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High school baseball players to watch in 2016

Hagen Danner is the ace of the Huntington Beach High pitching staff.

Hagen Danner is the ace of the Huntington Beach High pitching staff.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
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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

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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

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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

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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

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