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The Uncommitted Spotlight Series continues as the summer circuit is getting underway Prep Baseball California is beginning to highlight some of the top uncommitted class of '26 athletes ahead of 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. The 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 32 ranked player in the 2026 class in SoCal '26 RHP/OF Jose Ortega from Calexico High School. With a physical frame with present strength to it across the lower 1/2 and room to continue adding in upper body at 6'3 198 lbs. with a starter pitchers profile and impact RH bat. Ortega was impressive at the 2024 Prep Baseball Preseason All State event where he stood out on the mound and even flashed loud power at the plate while also showing well during both his FR/SO campaigns at Calexico. During the Preseason All State event Ortega displayed his 3 pitch mix highlighted by a FB/SLD combo that he featured predominantly with quality action to both and a developing CHG which he continued to improve throughout the spring. His FB was up to 85.8 MPH on Trackman while sitting at 83-85 MPH throughout his appearance with arm side run to it. The SLD came in as high as 74.6 MPH with sweep to the break and while sitting in the 71-73 MPH range. Ortega's CHG came in at 73-76 MPH consistently with some feel for the pitch, but still showing polish to reach its potential. During the batting practice session Ortega also put on a display with his RH swing which saw him peak at 101.8 MPH on exit velocity with consistent HR power to the pull side of the field while averaging 94.8 MPH with a 373' blast to LCF as his top swing of the day. His 2-way talents have played in game at a strong level for Calexico in the San Diego Section of CIF High School baseball. This spring Ortega put up a .338/.391/.525 slash line with 4 doubles, 1 triple and 3 HRs while driving in 14 and scoring 13 at the plate. In addition, he posted a 3.26 ERA with 2 wins in 11 appearances totaling 38.2 IP with 44 Ks. As he continues to mature and develop as a player to go with his already physical frame and performance Ortega has a chance to contiunue to raise his stock over the course of his final 2 years of high school/travel baseball. 

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