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Ventura, Calif. - On a crisp cool day in Lake Elsinore, California 40+ of the top '26/'27 players in the Southern California region took the field at Temescal Canyon High School in the PBR California SoCal Preseason All State Underclass event. 

Players first participated in a showcase-style workout with athletic testing, on field batting practice, plus defensive workouts. During the workout portion of the event players had the opportunity to let their tools shine on video and build their database of metrics through PBR California's use of Swift Technologies, Blast Motion swing trackers, and Trackman technology for batted ball data. Following the workout portion of the day the players then competed in a 8 inning controlled scrimmage which gave the our staff on site live looks at the in-game ability of the position players and pitchers in attendance.

For all the data and information on all of the players outside of the Quick Hits click here.

On a day filled with so many talented young players from Southern California selecting the top performers of this event was a difficult process. Beyond the players featured here there were many others who had strong showings to start off the '24 baseball season. 

With that in mind here is the first look at some of the standout performers from the PBR California SoCal Preseason All State Underclass.

Jose Ortega RHP / OF / Calexico High, CA / 2026 Ortega put together potentially the best performance of the day. A ‘26 RHP/OF from Calexico HS with physicality already in his 6’3 198 lbs frame who moves well for his size (7.4 60 yard sprint time) with good actions in the OF. Between his electric batting practice session in which he showed an explosive swing with intent to do damage every time he pulled the trigger. The ball jumps off his bat when squared up including a max exit velocity at 101.8 MPH, averaged a 94.8 MPH exit velocity with a max distance of 373’ including two HRs and several balls launched to the warning track with carry. His swing is loose with 75.4 MPH bat speed from the strength in his frame. His approach is geared to do damage looking to lift to the pull side with each swing and even when he misses a ball it comes off the bat hard. As good as his BP display of power was when Ortega stepped on the mound it was another electric performance. With easy arm speed and a low effort fluid delivery Ortega attacked hitters with a 3 pitch mix featuring a FB from 80.5 MPH- 85.6 MPH with sink from his lower ¾ arm slot. Paired with his sweeping 70.3-74.6 SLD which featured the second most average/max horizontal movement on the day. Plus a third solid offering in his 73.1-76.5 MPH split CHG with late downward action to it. Ortega faced 5 hitters, struck out 3 and didn’t allow any hard contact. He is fascinating ‘26 RHP with a power offensive profile for college coaches to be paying close attention to as the Aug. 1, 2024 contact date closes in.

Gary Morse OF / RHP / Orange Lutheran , CA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 85 / POS: 18 Morse is another ‘23 California Future Games roster selection who put together yet another strong showing. His performance rivaled that of fellow ‘26 RHP/power bat prospect Jose Ortega for the best one of the day. A long lean 6’7 190 lbs frame with decent athleticism to his actions. Took defensive work at 1B on the day (previously has played the OF) looked comfortable over there as a big target for INF’s with good hands receiving throws. Starts from a tall stance with a leg lift in his load Morse unleashes an aggressive swing (76.6 MPH bat speed) with fast hands (23.9 MPH hand speed) that all combine to generate impressive power/lift from the middle of the field to the pull side. Connected for the hardest max exit velocity of the event at 102.3 MPH and sent several balls to the warning track and cleared the fence with one blast. But, like Ortega, as impressive as the power potential is when Morse toed the rubber to finish the day it was another electric performance topping his BP one. Featuring a loose fast arm with a fluid delivery Morse has the projection on the mound that screams big time D1/MLB potential. His FB sat between 89-90.7 MPH with good spin on it allowing him to miss bats within the strike zone. CB has plus potential with power to it peaking at 77.1 MPH, but he is still polishing his feel for the pitch. Threw a few changeups in the outing that ranged between 80.5-80.9. The ceiling for Morse is very high with his frame, arm speed, delivery, present stuff with future projection and continued development he will undoubtedly be a sought after ‘26 arm come the Aug. 1, 2024 contact date.

Kai'nalu Van Scoyoc SS / RHP / Palos Verdes High, CA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 118 / POS: 28 Putting on an impressive two-way performance, Van Scoyoc impressed in each aspect of the day. During batting practice he showed off his loose explosive RH swing (24.2 MPH hand speed) including launching a pull side HR with several towering drives to the big part of the field. Exit velocity peaked at 88.9 MPH with consistent hard contact averaging 84.1 MPH on his exit velocity. Defensively, he showed smooth actions on the INF with fluidity to his feet/hands with the arm strength (86 MPH INF velo) to stick at SS and handle either 3B/2B should he have to move off SS. In game he put together 3 strong at bats including a 3B he lifted to deep RF in a 2K count (reached 3B in 12.78 seconds), while also drawing a walk and a hard groundout to SS. Kai’Nalu also toed the rubber for an inning of work showing off athleticism and arm strength in his delivery. FB worked in the 82-84 MPH range peaking at 85 MPH while mixing in a 63-67 MPH CB with depth and a CHG. Van Scoyoc should have plenty of college programs following him leading up to the Aug. 1, 2024 contact date for NCAA D1 schools.

Royce McKenzie OF / OF / St. Bernard Catholic, CA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 87 / POS: 20 McKenzie lived up to his top 100 ranking by the PBR California with an impressive workout performance and followed it up with a strong showing during the game play portion of the day. The compact, but strong framed McKenzie started the day with 7.21 60 yard sprint time with burst. Then during the outfield workout his easy running actions, good footwork and arm strength (79 MPH OF velocity ) with carry that project to a future in CF for him. As good as McKenzie was during the athletic testing/defensive portion of the day he topped it during his round of BP. Reaching 90.1 MPH with his max exit velocity and a 100% sweet spot rate he showed his power potential that combines with an advanced feel for his barrel. He showed a natural feel for rhythm/timing during BP and the swing is compact with a quick barrel (69 MPH bat speed). Once the game play portion started he barreled the ball in both at bats. Reaching base in his first at bat his speed created havoc with 2 SB’s and scored a run. Then in his second at bat he turned on a pitch for a loud drive to deep LCF. McKenzie has the look of a future CF who can be an impact offensive weapon at the next level.

Sal Gagliano SS / 3B / Patrick Henry, CA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 98 / POS: 22 Gagliano is a physical presence in the ‘26 class standing 6’3 already and with strength to his 180 lbs. frame and he adds above average athleticism across the board to his profile. A 7.12 runner in the 60 with 84 MPH INF arm velo on the day to go with a good feel for rhythm and footwork Gagliano profiles to stick on the left side of the infield going forward with potential to play SS. He gets to a loaded position early as a hitter, but once he pulls the trigger to swing it’s an aggressive hack with lift in his bat path. The early load allows him to consistently tap into the power in his game with a 96.1 MPH max exit velocity, an average exit velocity of 89.7 MPH and a 75% sweet spot rate during the BP portion of the day. The offensive tools displayed in BP translated into game action with a pair of good at bats. Gagliano collected a double on a ball he turned on down the LF line and drove a loud fly ball out to LF that he narrowly missed. There is a feel for an approach and in game timing. Gagliano’s overall profile is really intriguing for a college program with physicality, athleticism, left side of the infield potential all added to high impact offensive profile that should make him one college coaches are keeping a close eye as the Aug. 1, 2024 contact date approaches.

Michael Nonis C / 3B / Centennial, CA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 128 / POS: 23 Nonis showed off a pair of advanced tools that really opened my eyes on the day with his hit tool and defensive actions at a premium defensive position. The LH hitting Nonis put on one of my favorite BP rounds with a loose swing that really lets his hands work (22.3 MPH hand speed) but incorporates his lower ½ (25.6 MPH rot. acceleration). His approach/timing showed really well in BP with consistent hard contact including a max exit velocity of 89.2 MPH and a max distance of 333’. The bat path, use of his lower half and feel for his approach Nonis looks the part of a future high average hitter who will drive doubles to the gaps and flash pull side HR power. Nonis is much more than just a BP hitter his in game approach and feel to hit showed with a pair of hard singles including one to the LCF gap. Nonis is more than just a hitter in fact he showed very well behind the plate both in defensive work and in game. His arm flashes 75 MPH C velo with 2.1-2.25 pop times with online carry and he receives well. The combination of an advanced bat from the LH side with potential to stick at a premium position really intrigues me about Nonis’ future.

Elijah Duarte SS / C / Ayala, CA / 2026 Duarte is a fascinating ‘26 player who shows the tools to handle a pair of premium defensive positions in SS/C and adds an impressive offensive profile to his defensive prowess. During defensive work Duarte shined at both SS/C; behind the plate he has 72 MPH C arm velocity with a quick transfer and accuracy to his throws for a 2.03-2.18 pop time, the actions at SS are smooth and fluid with a clean transfer and accurate throws to 1B with 77 MPH INF arm velocity. Duarte moves well laterally/downhill and can play 1-handed/2-handed as the play dictates with great feet. There is realistic potential for Duarte to play either SS or C at the next level, likely his development physically/athletically will help decide where he fits best. The profile for him doesn’t end on the defensive side of the game because there is real offensive ability for Duarte. With quick hands and an accurate barrel Duarte consistently drove the ball during BP including a max exit velocity of 94.4 MPH and an average exit velocity of 89.6 MPH. The path is geared for more line drive contact then lift with a max distance of 299 feet. In game he collected a hard line drive SAC FLY to CF, added a walk, while finishing his day with a single to LF. Duarte is a ‘26 who college coaches should be placing high on their board for his combination of athletic ability, defensive potential and offensive impact.

Gabriel Guerrero SS / 2B / Bishop Amat , CA / 2026 LH hitters who can swing it and flash the ability to play an up the middle position defensively are premium follows for college coaches and Guerrero fits this profile. Showing fast hands with a direct path to the baseball his swing is built to produce hard line drives from gap to gap and Guerrero did just that during BP. Reaching 92.1 MPH as his max exit velocity there is juice in his bat and the ball carries on a line well to the gaps. Grades out well metrically with 22.2 MPH hand speed, 70.6 MPH bat speed and 21.7 MPH rot. acceleration. He doesn’t look to lift the baseball, but as he matures and the approach develops Guerrero should add HR power to his current feel to hit. In game he smoked a line drive single to LF and then hit a hard grounder to the SS in his 2 at bats. Defensively, he moves well with good actions currently that could give him a chance to play SS as matures and polishes his game. If he has to make a move he will be able to handle 2B which will keep his LH bat up the middle and make him an intriguing prospect for college programs.

Evan Alexander RHP / SS / Brentwood School, CA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 49 / POS: 13 Alexander put together an impressive all around performance. A wiry 6’2 175 lbs frame with some present strength. He flashed the actions with his feet/hands plus good range and arm strength (81 MPH INF arm velo) from the left side of the INF that project to allow him to stick over there. Flashing a quick compact RH swing with feel for the barrel during BP (92% sweet spot rate) he put on a very good display of line drive contact during his round. Approach is geared for contact versus power with a 86.1 MPH max exit velocity, but it translates well to game play where Alexander drove a hard line drive double to CF in his lone at bat of the day. Another 2-way player who had a strong day as a position player, but then took it to another level with his performance on the bump. An athletic delivery with good body control and a quick arm. Alexander worked off a FB in the 84.3 - 87.3 MPH range while peaking at 87.9 MPH on the day. Mixing in an event best SLD based on metrics with 73.1 - 77.3 MPH velocity and spin rates up to 2451 RPMs with the best avg/max horizontal movement. He attacked hitters with good tempo in the delivery and batters struggled to make any type of solid contact against him. Another ‘26 who should be a strong follow for college coaches as they start to bear down on that class.

Alvaro Moreno Jr 3B / RHP / Etiwanda, CA / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 133 / POS: 12 Another physically impressive ‘26 out of a very good Etiwanda program Moreno had a strong day in the workout/game play portions of the event. Standing 6’3 190 lbs with impressive actions at 3B including good rhythm to his footwork, soft hands, lateral agility, the ability to play 1-handed plus an accurate 81 MPH INF arm will help Moreno project to stick at 3B at the next level. His batting practice consisted of line drive after line drive from a quiet load with a quick turn and direct bat path. His approach is geared towards gap to gap line drive contact which generates 89.3 MPH max exit velocity with consistent hard contact averaging 83.6 MPH on exit velocity. As he polishes his approach to look to turn and lift the baseball Moreno has the power potential in his frame to be an impact bat. Collected a line drive single to RF in the game play portion which was the first hit of the event. Moreno has a good all around profile and will be a name to follow in the ‘26 class.

J. Beckett Berg RHP / 3B / Notre Dame , CA / 2027 Rankings  StateRank: 25 / POS: 5 OverallRank: 230 / POS: 46 Berg who was a ‘23 California Future Games selection passes the eye test quickly when you first see him standing 6’3 with long levers to his 183 lbs frame that looks every bit the part of a future college starting pitcher. Hailing from the powerhouse Notre Dame Sherman Oaks program, Berg looks to be the next in a line of very talented Knights arms. Working off a 3-pitch mix headlined by his FB/SLD combination with a developing CHG. The FB currently works in the 82-84 MPH range with a loose easy arm action and relatively low effort delivery which projects starter qualities to it. He showed a good feel for controlling his FB. Threw his SLD in the 73-75 MPH range with an average spin rate of 2608 RPMs and peaked at 2682 RPMs. The pair helped him to collect 2 strikeouts over the 5 batters faced. There is a bright future on the mound for Berg as he continues to improve his stuff, polish his feel for pitching and add strength to his frame that should put him right on track to help continue the pipeline of big time college/MLB arms that have come out of the Notre Dame program.

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