Top-10 Stories of 2025: No. 4 Future Games / SR. Future Games

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VENTURA - ROSEVILLE, CALIF- The dynamic of the players selected to represent the state of California at the premier uncommitted event in the nation was altered in 2025. Since California first sent a squad to the Prep Baseball Future Games now held at LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA. the state has been represented by one team. The make up this team was accomplished by selecting the top uncommitted players in the rising Soph./Jr. classes from around the entirety of California to make one talented roster. But, for 2025 the state of California was split into two rosters along the common divide of Northern California and Southern California. By splitting the state into two separate regions it afforded the most populous state and historical the most talent dense state to bring a larger amount of that talent across the country to showcase themselves in front of 400+ college coaches in one place for three days. 

THE PROCESS:

In addition to changing the actual teams that would represent California in Georgia it also provided a re-vamp to the selection process for building thest two rosters because of the increased opportunities for roster spots. With our staff now looking to pick nearly 50 players who would have the honor of representing California whie showcasing their skill sets for the coaches in attendance we had to dive deeper into the talent from around both Northern California and Southern California. To accomplish this process our staff set out on a process of bringing as many of the top prospects for these rosters together in a tryout setting across a variety of platforms. In the Southern California region players were invited/received invites to one of three Future Games Tryout locations held on 5/31/25 the campuses of Mater Dei High School, Mira Costa High School and Pepperdine University with well over 100+ players in attendance across these three events to compete for one of 24 roster spots. In Northern California on the same an elite group of 2027 players would attend the NorCal ProCase to showcase their potential profiles for the team NorCal roster. The following day on 6/1/25 SoCal was descended upon for the ProCase West with several potential 2027 candidates in attendance at this event. While on the same day in NorCal Associate Director Hank LoForte held the Future Games Tryout: NorCal. The process was not fully complete as one final tryout was held on Saturday 6/7/25 on the campus of Antelope Valley College with the Future Games Tryout: Central California open to players for Team SoCal, Team NorCal and potential members of Team West Coast in the SR. Future Games. 

Upon the completion of the two weekends of Future Games Tryouts and ProCases the framework of each teams rosters began to come together. Next, we dive into the actual representatives of Team NorCal and Team SoCal for the Future Games, plus the group of rising SRs. selected for Team West Coast in the SR. Future Games.

TEAM NORCAL:

For the first time ever, California was split between the states, and consisted of Team NorCal & Team SoCal. Team Northern California took the field at the Prep Baseball Future Games representing the region with pride, depth, and a relentless competitive edge. Competing against some of the top underclass talent in the country, the group showcased the strength of NorCal baseball on a national stage. While the final record finished at 0-2-1, the scoreboard did not fully reflect the quality of play, preparation, and talent that was on display throughout the event.

The opening game set the tone, as the pitching staff was nothing short of immaculate. Northern California arms attacked the zone, worked efficiently, and consistently challenged hitters, keeping the opposition off balance from the first pitch on. The South Texas roster was stacked with D1 & Pro talent, but that didn’t phase anyone. The performance on the mound highlighted the region’s ability to develop advanced pitchers capable of competing with elite national lineups, reinforcing NorCal’s reputation for producing high-level arms.

One of the standout moments of the event came from Davis Wilson (Vanderbilt), whose outing elevated him to All-American status. Wilson’s performance was a testament to his poise, command, and ability to rise in big moments, earning recognition among the nation’s best. His success served as a defining highlight for the team and a clear example of the caliber of talent coming out of Northern California. Wyatt McElree (Miami), Mariano Gonzalez (Texas Tech), & Vinny Boatwright (Oregon) all threw in Game 1 and did exceptionally well.

• Cooper Carleton (UCSB)
• Bryce Farris (Air Force)
• Colton Hadfield (UCLA)
• Riley Jackson (Santa Clara)
• Damien Nolan (Long Beach State)
• William Walbridge (Texas Tech)
• Stevie Wellens (Navy)

TEAM SOCAL:

Across five different opportunities for players to tryout to earn a roster spot for Team SoCal our staff saw well over 100+ members for the 2027 class. The players selected for the Tryouts went through a showcase workout to evaluate their athleticsim and tools, before then competing in a simulated game where pitchers faced 5-6 hitters with position players getting multiple ABs/defensive innings to showcase their game environment abilities. From these five tryouts our staff selected a 24 man roster to represent SoCal at the 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games. On this roster we brought three standout catchers (including one who doubled as an OF on the team), one elite LHH 1B, four top of the class middle INFs, a pair of rising corner INFs (one who saw reps in the OF) and three talented RHH OFs (one two-way) as the 13 position players to represent the state. In addition 11 arms would travel from the SoCal region of California to toe the rubber at LakePoint Sports and one two-way player.

While in Georgia the squad from SoCal was placed into a four team pod with themselves, Team NorCal, Team South Texas and Team North Texas. The pod of our four teams featured elite talent across each roster and provided for three games of high level baseball and immense opportunities for college programs to dive in on the skill sets of each player in attendance.

On opening night the squad from SoCal would match up under the lights of LakePoint Sports for a night time game against the squad from North Texas. The evening featured highlight performances from several different members of the squad in front of a packed crowd of college coaches to see these two powerhouse locations matchup. While the final score of the game did not go the way of the SoCal squad it did provide the platform to launch several players towards what would eventually be their commitments to Power Four Division 1 colleges. For more information on this opening night matchup dive into our game recap from the night here. 

For day two of the event SoCal would return to the field to take on the squad from South Texas. With another high level opponent featuring talented arms/bats the test for SoCal provided a proving ground for the SoCal squad. Again, the final score of the game did not go the way of the SoCal team, but it did not lack for fireworks from the SoCal bats and a few intriguing performances on the bump for the SoCal arms. The performances showcased on this day no doubt went a long way towards providing evidence of the eventual D1 commitments made by several of the standouts from this matchup. To dive in further on the events of our game against Team South Texas check out our game recap here.

To wrap up the three days of game play, plus one day of workouts at the 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games Team SoCal squared off with their counterparts from Team NorCal in a battle for Golden State supremacy. While a winner would have made for tremendous bragging rights for the players of SoCal the eventual result of a tie it provided evidence to the depth of talent from around the Golden State that represented both Team SoCal and Team NorCal. Similar to each of the first two games there were several standout performances from SoCal players that went a long way towards helping them earn their eventual D1 commitments. Dive in deeper on the results of the Golden State Showdown here. 

In what is undeniably the premier event for uncommitted talent from around the country the members of Team SoCal found plenty of individual success over their time at LakePoint. The most important of that success is in the amount of college commitments that has come from Team SoCal in just the 4+ months that have passed since the completion of the Future Games. With a squad of 24 players representing SoCal 63% of this team had made a verbal commitment at the time of this article (15 of 24 players). Amongst those 15 commitments a total of 12 players have committed to Power Four Division 1 schools (81% of our present commitments). Of the three non-Power Four commits two are bound for Big West programs and another is headed to compete in the IVY League. Team SoCal boasts at present three are bound for SEC programs, five currently hold commitments to Big 10 programs, three more will play in the Big 12 and one is headed to play in the ACC.

Amongst the players not committed at this time from our SoCal squad is a pair of high level backstops (one with defensive versatility to play CF), two INFs with high level bats, one two-way standout with a solid position player profile/nasty stuff on the bump and four arms each with D1 level stuff continuing to develop and improve ahead of this JR. seasons of high school baseball.

TEAM WEST COAST (SR. FUTURE GAMES):

The second version of the Prep Baseball Senior Future Games kicked off a week of high level baseball for players from California in Georgia. In the first iteration of this event California brought a smaller squad of talent in 2024, but for the 2025 version 14 players traveled across the country to showcase their abilities in front of hundreds of college coaches. Amongst the 14 players from California, 13 came from the Southern California region while one player made the trip from NorCal. This group featured a pair of two-way talents, five high level arms, three standout OF bats, a trio of talented INFs and one LHH catcher with impact in his bat.

The group from California paired up with players from Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington to form Team West Coast. Over two days the group forming Team West Coast would go through a showcase workout and three games against the likes of Team New England, Team Canada and Team Mid-Atlantic. 

On the opening day of the event for our squad from California the position players in the group went through a showcase workout where several players put together standout performances to garner attention ahead of the three games. To cap the opening day the squad from the West Coast paired up in a matchup against the squad from New England. The results of this opening round game brought a victory for Team West Coast, which was one that was powered by the performances of multiple California based bats and arms. Check out the recap of this victory here.

The second day of the SR. Future Games kicked off a doubleheader of games for the squad of Team West Coast. In the opener of the day the group from the West Coast matched up with a strong group of uncommitted SRs. out of Canada and brought home a well-earned win with several strong showings from our California based players. For a deeper look at the results of the California standouts from their showdown with Canada head here. They would complete their time at the SR. Future Games with a game against Team Mid-Atlantic. While the West Coast group fell to their counterparts from the East Coast it wasn't without strong showings from multiple California players in the game. Check out their exploits here.

As we wrap the 2025 calendar year the group of 14 California based players who represented at the SR. Future Games several have ridden their showings their to college commitments. With a total of nine of the 14 players having committed/signed with college programs for a total of 64% of that roster having made their college decisions. Of the nine present commits seven are committed to NCAA D1 programs for a total of 78% headed to the highest division of college baseball. For good measure two of the nine commits elected to commit to elite academic Division 3 institutions prior to the close of our calendar year. Both of the two-way products in attendance made their commitments to NCAA D1 programs, three more arms from the group made NCAA D1 commitments, one of the INFs on the group is headed to play at the NCAA D1 level and finally our LHH backstop picked up an NCAA D1 commitment. The two members who are headed to elite academic D3 programs were our standout LHH OF and RHH corner INF from NorCal. 

Amongst those still uncommitted from this squad is a pair of talented OF bats with impact in their offensive profiles, two arms who flash starter profiles and an intriguing up the middle profile defender with loud offensive ability.

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