High School Crosscheck: Week 2
February 24, 2020
An early season showdown between two marquee California programs also pitted two of the top 2020 righties against each other. With an estimated 2,500-3,000 in attendance, including 80 scouts, Jared Jones (La Mirada HS, CA) and Max Rajcic (Orange Lutheran HS, CA) created an electric atmosphere.
Rajcic prevailed, pitching a one-hit shutout while striking out eight. He worked primarily 91-94 mph with his fastball and showed his usual feel for pitching, but it was his new changeup that caught considerable attention. It sat 82-84 out of the same window as his fastball with late fading action, as it dove out of the zone. His slider was above average and he showed no hesitation to use it as a strikeout pitch. Rajcic has also improved physically, as he appears strong in the upper half where he has slimmed down significantly.