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The Uncommitted Spotlight Series returns after a brief break during the height of the summer showcase/tournament circuit. Prep Baseball California will return to highlighting some of the top uncommitted class of '26 athletes as we have passed the August, 1st contact date for this class. The player featured today is one of the top players in the state of California and figures prominently in our Class of 2026 Rankings. All players featured within our Uncommitted Spotlight series are ones that college coaches and fans should be keeping their eyes on over the coming months.

We invite you to get to know them through the eyes of our Prep Baseball California staff of scouts both through our in person looks at players and/or the data-backed numbers collected at our events with our partnered companies. TrackMan, Blast Motion, Swift Performance, and Visual Edge provide comparable data to project and evaluate players. All of these systems come together to give a clear picture at what colleges will get when a players steps onto their campus.

Today, we put the spotlight on the number 73 ranked player in the 2026 class in SoCal '26 RHP/1B Jacob Oropeza from La Mirada High School. With a strong frame at 6'2 215 lbs. while demonstrating solid athleticisim and a 2-way upside. Oropeza presents a quality foundation of tools as both a position player and pitcher while showing well both at the 2024 Future Games Tryout: OC & Spring Invitational Tournament. During the workout portions of the Future Games Tryout: OC he showed the actions to be a solid defender at 1B and strength in his RHH offensive profile. During batting practice Oropeza consistently genereated hard contact with lift to the middle and pull side of the field including a peak EV at 98.1 MPH with 89 MPH average EV and a 71% sweet spot rate at the Future Games Tryout: OC. The power comes from the strength in his frame and hands (21.8 MPH hand speed). In addition, he adds to his overall profile with a solid 3 pitch mix working with a 82-85 MPH FB that he controls well and pairing it with a sweeping SLD at 69-72 MPH which he can throw for strikes and a developing 72 MPH CHG that shows potential. Oropeza saw significant action on the varsity level as a sophomore with La Mirada with playing time both as a hitter and on the mound. His performance was impressive both at the plate (.353/.416/.368 19 RBIs/14 Runs) and on the mound (.25 ERA/28 IP/36 Ks/2 wins/1 save) in the 2024 high school campaign with room to contineue getting better. With his strong frame and foundation of tools both as a position player and pitcher and a continuing to emerge feel for the game there is plenty of up arrow signs for Oropeza as a player to keep close eyes on over his final 2 years of high school/travel baseball. 

College coaches and fans be sure to click on Oropeza's profile to see full video and information.