Updated Class of 2023 Rankings

Roman Martin SS / Servite, CA / 2023

Gavin Grahovac OF / Villa Park, CA / 2023

Eric Bitonti 3B / SS / Aquinas, CA / 2023

Hunter Backstrom OF / Junipero Serra, CA / 2023

The term 'electric' as it relates to a baseball player can be hyperbole or apt and when it comes to the left-hand hitting Backstrom, it is 100% on point. The run tool is plus plus, the bat speed is lightning, the strength and burst are both measurably and visually impactful. He's got power to get through gaps and over the heads of outfielders and he's got the bat control to consistently GET to his speed. On clean hits that he's sniffing for extra bases, when he shifts into a higher gear, a scout can SEE it take place. Then on a ball that could be an infield hit or at a minimum, put pressure on the defense, he seems to be either easily safe or JUST out. This is the type of player a scout is excited about on his drive to the game.

Brian Trujillo 2B / 3B / Huntington Beach, CA / 2023

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound infielder is going to play major college baseball and he has the bat talent that also projects to the professional level. He's put together well, is a solid runner (7.13) and can adaquately man either 2B or 3B and likely a corner OF spot. What matters most is the impact hitting talent. The term 'hitterish' defines him the second he steps into the box. There is a confident and somewhat menacing presence he brings to the plate. His contact is LOUD and the ball screams off his bat to all fields. He keeps the barrel behind the ball with attack angle to produce extra base hits and finishes through contact with balance. Each time he stepped to the plate at CA State Games, there was anticipation for a ball to be hit VERY hard.

Elias Duncan SS / c / St. Francis, CA / 2023

A participant at the recently completed Area Code Games, Duncan has long been considered one of the best 'baseball players' in his class in Northern California. He played an impactful shortstop for St. Francis in 2022 (one of top teams in state) and from what we've seen of him, he's also a HIGH level catcher with outstanding receiving ability and cat quickness. A hit-getter at the plate, his approach and understanding of situational hitting are strong attributes. The arm plays above average both at SS and behind the plate, with soft and sure hands at both spots. Watching him in the CIF D1-NorCal final last spring, his defense was almost single-handedly the reason the Lancers won that tight 3-2 game. He's a winning type player in all regards, WITH good tools.

Cole Schoenwetter RHP / San Marcos, CA / 2023

Jarren Advincula SS / 2B / Archbishop Mitty, CA / 2023

On the heels of an outstanding junior season at Mitty, Advincula showed off his abundance of athleticism at the Northern California ProCase and then at the Area Code tryout and ultimately at the Area Code Games. He's a super twitchy player with quickness and burst which plays defensively (above average arm), at the plate, and on the bases. He's a left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed (76.5 mph) and the footspeed (6.71) to be a problem for defenses. Having seen him in high school game competition and also in the ProCase environment, it's clear that his focus and intensity show up on a consistent basis. Impact player in all facets and as such, he's risen up the rankings and in the eyes of the MLB scouts, putting himself at the top of list of Northern CA shortstops in the 2023 class.

Andrew Lamb C / JSerra, CA / 2023

Lamb’s rise in this rankings release should come to no surprise to anyone who saw what he did last spring. Lamb was the best offensive player for a Southern Section D1 winning JSerra team and it earned him a spot on our PBR California All-State Team and the title of Division 1 Player of the Year. He slashed .390/690/1.080 which included 4HRs and 10 doubles. The bat talent is considerably real where he has strong hands that generate some easy bat speed. His presence in the box is what stands out to us where he exudes a hitterish confidence every AB. Defensively there is some versatility where he plays a solid OF but also has a solid skillset behind the plate. Lamb should get a good amount of pro looks these next couple months especially if he continues to perform against high-end competition.