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2026 San Diego MLK Weekend Scout Notebook

January 21, 2026
By: Vinnie Alfino
Manager, Content & Operations

 

   

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SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - MLK weekend brought a wave of action across Southern California, as programs from Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego converged on the USD campus for the annual head-to-head matchups. With a packed slate of games over multiple days, the event provided an ideal setting to evaluate a wide range of high-end talent across all classes. From established, committed names to emerging uncommitted prospects, there was no shortage of players who stood out. Below, we break down some of the top performers and key takeaways from a loaded weekend of competition.

Special thanks to Kyle Koppelmaa for contributing video across three days at USD.

Sierra Canyon

2029 INF/RHP Jordan Leon

Leon showed exactly why he’s regarded as the No. 2 player nationally and the top-ranked 2029 in California. Offensively, Leon’s bat stood out immediately. In his first AB, he barreled a pitch coming in at 88 mph and sent it back off the bat at 100 mph for a 2B to LCF. He followed that swing with a 97 mph exit velocity line drive to left field, then later in the weekend added a 98 mph triple to right-center, consistently driving the ball with authority to all parts of the field. Across three games, Leon produced multiple barrels north of 95 mph, showing elite bat speed, strength, and feel for the barrel. The bat plays now and projects even louder moving forward. Leon also flashed comfort and polish defensively at third base with sure hands and confident actions. He capped the weekend by hopping on the mound and showing his two-way ability, working 88-91 mph with the fastball and pairing it with a 79 mph sweeper slider (2300+ rpm). The slider showed late bite and induced whiffs, and he tossed two shutout innings with two strikeouts. The tools are real, and Leon continues to separate himself as a true toolshed talent in the 2029 class.

2028 UTL CJ Garrett

Another key young piece of Sierra Canyon’s core, CJ Garrett, turned in a strong offensive showing with multiple loud swings. He smoked a lineout at 99 mph EV and earlier roped a 99 mph triple to dead center, showing intruiging bat speed and strength for his size. Garrett hits with a balanced, relaxed setup and controlled violence through the zone, consistently finding the barrel and impacting the baseball. Garrett’s athleticism stands out across the field. He can handle the outfield but currently profiles best on the dirt, primarily at second base, where his actions play well. With continued strength gains, there’s room for his defensive profile to expand to the left side of the infield as his arm continues to get stronger. Just turning 16, Garrett has plenty of runway ahead, and the combination of athleticism, bat speed, and projection makes him an intriguing follow in the 2028 class out of Southern California.

Solorio turned in a strong showing against an experienced lineup in Cathedral Catholic, tossing two scoreless innings while confidently attacking the strike zone. He leaned heavily on an 87-89 mph fastball with late arm-side run, showing no hesitation to work the inner half to right-handed hitters. The velocity played up, and the pitch consistently missed barrels while setting the tone early in counts. Solorio complemented the fastball with a 74-75 mph curveball and a 77-78 mph slider, both tunneling well and creating effective east-to-west separation. His mechanics are easy and repeatable, allowing him to compete in the zone and maintain command throughout the outing. With a clear starter profile, Solorio is an uncommitted '26 arm still looking for a home and would definitely help a program at the next level.

Huntington Beach

2027 OF/LHP Jared Grindlinger

The No. 1 player in the 2027 class once again showed why he sits atop the rankings with a dominant two-way weekend. On the mound, Grindlinger worked 92-95 mph with the fastball, firing multiple strikes at 95 in his first inning of work. He paired it with an 84-85 mph slider spinning 2400-2500+ rpm, but it was the changeup (83-84 mph, elite 700-800 rpm) that stood out as his best pitch coming in. The change showed late fade, deception, and swing-and-miss action. A slight hitch in his delivery appears to help trigger lower-half power, and he showed strong arm-side command while attacking hitters. He finished with two shutout innings and three strikeouts. Offensively, Grindlinger continued to impress from the left side, picking up three hits on the weekend, including barrels at 99 and 100 mph EV. The swing remains smooth and explosive without extra effort, producing loud contact that looks easy. The weekend felt more like a tune-up and getting quality reps on the mound and seeing live pitching in the box, rather than chasing results. But when you’re as talented as Grindlinger, the production tends to show up anyway, as he still put together one of the most impressive weekends of any player at USD.

2027 INF/OF Elyjah Mason (Oklahoma State)

Mason burst onto the national scene last summer at the Future Games, where he established himself as a premier ‘27 and earned a commitment to Oklahoma State. Now heading into his junior season, he looks noticeably stronger and looks to set the tone at the top of a loaded Huntington Beach lineup with CIF title aspirations. Mason continues to trend upward as one of the more dynamic left-handed hitters in the 2027 class. He strung together three quality line drives over two games, including a 96 mph EV lineout and two barreled singles, showing consistent hard contact that we've all grown accustomed to. Expected to see time at both third base and the outfield, Mason’s athleticism translates wherever he’s placed, and his bat ensures he’s a constant impact presence in the lineup.

2027 LHP Duncan McLeod

McLeod turned in a strong two-inning look to open the weekend Friday night, showing real upside on the mound for Huntington Beach. He worked 85-87 mph with the fastball, showing natural arm-side run and confidence attacking the inner half of the zone. The fastball played well in the zone and set up his secondary offering effectively. That secondary offering was McLeod’s 73-74 mph changeup, which flashed as a real weapon, tunneling well off the fastball and generating a high whiff rate. He has a wiry frame but with present strength and still plenty of room to add more, pointing to continued velocity gains down the line. With his FB/CH combo and competitive edge, McLeod is expected to earn innings this season for the Oilers and could be a name that starts making noise throughout 2026.

2027 RHP Evan Moorhead

Moorhead turned in a solid look on the mound, showing composure and competitiveness in the zone. He worked 86-87 mph with the fastball from a high three-quarters slot, pairing it with a 76-77 mph slider and a 78 mph changeup. The arm action is loose and whippy, creating deception out of hand and making the fastball play a tick above the radar reading. Moorhead showed poise working out of traffic, particularly with runners in scoring position, and consistently challenged hitters. There’s clear projection remaining as he continues to learn how to fully sync his body and delivery. Huntington Beach has a track record of developing arms, and Moorhead fits the mold of a younger name with upside who could emerge as his role grows and his stuff continues to trend upward.

Cathedral Catholic

2026 SS Alex Harrington (Stanford)

It was a strong Friday night for Harrington, showing off the heavy barrel and in-game speed that make him a dynamic presence. He smoked two doubles on the nose and added multiple quality at-bats over the weekend, with one of the doubles coming on a ball that would be a routine single for most. Harrington caught the center fielder sleeping, but it was his explosiveness out of the box that allowed him to stretch it into two. After a banged-up summer, he looks healthy again, and the bat speed and barrel control appear to be trending back to where they were prior to the 2025 season. His advanced approach and keen eye at the plate continue to stand out. Defensively, Harrington was steady at shortstop, making all the routine plays and showing an above-average arm with accuracy. What separates him, though, is his leadership and feel for the game. He played with a team-first mindset all weekend, was vocal at short, and on multiple occasions called time to make mound visits when he felt the situation demanded it. From the outside, those moments mattered — both visits resulted in timely outs shortly after. Harrington plays with an aggressive motor and a controlled edge, and that leadership, competitiveness, and awareness are traits he’ll always be able to lean on, even when other parts of the game aren’t fully clicking.

2027 LHP/1B Jose Partida (Arizona State)

Partida continues to show a starter-type profile on the mound, working 88-91 mph with the fastball while commanding the arm side with minimal effort. He mixed in a 73-74 mph curveball and a 77 mph changeup, sequencing well against a deep, disciplined lineup in Huntington Beach. The delivery is smooth and repeatable, and the overall operation never looks forced, allowing his stuff to play consistently in the zone. Partida’s two-way ability was on full display as the night went on. After a slower start at the plate, his momentum shifted once he took the mound, and it carried back into the box where he won a 10-pitch battle and drove an opposite-field double to left-center. 2026 will be Partida's first full season with Cathedral Catholic after missing time last year due to the transfer rule. Having his bat and arm available from opening day could be a major difference-maker for CC, as they got out of the gates a bit slow in 2025. Partida's strong showing further solidifies that he will be toward the top of the list for must-follow '27 names this spring in San Diego.

2026 RHP/3B Kaden Kuhn (Cornell) 

Kuhn turned in a strong two-inning look on the mound, working 90-93 mph with a heavy fastball that showed ride through the zone. His delivery features a quiet, controlled tempo that builds into a fast, over-the-top finish, creating deception and leading to numerous late swings. He paired the fastball with an 82-83 mph slider, giving hitters a second look and keeping them from sitting on velocity. Kuhn looks noticeably stronger than he did last spring, and the added physicality may help his velocity hold more consistently from outing to outing than it did a year ago. The command was more controlled in this look, and with his physical frame, there’s still room to unlock more down the line. In addition to his role on the mound, Kuhn will once again be a middle-of-the-order bat for the Dons in his senior season, giving Cathedral Catholic a reliable two-way presence heading into 2026.

2026 UTL/RHP Ty Daniels (Columbia)

The arrow points up for Ty Daniels, who looked as good on the mound as he has in any viewing to date. He worked 87-91 mph with the fastball, showing a live arm and consistent swing-and-miss traits, with occasional glove-side cut that added another layer of difficulty for hitters. The delivery is athletic, and the physical frame continues to get stronger, pointing to more velocity gains as he moves forward. Daniels paired the fastball with a 79-80 mph slider spinning 2300+ rpm, a tight pitch that was tough for right-handed hitters to pick up late. The two-pitch mix profiles well for the next level, with a present reliever look and upside still ahead. A Columbia signee, Daniels is also expected to log 75-80 plate appearances this spring, giving Cathedral Catholic another legitimate two-way contributor as they push toward their title goals.

2027 LHP Cody Reynolds

Another Cathedral Catholic arm with an arrow pointing up. Reynolds, the uncommitted left-hander, continued to show meaningful gains since our first look at him last fall. Prep Baseball California was introduced to Reynolds at the West Coast Games, where his size and high fastball spin suggested future velocity upside — and that projection is already starting to show up. After maxing at 85 mph in October, Reynolds came out Friday night working 85-87 mph and touching 88, marking a clear step forward. He paired the fastball with an 80-81 mph slider and an 83 mph changeup, giving him a complete three-pitch mix to work with. The body has made noticeable strength gains, and the improved velocity looks sustainable rather than forced. With continued physical development and reps, Reynolds is shaping up as another quality left-handed arm in Cathedral Catholic’s staff and an uncommitted 2027 name that should be on follow lists moving forward.

Eastlake

2028 OF Joel Vargas

Vargas continues to stack quality performances early in the year, following up a strong showing at the San Diego Preseason All-State on January 11th with another impressive look during MLK weekend. Coming off a productive freshman season in which he hit .311 with 12 doubles, Vargas looks noticeably stronger and is settling nicely into the role as the now central piece of the Eastlake lineup heading into 2026. During MLK weekend, Vargas squared up three balls across his plate appearances, starting with a smoked ground ball through the 5-6 hole in his first at-bat against one of the top arms in the country. In his second trip, he barreled a ball to second base and reached on an error, and he capped the day with a firm liner back up the middle for the go-ahead hit in Eastlake’s win over Huntington Beach. With consistent hard contact showing up across multiple showings, Vargas looks primed for a strong sophomore campaign and is positioning himself as a legitimate Prep Baseball Future Games candidate for Team SoCal this summer.

Newport Harbor

2026 RHP Gavin Guy (UC Santa Barbara)

Guy turned in a strong tune-up outing ahead of the spring season, looking every bit like the Tars’ frontline arm. He worked 88-92 mph with the fastball and competed confidently in the zone, showing command of a true three-pitch mix. The fastball played well up in the zone and set the tone early, generating uncomfortable swings and limiting hard contact. Guy paired the heater with a 74-75 mph curveball spinning 2500-2700+ rpm, which stood out as a legitimate swing-and-miss weapon, along with an 80-81 mph changeup that helped keep hitters off balance. He struck out two across 1.2 innings and consistently missed barrels. With all three pitches working on Saturday, the UCSB signee looks ready to anchor Newport Harbor's staff this spring.

2026 RHP/INF Henry Mann

Mann showed well as a two-way piece over the weekend, flashing confidence on both sides of the ball. On the mound, the right-hander worked 87-89 mph, touching 90 early before settling into the 85-87 range later. He attacked all four quadrants of the zone with confidence, using an aggressive move down the mound and getting into his legs to generate easy velocity. The fastball played well off a 70-72 mph curveball and a 76 mph changeup, and he consistently missed barrels while competing in the zone. Offensively, Mann’s bat showed up as well. The left-handed hitter ripped a 99 mph EV double down the right-field line and put together multiple quality at-bats, looking confident and under control in the box. The presence Mann carries himself with gives a lot to like, and the overall two-way profile stands out. Still uncommitted in the 2026 class, Mann feels like a name flying a bit under the radar that college programs should continue to track closely this spring.

Maranatha

2027 MIF Trevor Rivas (Cal Berkley)

Rivas looks like he's made serious strides in his game after putting together a solid performance against Newport Harbor on Sunday. A Future Games Tryout participant last summer at Pepperdine, Rivas showed strong metrics at the time — including a 100.1 mph max EV and 6.81 60 — and he now looks noticeably stronger in the upper half compared to his listed 169-pound frame from that event. The added strength showed up immediately in game action. Rivas jump-started the offense with a pull-side three-run home run, showing improved juice while maintaining a clean, repeatable swing. The bat looked consistent throughout the weekend, and his actions at shortstop were fluid and controlled. An athletic mover who can run, Rivas profiles as a centerpiece for a talented Maranatha roster, and his blend of tools, polish, and added strength continues to trend in the right direction heading into the spring.

2026 RHP Bradley Loiacono

Among a strong group of uncommitted 2026 arms over the weekend, Bradley Loiacono stood out with one of the more complete showings. Pitching in a starting role after working primarily out of the bullpen in 2025, Loiacono looked comfortable and natural in the transition, showing true starter traits with an easy, repeatable operation. Sunday marked a strong impression in that role and suggested a clear path toward the rotation moving forward. Loiacono worked 85-86 mph, touching 87, and showed feel for a full four-pitch mix, including a 72-74 mph curveball, 76-77 mph slider, and an 82 mph changeup. He sequenced effectively across three strong innings, showing confidence and pitchability while missing barrels. The fastball flashed occasional cut and ride, and his ability to command all four offerings gives him a chance to impact a college program in a variety of roles.

Other Notable Performers

Sierra Canyon

'26 UTL Isaias Tirado

'27 RHP Sean Parrow (LSU)

'27 LHP Mac Kennedy

Huntington Beach

'26 1B/OF Owen Bone (CBU)

'26 1B Cayden Hammond (BYU)

'26 3B/RHP Dane Cunningham (Cal Poly SLO)

'29 C Mason Doan

'27 SS Parker Leoff (UCLA)

'26 LHP Grady Ream

'27 C Rex Fox

'26 RHP Jared Marchbank (New Mexico State)

Cathedral Catholic 

'27 OF Joshua Priest (Arizona State)

'26 OF Hunter Harrington (Stanford)

'27 1B/OF Max Stewart

'27 OF Will Blanton

Eastlake 

'28 RHP Lucas Yriqui

'26 C Tyler Maula (Cornell)

'26 UTL Hamza Hatahet (UC Santa Barbara)

Newport Harbor

'26 OF Ryan Williams (Cal Berkley)

'27 RHP Sam Clapp

Maranatha 

'26 OF Kaleb Derosier (UC Irvine)

'26 RHP Dylan Hoang (Villanova)

'28 MIF Bryce Geeting

'27 RHP Kaden Lai

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