Inland Empire Preseason All-State: Quick Hits
January 12, 2025
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CORONA, CALIF. - The second leg of the Prep Baseball California Preseason All-State tour took our staff to the home of the 2024 Prep Baseball National Champions, Corona HS. This event was jam-packed with talent from all around Orange County, Inland Empire, and the greater SoCal region.
Players participated in a showcase-style workout, testing various different metrics for all aspects of their game. This included running a laser-timed 60-yard dash and maximum vertical jump and RSI tests with VALD. Fielding with INF, OF, and C throwing velocities and pop times was collected and BP swings were monitored by TrackMan and Black Motion knobs. Following the workout, a simulated game took place where pitchers faced 5 hitters each.
This article will dive into standout performers from both portions of the day, offering a glimpse into what's to come this spring for rising and established names. More news and the full stats page from the workout can be found here.
QUICK HITS
‘27 SS Dylan Seward (Norco HS, Uncommitted)
The No. 3 player in his class, the No. 1 shortstop in California was as advertised in his return to a Prep Baseball California event. After putting up an event high in the 60-yard dash (6.57), he showed why he’s the top shortstop in the state during the defensive workout where the hands, feet, body, and arm all work as one at a very high level. No wasted actions in getting to-and-through the ball and backs it up with an above average (90 mph) arm that can make all the throws. Switch hitter who hits from both sides at a high level. Shot an 0-2 fastball the other way (94.2 mph) in-game for a base hit after a walk and hard groundout in earlier plate appearances.
‘27 SS Dylan Seward of @NorcoBaseball_.
— PREP BASEBALL CALIFORNIA (@PrepBaseballCA) January 5, 2025
One of top players in CA’s ‘27 class takes an 0-2 FB for a backside base hit in-game.
Hyper athletic SS ran a sub 6.6 with a 90mph INF velo. Switch hitter. Good from both sides. #IEPSAS @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/g2yD4Ijuzs
‘26 SS Justin Lopez (Orange Lutheran HS, Uncommitted)
The former Future Games standout is heading into the spring looking to bounce back after a bit of struggle last season. If he does what he showed at this event a bounce back will happen. Lopez shows innate bat-to-ball skills with the ability to leave the yard on occasion as well. His ability to hit the ball hard to all fields (98mph max EV) along with his ability to play the small game makes him a versatile offensive player. Has up the middle defensive skills with enough arm (87 INF velo) to make all the throws. Lopez should have the opportunity to show next level coaches that he’s one of the better uncommitted players in his class.
‘26 SS Justin Lopez of @olubaseball. @PBR_Uncommitted SS and former #PBFG23 standout with a missile through the left side for a knock.
— PREP BASEBALL CALIFORNIA (@PrepBaseballCA) January 5, 2025
Innate bat-to-ball skills with slick fielding ability. #IEPSAS pic.twitter.com/VczrSmTIpu
‘27 MIF Zion Martinez (Norco HS, Uncommitted)
The former Jr. Future Games participant brought his sweet left-handed swing to the Preseason All-State, and he did not disappoint. After a clean defensive workout where he flashed the hands/glovework capable of handling a premium position with an arm (83 INF velo) that was capable of making all throws, it was time to show the gains with the bat. A line drive all-fields approach during BP translated into the gameplay portion where he started his day with a line drive to left field for a base knock. He followed with the event's loudest moment taking a center cut fastball deep over the right field fence for a home run. It’s a short, compact swing with efficient use of the hand speed (23.6 mph) he presently has.
‘27 C Luke Bacon (Arlington HS, Uncommitted)
Left-handed hitting catchers with a knack for the barrel and developing power are always intriguing, add one whose arm strength behind the dish catches your attention and you get a player you’ll monitor closely come spring time. Bacon is exactly that. With slightly above average bat speed (68.5 mph), Bacon has the present look of a high average hitter that will bang plenty of doubles to the gaps. The power may come, it may not, but the bat has the looks of one that can be a quality contribution to a lineup. Arm strength (74 mph) and accuracy (1.95-1.99 pops) add to the projectable profile.
‘27 LHP Jacob Melendez (Paloma Valley HS, Uncommitted)
The former Jr. Future Games standout has continued to show development in every viewing since the trip to Georgia. With up close looks in the early fall and now in January, it’s easy to anticipate a monster sophomore season for Melendez. A legitimate two-way player, it’s hard to decide where he stood out more during the event. As a pitcher he touched 87 mph with the fastball while twirling a sharp, whiff inducing, 80 mph slider, Melendez finished his outing with the following line: 3U, backwards K, 4-3, L4, backwards K. Soft contact and befuddled hitters. At the dish he appears to be getting to his power a little more consistently. The barrel control is also much improved as he showed in-game where he was out in front and managed to lag the barrel behind and get enough of it on the ball to pull it through the right side for a base hit.
‘27 OF Ira Rootman (Harvard Westlake, Uncommitted)
The first thing you notice with Rootman is the gains he’s made physically since the summer. There’s visible strength to the frame now with room for plenty more. That strength is making the missed barrels land for base hits rather than outs. It’s also making the barreled balls go a lot further allowing his speed (sub-7 60), which plays up in game, and baserunning instincts to shine. The arm strength (89 mph) in the outfield stands out both during the workout and in-game. The No. 7 player in the class in the state, Rootman has a chance to be the next premier outfielder from Harvard Westlake.
‘27 OF Ira Rootman of @hwbaseball. #PBFG24 standout gets in the hit column here with a triple to the RCF fence.
— PREP BASEBALL CALIFORNIA (@PrepBaseballCA) January 5, 2025
Much more physical that summertime. Same instincts/athleticism. #IEPSAS pic.twitter.com/UwsGYxxreS
‘26 C Michael Nonis (Corona Centennial HS, Uncommitted)
Nonis has slimmed down and added strength since we last saw him and the improved physique has elevated his overall game significantly. The sweet left-handed swing shows a little more consistent thump while the improved athleticism is allowing him to get to balls he may not have gotten to in the past. The most significant improvements are visible defensively where he’s moving and reacting more freely and quickly with a presently strong, accurate arm.
‘26 RHP Gavin Loebe-Keene (Los Osos HS, Uncommitted)
Loebe-Keene’s wiry, long frame at 6’2” 175lbs. immediately catches your attention thanks to his long arms and even longer legs that ooze projection when the physical maturity catches up. On the mound he was fierce, striking out four-of-five batters and getting a weak groundball to the left side for the fifth out. Working 85-87 mph with the FB he showed the ability to command it to all quadrants of the zone. He backs it up with a wipeout slider at 74-77 mph that was unhittable during his outing, though he didn’t throw many of them. The changeup is effective as it sharply fades from righties. He was also aggressive with the pitch to lefties starting way in and running it back over the plate.
‘25 RHP/3B Tomas Bilvado (San Marino HS, Uncommitted)
Bilvado continues to dazzle on the mound where he bounced back after a leadoff double to strike out three of-the-next four batters he faced. With a four-pitch mix Bilvado has enough in his arsenal to not only be effective, but to dominate at times as we’ve seen in various looks. Fastball worked up to 88 mph while living just a tick below that. The slider (76-79 mph) and the changeup (80-81 mph) are pitches he’ll throw in any count and generally lands for strikes or induce whiffs. His most intriguing pitch, though, may be his splitter. While he only threw it twice in-game, he already shows a feel for it that will make all his other pitches play way up. Bilvado has been a consistent performer on the mound and defensively in every look, and we know he can hit because we’ve seen that. Coming off a League MVP year, Bilvado is lined up for a repeat performance this spring.
‘26 INF Wylan Rottschaffer (Costa Mesa HS, Uncommitted)
Despite not registering a hit in-game, Rottschaffer did enough in the workout and defensively to cement himself amongst the top performers. An athletic infielder, Rottschaffer flashed some power during BP to the tune of 95.1 mph EV’s with 19.9 mph hand speed. He showed an innate ability in-game to get to balls both in and away and get the barrel on them. He had three hard-hit groundouts in-game and were it not for two really strong defensive plays he would’ve ended with two base hits. Smart and instinctive player on the dirt with a 78 mph arm on the infield
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