Prep Baseball Report

2025 High School Previews: Thomas Downey Knights


Steven Hardesty
Assistant Scouting Director

 

  

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The 2025 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 these individual programs across California. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings.

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 2025 preseason coverage continues today with a preview of the Thomas Downey Knights.


2025 TEAM OUTLOOK

High School: Thomas Downey Knights
Head Coach: Justin Schwitters 
CIF Section: Sac-Joaquin Section
Division: Division 1 or 2
2024 Record (Playoff Finish):  15-14 (Lost is first round of Division 1 to Rocklin 2-0)
Key Players Lost: Andre Mendoza, Jaxen Rowland, Aiden Larson, Wyatt Edwards

+ No. Returning Positional Players: 4
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 3
+ Team Strengths: Big Physical group. Tough, Should be able to hit with power. Two arms can go mid 8s with command. Catcher is seasoned.

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Key Players:

Seniors:

+ '25 Ryne Moore

+ '25 Jayceon Sloan

+ '25 Isaac Doornewaard

+ '25 Elijah Ortega 

Juniors:

+ '26 Izaiah Hernandez 

+ Projected Starters: Ryne Moore, Isaac Doornewaard, Iziah Hernandez 
+ Projected Relievers: Aiden Cruz, Gus Munoz, Trevor Selke, Jayceon Sloan 

IMPACT UNDERCLASSMEN

+ '27 Owen Sacuskie

+ '27 Gus Munoz

+ 27Julian Masani

BOTTOM LINE

 We are a well rounded squad heading into 2025. I really like our lineup with plenty of toughness and physicality from top to bottom which should give us a chance to hit with power and put up some offensive numbers if we perform to our potential. A pair solid arms on the mound who can command the zone and a strong catcher behind the dish will make our staff solid overall. - Coach Schwitters 

PREP BASEBALL CA STAFF’S TAKE

The Downey Knights are set to take on the 25' season and I think they are going to be very physical like their coach was mentioning. This team brings back a good amount of talent from last years squad, so if those guys all contribute they will be a tough team to beat. I'm a fan of Ryne Moore, he was one of their best players last year at the plate and on the mound.  With Turlock HS losing a lot of guys the league is up for grabs, nothing like some good baseball out of CenCal.

Learn more about California’s 2025 spring season below:

+ Follow Thomas Downey on X: @tdhsbaseball
+ Find more team previews on the Prep Baseball California Season Previews homepage

FOLLOW US THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball California on X
+ Prep Baseball California on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball California on Facebook
+ Prep Baseball California on YouTube

MORE 2025 TEAM PREVIEWS

Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
North Bay Preseason ID CA 01/25/25 Novato High School
Inland Empire Preseason ID CA 01/26/25 Ganesha High School
East Bay Preseason ID CA 02/01/25 Pittsburg High School
Sacramento Preseason ID CA 02/09/25 McBean Park
Orange County Rising Stars ID CA 03/02/25 Mater Dei High School
Inland Empire Rising Stars ID CA 03/30/25 Corona High School
Los Angeles Rising Stars ID CA 04/27/25 O'Malley Field

MORE PREP BASEBALL NEWS