier prospects in the country and continues to elevate an already elite draft profile. 
|
| |
Trey Ebel SS / Corona High School, CA / 2026After helping Corona capture yet another strong season, Ebel once again proved to be one of the most dangerous bats in one of the state’s premier lineups. The senior shortstop consistently delivered in the middle of the order and produced several memorable performances, none bigger than a two-home run, 10-RBI explosion that ranks among the top single-game offensive performances in California this spring. Ebel finished the season hitting .417 with 45 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 37 RBIs while posting a .496 on-base percentage and .796 slugging percentage. The impact bat also scored 24 runs and struck out just six times in 108 at-bats, showcasing a polished offensive approach to complement the power. Ebel saw his draft stock rise in 2026 and helped lead Corona to a 23-8 team record. 
|
 |
Trey Howell-Chase SS / Rio Americano High, CA / 2027Rankings StateRank: 66 / POS: 17
After representing Team NorCal at the 2025 Future Games, Howell-Chase followed up with an all-around strong season in 2026. The athletic infielder earned Capital Valley Conference MVP and Rio Americano Team MVP honors while leading the program to its first Section championship in 30 years and rewriting the school record book with 39 stolen bases. Howell-Chase slashed .477/.532/.679 with 52 hits, seven doubles, six triples, one home run, and 39 RBIs on top of the school-record 39 bases. The championship game served as the perfect exclamation point, as Howell-Chase collected two hits, including a triple, and turned in several highlight-reel defensive plays at shortstop to help secure the historic title. The combination of tools and the strong spring establishes Howell-Chase as one of the top uncommitted players in California's 2027 class. 
|
 |
CJ Weinstein SS / Orange Lutheran, CA / 2026After transferring to Orange Lutheran for his senior year, Weinstein quickly became an integral piece of one of the country's premier programs. The middle infielder consistently delivered in the biggest moments, helping the Lancers to a 25-6 record while producing two clutch walk-off hits during the spring. A big moment for Weinstein came when he hit a grand slam against Trinity League rival Santa Margarita. The LSU signee finished the year hitting .351 with 33 hits, nine doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 20 RBIs while posting a .463 on-base percentage and a 1.016 OPS. The polished offensive approach resulted in just two strikeouts across 94 at-bats while scoring 20 runs, providing Orange Lutheran with a dependable middle-of-the-order presence throughout another deep postseason run. 
|
 |
Justin Lopez 2B / Villa Park, CA / 2026Rankings StateRank: 121 / POS: 1
2026 was capped off for Lopez by earning the Crestview League Offensive Player of the Year honors after serving as one of the driving forces behind Villa Park's success. The senior shortstop impacted the game on both sides of the ball with a steady bat and dependable defense throughout the spring. Lopez finished the season hitting .441 with 41 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 14 RBIs while posting a .544 on-base percentage and a 1.189 OPS. The polished offensive approach also produced 27 runs scored, 18 walks, and 12 stolen bases, making Lopez a constant threat whenever he reached base. The complete all-around game and consistent production made Lopez one of the top-performing shortstops in Orange County during his senior campaign. |
 |
Wylan Rottschafer SS / Costa Mesa High, CA / 2026Rankings StateRank: 92 / POS: 24
A standout at the 2025 West Coast Games, Rottschafer carried that momentum into a big senior year at Costa Mesa, continuing to be one of Southern California's most underrated two-way players. The future CUI Golden Eagle set new program career and single-season hits records while making just as much of an impact on the mound as he did at the plate. Rottschafer hit .458 with 44 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 22 RBIs, 39 runs scored, and nine stolen bases, finishing with a 1.295 OPS. The spring featured several memorable performances, including hitting for the cycle against University and a dramatic seventh-inning game-tying home run against Ocean View. On the mound, Rottschafer was equally dominant, going 3-0 with seven saves, a 0.71 ERA, and 45 strikeouts over 29.2 innings while converting all seven save opportunities. The remarkable two-way season appears to have Rottschafer ready for the next level with the potential to make an impact right away in 2027. |
 |
Trevor Harper 1B / Clovis North High, CA / 2026Harper put together one of the finest offensive seasons in the entire Central Section in 2026 for Clovis North. The senior first baseman rewrote the Broncos' record book, setting new single-season program records with a .539 batting average and 16 doubles, earning TRAC Co-Conference Player of the Year honors in the process. Harper finished the season hitting .539 with 48 hits, 16 doubles, five home runs, and a 1.529 OPS while reaching base at a .642 clip. The standout campaign also included 18 free passes, showcasing an advanced offensive approach that made Harper one of the toughest outs in the state. One of the signature moments of the season came during a two-home run performance against Clovis West, a game that also marked the 100th hit of Harper's high school career. The remarkable spring solidified Harper's place among the most productive hitters in Clovis North history. |
CATCHERS:
| |
Brogan Witcher C / Liberty High, CA / 2027The Bakersfield product and recent University of South Carolina commit produced a spring full of buzzworthy moments and loud noises, en route to helping Liberty HS win the CIF-Central Section D1 title. Witcher was a force in the Patriots lineup, hitting .460 with 46 total hits, including 25 extra base hits, highlighted by his 14 home runs and supported by the 11 doubles he hit. The RH hitter accounted for a total of 85 runs produced with 44 runs scored and 41 runs driven in. He drew more walks than strikeouts in the spring season (16 - 14) while posting an eye-popping OPS of 1.573 in 132 plate appearances. He earns first-team honors as a catcher, but don’t discount what he provided the Patriots on the mound, throwing 33.2 innings with 67 strikeouts while winning four games with four saves. 
|
 |
Carson Sheffer C / Oaks Christian, CA / 2026The former Prep Baseball Future Gamer in 2024, who added appearances at the West Coast ProCase in 2025 and the Super Sixty in 2026, capped his strong high school career with a dominant senior campaign. Long known as one of the top defensive catchers in California and the country, his explosive offensive spring helped the Lions to a berth in the CIF-SS D1 playoffs. Over 125 plate appearances this spring, Sheffer hit .440 with 44 total hits, including 22 extra base hits, fronted by his 14 doubles, and paced by five homers with three triples. He accounted for 60 total runs by driving 24 while scoring 36 himself. Sheffer drew an impressive 22 walks to just eight strikeouts on the year and added an OPS of 1.326, including an OBP over .500 for the spring. 
|
| |
Wyatt Rosenthal C / Bullard, CA / 2026The senior backstop helped guide the Bullard program to a runner-up finish in the CIF-Central Section D1 level. Over 28 games played in the spring, he hit .425 with a .484 OBP while slugging .549. He posted 34 total hits in the spring with 10 doubles and one triple. Even more impressive in the nearly 100 plate appearances this spring, he struck out just two times while drawing nine walks. His offense provided the backbone to a Bullard team, but he also solidified their pitching staff, serving as the team's closer with 25+ IP, saving 13 games with 37 Ks in the spring. |
OUTFIELDERS:
 |
Blake Bowen OF / JSerra Catholic, CA / 2026The Oregon State signee and one of the most highly touted draft prospects in all of the country, finished off his senior year with very impressive offensive and power numbers. Coach Brett Kay stated, “He’s the best athlete we’ve ever had”, and from what our staff has seen over the past four years from Bowen, that statement couldn’t be more true. He hit nine home runs this season, which has only happened one other time in school history. Over the course of the season, Bowen slashed a .360 average, a .491 OBP, and slugging .738. Unfortunately, J Serra didn’t have the season they wanted, ending up with a 11-17 with a very tough schedule, but Bowen proved why he was one of the most impactful players in the whole state. 
|
 |
Anthony Murphy OF / Corona High School, CA / 2026Murphy went out with four spectacular years of playing ball at Corona High School, ever since he had stepped foot on the field as a freshman, he has been an impact player and one of the most prominent names in all of SoCal. The LSU bound outfielder has had a plethora of clutch moments in his career, he has a total of 34 career home runs, along with 11 home runs that he hit this season. Murphy slashed .394/.500/.807 along with six doubles, three triples. He only struck out 22 times and walked 20, defensively Murphy held a .985 fielding %. Not only was Murphy a force on offense, but on the mound he went 2-3, 16 IP with four saves, 20 strikeouts, and a 3.94 ERA. Whether Murphy ends up at LSU or the Draft, he’s made a name for himself as one of the top outfielders to make their way through Corona High School. 
|
| |
Rome Griego OF / Vacaville, CA / 2026Coming out of Vacaville, CA, Griego put together one of the best overall careers at Vacaville High School in front of coach Stu Clary. He finished with a .468/.514/.596 and out of the 30 games played he slashed 44 hits, 37 singles (#1 all time), with seven extra base hits. Patrolling the outfield, Griego goes down as one of the most athletic guys to come through the school, with a combination of speed and power, his future is bright. Griego had 15 strikeouts to 9 walks, two home runs which helped his Vacaville team to a 20-10 record. Coach Clary spoke very highly of Greigo, considering he broke a lot of his school's records by the end of the year, including 30 stolen bases (#3 all time) and 92 career hits (#2 all time). |
 |
Parker Smith 3B / Poway High, CA / 2026Rankings StateRank: 79 / POS: 4
The Senior OF out of Poway High School went out on his own terms, he carried a lot of the offensive all year, he slashed .400/.496/.720 with an 1.216 OPS along with 39 runs scored, 17 doubles and five home runs. The power numbers continued to rise with 20 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases. On April 13th, Smith received player of the week after continuing his hot streak with the bat. Speedy outfielders who can run and hit are always a hot commodity, Smith stapled himself as one of Poway;s best players this season, and really showed his true talent amongst the San Diego region. |
| |
Austin Finegan OF / Buchanan, CA / 2026Rankings StateRank: 269 / POS: 55
The Berkeley bound outfielder helped Buchanan to a 20-11 record. Finegan slashed .413 AVG on the year with nine doubles, three triples, five homeruns, 19 RBI’s, and 11 stolen bases. The Fresno area is always loaded with talent, Finegan continued to prove all year long how much of a competitor and winner he is. Finegan was an on base machine with a .553 OBP and an OPS of 1.292, showing he can not only get on base but drive guys in too. Finegan ended the year with a perfect 1.000 fielding %, making him a premium guy out of the Valley. He also was awarded the conference Player of the Year, on the mound Finegan had a 3.94 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 21.3 innings pitched. 
|
| |
Brady Simon OF / Los Gatos, CA / 2026The two sport athlete out of Los Gatos High School put up a monster senior year, helping his squad to a 24-3 record on the season, nearly beating Franklin in the Section finals. Simon was the League Co-MVP and set the record for most runs scored. On the season Simon slashed a .462 batting average, 42 R, 25 RBIs, 12 doubles, and six home runs. Whether he was on a football field or baseball field, Simon took over wherever he was at, his athleticism will carry a lot of weight, especially once he commits to playing one sport in college. Simon takes mature at bats and is a leader on defense when in the outfield. |
TWO-WAY PERFORMERS:
| |
Daunte Bell LHP / Millikan High, CA / 2026Rankings StateRank: 165 / POS: 11
Bell had the best season of his career in his final season of his high school career. He finished with 100 strikeouts against just nine walks on the season and hit .366 in helping lead Millikan to another postseason bid. And while the University of Houston signee is headed to the Lone Star State as a pitcher, his hitting helped elevate the Rams to a deep playoff run that came oh so close to winning a championship. Bell slashed .366/.480/1.004 finishing with two home runs amongst his 30 hits to go with 16 walks. On the mound he was spectacular, he threw 83.2 innings finishing with a 9-4 record with one save. He allowed just eight earned runs and finished with 0.692 ERA en route to League MVP honors. Amongst his pitching highlights were the complete game shut out win in the CIF-SS D3 quarterfinals. |
 |
Jared Grindlinger OF / Huntington Beach, CA / 2026The Prep Baseball All-American made news by reclassifying to the 2026 class where he’s widely considered a first round pick with many outlets realizing what our staff has known for years, he might be a better hitter than a pitcher, which is saying a whole lot. On the mound Grindlinger went a perfect 5-0 including wins of St. John Bosco, over Newport Harbor to clinch a league title, and over Temecula Valley on the road in the playoffs. He allowed just seven earned runs on 30 hits and finished with a 1.02 ERA. Offensively he slashed .351/.417/.874 over his 33 hits on the season. He finished with eight doubles and one home run. He had 11 walks and just two strikeouts. Arguably the most impressive statistic is his .997 fielding percentage while playing outfield full-time when not pitching. The Tennessee signee will likely hear his name called early enough in the upcoming MLB Draft to require him to make a decision as to his future destination. 
|
 |
Logan Schmidt LHP / Ganesha, CA / 2026Schmidt made his only season of high school baseball a very big one. After being homeschooled, Schmidt joined the Ganesha program and helped lead the Giants to a CIF-SS D2 Championship. Schmidt, an LSU signee and probable early pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, had a monster season on both sides of the ball. Offensively he was remarkable hitting .568 with 34 RBI’s, five home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, and 30 runs scored. He was the heartbeat of what was a loaded lineup for the Giants that included several college commits. As good as Schmidt was at the plate, it’s on the mound that will see him drafted next month and where his pro career should flourish. He was 10-0 over 60 innings pitched. He allowed just 15 hits while striking out 103 batters and finishing with 0.12 ERA. Schmidt made the most of his first playoff appearance striking out 14 on three hits to go with three hits at the plate in his quarterfinals appearance. He added three more hits in the semifinals before registering his one save of the season in the championship game. 
|
 |
Dax Hardcastle RHP / St. Mary's, CA / 2026Hardcastle got hot after a trip to SoCal where his team faced off against some of the best teams in the region. He carried that throughout the season en route to earning the CIF-SJS Player of the Year award. The Mississippi State signee was a true two-way threat in his final season that saw him slash .394/.483/1.079 finishing with three home runs and 11 doubles among his 39 hits in 99 at-bats. On the mound he was equally impressive throwing 62.1 innings ending with 116 strikeouts against just 14 walks and a miniscule 0.56 ERA while allowing just five earned runs. Hardcastle finished with an 8-1 record on the season while opponents hit just .110 against him. He also had three complete games on the mound. As a result of his season Hardcastle has elevated his status as an MLB Draft prospect this year, and whether is college or pro ball, he has this magical season to look back on as assurance of his abilities. 
|
RELATED CONTENT