Prep Baseball Report

Updated Class of 2023 Rankings


PBR California Staff

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The PBR California 2023 Class Rankings have been updated and EXPANDED (to 350 players!) after a full summer season that saw many top players maintain their status in the class while many others have climbed their way up, while others make their debut in the ranking. Many of the top players near the top of the chart were on display at the Area Code Games, including the #1 position player and the #1 pitcher.

Today we go deeper into the class than ever before and also breakdown the top three players in the state, a couple of the top uncommitted players remaining on the board, as well as take a look at who's seen their stock tick upward heading into their senior season.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

THE TOP THREE

Roman Martin SS / Servite, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1

This year has gone quite well for Roman Martin where our staff saw him plenty during a spring HS season where he was named Trinity League MVP. He hit an astounding .511 in arguably the toughest league in the country which led to a selection to our PBR California All-State Team. He continued his high level play into the summer circuit where he showcased some premium upside both offensively and defensively at Area Code Games. It's a simple RH stroke that's short to the baseball with present bat speed where he makes consistent loud contact. At SS we think it's an elite skillset where his foot quickness, advanced glove-to-hand, and strong arm put him among the top defensive SSs in his class nationally. High end SoCal SS’s have a knack for going high come draft time and we think the sky's the limit for Martin.

Gavin Grahovac OF / Villa Park, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1

Grahovoc was a close follow for us during the HS season where he had an outstanding spring that helped carry Villa Park to a deep playoff run and also an appearance on our PBR California All-State Team. The physicality he brings with his 6-2 210lb frame stands out where there is a strong belief that big-time power projects. It’s a full loose swing with easy above-average bat speed. There is noticeable strength at impact and he maintains good extension through the zone that allows him to have excellent plate coverage. Defensively there is present versatility where he has shown above-average skills in the INF, OF, and behind the plate. If he continues to show well and improve with the bat our staff thinks itls an easy 1st round projection.

Eric Bitonti 3B / SS / Aquinas, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1

Bitonti’s physical build along with an elite hit/power profile at the plate make him one of the most exciting players to evaluate and project in this class. It’s a larger 6’4 215 frame that moves well on the left side of the dirt with a strong arm across the diamond. At the plate, we think his bat has the chance to be special. His offensive numbers during the spring were outstanding across the board where he hit .526 with 8 HRs and 17 doubles. He sets up in a wide base with a simple trigger with a bat path that stays relatively short while still gaining good leverage and power. With how high his ceiling is we wouldn’t be surprised if teams are placing him as a 1st round talent already.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

TOP UNCOMMITTED

Hunter Backstrom OF / Junipero Serra, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 45

The term 'electric' as it relates to a baseball player can be hyperbole or apt and when it comes to the left-hand hitting Backstrom, it is 100% on point. The run tool is plus plus, the bat speed is lightning, the strength and burst are both measurably and visually impactful. He's got power to get through gaps and over the heads of outfielders and he's got the bat control to consistently GET to his speed. On clean hits that he's sniffing for extra bases, when he shifts into a higher gear, a scout can SEE it take place. Then on a ball that could be an infield hit or at a minimum, put pressure on the defense, he seems to be either easily safe or JUST out. This is the type of player a scout is excited about on his drive to the game.

Brian Trujillo 2B / 3B / Huntington Beach, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 65

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound infielder is going to play major college baseball and he has the bat talent that also projects to the professional level. He's put together well, is a solid runner (7.13) and can adaquately man either 2B or 3B and likely a corner OF spot. What matters most is the impact hitting talent. The term 'hitterish' defines him the second he steps into the box. There is a confident and somewhat menacing presence he brings to the plate. His contact is LOUD and the ball screams off his bat to all fields. He keeps the barrel behind the ball with attack angle to produce extra base hits and finishes through contact with balance. Each time he stepped to the plate at CA State Games, there was anticipation for a ball to be hit VERY hard.

 

Elias Duncan SS / c / St. Francis, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 113

A participant at the recently completed Area Code Games, Duncan has long been considered one of the best 'baseball players' in his class in Northern California. He played an impactful shortstop for St. Francis in 2022 (one of top teams in state) and from what we've seen of him, he's also a HIGH level catcher with outstanding receiving ability and cat quickness. A hit-getter at the plate, his approach and understanding of situational hitting are strong attributes. The arm plays above average both at SS and behind the plate, with soft and sure hands at both spots. Watching him in the CIF D1-NorCal final last spring, his defense was almost single-handedly the reason the Lancers won that tight 3-2 game. He's a winning type player in all regards, WITH good tools.

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RANKINGS RISERS

Cole Schoenwetter RHP / San Marcos, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 2

There seems to be a general consensus among our staff that Schoenwetter saw the largest growth in stock among arms in California after his spring HS season and a big-time summer circuit that included a strong performance at Area Code Games. It’s a projectable 6-3 190lb lean athletic build that profiles well as a future starter. The delivery is polished, balanced, and athletic with a loose/whippy arm that gets quality extension out front. His FB velo is now touching mid-90s and it's pairing well with his late-biting upper 70s SL and a sharp mid-70s CB. With the high end swing and miss he has been generating our staff thinks there is some easy 1st round potential there. 

Jarren Advincula SS / 2B / Archbishop Mitty, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 32

On the heels of an outstanding junior season at Mitty, Advincula showed off his abundance of athleticism at the Northern California ProCase and then at the Area Code tryout and ultimately at the Area Code Games. He's a super twitchy player with quickness and burst which plays defensively (above average arm), at the plate, and on the bases. He's a left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed (76.5 mph) and the footspeed (6.71) to be a problem for defenses. Having seen him in high school game competition and also in the ProCase environment, it's clear that his focus and intensity show up on a consistent basis. Impact player in all facets and as such, he's risen up the rankings and in the eyes of the MLB scouts, putting himself at the top of list of Northern CA shortstops in the 2023 class.

Andrew Lamb C / JSerra, CA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 43

Lamb’s rise in this rankings release should come to no surprise to anyone who saw what he did last spring. Lamb was the best offensive player for a Southern Section D1 winning JSerra team and it earned him a spot on our PBR California All-State Team and the title of Division 1 Player of the Year. He slashed .390/690/1.080 which included 4HRs and 10 doubles. The bat talent is considerably real where he has strong hands that generate some easy bat speed. His presence in the box is what stands out to us where he exudes a hitterish confidence every AB. Defensively there is some versatility where he plays a solid OF but also has a solid skillset behind the plate. Lamb should get a good amount of pro looks these next couple months especially if he continues to perform against high-end competition.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
NorCal Rising Stars Game CA 09/11 McBean Stadium
SoCal Underclass Game (Invite-Only) CA 09/24 University of San Diego
SoCal ProCase (Invite-Only) CA 09/25 JSerra High School
NorCal Uncommitted Games CA 10/09 McBean Stadium
SoCal Top Prospects Games (Invite-Only) CA 10/09 Great Park Stadium

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