California Insider: 2018 Unsigned Standouts

January 15, 2018
Les Lukach
California State Director

It seems that every year there are senior uncommitted players that have fallen through the recruiting cracks for one reason or another and this senior class is no exception.

Below we take a look at ten uncommitted players that will likely be off the board before too long.

Micah Pietila-Wigs OF / 2B / Eastlake, CA / 2018

Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 180 pounds, Wiggs is an intriguing prospect that flashes big potential with the bat to go with his speed and a high baseball IQ. Wiggs generates good bat speed by using his lower half to generate torque through the ball. Swing is compact and intentful and shows the ability to get the barrel in the zone and keep it there while consistently driving the ball to all fields while flashing pull-side pop. Line drive hitter that has good pitch recognition and understanding of the strike zone.

Jake Goddard OF / 2B / Cathedral Catholic, CA / 2018

At 6-foot and 180 pounds, Goddard is an athletic, highly projectable player who runs a sub-7 60 yard dash. His bat projects some power potential as the ball jumps off when squared up. A present gap-to-gap hitter Goddard uses good rotation in the lower half to go with quiet hands in his even-based stance. His defense is his present carrying tool as he demonstrates easy actions with clean field and a quick release. The arm plays from either corner outfield position.

Jake Renteria OF / Buchanan, CA / 2018

At 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, Renteria projects physically with his long, athletic present build. Renteria shows quick hands that result in tight, downward swing plane. He is short to the ball and manages to get the barrel on the ball consistently. His hitting tools are a bit raw, but the foundation is there. As he physically matures his arm will continue improve. Shows a fast and projectable arm that should only continue to get better with development.

Noel Bustos C / SUNNYSIDE, CA / 2018

Bustos has a medium frame at 5-foot-10 190 pounds, but it is a strong, athletic build. Defensively Bustos shows very soft hands, balanced crouch, good footwork and aptitude for the position. Flashes a quick release from a compact arm slot that times consistently in the 1.9 - 2.1 zone. At the plate Bustos is intriguing with present bat speed resulting from a direct hand path to the ball. Has a slightly lifted barrel plane that results in loud contact with carry.

Julian Mungarro C / 1B / Richard Gahr, CA / 2018

The current carrying tool for Mungarro is his defense with regular pop times in the 1.9 - 2.1 zone. Shows athleticism behind the plate from a mid-crouch that allows him to get into throwing position quickly. Non-glove hand is always close to glove when he receives the ball. Offensively he gets good leverage at contact and ball explodes off the barrel when squared up. Demonstrates current power potential that carries over into game situations.

Caden Cortese C / 2B / Napa, CA / 2018

A 6-foot-1 175 pound catcher, Cortese shows above average catch-and-throw skills which he repeats while gaining ground on his throws. Arm strength is average, but projects with added strength to his long, wiry frame. Consistently shows online, accurate throws with carry. Flashes soft hands allowing him to receive and transfer effortlessly. Blocks well and flashes good footwork. Offensively Cortese starts his swing with a straightforward toe tap trigger and shows a loose path to the baseball and feel for the barrel. Present opposite field approach.

Jose Lemus SS / Sunnyside, CA / 2018

First thing you notice with Lemus is his large frame that is lean and athletic and projects to support the addition of strength and mass. At shortstop Lemus shows clean, sound footwork when attacking the ball while funneling the ball out front and remaining consistent through transfer. Flashes the ability to make throws from various arm angles that are consistently online and have carry. At the plate Lemus aggressively attacks balls with a direct path to the ball. Shows gap-to-gap abilities but can occasionally turn on one to the pull side.

Dane Goodman OF / Redwood, CA / 2018

Goodman has a large, athletic frame and wiry strength who is aggressively closes in on balls in the outfield. Shows clean actions with the glove at pick-up and works through the exchange effortlessly. Throws are accurate with carry from a high three-quarter arm slot. At the plate Goodman shows present bat speed through contact and a lifted plane through extension. Balls jump off the barrel with gap carry when squared.

JASON MORAN
C / CARDINAL NEWMAN, CA / 2018

Moran really does have all that a college coach is looking for in a catcher, and one who can develop into a front-line caliber starter, sooner rather than later. He's 6-foot-1 185 pounds and build like an athlete, really an ideal size for a backstop. He possesses a quick exchange, makes strong accurate throws, while maintaining the all-important quality of being a strong receiver and blocker. His pop times have been in 1.93-1.94 range and are routinely around 2.0 or below. Moran keeps his barrel in the strike zone, gets through the ball and can drive the ball with authority from line to line. He has the opportunity to catch high caliber pitchers (2019 RHP Sean Flowers) on his high school team, which is great preparation for the future.

Chase Castor 3B / 1B / Paloma Valley, CA / 2018

At 6-foot-2 180 pounds, Castor is beginning to show the efforts of his weight room work with his strength. As a result, he projects for additional strength while maintaining his current athleticism. As a third baseman he flashes clean, smooth footwork while funneling the ball out front and works through his two-piece exchange efficiently. Uses a high three-quarter release that produces carry across the infield. At the plate, Castor shows good barrel control through the zone with present strength to drive the ball. Uses an upright, open stance with no trigger.