High school baseball players to watch in 2016

Impact baseball players

Pitcher

Hagen Danner; Huntington Beach; Jr.; Top returning pitcher in Orange County

Kevin Gowdy; Santa Barbara; Sr.; UCLA signee can be best in SoCal¿

Hunter Greene; SO Notre Dame; Jr.; 16-year-old is throwing in low 90s

Others

James Acuna; Cypress; Sr.; Oregon signee is true ace

Kaz Akamatsu; Edison; Sr.; UC Irvine signee one of best in Sunset League

Shea Barry; Simi Valley; Sr.; UC Santa Barbara signee

Tanner Bibee; Mission Viejo; Jr.; Cal State Fullerton commit came through as sophomore

Blake Borror; Quartz Hill; Sr.; Golden League MVP

Kenny Brawner; Moorpark; Sr.; 4.8 GPA and knows how to pitch

Travis Burleson; Fountain Valley; Jr.; Had nine-inning shutout in last year’s playoffs

Holden Christian; Oaks Christian; Jr.; San Diego commit part of strong rotation

Chris Clarke; Newbury Park; Sr.; 6-7 standout was talk of winter ball

Hans Crouse; Dana Hills; Jr.; Ready to become an ace

Jack Cunningham; West Ranch; Sr.; San Jose State signee had big winter season

Isaac Esqueda; Bishop Amat; Jr.; Left-hander with lots of potential

Ben Fariss; Valencia; Jr.; Part of improved pitching in Foothill League

CJ Fernandezees; Gardena Serra; Jr.; Has pitched well against top teams

Trevor Franklin; Mira Costa; Sr.; Went 11-0 as a junior

Ryan Garcia; La Salle; Sr.; UCLA signee

Josh Garcia; Chatsworth; Sr.; Capable of being standout right-hander

Chad Germain; Villa Park; Sr.; Long Beach State signee

Sam Glick; El Toro; Jr.; Left-hander gets chance to be an ace

Holden Groff; Loyola; Sr.; Had big wins as a junior

Timmy Josten; West Ranch; Jr.; Cal State Fullerton commit

Johnny Kuhn; St. John Bosco; Jr.; Ready to take big step up

Evan Larsen; Corona del Mar; Sr.; 9-4 with 1.20 ERA as a junior

Reggie Lawson; Victor Valley; Sr.; Arizona State signee throws in mid-90s

Nick Lodolo; Damien; Sr.; 6-6 left-hander can be dominant

Jake Mahood; El Dorado; Sr.; 6-1 record as a junior

Nolan Martinez; Culver City; Sr.; San Diego State commit is throwing in the 90s

Brandon Moore; St. John Bosco; Sr.; Cal State Fullerton signee

Luke Mattson; Orange Lutheran; Sr.; Nevada signee part of strong pitching staff

Isaac Meza; Birmingham; Sr.; Can be one of the best in City Section

Jack Moberg; Vista Murrieta; Sr.; Two-way standout

Kyle Mora; Los Alamitos; Sr.; UCLA signee is getting healthy

Chris Murphy; Granada Hills; Sr.; If he throws his 92-mph fastball for strikes, beware

Grant Nechak; Calabasas; Sr.; Returning league MVP

Charlie Nies; Mater Dei; Jr.; San Diego State commit

Zak Nocon; Aliso Niguel; Sr.; Had 2.72 ERA as a junior

Zack Noll; Great Oak; Sr.; Lefty is healthy and ready for big season

Tommy Palomera; Chatsworth; Sr.; Ready for best season yet

Andre Pallante; San Clemente; Sr.; Signed with UC Irvine

Sean Paquet; Servite; Sr.; Loyola Marymount signee

Hayden Pearce; Glendora; Jr.; Had 1.66 ERA

Danny Pimienta; Sun Valley Poly; Jr.; Left-hander started with two-hitter

Jeremy Polon; El Camino Real; Sr.; City MVP keeps winning big games

Nick Pratto; Huntington Beach; Jr.; Becomes eligible in April

Collin Quinn; JSerra; Sr.; Sidearmer is tough to hit

Sean Reynolds; Redondo; Sr.; Rice signee is 6-foot-6

Clay Rickerman; Alemany; Jr.; Beat top teams in winter ball

Carson Rudd; Oaks Christian; Jr; Stanford commit making steady progress

Cole Spear; Orange Lutheran; Sr. UC Irvine signee

Seth Stone; Sierra Canyon; Jr.; 14-2 record in two seasons

Sam Villa; Cleveland; Jr.; Throws strikes and gets outs

Michael Weisberg; Agoura; Jr; Ready to take over ace role

Travis Weston; Moorpark; Jr.; Lefty is San Diego State commit

A.J. Woodall; Bonita; Sr.; UC Santa Barbara signee

Danny Zimmerman; Redondo; Jr.; Michigan commit helped Redondo win title

Catcher

Nick Kahle; Chaminade; Sr.; Washington signee can hit

Blake Sabol; Aliso Niguel; Sr.; Hits, fields, leads

Ryan Mendoza; Birmingham; Sr.; Long Beach St. signee has terrific arm

Others

Eric Bigani; Esperanza; Jr.; Starting since freshman year

David Clawson; Dana Hills; Sr.; Ready for huge season

James Free; Damien; Sr.; Pacific signee is highly regarded

Lyle Lin; JSerra, Sr.; Arizona State signee tough to run on

Ryan Mendoza; Birmingham; Sr.; Best defensively in City Section

Kameron Ojeda; St. John Bosco; So.; Cal State Fullerton commit

Robert Reeves; Hart; Sr.; Star of last season’s Division 1 playoffs

Eric Yang; El Camino Real; Sr.; Delivers in clutch situations

Daniel Zakosek; Chatsworth; Jr.; Tough out and tough behind plate

First base

Adrian Damla; Crescenta Valley; Sr.; UC Irvine signee batted .398

Isaiah Flowers; Narbonne; Sr.; Has lots of power

Brandon Lewis; Alemany; Sr. 6-3, 235-pound power hitter

Others

John Dearth; South Hills; Jr.; San Diego State commit batted .365

Owen Sharts; Simi Valley; So.; Nevada commit

James Terrazas; El Camino Real; Sr.; Left-handed bat is tough out

Davis Wendzel; JSerra; Sr.; Utility player headed to Baylor

Second base

Christian Koss; JW North; Sr.; UC Irvine signee

Matt McLain; Beckman; So.; Was league MVP as a freshman

Ryan Williams; Corona Santiago; Jr.; Cal State Fullerton commit

Others

Zach Lew; Orange Lutheran; So.; Performed well as a freshman

Andrew Renteria; Chatsworth; Sr.; Best hitter on City title contender

Third base

Royce Lewis; JSerra; Jr.; Trinity League MVP as a sophomore

Logan Pouelsen; Huntington Beach; Sr.; UCLA signee is clutch hitter

Noah Prewett; Oaks Christian; Sr.; San Diego signee batted .407

Others

Dillon Brown; Foothill; Sr.; Two-way standout

Cameron Deere; Harvard-Westlake; Sr.; One of best hitters in Mission League

Jason Gonzalez; Bishop Amat; Jr.; Dangerous hitter against any pitcher

Spencer Weston; Woodbridge; Jr.; Had nine doubles last season

Shortstop

Spencer Steer; LB Millikan; Sr.; Oregon signee is two-way standout

Chase Strumpf; JSerra; Sr.; UCLA signee poised for best season yet

Brice Turang, Corona Santiago, So.; LSU commit batted .475 as a freshman

Others

Jacob Amaya; South Hills; Jr.; Cal State Fullerton commit

Ben Baird; Agoura; Sr.; Top returnee from Marmonte League

Brett Borgogno; Chino Hills; Jr.; Had 31 hits as a sophomore

Tyler Freeman; Etiwanda; Jr.; TCU commit

Tristian Hanoian; Orange Lutheran; Jr. Batted .309, committed to TCU

Harrison Hart; Palisades; Sr.; Best player in Western League

Shane Martinez; JW North; Sr.; Arizona signee is four-year starter

Jaylon McLaughlin; Santa Monica; Sr.; Nevada signee

Caden Miller; Alemany; Fr. All reports indicate he’s impact freshman

Jake Moberg; Vista Murrietta; So.; UCLA commit is rising star

Aharon Modlin; Woodbridge; Sr.; Pepperdine signee hit .410

Haydon Nix; Esperanza; Sr.; Batted .368 with seven doubles

Scott Ogrin; Valencia; Sr.; Top returning hitter from Foothill League

Nick Plaia; Hart; Sr.; Showed strong bat in winter ball

Michael Perez; Gahr; So.; Batted .378 as a freshman

Will Proctor; Mira Costa; Sr.; Georgia signee

Dane Reed; El Camino Real; Jr.; Developing as a fielder and hitter

Alberto Robles; San Fernando; Jr.; Hit .420 as a sophomore

Anthony Walters; Tustin; Sr.; Cal signee

Outfield

Dominic Fletcher; Cypress; Sr.; Arkansas signee hit .485

Landon Silver; Huntington Beach; Sr.; Best home-run threat in SoCal

Blake Rutherford; Chaminade; Sr.; Possesses strong arm, speed, power

Others

Matthew Acosta; Ayala; Sr.; USC signee hit .468

Reese Alexiades; Mira Costa; Sr.; Batted .363 with 11 doubles

Jacob Amaya; South Hills; Jr.; Capable of .400 season

Colin Brophy; SO Notre Dame; Sr.; Leadoff man is a key player for Knights

Grant Burton; Mater Dei; So.; Batted .305 as a freshman

Daniel Caruso; Loyola; Sr.; Baylor signee

Kyle Cuellar; La Salle; Sr.; Set for best season

Jonny DeLuca; Agoura; Jr.; He’s healthy and ready to hit

Jason Drees; West Ranch; Sr.; Proven he can hit

Cooper Gallion; Redondo; Sr.; Had 21 doubles, 46 RBIs

Aaron Greenfield; LB Millikan; Sr.; Signed with North Carolina

Jaden Fein; Royal; So.; Top young player

Griffen Herrera; Glendora; Sr.; Four-year starter

Dylan Hirsch; El Camino Real; Sr.; Leadoff man who has speed

Cal Hodgins; Simi Valley; Sr.; Terrific hitter

Joey Mendez; Saugus; Sr.; Fresno State signee is four-year starter

Garrett Mitchell; Orange Lutheran; Jr.; A star in the making

Chris Moya; South Hills; Sr.; USC signee

Cole Roederer; Hart; So.; Has lots of speed and instincts

Max Scuimbato; Royal; Sr.; QB in football hit .372 last season

Brady Shockey; JSerra; Sr.; USC signee will be counted on to deliver big hits

Tanner Smith; Servite; So.; Oregon commit starting to develop

Josh Stephen; Mater Dei; Sr.; USC signee hit .382 with three home runs

Jake Suddleson; Harvard-Westlake; Sr.; Showed lots of power in winter ball

Max Sterner; Culver City; Jr.; Two-way standout

Frankie Tostado; Camarillo; Sr.; Batted .455

Compiled by Eric Sondheimer with recommendations from coaches