Brayden
Stankus

In just my second live look of the spring, Stankus put together a gutsy, complete-game shutout that sent Elsinore to the CIF-SS D5 title game. The Tigers’ right hander was sharp from the start, attacking with his fastball at nearly an 80% usage rate and keeping hitters uncomfortable through all seven innings. Stankus sat 83-85 mph throughout the outing, working all four quadrants of the zone and generating multiple swings and misses. His fastball had life and ride, and he wasn’t afraid to challenge hitters, often setting the tone early in counts. The pitch profile alone created plenty of trouble, but what stood out most was how he responded in a key second-inning moment. After taking a comebacker off his left wrist and needing attention from the trainers, Stankus returned to the mound and — on the very next batter — dialed it up to 87-88 mph, with three separate 88s clocked on radar. It was the only batter of the game where he reached that level, showing a gear that speaks to both adrenaline and raw competitiveness. He also mixed in a 66 mph curveball with gradual break and a tighter 73 mph slider, but neither were used very often as he time and time again came at Camarillo hitters with his fastball. Despite some early-inning traffic, Stankus consistently found ways to escape without damage. He stayed composed with runners on base, executed quality pitches when it counted, and let his defense work behind him. His mound presence was mature, and his feel for sequencing stood out throughout. Much of what I saw today was what I saw with Stankus three weeks ago in a relief outing against San Jacinto. Solid work on both occasions. On the year, the junior is 9-1 with a 1.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts, anchoring the Elsinore rotation with consistency and grit. There’s plenty to like in Stankus’ game — poise, efficiency, competitiveness, and pitchability — and his stock should continue to rise as more eyes get on him.

A physical right-hander with a durable frame and athletic upside. That is what Stankus showed me in his outing against San Jacinto. The junior turned in another sharp outing (which he has done all spring), working two scoreless innings while striking out four. Stankus attacked hitters with confidence, showcasing an effortless delivery and a balanced, repeatable motion that projects well in the long run. He sat 85-87 mph with the FB, showing late life through the zone and consistently challenging hitters with strikes. What separated this outing was his feel for two strong secondary offerings — a 73 mph CB with depth and shape, and a 75-76 mph SL that showed late tilt and sharp break, particularly effective as a swing-and-miss pitch in 2K counts. Both offspeed pitches are already above average and project as plus offerings as he continues to refine feel and consistency. The arm works clean out of a high three-quarters slot, and the ball jumps with late life. Stankus’ tempo and body control allow him to fill up the strike zone without adding effort. Statistically, Stankus has been a workhorse and frontline presence for Elsinore throughout the 2025 season, finishing with a stellar 7-1 record, 2.01 ERA, and 59 strikeouts over the course of the year. His ability to consistently execute pitches and work deep into outings has been a steadying force for the Tigers’ staff. In addition to his on-field performance, Stankus is a multi-sport athlete who also plays football, a testament to his athleticism and strong frame. As he enters a pivotal summer, it will be interesting to see how things play out for Stankus as he will be coming off a great season in his junior year.