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Bold Predictions, Preseason Picks and More - A Look At 2026 Oregon High School Baseball

March 16, 2026
Dan Jurik & Dylan Grenz
Prep Baseball PNW

Happy Oregon high school baseball season, baseball fans!

As the season flips to 2026, what will HS ball have in store after an exciting 2025? We asked our Prep Baseball PNW staff, Scouting Director Dan Jurik and Assistant Scouting Director Dylan Grenz, to give their insights and bold predictions heading into the spring.

Ranging from most improved teams, breakout players and championship predictions, below we’ll work through what we’re expecting in 2026.

The Teams

What team do you feel most confident in to improve on their 2025 season?

DJ: Lincoln. After going 14-14 last season I think the Cardinals are poised to improve substantially this spring. They bring back some key offensive players with seniors Blake Timothy and Graeme Warner-McGee as well as junior Portland commit Grady Wilmot. Keep an eye on sophomore Tyler Kim as a potential breakout bat for them this year. On the mound, look for Warner-McGee to be a big contributor as well as ‘28 Hunter Arana and ‘27 Jack Aleskus. I think the experience gained last season will prove to be very valuable for this group.

DG: The Central Panthers finished last season 14-12, but I think their top-end talent gives them a great shot to improve that record this spring. Arguably no team has a better 1-2 punch with Joe Mendazona and JT Girod. Both are POTY type talents if it all clicks, and are ranked first and third in our 2027 player rankings, respectively. I’m also bullish on the ability of junior Jackson Barba after a recent look at our Eugene Preseason ID. If Central can piece together enough pitching and get a few other contributions here and there, they have a real shot to be one of the best 5A sides in the state.

What state champion from 2025 has the best chance to repeat this spring?

DJ: Across all levels, every state champion has to replace a ton of production from last season as the senior classes had a huge impact in 2025. I wouldn’t say there’s a strong chance anyone repeats but I will be curious to see what this younger Summit roster can do. If they can get a lot of innings from ‘28 Ryker Hartlaub and potentially more pitching from ‘28 Evan Guadalupe, that gives them 2 really strong arms to build around. I do think Sunset brings back some nice pieces as well but the 6A landscape seems extremely competitive at the top this year.

DG: This is a tough one, as both the 5A and 6A state champs graduated eventual first round draft picks, meaning they have massive voids to fill. Pendleton and Blanchet Catholic at the 4A/3A levels graduate a ton as well. I’ll go with Sunset to repeat at the 6A level here. The Apollos bring back their innings leader in senior Parker Raubuch, who can keep them in games. Junior transfer Riley Via is a breakout candidate arm after a great winter showcase look. The lineup has talent with Marcus Pollard and Luke Sullivan as well.

What team outside of our Preseason Power 25 do you think has the best chance to enter the 25 by season’s end?

DJ: Keep an eye on Crater in 5A. This squad went 17-10 last season, 14-4 in league and they only graduated 3 seniors from their 2025 roster. They lost to West Albany in R1 of the playoffs last season but they bring back 7 of 9 starters from that game as well as their 2 arms in ‘26 Alex Johnson and ‘26 Mason Snopl. They’ll also add #1 ranked 2029 prospect Carson Noce to the varsity mix this season. 

DG: Sprague High School finished last spring as the 12th ranked team, and despite graduating significant talent, I like them to bounce back as a strong side again. The Olympians bring back experience in the lineup, including seniors Riley Wilson and Grant Moyer. They also feature a couple of exciting young prospects in Samuel Hoda and Shai Rasmussen. I think the lineup could play by season’s end.

Prediction time. What team do you feel most confident in picking as a state champion?

DJ: Taking the playoff format into consideration, I think Clackamas has an advantage here due to the sheer volume and talent of their arms. Not to mention they have athletes all over the diamond and all of them gained a ton of experience last season. I think the top of 6A is incredibly tight this spring but I’ll go with the Cavaliers as my preseason pick. 

DG: It’s hard to pick anyone other than South Salem here. The Saxons enter the spring as our top-ranked side in our Preseason Power 25 Rankings. They boast incredible talent all over the field, led by two of the top-ranked seniors in the state in Sawyer Nelson and Teagan Scott. Kellen Bowman is a dynamic two-way talent that doesn’t get talked about enough, and Harrison Buckingham is arguably the best arm in the junior class. After a 29-1 season and a loss in the state quarterfinals, I expect them to be hungry and get the job done this time around.

The Players

For the first time since 2023, we’ll have a new Prep Baseball Oregon Player of the Year. Who is your preseason pick to take home the award?

DJ: I think Grady Saunders at Thurston is set to have a huge senior campaign. The Oregon State commit has been a key part on multiple championship runs and his ability to fill the stat sheet as a 2-way player is a huge advantage when looking at the essence of the POTY award. On the mound, the low-to-mid 90s FB pairs great with his SL and he should continue to miss a ton of bats and put up gaudy numbers on the mound. 

DG: Experience and two-way impact tend to be the deciding factors in POTY conversations, and with that I’ll take Tualatin senior Trenton Hertzog. The Oregon commit will be massively important on both sides of the baseball this spring for the Timberwolves, providing pop from the left side of the plate and a quality glove on the dirt. Hertzog surprised with his ability to work deep into games and dominate on the mound last spring. I’d expect more of the same from him in his final high school season.

What pitcher will break out this spring?

DJ: The breakout may have already started with landing a recent preseason commitment to Oregon, but ‘27 RHP Andrew Roadman (Sheldon) has started to take his game to the next level. The long, lanky 6’3 athlete has always had a smooth operation and we’ve seen him up to 86-87. But recent reports have him into the low 90s now and he may have already made that next big ‘jump’. Also keep an eye on a pair of juniors with ‘27 Jack Burnham (Wells) and Grady Olson (Central Catholic)

DG: I couldn’t say enough good things about Jesuit RHP Ethan Peng after a bullpen showing at PNW Preseason All-State this February. The talented sophomore was exceptional, running a fastball up to 87 MPH with over 2400 RPM on average from a smooth, repeatable delivery. He also killed spin well on a high 70’s changeup and spun a low 70’s curveball in, both pitches for strikes. The ease in operation, projectability left in the 6’1 frame, partnered with Jesuit graduating a couple of key arms makes him a must-watch pitcher this spring.

What position player will break out this spring?

DJ: I really like the potential with ‘27 INF Calvin Sorensen (Grant) and the offensive upside he showed in the preseason. A lean, twitchy athlete, Sorensen has impressive bat speed and huge rotational output at the plate. Most recently he was up to 100.2 mph exit velocity while averaging 91.7 mph. He’s got some burst and athleticism as a runner and can really move when he gets underway with his longer strides. 

DG: I’ll go with another winner at PSAS in Wilsonville’s Carson Zellick. An athletic 6’0 lefty with 6.7 speed in the outfield, Zellick’s bat has continued to trend up across multiple showcase looks within the last year. At PSAS, Zellick posted a peak exit velocity of 102.7 MPH, averaging 91.1 MPH with a max batted ball distance of 380 feet. The bat stays through the zone well with rotational and hand speed present. Wilsonville will have high hopes after a remarkable 2025, and Zellick will be a key bat if they hope to repeat that success.

What upperclassman (junior/senior) do you expect to take a step forward?

DJ: ‘27 OF Xavier Gonzalez (McNary) looks ready for a big year. He showed progress in all areas of his game over the last year and his offensive power added an impressive level of consistency this preseason. Up to 95-96 peak EV but holding an average in the upper 80s. He has a balanced, rhythmic load and a tight turn into contact. He’s improved his speed on defense and the arm strength is into the low 80s now, making him a strong fit in the OF long-term at the next level. 

DG: I’ll give the southern part of the state some love here and go with North Medford junior LHP Cade Pettersen. Pettersen flashed potential at the Corvallis Preseason ID last winter. The lefty struggled with command at times last high school season, but will likely see a bigger role on the mound as one of just two returning arms for the Black Tornado. A physical 6’1 prospect with some pop from the left side of the plate as well, I’d expect Pettersen to take on a much bigger role in 2026.

What underclassman (sophomore/freshman) will have the biggest impact at the varsity level?

DJ: I was very impressed with the offensive potential of ‘28 1B Levi Lozada (Scappoose) this preseason. As a bigger, physical left-handed bat he was very polished and controlled with his BP rounds and impacted the ball easily. He’s got some 2-way ability as a LHP as well so he should be a player who is impacting the box score a lot this spring season. 

DG: Defending 5A state champion Summit graduates a majority of their lineup from last spring. However, I think sophomore Evan Guadalupe will be a huge part of replacing some of that production. The 4th ranked sophomore in the state has a sound glove that will play on the left side of the infield. The righty bat is ready to produce at the varsity level with gap power and a mature approach. Guadalupe may also be ready to contribute on the mound after a great bullpen showing this winter, running a fastball into the upper 80’s.

What player will you be following after impressing in a showcase this winter?

DJ: ‘27 INF Evan Eagle (Wilsonville) put together a great workout and made things look really easy in the box. Offensively he took polished, professional rounds of BP with consistent contact and repeatable rhythm/tempo. Everything syncs up naturally in his sequence allowing him to get the barrel out front. Defensively he has the size, arm and actions to stick in the INF and his frame is going to be able to add more strength. 

DG: Crescent Valley’s Cason Jacobs displayed intriguing tools at the Eugene Preseason ID this March. The junior has a nice blend of size and speed at 6’3, 210 pounds with a 6.97 60-time at his best. Jacobs showed big time power potential when on the barrel, peaking with a 102.2 MPH exit velocity and a 385 foot batted ball distance. The versatile junior ran a fastball into the low 80’s as well. If he can generate enough contact in-game, Jacobs could be a real power threat at all times.

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