2020 Preseason Preview: Valencia Vikings
January 13, 2020
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The Road to the California State Games begins with the 2020 California high school baseball season. With the season just around the corner, our Staff has begun putting out team previews from all around the state getting you prepare for another year of exciting coverage.
In this edition we will take a closer look at the Valencia Vikings (Valencia, CA), a team looking to continue it's recent success in the Foothill League and make a run in the Southern Section Playoffs.
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TEAM
Valencia Vikings
HEAD COACH (years at school)
Michael Killinger (21)
OFFICIAL TWITTER:
CIF SECTION & DIVISION
Southern Section/Division 1
CONFERENCE/LEAGUE NAME
Foothill
LAST YEAR’S RECORD
18-13
PLAYOFF RUN
1st round loss in Division 1
# OF RETURNING STARTERS
7
# OF RETURNING PITCHERS
6
OUTLOOK:
When returning 7 starters and 6 pitchers on a veteran laden team, the Valencia Vikings have strong expectations for 2020 with goals like winning the Foothill and making a deep run in the Southern Section Division 1 Playoffs. That experience and depth will be counted on and matched with a strong crop of arms looking like strengths for the Vikings. The pitching staff is deep and led by front line arms with plenty of arms to close out tough games. The offense will be no slouch either with 4 D1 commits in the lineup and how they execute and run the bases will showcase how far the offense can carry them. Looking to be on top of the Foothill come season end, Valencia has the depth and talent to push to be one of the best teams in the Southern Section.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:
‘20 RHP Ryan Kysar - 6-0, 190, R/R - Arizona Commit
Ace pitched in the Area Code Games this summer with live arm. Will be teams #1 and possibly one of best SP in Southern Section.
‘20 OF Brock Kleszcz - 6-2, 195, R/R - UCSD Commit
Athletic and rangy OF with quick hands at the plate
‘20 C/INF Jakob Marquez - 6-1, 200, R/R - Washington State Commit
Physical catcher who has transferred in for 2020 season. Bat has flashed some juice.
‘20 C Grant Weiss - 6-2, 180, R/R - Loyola Marymount Commit
Very strong catcher with agility and athletic ability carrying behind the plate; strong arm matched up with solid blocking skills. Works entire field with barrel and chance for it to keep improving.
‘20 INF Sean Ogrin - 5-10, 160, R/R - Cal Lutheran Commit
Smooth fielding MIF with flashes of power in compact bat. Has shown the ability to pick it at SS with arm strength to possibly stay there at the next level.
‘20 3B Steven Gonzalez - 6-2, 185, R/R
Coaches are high on Gonzalez and expect him to continue to make leaps with tools.
‘20 LHP/1B Mitchell Torres - 6-1, 190, L/L
7-2 on the mound in 2019 and will be asked to be a key contributor on the mound again in 2020.
‘20 RHP Tyler Robitaille - 6-1, 180, R/R
Swing and miss stuff as evidenced by his 78Ks in 2019 will be another arm that can impact games for the Vikings.
‘20 LHP Justin Tejada - 5-11, 210, L/L
‘21 2B Wyatt Harms - 5-9, 175, R/R
‘21 RHP Brooks Snyder - 6-0, 165, R/R
Will look to be Spot Starter/Long relief role.
FUTURE PLAYERS:
‘22 RHP Matt Chapman - 6-2, 150, R/R
Coaches like his stuff and believe he will be an up and coming pitcher for them.
‘22 Kaden Shields
‘22 Noah Nichols
‘22 Chris Kishel
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
Orange County Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) | CA | 01/04 | JSerra High School |
Riverside County Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) | CA | 01/05 | Elsinore High School |
Winter Update Series powered by EM Sports | CA | 01/07 | EM Sports - San Diego |
Central Valley Preseason I.D. | CA | 01/11 | Clovis North HS |
Winter Update Series powered by South Bay Sport Training | CA | 01/12 | South Bay Sports Training |
Winter Update Series powered by EM Sports | CA | 01/13 | EM Sports - Rancho Cucamonga |
Winter Update Series powered by Monterey Bay Pirates | CA | 01/17 | Monterey Bay Pirates Facility |
California Far North Preseason I.D. | CA | 01/18 | Chico HS |
NorCal Preseason All-State (Invite-Only) | CA | 01/25 | Islanders Field at River Islands |
Winter Update Series powered by Paradigm Sport | CA | 01/26 | Paradigm Sport |
Winter Update Series powered by EM Sports | CA | 01/27 | EM Sports - Long Beach |
Super 60 Pro Showcase | NATIONAL | 02/02 | The MAX - McCook, IL |
Winter Update Series powered by Mike Murphy Baseball | CA | 02/08 | MMB - Walnut Creek |
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