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Class of 2028 Initial Rankings Release

December 18, 2024
Prep Baseball California Staff

 

  

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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -  The class of 2028 has now completed their first fall on the High School level. A schedule filled with showcase events, tournament play, high school fall/winter ball and other areas of exposure have continued to allow this class to show their talents. As the fall period of the California baseball calendar comes to a close, our Prep Baseball California staff has had a chance to get more acquainted with the newest faces on the California High School baseball. Through the exposure afforded to our Scouting Staff were we have been able to assess the current skill level for players in the class while weighing their future potential to build our first rankings release for the Class of 2028.

For our initial release we start with a Top 50 players in the class with an interesting blend of players from around the state. This class has some intriguing players with loud present tools that push them towards the top portions of our rankings board, but also many other players who offering fascination ceilings for their potential who provide strong depth to what is an overall interesting class set to play their first seasons of CIF High School baseball.

The Top 10 features six highly talented arms, including two at the top, while adding in high potential offensive pieces including a trio of shortstops with potential to impact the varsity level for their high school programs in the spring time and the future. This class is starting to garner some attention from college coaches as they build out their follow lists with eyes towards the recruiting process that begins in 2026 for this class. After the rule change in April of 2023 to halt early communication with players prior to August 1st of the summer headed into their junior season of high school, many of these players will be on radars as they move through their freshman and into their sophomore seasons.  

Below you'll find a more in depth look at the Top 10 players in the 2028 class and a deeper look at 10 names to know outside the Top 10 who could make some noise in the future for the 2028 class. 

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

CLASS OF 2028, TOP TEN

Rank Player POS School Commitment
1 Chase Cotton RHP/INF Whitney Uncommitted
2 Striker Pence RHP/INF Santiago Uncommitted
3 Theo Swafford SS/OF Sierra Canyon Uncommitted
4 Jax Janeski SS/RHP JSerra Uncommitted
5 Scott Fritz LHP/1B Orange Lutheran Uncommitted
6 Joel Vargas OF Eastlake Uncommitted
7 Jacob Gray SS De La Salle Uncommitted
8 Ethan Torres RHP Orange Lutheran Uncommitted
9 Kingston Monette RHP/OF Chaminade Uncommitted
10 Brandon Williams C Franklin Uncommitted

CLASS OF 2028, NAMES TO KNOW (Outside-Top 10)

Rank Player POS School
12 Oliver Dauskurdas 1B/RHP Oaks Christian
13 Jordan Ayala RHP Norco
14 Logan Pascarella LHP/1B Corona
17 Russell Del Castillo RHP/3B Damien
24 Brock Rainis 3B/OF Capistrano Valley
26 Julian Suarez C Woodcrest Christian
30 Walter Unruh OF San Joaquin Memorial
35 Ryan Sheffer SS Oaks Christian
36 Hudson Brown RHP/1B Del Oro
42 Ethan Miller SS/2B Centennial

CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS: Top-10

TOP-10 RISERS:

+ Chase Cotton - RHP/INF - Whitney (Now Ranked: 1)

Cotton debuts in the top spot on our rankings board for the 2028 class on the strength of his electric right arm. A member of Team USA's 15U National Team where he worked up to 93 MPH and pitched at 88-92 while dropping in a swing/miss 76-80 MPH SLD. A well regarded arm, Cotton also shows some two-way potential and has a chance to earn immediate playing time on the varsity level at Whitney High School this spring both on the mound and the left-side of the INF dirt.

+ Striker Pence - RHP/INF - Santiago (Now Ranked: 2)

Pence checks in as the number two player on our board also shows two-way potential with interesting upside both on the mound and as RH hitter. Working off a FB that regularly sits in the upper 80's touches the low 90's and has been up to 94 MPH already. As intriguing as Pence is on the mound, he presents as much if not more, upside for what he can do in the batters box. A LH hitter with an aggressive swing that shows present HR power, with potential to hit, there is a lot to like about the future for Pence.

+ Theo Swafford - SS/OF - Sierra Canyon (Now Ranked: 3)

The number three spot on our board is occupied by a rising name on a rising Sierra Canyon program in Theo Swafford. A LH hitter with a smooth swing, and feel for his barrel that adds sneaky impact to the pull side of the field, Swafford has been a consistent performer who is looking like he will be in the mix for significant playing time on the varsity level at Sierra Canyon, as they have eyes on a run to the top of the Mission League. Swafford flashes the potential to play SS long term, but is likely to break in at 3B or the OF, but his bat is well primed to make an impact. Keep your eyes on this name as he could one day find himself atop our board.

+ Jax Janeski - SS/RHP - JSerra (Now Ranked: 4)

Janeski earns the number four spot on our initial board with an intriguing two-way profile. The 6'3 175 lbs. athletically built JSerra product shows a present FB that sits in the 84-86 MPH range with an easy operation and has touched 87-88 MPH while spinning a solid 72-74 MPH SLD, giving him a chance to earn early varsity repetitions so far this winter. He is an impressive INF defender who shows the actions to play shortstop today while flasing potential as RH hitter. Another name to keep eyes on for a potential push to the top spot in the future.

+ Scott Frittz - LHP/1B - Orange Lutheran (Now Ranked: 5)

Coming in as the number five ranked '28 in our debut board, Fritz joins the powerhouse Orange Lutheran program for his high school career. With interesting two-way potential, Fritz is an easy operator on the mound who works low to mid 80's at present with his FB, and feel for his offspeed pitches that has brought in rave reviews for what he can bring to the mound. But, his LH swing and feel to hit, has him in contention to earn at bats this coming spring where he projects to be at worst a slightly above average high school hitter.

+ Joel Vargas - OF - Eastlake (Now Ranked: 6)

Vargas will look to be the next big name to come through the Eastlake High School program in San Diego, and the athletically built OF has the tools to make it a reality. He moves with easy actions around the OF showing potential to play CF/RF long term with an an impact defender profile. He shows quick hands with an aggressive turn in the box, and a sound RH swing, that has the foundation to hit and if he can reach his potential on the offensive side to go with what he can do as defender, the ceiling for Vargas is intriguing.

+ Jacob Gray - SS - De La Salle (Now Ranked: 7)

A NorCal product, Gray is slated to play for the ultra-competitive De La Salle program combining his loud track record of performance heading into high school has garnered the talented RH hitter the number seven spot on our initial board. Gray has an athletic 5'11 175 lbs. build, with easy actions to how he plays the game, including a RH swing that shows both feel for the barrel, but solid present impact at the plate. Combined with the feel he shows for defending at a premium spot, could all culminate in a future rise from the seven spot to higher levels on our board.

+ Ethan Torres - RHP/INF - Orange Lutheran (Now Ranked: 8)

Another talented 2028 who is slated to compete for potential innings on the varsity level at the powerhouse Orange Lutheran program, Torres has shown the arm talent to put himself firmly amongst the Top 10 players in this class checking in at number eight. Like several of our Top 10 players, he shows off two-way potential as a RH hitter who has a sound swing with feel to hit, and the ability to drive the ball to the pull side. But, when the 6'2 170 lbs. righthander from SoCal toes the rubber, he really jumps out. With an athletic operation to his delivery, and quickness in his arm, Torres works off a present mid to upper 80's FB which can continue to add velocity as he matures.

+ Kingston Monette - RHP/OF - Chaminade (Now Ranked: 9)

Monette debuts within the Top 10 spots of our 2028 board on the track record of his performance heading into high school, but cemented the spot with a loud fall period including a very good live look in November. A silky smooth operator on the mound, Monette flashes a clean delivery with easy body control and low effort quickness to his arm speed, that helps him sit in the mid to upper 80's, but has touched the low 90's at points during the fall. He drops in a solid 74-77 MPH SLD with horizontal/vertical break that flashes potential. Monette has a chance to earn innings with the varsity team at Chaminade as they look to follow up on a strong 2024 campaign.

+ Brandon Williams - C - Franklin (Now Ranked: 10)

The final member of our Top 10, Williams is an impressive RH hitter and backstop out of NorCal who comes with very positive reports from coaches and from our viewings. The operation in the box is controlled with a smooth load and balance at the launch position, but the swing itself is explosive with present bat speed, leverage in the path that combine to flash impact with a high ceiling for what he can do offensively long term. Add in an athletic build and solid profile behind the dish, the potential for Williams to make a move up our board in the future is intriguing.


+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST



CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: NAMES TO KNOW

10 NAMES ON THE RISE (11-50)

* Taking a look at 10 names outside the Top 10 who could make jumps in our next update.

+ Oliver Dauskurdas - 1B/RHP - Oaks Christian (Now Ranked: 13) 

Dauskurdas is a strongly built 6'3 185 lbs. RH hitter who really impressed during his fall look for the talented Oaks Christian High School program. Dauskurdas has a track record of performing on the levels leading up to the high school level, but he showed during the fall he is ready to compete for playing time on the varsity level with a strong RH swing that presents feel to hit, but also lift with impact that should develop into a true power profile. Adding to his upside is the easy operation he shows on the mound with a low 80's FB that peaked at 84 with feel for the strike zone that could earn him innings on the mound. The overall package for Dauskurdas has a chance to eventually challenge for a spot in the Top 10.

+ Jordan Ayala - RHP - Norco (Now Ranked: 14) 

Ayala is a compactly built present 5'10 righthander who is headed to the talented Norco program and puts himself in our rankings at the 14 spot in our debut class rankings. The talent in his right arm gives plenty of potential for a rise up the board in the future. Ayala has a high intent delivery with a fast arm that allows him to comfortably sit in the upper 80's with his FB, touching the 90-93 MPH range in the past. He also drops in a wicked 78-80 MPH slider which racks up whiffs at present. The present stuff is intriguing, how he develops physically and as a pitcher overall will determine the future levels to which Ayala can rise.

+ Logan Pascarella - LHP/1B - Corona (Now Ranked: 15)

Pascarella was one of a select few 2028 grads who attended the Prep Baseball California State Games this past summer, and despite being one of the youngest players in attendance, he not only held his own, but put together one of the best performances as both a LH hitter and LH pitcher. Standing 6'1 185 lbs. with two-way potential, incluidng a 6.9 60 time at present with 101.1 MPH max exit velocity from a 73.3 MPH max bat speed, Pascarella has the look of impact LH hitter who could play all 3 OF positions. Then you add in his clean LH delivery on the mound with a FB into the low 80's at present, an emerging CHG with deception, and improving SLD and CB for his breaking ball offerings, he shows plenty of potential on the mound. Earning varsity innings in any role at the uber talented Corona High School will be difficult for Pascarella, but so far in the fall he has garnered some playing time boding well for his future.

+ Russell Del Castillo - RHP/3B - Damien (Now Ranked: 17)

A strongly built 6'4 220 lbs. two-way product Del Castillo was a member of Prep Baseball California's 2024 Junior Future Games squad where he put together an impressive appearance on the mound including a FB up to 85 MPH that he backs up with a CHG/CB/SLD offspeed trio which all continue to improve. He again was impressive during his outing at the SoCal Top Prospect Underclass facing a predominantly older group of players there during his turn on the mound. But, don't count him as a pitcher only, because the potential for his RH bat is intriguing. He has shown feel to hit with strength in his swing that leads to loud hard contact including a 95.4 MPH max exit velocity and nearly 370' present max distance. Debuting at number 17 on our board and playing at Damien, where he looks to be in the mix to contribute on the varsity level immediately, make Del Castillo one of the more intriguing long term projects on this board. 

+ Brock Rainis - 3B/OF - Capistrano Valley (Now Ranked: 24)

Another member of Prep Baseball California's 2024 Junior Future Games team Rainis is a versatile defender who showed high impact potential with his range and feel for the ball in the air, but then looks comfortable on the INF dirt with his hands/feet/arm at the hot corner. But, as good as his defensive versatility is what Rainis brings as a RH hitter cements him with a spot on our initial rankings board. It's a quick swing with strength through the zone that has middle to pull side leverage and carry after contact, giving him middle of the order long term potential. Keep your eyes on this rising 2028 who could see himself move up the board in the future.

+ Julian Suarez - C - Woodcrest Christian (Now Ranked: 26)

Suarez was outstanding in both his appearance at the Rising Stars ID and then again at the Rising Stars Game including launching a LCF gap HR at Mater Dei to earn a spot on the Prep Baseball California Junior Future Games team. Once he got to Georgia, Suarez continued to drive the ball all over the field from the RH side showing plenty of potential. He is also a sound defender behind the plate who is comfortable presenting pitches, blocks with agility, and flashes intriguing present arm strength with pop times as low at 1.94 in workouts with 74 MPH present Catcher arm velocity. 

+ Walter Unruh - OF - San Joaquin Memorial (Now Ranked: 30)

Unruh is a Central Valley product who presents an intriguing present physical/athletic presence. Standing 6'2 180 lbs. while running a 6.8 60 at present, Unruh looks the part of a future CF/RF defender who can cover ground and has the offensive potential to be an impactful piece. It's an aggressive operation in the box for the RH hitter who shows quickness in the turn of his hips, an uphill swing path which will generate plenty of hard contact in the air with carry to have a power profile future. Keep your eyes on Unruh for a potential rise up our board in the future.

+ Ryan Sheffer - SS - Oaks Christian (Now Ranked: 35)

Sheffer is the younger brother of our #19 ranked 2026 in Carson Sheffer the Oklahoma State commit, but Ryan is quickly making his name known for the talent he possesses as a RH hitting SS. A wiry built, athletic frame, that shows room to add strengyh as he matures, Sheffer moves around at SS with athletic actions, body control, confidence in his hands, solid presnt 84-85 MPH INF arm velocity with accuracy/carry to his throws plus the feel to play downhill/laterally and on the run all giving the projection that Sheffer will stick at SS long term with impact potential. He has loose hands with feel for the barrel during batting practice that translates into game with a line drive approach that can go line to line with hard contact and as he matures could turn into real pull side impact. 

+ Hudson Brown - RHP - Del Oro (Now Ranked: 36)

Brown is a NorCal product who has been a strong performer on the NorCal scene leading up to high school, and comes highly recommended as one of the more intriguing arms in NorCal for the 2028 class. Brown checks into our intial board in the 36th spot on the strength of a mid 80's FB that he gets to from an easy operation with consistent strikes from a 6'4 frame. There's plenty of projection for future gains to his velocity and breaking ball life.

+ Ethan Miller - SS/2B - Centennial (Now Ranked: 42)

Miller may be on the leaner more wiry size at present, but the Inland Empire SS/2B defender has impressive actions across the board as a defender, hitter, and athlete that helps his tools play at a high level with interesting potential for his ceiling as he matures and adds strength. A member of the Prep Baseball California Junior Future Games team in 2024, he flashes a high contact, line drive swing, and he is a smooth defender with clean hands, quick transfers, body control, athletic feet and confidence that all project a SS profile, especially as his arm continues adding strength. The upside for Miller is interesting and he debuts on our board at number 42 in these rankings.

Visit the link below to see the rest of the names in our 2028 rankings 

+ CLICK HERE FOR FULL RANKINGS LIST

Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
Orange County Preseason ID CA 01/02/25 JSerra
San Diego Preseason All State (Invite Only) CA 01/04/25 Maranatha Christian High School
Central California Preseason All State (Invite Only) CA 01/05/25 Antelope Valley College
Central California Preseason ID CA 01/12/25 Ventura College
North Bay Preseason ID CA 01/25/25 Novato High School
Northern California Preseason All State (Invite Only) CA 01/26/25 Ohlone College
East Bay Preseason ID CA 02/01/25 Pittsburg High School


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