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Orange County, Calif. - We were able to host some talented players at the Orange County Preseason ID earlier this year. Players ranged from the '24 class to '27 class with several uncommitted names to be on the lookout for in the Spring '24 HS season. 

Players were put through the traditional showcase workout that included athletic testing, on field Batting Practice, defensive workouts at their positions with pitchers throwing on field bullpen session. Metrics were captured using Trackman, Blast Motion, and Swift Technologies to help measure their movements for athletic proficiencies and projectability. 

Preseason events are aimed at identifying local/regional talent by allowing our Prep Baseball California staff to put faces to names, see their tools in person and load data into player profiles. Players who stand out at these events have the chance to earn a Future Games Tryout invitation that could ultimately culminate into a trip to LakePoint, Georgia for the 2024 Future Games. In addition, players can be selected for State Games, West Coast Games, Uncommitted Games and other Prep Baseball game play events.

Below are the top uncommitted players by position (some are at secondary positions) who participated in the Preseason ID. 

Riley Moran RHP / OF / Norco High, CA / 2026 With an athletic wiry frame at 6'2 180 lbs there is intriguing projection to Moran as a pitcher. It's a clean delivery which sequences well and shows body control with a quick arm action that repeats well. FB presently works at 80-82 MPH with good control and shows projection to continue adding velocity as he gets stronger and adds arm speed. SLD works at 67-70 MPH with good action to the glove side part of the plate with control. Circle CHG which he kept down and throws with good arm speed. Present ability is enticing with feel for 3 pitches and the projection should make Moran a name to keep an eye on in the '26 class.

Max Reimers RHP / OF / JSerra Catholic, CA / 2025 Reimers is a good athlete with an enticing 4 pitch mix featuring a mid to upper 80's FB with riding life. A devastating SPLT which falls off the table with late sharp downward action. Adds a CB at 69-71 MPH with sharp break to the glove side with a slurve like action. CHG is solid with 79-81 MPH velocity and throws it with good arm speed. A smaller frame at 5'10 170 lbs for a pitcher Reimers has the athletic ability to potential start with the feel for his 4 pitches, but could be a 2/3 pitch leverage reliever attacking with his FB/SPLT combo. Intriguing uncommitted '25 out of a strong JSerra program.

Kieran Babai C / San Marcos Senior High, CA / 2025 Babai impressed with his work behind the plate especially in the receiving department where his glove actions are advanced with a quiet feel for presenting pitches, good mobility in his lower half and agility in the block. He handled both velocity and spin with ease. Arm is fringe average with a quick release and shows carry to his throws. Shows a pull based approach with good bat speed and can drive the ball in the air to the pull side with some authority. Profiles as a strong catch/throw backstop who can add depth with some sneaky pop to the backside of a college lineup.

Reagan Samples 1B / RHP / Los Osos, CA / 2025 A physical 6'2 220 lbs power profile 1B who flashed well above average power with exit velocities up to 101 MPH with strenght in his swing. He crushed several balls and the ball jumps off his bat consistently even when he mishits a ball it is hit hard with authority. There is some polish needed in the to elevate the ball consistently to tap into his raw power, but Samples should be an impact power bat who could hit at an average to fringe above average clip. Solid athlete who can be an average defender at 1B.

Dylan Kemp OF / 2B / SERVITE HIGH SCHOOL, CA / 2027 A compact frame with strength and athleticism Kemp worked out in the OF, but the actions in his footwork, arm path and athleticism would make him a solid average to potentially above average defender at 2B with development there. His approach at the plate is advanced with a mid/oppo approach and a natural feel for his barrel. The swing path is line drive based geared to hit at an above average rate, but there is strength in the frame to where he could look to pull the ball with authority and show power to the pull side. An intriguing young player with a bright future on the baseball diamond (is also a standout football player).

Damian Cordero SS / 2B / Yucaipa , CA / 2027 Cordero was a part of a very talented '27 class that showed up at OC PSID and he should be a MIF who draws plenty of eyes and follows from college coaches over there following years in advance of the recruiting date for his class. His actions are athletic with good feet and smooth hands defensively with the arm strength to stick at SS long term. Being on the younger side there is polish to his game defensively that is necessary, but the raw tools and ability profile as  potential impact SS defender. Far from a glove first profile he has a quick RH swing with natural lift to his path while showing present power (pull side HR to finish his BP round). He has rhythm and timing with good body control in the swing to sequence well. A highly intriguing prospect in the '27 class out of  a good Yucaipa program.

Robby Morgan OF / 2B / Chaminade College Preparatory, CA / 2026 Morgan is a versatile defender who worked in the OF and the INF showing present actions to do both, but his footwork/hands and ability could allow him to eventual handle a corner INF spot. His profile is carried by a strong offensive ability with a quick RH swing that showed a good feel for the barrel while flashing power to the LCF gap and LF line that plays to doubles presently and could grow into HR power as he adds strength to his frame. An intriguing '26 to keep an eye on out of Chaminade prep.

Jack Zerkel OF / RHP / Foothill High, CA / 2024 Zerkel is a potential elite defender in the OF who can handle either CF or RF with easy running actions a natural feel for his routes to the ball (elite body control coming from his football background). The arm will play as above average to fringe plus in CF and above average in RF with carry to his throws and good accuracy. There is sneaky pop in his bat with a good swing that shows solid bat speed and a flatter path with a gap to gap stroke. He has feel for his timing and consistent ability to find the barrel that could profile at the top of the order. Zerkel is a sneaky good '24 still on the board who will impact a college program defensively at a very high level and has a floor of being depth to the backside of a college lineup, but a ceiling of being an offensive force at the top of the lineup. Has been a 2-spot athlete all through high school and will focus on baseball full time in college which makes for an intriguing projection to his potential.

Ronnie Martinez OF / OF / La Mirada , CA / 2026 Martinez is a young RH hitter who shows an advanced feel for what he does in the box offensively. It's a quiet set up with an easy load into a quick RH swing with a smooth stroke that consistently found the barrel. He sprayed line drive after line drive to the middle of the field, but flashed the ability to turn on a pitch with lift to the pull side that will project HR power as he continues adding strength to his frame. A good mover in the OF with an average arm there is CF potential for Martinez in the future, but his bat will be able to handle a move to a corner. A potential impact offensive profile who could stay at a premium defensive spot long term.

Ezekiel Lara OF / Mater Dei, CA / 2026 An advanced LH hitter who shows a smooth natural feel for his barrel with a quiet set up and load which allows him to track the pitch and be on time consistently. Lara showed the ability to both work the middle/oppo portion of the field, but also shift his focus to pulling the ball in the air with authority. He is a talented offensive profile who could stick in CF long term, but may be better suited for an OF corner where he could be a potential above average defender there with top of the order offensive potential. Should be a name to follow for college coaches in the '26 class as an advanced LH bat with impact.

Eli Stephens 1B / RHP / Chaminade, CA / 2026 Stephens showed the tool set both offensively and on the mound to garner intrigue at both spots. His position player profile is carried by an impact RH bat which flashes above average power potential and could be an average hitter who will slot in the middle part of a lineup as a solid average defender at 1B. On the mound he has a leverage reliever profile with a high intent delivery and arm strength. He worked in the mid 80's with his FB at the event (but has been up to 88/89 MPH as well). SLD is his best secondary offering with sharp horizontal break in the 67-70 MPH range. Adds a loopier CB in the 65-67 MPH. Stephens is an interesting profile with power in the bat, but potential on the mound. He will be one to follow as he continues to develop in the '26 class.

Elijah Kwon OF / LHP / Sierra Canyon, CA / 2027 Kwon put together an impressive offensive showing at the event with a forceful LH swing which showed good impact at contact even when he mishits a ball it is hit hard with authority. A '27 with polish to his game ahead the strength in his swing and feel to lift the ball from the middle/pull side of the field there is interesting power potential for him. A good athlete who moves around well in the OF he could have made this list as an OF prospect as well. An intriguing LH arm in addition to his potential at the plate, but did not throw at the event.

 

Upcoming Events

Showcase	State	Date	Location
Rising Stars ID: Los Angeles	CA	03/17	O'Malley Field
Rising Stars ID: Corona	CA	03/30	Corona High School
Rising Stars ID: VTA County	CA	04/21	Thousand Oaks High School

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