2024 Preseason Preview: Whitney

January 31, 2024
By: Isaiah Glidden
Staff Writer

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The 2024 California high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across California.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective CIF Section Championship Game, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action and the Third Annual Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across California. Each week we will be releasing our Power 25, Players of the Week, Diamond Notes, Podcasts and much more.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Whitney Wildcats
Head Coach: Jackson Watt
CIF Section: CIF-SJS, Division 1
Conference League: Sierra Foothill League
2023 Record: 26-9
Team X Handle: @baseballwhitney

Team Strengths: Hitting and defense
No. of Returning Starters: 3
No. of Returning Pitchers: 1
Areas of Improvement: Pitching depth

COMMITTED PLAYERS

+ ‘24 MIF Jax Gimenez - Oregon - 6’2 190 lbs.
+ ‘24 INF Luke Oyler - Sacramento State - 6’3 175 lbs.
+ ‘25 RHP Corden Pettey - Texas - 6’2 205 lbs.

TOP UNCOMMITTED SENIORS

+ ‘24 C/OF Trajan Rogowski - 5’11 165 lbs.
+ ‘24 RHP Nolan Miller - 6'6 225 lbs.

TOP UNCOMMITTED JUNIORS

+ ‘25 RHP/3B/OF Noah Warner 6'1 185 lbs.
+ ‘25 LHP/1B/OF Brady Estes - 6'4 186 lbs.

TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2026

+ ‘26 OF Brady Jeffrey - 6'0 165 lbs.
+ ‘26 RHP/INF Carson Floyd - 6'2 180 lbs.
+ ‘26 LHP/1B/OF Hudson Osterhout - 6'2 175 lbs.

Class of 2027

+ ‘27 INF/RHP Bryce Farris - 5'11 150 lbs.
+ ‘27 INF/RHP Lucas O'Neill - 6'3 155 lbs.
+ ‘27 LHP/1B/OF Cooper Carleton - 5'10 145 lbs.
+ ‘27 RHP/INF/OF Jordan Castellanos - 5'10 140 lbs.
+ ‘27 RHP/INF Caden Martin (P/INF) - 5'10 140 lbs
+ 27 C/INF Gavyn Dulaney - 5'7 135 lbs.
+ ‘27 C/INF Declan Gonge - 5'9" 170 lbs.

TEAM OUTLOOK

Despite losing a large chunk of last year’s team who attained 26 wins, a league title, and a SJS Section Championship appearance, the Wildcats still have high hopes in 2024. Anchoring the infield will be a pair of Division 1 commits in ‘24 Jax Gimenez and ‘24 Luke Oyler. Uncommitted senior, ‘24 Tragan Rogowski is expected to be a top of the order bat for the Wildcats who will see time both in the outfield and behind the plate. ‘25 Noah Warner and ‘25 Brady Estes are a pair of juniors to note on this squad, both of which will make some big two-way contributions for Coach Watt.

A trio of sophomores are set to make some noise for Whitney this year, too. ‘26 Brady Jeffrey is an “athletic outfielder” according to Coach Watt with an “advanced approach at the plate.” ‘26 Carson Floyd and ‘26 Hudson Oserhout are two other sophomores that will see some time on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats. Besides all the aforementioned two-ways, Texas commit ‘25 Corden Pettey will lead the way on the mound for Whitney, and he returns a .68 ERA from last year in nine appearances. ‘24 Nolan Miller is another arm that will see time on the mound this year, too. Coach Watt also seemed excited about a number of freshmen prospects but was unclear how exactly they will be used at the varsity level, if any at all, in 2024.

Coach Jackson Watt’s Expectations: “We are looking to defend our back to back league titles and make a third straight trip to the SJS Section Championship. Our team will rely on veteran leadership on the infield from Jax Gimenez (Oregon) & Luke Oyler (Sac St) and our pitching staff is anchored by Texas commit Corden Pettey.”