Class of 2026 Ranking Update

Class of 2026 Top Risers

After the slate of winter baseball scrimmages, Prep Baseball California Preseason All-State events, Preseason ID events, and the start of the CIF high school baseball season, here are the top risers in the '26 rankings.

+ Kai'nalu Van Scoyoc SS/RHP Palos Verdes (Previous: 118 Now: 40 Raised: 78 spots ) Van Scoyoc was on the radar after a strong summer and fall, but his performance at the SoCal Preseason All State pushed him way up the class of 2026 rankings. Van Scoyoc showed off 2-way potential with some very enticing tools during the workout portion of the PSAS event including his slick actions at SS with the arm strength to stick at SS or the left side of the infield while adding a loose whippy RH swing which launched baseballs consistently during BP to all parts of the field. His defensive prowess and offensive potential showed up in game including a deep drive to RCF for a triple in the game. Add in a very strong performance on the mound where his 83-85 MPH FB with a solid CHG and interesting CB all showed well. A key piece of the Palos Verdes varsity roster this spring Van Scoyoc has firmly put himself in the mix as one of the top class of 2026 players in California.

+ Brody Schumaker SS/2B Santa Margarita TCU Commit (Previous: 44 Now: 26 Raised: 18 spots ) Schumaker carries with him strong bloodlines (the son of former long time Major League and current Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker), but the work that Brody is doing to kick off the 2024 spring season is continuing to grow his standing. The LH hitting MINF put together a very strong showing at the Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational flashing his sweet swing with a good feel to hit, the athleticism/foot speed to be an impact runner, up the middle profile actions defensively all combined with an advanced baseball IQ that brought him way up the 2026 rankings and in the mix as one of the top 2026 in players in California going forward.

+ Evan Alexander SS/RHP Brentwood (Previous: 49 Now: 33 Raised 16 spots ) Alexander was another 2-way standout who really opend the eyes of the Prep Baseball California staff with his performance at the SoCal Preseason All State Underclass event. Alexander ran his FB up to 87.9 MPH with 2600+ spin rate at the max while pairing it with a power SLD up to 78.6 MPH with 2800+ spin rate at the max both were top of the scale pitches for the event. His stuff showed well in game with a dominant inning. While as good as the pitching performance was don't count Alexander a pitcher only with him showing solid swing metrics, batted ball data and the actions to stay on the INF dirt with a hit in the game play portion of event. Alexander plays at a smaller school for high school where a strong showing is anticipated, but his performance during the summer circuit can help to continue his rise up the 2026 class ranking in California.

+ Will Suslow OF Harvard Westlake (Previous: 115 Now: 96: Raised 19 spots) The athletic RH hitting OF out of the power house Harvard Westlake program has continued to improve his overall toolset and it's showing very well in game. With a long winter ball look at him against the Hart Warriors in December where he swung the bat very well and then his consistently strong performance in the Spring Invitational including multiple hits and solid defensive play bring Suslow up into the top 100 players in the 2026 class in the state of California.

+ Isaiah Hearn OF Chaminade (Previous: 23 Now: 15 Raised: 8 spots ) Hearn is a dynamic athlete who is also a standout football player at Chaminade, but the raw tools are not just for show as Hearn has crushed the baseball over the course of the end of the high school fall/winter schedule and into the start of the spring high school season. It's an impact LH bat with CF/RF defensive potential and advanced athleticism that continues to bring Hearn up the rankings in the 2026 class and he is one of the top uncommitted players in the state.

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Class of 2026 Top Newcomers

After the slate of Prep Baseball California Preseason All State events, Preseason ID event and the start of the CIF high school baseball season here newcomers in the '26 rankings.

+ Jose Ortega RHP/OF Calexico High School Ranked: 32  Ortega was the winning pitcher in Calexico's run to the CIF-SDS Div. 4 championship game and the dynamic 2-way player continues to open eyes with his tool set. Showing off his 2-way potential at the SoCal Preseason All State Underclass event including launching multiple BP homeruns including one that cleared the scoreboard in LCF while stringing together a couple of very good in game at bats. He showed his prowess on the mound with his FB working up to 85.6 MPH with arm side run and setting up a good SPLT CHG at 73-76 MPH and a sweeping 70-74 MPH SLD while throwing an impressive inning of work. Ortega has a bright future as evidenced by his jump into the upper tier of the 2026 rankings.

+ Brett Slymen RHP Capo Valley Christian High School Ranked: 48 Slymen has been a highly recommended player for the Prep Baseball California staff as the Right-hander continues to see a trend upward with the quality of his stuff on the mound and his performances in game has placed him firmly in conversation amongst some of the top 2026 players in the state.

+ Caleb Trugman INF/RHP Ayala High School Ranked: 59 Trugman caught the eyes of several members of the Prep Baseball California staff during the Spring Invitational where the 6'4 205 lbs 2-way talent showed his ability on both sides of the game with an impressive series of performances. On the opening day of the event he strung together multiple good at bats facing down D1 commit arms and would go on to collect multiple hits while showing his ability to stick at the hot corner long term. He also added an impressive 5 inning start in the event. The arrow is very much pointed up on Trugman going forward.

+ Elijah Duarte MINF/C Ayala High School Ranked: 60  It started with a very strong showing at the Prep Baseball California Preseason All State Underclass where he showed off his ability to play multiple premium defensive positions with advanced skills (SS/C) while putting together a very strong showing at the plate during BP and in the game. From there Duarte put together a series of very good at bats in the Spring Invitational including barreling up several D1 commits and playing a stellar 2B. The overall collections of defensive ability, offensive potential and athleticism has Duarte rising quickly within the 2026 class.

+ Colten Rainer RHP Royal High School Ranked: 105  Rainer is following in some big footsteps as the younger brother of the Prep Baseball California/National #1 ranked 2024 player Bryce Rainer, but his own ability on the field has him jumping into the 2026 rankings. With a strong live look from the Prep Baseball California staff during the winter high school schedule in which he showed a mid 80's FB with life, a sweeping 72-76 MPH SLD with potential and the making of an interesting mid 70's CHG. Add in a projectable 6'4 175 lbs frame with room to develop strength, a clean arm action with a repeatable delivery and present feel for the strike zone Rainer is going to be a very strong follow in the 2026 class going forward.