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The California Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the Prep Baseball Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the California Scout Blog is loaded with information…

Tuesday, April 15th

Garces Memorial vs. Templeton

Gavin Williams, SS/C, Garces Memorial, 2027

Williams was a must see 2027 for me after his loud workout at the 2025 Central California Preseason All State event in January and this look backed up his rising profile in the 2027 class. With an athletic build at 6’4 and some present strength to a frame which still projects to continue adding strength as he matures in the future, Williams quickly passes the eye test. Then once the game starts his athleticism shows up all over the field (Williams is a standout FB player as well) which on this day included him starting at SS where he looked very comfortable playing with smooth hands, comfort playing downhill to his glove side and throwing arm side (flashes one-hand & two-hand ability) with the arm strength to be a solid SS although his profile would play even higher at 3B should his future defensive home wind up on the INF dirt (is a catcher who shows a strong future profile at the premium spot). While as fun as the future is for where Williams can wind up defensively, the loudest tool in a very strong arsenal of tools is what he does in the batters box. Williams is a converted switch hitter, but currently only hitting RH in games as he continues to get more comfortable with his LH swing (showed upper 90’s EVs at the Central CA PSAS from LH side with consistent hard contact) and the operation in the box is impressive. He controls his load into the launch position with natural body control while flashing rhythm/timing to track pitches with comfort which led to a high quality approach over five plate appearances. His emerging physicality and ease of getting to his top end bat speed with feel to use his lower ½ effectively for an aggressive turn generates real present power to the middle of the field as evidenced by a rocket 3-run homer just to the RCF side of straightaway CF (he launched several deep drives to CF at Central CA PSAS) and has the feel of a future line to line power profile. But, power is not his only tool at the plate as Williams demonstrates a sound approach/feel to hit including ability to adjust within an at-bat (fouled off an early low CB in second AB and then laid off three more later in at bat to draw a walk) and plate coverage (punched a 1B to RF on a hit and run by covering a breaking ball down and away) then was disciplined to not expand the zone over his final two plate appearances when he was pitched around to draw two more BBs. With intriguing defensive versatility, loud present offensive ability, athleticism in his actions, emerging physicality in his frame and projection still ahead of him Williams is making an impressive rise up the board in 2027 and will be a must follow for college coaches this summer ahead of the August, 1st contact date.