Hawaii 2026 Class Rankings: Fall Update
December 4, 2024
Going into 2025, every player out of an excellent Hawaii 2026 class was uncommitted. The 2026 class is the first class to be impacted by the new DI rules of spring of 2023. Players and families had to wait fifteen months until DI coaches could contact them on August 1, 2024 let alone bring them in for a visit or offer a scholarship. Because of the new rules, many of the top players in the 2026 class decided to not commit early as high school freshmans.
The 2026 Hawaii class is a very strong crop of uncommited players who in past years would already be committed and unable to participate in the #1 uncommitted event of the year: Prep Baseball's Future Games. The amount of players nationally who committed to a DI since Future Games is already over 350, reflecting that very point.
Prep Baseball Hawaii's 2026 Top 10 Rankings: Fall Update is an outstanding group of players consisting of recent DI commits, future DI commits and potential July 2026 MLB drafts.
The Top 10
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Kahanu Martinez SS / C / Saint Louis, HI / 2026Kahanu Martinez possesses some of the strongest tools out of the 2026 Hawaii class and he put those tools on display at 2024 Future Games and Hawaii Fall Showcase. The left-handed hitting SS/C showed off his plus bat speed with his loose, easy swing in BP and the ball really jumped off his bat. In gameplay, Martinez showed feel for hitting with quality AB's and drove the ball using the entire field in both events. Defensively Martinez is an easy-to-project plus SS with a potential plus-plus arm but his value goes through the roof as a catcher. Martinez looks like he's caught his entire life with his quiet set-up, easy framing and mannerisms. Martinez's arm may be his best tool and strong arm plays up behind plate with pop-times consistently around 1.90. Martinez catches easy for someone with so little experience behind plate in games. You can't make someone want to catch and Martinez wanted to catch at Future Games. DI recruiting value went through the roof after Future Games and Martinez ultimately committed to University of Oregon. MLB scouts already have Martinez as a top follow and potential July 2026 MLB draft as he possesses all the ingredients and upside MLB scouts search for.
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Alika Ahu SS / 3B / University Lab, HI / 2026Alika Ahu had a huge coming out party at 2024 Future Games on both sides of the ball then impressed again at Hawaii Fall Showcase in front of 24 MLB scouts. At Future Games Ahu put on a show in batting practice hitting balls off the top of the roof of the building in deep left field showing off his bat speed, above-average present raw power, and easy to project plus power in the end. Ahu was equally as impressive defensively, displaying plus athleticism for size, lightness on his feet, easy actions with sure hands and present above average arm then logged his Prep Baseball Hawaii personal best of 90 infield velo at Hawaii Fall Showcase. In gameplay, Ahu as one of the best hitters on Team Select and definitely the most clutch hitter barreling balls to all fields and coming up with a huge two run double to beat California. Coming out of Future Games Ahu's stock was as high as it's ever been confirming he's a premium division one recruit and committed to Stanford shortly after Future Games. Lots to like from an MLB scout standpoint as he possesses the size, tools, talent, bloodlines (father Jamie four year starter and fan favorite at University of Hawaii) and exceptional makeup for a potential 2026 MLB draft and has a ceiling of an everyday MLB third baseman.
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Judah Ota OF / 3B / 'Iolani, HI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound LHH OF Arkansas commit put on a Big League BP show for the ages at Hawaii Fall Showcase. Different sound of his bat compared to the rest of the players. Ball exploded off his bat with max exit velo of 102.8, premium loft and max distance of nearly 400 feet. Easy swing with easy all-fields power that projects as top-of-the-scale raw power for MLB scouts. Ota showed he's more than just a big bat posting a 6.88 60-yard with one of the longest strides you've ever seen eating up ground and 87 mph OF velo with good arm action and accuracy. Prep Baseball Hawaii’s #3 ranked 2026 and Arkansas commit truly made a name for himself this summer and fall making Underclass Area Codes and showing out at Hawaii Fall Showcase in front of 24 MLB scouts. The five-tool outfielder has the highest ceiling out of any current Hawaii high school player and a top follow for MLB scouts as a potential July 2026 MLB draft.
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Zayne Hookala LHP / OF / Kailua, HI / 2026Hookala picked the right time to set a new a personal record for velo as he bumped 90 multiple times at Future Games in front of a drove of DI coaches. Secondary was equally formidable snapping off some quality CB's and getting hitter's way out front of his CHG when he hit on it. Hookala attacked hitters with his three pitch mix and showed he's got all the ingredients to be a front-line DI starter. In the box Hookala was arguably Team Select's best game hitter stringing together three days of quality AB's, taking some of the best hacks on the team and using the whole field. Hookala is already showing power potential in BP and likely ends up with above-average to plus raw power in the end making Hookala a strong two-way DI recruit. Hookala is Prep Baseball Hawaii's #1 uncommitted 2026 and one who MLB scouts are looking forward to seeing more, both ways.
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Colten Amai Nakagawa LHP / OF / University Lab, HI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 2
Amai Nakagawa came away as one of the biggest winners of 2024 Future Games with a dominating appearance on the mound in front of dozens of DI coaches. Up to 87 and FB played up with above-average command locating to both edges/down. He found his CB & CHG in the 2nd inning, snapped-off some unhittable CB's vs LHH's & RHH's as he located CB at will and missed down for swing-overs and chase-K's. After cruising through two super efficient innings and not breaking a sweat we decided to give him another inning. Amai Nakagawa feature his CHG in that third inning of work with nice arm-side fade, showed above-average present feel and a quality pitch keeping RHH's off his FB. Continued to throw first-pitch strikes, be efficient and K-out hitters. Can easily see him bumping 90 next spring and secondary likely improves to plus DI out-pitches as well. Amai Nakagawa is a multi-sport guy (football-QB) who's got plenty of upside especially after he focuses on baseball only after high school. University of Hawaii was on hand for Amai Nakagawa's dominating performance at Future Games and committed the University Laboratory lefty shortly after. Amai Nakagawa is one who MLB scouts have on their radar and projects as a big freshman contributor to the 'Bows in 2027.
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Masao Minami 1B / OF / Kailua, HI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 1
Hawaii's 2024 batting champ (.545) stayed hot out of the spring showing off his hit tool at Future Games and Hawaii Fall Classic as one of the better contact hitters on Team Select. The 6-00/200 lb left-handed hitting RF/1B worked the left side gearing middle-away all spring then late in the summer started to tap into his power turning on pitches, utilizing his present strength and above-average raw power making him a completely different hitter and upping his value. Defensively, Minami can play RF/1B and has even worked out behind-the-plate where he was better than expected with a 2.03 pop-time and 76 catcher velo with near-zero experience at catcher. Add 87 from the OF which projects as plenty of arm for RF and solid defender at 1B makes Minami a versatile defender with utility value which is so important on a DI roster with the new roster rules. Minami is on of the top Prep Baseball Hawaii uncommitted players and one who DI's are keeping a close eye on as a potential summer 2026 commit.
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Kaleb Flores RHP / OF / Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus, HI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 1
Kaleb Flores is one of the top arms in the Hawaii 2026 class. The Kamehameha Kapalama product was up to 89 in a closing appearance at BIWBA's Memorial Day Tournament: Powered by Prep Baseball where he sat 88-89 challenging hitters going FB only for the save. Got hot in the next game but Hawaii Elite posted a crooked number and Prep Baseball Hawaii did not get to see Flores for an extended look. Flores missed the summer and fall event circuit but DI's know who he is and many looking forward to seeing him next summer on Hawaii Elite.
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Aycen Fernandez RHP / OF / Saint Louis, HI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 2
Aycen Fernandez was relatively an unknown before Future Games as he's a multi-sport (football) guy who was not a summer and fall showcase regular. University of Hawaii was one who had Fernandez on their radar and was front-and-center for his start at Future Games and the 'Bows did not leave disappointed. Fernandez showed surprising pitchability for a not-so-famous football guy. Loved his rhythm and tempo, efficient arm action with good delivery and minimal effort. As far as stuff goes, velo was what we expected as he bumped 87 but the feel for CHG and ability to locate SL was most exciting as both pitches have a shot to end up plus. The 'Bows quickly committed Fernandez right after Future Games and he may have been the first Future Games commit. Fernandez is an arm who has all the makings of one who can make a huge jump in 2025 as could easily end up better in the end than some of the famous guys.
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Hurley Soong SS / RHP / Waiakea, HI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 3
Switch-hitting, tooled-out, true DI SS's are few and far between. As a DI recruiting coordinator, you're excited to say the least when you find one. That's Hurley Soong. Plus-athlete with plus-plus projection who could end up with above-average to plus tools across-the-boards. Love the actions at SS but arm is his best tool. Excellent arm action with 86 infield velo with minimal effort at 5-11/155. Easy to project 90+ and a plus arm. Always stands out at Prep Baseball Hawaii's events during the defensive portion as the player who looks like a true SS and everything is slower for him. Defense is slightly ahead of the bat but there's a lot to like offensively. Soong already possesses a good swing both sides, add strength to the frame of the most projectable 2026 Hawaii SS and MLB scouts start taking notice. DI coaches know who Soong is after a eventful 2024 summer and fall with Big Island Wood Bat Academy and circled him as a potential spring or summer DI offer guy.
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Kaden Anderson OF / LHP / Henry Perrine Baldwin, HI / 2026Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 2
The tooled-out Baldwin High School OF/LHP came as advertised at Maui Fall ID where Prep Baseball Hawaii got a chance to lay eyes on him for the first time then stood out on a strong Maui/Kauai/Molokai/Lanai team at Hawaii Fall Showcase a few days later resulting in Kaden Anderson joining Prep Baseball Hawaii's 2026 Top 10. Anderson topped in just about every category, offensively and defensively at Maui Open ID. Strong and aggressive traits to every facet of his game and to say he's put together is an understatement as he may have zero body fat. Not afraid to take a hack in games with bat speed and room for 20+ lbs. 90 from OF with wheels for CF, profiles in CF or RF for a DI. Can also pitch, the lefty has been up to 87 with a solid mix, one who could develop into a DI LHP with two-way DI value. Kaden Anderson is a sneaky five-tool player who's just scratching the surface and Prep Baseball Hawaii's #1 under-the-radar uncommitted Hawaiian who could end up a DI commit by next summer.
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