SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: 2024 All-Area Underclass Team (BASEBALL)
Top players at their respective positions are highlighted.
This All-Area Team is comprised of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who performed well for their teams in 2024. There will be no individual honors, just a straight first and second team.
FIRST TEAM
PITCHERS
Tomas Bilvado, San Marino, Junior – The Pitcher of the Year in the Rio Hondo League and was also the MVP of Sunday's SGV Underclass All-Star game. We loved seeing the growth of this player. In our first viewing earlier this year against Burroughs, he had hit 83-85 with his FB with an 86 TOP. On Sunday his speed was up to 84-86 with an 88 TOP. We feel that places such as Cal Baptist, Vanguard University, or other smaller schools would be a perfect spot for this pitcher.
Kalai Benavente, St. Paul, Junior – The Most Valuable Player of the Camino Real League, we liked what we saw from the hurler in the first round of the playoffs against Lancaster, with a fastball between 81-84 and a good-looking slider. Those inside the program said that he was in the high 70’s at the beginning of the season. For him to reach the 80’s late in the season shows the growth he has developed. Should have a productive summer.
Camden Farina, Bonita, Junior – This pitcher delivered consistently throughout the year, with big wins against South Hills at the start of the year and against JSerra at the end of the season. The UC Santa Barbara commit relies heavily on a slider that grades out nicely. He reached an 88 TOP on his fastball in the JSerra game in which he struck out eight players. Now that’s impressive.
Jacob Oropeza, La Mirada, Sophomore – The kid landed on the first team thanks to his unbelievable performance against Mater Dei at the Boras Classic. He threw the majority of his pitches in the high 70s (he is more than capable of hitting the mid to high 80s very easily) and had Mater Dei hitters looking like they were freshmen in their first game of the year. Another in a strong stable of pitchers that will be at Jimmy Zurn’s disposal in 2025.
Zack Strickland, Maranatha, Junior – Good news for UCLA fans, he’s hitting the mid-90s with his fastball and was unbelievable this year. The bad news is that there is not a chance that this kid will take one step on a UCLA campus after his season year. He’ll be an MLB-drafted player next year at this time.
Caleb Trugman, Ayala, Sophomore – One of the more pleasant surprises from our perspective. We saw him at their game against Bonita and he was sensational. We took a second look at him against Claremont, and he was just as effective. In addition, he can play third base as well as anyone in Southern California. His slider has movement that you don’t see in a lot of sophomores with a fastball TOP of 86.
CATCHERS
(La Salle Athletics)
Chris Cardenas, La Salle, Sophomore – One of the most trusted players behind the plate for Andy Nieto makes this team on his defensive prowess more than the offensive production. He moves his feet very well and has a solid arm. Excited to see his progress for next year.
Devin Herrera, La Serna, Sophomore – The class of 2026 has some excellent catcher prospects, and this is another one. He had the team's second-best batting average of .348 this year and was solid defensively. He didn’t have one passed ball in La Serna’s 1-0 win over El Rancho in a 13-inning marathon.
INFIELDERS
(Perfect Game)
Aiden Aguayo, La Mirada, Junior – The junior didn’t disappoint this year with a solid defensive presence at shortstop and an impressive .333 batting average with four home runs and 24 RBIs. A UCLA-commit.
Ryan Barraza, La Serna, Sophomore – The other super sophomore that will be a problem for Del Rio League pitchers for the next two years. A mind-boggling .421 average while being slotted in the upper third of Anthony Gonzalez’s lineup. The future is very bright.
(Twitter)
Bobby Brooks, La Habra, Sophomore – The best shortstop for the class of 2026 in the area. Defensively, he is very solid and plays the game much like a coach. At the plate, he has a .325 batting average and delivered big hits throughout the season. He should have a busy summer on the club circuit.
Bear Calvo, La Mirada, Freshman – The most exciting freshman prospect the area has seen in years. The fact that he hit three home runs in his first year as a high school player tells you all you need to know about the potential of this kid. Prep Baseball Report as Calvo as the fourth-best player in the state for his class. Enough said.
Fernie Cruz, Montebello, Sophomore – Love this player and I’m glad to see that he is going to be around the Whittier Area for another two years. He played in 29 of the 30 games this year and had an excellent batting average of .389 with a team-leading 26 RBIs.
(Instagram)
Josh Proctor, Maranatha, Junior – Although he only played half a season due to the required sit-out period from his transfer (La Canada), Proctor showed he is one of the top players in Southern California. Finished with a .397 batting average with 15 RBIs. Just another high-caliber player that should have a monster year in 2025.
(Instagram)
Maverek Russell, La Mirada, Junior – Another player that is inside the top 50 in the state for his graduating class from the Prep Baseball Report big board, Russell made the move from first base to third base without any issues at all. You will not see a more efficient and high-caliber swing than this player. His .402 batting average says it all. UCLA commit.
OUTFIELD
(Instagram)
Vaughn Coleman, San Dimas, Junior – With all the departing talent from the program, this outfielder steps into the limelight as the biggest high-profile player in 2025. In the newly revamped rankings from Prep Baseball Report, this Arizona State Commit just makes it into the top 50 at #50. He has elite speed with a solid bat. Many think that he was the best player on the team this year and you will not see any dissent from me.
(Twitter)
Travis Friend, La Mirada, Junior – Another high-level player from the Jimmy Zurn machine who delivered big plays throughout the season. Solid season with a .280 batting average with a team-leading four home runs. UCLA commit.
(Instagram)
Kevin Jeon, La Mirada, Junior – IT’S ANOTHER JEON! All kidding aside, the junior had a big year for the Matadors with a team-leading .406 batting average and 25 RBIs. A versatile player that has excellent speed in the outfield. One of the rare sleepers on a very talented Matadores roster.
Ethan Lopez, Santa Fe, Junior – Santa Fe always has a player or two that sneaks up on you and this is another who we like a lot in this position. One of the iron horses for the Chiefs this year had a .333 batting average with 11 RBIs.
Fernie Soto, St. Paul – We could have used this player in the utility position, but this is the right spot for a player who impressed us a lot in the two games that we saw St. Paul in person. He had a big game against Salesian in which he went 2 for 4 and drove in runs on both hits. He also had two doubles with an RBI in their playoff win over Lancaster. Solid player and a big fan here!
(Instagram)
Eric Zdunek, Maranatha, Sophomore – The TCU commit is considered one of the top outfielders for the class of 2026 in the state for his position. The speed that he shows on tracking down fly balls is elite and so a .345 batting average with two home runs. The upside is undeniable, and he was an easy for this position.
UTILITY
David Aguirre, El Rancho, Junior – Those inside the program are very excited about this player and it’s easy to see why as he had a .324 batting average, third best on the team and he also had the third most putouts defensively and that’s impressive considering the top two are seniors. Solid prospect.
Leo Peniche, Arcadia, Junior – We all know about Palencia and Lopez, but this junior was just as productive this year and is sitting a huge year in 2025. He led the team in hitting with a .391 average and drove in 21 runs. His impact on the second half of the Apaches season can’t be overstated.
Jacob Campos, Bishop Amat, Junior – Anyone who went to the SGV Underclass All-Star game saw the elite power as he connected on the only home run for the game. What a year for this junior as he led the team in hits (25) and posted a .368 batting average. He’ll be a force to be dealt with in the Del Rey League next year.
(Instagram)
Troy Grise, Monrovia, Sophomore – Here is another sophomore shortstop who can also play second base easily. He had the second-highest batting average on the team with a .305 (Noah Ellison had the best with a .337 and he was a senior). He was one of four players that played in every game for the Wildcats.
(Perfect Game)
Isaac Solorzano, Montebello – The Almont League Player of the Year was sensational on the mound with a 6-2 record and a 1.40 ERA with a team-high 50 strikeouts. He also had a decent at-bat, but it was his performance on the mound that landed him a spot on this team.
(Twitter)
Jacob Yun, Maranatha, Junior – Maranatha always has a player or two that can be called a sleeper, and this is one of those. He came on strong during the second half of the season and finished with a .359 batting average with 21 RBIs, which was the second-best on the team.
2ND TEAM
PITCHERS
Carson Baker, South Hills
Declan Bowers, Covina
Christian Ortega, South El Monte
Justin Pinedo, Bishop Amat
Christian Santoyo, South Hills
Morgan Sullivan, La Salle
Matt Vasquez, Maranatha
CATCHERS
Gabe Guerrero, Bishop Amat
Donovan Rendon, Covina
INFIELDERS
Moises Aguirre, La Salle
Jon Bracamonte, South Pasadena
Jordan Lewallen, St. Francis
Adrian Oseguera, Pasadena
Julian Salmon, Charter Oak
JJ Wilson, San Marino
OUTFIELDERS
Eli Bechtel, Damien
Marc Hernandez, Alhambra
Aaron Jacobsen, Glendora
Rashad Macias, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary
Eric Miranda, Azusa
Cody White, Bonita
UTILITY
Nate Callaway, Marshall
Daniel Catano, Arcadia
Zach Huizar Azusa
Donovan Johnson, Covina
Max Murrillo, West Covina
Jackson Villegran, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary