2024 Preseason Preview: Soledad
January 25, 2024
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The 2024 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across California.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action and the Third Annual Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Podcasts and much more.
Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.
High School: Soledad Aztecs
Head Coach: Damien Ryan
CIF Section: CIF-SS, Division 3
Conference League: PCAL - Mission
2023 Record: 14-12-1
Team X Handle: @shaztecbaseball
Team Strengths: Pitching
No. of Returning Starters: 1
No. of Returning Pitchers: 2
Areas of Improvement: We will be young and need to be aggressive at the plate and not get behind in counts.
TOP UNCOMMITTED SENIORS
+ ‘24 RHP Andrew Nichols - 5’8 155 lbs.
TOP UNCOMMITTED JUNIORS
+ ‘25 LHP Rafeal Vidal Perez
TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS
Class of 2026
+ ‘26 Ethan Sanchez
+ ‘26 DJ Valenzuela
TEAM OUTLOOK
Plain and simple, the Aztecs lost a large chunk of their team from last year, and heading into 2024 they will rely on a number of new faces. One of the few returners will be ‘24 Andrew Nichols who brings back a 5-4 record on the mound from last year and 46.2 innings pitched, too. Junior ‘25 Rafeal Vidal Perez will also be another experienced arm as he logged a 3.82 ERA in 14.2 innings in 2023. Coach Ryan expects sophomores, ‘26 Ethan Sanchez and ‘26 DJ Valenzuela to make contributions during the season, too.
Coach Damien Ryan’s Expectations: “We look to rebuild after losing 8 starters and key bullpen seniors”