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Spring Invitational Day Three Recap

February 20, 2024
Prep Baseball California Staff

 

  

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

IRVINE, CALIF. - The regularly planned Day Three of the Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational took place on Thursday, February 15. Unfortunately, weather has delayed much or altered Day 4 with matchups being played at high schools rather than a neutral site.

The field includes a who's who of teams that are often at or near the top of the final standings in their respective divisions. With over 100 college commits and close to 20 draft picks having participated in the event's first two editions of the tournament, Year Three will continue that tradition of having teams with top college and MLB Draft talent participating.

Head to the California Scout Blog for the Day One and Day Two Standouts. Let’s not waste any more time and get right into Day Three standouts from the Spring Invitational. 

DAY THREE STANDOUTS

‘26 RHP Logan Steenburgen - El Dorado

The young hurler from El Dorado faced a very talented La Mirada lineup and impressed, holding them to 2 runs over 4 innings while punching out 5. His FB velocity worked at 81-84 consistently and touched 85 on occasion while spinning a very good 72-75 MPH SLD which featured sharpness to the break when executed down and away to RH hitters. Flashes a CHG in the mid 70’s but it’s a work in progress presently. There is still polish to add to the overall profile, but Steenburgen is an interesting follow in the ‘26 class.

‘25 OF Kevin Jeon - La Mirada (Boston College Commit)

Jeon strung together multiple good at bats on the day looking consistently comfortable in the box with a very good approach/swing decisions that allowed him to consistently barrel the baseball. While his only hit was a triple to LF that was a rocket over the left fielder's head he drove two more baseballs to CF and LCF with authority. The profile looks like a future corner OF defender who can be an impact offensive performer.

‘25 OF Travis Friend - La Mirada (UCLA Commit)

Friend showed dynamic offensive ability from an aggressive approach. While Friend does a good job of working his approach he is aggressive on pitches within the zone and when he connects he shows the ability to impact the baseball with authority. He smoked a pair of extra base hits including a huge bases-clearing triple in the top of the top of the 7th to break the game open for La Mirada. His other hit was a lazer double to LF that narrowly missed going out for a HR hitting the fence on a line. A good athlete who runs well and can defend in CF there is an interesting potential for Friend as a premium position defender with top of the order offensive potential.

‘24 SS/RHP AJ Beltre - Maranatha (Washington Commit)

Beltre was a one man highlight reel for Marantha as they picked up a come from behind 6-3 win over Santa Margarita. Opening the night with a 10+ walk that included multiple 2K battle foul balls then stealing second base before being stranded at third. This was a teaser for the night ahead for Beltre. He would later scorch a single down the LF line before coming in to score the first run for Marantha. Then with the bases loaded in the top of the 7th he plated the eventual winning runs for Marantha with a ringing double down the LF line. Then to put the cherry on top of a terrific day he came on to close out the victory showing a 89-92 MPH FB which jumps out of his hand and a sharp breaking CB at 73-76 with swing/miss action. He pitched around some traffic including a punchout to earn the save for Maranatha.

‘24 OF Logan DeGroot - Santa Margarita Catholic (UCLA Commit)

DeGroot has consistently impressed me with his offensive ability and the natural feel for his barrel combined with an advanced approach. DeGroot controls the strike zone well, shows rhythm/timing and impact off the bat with above average potentially plus run times. He consistently hit the ball hard even when he doesn’t get a hit the outs are loud and once he is on base he is impactful as a baserunner. It’s a very good offensive profile, but don’t discount his potential to stick as CF defender going forward which is why DeGroot is generating plenty of MLB draft buzz in addition to his UCLA commitment.

‘26 INF Brody Schumaker - Santa Margarita Catholic (TCU Commit)

I was intrigued with Schumaker after my first look at him against a talented Harvard Westlake squad on day two and after my second look at him I’m completely in on the LH hitting MIF Schumaker. The swing is compact with a good approach. He can drive the ball to the gaps and should grow into HR power to the pull side. He can run above average and could potentially be a plus runner in the future. Then you see the baseball IQ (dropped down a big BH bunt and came around to score the first run of the game noticing the corner INF had backed up on him giving him the opportunity to bunt) and the ability to defend at an above average clip at 2B with SS potential and could easily slide to CF and be solid out there. Schumaker has a chance to be an impact player in the Trinity league over the next 3 years for Santa Margarita.

‘24 RHP Cade Townsend - Santa Margarita Catholic (Ole Miss Commit)
The advanced stuff for Townsend was on display in a shorter 3 inning outing. He ran the FB up to 93 while sitting consistently at 90-92 while riding at the top of the zone. Snapped off a good SLD at 80-83 and a power CB at 74-77. He allowed just 1 hit in the 3 innings before exiting. The control was a little spotty on the evening but the swing/miss life on each of his offerings was readily apparent with multiple swing/misses on pitches with the strike zone and inducing chase with his breaking balls. Townsend is an intriguing arm who could have a decision to make come July on whether he will attend Ole Miss or sign a professional contract as a potential MLB draft pick.

- Steven Hardesty

‘24 RHP/SS Levi Sterling - Notre Dame (Texas Commit)

Sterling started his day at the plate with a big double to the wall. He may not be two-way in the future, but he will be a main bat for ND this year. He came in for the 6th and 7th innings and initially got into a jam with a walk and a single. He showed great composure to work through some spotty command. Making it out of the 6th unscathed, he shut down Cypress in the 7th flexing off his go-to FB and SL/Sweeper. Over his appearance his FB sat at 89-91, topping at 93 mph. The SL was at 78-81, CB at 76, and a CH from 79-80 mph.

‘24 SS/RHP Matt Moreno - South Hills

Moreno had a 3 hit night for a South Hills blowout. He showed the ability to hit both offspeed and FBs up the middle. His bat shows as a consistent contributor to a strong South Hills offense. He also gets it done on the mound, closing out SH’s game against La Mirada on day 2.

‘24 OF Noah Malone - South Hills (LMU Commit)

Malone is a very physical athlete, produces plenty of pop with the bat with good athleticism and feel at the plate and in the field. In-game, he pulled a single to the left side on the ground to start a rally for SH. His more impressive swing of the night may have resulted in an out, but he got all of a FB and sent it all the way to the warning track on a cold night. He’s been an XBH machine and a big power bat that also hits for average for South Hills to start the season. 

‘24 3B Paul Vazquez - South Hills (Oregon State Commit)

Vazquez had the swing of the night, digging deep into his legs to shoot an offspeed pitch over the wall in left. The Oregon State commit has a strong presence in the box with a good feel for the zone. He turned in multiple quality at-bats that didn’t amount to much.

‘25 INF John Short - Cypress

Short hit his second double in just as many times as I’ve seen him play. Both of the doubles we saw out of him were deep flyballs to LCF. He looks to be a dependable bat in the middle of the lineup with + power potential.

‘24 C Nick Montgomery - Cypress (Arizona State Commit)

Montgomery continued his tournament performance with a big double to the wall in CF. He’s shown a calm and patient approach through all of his at-bats. He works his way into favorable counts and is ready for the heater when it comes.

- Matt Monk

‘24 LHP Sam Burgess - Corona (TCU signee)

A four year starter who we’ve seen plenty during his high school career, Burgess was as good as we’ve seen him on the mound, particularly in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th innings of his outing where all his pitches were working and while inducing whiffs with all. With a true three-pitch mix, the secondary pitches (CH/CB) make the perceived velocity of the fastball much higher. An uber competitive pitcher, Burgess pitched with emotion and intensity all night finishing with seven strikeouts against only one walk and no hits. 

‘25 INF/RHP Seth Hernandez - Corona (Vanderbilt commit)

Arguably the top prep arm in the country, Hernandez has proven through three games that he’s a legitimate two-way player should he arrive on Vanderbilt’s campus. After a big hit in Tuesday’s game, one in which he was the starting pitcher, Hernandez backed it up with a multi-hit, three-RBI game on Thursday. His first hit, a triple, showed off his ultra athleticism that saw him get to the hot corner in under 12 seconds while jogging the last 30 feet or so. He would add another base hit later that scored two more runs en route to a 4-2 Corona win. 

‘26 RHP/INF Marcus Greis - JSerra (TCU commit)

A brief three-inning start saw Greis leave a hefty impression about his future potential. With a fastball up to 89 mph, Greis shows some running life on the pitch that he pounds in on right handed hitters consistently for whiffs and strikes. The curveball proved to be a very productive pitch that also induced whiffs and weak contact. Greis finished with three strikeouts against only one walk while allowing three hits and one earned run. With a very projectable frame, Greis has a chance to establish himself as one of the better sophomore pitchers in the state by seasons end. 

‘24 RHP Jake Skelskey - Corona 

An uncommitted senior who will be a multi-year varsity pitcher at Corona, Skelskey continues to show the type of moxie and poise that will carry him beyond high school baseball. After allowing a pair of hits and a walk that loaded the bases with two outs, Skelskey calmly proceeded to get a huge strikeout in the top of the sixth inning to maintain a 2-1 lead in favor of Corona. With a mid-80’s fastball and a lean, long frame, there’s projectability to Skelskey’s frame that college recruiters should be excited about.

‘25 SS/RHP Billy Carlson - Corona (Vanderbilt commit)

After a two-double game on Tuesday, Carlison picked up on Thursday where he left off with yet another standup double to the right-center-field gap. Carlson is 3-for-7 with a run and 2RBI through three games. Most importantly, he has zero strikeouts through three games against quality pitching. The strikeouts were a concern last season, but it appears his new approach is paying off in spades. Carlson also came in to close the game and earn the one-inning save while working his fastball up to 93 mph and a devastating slider at 76-78 mph.

‘26 OF James Tronstein - Harvard Westlake (Stanford commit)

The former Future Games standout continued his scorching start with a base hit early in the second semifinal game on Thursday. Tronstein had a three hit game on Tuesday showing his advanced bat-to-ball tools for all to see. An above average runner, Tronstein also mans centerfield at an advanced level with plenty of arm strength to stay at the position. 

‘24 OF Derek Curiel - Orange Lutheran (LSU signee)

One of the top players in the ‘24 class both in California and the country, Curiel showed off his elite bat speed and barrel awareness with a pair of hits, one an RBI double, and a third barrel that was caught deep in the right-center-field gap. Perhaps the top defensive center-fielder in the state, Curiel showed off his arm strength when on a fly ball to mid-range left-center-field he gathered under the ball, made the catch and threw a dart to home plate forcing the runner at third to stay at the base. That runner would be stranded there after another out.

- Les Lukach

Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
Rising Stars ID: Los Angeles CA 03/17 O'Malley Field
Rising Stars ID: Corona CA 03/30 Corona High School
Rising Stars ID: VTA County CA 04/21 Thousand Oaks High School

 

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