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Ventura, Calif.-

With the winter baseball schedule wrapping up for the ‘23 season the month of December provided me with good looks at a few strong Central Coast/North Los Angeles high school programs. My in person looks included some of the best committed prospects in the region, but additionally plenty of uncommitted players across the '24, '25, '26 and '27 classes.

Week 3 brought the opportunity for a live look at one of the best programs in Southern California Harvard Westlake out of the Mission League. With an abundance of talent including 5 D1 commits amongst them is PBR California #1/Nationally #1 ranked '24 SS/RHP Bryce Rainer. The Wolverines ran out several of their top position players for a good portion of the 18 inning doubleheader. They look to be a deep and athletic lineup with a very good approach and speed to create havoc. Their pitching staff is deep with three arms committed to play power 5 D1 baseball, but on this day I got a look at a few good uncommitted arms. Overall the outlook for the '24 Harvard Westlake squad is bright and looking forward to a few more looks at them this spring. 

Facing off with what looks to be a strong Hart Warriors '24 squad in what will be the final season of an extremely successful career for 25th year head coach Jim Ozella. Hart is fronted by a pair of '24 D1 commits, plus a very interesting uncommitted backstop in the '24 class. Add in several talented players in the '25/'26 classes the present and future for the Warriors looks strong in the always challenging Foothill League.

Below you can check out my notes/videos on the committed and uncommitted talent from the day. Be sure to click on the players name to get access to their PBR profile/video.

Hart:

Committed:

Got a look at a pair of committed ‘24s from Hart in RHP Troy Cooper (Cal Poly SLO) and SS Brayden Jefferis (Michigan). This was my second time seeing both but not since a Nov. 2022 fall game. Cooper’s delivery has improved since that look with a smoother and more athletic operation. Still features good arm speed and worked into the upper 80’s, he compliments it with a sharp CB with swing and miss action. His control was a little spotty on the day, but didn’t allow any hard contact and looks primed for a big senior year ahead. Jefferis is a compact framed LH hitter who profiles as a potential table setter with a good approach geared to use the middle of the field for contact. Shows a quick bat with enough impact to drive the ball through the gaps and the strength to show pull side power when looking to damage. With good feet and actions at the SS position he has the potential to stick there, but with average arm strength he might be better suited to slide over to 2b and has enough athleticism/speed to play CF/LF at the next level.

Cooper

Jefferis

Uncommitted:

‘25 3B Michael Hogen at 6’ 180 lbs. with the actions and arm strength to easily stick at 3B, but could slide to 2B or a corner OF spot if he has to move off. Flashed his defensive impact in-game with 2 difficult plays; one on a high hopper he had to wait on then unleashed a strike to 1st to nail a quick runner and snagged a hard liner to his backhand side with ease. But, where I’m really intrigued by Hogen is at the plate. Stands tall in his set up with a quiet load and good balance at footstrike to uncoil a quick swing that has an advanced bat to ball ability. An aggressive hitter he saw 5 pitches in his first 3 at bats and barreled all 3 swings he took with a hard L-6, hard L-4 and a line drive single to CF. The feel to hit is present and his strength projects for power that he will learn to tap into as he gets into his lower ½ more to go with his good hands.

‘24 C Ryan DeLaMaza a physical presence behind the plate and in the box at 6’ 185 lbs. with present strength in his frame. Good receiver with agility in his blocking and shows the arm strength with accuracy to stick behind the dish. But, if he has to make a move to 3B or corner OF the bat will play. Starts from a low hand set up with the barrel on his shoulder and a slight leg kick into an aggressive hack from the RH side. Utilizes his hips and legs to generate bat speed and the hands show whip through the zone. In game drove two balls hard to the middle of the field with carry and late in game turned on  a pitch to show his pull side power narrowly missing a HR. Profiles to be a potential impact bat and chance to stick at a premium defensive position.

 ‘25 OF Lincoln Daly another good athlete who has a good frame at 6’ 180 lbs with present strength, but can still add as he matures to add to his power profile. He turned on a hard 1b to LF in his first at bat. The swing is slightly uphill with an approach to try and do damage which did lead to some swing and miss, but he didn’t chase out of the zone and should project as a corner OF prospect who will hit for power. Runs well and there is enough arm strength to handle LF and potentially slide to RF.

‘25 C Brady Werther part of a strong catching duo for Hart, Werther is a 5’11 175 lbs. backstop who I really like the potential for both behind the plate and in the box. It’s a loose handsy swing from the LH side where he showed a good feel for contact hitting at the top of the order. As he continues to learn to utilize his lower ½ more consistently he is going to add power to his profile. Showed athleticism and runs well once underway. Behind the plate he is quiet with a good feel for receiving and presenting the pitch. The arm works behind the plate and throws stay online with times in low 2.0 to sub 2.0 range in between innings. Between the LH bat and premium defensive position profile with projection to his frame and skills he should be a name college coaches are following in the '25 class.

Harvard Westlake:

Committed: 

One of the most talented teams in Southern California out of the highly competitive Mission Leauge and several of the top players were in the lineup for this late fall game. Headlined by PBR California #1/National #1 ranked ‘24 class player SS/RHP Bryce Rainer (Texas) showing off his advanced toolset. Rainer came to the plate 4 times and put together 4 solid at bats with 2 walks, a loud L-6 from a 2 strike count and picked up a barreled single to RF. The approach is advanced and he shows present bat speed with really good hands that can cover the plate with loud impact at contact. Defensively, he flashed his potential to stay as a SS at the next level with his actions, range and easy arm strength. It was a very good look at Rainer and looking forward to following him over the course of the spring, including on the mound where he works in the mid to upper 90's. The Wolverines feature the PBR California #4/ Nationally #24 ranked class of ‘26 in CF James Tronstein (Stanford) who displayed the plus run tool and range to stick in CF on two difficult plays in the plate and picked up an opposite field double where he displayed the smooth quickness of his running stride. PBR California #13 ranked ‘24 RHP/INF Duncan Marsten (Wake Forest) is one of the best arms in California, but did not throw in the game. He did find a way to make his presence felt, hitting in the 4 hole as the DH has had a big fall offensively. On this day he crushed a loud bases clearing double to CF in his 3rd at bat showing the power potential he has should the Deacons decide to let him swing the bat at the next level. ‘25 INF Cade Goldstein (Washington) hit out of the leadoff spot and I’ve long been a fan of a LH hitting MIF who has an approach with feel to hit and Goldstein looks the part. He is patient at the plate with a good swing geared towards a middle of the field approach, but his compact frame has strength to it and there is impact through contact.

Rainer

Tronstein

Marsten

Goldstein

Uncommitted:

‘27 RHP Justin Kirchner the first thing you notice about Kirchner is the physicality in his young 6'1 190 lbs. frame, but even more impressive is the smooth actions to his delivery. The arm speed is quick and he stays online with his lower half. Once he releases the ball comes out really easy and shows life through the zone. Velocity is in the low to mid 80’s currently, but there is more to come as he continues to mature. Snapped off a tight CB featuring tight spin with swing and miss action in the low 70’s. Showing feel for control to attack the strike zone, good tempo in his delivery and feel for 2 quality pitches there is a bright future ahead for Kirchner.

‘25 3B Jack Laffitte I really liked my look at him with an athletic 6’1 175 lbs. frame and good actions all around, I came away really intrigued at his potential. Defensively, he stood out with instincts, athletic feet/actions into and through the ball, soft hands and the arm strength to stay at the hot corner. Shows a compact RH swing with consistent feel for contact from a good approach designed to stay through the middle to opposite part of the field. Bat path stays through the contact zone and did a good job of incorporating his lower ½ in the swing. I'm curious to see what his power would play like if he looked to turn on the ball more. Overall a good INF prospect that college coaches should be paying attention to in the '25 class.

‘25 RHP Jackson Alex with a staff featuring multiple Power-5 D1 commits Alex is an intriguing uncommitted arm. With a 6' 185 lbs. and working off a mid 80’s FB that peaks at 87 currently, but the frame has room to add strength and with his quick arm action, relatively low effort delivery more velocity is to come as he matures. Showed feel for his breaking ball and changeup in game. Attacks the zone aggressively with ability control both sides of the plate with his FB and keeping his offspeed combo down in the zone. It was a quick outing, but nonetheless impressive one with intriguing upside for Alex as he heads into the ‘24 spring/summer season ahead. A college program is going to land a good upside arm when he commits.

‘25 INF Brooks Fischer a physically strong 5’11 185 lbs. frame with decent athleticism in his actions. Played 1B in game, but has experience at 3B/2B and the ability to handle both of those spots. Had 2 at bats in game where he showed off a quick LH stroke with a feel to drive the ball in the air with a hard drive to the LCF gap in his AB and then drew a 8 pitch walk in his 2nd plate appearance. The approach and strength in his swing with defensive versatility will make Fischer a LH bat to follow in the ‘25 class.

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