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Class of 2027 Updated Player Rankings

June 14, 2024
Prep Baseball California Staff

 

  

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - As the first seaon of CIF baseball for our 2027 class has completed, and the players in this class are entering their first summer circuit as a high school baseball players, our staff has had the opportunity to get more familiar with this class. As a result of all the visibility for players to be seen by our staff we have updated our Class of 2027 Player Rankings.  

With the increased familiarity on the class of 2027 we have expanded the rankings from 50 players to 100 players. With this increase we also see changes - some small and some large - to the Top 50 players in the 2027 class. Additionally, we have now added 50 additional players who made their mark on the Prep Baseball California staff over the course of the past several months.

The players on this list have proven themselves over the course of the past few months across the fall/spring high school baseball seasons, travel baseball tournaments and the showcase circuit to start to make their names known on a greater level across the baseball community.

Below you'll find the Top 10, Top 10 Uncommitted Players, along with more in-depth reviews on our Top Risers and Top Newcomers for the 2027 class. 

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

CLASS OF 2027, TOP TEN

Rank Player POS School Commitment
1 Jared Grindlinger 1B/LHP Huntington Beach TCU
2 Bear Calvo INF La Mirada Uncommitted
3 Dylan Seward SS Norco Uncommitted
4 Sean Parrow RHP Sierra Canyon Uncommitted
5 Matthew Kelley SS Carlsbad Miami
6 Carter Hadnot SS Aquinas Miami
7 Jose Partida LHP La Jolla Country Day Uncommitted
8 Lukas Waite OF/RHP Patrick Henry Uncommitted
9 Aiden Kent RHP JSerra Uncommitted
10 Logan Schmidt LHP/1B Villa Park Uncommitted

CLASS OF 2027, TOP UNCOMMITTED (Non-Top 10)

***As we head into the summer schedule of showcases, tournaments and more for the college coaches that will be diving in on their follow lists for the 2026 class we offer the Top 10 ranked uncommitted players in California.

Rank Player POS School
11 Ira Rootman OF Harvard Westlake
12 Joshua Priest RHP La Jolla Country Day
14 Ricardo Hurtado SS Orange Lutheran
15 Dyson Grant C Capistrano Valley
17 Jacob Melendez LHP Paloma Valley
18 Royal McKinney SS Franklin
19 Antonio Cuevas SS Elk Grove
20 Gabriel Coca OF De La Salle
21 Ethan Gustus RHP Roseville
22 J. Beckett Berg RHP Notre Dame (SO)


CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: RISERS

TOP-50 RISERS:

+ Bear Calvo INF La Mirada (Now: 2 Previous: 5) The physicality to Calvo's frame will catch your eyes quickly and the advanced baseball toolset behind that physicality will keep them there. Calvo started all spring for La Mirada manning 2B and hitting at the top of the order or middle of the order throughout the spring season. He has starred with live looks for Prep Baseball California staff during the CIF SS High School season and was recently one of the top players at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County putting himself in the 2nd spot of the 2027 class.
+ Dylan Seward SS Norco (Now: 3 Previous: 12) Seward is a standout athlete who has long impressed Prep Baseball California staff which earned him a top 15 spot in the initial rankings. Now coming off a spring season at Norco that saw him hit .381 with 8 doubles, 3 triples and 3 homeruns, drive in 23 and score 24 runs, which all ranked 1st or 2nd on the team, he has shown his advanced baseball toolset can not only compete, but excel at the high school level putting himself in the top 3 in the '27 class.
+ Antonio Cuevas SS Elk Grove (Now: 19 Previous: 29) Cuevas played every game on the varsity level for the Thundering Herd of Elk Grove and put together a solid freshman campaign with some highlights to it. He collected his first high school HR, drove in 18 (tied for 2nd on the team) and scored 17 (5th on the team) while displaying his toolset on a consistent basis which gives him a bright future.
+ Gabriel Coca OF De La Salle (Now: 20 Previous: 30) Athletic with tools across the board the talented OF from NorCal has impressed with his present ability and upside to hsi profile as he makes a 10 spot jump up the rankings. Playing at the power De La Salle program in a very competitive NorCal league will provide him plenty of opportunities to cement his spot and potentially make another rise up the rankings.



+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST



CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: NEWCOMERS

After a full spring of competitive action through the CIF high school baseball season, here are the newcomers in the '26 rankings.

TOP-50 NEWCOMERS:

+ Sean Parrow RHP Sierra Canyon (Now Ranked: 4) Parrow shined brightly as the ace of the Sierra Canyon staff this spring. With a 6'5 205 lbs. frame, a FB that reaches 92 MPH presently, feel for the strike zone, the makings of a pair of impressive offspeed offerings and still projection to his profile the future is very bright for this already talented RHP in the '27 class as he puts himself in the top 5 of the '27 class.
+ Ira Rootman OF Harvard Westlake (Now Ranked: 11) Rootman was given an early opportunity to play at Harvard Westlake in the Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational and once he got himself in the lineup he made himself a fixture in it for the CIF-SS D1 finalist Wolverines. He showed off his hit tool with emerging power throughout the spring and cemented a rise in the rankings as one of the top performers at the most recent Future Games Tryout events. Rootman looks to be in line to join the ranks of the superstar players who have come through the Harvard Westlake program.
+ Ricardo Hurtado SS Orange Lutheran (Now Ranked: 14) Being a SS in Southern California will always garner plenty of attention, being the potential SS of the future at Orange Lutheran in the Trinity League will bring even more attention. Hurtado has fed off that attention and his recent performance at the NPI tournament at Lakepoint in Georgia in front of Shooter Hunt brought him right into the Top 15 players in the '27 class with a chance to continue rising in the years to come.
+ Ethan Gustus RHP Roseville (Now Ranked: 21) The FR. RHP out of NorCal made his presence known on the high school scene with a strong 2.66 ERA in 6 appearances over the course of 23.2 innings pitched. In addition his stuff played at a high level punching out 29 hitters while showing solid control of the strike zone by only walking 9 hitters. Gustus joins the Top 25 players in the '27 class on the strength of his performance and stuff.
+ Dezi Delgado C Sierra Canyon (Now Ranked: 25) Delgado took control of the catching position at Sierra Canyon in the fall season then stayed behind the plate all spring for the emerging Trailblazers program which is loaded with young talent and Delgado looks to be right at the top of the class in that program, showing he is amongst the Top 25 players in the '27 class. A LH hitter with sneaky thump to his bat, good athleticism, Delgado is a smooth receiver who adds interesting arm talent behind the plate that all adds up to the potential to see his name continue to rise up the rankings.
+ Ayden Coleman INF JSerra (Now Ranked: 33) Similar to Hurtado being a SoCal SS who is slated to play at JSerra in the Trinity League comes with a certain cache to it and Coleman has performed to that reputation. He has the tools, upside and ability to perform against some of the top competition in the country to jump up the rankings in the future.
+ Quinton Hill OF Berkeley (Now Ranked: 34) After a strong showing at the Prep Baseball California NorCal Preseason All State event, the athletic OF went on to have a strong spring at Berkeley High School that included a .333 average with 7 extra base hits on the spring. He joins the rankings for the first time and has plenty of potential to make a rise up in the future.
+ Mason Majewski LHP St. Josephs (Now Ranked: 35) Wiry, athletic LHP's with arm speed and feel for a CHG/CB will attract plenty of eyes and Majewski fits the profile perfectly. Throwing in a variety of roles for the St. Joseph's program he pitchd to the tune of a 2.25 ERA in 14 appearances over 37.1 innings with 35 Ks for the CIF-Central Section D2 semifinalists. His stuff backs up the numbers with a FB up to 85, CB in the high 60's with a good shape and a decepting CHG in the mid 70's. Now in the rankings there is plenty of reason to anticipate Majewski to take a jump in the future.
+ Drew Rico C Harvard Westlake (Now Ranked: 36) Tasked with handling a trio of MLB draft potential '24 RHPs for the Harvard Westlake program while guiding the variety of arms behind them Rico displayed an impressive feel for receiving with smooth quiet actions behind the plate, agility in his block and solid arm strength. In addition to impact potential at a premium defensive spot Rico showed the ability to take quality at-bats with strength in his swing. A late season injury cut his FR. campaign short, but don't be surprised if we see Rico move up the rankings in the future.
+ Damian Cordero SS Yucaipa (Now Ranked: 41) Cordero was a full-time starter as a FR. for a talented Yucaipa program where he performed at a strong enough level he earned 2nd Team All-League honors. He has twice stood out at Prep Baseball California events first with a stellar performance at the OC Preseason ID and agains at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County to earn himself a spot in the Top 50 players in the '27 class. Cordero looks the part of a future middle of the diamond defender who has pull side thump at the plate.
+ Evan Rodriguez C/OF Simi Valley (Now Ranked: 43) An interesting athlete who played both varsity football and varsity baseball as a FR. at Simi Valley who strung together a strong enough season as FR. to earn a spot on the Honorable Mention All-Coastal Canyon League team. He then came to the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County event with an impressive display of tools and in game performance to earn his way into the Top 50 players in the '27 class in California.
+ Cole Munyon INF Newbury Park (Now Ranked: 45) Munyon played consistently on the varsity level for the Panthers program who made a CIF-SS D3 quarterfinals run. Munyon showed he was ready to compete against higher level competition with a solid .275 average and picking up his first high school HR while driving in 11 runs and scoring 17 runs. Munyon played solid defense at 2B for the Panthers and has the look of potentially taking over the SS spot as their SR. starter moves on to college. 
+ Zion Martinez INF/RHP Yucaipa (Now Ranked 50) The LH hitting middle of the diamond defender shows the tools and athletic ability to be a high level player going forward. He joins the rankings for the first time inside the Top 50 players and as he continues to perform against high level competition there is plenty of opportunities for him to rise up the rankings.

Top Newcomers 50 - 100: (A brief look at some of the newcomers in our 50 player expansion)

+ Sebastien Grove INF Notre Dame Prep (SO) (Now Ranked: 51) Grove was a solid performer at the Prep Baseball California Preseason All State Underclass event where he showed an impressive defensive ability while adding in a quality RH bat with feel to hit. As the Notre Dame program prepares to bring in the next wave of young talent to replace their departing upperclassmen, Grove will be in the mix to be the next standout player to come through the Knights program.
 
+ Dylan Kemp OF/INF Servite (Now Ranked: 52) A dynamic athlete who is also a standout football player, Kemp showed his toolset and athleticism at the OC Preseason ID with a strong defensive and offensive performance. With potential to play CF or 2B and a compact RH swing with feel for the barrel, he projects the potential to be a top of the order/middle of the diamond defensive prospect in the '27 class with a bright future to move up the rankings as he advances through high school.

+ Bobby Ramirez SS Pacifica (Now Ranked: 53) Ramirez was a steady performer at the varsity level for the CIF-SS D3 quarterfinalist and CIF SoCal D3 regional champion Pacifica program at the SS position who also put together a strong showing at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County event.

+ Will Mota MINF Notre Dame (SO) (Now Ranked: 58) A LH hitting MINF from the Notre Dame (SO) program Mota looked strong at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County event.

+ Elijah Sim SS Notre Dame (SO) (Now Ranked: 61) Sim performed at a high level during the fall high school schedule for the Notre Dame program while showing offensive upside. He will look to make a bigger impact on the varsity level in the coming years.

+ Bryson Clinton OF Orange Lutheran (Now Ranked: 64) A LH hitting OF from the Trinity League power Orange Lutheran program who showed a quality bat, athleticism, arm strength and upside during his performance at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County event.

+Michael Aleman RHP Etiwanda (Now Ranked: 66) Aleman made his name known early this spring by providing a strong start for the Etiwanda program against Orange Lutheran to open the Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational. From there he went on to pitch to the tune of a 3.39 ERA in 8 starts over 31 innings. He showed he was ready to compete on the varsity level as just a FR.

+ Damien Nolan RHP St. Marys Prep (Now Ranked: 67) The rising RHP out of the strong St. Marys Prep program made a statement for himself during the early part of the 2024 year with an outstanding performance at the Prep Baseball California NorCal Preseason All State. With present stuff to go with an intriguing potential, Nolan gives plenty of reason to believe he will make a jump up the rankings in the future.

+ Davin Arth C Foothill Tech (Now Ranked: 71) Arth started the year on JV for the Dragons before earning his way to varsity shortly into the season. Once there he took full advantage by earning All-League honors as a freshman before going on to have a very strong showing at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County event that places him solidy amongst the Top 75 players in the '27 class.

+ Jace Wooley OF/SS Cardinal Newman (Now Ranked: 72) Wooley was impressive at the Prep Baseball California NorCal Preaseason All State event where his advanced arm strength jumped off the page and added in a strong batting practice session. As he continues to gain experience against high level competition and shows how his tools play in game, there is a chance to see him move up the rankings in the future.

+ Aiden Jahng INF Sierra Canyon (Now Ranked: 73) Jahng was impressive during his first high school baseball season where the corner INF defender looked solid with potential to be an impact defender while displaying strength in his swing. He can polish the overall profile as he gains experience against high level competition to make a move up the rankings in the future.

+ Kaden Paris OF Freedom (Now Ranked: 74) Stepping out of the shadows of his big league brother Kyren, Kaden is making his own name for himself. He put together a strong performance at the Prep Baseball California NorCal Preseason All State. As he looks to take over a varsity starting spot in the future with competition against higher level players, Paris can continue to make his way up the rankings by performing at high level. 

+ Jacory Smith INF Foothill Tech (Now Ranked: 75) The LH hitting corner INF took one of the best batting practice sessions at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County with a loose fast swing that shows pull side HR impact and consistent feel for the barrel. The offensive toolset is there and as Smith improves his defensive toolset, athleticism and performs against higher level competition he can make a bump up the rankings in the future.

+ Owen Gaida INF/RHP Newbury Park (Now Ranked: 76) Gaida caught the eye of Central Coast Prep Baseball California evaluator Steven Hardesty with a strong showing over MLK weekend. As the opportunity for consistent varsity playing time opens up at Newbury Park next year combined with his solid performance at the Future Games Tryout: Orange County, Gaida has the opportunity to move himself up the rankings over the coming updates.

+ Chase Renzo INF/RHP Chaminade (Now Ranked: 77) Renzo has shown arm strength on the mound with a FB that sits in the mid 80's and has touched 90 in bullpen sessions while adding in an interesting offensive profile as a RH hitting middle infielder. Playing in the Mission League for Chaminade, and through the travel/showcase circuit, Renzo has a chance to raise his stock now that he is amongst the Top 75 players in the state.

Visit the link below to see the rest of the names in our Top 100 2027 rankings 

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST


Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
Ventura County Summer ID CA 06/20 Thousand Oaks High School
NorCal Summer ID CA 06/27 Franklin High School
Future Games (Class of 2026/27) NATIONAL 07/24 LakePoint Sports
Junior Future Games (Class of 2028/29) NATIONAL 07/24 LakePoint Sports
Senior Future Games (Class of 2025) NATIONAL 07/24 LakePoint Sports
2024 California State Games (Invite-Only) CA 08/09 Fullerton College

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