CIF Week 13 Scout Blog
May 12, 2026
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The California Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the Prep Baseball Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home-to-first times, and more. Simply put, the California Scout Blog is loaded with information…
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Rodriguez vs. Laguna Creek
Hank LoForte, NorCal Scouting Director
'27 RHP Justin Gregory, Cal Poly Commit, Rodriguez High School
Gregory came out of relief this appearance, last time he was the starter for Rodriguez. It was a tense part of the game when Gregory came in, he seemed like a whole different person this time around. His fastball was sitting between 86-88 mph T89, a lot more life coming out of the hand. Gregory mixed in a slider around 77-78 mph and occasionally threw a splitter at 78-80 mph. The biggest separator from his last performance was his competitiveness, there was a lot more game on the line, so it was nice to see him be able to compete with something on the line. There’s definitely some small stuff that needs to be cleaned up, but then again, Gregory is still learning how to pitch and perfect his craft, he used to be a primary catcher, and this was his first full season of sticking to pitching. There’s a lot to like with Gregory, and with another year of high school left, he can be a legit arm in all of northern California.
'27 OF Drew Beasley, Rodriguez High School
Beasley is having a monster year offensively for Rodriguez, he’s nearly leading all the offensive categories, and what’s even more impressive is his transition from the infield to the outfield. Safe to say, I think it was the right move, his athleticism is able to roam free out there,m and with his type of speed, centerfield can be a spot he can stick with for a long time. Beasley plays with a lot of energy, and it’s contagious throughout the whole lineup. Seems like he is always in the middle of something, yesterday he collected one hit, which was a line drive smoked into the LCF gap. His other at bat, he lined out to center field, and hit a dribbler to the 1st baseman. He’s an on base machine, and he’s got a real shot to help this team and lead them to a Section Championship.
'29 C Nateo Victorio, Rodriguez High School
Victorio was first seen in a free event this fall at the University of Pacific, and was a standout there. I got to see him earlier this year and he struggled a bit at the dish, turning around to now, he’s hitting nearly .350 and one of the top offensive producers in the lineup, and he’s only a freshman. Victorio definitely plays beyond his years, it’s noticeable when he’s behind the dish, he does a great job of controlling the pitching staff. Credit to him because Rodriguez has a lot of talented arms, so it's not like he’s catching soft stuff all the time. Plus, they have a plethora of other catchers on this roster, so him being the starter says a lot. He only got one hit on the day, which included a double down the left field line, but he took a lot of quality hacks on the day. His swing is short/compact, and he’s got a lot of feel for the barrel, which shows why his strikeouts to walks are super low and he has a ton of base hits. He’s a kid that's got a name established already, but he’s making even more of a name for himself. Victorio will be a fun follow for the next couple of years.
Francis Parker vs Foothills Christian
Jackson Eichelman, Prep Baseball Contributor
2027 RHP John Mika of Francis Parker High School
Mika got that start on the mound for the Lancers, throwing a complete game shutout against Foothills Christian. Mika went 7 innings, allowed 4 hits (0 runs), and struck out 11. He featured a FB heavy diet to the hitters, and coupled that with a CB located down and away to righties. Mika had a slower windup before whipping the pitch past the batter. The righty maintained a steady tempo throughout the game, and made the hitters play his brand of baseball. Standing at 6’5” 170lbs, Mika has room to add strength to his frame. The righty currently owns a 1.95 ERA in 14 innings, and has struck out 20 batters along the way. At the plate, Mika laced an RBI double to put the Lancers up 1-0 in the first. Mika is slashing .455/.556/.705 this season in 21 games.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Christian vs Madison
Jackson Eichelman, Prep Baseball Contributor
2027 OF Harrison Brown of Madison High School
Brown walked it off for the Warhawks, lacing a 2-RBI double to win the game. Brown fouled off many pitches, finally getting one he liked, ultimately winning the game for Madison. With a frame of 6’3” 205lbs, Brown is a force to be reckoned with. Using a simple load with a small step, Brown drags the barrel through the zone, utilizing his power. In a small sample size this season, the righty is hitting .457 with a .512 OBP, and a 1.169 OPS.
2026 LHP Colin Gallagher of Madison High School (Cal State San Marcos Signee)
Gallagher was stellar on the mound, getting the start for the Warhawks. The southpaw went 6.2 innings, allowing 1 run, while striking out 7 batters. Gallagher was heavy on the FB usage, placing it all around the zone, blowing it by hitters as well. He also added a CB that got a lot of weak contact/ swing and miss. This season he owns a 1.55 ERA across 54.1 innings, adding 88 strikeouts. Gallagher is adding to his impressive resume as he posted a 1.24 ERA in 56.2 innings last season.
2029 RHP Talon Brown of Christian High School
Brown had a great start for the Patriots, going 5.1 innings with 0 runs. Brown also added 4 strikeouts along the way. The righty utilized a FB, CH, CB mix that produced a lot of weak contact. He located the FB all over the zone, using the CB to go low and away to righties, and the CH to get swings from batters. Brown also pitched out of trouble multiple times, proving he can pitch in high pressure situations. Standing at 6’4” 205lbs, Brown has very polished mechanics on the mound. Brown owns an impressive 0.23 ERA across 30 innings this season with 34 strikeouts too.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Huntington Beach vs Temecula Valley
Vinnie Alfino, Manager, California Content & Operations
2026 LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach - Tennessee
Grindlinger turned in another strong outing, working 6 innings for the win, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 6 over 88 pitches. The left-hander attacked with a power arsenal, operating at 92-95 mph (T95.6) with the fastball while pairing it with an 82-84 mph slider and a devastating 80-83 mph changeup. With numerous evaluators in attendance, Grindlinger answered the call and looked increasingly sharp as the outing progressed. The fastball played especially well in two-strike counts, where he consistently elevated after establishing effective tunnels with his secondary offerings. The changeup stood out as a true weapon, at times looking nearly unhittable with heavy vertical drop and low spin characteristics that disrupted timing and produced uncomfortable swings. He showed command of all three pitches and confidently mixed throughout the outing, using the secondaries heavily enough to keep hitters from sitting on velocity. Grindlinger’s presence and confidence on the mound continue to stand out. He bore down in key situations, induced weak contact throughout the game, and showed clear trust in his stuff. He also contributed offensively, delivering a big RBI single in the fourth inning that extended Huntington Beach’s lead to 2-0 at the time. The overall body of work this spring has been dominant, now sitting at 6-0 with a 0.91 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and just 13 walks, continuing to cement himself as one of the premier left-handed arms in this upcoming draft class.
2027 UTL Elyjah Mason, Huntington Beach - Oklahoma State
Mason delivered a massive offensive performance, going 3-for-5 with 7 RBIs and impacting the game seemingly every time he stepped in the box. He broke the game open in the 4th with a sharply hit ball that ate up the second baseman (ruled a hit) and plated two runs, then followed it later with another hard barrel to right field that brought home two more and widened the gap for the Oilers. The biggest swing came late, when Mason launched a towering three-run homer that removed any doubt and capped off an explosive day offensively. The left-handed hitter continues to show a rare blend of athleticism and impact, with tools that stand out immediately in live looks. Defensively, Mason possesses the type of movement skills and athletic profile to handle multiple premium positions. He can move comfortably on the left side of the infield and also has the range and athleticism to profile in center field. At the plate, the production has backed up the tools all spring long, now hitting .389 with 37 hits, 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 31 RBIs. While there’s still some swing-and-miss present, the projected strength gains, the bat speed, barrel impact, and frequency of hard contact give the profile considerable upside and one to bet on as a premier ‘27 prospect in the class.
