The Road to the California State Games begins with the 2023 California high school baseball season. With the season just around the corner, our staff has begun putting out team previews from all around the state, getting you prepared for another year of exciting coverage.

Today we focus on the Gahr Gladiators who finished last year 12-17 overall, but still clinched a spot in the CIF SS D2 playoffs. The Gladiators are moving into a new league this year (Suburban Valley) and are looking to utilize its physicality and power arms to make a run for a league championship.

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Team:

Gahr Gladiators

Head Coach (years at school):

Gerardo Perez (18)

Twitter Handle:

@GahrBaseball

CIF Section & Division:

CIF SS D2

Conference/League Name:

Suburban Valley 

Last Year’s Record:

12-17

6-2 (League) 

2022 Playoff Run:

Lost in CIF SS D2 First Round to Torrance

# of Returning Starters:

5 (Cortez, Panganiban, Perez, Salcedo, Alba)

# of Returning Pitchers:

4 (Alba, Andrunas, Thomas, Escobar)

Team Expectations:

"Expectations are high again for this Gahr team and it might be the best club since 2018. We return some power arms with pitch-ability and some physicality."

Team Strengths:

"Physicality, experienced and power arms, gap to gap power from several players in the order and defense up the middle with Cortez C, Panganiban SS, Gonzalez INF and Johnson CF."

Areas of Improvement:

"Maturity-- Angel Cortez, USD commit is catching full time and Kyle Panganiban (CSUN) settling in at short. This adds two MLB prospects someday at their primary. The year of maturity for 2024's Jose Perez (at the plate) and Andrew "AJ" Gonzalez on the mound. The additions of 2026 USC commits Andres Gonzalez (INF) and Bryce Morrison (RHP/1B) doesn't hurt but they are young against our schedule."

College Commitments:

Jaden Alba- RHP 2023 6'3" 200 R/R Arizona State - Area Code guy, getting better daily.

Noah Andrunas- RHP 2023 6' 190 R/R UC Riverside - Extremely high pitch-ability and IQ.

Angel Cortez- C 2023 5'10" 185 R/R University of San Diego - Seasoned with a plus release arm. 

Kyle Panganiban- SS 6' 170 R/R CSUN - Burst onto the scene this fall and keeps impressing.

Alahni Salcedo- OF/INF 6' 185 CS Bakersfield - The constant hitman in the middle of the order. 

Andres Gonzalez- INF 6'1" 180 USC - Sky's the limit for this young offensive middle infielder.

Bryce Morrison- RHP/1B 6'1" 195 USC - A natural big power arm, look for impact innings.

Top Uncommitted 23s:

Jayson Thomas- LHP 6'2” 215 L/L - Big and easy, plus CB and tough to barrel balls off of.

Joshua Escobar- RHP 6' 175 R/R - Quick twitch athletic slinger with a plus plus slider.

Chris Johnson- CF/C 6' 180 S/R - Versatile grinder that just plays hard all the time.

Top Uncommitted 24s:

Jose Perez- INF/C 6'3" 180 R/R - Profiles well, MLB well, will replace Cortez, athletic.

Andrew "AJ" Gonzalez- RHP 6'2" 175 - Might be the best overall package of the pitchers

Yechan "Mike" Lee- RHP/OF 6’ 180 - Explosive arm and bat 

Noe Leon- LHP 6'2" 170

Top Uncommitted 25s:

Jake Curneen- SS/OF 5' 8" 170 L/R - Quick, explosive

Top Uncommitted 26s:

Jake Ourique- RHP 6' 180 - Andrunas-like, early, high strikes and pitch-ability

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
South Bay Preseason ID	CA	01/29	Mission College - San Jose
East Bay Preseason ID	CA	2/05	Chabot College - Hayward
Rising Stars ID: Sacramento	CA	3/12	McBean Stadium - Lincoln
Rising Stars ID: Bay Area	CA	4/23	Chabot College - Hayward