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Spring Invitational Day Two Recap

February 15, 2024
Prep Baseball California Staff

 

  

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IRVINE, CALIF. - With a berth in the semifinals on the line in Day Two the Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational moved back to the Great Park in Irvine for eight total games. The field includes a who's who of teams that are often at or near the top of the final standings in their respective divisions. With over 100 college commits and close to 20 draft picks having participated in the events first two editions of the tournament, Year Three will continue that tradition of having teams with top college and MLB Draft talent participating.


If you missed a look at Day One standouts, don’t fret, we have you covered. Let’s not waste anymore time and get right into Day Two standouts from the Spring Invitational. 

DAY TWO STANDOUTS


‘24 SS Bryce Rainer - Harvard Westlake (Texas Commit)

The Prep Baseball California and Prep Baseball National #1 ranked player in the ‘24 class had an electric night at the plate for the Wolverines as they advanced to the semifinals. After an early strikeout Rainer displayed the advanced offensive ability in 3 straight at bats with 3 loud barrels. First, driving a rocket to CF for a single off a future D1 arm then shot a single through the right side in his 3rd at bat before closing out his day with a screaming one hop shot through the right side. Rainer played a clean SS making several plays showing his lateral range to the glove side and playing downhill. A very impressive all around day for Rainer as a position player.

‘26 OF James Tronstein - Harvard Westlake (Stanford Commit)

One of the top ‘26 players in the Prep Baseball California rankings and high on the national board the future Cardinal opened the scoring for the Wolverines pulling a sharp one hopper down the LF line for an easy stand up double to drive in a run. He would punch a single up the middle before capping his day with a rocket to LF for his second RBI double of the night and just missed a HR as the ball one hopped the fence. Tronstein showed the impact bat and run ability that makes him a dynamic offensive threat.


‘24 OF Jake Lavin - Santa Margarita Catholic (Cal Commit)

The LH hitting Lavin put together multiple good at bats on the day including turning around a 3-2 pitch for a loud double down the RF line off the Wolverines starter. He showed his ability to battle in the bat as he worked the at bat to battle off a few pitches before driving the double. Later in the game he would shoot his 2nd hit of the day up the middle for a single. Lavin is a solid LH bat who has a good feel for his barrel with a good approach and shows the potential to be an impact offensive profile.


‘25 C Carter Enoch - Santa Margarita Catholic 

An uncommitted backstop Enoch shows the toolset behind the plate to be a solid average to potential above average defender. But, he showed on the night he is more than just a catch/throw backstop but flashed his offensive potential with 2 loud barrels off a quality arm for the Wolverines. Although he did not collect a hit both balls were squared up and driven to the pull side on a cold, crisp night. Enoch is a name to keep an eye on as he goes through the Trinity League this year.


‘26 RHP/INF Caleb Trugman - Ayala

Trugman had a good opening day of the event as a position player, but showed his true 2-way potential with a strong 5 inning outing. Working with a FB in the 82-84 MPH range with a good feel for a SLD/CHG combo and control of the strike zone. The delivery works with a clean arm action plus upside to add velocity/life to his stuff as he matures and adds strength to his frame. Trugman continued to show his offensive ability with a rocket double to RCF off a quality future D1 arm from the Knights of Notre Dame Sherman Oaks. 

‘24 RHP Nate Kugler - Notre Dame (Dartmouth commit)

Kugler showed a really intriguing FB/SLD combo with his FB at 88-89 and a sharp breaking SLD at 77-78 while mixing in a solid 75-76 MPH CHG. Kugler attacked the strike zone and showed poise to make pitches when he got into a couple jams to navigate his way to a 5 inning shutout outing. A good athlete who has feel for all 3 pitches and good tempo he has a starters profile going forward.

https://twitter.com/PrepBaseballCA/status/1757552021530685936


‘26 RHP Patrick Arranga - Notre Dame 

The young righthander came in to finish out a shutout for the Knights who have only allowed 1 run in 17 innings of baseball so far in the tournament. Working with a 83-86 MPH FB which shows arm side run and life out of the hand while flashing a good SLD at 73-76 which has horizontal sweep at times, but will also show some depth at times. Arranga worked with good tempo and poise working 2 innings and punching out 3 in his outing. The operation works with a good arm and there is a bright future for another quality arm out of Notre Dame.

- Steven Hardesty


‘24 OF Ben Reiland - Orange Lutheran (Oklahoma State commit)

Reiland was one of many impressive hitters OLu had to offer during their 11-3 victory over Maranatha. The Oklahoma State commit collected a double and a single with a relaxed stance turned violent upon contact. In the field, he had one of the plays of the game, making a catch whilst running full steam ahead into the left field wall.


‘25 INF Wyatt Hanoian - Orange Lutheran 

Hanoian is one of the top uncommitted players in the 2025 class, and he showed why. As a switch hitter, Hanoian's skill set allows him to slot in well against either an LHP or RHP. He collected two hits, one single and a double into RCF. A relaxed and compact swing generates hard line drives. He displayed good plate discipline, working late into counts and fouling pitches off to get to hittable pitches.


‘26 RHP Gary Morse - Orange Lutheran

The Future Games alum continues to show the power and potential of his large frame. He worked his fastball at 87-89 mph and his curveball at 72-74 mph. Because of a high release height, FBs often go under barrels and cause a lot of rollovers. Morse also flashed a promising changeup that we’d like to see more of. It had plenty of lateral and vertical movement and could add big time to his preexisting secondaries.


‘24 RHP Vinny Hudson - Orange Lutheran (Arizona commit)

Hudson uses a relaxed and high-leverage motion to create massive amounts of momentum toward the hitter. The fastball comes out of the hand with ease sitting at 88-89 mph, there’s certainly room for more velocity but the preexisting movement profiles and arm action have plenty of projectability to a high level FB. His curveball is a deadly secondary that has an extremely hard and sharp downward break at 79 mph.


'24 C Jose Perez - Gahr (Long Beach State)

Perez spent the entire game behind the plate in a difficult contest vs. JSerra. His hitting ability is what shined, making major contributions to Gahr’s efforts. A swing geared toward the opposite field, Perez had two phenomenal swings that carried towards the outfield wall. Two massive doubles, one down the RF line and one to RCF were crucial for keeping Gahr in the game. Behind the plate, it’s quiet and confident receiving, setting the pace of the game to try and settle pitchers in.


Jordan Marian - JSerra (UC Santa Barbara)

The UCSB commit showed off two textbook swings to help edge JSerra over Gahr. Both were hard line drives hit up the middle to drive in multiple runs. The only difference between the two swings was that one was from the left side and one from the right. Marian’s ability to compete from both sides of the plate will see him be a consistent bat in the lineup regardless of the pitcher.

- Matt Monk

‘25 RHP Seth Hernandez - Corona (Vanderbilt commit) 

In a winners bracket game that featured two perennial powers in SoCal baseball it was Hernandez that stole the show from the moment he toed the rubber. His first pitch was a 97 mph fastball and things only went up from there. With a sharp slider at 82 mph, Hernandez mixed pitches and locations en route to a six strikeout night in his four innings of work. The former Prep Baseball All-American cemented himself as the top arm in the nation in the 2025 class in front of over 40 scouts. 


‘25 OF Travis Friend - La Mirada (UCLA commit)

Friend continues to show an advanced feel for hitting thanks in part to above average pitch recognition and fast hands at the dish. Projects as a high average, low strikeout hitter on the next level with some sneaky pop in the bat when his timing is on. He competes at the plate like he does in the outfield where his arm strength shines through as an advanced tool. 


‘24 RHP Elias Reyes - South Hills (LMU signee)

Reyes was brilliant in his Round Two outing on Tuesday night showing off high quality stuff and poise that will undoubtedly serve him well this season and beyond. Flashed some of the best fastball command we’ve seen at the tournament, spotting it virtually wherever he wanted while landing it for strikes and getting hitters to chase. His slider and changeups flashed above average and project to be weapons at the next level. A fierce competitor, it was Reyes’s poise and moxie that stood out during the game. 


‘25 3B Jaeden Toki - Etiwanda (LBSU commit)

Toki made this notebook after a stellar Day One and returns after a strong showing in Day Two. The Long Beach State commit came up clutch in the bottom of the 11th inning with a missile double to left-center-field before scoring the game winning run a couple batters later. His defensive work can’t go unnoticed either as he flashes the leather with ease and has the type of arm strength that will keep him at the hot corner in the future. 


‘24 OF Noah Malone - South Hills (LMU signee) 

Malone also made the notebook after Day One after a night that featured one of the hardest hit balls we saw during that day's action. He returns the notebook after another night of quality-at-bat after quality-at-bat that included a double to the pull side that plated two runs and gave the Huskies the lead, one they would not relinquish.


‘27 INF Bear Calvo - La Mirada

While only a freshman, Calvo demonstrated the types of tools that will make him a highly sought after recruit when his time comes. What we saw at the SoCal Underclass Games in the fall continues to show itself in the Spring Invitational and that is a high level bat talent on an ultra physical frame. Calvo shows plus bat speed with consistent barrels while using an all fields approach. 

- Les Lukach