Prep Baseball Report

CA State Games: Quick Hits Workout Wonders


Steven Hardesty
Central Coast/North LA Area Scout

  

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Fullerton, Calif.- This past weekend was the 6th annual edition of the California State Games the premier Invite-Only event in California was hosted at Fullerton College. This event brought together top players from the '25-'28 class together in one location to conclude the summer schedule across California wraps up before the start of school and the fall events schedule. 

The collection of talent that was on display in Orange County for the CA State Games was quite impressive. The weekend got started with a Pro-Style showcase workout for all position players/two-way players in attendance. Players received athletic testing on the Swift platforms including 10-30-60 yard sprint times and RSI/Vertical Jump testing. Blast Motion sensors were in use for all batting practice swings to collect swing metric data while Trackman technologies provided the Prep Baseball California staff with batted ball data on each player throughout the batting practice portion. As well, players worked out at their positions during the defensive portion of the workout to collect arm strength velocities while evaluating actions of each player defensively. At the conclusion of the workout the 8 teams (organized by Prep Baseball California staff) would each play two 8-inning simulated games (5 batters per inning) spanning 8 total games over the 3 day event to give our Prep Baseball California staff an extensive opportunity to continue to build their in-game evaluations of the players in attendance at the CA State Games.

Today, we will be taking a look at top performers from the workout portion of the CA State Games. The players are separated by positionaL groups with multi-positional players being slotted into one specific position group for this review. The groupings are; Catchers, Infielders, and Outfielders. Players were selected as top performers based on their performances across all 3 sections of the workout from athletic testing to defensive workout and their batting practice performance to be recognized here.

In the following days we will be taking a look at the top in-game performers from the 8 simulated games (this will include pitching performances) and we will be taking a look at those players based on grad classes: '25s, '26s, and '27-28's.

For all information on all players attending the CA State Games click here to view the data gathered throughout the event.

PREP BASEBALL CALIFORNIA STATE GAMES WORKOUT WONDERS

CATCHERS:

Ethan Johnson C / OF / The King's Academy, CA / 2025

Johnson comes with a durable catchers frame standing 6'2 210 lbs while showing the arm strength and accuracy during the workout to be a weapon against a run game (81 MPH C arm velocity with 2.0 pop times).  As strong as his defensive workout was Johnson impressed at the plate during batting practice with an event 2nd highest max EV at 101.6 MPH while adding in a max distance at 384' while consistently driving the ball in the air to the pull side 86.7% fly ball percentage. He showed solid athletic ability running a 7.5 60 time as a catcher with 18.3 MPH max run speed to put together an all-around very good workout.

Luke Bacon C / OF / Arlington High, CA / 2027

One of the youngest backstops at the event Bacon did not look out of place whatsoever comparing to players 1-2 years older than him in attendance. He flashes 73 MPH C arm velocity, but with a lightning quick transfer/release on his throws combined with accuracy to the bag flashes 1.94 second pop times while peaking at 2.04 seconds during the workout. Hitting from the LH side with a compact swing which generates consistent line drive contact he peaked at 85.1 MPH on his exit velocity while running at 7.43 60 time with a 18.6 MPH max run speed all very strong athletic measurements for a rising catcher in the '27 class.

Tai Baerga C / 1B / Redondo Union, CA / 2025

Baerga is a wiry framed catcher who stands at 5'11 185 lbs. with an interesting combination of tools that showed well during the workout portion of the event including arm strength at 78 MPH from the catching position while adding in a top pop time at 2.04 seconds with accuracy to the bag. His RH hitting profile showed very well during the batting practice session with a 96.3 MPH max EV and averaged 88.2 MPH during batting practice including a max distance at 367' to the pull side of the field. His 7.5 second 60 time with 18.4 MPH top run speed Baerga showed solid athletic ability as a catcher.

Logan Mull C / RHP / Valley Christian, CA / 2027

Another very impressive catcher in the '27 class the former Prep Baseball California Junior Future Games alumni from 2023 showed well during the workout portion of the CA State Games. His throwing stood out with an impressive 78 MPH C arm velocity while adding in the quickness to his transfer/release to pop 1.94 seconds to 2B at the top end with 2.04 seconds on the low end. Mull is a strong athlete who also pitches and displayed good running ability by clocking a 7.25 60 time with a 19.2 MPH top end run speed. His bat showed impact during the batting practice session by peaking at 96.6 MPH on exit velocity with an average at 90.2 MPH. Mull has carry to the pull side of the field with a 341' max distance and was consistently on the barrel with a 75% hard hit rate.

Hudson Hall C / 3B / Elk Grove High, CA / 2026

Hall has strong tools to go with his athletic frame at 6' 185 lbs. who shows off impmressive arm strength up to 79 MPH on his catcher throws with an event best 1.9 second pop time and a peak at 2.04 seconds on his throws which showed online carry to the bag. Hall has impact in his RH bat that peaked at 95.5 MPH on Trackman for exit velocity with decent athletic ability including at 7.57 60 time and 18.5 MPH top end run speed. 

Luke Severns C / 2B / Etiwanda , CA / 2026

Severns was an impressive performer during the workout to go with his 74 MPH arm strength and 2.08 pop time that was consistently on the bag during the throwing portion of the workout. He ran a 7.38 second 60 time while showing a 18.7 MPH top end run speed. Hitting from the LH side Severns brings a swing that has impact to the pull side of the field including a peak EV at 94.9 MPH that consistently gets the ball in the air with authority (88% LD/Fly ball rate combined).

INFIELDERS:

Trevor Banning SS / RHP / Santa Margarita Catholic, CA / 2025

Banning has been a consistent performer across several Prep Baseball CA events and was a member of the Team West 2024 Senior Future Games team. Yet, again the tools for Banning were on display with impressive results. The 6' 178 lbs. Banning flashes arm strength across both the infield/outfield with a 91 MPH INF arm velocity (94 MPH OF arm velocity) to go with the actions/footwork/hands to be a left side of the infield potential defender. A good athlete who ran a 7.12 second 60 time with a 19.3 MPH top end run speed he has the athletic ability to be versatile on the defensive side. A former switch hitter Banning is now strictly on the LH side and his swing jumped out during batting practice topping the event for exit velocity with a 102.7 MPH max EV, 97.8 MPH avg EV and 409' max distance it was an impressive session from Banning who also generated a 87% hard hit rate. 

Noah Haros SS / 3B / Orange Lutheran, CA / 2025

Haros is another standout from previous Prep Baseball California events who continued his trend of performing well with another strong workout at the CA State Games. Standing 6'1 185 lbs. the LH hitting Haros is an offensive upside player who generated a 98.7 MPH max EV while averaging 90.5 MPH throughout batting practice and added a 381' max distance to go with a 71% hard hit rate. He has a corner INF/OF defensive profile which included 84 MPH INF arm velocity working out at both 1B/3B and flashed 86 MPH OF arm velocity. His athleticism is solid including a 7.35 second 60 time combined with a 19.2 MPH top end run speed.

Reagan Samples 1B / RHP / Los Osos, CA / 2025

Samples is a two-way player who has loud offensive tools which showed very well during the batting practice portion of the event. Strongly built at 6'2 220 lbs Samples moves well at 1B with good hands, solid footwork at 80 MPH arm strength to be a good defender at 1B. His 97.9 MPH max exit velocity was amongst the best of the event while consistently getting the ball on the barrel in the air with 75% (Line drive/Fly ball combined rate). His offensive upside at a bat first position like 1B was on display throughout the batting practice which would carry into the game play portion of the event.

Diego Gonzalez SS / RHP / EL DORADO HIGH SCHOOL, CA / 2025

Gonzalez is a middle of the diamond defender who shows potential to stick at SS including the actions, footwork, arm strength (89 MPH INF arm velocity) and accuracy that were on display during the defensive portion of the CA State Games workout. A wiry athletic frame at 6' 165 lbs. Gonzalez packs some punch from the LH side at the plate with a 96.5 MPH max EV while averaging 89.7 MPH on his EVs to go with a 375' max batted ball distance. He clocked a 7.2 seconds 60 time, but was amongst the top max speed runners with his 19.7 MPH run speed. 

Brady McKay SS / 2B / Crean, CA / 2026

McKay has performed at a high level at a variety of Prep Baseball California events in the past and continues to trend up with his tools which showed well at the CA State Games. A medium framed athlete at 5'10 160 lbs. his arm continues to get stronger showing now 83 MPH INF arm velocity with accuracy to his throws to project a potential to stick at SS long term. Clocking in at 7.01 seconds in the 60 yard sprint time his athleticism continues to show long term up the middle ability with a 19.9 MPH top end run speed. A RH hitter with a compact quick line drive swing McKay showed impact in his offensive profile including a 94.7 MPH max EV while averaging 85.1 MPH with a 86% (Fly ball/Line drive rate) during batting practice.

Julian Oliver 3B / RHP / Novato High, CA / 2026

A rising name out of NorCal this was an impressive look for the Prep Baseball California staff which started with Oliver's strong display during the the workout portion of the event. Standing 6' 175 lbs. with emerging strength to his frame Oliver's offensive performance included a 97.1 MPH max EV with 94.5 avg EV while generating a 85% hard hit rate from a predominantly line drive oriented swing (57% line drive rate). His actions moving around the infield dirt with an 82 MPH infield arm velocity that gives you confidence in his ability to stay on the left side of the infield dirt long term while adding in two-way potential as a RHP. Oliver clocked one of the better 60 times with a 6.94 second showing including a 20.0 MPH max run speed.

 

Isaiah Reveron SS / 3B / Apple Valley, CA / 2025

Reveron has the frame at 6'1 200 lbs. impact in his offensive profile including his 99.4 MPH max EV while averaging 94.5 MPH with a 80% hard hit rate during batting practice that screams corner bat profile. His actions on the infield dirt with athletic ability and 87 MPH INF arm velocity project the potential to be a impact defender on the left side of the dirt. Reveron rounded out his impressive workout by clocking a 7.18 seconds 60 time with a 19.4 MPH top end run speed.

Caden Whitten SS / 2B / Vacaville, CA / 2026

Another intriguing NorCal infielder who put together a very good showing during the workout portion of the event Whitten checks in with a 6' 185 lbs frame and 85 MPH INF arm velocity that combined with his ability to move around the infield dirt, decent athletic ability (7.47 60 time and 18.5 MPH top end run speed) that combine to be a 3B potential defender long term. His batting practice was strong including a peak EV at 92.6 MPH while averaging 85.5 MPH with a 85% (Fly ball/Line drive rate) that allow his bat to profile at the hot corner.

 

Gavin Berigan SS / RHP / Thousand Oaks High, CA / 2027

Berigan started the summer with an impressive showing at the Ventura County Summer ID which he carried into a good CA State Games workout. His swing is compact and direct to contact with a line drive/ground ball based path which is on the barrel consistently while producing 87.5 MPH max EVs and a 83.8 MPH avg EV that suits his high contact approach in the box. He moves well on the infield dirt with the footwork/hands and quickness to his transfers that give you a feeling he could be a long term SS defender whose athleticism at 7.11 in the 60 with a 19.3 MPH top end run speed were all amongst the best for any '27 in attendance and amongst the top of all players in attendance.

Elijah Duarte SS / C / Ruben S. Ayala High School, CA / 2026

Duarte started the year off with an impressive Prep Baseball California Preseason All State Underclass event which he carried into a very good Soph. campaign at Ayala High School that flowed right into a strong summer which culminated in an impressive showing off his tools at the CA State Games ahead of his JR. year. With an intriguing 6'2 175 lbs. athletic frame he showed off his 82 MPH INF arm velocity which combined with his actions in his footwork/hands give you an impact defender projection. His athleticism showed well with a 7.4 second 60 time and 18.4 MPH max run speed. Once batting practice started Duarte rounded out a good workout with a 93.6 MPH max EV, 331' max distance while generating 75% (Fly ball/Line drive rate) with authority to the middle/pull side of the field.

 

 

OUTFIELDERS:

Emmett Johnson OF / 2B / St. Ignatius College Prep, CA / 2025

Johnson was impressive at the Prep Baseball California NorCal Preseason All State and the RH hitting OF has continued to improve over the last 8 months which culminated in another very strong workout performance this time at the CA State Games. Running an event second best 60 time at 6.74 seconds and tying for the top run speed at 21.1 MPH while flashing carry with accuracy from the OF including 87 MPH OF arm velocity he looks the part of a potential impact CF defender. His line drive based RH swing plays to the 5'10 165 lbs frame and high contact approach he brings while flashing some impact including a 94.8 MPH max EV and 86.2 MPH avg EV with a 75% (Line drive/Ground ball rate).

Ayden Munoz OF / 2B / Carlsbad, CA / 2025

Munoz came into the event as one of the better uncommitted '25s in attendance and his performance during the workout portion cemented him as a player to keep eyes on for the college coaches in attendance. An athletic 5'9 170 lbs. compactt frame with some present strength to it Munoz clocked a 6.79 seconds 60 time including a 20.4 MPH top run speed that gives him CF athleticism while adding a 89 MPH OF arm velocity that could allow him to slide over and be a solid RF defender. His LH swing is geared to produce consistent hard contact which he evidenced with a 94.9 MPH max EV and 87.6 MPH avg EV while producing an even 50/50 ground ball to ball in the air rate during his batting practice session with impact to the pull side including a 357' max distance.

Connor Sawyer OF / OF / SANTA FE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, CA / 2025

The San Diego based RH hitting OF Sawyer came into the event having been a strong performer in the past with his bat and did not disappoint during the workout while also showing a well rounded skill set. Standing 6'1 190 lbs. with the athleticism and ability to run (6.81 60 time and 20.3 MPH top run speed) Sawyer adds 87 MPH OF arm velocity giving him a chance to potentially play either CF/RF long term defensively with an intriguingly strong RH swing. Sawyer was on the upper end of the batted ball data metrics from Trackman with his 99.3 MPH max EV and 94.5 avg EV that came from a 87% hard hit rate during his batting practice. Sawyer produced consistent hard contact in the air with a 63% (Fly ball/Line drive rate).

Jetner Welch OF / 1B / Santa Barbara High School, CA / 2026

Welch is a highly projectable toolsy LH hitting OF who comes from the Central Coast who showed those tools off very well during the CA State Games workout. Standing 6'4 and weighing in at 175 lbs. his wiry long athletic frame has plenty of room to add strength while showing intriguing athleticism (6.9 seconds 60 time and 20.3 MPH top run speed with a 1.67 seconds 10 yard burst 3rd best in the event). His LH swing graded out strongly on the Blast sensors including 23.5 MPH hand speed, 74.2 MPH bat speed with 15 Gs of rotational acceleration. The quality of his swing helped him generate hard contact in the air from the middle to opposite side of the field with carry including a max distance of 373', 96.0 MPH max EV and 86.2 MPH avg EV with 67% (Fly ball/Line Drive rate). The tools are strong with Welch and give him a high ceiling as he continues to improve his ability to get to his toolset during game action.

Logan Pascarella OF / LHP / Corona High School, CA / 2028

One of a few '28s in attendance the future Corona Panther Pascarella made an impression with his toolset. Already checking in at 6' 185 lbs. there is plenty to like about the frame of Pascarella who combines the size component with interesting athleticism already including a 6.93 seconds 60 time 19.9 MPH top run speed while adding in burst at 1.71 seconds in the 10 yard split. Logan already demonstrates arm strength with a 87 MPH OF arm velocity during the defensive session. All of it combines with his RH hitting offensive profile including his 98.9 MPH max EV and 91.3 MPH avg EV both tops for an '28 in attendance and amongst the top performers for all grad classes.

Jose Borrego C / RHP / Sultana High, CA / 2026

Borrego was impressive for his arm strength alone which stood out both in the OF and behind the plate, but also on the mound later in the event. His OF arm velocity at 90 MPH was tied for 2nd best at the event in addition his 80 MPH C arm velocity was 2nd best at the event while adding in a 2.0 pop time during the defensive portion. While arm strength was an impressive tool for Borrego it was not his lone tool during the workout as the 5'8 160 lbs. RH hitter was up to 90.6 MPH on his max EV with a line drive based swing that averaged 84.9 MPH on exit velocity from Trackman. His athletic ability is strong to with a 6.94 seconds 60 time and 20.4 MPH top run speed.

Camden Goetz OF / RHP / Canyon High, CA / 2026

Goetz has put together quite the summer including a strong performance at Prep Baseball Future Games, but the LH hitting OF was not done with his summer yet and returned home to the Golden State to put together another impressive Prep Baseball California workout at CA State Games. A 6'1 180 lbs athlete who ran a 7.02 60 time with 85 MPH OF arm velocity there is CF potential for him with the ability to play in either corner, but his offensive profile really stood out again during the batting practice portion of the workout. Goetz was 93.9 MPH on his max EV, but his contact was consistently hard as he averaged 91.9 MPH on Trackman while producing a 100% sweet spot rate and 100% line drive rate.

Quinton Hill OF / RHP / Berkeley, CA / 2027

Hill was quite the interesting performer during the workout portion as the RH hitting OF from NorCal showed off his strong toolset across the board. With an athletic frame at 6'2 185 lbs. with room to continue to add strength to it he threw 87 MPH from OF with a 7.05 seconds 60 time as a '27 grad there is plenty of reason to dream on his CF defensive potential. As good as the defensive profile and athletic ability is on Hill his offensive ability has taken a strong step forward as evidenced by his 93.2 MPH max EV and 87.7 MPH avg EV during batting practice. He flashed two-way potential later in the event with his work on the mound to go with his workout performance.

Alexander Elizondo OF / RHP / Murrieta Valley High, CA / 2027

Elizondo is an uber intriguing toolshed athlete whose workout performance was a precursor to what he would do over the next few days at CA State Games. Standing 6'5 185 lbs. with wiry present strength and length to the frame you can dream on as he adds more strength with maturity he adds 7.17 seconds 60 speed from 19.2 MPH top run speed and 89 MPH OF arm velocity that gives you RF impact defender upside vibes. His tools carried over into the batting practice portion of the event as the RH hitter had the 4th highest max EV for the event at 100.1 MPH and tops in the '27 class by over 3.5 MPH while driving the ball in the air at 84% clip (Fly ball/Line drive rate). His tools are loud with a very interesting ceiling to his profile as he continues to polish his over feel for the game at a higher level.

Taison Miller OF / Millikan High, CA / 2025

Miller continues to perform at a high level with each of his appearances on the Prep Baseball California stage and his workout at the CA State Games was no different. A smaller framed athletic 5'8 155 lbs. CF potential defender Miller clocked the 4th fastest 60 time of the event at 6.77 seconds with a top 5 - 10 yard split time at 1.72 seconds and 84 MPH OF arm velocity. A LH hitter with a high contact line drive based swing Miller reached 93.9 MPH on his max EV while producing a 60% (Line drive/Ground ball rate). 

Jameson Berigan RHP / OF / Thousand Oaks High, CA / 2026

Berigan continues to grow his profile by adding two-way intrigue to his already impressive RHP profile as he was a standout at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County and in strong consideration for Team California for Future Games. CA State Games was our first introduction to the toolset for Bergian as a RH hitting OF and he did not disappoint in showcasing thm. Berigan clocked a 6.91 seconds 60 time with a top run speed of 20.2 MPH displaying his athleticism while adding 90 MPH OF arm velocity with carry on his throws during the defensive portion giving you RF defender vibes. At the plate he showed off pull side impact with a feel for getting the baseball in the air including a 95.3 MPH max EV and 368' max distance while producing a 72% (Fly ball/Line drive rate) during batting practice. He continues to raise his overall profile after the showing at CA State Games.

To view all the results of the players from the Prep Baseball California State Games click here

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