Hawaii 2028 Class Rankings: Top Ten & Overall Rankings
December 18, 2024
Hawaii's 2028 class has been shaping up to be an exceptional class for some time now.
In 2022, not just Hawaii but the whole world got to see for the first time many of our top 2028 local boys when our Honolulu Little League team beat Curacao in the Little League World Series. That 2022 title marked the fourth time in 17 years a team out of Hawaii took home the LLWS championship trophy. Out of that event, a handful of our players who starred on the Honolulu LLWS team on ESPN became famous not just back home in Hawaii, but worldwide. Players such as Jaron Lancaster, Kekoa Payanal, Kaeo Nouchi, Daly Watson, Kama Angell and Cohen Sakamoto became Hawaii household names almost overnight.
Prep Baseball Hawaii's first opportunity to see this special group of 2028's, was at Prep Baseball Hawaii's Rising Stars at Pearl City High School on April 21. Our staff was blown away by individual performances by 14 year olds on both sides of the ball and how some of those 14 years old were already better than some of the 17 and 18 year old local boys.
Literally right after our Rising Stars event players were invited to 2024 Prep Baseball Junior Future Games in Emerson, GA. Big mahalos to our partner in baseball Hawaii Elite 2G and BIWBA for assisting Prep Baseball Hawaii to get the right players invited.
2024 was the first year players from Hawaii were invited to Junior Future Games and the Nevada/Hawaii (Da 9th Island) co-op team fittingly featured nine Hawaiians. Those nine underclass local boys proved to be some of the top 2028's in the entire JFG event, with one Maui boy who may have been the top player in the entire age group, both offesively and defensively, in Kai Watanabe.
There are hundreds of 2028 local boys who Prep Baseball has yet to lay eyes on (and add to our 2028 rankings) and we look forward to seeing those new faces, and the famous faces again as well, at a 2025 Prep Baseball Hawaii event.
Participating in one of our 2025 Prep Baseball Hawaii events qualifies 2028's to be invited to invite-only events such as the Prep Baseball underclass tournaments and the aforementioned Junior Future Games.
Prep Baseball Hawaii is thrilled to release our Hawaii 2028 Rankings: Top Ten & Hawaii Overall Rankings.
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Kai Watanabe C / OF / Henry Perrine Baldwin, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 1 / POS: 1
Just turned 15 and already the best defensive catcher in the state. Led all Hawaii catchers in every age group in pop-time (1.84) and catcher velo (80 mph), and what's crazy is he could end up better offensively as a plus hit/plus power left-handed hitting catcher. The Baldwin High School product also runs a sub-7, making him a potential five-tool player. Add elite makeup and you're looking at a six-tool player who MLB scouts don't see very often. Sky is the limit for Watanabe and whispers are already being heard of Watanabe developing into the next great catcher out of Maui since Kurt Suzuki. The Baldwin and Hawaii Elite 2G backstop is a one of the top 2028 catchers in the nation, a Premium DI recruit and potential first-day 2028 MLB draft.
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AJ Wida C / 3B / Punahou, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 2 / POS: 2
Prep Baseball Hawaii got to see Wida for the first time at our Oahu Fall Open ID in October. The 5-11/160 plus-projection right-handed hitting catcher wow'd the staff both offensively and defensively. Had to double-take at our stopwatches as Wida recorded consistent pop-times under 1.90 including an event best 1.85 pop, along with another event best 76 catcher velo. In the box, Wida went off from the get-go in BP barreling balls with a max exit velo of 95 and max distance of 350 fet plus. Wida just turned 15 yrs old and has the length and upside of a potential plus defender with plus arm (or better), plus bat spd & plus raw power. All those projected pluses equate to a premium DI recruit and potential 2028 MLB draft for the Punahou and Hawaii Islanders catcher.
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Kekoanui Payanal SS / 2B / Punahou School, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1
Kekoa Payanal is a name that the Hawaii baseball community came to know in 2022 as one of the Honolulu LLWS heros. Payanal is one of the most feared hitters in his class featuring not just advanced bat speed, exit velo and raw power but ability to come up big in big moments as he delivered clutch hits and crushed all-fields homers game-after-game in the LLWS. Payanal is already up to 84 infield velo with solid actions at SS and a sub-7 60 guy, giving Payanal all the pieces to be a five-tool player. The Punahou and Hawaii Elite 2G product is Prep Baseball Hawaii's top infielder, premium DI recruit and a name who scouts will have circled as a potential 2028 MLB draft.
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Jaron Lancaster SS / 2B / Punahou, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 2
Jaron Lancaster may be the most famous Hawaii 2028 as he made a huge name for himself leading the 2022 Honolulu LLWS staff as it's ace with dominating performances including shutting down Curacao in the championship game. Lancaster out-stuffed hitters with an near-unhittable two-pitch mix in his overpowering riding FB and nasty SL. Easy to project Lancaster to develop into one of the top 2028 Hawaii arms but he could end up just as good, if not better, as a shortstop with plus value on both sides. At 6 feet, with a wiry build, long limbs and just turned 15 years old, Lancaster may have the highest ceiling of any Hawaii 2028. The Punahou and Hawaii Elite 2G two-way is one who DI's already identify as a premium DI recruit and MLB scouts will soon add to their radar for July 2028.
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Noah Andrew Castillo RHP / OF / Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 1
Castillo has one of the fastest arms and may have the best FB (88 mph) in the 2028 Hawaii class, at 14 years old. Pitchers are throwing harder than ever in every age group but even now there's a very small percentage who bump 90-plus at 15 years old and Castillo is on track to do just that. Complimenting his big FB are two quality out-pitches in his CB and CHG, with both projecting to above-average to plus. Castillo is also an athletic outfielder with bat speed, wheels for CF and a potential two-way DI recruit. Going to be fun to watch Castillo develop over the next four years as it's not far-fetched to project the Kamehameha Kapalama and Hawaii Elite 2G righty to be a mid-90's guy in spring 2028.
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Case Cannon SS / C / Kaiser, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 3
Cannon is an athletic shortstop with advanced strength for age and zero body fat at 15 years old. Offensively Cannon posseses a quick bat and never gets cheated as he's not afraid to take a hack. He could easily end up with plus bat speed, exit velo and raw power. Cannon truly impressed trying behind-the-plate for the first time at our Oahu Fall Open ID where he wow’d everyone with 1.95 pop-time and 76 mph catcher velo with zero game reps. Left-handed hitting catchers are a commodity, Cannon just reinvented himself and added huge value to his game. Cannon could develop into a plus defensive value super-utility guy who's able to play just about any postion, including pitching. His drive to improve his craft everyday and makeup is off-the-scale. Cannon is a strong DI recruit and one of Prep Baseball Hawaii's favorite players to watch.
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Devyn Lee Rosaga 3B / C / Henry Perrin Baldwin, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 1
Lots to like in Malu Rosaga on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Rosaga posseses a quick bat and a natural power stroke which generates easy all-fields power. He's an aggressive hitter who's up there to hammer balls as he comes from the School of Kaha and BIWBA. Rosaga's strong arm is already at 82 infield velo, projects to end up with a plus arm as a solid third baseman but Prep Baseball Hawaii loves it that Rosaga is working hard behind-the-plate to add value to his defensive game. If he can be a value at catcher Rosaga's value shoots way up in the eyes of DI coaches as a player who can play multiple positions. Makeup is through-the-roof and it won't be long 'till DI's start asking about him as he profiles as a strong DI recruit and potential August 1, 2026 phone call guy.
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Dayton-Micheal Hanson RHP / 1B / Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 2
At 6-03/184 Hanson is one of the more naturally physical players in the 2028 class. And he's still 14 years old. Many see Hanson as an easy 90-plus big right handed pitcher by his senior year with a solid mix and maybe plus FB command but Prep Baseball Hawaii is intrigued with Hanson offensively. The BIWBA product was likely the youngest player at Hawaii Fall Showcase but didn't look like he was as Hanson took a loud wood BP driving balls deep into the night, posting an exit velo up to 96 mph and 336 max distance. Jury is out which way he's end up better and Hanson is on track to be a strong DI recruit, possibly both ways.
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Brock Ayudan SS / 2B / Kamehameha Hawaii, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 4
Slick-fielding left-handed hitting shortstops are what DI recruiting coordinator dreams are made of. They are a recruiting priority as you can never have too many shortstops, especially left-handed hitting shortstops. Ayudan is that slick-fielding shortstop with smooth, easy actions as defense comes easy for the BIWBA product but his glove may not be his best tool. At 14 years old Ayudan is 80 plus from the infield with a loose arm and excellent arm action, easily projecting to a plus arm. Strength gains will help Ayudan offensively but he already possesses a loose, easy swing with some feel and timing. DI's have already asked about Ayudan and he could end up the next big-time left-handed hitting shortstop out of the Big Island since Maui Ahuna.
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Eli Iopa SS / 3B / Mid Pacific Institute, HI / 2028Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 5
Iopa is a 2028 who Prep Baseball Hawaii likes more and more every time we see him. Hitters are the toughest thing to find as a DI recruting coordinator and this kid can hit. Iopa sets up quiet with little wasted movement, has a simple approach, quick pitch recognition, bat speed and short/direct swing = traits of a plus contact bat with minimal K's. On the dirt Iopa has good actions and projects to end up with enough arm for the left side profiling Iopa as an infielder with defensive versatility/utility value. Iopa came into 2024 hot as the MVP in the 2023 Babe Ruth 13U World Series on his team the OBRL Islanders. The Mid-Pacific Institute and Hawaii Islanders product climbs into Prep Baseball Hawaii's Top 10 and one who DI's need to know now. Note: Correction on posting below, Max Exit Velocity - 87.9, INF Velocity - 75 mph
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