Prep Baseball Report

CA State Games: '27/'28 Top Performers from Game Action


Steven Hardesty
Central Coast/North LA Area Scout

  

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Fullerton, Calif. - This past weekend was the 6th annual edition of the California State Games the premier Invite-Only event in California was hosted at Fullerton College. This event brought together top players from the '25-'28 class together in one location to conclude the summer schedule across California wraps up before the start of school and the fall events schedule. 

The collection of talent that was on display in Orange County for the CA State Games was quite impressive. The weekend got started with a Pro-Style showcase workout for all position players/two-way players in attendance. Players received athletic testing on the Swift platforms including 10-30-60 yard sprint times and RSI/Vertical Jump testing. Blast Motion sensors were in use for all batting practice swings to collect swing metric data while Trackman technologies provided the Prep Baseball California staff with batted ball data on each player throughout the batting practice portion. As well, players worked out at their positions during the defensive portion of the workout to collect arm strength velocities while evaluating actions of each player defensively. At the conclusion of the workout the 8 teams (organized by Prep Baseball California staff) would each play two 8-inning simulated games (5 batters per inning) spanning 8 total games over the 3 day event to give our Prep Baseball California staff an extensive opportunity to continue to build their in-game evaluations of the players in attendance at the CA State Games.

Today, we will be taking a look at top performers from the '27/'28 graduating class across the 8 games of game play action. The 8 teams in the event each played two separate 8-inning simulated games with pitchers facing 5 batters per inning. Position players moved around defensively and all received 6+ at bats over the course of the two games with most having around 8 at bats to showcase their offensive/defensive tools in game action. 

For all information on all players attending the CA State Games click here to view the data gathered throughout the event.

Landon Anderson SS / OF / Cypress , CA / 2027

Anderson came into the event as one of the top names to know in the '27/'28 class who would be in attendance and the Cypress HS INF did not disappoint. Playing consistently smooth defense around the INF dirt with hands/footwork that project middle of the diamond future potential and if his arm strength continues to improve there may be a future for him at SS. While he didn't crush the baseball around the field like some of the older players in attendance what Anderson did at the plate was display a quality approach, bat to ball skills and an understanding of using the middle of the field for hard contact. A rising name out of the Orange County area Anderson stamped himself as a player to keep close tabs on going forward.

Joseph Flores Jr. SS / RHP / Arlington, CA / 2027

Flores Jr. is a former Team California Junior Future Games member who also performed very well at the SoCal Preseason All State Underclass event and the two-way talent out of the Inland Empire displayed continued improvement across the board. Flores Jr. threw a pair of innings on the weekend with his 82-85 MPH FB being very effective especially in his first inning as he attacked the zone with ride (2400+ RPMs and 18"-22" of IVB) backing it up with a 71.6 - 73.7 MPH SLD flashing potential as a swing/miss offering which showed very well during his outing. Playing a variety of INF spots he looked the part of a solid 2B/3B defender who has the hands/footwork and arm to handle those positions with some potential for SS in the future potentially. His RH hitting profile played well in game even if it didn't collect multiple hits he tooks several good at bats giving you intrigure to his two-way potential, but his upside on the mound made him one of the top performers from these classes.

Jacob Terriquez OF / LHP / Santiago , CA / 2027

Terriquez was an intriguing LH hitting OF who showed well at the SoCal Preseason All State Underclass in January of 2024 and with noticeable strength gains to his frame he put together a strong weekend at the CA State Games. Anyone who collects multiple hits in a 2-game weekend against top talent is going to open eyes, but Terriquez did that in just his first game when he collected 3 hits to open the weekend. He strung together several other good at bats throughout the weekend which showed his rising offensive profile. He looks best suited for a corner OF spot presently defensively and there is some intrigue with his arm that he could handle RF in the long term, but his carrying profile will be what the LH hitter out of the Inland Empire can do at the plate.

Alexander Elizondo OF / RHP / Murrieta Valley High, CA / 2027

A former member of the Team California at the Junior Future Games Elizondo carries some of the loudest tools amongst any player in attendance from any class and while the overall profile is not polished yet for him the flashes he showed throughout the weekend are eye-opening. He absolutely crushed a 95+ MPH EV triple early in the weekend to the LCF gap which was the highlight piece of a strong offensive performance which included several other hard hit baseball throughout the weekend. On the mound he flashed his upside as a long lean RHP with arm speed and velocity including a FB that sat 86-90 MPH while peaking at 92.8 MPH with life out of his hand. His control of the pitch is presently raw, but when it's around or in the zone it generates plenty of swing/miss. Mixing in a 67-70 MPH sweeper like SLD with 18.1" of horizontal break at its peak. The overall profile for Elizondo looks a bit raw, but the ceiling for his tools as he polishes their ability to play in game against top talent is high. Keep eyes on this rising name out of the Inland Empire.

Luke Bacon C / OF / Arlington High, CA / 2027

Bacon is our second member from Arlington HS in the Inland Empire in the '27 class to standout at the CA State Games which backed up a strong showing by him at the SoCal Preseason All State in January to go with a strong HS and summer circuit. The LH hitting backstop closed out his summer with several good at bats at the CA State Games where he consistently got to contact on the barrel of his bat notching a double to the opposite field to highlight his offensive performance. Showing a strong foundation of tools behind the plate with feel to receive with quiet actions, agility in his blocking technique with upside to his arm tool in game there is a lot to like about the work he did at the catching position all weekend. 

Bryson Clinton OF / RHP / ORANGE LUTHERAN, CA / 2027

The LH hitting OF was a strong performer earlier this summer at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County and earned his invite to the CA State Games where the compact athletic 5'9 155 lbs. Clinton continued to cement his name as one to keep eyes on. He put together multiple good plate appearances showing his knowledge of the strike zone, ability to get the bat on the baseball with authority and his ability to run to help create chaos on offense. His profile looks like a top of the order potential bat who displayed the ability in the OF to stick in CF long term making for an overall highly intriguing prospect in the '27 class.

Cooper Cantrell C / OF / Martin Luther King Jr. , CA / 2028

Cantrell is fresh off a stellar showing at the 2024 Junior Future Games where the Team California member was consistently strong and playing up against predominantly 2-3 years older competition the 2028 future MLK HS talent did not look phased whatsoever. He was able to consistently hit the baseball hard including collecting multiple hits showing his hit tool and there is interesting power potential for him as he matures with his ability to get the baseball in the air to the OF presently as a 2028. Cantrell looks the part of a strong receiving catcher who works smoothly behind the plate with an accurate arm that as it adds strength with maturity could be a weapon to control runs games. For good measure the two-way talent showed the ability to throw strikes on the mound and attack hitters from a 3 pitch mix of a FB/SLD/CHG which each he can throw for strikes. Just getting his High School baseball journey started this year Cantrell will be a fun player to follow in the coming years on the SoCal baseball scene.

Deegan Martinez 1B / LHP / ARROWHEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, CA / 2028

Martinez catches your eyes quickly with his present 6'4 205 lbs. frame as a rising '28. As impressive as his frame is the tools to go with it and ability to compete against players 2-3 years older than him caught the eys of all of the Prep Baseball California staff. His work on the mound as quality LH arm who throws strikes with an easy and repeatable delivery. He features a 3 pitch mix including a present upper 70's FB complimented by a upper 60's SLD which flashes tight break with potential and the feel for a low 70's CHG he can throw for strikes. It's a strong foundation on the mound that looks like a potential starter in the long term. At the plate the LH hitter flashed an interesting swing with strength to it that combined with a good feel for moving around at 1B with a large target for INF defenders to throw to that gives him two-way potential with a good ceiling as a LHP.

Gavin Berigan SS / RHP / Thousand Oaks High, CA / 2027

Berigan fits the mold of a few of the older players who stood out in the game play portion of being called a "gamer" or "baseball player." He doesn't have the flashiest tool set, but he is solid across the board with his actions defensively, athleticism, good swing and ability to throw strikes on the mound. He was solid at the plate showing his bat to ball ability collecting a pair of hits to go with a few other well hit balls while playing strong defense up the middle with his footwork/hands projecting a middle of the infield profile and if his arm strength makes the necessary gains could be a SS long term. On the mound he throws strikes with a 3 pitch mix that attacks hitters looking to get early contact and allow his defense to play. The foundation of tools played well throughout the weekend and as he continues to develop physically/athletically the ceiling of where Berigan can go is intriguing.

Bobby Ramirez 3B / SS / Pacifica High, CA / 2027

Ramirez was a strong performer for the CIF-SS D5 semifinalist Pacifica HS program who manned SS/3B for them and then put together a good performance at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County, plus the Ventura County Summer ID to earn his way to the CA State Games. He showed well again during the workout portion of the event where his solid all around baseball toolset is consistently good, but once the games started you can really see the ability of Ramirez shine. He played strong to impactful defense on the INF making plays to his forehand, backhand and coming downhill throughout the weekend that gives you leftside of the INF long term vibes. From there his polished feel to hit showed up again as he collected multiple hits with several well struck baseballs and his approach/ability to control the strike zone was on display all weekend. Ramirez has the baseball tools and as he adds strength plus athleticism over the coming years to those tools the ceiling for where Ramirez can wind up as a baseball player is interesting.

Camden Salisbury RHP / OF / C. K. McClatchy High, CA / 2027

The NorCal two-way prospect showed very well for himself at the CA State Games. His profile as RH hitting OF is solid with bat to ball skills that play in game and a corner OF defensive profile that is interesting. But, what the 5'10 170 lbs. righthander did once he took the mound upped the ante for his potential. Working off a 3 pitch mix of a 80-82 MPH FB which he attacked the zone with and complemented by a 72-74 SLD with horizontal break and a 67-70 MPH CB which features downward break. His pair of breaking balls do show different shapes, but the SLD presently looks to be slightly ahead of the CB, but with plenty of time to develop and improve both do show potential. Salisbury was effective in his appearance on the mound at CA State Games which got plenty of buzz amongst the Prep Baseball CA staff as one to keep eyes on for the '27 class.

Quinton Hill OF / RHP / Berkeley, CA / 2027

Hill opened the year with an interesting workout at the NorCal Preseason All-State and traveling down south to participate in the 2024 CA State Games the 6'2 185 lbs. Hill made quite a bit of positive noise with his showing. Hill was impressive on the mound where his whippy quick arm action produced FBs in the 80-81 MPH with ability to attack the zone while dropping in a 73 MPH SLD which flashes upside and feel for a 72-73 MPH CHG that tunnels with his FB. He was effective throughout his outing and you can see the upside with how he moves down the mound, ability to execute 3 pitches, easy arm action and potential to add strength to his wiry frame. As good as Hill was on the mound it wasn't the only thing the two-way prospect did well as he showed off a good RH hitting offensive profile that works the middle of the field consistently for hard contact and CF defensive potential with how he moves around the OF. The arrow is pointed up on this rising '27 out of the Bay Area.

Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
SoCal Underclass Top Prospect Game CA 09/28 University of San Diego
2024 West Coast Games CA 10/04 JSerra High School & Chapman University (Hart Park)

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