San Diego Preseason All-State: Preview Story

Jonah Boyd SS / OF / Ruben S. Ayala High, CA / 2028

From 1/2/25: “Boyd was very strong during his appearance on the Rising Stars platform in 2024 and now the rising Fr. at Ayala High School showed off his upward arrow profile with a good showing to kick off 2025. Wiry and lean at the present with a 5'9 140.4 lbs. frame the present toolset for Boyd will only continue to get better as he adds strength to his frame. Showing present 6.92 60 speed with 79 MPH INF arm velocity and 81 MPH OF arm velocity Boyd looks like an up the middle athletic defender. As well, his compact swing with quickness (20.6 MPH hand speed/68.8 MPH bat speed) produced consistent hard contact peaking at 93.4 MPH. It was a strong performance for one of the youngest players in attendance who has interesting future ceiling.” 

Romeo Briones LHP / 1B / Helix, CA / 2028

From 7/1/25: “Briones stood out as a two-way follow with a strong 6-0, 235-pound frame and intriguing metrics on both sides of the ball. On the mound, the left-hander worked 81-81.8 mph with his FB, showing carry through the zone and late glove-side life. He featured a high-spin CB at 71.2-72.8 mph with a tight, short shape, a SL at 73-75.6 mph with subtle sweep, and a deceptive CH at 74.6-76.7 mph with late fade—offering a well-rounded arsenal with effective velo separation. Offensively, Briones delivered loud contact from the left side, peaking with a 101.2 mph max exit velocity (3rd best at the event) and averaging 90.2 mph. His 60% hard hit rate combined with a level swing path produced consistent impact from gap to gap. Also flashed a 79 mph INF velo from 1B capping off a strong showing as a two-way product.”

Dane Disney OF / SS / Oaks Christian, CA / 2028

From 4/3/25: “Disney made the jump to the varsity level after starting on the JV level early this spring for the Lions and was inserted into the starting lineup for this series in the CF spot. A compact athletically built LH hitter who flashes intriguing athleticism especially with the burst in his run tool this was my first ever look at Disney. Defensively he profiles to stay in CF with a quick first step and range to cover laterally, inward and rearward, but does have some rawness in his live reads against higher level hitters that will improve as he gets more reps. The arm is decent at present, but did flash solid carry and life out of the hand which could project at least a solid future profile. At the plate I came away interested in his operation in the box with present quickness to his hands, bat speed and turn of the lower ½ which was able to handle upper 80’s touching 90 MPH velocity to put the bat on the ball. Disney’s stroke is compact with a flatter path through the zone which profiles well with his apparent high end run tool to work the middle of the field with line drive contact. He drew a BB in his first plate appearance remaining disciplined to not chase out of the zone against high quality velocity, in his second trip to the dish he got the barrel on an inner half FB and hit a solid grounder up the middle that was turned into an out. The final trip to the dish for the LH hitter showed how his run tool can impact his offensive profile when he chopped a grounder off a sinker from the TO arm, but beat it out for an INF 1B. The overall profile for Disney is more athlete with raw tools, but if he can polish those tools to play well against high level competition going forward he is going to a be name to know in the 2028 class for an Oaks Christian program that is loaded with some intriguing young talent.”

Griffin Fien OF / RHP / Chaparral High, CA / 2027

From 4/16/25: “I continue to be impressed by Fien as this was my 2nd viewing of him in as many weeks. He continues to hit at a high level this spring and has emerged as one of the most consistent offensive producers across the San Diego and Temecula area in the ‘27 class. The Chaparral standout added to his already impressive season with another strong showing, this time patrolling CF, just a week after looking just as comfortable at 2B against Murrieta Mesa. That versatility has been a major asset for the Pumas, and he’s showing he can impact the game in multiple ways. At the plate, Fien brings a balanced swing that allows him to drive the ball to all fields. He’s consistently on time, barrels the baseball with regularity, and rarely gets off his approach. There’s a calm presence in the box and the results speak for themselves. Through 54 at-bats, Fien is hitting a scorching .481 with 3 HRs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 23 RBIs, and 18 runs scored. He’s also posted a 1.323 OPS, showcasing his ability to hit for average, power, and get on base. The offensive impact is real, and he’s doing it while moving around the field and handling different defensive responsibilities with ease. Fien’s blend of production, versatility, and feel for the game makes him one of the more intriguing young players in the area—and a name that’s firmly on the radar moving forward.”

Ethan Miller SS / 2B / Centennial High, CA / 2028

From 7/30/25

Positional Profile: SS/2B Contact-oriented middle INF with feel for the barrel and strong defensive actions.
Body: 5-8, 139-pounds. Wiry, athletic build with room to add size and physical development.
Hit: RHH. Upright, balanced setup with hands resting at ear level and bat waggle present. Initiates the load by sinking into the back knee as the barrel works back, tips vertical. Utilizes a small leg kick for timing before taking a short, controlled stride forward. Fires hips at foot strike with hands quick to follow, working quickly through the zone. Shows strong bat-to-ball skills with a path that can generate lift/carry to the pull side and up the middle. Covers the inner half effectively, producing consistent hard contact. 67.3 mph bat speed with 7 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 mph. 348' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-86 mph. Quick, yet full arm path that creates depth out of the glove. Works from a 3/4 slot, producing good carry and consistent accuracy on throws to the bag. Displays present arm speed, with room to add strength as frame continues to develop. Arm profiles to stick on the left side of the INF.
Defense: Plays low to the ground with active but quiet feet, maintaining balance and control. Works with soft hands out in front, showing minimal wasted movement and clean transfers. Gets good reads and displays raw athleticism that provide a chance to stick up the middle.
ATH: 7.18 runner in the 60. 1.68 and 3.97 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 24.60 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 68.71 Edge Score 

Ryan Sheffer SS / 3B / Oaks Christian, CA / 2028

From 9/26/25: “Sheffer was the top ranked player in attendance and amongst the trio of Oaks Christian products to make their way up to Oregon. The athletic profile defender who projects to be an impact defender at the premium SS position was outstanding per usual during the INF/athletic poriton of the workout. He ran a 6.9 60 yard time with 1.66 10 yard and 3.81 30 yard splits while reaching 19.9 MPH for his max run speed (all personal bests and showcasing his upward trending athletic ability). From there he was eye-popping during defensive with the athleticism he displays moving around the dirt to all angles, the smooth quickness to his hands and the accuracy to his 85 MPH INF arm that lands the ball in the center of the 1Bs body consistently. Moving over to the offensive side he showcased the upward trend to his offensive profile that has him looking like a top of the order long term profile hitter with 23.1 MPH hand speed and 71.3 MPH bat speed. Sheffer shows a strong present feel for his barrel with impact posting 92.6 MPH max exit velocities with 38% hard hit rates from a still developing 5'11 154.5 lbs. frame with 330 max distance that is only going to keep going up as the frame fills out. Sheffer made a loud statement to support why he is amongst the Top 10 players in California for the 2028 class with his showing during the workout.”

Evan Skelskey C / SS / Corona High School, CA / 2028

Maxwell Stewart 1B / OF / Cathedral Catholic, CA / 2027

From 1/4/24:

Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. Medium frame with wiry strength
Hit: LHH. Even stance with hands by his ear. Narrow base, medium bend in legs. Raises bat towards pitcher in load. Higher launch angle that produces a lot of fly balls.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 79.1 mph. 281' max distance. Flashes some strength in the swing. There is a feel for elevating the baseball.
Arm: RH. INF-77 mph. OF-78 mph. OF: full arm swing with some arm speed. Throws shows online accuracy. INF: arm shows life to his throws on the INF with good accuracy.
Defense: OF: quickness in his actions with good angles and the transfer is solid. INF: Hands are good with decent footwork. Shows good actions around the bag.
ATH: 7.53 runner in the 60. Shows body control, some quickness 

Joel Vargas OF / RHP / Eastlake, CA / 2028

From 5/21/25: “Vargas added another big swing to his growing highlight reel, going opposite field for a two-run home run in the sixth inning that gave Eastlake a lead at the time. The ball left the bat with authority, clearing the right-field wall and showcasing the natural all-fields power that he has in his game. Vargas has drawn plenty of attention for the platform he’s built on social media, but beyond the views and the hype, he can flat out play. Currently ranked as the No. 1 outfielder in California and the No. 6 overall player in the state for the 2028 class, he continues to prove that the talent matches the buzz. Entering today, he was hitting .321 on the year with 9 doubles, showing consistent production and impact in the heart of Eastlake’s lineup. At the plate, Vargas hits from a balanced stance with a fluid, aggressive swing. He uses his lower half well, creating separation and leverage while maintaining barrel control. His power is real and plays to all fields, as shown by the opposite-field homer. He also collected a sharp GB single up the middle in the game as well. He doesn’t overswing and shows a calm, collected approach regardless of game situation. Physically, Vargas has an athletic, well-proportioned frame with present strength and plenty of projection left. He runs well, moves confidently in the outfield, and has the arm to hold down any spot. He shows clean footwork and takes quality routes to the ball. While his online presence has put a spotlight on his game, Vargas continues to let the on-field results speak just as loudly. He plays with composure, confidence, and the kind of energy that raises the level of those around him. There’s still plenty of development ahead, but his combination of tools, production, and mentality make him one of the premier names in California’s 2028 class — and a key piece of Eastlake’s present and future.” 

Tyler Vladic OF / RHP / Cypress, CA / 2027

From 1/6/24:

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. medium frame with some present strength
Hit: LHH. open stance with wider set up. hands are set above and behind the rear shoulder somewhat off the body. rear elbow is high with flat bat angle. uses a deeper leg lift with a load into the back hip while the hands stay quiet with a small coil. an aggressive move into the baseball with whippy hands through the zone that show leverage and some lift to pull side. 61.6 mph bat speed with 10.8 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 76.6 mph. 238' max distance. flashes fringe average power with pull side lift but presently more line drive flight with doubles power.
Arm: RH. OF-79 mph. arm shows quickness with low carry to the throw and some accuracy. flashes RF potential.
Defense: feet are solid with a feel for working through the ball and into the throw.
ATH: 7.65 runner in the 60. shows body control with good running stride