Baseball Signs 12 Standouts to NLIs, Class Ranked No. 4
November 18, 2019 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES โ Head Coach John Savage and the UCLA baseball program officially unveiled its 2020 recruiting class on Monday, a deep and talented group that has been ranked No. 4 in the country by respected amateur baseball outlet Baseball America.
The group features three players ranked inside the top-50 nationally and six within the top-100 as judged by Prep Baseball Report. By position, the incoming class contains five pitchers and seven position players. Four newcomers โ Kyle Harrison, Max Rajcic, Tyler Soderstrom, and Milan Tolentino โ were part of the 20-man roster that helped USA Baseball reach the Gold Medal game at this summer's U18 World Cup.ย
Nationally, UCLA's newest group of players is ranked only behind Texas, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas. Arizona State (No. 10) is the only other west coast team inside the top-10.
"Coaches Bryant Ward, Niko Gallego, and our entire staff have done a great job of putting this class together," said Savage. "We feel this class has a chance to be special and impactful. We have a nice blend of power and speed with our position players and pitchability with arm strength in our pitchers. We feel like this group fits what we do at UCLA, these guys are mature and play older than their ages would indicate. We'll put this group up against any of the schools in our league."
The 2020 UCLA baseball recruiting class is composed of RHP Jake Brooks (Fountain Valley HS), RHP Carson Hamro (Rancho Buena Vista HS), LHP Kyle Harrison (De La Salle HS), third baseman Kyle Karros (Mira Costa HS), RHP Kenji Pallares (Salesian HS), first baseman Eli Paton (Maranatha HS), RHP Max Rajcic (Orange Lutheran HS), infielder Daylen Reyes (Notre Dame HS), catcher Tyler Soderstrom (Turlock HS), infielder Milan Tolentino (Santa Margarita Catholic HS), outfielder Jake Vogel (Huntington Beach HS), and outfielder Carson Yates (Leland HS).
The highest-ranked players nationally include Harrison (No. 6), Soderstrom (9), Tolentino (29), Vogel (59), Rajcic (81), and Karros (100).
Below are capsules on each player in the new class including a report from Coach Savage.
Jake Brooks
Right-Handed Pitcher โ Fountain Valley, Calif. (Fountain Valley HS) โ 6-3/175
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 23 RHP and No. 88 prospect overall โฆ Was a Preseason Underclass All-American in 2019 โฆ Played in the 2019 Perfect Game 17U World Series โฆ Had a 2.30 ERA as a high school junior at Fountain Valley HS.ย
Savage Says: "Jake has tremendous upside and body projection, and has a chance to have a really good slider.ย Jake's better days are ahead of him, he has great work ethic and make up which will allow him to have a bright future in our program."
Carson Hamro
Right-Handed Pitcher โ Vista, Calif. (Rancho Buena Vista HS) โ 6-5/185
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 8 RHP and No. 42 prospect overall โฆ Was a Preseason Underclass All-American in 2019 โฆ Named the MVP at the Perfect Game West MLK Championship โฆ Participated in PG's 2019 National Showcase โฆ Ranked the No. 261 prospect nationally by PG โฆ In his junior season at Rancho Buena Vista HS, posted a 4-2 record with a 2.60 ERA โฆ Struck out 84 batters in 62 innings.ย
Savage Says: "Carson has two pitches that can be used right now. He has good upside to his fastball along with his slider. He's another one of our projectable right-handed pitchers. His breaking ball has depth and can be used as a power breaking ball."
Kyle Harrison
Left-Handed Pitcher โ Danville, Calif. (De La Salle HS) โ 6-2/180
Awards/Stats: Ranked as the No. 6 national prospect by Prep Baseball Report โฆ Listed as the No. 4 LHP prospect in the country by Perfect Game and the No. 37 national prospect โฆ Also listed as the top LHP in California by Perfect Game โฆ First Team Underclass All-American โฆ Participated in the Perfect Game All-American Classic and National Showcase โฆ Named the NorCal Baseball Pitcher of the Year in 2019 โฆ Has won three consecutive NCS Div. I championships at De La Salle โฆ Started the 2019 NCS championship game as De La Salle defeated Heritage-Brentwood 10-1 โฆ Enters his senior year with a career 19-1 record and 1.22 ERA โฆ Has struck out 174 batters in 115 innings entering his senior year โฆ Was 10-0 with a 1.26 ERA as a high school junior โฆ 2018 MaxPreps All-American โฆ 2018 EBAL Pitcher of the Year โฆ Was on the USA Baseball 18U Team for the 2019 U18 World Cup, helping Team USA to a Silver Medal.
Savage Says: "Kyle is one of the top left-handed pitchers in the country. He is one of our four recruits who represented Team USA. Kyle has power stuff to go along with exceptional command and tremendous competitiveness. He plays for a really good program at De La Salle High School under the leadership of David Jeans. Kyle will have an immediate impact in our program and will have an opportunity to be a weekend starter right away."
Kyle Karros
Infielder โ Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Mira Costa HS) โ 6-4/190
Awards/Stats: Ranked as the No. 2 third baseman and No. 36 overall prospect in California by Perfect Game โฆ Ranked as the No. 100 national prospect by Prep Baseball Report โฆ Son of former UCLA and Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Eric Karros โฆ 2019 Preseason Underclass All-American honorable mention โฆ Participated in the 2019 Perfect Game National Showcase โฆ 2019 Under Armour All-American.
Savage Says: "Kyle has a chance to make an immediate impact with the bat and have power to all fields. He is a very versatile player who can play multiple positions. Kyle has big upside to his game and is a big, rangy fielder. With his older brother, Jared, currently in our program as well as his father Eric, who played at UCLA, it is great to carry on the Karros family legacy at UCLA."
Kenji Pallares
Right-Handed Pitcher โ San Gabriel, Calif. (Salesian HS) โ 6-2/185
Awards/Stats: In California, ranked as the No. 12 RHP and the No. 55 overall prospect โฆ Listed as the No. 125 RHP and No. 382 prospect nationally by Perfect Game โฆ 2019 Preseason Underclass All-American honorable mention โฆ Recorded a 2.02 ERA as a junior at Salesian HS.ย
Savage Says: "Kenji is an exceptional athlete who has made himself into a top prospect on the mound. His fastball was consistently in the 90-92 range this past summer. We're very excited about Kenji making an impact on our program as a freshman."
Eli Paton
Infielder โ La Canada, Calif. (Maranatha HS) โ 6-3/205
Awards/Stats: Ranked as the No. 2 first baseman in California and No. 10 first baseman nationally โฆ Listed as the No. 43 prospect in California by Perfect Game โฆ 2019 Preseason Underclass All-American Second Team โฆ Participated in the 2019 Perfect Game National Showcase โฆ Named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2018 WWBA World Championship โฆ Selected to the 15U National Team by USA Baseball in 2017 โฆ Spent his first two HS seasons at Loyola High School in Los Angeles.ย
Savage Says: "Eli has big potential with the bat and brings left-handed power to our program. He's another guy that has the versatility to play on the corners in the infield and outfield. He brings tremendous energy to the ballpark every day."
Max Rajcic
Right-Handed Pitcher โ Fullerton, Calif. (Orange Lutheran HS) โ 5-11/175
Awards/Stats: In California, ranked the No. 2 RHP and No. 16 overall prospect โฆ Listed as the No. 65 prospect in the nation by Prep Baseball Report โฆ First Team Preseason Underclass All-American in 2019 โฆ Was 7-0 with a 0.39 ERA as a junior for Orange Lutheran, striking out 69 batters in 54 innings โฆ Was on the USA Baseball 18U Team for the 2019 U18 World Cup, helping Team USA to a Silver Medal โฆ Had a 1.35 ERA and .174 BAA and 10 Ks over a team-high 13.1 innings pitched in the World Cup โฆ 2019 Perfect Game All-American โฆ Started the 2019 High School All-Star game at Progressive Field in Cleveland โฆ Played in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Classic at Wrigley Field โฆ Named to the All-CIF Southern Section Team โฆ Named the Orange County Pitcher of the Year by the O.C. Register โฆ Played in the Scott Boras Classic South tournament โฆ Helped Orange Lutheran to a Trinity League title in 2019 โฆ Had four double-digit strikeout games in his junior season (HS games are only seven innings).
Savage Says: "Max has been one of the top right-handed pitchers in Southern California for the last several years. He's a fierce competitor who has the ability to make pitches. Max was one of the top pitchers on Team USA this past summer alongside Kyle Harrison. His breaking ball is one of the best in the country."
Daylen Reyes
Infielder โ Northridge, Calif. (Notre Dame HS) โ 5-10/170
Awards/Stats: Ranked the No. 10 shortstop and No. 34 overall prospect in California by Perfect Game โฆ Listed as the No. 210 prospect nationally โฆ 2019 First Team Preseason Underclass All-American โฆ Participated in the 2019 Perfect Game National Showcase โฆ Named to the All-Tournament Teams for the 2018 and 2019 WWBA World Championships as well as the 2019 PG 17U World Series โฆ Enters his senior year with a career .355 average and .498 on-base percentage at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. โฆ Batted .398 with a .513 OBP as a junior in 2019 โฆ Named First Team All-Mission League.
Savage Says: "Daylen is one of the best pure hitters in Southern California. He has a good feel for the strike zone and elite barrel awareness. Daylen can hit the ball all over the field and with impact."
Tyler Soderstrom
Catcher โ Turlock, Calif. (Turlock HS) โ 6-1/170
Awards/Stats: Ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect in the country and top catcher by Prep Baseball Report โฆ Listed as the No. 3 catcher in the country and No. 4 player in California by Perfect Game โฆ 2019 High School All-American โฆ Participated in the 2019 Perfect Game National Showcase, where he was named to the Top Prospect Team โฆ 2019 Second Team Preseason Underclass All-American โฆ Won the 2019 WWBA 17U West National Championship, and was named to the All-Tournament team โฆ Was on the USA Baseball 18U Team for the 2019 U18 World Cup, helping Team USA to a Silver Medal by batting .364 โฆ Was named to the U18 World Cup All-World Team โฆ His brother, Tate, is a junior at Arizona โฆ His father Steve played collegiately at Fresno State (1990-93), was drafted No. 6 overall in the 1993 draft by San Francisco, and pitched for the Giants in the 1996 season โฆ Played in the 2019 Perfect Game All-American Classic โฆ Participated in the 2019 Area Code Games, making Baseball American's All-Area Code lineup โฆ Played in the High School All-Star game at Progressive Field in Cleveland โฆ Entering his senior season, has a .374/.459/.565 slash line at Turlock HS โฆ Batted .450 with a 1.340 OPS as a junior in 2019 โฆ Named the 2019 Turlock Journal Player of the Year โฆ Unanimous League MVP in 2019 โฆ Helped Turlock to a CCAL League Championship in 2019.
Savage Says: "Tyler is the top catching prospect in the country. He is a gifted player who will have an immediate impact on both sides of the ball in Westwood. Tyler is a talented left-hitting catcher who has power to all fields and one of the best arms in the country. He is also a guy that can play other infield positions. He was an impact player for Team USA."
Milan Tolentino
Infielder โ Mission Viejo, Calif. (Santa Margarita HS) โ 6-0/170
Awards/Stats: Ranked as the No. 29 national prospect by Prep Baseball Report โฆ Listed as the No. 2 shortstop in California and No. 7 nationally by Perfect Game โฆ 2019 High School All-American โฆ 2019 Preseason Underclass All-American First Team โฆ Participated in the 2019 Perfect Game National Showcase, where he was named to the Top Prospect Team โฆ Starting shortstop on the USA Baseball 18U Team for the 2019 U18 World Cup, helping Team USA to a Silver Medal โฆ 2019 Trinity League MVP and First Team All-County โฆ Played in the High School All-Star Game at Progressive Field in Cleveland, where he was named the top performer by MLB Pipeline's Jam Callis โฆ First overall selection in the 2019 Mexican League Draft by Mexicali (they will own his winter ball rights when he goes pro) โฆ CIF Division 2 Player of the Year in 2019 โฆ Helped Santa Margarita to the 2019 CIF SS Division 2 Title, defeating Norco 1-0 in 12 innings at Dodger Stadium โฆ He drove in the only run, with a sac fly, in the title game โฆ Slashed .391/.472/.652 as a junior at Santa Margarita.
Savage Says: "Milan was the starting shortstop for Team USA this past summer. He has tremendous hand-eye coordination with a plus arm. He's a shortstop that reminds us of another great Bruin โ Brandon Crawford. Milan is a left-hitting shortstop who will be an impact player at UCLA the day he steps onto campus."
Jake Vogel
Outfielder โ Huntington Beach, Calif. (Santa Margarita HS) โ 5-11/170
Awards/Stats: Ranked the No. 59 prospect in the country by Prep Baseball Report โฆ In the state of California, listed as the No. 4 outfielder and No. 15 prospect by Perfect Game โฆ 2019 High School All-American โฆ 2019 Preseason Underclass All-American Second Team โฆ Participated in the 2019 Perfect Game National Showcase, where he was named to the Top Prospect Team โฆ Won the 2019 WWBA 17U West National Championship โฆ Batted .345 as a sophomore โฆ Hit a walk-off home run against Los Alamitos on Mar. 20, 2019.
Savage Says: "Jake is a true center fielder who can really go get the ball. He's an impact, top-of-the-lineup type hitter who has tools that really emerged this past summer. He has a great make up and wants to win. Jake plays for one of the best programs in Southern California at Huntington Beach High School."
Carson Yates
Outfielder โ San Jose, Calif. (Leland HS) โ 6-4/200
Awards/Stats: Ranked as the No. 39 outfielder in California by Perfect Game โฆ In two varsity seasons at Leland HS, owns a .422/.476/.583 slash line โฆ Is in his third year as the starting quarterback for Leland's football team โฆ In 32 career games on the gridiron, he's thrown for 44 touchdowns and 4,502 yards passing.
Savage Says: "Carson is a tremendous two-sport athlete that we feel is going to have a real impact in our program when he concentrates on baseball. Carson has all the tools you are looking for in an outfielder in the Pac-12 Conference. He has a very bright future at UCLA."