West Valley PID: Quick Hits (2/1)
February 3, 2026
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GLENDALE, AZ – On Sunday, February 1, 2026, the Prep Baseball Arizona staff was at Apollo High School in Glendale, Arizona for the West Valley Preseason ID. The event brought together a strong group of prospects from the 2030 through 2026 classes and served as an early season checkpoint as players prepared for the upcoming spring.
Each participant received a full Prep Baseball profile update that included a headshot, video, showcase metrics, and advanced data. With profiles accessed by college programs nationwide, the event provided meaningful exposure while giving our staff an important early look at West Valley talent. This Quick Hits article highlights the players who stood out most and made a strong impression throughout the day.
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*PLAYERS LISTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
2026
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Marley Chancey OF / SS / Liberty, AZ / 2026Rankings StateRank: 89 / POS: 25
Marley was one of the more athletic and well rounded position players at the West Valley PID. He moves with real rhythm and urgency on the field, showing confident actions defensively and a quick clean exchange that lets the arm play. The right handed bat is built for contact and line drives, staying balanced and on time with a flatter path that allows him to use the whole field. There is some twitch in the swing and enough strength present for impact, and as the frame continues to mature the offensive ceiling should keep climbing. The athleticism stands out across the board and gives him versatility moving forward. Highlights: |
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Dru Moore 2B / SS / Skyline, AZ / 2026Rankings StateRank: 83 / POS: 2
Dru continues to show as a physical and polished middle infield profile with a lot to like offensively. The right handed swing has rhythm and intent, with quick hands and a barrel that stays in the zone long enough to work gap to gap and through the middle of the field. There is some present juice in the bat and when the front side stays synced, the contact quality really stands out. Defensively, he plays with feel and rhythm, showing versatility across the infield and the ability to throw from different arm angles with consistent carry. The frame, bat speed, and overall offensive foundation give him real upside as he continues to tighten things up. Highlights: |
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Brady Hallen RHP / Hamilton, AZ / 2026Brady was an arm that really stood out with his tempo and ability to mix pitches. He works with quick pace and stays aggressive down the mound, pairing a fast arm from a 3/4 slot with solid lower half usage. The fastball played well in the mid 80s with some life, but it was the breaking stuff that separated him. Both the curveball and slider showed sharp action, giving him two distinct looks that he can land and miss bats with. The delivery stays athletic and repeatable, and the overall feel for a four pitch mix gives him a strong foundation moving forward. Highlights: |
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Burke Eschmeyer OF / SS / St. Thomas More, SD / 2026Burke made his presence felt as a well rounded athlete who impacted the day on both sides of the ball. The right handed bat showed real intent and strength, working with a flatter path geared toward the middle of the field and producing loud contact when he stayed direct through the zone. The power numbers stood out, and there is more in there as the swing continues to tighten up. Defensively, he moved with ease in the outfield, showing clean footwork, body control, and an arm that plays with carry and accuracy. He also showed athleticism on the mound, giving him added versatility and long term upside. Overall, Burke is an intriguing follow with tools that translate in multiple areas of the game. Highlights: |
2027
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Zayden Peltz OF / RHP / EVIT - Chandler High School, AZ / 2027Zayden was one of the most eye opening overall athletes at the event and impacted the day in a big way on both sides of the ball. On the mound, the arm speed jumps immediately, working from a 3/4 slot with explosive lower half drive and quick twitch actions. The fastball was electric, sitting in the low 90s and touching 93 mph with life through the zone, while the slider showed power shape and depth as a legitimate secondary. Offensively, the physical right handed swing matched the arm talent. He creates loud contact with ease, staying balanced while firing the barrel through the zone with real intent and damage potential. The combination of power, arm strength, and athleticism makes him a high ceiling follow in the 2027 class. Highlights: |
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Robert Isaacson OF / LHP / Ctd - Buena High School, AZ / 2027Robert put together a strong all around showing and continues to look like a real two way follow in the 2027 class. From the left side at the plate, the swing is balanced and controlled with a flat to slightly uphill path that stays through the zone, producing consistent hard contact to all fields. The power showed up in a big way during BP and there is more damage potential as he continues to add strength. On the mound, he works with quick tempo and a clean arm from a high 3/4 to over the top slot, creating a fastball that plays heavy with sink and arm side run. Defensively in the outfield, he stays smooth and under control with an arm that plays accurately and on time. The blend of physicality, left handed power, and two way athleticism makes him an intriguing long term prospect. Highlights: |
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Zainn Noriega C / OF / Millennium, AZ / 2027Zainn showed well as a young catcher with an offensive foundation that stands out. The right handed swing is balanced and controlled, supported by quick hands and a flat to slightly uphill path that allows the barrel to stay on plane and work to all fields. There is present juice in the bat when he stays within himself, and the approach gives him a chance to produce consistent contact as he continues to mature physically. Behind the plate, he showed a clean transfer from a one knee setup and enough arm strength for the position, with pop times that will continue to tighten as the posture and direction clean up. The bat first profile and overall feel for the game make him an interesting follow in the 2027 class. Highlights: |
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Brayden Wells LHP / OF / Boulder Creek, AZ / 2027Brayden showed as a left handed athlete whose offensive profile really stood out. The swing is balanced and repeatable, working with rhythm and a flatter path that stays through the zone and produces consistent hard contact. There is already impact present in the bat, and as strength continues to come, the power ceiling should continue to rise. Defensively, he moves well in the outfield with controlled actions and an accurate arm that plays on time. The overall athleticism and left handed bat give him real value, with added upside as a two way option moving forward. Highlights: |
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Emmitt Worthington OF / Homeschool, AZ / 2027Emmitt stood out as a well rounded outfield profile with a strong blend of athleticism and offensive feel. The right handed swing is balanced and repeatable, showing consistent barrel accuracy and the ability to work the ball to all fields. He stays under control in the box with good lower half engagement, allowing the swing to produce steady contact quality with flashes of impact. Defensively, he moves well and stays on line through the baseball, pairing clean actions with an arm that shows carry and intent on throws. The athletic traits, combined with a reliable bat, make him an interesting follow in the 2027 class. Highlights: |
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Airell Aguilar SS / 2B / goddard high school, NM / 2027Airell showed as a steady and reliable middle infield presence with a clean overall skill set. The right handed swing is simple and direct, built around a line drive approach that works well through the middle of the field and allows him to use all fields when staying centered. There is present strength in the bat, and the contact quality stays consistent when he trusts the natural path. Defensively, he plays with good rhythm and timing, pairing controlled footwork with an arm that shows carry and the ability to throw from different arm angles. The feel for the infield and balanced offensive profile make him an intriguing follow moving forward. Highlights: |
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Gavin Daniels LHP / OF / Desert Mountain, AZ / 2027Gavin showed as a young left handed athlete with feel on both sides of the ball and a foundation to build on. On the mound, he works with good balance and quick tempo, creating a fastball that plays heavy with arm side run and sink from a high 3/4 slot. The arm is clean and quick, and as he continues to learn how to get deeper into the back hip, there is more velocity to unlock. Offensively, the left handed swing is rhythmic and controlled, showing a flatter path and the ability to use the whole field. Defensively, he stays under control with measured actions, and the overall athleticism gives him two way value moving forward. Highlights: |
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Chase Gilmore RHP / SS / Skyline, AZ / 2027Chase showed as a long limbed right hander with projectable traits and feel for the mound. The delivery stays compact and under control, allowing the arm to work quick and clean from a high 3/4 slot. The fastball played in the mid 80s with some life through the zone, and there is more velocity coming as the frame continues to fill out. The curveball stood out as the best secondary, showing depth and the ability to miss barrels, while the changeup gives him a usable fourth look. The overall mix, direction to the plate, and physical projection make him a strong follow in the 2027 class. Highlights: |
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Noah Heil RHP / 1B / Kofa, AZ / 2027Noah showed as a projectable two way profile with a lot of room to grow, especially on the mound. The long, lean frame and athletic timing stand out immediately, and the arm works with some quickness from an over the top to high 3/4 slot. The fastball shows life for the velocity band and should continue to tick up as he adds strength and refines the lower half usage. Offensively, the right handed swing is balanced and repeatable, built around posture and barrel accuracy with a simple approach to all fields. At first base, he showed steady actions and a reliable glove, giving him defensive value to pair with the arm upside. This is a long term follow as the body continues to mature. Highlights: |
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Kailer Smith 1B / 3B / Phoenix Country, AZ / 2027Kailer stood out for his physical presence and offensive potential. The right handed swing has rhythm and intent, using the lower half well and working with a flat to slightly uphill path that allows the barrel to stay in the zone. There is present juice in the bat, and the contact quality remains consistent when he stays within himself and works through the middle of the field. Defensively, he shows workable actions at first base with an arm that stays on line and plays with timing rather than raw strength. He also showed the ability to get on the mound and compete, giving him added versatility. The strength, bat speed, and overall offensive foundation make him an intriguing follow in the 2027 class. Highlights: |
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Grant Garduno RHP / OF / Desert Mountain, AZ / 2027Grant was one of the arms that really jumped out with present velocity and athletic movement down the mound. He works with a quick tempo and strong lower half drive, allowing the arm to work fast and clean from a high 3/4 slot. The fastball was impressive, touching 90 mph with ride and arm side life, and it plays well through the zone. The slider gives him a second look with sweep, and the changeup continues to develop as a usable third pitch. The delivery stays fluid and controlled, and the combination of arm speed, strength, and athleticism gives him a high ceiling moving forward. Highlights: |
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Sean McDaniels RHP / Liberty, AZ / 2027Sean continues to trend in the right direction with a physical frame and arm strength that stand out. The delivery stays mostly under control from both looks, and the arm works from a high 3/4 slot with some present quickness. The fastball shows real life through the zone, touching 87 mph with strong spin, and there is more velocity to come as he continues to tap into the lower half more consistently. The slider and changeup are still developing but both show flashes, giving him a workable three pitch foundation. With added strength and continued refinement of direction, Sean has clear upside moving forward. Highlights: |
2028
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Mateo Flores SS / 3B / Apollo, AZ / 2028Rankings StateRank: 48 / POS: 11
Mateo was one of the more polished young infielders at the event and plays the game with a calm, confident tempo. The right handed swing is balanced and repeatable, built around a line drive approach with strong bat to ball skills and the ability to use the middle of the field. He stays under control in the box and shows advanced barrel accuracy for his age, with more impact coming as the lower half continues to get stronger. Defensively, he really stood out with smooth, efficient actions, advanced footwork, and a quick exchange that allows the arm to play from multiple angles. The overall feel for the infield and athletic foundation make him a high follow in the 2028 class. Highlights: |
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Yadier Lizarraga C / 3B / Tolleson Union, AZ / 2028Yadier showed as a strong, physical young catcher with a mature feel for the position. The right handed bat is controlled and balanced, working with a flat to slightly uphill path that stays through the middle of the field and produces consistent line drive contact. There is some present strength in the swing, and as the approach continues to tighten up, the offensive impact should keep trending up. Behind the plate, he was impressive with quick feet, a clean transfer, and pop times hovering right around two seconds. The arm plays with carry and efficiency, and the ability to throw well from both one knee and two feet adds real value. The combination of strength, defensive skill, and feel for the game makes him a quality follow in the 2028 class. Highlights: |
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Noah Laudando C / RHP / Canyon View, AZ / 2028Noah showed as a young catcher with a well rounded skill set and real two way value. At the plate, the right handed swing is balanced and controlled, supported by quick hands and a flatter path that works through the middle of the field. He stays adjustable and shows a mature feel for contact, producing consistent impact for his age. Behind the plate, he turned in solid pop times from a one knee setup, pairing a clean transfer with an arm that plays with carry when the footwork stays compact. On the mound, the arm works loose and fast from a true 3/4 slot, giving him added versatility moving forward. The combination of offensive feel, catching skills, and arm talent makes him a strong follow in the 2028 class. Highlights: |
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Nathan Shaw SS / C / Canyon View, AZ / 2028Nathan Shaw SS C Canyon View AZ 2028 Nathan showed as a lean, athletic left handed bat with versatility on the dirt. Offensively, he works with a simple and controlled setup, using a flat to slightly uphill path geared toward the middle of the field. When he stays grounded and engaged through the lower half, the barrel stays on plane and the contact quality jumps. Defensively, he moves well laterally with good footspeed and stays in rhythm through the fielding process, showing the ability to handle different infield spots. The arm plays from multiple angles with carry, and the overall athletic foundation and projection give him upside as he continues to add strength. Highlights: |
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Jacob Arzaga C / OF / Skyline, AZ / 2028Jacob stood out as a young catcher with a strong combination of athleticism and offensive feel. The right handed swing is balanced and repeatable, showing quick hands and good lower half use that allow the barrel to stay on plane and produce consistent contact. He stays under control in the box and shows a mature approach for his age, giving the bat a chance to continue trending up as he adds strength. Behind the plate, he showed real quickness with the transfer and release, posting sub two second pop times at his best and throwing with accuracy and carry. The overall athletic actions and feel for the position make him a high follow in the 2028 class. Highlights: |
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Chase Valdez OF / RHP / Verrado, AZ / 2028Chase showed as a smooth, athletic outfield profile with a reliable offensive foundation. The right handed swing is balanced and rhythmic, working with a flat to slightly uphill path that stays through the middle of the field and produces consistent line drive contact. He maintains good posture through the swing, giving it a repeatable look and allowing the barrel to stay on plane. Defensively, he moves well with clean actions and good timing, staying under control and on line through the baseball. The athleticism, approach, and overall feel for the game make him a solid follow in the 2028 class. Highlights: |
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Anthony Solis RHP / 1B / Desert Vista, AZ / 2028Anthony was one of the more impressive young arms on the day, showing a strong blend of physicality, arm speed, and pitch mix for his age. He works with a quick, controlled tempo and uses the lower half well, allowing the arm to play clean and repeatable from a 3/4 slot. The fastball stood out, jumping into the mid to upper 80s, and the breaking ball showed real depth and power shape, giving him a legitimate secondary to build around. Offensively, the right handed swing shows present strength and juice when he stays grounded and synced, and at first base he showed quick actions around the bag with a playable arm. The combination of arm talent, strength, and two way upside makes him a high ceiling follow in the 2028 class. Highlights: |
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Christian Espinoza 3B / OF / Desert Vista, AZ / 2028Christian stood out for his physical presence and offensive strength. The right handed swing is powerful yet controlled, showing fast hands and a flat to slightly uphill path that allows the barrel to stay on plane and drive the baseball with authority. He stays balanced through contact and consistently produces loud contact when he gets the barrel out front. Defensively, the foot speed is not the calling card, but he stays in rhythm and shows enough arm strength and versatility to handle corner spots. The strength, bat speed, and impact potential make him a bat first follow in the 2028 class. Highlights: |
2029
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Julian Lopez SS / 2B / Sandra Day O'Connor, AZ / 2029Julian showed as a young middle infielder with feel, coordination, and defensive instincts that stood out for his age. At the plate, he works from both sides with a controlled setup and natural rhythm, showing his best contact when he stays through the middle of the field and keeps the barrel working direct. There is some natural quickness in the swing, and as the hand path tightens up, the offensive consistency should continue to improve. Defensively, he was impressive with smooth actions, quick hands, and clean footwork, staying on line through the exchange and finishing plays with confidence. The overall feel for the game and defensive foundation make him a strong early follow in the 2029 class. Highlights: |
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Grayson Leonardis SS / RHP / Paradise Honors, AZ / 2029Grayson showed as a long, lean athlete with plenty of projection still ahead of him. On the mound, the fastball showed ride and arm side life, giving him a foundation to build around as he continues to grow into the frame and clean up direction. Offensively, the right handed swing shows gap to gap intent with flashes of strength when he stays centered and under control. Defensively, there is still some rawness to the actions, but the size, arm strength, and overall athletic traits give him upside as things continue to tighten up. This is a long term follow in the 2029 class as the body and skill set continue to develop. Highlights: |
Upcoming Events
| Showcase | State | Date | Location |
| Preseason All-State: Underclass (Invite-Only) | AZ | 02/07 | Casteel High School - Queen Creek, AZ |
| Preseason All-State: Upperclass (Invite-Only) | AZ | 02/08 | Casteel High School - Queen Creek, AZ |
| East Valley Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) | AZ | 04/04 | Desert Ridge HS - Mesa, AZ |
| West Valley Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) | AZ | 04/11 | Verrado HS - Buckeye, AZ |
| Southern AZ Rising Stars ID (2030-2031 Grads) | AZ | 04/18 | Kino Sports Complex - Tucson, AZ |
| 2026 Four Corners ProCase | AZ | 06/02 | Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ |
