Orange County Preseason ID: Quick Hits
January 9, 2025
Follow @PrepBaseballCA Follow @LesLukach Follow @PBRmonkFollow @hardy03bsblFollow @HankLoForte
At The Yard Podcast: New Episode LIVE now!
Orange County, Ca. -
With the turn of the calendar and the start of the New Year baseball was ready to go in Southern California. With a trip into Orange County the Prep Baseball California staff opened their 2025 Events calendar with the first of six different Preseason ID events. This edition of the Preseason ID took place on the campus of JSerra Catholic High School .
Players attending this and all Preseason ID events in Californa undergo a Pro-Style workout beginning firsts with official measurements for their height, weight and grip strength. From there they are run through athletic testing on the VALD platforms (60 yard dash and Jump testing). As well, all position players undergo a defensive workout/evaluation (OF/Corner INF/Middle INF/1B/Catcher) to showcase their defensive actions with video and arm strength recorded. The position players workout concludes with On-Field Batting Practice utlizing Trackman Technologies and Blast Motion to provide valuable data feedback on the player's offensive tools, as well as video. Finally, each event finishes with bullpen sessions for all pitcher in attendance. Each pitcher who takes the mound are assesed by Trackman Technologies to gather data on their pitches from velocity, spin rates, movement patterns and more, plus video being recorded.
Today, we take a look at some of the top performers from our first Preseason ID event of the year at JSerra Catholic High School.
For all information on the players in attendance please click here: Orange County Preseason ID
ORANGE COUNTY PRESEASON ID QUICK HITS:
![]() |
Jacob Wicker OF / OF / Santa Margarita, CA / 2026Rankings StateRank: 133 / POS: 26
Wicker entered the event as one of the most touted players in attendance having committed to LMU the past fall. An impressive frame is the first thing you notice on Wicker standing 6'5 and weighing 204.8 lbs. he also clocked an event best 6.89 60 time while also throwing 86 MPH from the OF with carry/accuracy to his throws giving realistic CF/RF long potential for the talented outfielder. During batting practice he showcased an easy operation in the box with quick hands (22.3 MPH hand speed) and an accurate barrel (50% sweet spot rate) that helped him to generate a peak of 95.2 MPH on his exit velocity with 70% fly ball/line drive rate doing damage in the air consistently. A strong overall toolset with physicality and room to develop it's easy to see why Wicker makes this list. |
![]() |
Ryder Fredriksen OF / 3B / JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, CA / 2027Rankings StateRank: 82 / POS: 20
Fredriksen was getting a start to his 2025 calendar year by taking his home field stage for the Orange County Preseason ID. A tooled up athlete in the '27 class that checks in at a present 6' 192.2 lbs with some present strength to his build while clocking a 7.1 60 time and throwing 81 MPH from OF at present he is another one who gives long term CF/RF defensive projections for his profile. During batting practice there was some inconsistency to his contact quality which can come with being on the younger side, but when Fredriksen connected throughout his session it was loud contact with impressive numbers. He swing is explosive through the zone with 24.8 MPH hand speed, 74.7 MPH bat speed, and 23.7 Gs of rotational acceleration. With an uphill path to his operation that allows him to elevate the ball with authority Fredriksen peaked at 96.1 MPH on his exit velocity showing carry to middle/pull side of the field. As he continues to polish his already strong tool set there is plenty to like about the Trinity League product. |
![]() |
Max Smaldino RHP / JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, CA / 2027Another JSerra Catholic Lion who came out to his home field to get the 2025 calendar year rolling Smaldino was the most impressive arm to take the mound amongst a solid group of pitchers. A wiry athletic present frame checking in at 6'4 190 lbs. with length to his limbs and room to fill out. Smaldino featured a FB which worked at 86-88 MPH presently with 2250 RPMs of spin on average with an easy delivery that projects future gains to his FB velocity. Mixing in a trio of offspeed offerings in a 72-75 MPH CB which showed upwards of 2400 RPMs of spin on average and two plane break, followed by a 68-70 MPH SLD a sweepy like movement pattern and finally dropping in a 79-81 MPH CHG that is presently firm but shows action to the arm side with 18.4" of horizontal fade on average. Still young and developing the present foundation Smaldino showed in the OC Preseason ID leaves you intrigued to his future potential. |
![]() |
Jonah Boyd SS / OF / Ruben S. Ayala High, CA / 2028Boyd was very strong during his appearance on the Rising Stars platform in 2024 and now the rising Fr. at Ayala High School showed off his upward arrow profile with a good showing to kick off 2025. Wiry and lean at the present with a 5'9 140.4 lbs. frame the present toolset for Boyd will only continue to get better as he adds strength to his frame. Showing present 6.92 60 speed with 79 MPH INF arm velocity and 81 MPH OF arm velocity Boyd looks like an up the middle athletic defender. As well, his compact swing with quickness (20.6 MPH hand speed/68.8 MPH bat speed) produced consistent hard contact peaking at 93.4 MPH. It was a strong performance for one of the youngest players in attendance who has interesting future ceiling. |
![]() |
Luca Marucci C / OF / Loyola, CA / 2026Marucci is a talented RH hitter out of the Loyola program who competes in the very strong Mission League. Making the trip down to Orange County to open his 2025 the 6'1 195.6 lbs. Marucci had an intriguing day showing his tools off. Clocking a 7.08 60 time which was 3rd fastest on the day showing the athleticism to his solidly built frame while also adding sound actions behind the plate with a developing 74 MPH C velo and a low of 2.03 on his pop time. But, where he separated himself was the performance he put on during BP with barrel after barrel during his rounds. Marucci peaked at 93.7 MPH on his EV while showing quickness in his path including 21.5 MPH hand speed and 71.3 MPH of bat speed with 22.1 Gs of rotational acceleration. |
![]() |
Luke Stone RHP / RHP / Los Alamitos High, CA / 2026Stone followed up a solid showing at the OC Uncommitted Game this fall by putting together another really good outing on the mound. Standing 6'5 and 185 lbs. there is length and wiryness to his frame presently that can fill out. His arsenal shows well with a 84-86 MPH FB that goes between 2200-2350 RPMs of spin and averages 17.3" of IVB. Dropping in a 73-75 MPH SLD with a sweepy like shape that he can throw for strikes and a 75-77 MPH CHG which he efficiently kills spin on. Stone's 3 pitch mix, easy operation and feel to throw strikes gives him a startes projection.
|
![]() |
Chase Mena OF / LHP / San Marino, CA / 2027Mena is a 2-spot standout at San Marino who also plays football which contributes to his athleticism at present. Checking in at 5'9 154.6 lbs. and running a 7.22 60 with a 85 MPH OF arm velocity you can see the potential for Mena to man either CF or RF for the long term. At the plate the LH hitter unleashes an aggressive swing that shows well with 22.3 MPH of hand speed, 72.2 MPH of bat speed and19.1 Gs of rotational acceleration. There were occasionally incosistencies with his timing, but he was able to generate hard contact to the pull side when synced up including 95.1 MPH max EV and a 58% sweet spot rate. The tools are there to go with the athletic ability now with some polish to his overall profile Mena presents an interesting profile. |
![]() |
Julian Pardinas RHP / 1B / Warren High, CA / 2028Home to one of the best 2025 pitchers in the country Warren High School the emerging Pardinas is looking to see how well he can follow in the footsteps of Angel Cervantes. With a strong showing at the OC Preseason ID the talented righthander showed he has the foundation to be a very good arm long term. Presently standing 6' and weighing 165 lbs. with wiry strength he runs his FB up to 86 MPH while sitting at 82-85 MPH throughout his outing. His offspeed offering come in the form of a 67-70 MPH CB with vertical break that flashes potential as he learns to spin it harder and gains power on the pitch. As well, he featured a 73-77 MPH CHG that he has feel for presently and can kill spin on the pitch. Pardinas was in and around the zone throughout the pen and projects a starters profile. |
![]() |
Bronson Jackson SS / OF / Chaminade College Preparatory, CA / 2027Rankings StateRank: 139 / POS: 39
Jackson jumped in the 2027 class rankings after a solid fall at Chaminade Prep where the rising '27 appears to be destined for a role on the varsity level. Taking the trip down into Orange County we got a chance to see the impressive raw tools this young man possesses. With a 6'3 180.8 lbs. athletic frame which has present wiry strength to it and room to fill he generates some very good metrics for a '27 grad. His swing is aggressive with 24.2 MPH hand speed, 74.1 MPH bat speed and 20.3 Gs of rotational acceleration to create hard impact when he is on time that peaks his EV at 96.8 MPH and he launched an impressive 358' pull side blast on top of the JSerra batting cages behind RF. There is some rawness the offensive profile and room to improve his athleticism, but the position player foundation is very good for Jackson. As well, he took the rubber to throw the second firmest FB of the event at 87 MPH while sitting 84-86 MPH with life out of the hand. His breaking balls comes in at 71-73 MPH (with nearly 2400 RPMs of spin) with bite to the movement pattern, but control of his spin offerings wavered on him during the outing. |
![]() |
Diego Gonzalez SS / RHP / El Dorado, CA / 2025Rankings StateRank: 86 / POS: 25
Gonzalez was one of two commits in attendance as he boasts a commitment to the University of San Diego. After a strong summer (including a loud CA State Games appearance) and good fall the LH hitting SS/2B got his 2025 underway with a solid showing at the OC Preseason ID. His actions on the INF were clean and easy showing his ability to stay up the middle long term while also showing the arm strength to handle the left side of the dirt (88 MPH INF arm velocity). His BP was a bit up and down, but once he locked in later in the first round of BP he began to uncork the impact from the left side that helped him to a D1 commitment. He posted personal bests with Prep Baseball California on his max exit velocity at 100.8 MPH (including multiple HRs), 94.5 MPH on his avg. EV, 384' on his max distance (a ball launched onto the batting cage in RF), 67% sweet spot rate and 83% hard hit rate during his rounds. Gonzalez looks fully ready to put together a strong final season of High School baseball. |
![]() |
Brady Guth SS / C / Mater Dei, CA / 2027Rankings StateRank: 123 / POS: 36
Guth is a rising name in the Orange County High School baseball circuit and looks poised to play a key role on the varsity level at Mater Dei in the spring. Our staff got a very good look at his tool set during his workout at the Orange County Preseason ID. Checking in at 5'10 165.6 lbs. he showed the footwork, range, hands, body control and present arm strength (92 MPH INF arm velocity) with accuracy to project to stay at SS especially if he can increase his athleticism as he continues to develop. At the plate he shows an aggressive uphill swing that has present bat speed 75.8 MPH, hand speed 22.4 MPH and 26.1 Gs of rotational acceleration. His batting practice was inconsistent at times, but when he connected the impact was present with 91.4 MPH max EV and a 341' max distance. A strong defensive profile with high quality swing metrics and the ability to polish his offensive profile there is plenty to like about the present and future for Guth. |
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
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Linfield Christian Lions 2/14/25
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 3B/SS Tate Hammond 2/14/25
- CA Bay Area Preseason ID: Preview Story 2/14/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Granada Matadors 2/14/25
- CA 2025 High School Previews: Tustin Tillers 2/13/25
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '25 C/OF Blake Gregory 2/13/25
- CA North Bay Preseason ID: Player Analysis 2/13/25
- CA Sacramento Preseason ID: Positional Data Dive 2/13/25
- CA Sacramento Preseason ID: Pitcher Data Dive 2/13/25
- CA Uncommitted Spotlight: '26 SS/2B AJ Mai 2/12/25