We’ve published countless videos, conducted several interviews, completed a lengthy podcast with a full breakdown and now we’re completing the final part of our comprehensive coverage of Area Code Games. Beginning with the underclass event, we’re going to provide a breakdown and scouting notes for each of the eight teams that participated in the event. Let’s begin with one of the two teams filled with California’s best – the Athletics (Northern California/Pacific Northwest).

(All prospects are in the 2025 class unless otherwise noted.)

ATHLETICS
The A’s featured some of the best catching in the event, led by Brayden Jaksa (Fremont High School; California) and Mark Wiepert (Wilsonville High School; Oregon). Jaksa, an Oregon commitment, possesses the type of tall, long, 6-6 frame that is uncommon for the catcher position. However, he moved with impressive agility and set up a good target for pitchers. He also had a 2.00 in-game pop time, showed the type of arm strength that immediately puts pen to paper and his right-handed swing has a lot of promise, especially as he grows into his frame, because his barrel/hands worked through the zone well. Jaksa struck out just once and was robbed of an extra-base knock when he blasted a ball to the warning track. 

As for Wiepert, an Oregon State commitment, he’s built more like a traditional catcher with a physical, 6-1, 195-pound frame. He played with an athletic bounce that stood out as a catcher with promising actions behind the dish. As a right-handed hitter, Wiepert aims to do damage: he timed good velocity and drilled a 99 MPH single and finished with a .375/.444/.375 line across nine plate appearances. His hands are very active before he gets his swing off and he certainly doesn’t lack noticeable intent with a path that could lead to more topspin than backspin and perhaps some elevated swing-and-miss. However, the power potential and chance to stick behind the dish are real. Jordan Ortiz, an uncommitted prospect from Valley Christian High School (California) threw out a runner with a 1.94-second pop time and didn’t lack arm strength. He was a bit raw as a receiver, but there’s a lot to like about his projectable frame, similar to Jaska but not as tall, and the arm strength can impact the running game. 

Jaksa, Ortiz and Wiepert were certainly asked to catch some quality stuff because the A’s didn’t lack arm talent. The best long-term prospect on the roster was 2026 lefty Kruz Schoolcraft (Beaverton High School; Oregon). Listed at 6-7, 200 pounds, Schoolcraft, who will likely have every head coach in the country calling him next summer, moved with surprisingly easy fluidity given his size and age. 

Schoolcraft’s arm was able to easily get into good position near foot plant with good chest positioning and there wasn’t much effort attached to his 90-93 MPH fastball, which beat hitters even in fastball counts. Schoolcraft mixed in one of the events most intriguing pitches – an 80 MPH splitter with spin around 900 RPM that could be a real weapon. In my notes, I had a changeup written down at around 1500 RPM and 84-86 MPH and I know there’s a true, short slider in the arsenal, too. A talented hitter, Schoolcraft is a true two-way prospect, but his upside on the mound is special. 

On the opposite end of the left-handed pitcher spectrum was Washington commitment Shane Johnson, who is listed at 5-10, 170 pounds. The Kirkland (Washington) product didn’t light up the scoreboard with big velocity (85-88 MPH early with a slight dip out of the stretch and later in his outing), but he could pitch with some of the best feel for spin of the event. Johnson showed a big curveball around 72 MPH with spin just above 2800 RPM and also tweaked his slot/hand a little to spin a high-spin slider at 75-77 MPH. At 5-10 with a low three-quarters slot, Johnson could get an advantage on hitters with a VAA (vertical attack angle) lower than most pitchers. In 3.0 innings, he punched out six and gave up two runs on three hits. 

Big righty (6-3, 225 pounds) Chase Bentley, a Texas A&M commit from Granite Bay (California), had no issues firing strikes with his arsenal and seemingly took pride in challenging hitters. Working quickly with the intent to attack, Bentley was up to 90 MPH early with his fastball and settled in at 86-89 MPH (around 2200 RPM) with some glove side command, which helped his sharp, true slider play well to the glove side at 77-82 MPH (around 2500 RPM). The future Aggie also used a curveball (72-75 MPH) and changeup (80 MPH) to round out the distinct arsenal. Considering his frame, arsenal and mentality, Bentley profiles as a future workhorse starter candidate because he’s a good bet to continue getting stronger and I think there are some things in the way the arm/shoulders work that could unlock some future MPH. Bentley struck out five and gave up just one hit and one unearned run across 3.0 innings, which landed him a spot on the All-Tournament team. 

Erik Rico (Redwood High School; California) arrived at Area Code uncommitted, but I can’t imagine he remains that much longer. As his outing ended, the righty was in a groove and showed some very promising feel for spin, executing and also an easy, repeatable operation. In particular, Rico’s 77 MPH slider (around 2500 RPM) with short shape hit the glove side at a good rate and he also flashed a 73 MPH curveball (2600 RPM). A multi-sport athlete with a strong lower half, Rico sat 86-89 MPH with his fastball, which had some occasional misses with run to his arm side, and his 77-81 MPH changeup had spin around 2200 RPM, which carried some notable arm side fade near home plate. 

The University of Washington must have loved what it saw from right-hander Trace Pruitt (Olympia High School; Washington) because he committed to the Huskies a day after his impressive outing on the mound. In particular, his curveball flashed as a hammer around 74 MPH with aggressive bite, hint of tilt and spin around 2800 RPM. And he showed he had an out pitch against lefties when he racked up swings and mises with his 80 MPH changeup. Pruitt gathered well in his delivery before finishing with some intent through his release and he stayed on top of his pitches well, which showed with his 86-89 MPH fastball that played well down in the zone with some late, natural arm side run that caught the occasional righty by surprise when he started the pitch on his arm side. 

Dax Hardcastle, a 2026 right-handed pitcher, threw just one inning, but it was a very impressive one. Up to 92 MPH with his fastball and working exclusively out of the stretch, Hardcastle flashed a future plus slider at 78 MPH with spin around 2700 RPM that he executed well and also an 81 MPH changeup. A two-way prospect, Hardcastle (St. Mary’s High School; California) had some bad luck as a hitter; he was hit by a pitch in two of his four plate appearances. Drew Van Court, an Oregon State commitment, didn’t have his best performance on the mound but flashed a major curveball that is going to be a bat-missing pitch in the future. 

Right-hander and Arizona commitment Dylan Wood began his outing around 85-89 MPH but warmed up to 92 MPH and was among my favorite long-term pitchers because he has obvious potential physically/skill-wise and is far from a finished product. The California product gathered on his back leg very well and showed notable athleticism on the mound before showing a loose, quick arm that spun a tight, short curveball at 74 MPH with spin around 2500 RPM. With some obvious feel for making the baseball dance towards home plate, Wood also showed a low-spin, promising changeup at 72-75 MPH with spin around 1200 RPM. His control/command profile is a work in progress, but there are a lot of signs in the delivery that he’s going to progress as a strike-thrower. 

Athletics pitchers enjoyed having the likes of Rashad Hayes behind them defensively. A smooth, confident, advanced shortstop with quick feet and athleticism, Hayes was among the best long-term bets to stick at shortstop in the event. He has a natural understanding of how to effortlessly position his body to come through the baseball, can throw from different arm angles with ease, has soft hands and thinks the game at a high level. On one particular play with the infield in, Hayes gave a very quick glance to third base instinctively before immediately getting the ball quickly to first base for the out before the runner even had a chance to make up his mind about advancing. 

At the plate, Hayes had just one hit in seven plate appearances with two walks, but his quick hands and good bat speed with promising barrel paths make him a good bet long-term to be an impact hitter, especially as he continues adding strength to his loose frame. Additionally, his outstanding makeup is going to boost his good tools. Often teaming up in the middle infield with Hayes was uncommitted left-handed hitter Cash Brennan. Although he wasn’t among the most athletic, quick-twitch infielders in the event, Brennan was among the most skilled; notably, his aggressive approach in the batter’s box led to five strikeouts in 10 plate appearances but also three hits and he turned routine plays on defense into outs with a highlight-reel, over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left field. 

When the A’s did damage on offense, it typically came from their talented outfield group. Alec Blair (De La Salle; California) arrived at Area Code as one of the most famous uncommitted players in the country and his tools certainly matched the hype. A talented basketball player who played with a confident flair, the 6-6, 185-pound left-handed hitter is an obvious candidate to grow into his frame with some more strength and moved with the fluidity of a player who can run up-and-down the hardwood and throw down dunks in the open floor. 

Against premium velocity, Blair drilled a hard single 97 MPH off the bat, which showed he can time heat and also impact the baseball. He sets up with a high back elbow with hands comfortably extended and had no issues quickly and efficiently using his hands to lead the barrel through the zone against fastballs. Blair walked four times in nine plate appearances and tracked pitches well with quality plate skills and no fear of hitting deep in counts. Defensively, his long strides covered ground in the outfield and he showcased a plus arm when he fired a bullet in from center field to home plate to keep a run from scoring. As a runner, I had Blair down the line in 4.21 seconds from the left side and his all-around tools were impressive. 

Recent Stanford commitment and left-handed hitting outfielder Brock Ketelsen has the potential to be one of the best hitters in California and perhaps the nation. As he grows into his frame, which clearly has room for good weight, and adds strength, Ketelsen’s power should impact games and it’s easy to envision him pulling mistakes over the fence and hitting liners into the gap. An average runner with athletic movements, Ketelsen does an excellent job at creating steady rhythm, and keeping a very steady head throughout his swing and keeping his hands back before using a pretty, smooth left-handed swing that proved capable of getting to pitches in different parts of the zone; although he’s probably going to love jumping on fastballs down. 

Ketelsen joined Brock Sell (Tokay High School; California) on the Stanford commitment lost and consider me sold on Sell as a major dude in the 2025 class. A plus, maybe plus-plus, runner who ran down the line in 4.12 seconds from the left side and 4.21 seconds on a short turn, Sell gets a quick barrel into and through the zone quickly and can create some surprising juice for a 6-1, 175-pound prospect. He blasted a deep triple, showcased consistent hit feel with confidence in what he was seeing out of the hand and played with a sparkplug-like energy. Defensively, Sell is a skilled player who played third base, a lot of second base and some left field. Long-term, I think he might profile best in the outfield but second base would be an ideal start to begin his career at the next level. 

We promise this isn’t a Stanford report, but we can’t leave another Cardinal commitment off the report. Right-handed hitting corner infielder Teddy Tokheim is a physical, strong, 6-3 prospect who handled/tracked spin well and also cut down his swing deep in a count to smack a fastball the other way. I left Area Code impressed with the way Tokheim tracked pitches because he kept his hips/front side from opening up too early as he let the ball travel into the zone, which should serve him and his power potential well in the future. While Blair is a major two-sport standout because of his basketball ability, Marco Jones (San Ramon Valley; California) is one of the nation's top linebacker prospects. Considering he balances the two and doesn't have the reps of many of the baseball-only prospects at Area Code, the physical, 6-4, 220-pound right-handed hitting outfielder more than held his own with a promising swing that packs some punch. An uncommitted prospect, he's absolutely talented enough to play baseball at the major D1 level, too, and reminds me some of the way Duce Robinson stood out at Area Code upperclass last year.  

Dustin McComas
Senior Editor