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San Diego Preseason All-State: Quick Hits

January 14, 2026
By: Vinnie Alfino
Manager, Content & Operations

 

   

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -  On Sunday, January 11th, the Prep Baseball California team hosted the San Diego Preseason All-State at Maranatha Christian HS in San Diego, Cal. This was an invite-only event for high school classes (2026-2029), and gave our staff an ample look at the area's top prospects.

Nearly 50 players made their way to Maranatha Christian and participated in a pro-style workout followed by a full 8-inning game, gathering unrivaled access to data through our state-of-the-art tech partners, as well as in-depth scouting analysis from our Prep Baseball California staff.

Today, we will take a look at some of the standout performers from the San Diego Preseason All-State.

TOP PERFORMERS

Tyce Johnson SS / Linfield Christian School, CA / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 17 / POS: 8 OverallRank: 83 / POS: 27

Johnson arrived at the San Diego Preseason All-State as one of four top-20 ranked players in the state for the 2028 class, currently sitting at No. 17, and did nothing but strengthen his case as one of California’s premier young prospects. A true long-term shortstop with elite athleticism, Johnson’s day began with a 6.79 60-yard dash, a notable jump from his 7.01 time recorded in September at the West Coast Super Sophomore Games. In BP, he showed off the offensive ability with a 99.5 mph max exit velocity (92.2 avg), 358-foot max batted distance, and a 75% hard-hit rate, supported by plus hand speed (23.9 mph) and bat speed peaking at 76.7 mph. While there is a slight hitch in the swing, it continues to smooth out, and when he’s on time, the path through the zone is fluid and efficient. Defensively, Johnson may have been the standout of the entire event. He arguably took the smoothest round of defense at shortstop during the workout, showing soft hands, no wasted actions, and one of the quickest, most compact releases in attendance. His arm strength peaked at 87 mph across the diamond, pairing well with his internal clock and accuracy. That defensive excellence carried directly into game action, where Johnson made two full-extension, leaping catches on line drives at second base, drawing a smile even from himself after the second grab. He capped off the day offensively with a base hit the other way in one of his three plate appearances, completing a truly well-rounded performance. With the toolset, MLB bloodlines, and off-the-charts athleticism, Johnson continues to establish himself as one of the fastest-rising names in the 2028 class.

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

Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 41 / POS: 15

Sheffer continues to tap into his athleticism, and the progress is showing clearly. His 60-yard dash has taken another step forward, clocking in at 6.77 over the weekend after running 6.90 and 7.17 in 2025. That improved athleticism carries over defensively, where Sheffer continues to separate himself as one of the top defensive shortstops in the state for his class. His arm strength has jumped to 88 mph, up from the fall, and the ball is now carrying with more authority across the diamond. Paired with his advanced defensive instincts and clean glove work, he looks every bit the part of a long-term shortstop. Offensively, the bat continues to trend in the right direction. Sheffer posted a 96.2 mph max exit velocity, 89.7 mph average, and a 358-foot max distance, working with an uphill path geared to drive the ball in the air. In live action, he collected a base hit and also barreled another ball for an out. What truly separates Sheffer, though, is his baseball IQ. Late in the game, while on second base, he tracked both the pitcher’s looks and patterns and also the catcher's sign sequence before stealing third base easily on an off-speed pitch late in the at-bat. Even on days when everything isn’t clicking, Sheffer continues to draw attention because he does the little things well, and that feel for the game consistently shows up in meaningful moments.

Joel Vargas OF / RHP / Eastlake, CA / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 63 / POS: 17

Vargas put together one of the more eye-opening performances of the event, headlined by an event-best 6.63 60-yard dash that immediately translates to his defensive profile in the outfield. He moves efficiently with ease, projecting as a long-term CF/RF option, and showed a long, fluid arm action during the defensive workout with accurate, on-line throws clocked at 83 mph. The bat was where Vargas really separated himself. He posted a 98.1 mph max exit velocity in BP, working with a gap-to-gap, line-drive approach and consistently squaring up the baseball. That approach carried into live gameplay, where he smoked a ball through the 5-6 hole for a base hit and also barreled a ball to second base, rounding out a strong two-AB showing. Seeing Vargas in live play for the second time, the offensive consistency continues to stand out, especially after an opposite-field home run back in May of the CIF-SD Section playoffs in the first viewing. With his present foot speed, a developing feel for the barrel, and a bat that has shown consistent results in live action, Vargas is proving why he is such a highly touted name out of San Diego.

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

Rankings  StateRank: 13 / POS: 6 OverallRank: 65 / POS: 20

Boyd continued to validate his status as one of the more intriguing young prospects in California with another strong showing at the San Diego Preseason All-State. He posted the second-fastest 60-yard dash at 6.65, and with a wiry, athletic frame that still has plenty of time to mature, there’s clear long-term upside tied to his natural athleticism. Offensively, Boyd turned in a strong BP round, showing strong barrel control with a 91.2 mph average exit velocity and a 95.5 mph max, driving the ball gap to gap with a max distance of 352 feet. His swing is simple and repeatable, working from a wide base with minimal stride, which allows him to stay on plane and produce consistent contact. That approach resulted in elite contact rates, including a 75% hard-hit and line-drive rate and an impressive 91.7% sweet spot rate, supported by hand speed peaking at 21.2 mph. Defensively, Boyd continues to look the part of a long-term shortstop, pairing fluid footwork with an accurate low three-quarter arm slot. His 83 mph arm velocity should continue to tick up as the frame naturally adds strength. Despite fouling a ball off his shin and missing a few innings mid-game, Boyd returned in the final inning and nearly left the yard with a deep flyout to the warning track in center field, then capped the day by making a backhand play on a ground ball up the middle at second base. Overall, Boyd’s performance added even more clarity as to why he continues to open eyes as one of the top-ranked players in California, combining athleticism, feel for the game, and a skill set that projects well long term.

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

Rankings  StateRank: 52 / POS: 10

Fien continues to trend upward and turn heads for the Prep Baseball California staff, showing clear gains in both athleticism and overall impact. He’s getting faster, posting a 6.66 60-yard dash, and paired that speed with a strong BP round highlighted by an all-fields, line-drive approach, a 96.5 mph max exit velocity, and a 66.7% hard-hit rate. Those tools translated cleanly into game action, where Fien reached base with a hit and swiped a bag, consistently making winning plays. Defensively, he looked comfortable and confident patrolling center field, a role he’s set to handle full-time this spring at Chaparral after spending 2025 in a super-utility role across multiple positions. The strides he’s made in speed, strength, and polish reflect a strong work ethic that continues to show up on the field, making Fien a compelling uncommitted 2027 prospect whose stock is trending in the right direction.

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

Stewart put his physicality on full display, consistently using his 6-2, 202-pound frame to impact the game. He opened the day with a 6.94 60-yard dash and showed arm strength during the workout with an 86 mph arm from the outfield and 85 mph across the diamond at first base. In BP, Stewart’s barrel was loud, peaking at a 102.5 mph max exit velocity with a max distance of 363 feet, working from a consistent uphill, pull-side approach designed to do damage. His raw strength was backed by elite swing metrics, posting the highest max bat speed of the event at 85.4 mph (79.5 avg) along with hand speed up to 24.3 mph (23.3 avg). That power translated directly into game action, where Stewart delivered the most impressive swing of the day, launching a no-doubt home run to right field in his final at-bat. The combination of size, strength, bat speed, and in-game power makes Stewart an intriguing follow for me as he gears up for his junior season.

Brody Brehm RHP / 1B / Rancho Bernardo High, CA / 2027

Brehm entered the event as an under-the-radar name and left as a name to follow moving into the 2026 season, putting together a strong showing across multiple facets of the game. Offensively, he posted loud metrics across the board, including a 96 mph max exit velocity, 90.5 mph average EV, and a 374-foot max batted distance. That power translated immediately into live action, as he homered in his first at-bat, showing off the same pull-side power he displayed during BP. Brehm also flashed two-way ability on the mound, sitting 84-86 mph with his fastball while spinning it up to 2333 rpm. He showed feel and command of his slider at 71–72 mph, which featured heavy horizontal break with late vertical action, giving him a reliable secondary weapon. With a strong, physical 6-5, 226-pound frame that already stands out and still has room to continue developing over the next two years, Brehm looks like a prospect whose arrow is pointing up and one who will be worth tracking closely throughout the 2026 baseball season.

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

Rankings  StateRank: 78 / POS: 13

Skelskey stood out as one of the more athletic catchers in attendance, separating himself with a rare blend of speed, arm strength, and defensive polish. Not many primary catchers move well, but Skelskey is a clear exception, posting a 6.74 60-yard dash, one of the top times on the leaderboard. That athleticism carried over to the offensive side, where he turned in a strong BP round with a 98.3 mph max exit velocity and 362-foot max batted distance. At the plate, he stands tall with a slow, controlled load that creates torque and a rubber-band effect through the zone, and he showcased that approach in game action with an impressive opposite-field base hit. Behind the plate is where Skelskey truly shined. He recorded 1.89-2.06 pop times and led the event with an 83 mph arm velocity, with every throw on line and consistently in the tag zone, making life easy for middle infielders. His actions were clean, athletic, and confident throughout. Expected to see some playing time at catcher this season for Corona, Skelskey’s lanky 6-1, 172-pound frame still has plenty of room to mature, and as the body continues to develop, there’s a strong chance his overall game takes another step forward.

Gavin Carcelen SS / RHP / Los Osos High, CA / 2029

Rankings  StateRank: 44 / POS: 14

Carcelen has made noticeable strides both physically and on the field since the Junior Future Games back in July, and the progress was evident throughout this showing. After growing an inch and adding 10 pounds, Carcelen now checks in at 6-0, 161 pounds, and the added strength is clearly translating. Offensively, his exit velocity climbed to 91 mph, working with a consistent line-drive approach, and he squared up the baseball twice in live game action. On the mound is where Carcelen really stood out. His fastball sat 79-81 mph with the ability to command it to the glove side, and the high spin rates (2100-2200+) paired with his projectable, wiry frame point toward future velocity gains. He recorded three strikeouts against five batters, relying heavily on his secondary offerings, highlighted by a curveball at 66-69 mph that showed slurve-like action and comfort using it in any count. Continued strength gains should be a key focus moving forward, though part of that development is likely to come naturally as he matures. For a freshman in attendance, Carcelen more than held his own and is clearly trending upward as he heads into his first high school season.

Jose Ortega RHP / OF / Calexico High, CA / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 111 / POS: 37

Ortega is an uncommitted 2026 right-hander who continues to show he’s an efficient strike-thrower with a knack for getting outs. In his five batters faced, Ortega allowed no solid contact, giving up just one infield single while striking out two and consistently working ahead in counts. His fastball sat 85-88 mph with arm-side life, playing well in the zone and setting up his secondary mix. Ortega showed two effective off-speed offerings in a curveball (68-71 mph, -16.6 avg HM, 83% in the zone) and a splitter (75-77mph, -10.6 max IVB), both capable of generating swing-and-miss through the zone. The secondaries paired well off the fastball and helped keep hitters uncomfortable. With a projectable 6-3, 200-pound frame, there’s a strong chance more velocity is still untapped, and if that jump comes, Ortega’s overall projection and ceiling rise significantly. As it stands, he’s a reliable, competitive 2026 arm who would most definitely be able to help a college program at the next level.

Other Notable Performers

+Ethan Miller

+Dane Disney

+Will Blanton

+Luke Wooten

+Landon Palmer

+Robert Bering

+Maximus Villalva

+Romeo Briones

+Max Adams

+Michael Ruiz

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