Underclass Spotlight - 3 Names to Know

January 18, 2023
Dan Jurik
Scouting Director - Pacific Northwest

As we prepare for the 2023 season, we're continuing our look back at some of the top performances from each grad class we saw this past year across our events.

Today we spotlight 3 players in the 2026-2027 classes.

For youth players in the 2028 - 2027 classes, we have specific 13U and 14U only events coming this spring

3/5 - Portland Rising Stars (Sherwood, HS) - Event Page

4/8 - Hillsboro Rising Stars (Field in the Forest) - Event Page

Since its inception in 2005, the Prep Baseball Report has evolved into one of the country’s biggest and most respected independent scouting services, with a singular focus of providing comprehensive year-round coverage in every state we are in. The mission of the Prep Baseball Report is to scout and promote amateur baseball - high school, junior college and college - and, ultimately, help athletes achieve their dreams of playing baseball at the next level.

underclass spotlight

Cole Angel C / SS / South Albany, OR / 2026

5’11, 160 lbs. Average build and wide shouldered frame. Offensively, starts with weight back and bend on rear leg. Slower tempo in load to gather on backside before a short forward stride. Hands work in sync with lower half during scap load and stay tight to back shoulder. Loose, easy barrel action into the zone. Swing path shows exceptional zone coverage with high on-plane % via Blast. High, lofted finish against a strong front side. At SS, starts tall pre-pitch with short, quick hop at contact. Footwork was clean and consistent throughout, showing the ability to work around the ball then come through the play with rhythm. Soft glove hand and easy funnel into exchange. Tight arm action with ¾ release. Quick side shuffle to get momentum behind throw and adjust direction. At C, receives with a compact, low set up and shows good hip mobility. Used 1 KD set-up plus more conventional staggered stance when getting out of crouch into throwing motion. Clears hips and gains ground with a fluid move. Lower exchange into ¾ arm slot. Ball showed true carry to the bag with accurate flight.

Jace Litten OF / RHP / Churchill, OR / 2026

6’2, 170 lbs. Lean, athletic frame with length and projection. At the plate, starts slightly crouched with weight pre-shifted onto back leg. Shifts back with a toe tap load and gathers before using a quick, short forward stride. Hands stay tight to body near rear shoulder with a quick, tight load. Keeps levers short & compact prior to swing. Stays connected at contact and barrel works inside of the ball. Likely above average power down the road. Defensively, profiles well to OF with size/strength and running ability. Long, easy strides. Covers ground naturally with fluid actions through the play. Consistent exchange into side shuffle for momentum on the throw. Full, clean arm path with high ¾ release and athletic finish.

On the mound, uses a simplified delivery, working exclusively from the stretch with clean direction towards target. Gathers into back hip with a high leg lift before using a drop and drive move down the mound. Shoulders stay level as hands break and he gets down the slope. Good sized stride length. Arm gets extended early then tightens up into ¾ release. Keeps a tight glove side as he rotates out front. Braces up against front side and allows backside to come through naturally. Flashes hand speed as he gets through the ball. Considerable upside to tap into.

Jack Schweitzer C / 3B / La Salle Prep, OR / 2027

5’7, 165 lbs with compact strength and proportional frame. Advanced actions offensively in the box. Advanced offensive actions for his age. Uses a tall, upright stance with lower half narrowly open to the pitcher. Relaxed hands with an upright barrel prior to load. Uses a quick leg lift to gather as hands pull back to create stretch against front side. Strong, quick wrists in the swing and controlled bat speed. Consistently impacts the baseball and has exciting power potential long-term. Defensively profiles well to C as a LH bat. Plays low easily and presents a compact target. Strong but mobile lower half. Showed multiple set-ups while receiving. Conventional stance when getting out of his crouch. Quick exchange into ¾ slot with short arm action. Ball carries out of hand with accuracy. Overall sound catching actions that project well.