California continues to be a fertile ground for emerging baseball talent. Boasting perfect weather conditions and a vast population, the Golden State has consistently attracted scouts in search of promising players.
The high school class of 2027 appears ready to capture the attention of both professional and collegiate scouts, as they seek the next generation of standout athletes.
Following insights from Prep Baseball Report, and further statistics from MaxPreps along with scouting details shared by MLB.com, we present the top 20 prospects from California’s Class of 2027.
California Baseball Prospects: Class of 2026
Top 20 California baseball prospects from Class of 2027
1. OF/LHP Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach
In his freshman season, the 6-foot, 160-pound standout hit .250 while posting a 4.30 ERA across 10 appearances as a pitcher. Now, as a key player for Huntington Beach, Grindlinger is poised for a significant rise in his stock this upcoming spring.
2. LHP/1B Logan Schmidt, Ganesha
Currently ranked No. 2 nationally at his position and No. 5 overall in his class, Schmidt has the potential to make an even larger impact this spring while playing for Ganesha. His pitching repertoire features an 83 mph fastball with a 2132 spin rate, complemented by a 63-66 mph slider and a 73-75 mph changeup.
3. SS/2B Dylan Seward, Norco High
In his freshman year, the 5’11, 170-pound player posted an impressive .381 batting average, hitting three home runs and driving in 23 RBIs, along with eight doubles and three triples in 84 at-bats. His speed on the basepaths is notable, clocking in a 6.57 on his 60-yard dash, making him a constant threat every time he reaches base. His bat exit velocity has measured as high as 100 mph, and his throwing speed from shortstop has been recorded at 90 mph.
4. RHP/OF Sean Parrow, Sierra Canyon
The 6’5, 205-pound player brings incredible versatility, equally adept in the outfield and as a pitcher, primarily showcasing his talents on the mound for Sierra Canyon. His fastball has been clocked at 94 mph, while his slider falls within the 81-83 mph range.
5. OF/RHP Lukas Waite, Patrick Henry
In his inaugural high school season, the 6’2, 190-pound athlete recorded a .211 average with four RBIs, achieving one double and one triple. Despite facing challenges on the mound, where he posted a 10.50 ERA in three outings, this season presents a chance for Waite to establish himself. His pitching tools include a 92 mph fastball with a 2636 spin rate, a 78-80 mph slider, and a 72-74 mph changeup.
6. LHP/1B Jose Partida, Cathedral Catholic
Last season for La Jolla Country Day, Partida hit .271, belting three home runs and tallying 18 RBIs in 85 at-bats, while striking out only 17 times. On the mound, he finished with a 5-2 record and a stellar 1.43 ERA in 11 games. Ranked as the No. 40 overall player in his class and No. 7 at his position, he is primed for a breakout season.
7. OF Ira Rootman, Harvard Westlake
Standing at 6’1 and weighing 177 pounds, he has quickly become a key player for the Wolverines, achieving an exit velocity of 98 mph and bat speed of 86 mph. He is capable of running a sub-7 second 60-yard dash, with a throwing speed of 89 mph from the outfield.
8. SS/RHP Bear Calvo, La Mirada
In his previous spring campaign, the 6’1, 192-pound athlete batted .241, with three home runs and 21 RBIs, adding five doubles in 87 at-bats, with 17 strikeouts and 13 walks. Though he didn’t pitch much last year, Calvo possesses a pitch arsenal that features an 86 mph fastball with a 2238 spin rate, alongside a 68-71 mph curveball and a 68-69 mph changeup.
9. LHP/OF Mariano Gonzalez, Vanden
In his debut season last spring, the 6’0, 185-pound player recorded a batting average of .167, hitting one home run and registering five RBIs in 30 at-bats. He also had seven strikeouts and eight walks. On the mound, he finished the season with a 1-3 record and a 2.10 ERA across six appearances. His pitching repertoire features a 90 mph fastball with a 2444 spin rate, a 72-75 mph curveball, and a 72-75 mph changeup.
10. SS/OF Carter Hadnot, Aquinas
As a freshman last season, the Miami commit had an impressive performance, finishing with a .309 average, hitting two home runs, and driving in 22 RBIs, along with six doubles in 81 at-bats. He faced 18 strikeouts while balancing it with 17 walks. With a year of maturation, Hadnot could play a pivotal role in Aquinas’ success this spring.
11. C/3B Dyson Grant, BPA
Ranked as the No. 66 overall prospect nationally, and No. 8 at his position, Grant aims to enhance his stock this season. His impressive showing at the WWBA Perfect Game tournament last summer demonstrated his capability of competing at high levels. It’s important to note that BPA is not a high school but rather a travel baseball organization based out of Laguna Niguel, California.
12. RHP/SS Davis Wilson, Clovis North
The 6’1, 178-pound player currently stands as the No. 67 prospect in his class and is positioned No. 15 at his position. The Broncos finished last season with a record of 20-12, and with Wilson’s experience, he could significantly impact his team’s performance this year.
13. SS/2B Parker Leoff, Redondo Union
So far this season, the 5’10, 165-pound athlete is batting .615 with three RBIs in just 13 at-bats, including three doubles. A participant in the 15U national team last summer and fall, he started in five games, hitting .250 while maintaining a flawless 1.000 fielding percentage.
14. RHP/3B Ethan Gustus, Roseville
Last season, the 6’5″, 175-pound prospect posted a batting average of .232, hitting one home run and driving in 10 RBIs over 56 at-bats; he also managed to hit two doubles. On the pitching side, he concluded the season with a 1-1 record, achieving a 2.66 ERA across six appearances, where he struck out 29 batters in 23.2 innings. His pitching repertoire consists of a 92 mph fastball with a spin rate of 2126, a 59-61 mph curveball, a 75-77 mph slider, and a 79-80 mph changeup.
15. SS/2B Andrew Jimenez, Elsinore High
This 5’10”, 165-pound prospect had a batting average of .263 last season, recording 13 RBIs, three doubles, and a triple in 76 at-bats, with only nine strikeouts to his name. On the mound, he showcased impressive performance with a 1.45 ERA over four appearances, fanning 14 batters in just over nine innings pitched.
16. 1B/LHP Jacob Melendez, Paloma Valley
The 6’2″, 220-pound prospect finished his last season with a .257 batting average, contributing 14 RBIs and six doubles in 74 at-bats, while striking out just four times. Impressively, he achieved a perfect 6-0 record and a stellar 1.51 ERA over seven appearances, striking out 32 batters in 37 innings. Melendez demonstrates power from both sides of the plate, boasting a bat exit velocity of 97 mph, and reaches 87 mph with his fastball. His pitching arsenal is rounded out by a 75-78 mph curve, a 77-79 mph slider, and a 77-80 mph changeup.
17. OF/SS Ricardo Hurtado, Orange Lutheran
Standing at 6’0″ and weighing 180 pounds, this prospect is ranked 137th nationally in his class and sits at No. 32 in his position. He showcases impressive speed with a 60-yard dash time as quick as 6.84 seconds, along with a throwing speed of 87 mph from the infield and 85 mph from the outfield.
18. OF/LHP Tanner Brown, Huntington Beach
In his 14 appearances last season, the 5’11”, 163-pound TCU commit recorded a 1.77 ERA (0-0 record) with 26 strikeouts over 23.2 innings. Although listed as an outfielder, he was predominantly utilized as a pitcher during the last spring.
19. SS/RHP Antonio Cuevas, Elk Grove
Last spring, the 6’1″, 170-pound prospect held a batting average of .228, hitting one home run and collecting 18 RBIs over 101 at-bats, while striking out 26 times. Ranked 146th overall nationally in his class and 42nd at his position, Cuevas aims to elevate his profile this coming spring.
20. RHP Aidan Kent, JSerra Catholic
Ranked as the 143rd player in his class nationally and the 35th at his position, Kent is poised to utilize his varsity experience to have a strong spring season, potentially attracting even greater attention to his abilities.
