Diego Cruz'sScouting Notebook

As usual, Curry had a significant impact on the game on both sides of the ball against Bonita Vista. At the plate, he finished 2-for-3 with a key swing in the 4th inning, turning on a hanging breaking ball and sending it for a three-run homer that broke the tie and opened the game up. He also singled in the 1st, and I came away thinking the feel in the box was mature — noticeably shortened up and stayed compact, letting the pitch travel before getting the barrel through. On the mound, the Prep Baseball All-American alum came in to close the final two innings, striking out 5 hitters along the way. I had Curry attacking with a FB (87-89) that he commanded well, showing heavy arm-side run when he wanted to work in on hitters. I liked how he changed eye levels and timing with a SL (77-79) and CH (79-81), looking comfortable going to any pitch in any count. The southpaw's cleanest work came in the 6th inning with quick outs, steady tempo, and consistent fastball location. He did run into some trouble in the top of the 7th after a few soft hits and walks put runners on, but in traffic the stuff played well and the command held up enough to finish the job. Overall, I came away impressed with the two-way showing from the Centurion lead-off.

At this point, I'd say Briones is just making it routine to look like one of the more intriguing sophomores around. The lefty went five innings, punched out seven, and gave up just two hits while once again showing why he keeps popping up every time I catch Helix on the field. He filled up the zone with a four-pitch mix, stayed in control from the jump, and had that same edge on the mound I keep seeing every look. It feels like every time he gets close to finishing an inning, there is a little extra in the tank. The curveball is still the pitch that really grabs me. It has quality shape, and I like how he uses it to both righties and lefties, especially when he starts clipping the zone on that back-door look. The slider plays off it well, and the changeup gives hitters another speed to think about even if he does not go to it as much. Then at the plate, he reminded everyone he is not just a pitcher by absolutely crushing a no-doubt homer to right. That was real juice, and it matched what the body and swing already suggest. Another loud two-way look — honestly, it is getting hard for me to say anything new other than he just keeps showing up and producing.

Jennings was flat-out dealing in this one, turning in a complete game while allowing just one run and striking out five. The UCSB signee needed a little bit to settle in early, but even in the first inning, when the fastball command was not quite all the way there, he still found a way to get weak contact and work through it. That was probably the biggest thing I took away — he never looked rattled. Once he found his rhythm, it was pretty much a wrap. He settled into 88-89 for most of the outing, touched 91 in the second, and just kept piling up outs. The fastball really drove the look for me, especially when he was able to work it in the upper half of the zone. It had enough life to keep Clairemont from ever really getting comfortable, and I noticed they had a hard time squaring it up consistently. The curveball showed some real shape and looked like a pitch I think he honestly could have gone to even more, while the changeup gave hitters another solid look to think about. Overall, this was just a really mature outing in my book. Jennings did what good college-bound arms do — he kept it simple, trusted the mix, and got people out all day.

Estrada was the biggest standout from the Scripps Ranch and Lincoln look for me, turning in a complete game with nine strikeouts and just one earned run allowed. The freshman lefty worked with a FB/2SM/CB/SL mix, and what stood out most was how advanced the overall feel looked for his age. I saw an easy, repeatable operation down the mound, and he showed real confidence in the way he carried himself from the first inning through the last. The FB sat 80-83 and touched 84 early, and I thought he did a strong job controlling the game's tempo while continuing to compete through traffic and high pitch counts. What really made the outing impressive in my eyes was the poise. Estrada never looked rattled, even when things got uncomfortable, and he seemed to get sharper as innings wore on. A big moment came in the 6th with the bases loaded and two outs, when he stayed on the fastball and punched out the hitter by challenging him in the zone. For a freshman to throw 110 pitches, go the distance, and keep that kind of edge on the mound says a lot to me. An extremely impressive look from a young lefty who already shows the makeup and pitchability to be a real name to follow.

Crawford made a loud statement in his senior year, and I came away thinking he deserves more eyes as the season goes on. He's a physically imposing presence in the box batting 3rd in the order, with a lethal, aggressive swing, and he wasted no time putting it on display — jumping on a sophomore arm early and launching a two-run homer in the first couple innings. Even after Santana adjusted and started leaning heavily on offspeed to avoid giving him something straight, Crawford stayed productive, finishing 2-for-3 with the HR, 2 RBI, and a single. Defensively, he showed me he's more than just the bat, making a heads-up play at third — snagging a lineout and quickly turning to double up a runner who got too far off the bag. Between the power threat, the in-game adjustments he forced from the opposing staff, and the baseball IQ he showed on the dirt, I think Crawford is a guy who can help a roster at the next level with this consistent trajectory upwards.

Everything about Salcido's day screamed impact bat to me. Coming in, the production already matched the hype — batting over .600 through roughly the first stretch of the season — and he played with the exact confidence I'd expect from a guy seeing the ball that well. He delivered across the board with quality at-bats that consistently moved the game. The results were loud: 5 RBI on the day, including an RBI single and then a rocket to deep right field for a grand slam. It wasn't cheap power either — it was the kind of contact that jumps off the barrel and changes the energy of the whole field. Mechanically, I liked that the swing is smooth, efficient, and repeatable, with an upward attack angle that creates carry without forcing lift. The hips are the engine: he torques extremely well, and when a pitch is left in the zone, he's quick enough to get the barrel there and strong enough to make it hurt. If he keeps swinging it like this, Salcido is absolutely a '27 follow for me — the type of bat that can carry an offense as the year goes on.

Robbins showed me why he's viewed as one of the leaders of the Clairemont group, delivering a loud swing in the middle of the game plan. The right-handed bat got a fastball left in the zone and sent it to deep center for a solo homer — easy carry, smooth path through the zone, and exactly the kind of swing I want from a Power 5 signee in a key spot. Beyond the home run, I noticed a maturity in the at-bats. He works the count, doesn't expand, and consistently puts the ball in play to all fields when the situation calls for it. Defensively at short he's smooth, with the actions and arm strength to project at the next level. A reliable up-the-middle profile with a track record of production — the type of player I think lifts the rest of a high-school lineup just by being in it.

Oswald was an interesting all-around follow for me, starting the game on the mound before moving to center field and continuing to impact the game there. On the bump, the left-hander showed some intriguing stuff despite only working one inning. I saw life on the fastball at times, and he flashed feel for his offspeed, but command was the issue early as he worked into traffic. Once he shifted to center, Oswald really started to stand out with his athleticism. He made a tough over-the-shoulder catch going back and followed it up by throwing out a runner at the plate, showing me range, body control, and arm strength. At the plate, he added a hard line-drive single up the middle and looked the part of a tall, physical hitter with some strength in the profile. My overall takeaway was the versatility and athleticism — based on this look, center field appeared to be where he looked the most natural and comfortable to me.