California
Baseball Announces No. 3-Ranked 2023 Recruiting Class
Baseball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA baseball head coach jhon on Tuesday officially announced the program’s 2023 recruiting class, a group of 15 highly-decorated players from the states of California and Arizona.
The Bruins’ incoming class features three players ranked among the top-25 nationally, seven players in the top-100, and 12 players among the top-200. UCLA Is set to bring in the top-ranked player from the states of both California (Roman Martin) and Arizona (Roch Cholowsky).
The class has received an initial ranking of No. 3 from both Baseball America and Perfect Game. It continues a tradition of strong recruiting for UCLA, as the Bruins have constructed a nationally-ranked recruiting class in 16 of 18 seasons under head coach , including eight top-five groups.
By position, the class features six right-handed pitchers, six infielders, two outfielders, and one catcher.
«This class is clearly an impact group that has major attributes which will help build our program for years to come,» said Savage. «You seldom see this many high-level players in one class, so we feel fortunate to be able to put this group together. Coach Ward, Coach Gallego, and our entire staff have done a terrific job of putting this class together. We have always built our program around the high school player, and we will do so again with this class.»
UCLA’s recruiting class is highlighted by top-100 prospects in infielder Roch Cholowsky (No. 14), infielder Roman Martin (No. 16), infielder Brandon Winokur (No. 18), right-handed pitcher Cal Randall (No. 71), outfielder Dean West (No. 74), right-handed pitcher Cole Miller (No. 83), and right-handed pitcher Justin Lee (No. 88).
Below are capsules on each player in the new class, including a report from Coach Savage.
Blake Balsz
Catcher – Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (Santa Margarita HS) – 5-10/190
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 6 catcher and No. 41 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 32-ranked catcher and No. 310-ranked prospect overall … Was a 2022 Preseason Underclass All-American … Was a participant in the USA Baseball 18U Training Camp this past summer … Competed for the White sox in the 2022 Area Code Games … Played in the USA Baseball All-American Game at Dodger Stadium … Won a pair of WWBA Championships with TB SoCal … Selected to the US Baseball U16/U17 National Team Development Program roster as a junior in 2021.
Savage Says: «Blake is the premier catch-and-throw guy in Southern California, and is a tremendous leader who will help shape our pitching staff in the future. He’s a left-handed hitter who is a grinder, and will be a part of winning teams.»
Infielder – Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (Capistrano Valley Christian HS) – 6-0/170
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 7 shortstop and No. 19 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 35-ranked shortstop and No. 122-ranked prospect overall … 2022 Preseason Underclass All-American … Slashed .463/.519/.652 as a junior at Capistrano Valley HS … Hit .345 as a sophomore in his first full season at the varsity level … Named to the New Balanace National Tournaments All-Prospect Team in 2022… Helped Capistrano Valley to the San Joaquin League Title in 2022.
Savage Says: «Boston is one of the most offensive infielders on the west coast. He will have the ability to hit for average as well as power. He’s a rangy infielder who has a tremendous future at UCLA.
Phoenix Call
Infielder – Porter Ranch, Calif. (Calabasas HS) – 6-0/170
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 55 shortstop and No. 238 prospect overall … Named to the 2022 All-CIF Southern Section Baseball First Team … Voted Marmonte League MVP as a junior … Picked up first team honors from the Ventura County Baseball Coaches Association after his junior season … Selected to the Los Angeles Times 2022 All-Star high school baseball team … Hit .398 while playing shortstop and center field as a junior.
Savage Says: «Phoenix is a true baseball player who shows passion and leadership. He’s a multi-positional player with high-end speed. Phoenix has tremendous bat speed and is versatile enough to play anywhere on the field. Overall, a very advanced player.»
Awards/Stats: Top-ranked prospect from his class in the state of Arizona and the Four Corners region … Nationally, is the No. 4-ranked shortstop and No. 14-ranked prospect overall … Two-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Participated in the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Three-time WWBA Champion … Also played in the 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. … Was also starting QB for the Hamilton HS football team … Was part of State Champion teams in both baseball and football in 2022, defeating rival Chandler HS in both games … Named the national Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 … Named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2022 17U National Team Championships.
Savage Says: «Roch is one of the most elite players in the entire country coming out of this class. He’s a tremendous athlete and has an upside that few possess coming out of high school. Roch is a two-sport athlete who is the consummate competitor.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 6 outfielder and No. 31 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 32-ranked outfielder and No. 178-ranked prospect overall … Three-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Participated in the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Was a First Team All-Citrus Belt League choice in 2022 at Yucaipa HS … Invited to the Area Code Games … Was a MaxPreps sophomore All-American in 2021 … Was an All-CIF selection in Division 1 as a sophomore, alongside current Bruins Gage Jump, Cody Schrier, and Luke Jewett.
Savage Says: «Owen is a two-way player that is very strong and athletic. He loves to compete on the mound as well as at the plate. He can play on both sides of the ball.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, is the No. 9-ranked outfielder and No. 61-ranked prospect overall … Three-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Named MVP of the 2022 Perfect Game 17U World Series … Won the 2022 CIF SoCal Division I Championship with Huntington Beach HS.
Savage Says: «Aidan is a player that has really developed over the years. He plays in winning culture at Huntington Beach High School, and is very well-coached. He’s a bat-to-ball player who sprays the ball all over the ballpark. He should be a very good college player.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 8 shortstop and No. 27 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 43-ranked shortstop and No. 165-ranked prospect overall … Selected to the Los Angeles Times 2022 All-Star high school baseball team … Batted .510 with 31 RBIs as a junior … Helped Norco to a Big VIII League Championship … Made the 2022 All-CIF Sothern Section Baseball Team for Division 2 … Three-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Participated in the 2022 Area Code Games with the Brewers … Named to the Prep Baseball Report All-State Team for California after the 2022 season … Participated in the MLB Prospect Development Pipeline League in summer 2022.
Savage Says: «Cam is one of the most offensive players in the country, and has all the tools you’re looking for out of an infielder. He has tremendous balance, has major impact with the baseball, and can lift the ball out of the park. He’s an imposing offensive player.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 6 right-handed pitcher and No. 17 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 20-ranked RHP and No. 88-ranked prospect overall … Named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Played in the 2022 All-American Classic game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. … 2022 Area Code Games participant with the Brewers … Invited to the USA Baseball National Team Development Program in 2021 … Made the final of the 2022 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Baseball Playoffs.
Savage Says: «Justin burst on the scene this summer with some tremendous outings. He’s become a physical right-handed pitcher with a plus pitch repertoire. He has a power fastball with a devastating split finger. His best days are clearly ahead of him at UCLA.»
Awards/Stats: Top-ranked prospect from his class in the state of California … Nationally, is the No. 5-ranked shortstop and No. 16-ranked prospect overall … Named Co-MVP of the Trinity League after his junior season at Servite … Hit .473 as a high school junior … Selected to the Los Angeles Times 2022 All-Star high school baseball team … Three-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Selected to the USA Baseball 18U National Team in fall 2022 … Played in the 2022 MLB-USA Baseball High School All-American Game at Dodger Stadium.
Savage Says: «Roman is one of the elite shortstops in his class coming out of high school. He has all the tools you are looking for on both sides of the baseball. He takes explosive actions, with acrobatic defensive skills and a plus arm.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 5 right-handed pitcher and No. 16 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 19-ranked RHP and No. 83-ranked prospect overall … Named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Two-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Had a 2.28 ERA as a junior … Career .307 hitter at Newbury Park.
Savage Says: «Cole is a physical right-handed pitcher with a tremendous ceiling. He brings a nice blend of power and command to the mound. He has the make-up and aptitude to be an impact pitcher at UCLA right away. He will only get better in Westwood.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 4 right-handed pitcher and No. 13 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 16-ranked RHP and No. 71-ranked prospect overall … Two-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Area Code Games participant with the Athletics … Won a 17U National Program Invitational Championship with Canes Baseball … Had a 1.67 ERA as a sophomore … Has helped De La Salle to CIF North Coast Section titles in each of his three seasons on campus … De La Salle was named the California State Team of the Year in 2022 by Cal-Hi Sports.
Savage Says: «Cal is an athletic pitcher who is very difficult to match up against. His arm slot makes it very challenging for hitters. We have seen Cal up to 94 MPH with a power slider to compliment his fastball. With the right plan, Cal has a chance to make an immediate impact on our pitching staff.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 8 right-handed pitcher and No. 21 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 33-ranked RHP and No. 127-ranked prospect overall … Three-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Has a 2.13 career ERA at Frontier HS, including a mark of 0.75 as a sophomore.
Savage Says: «Luke is a power pitcher who can touch the mid-90s and has a feel for a high-level curveball. He’s a strong body who is only going to grow in the future to become a complete UCLA pitcher.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 7 right-handed pitcher and No. 20 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 31-ranked RHP and No. 123-ranked prospect overall … Two-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Participated in the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Participated in the MLB-USC Prospect Development Pipeline League in summer 2022 … Also a standout quarterback for his high school football team … Has a 1.95 career ERA at Live Oak, including a mark of 1.42 as a sophomore … Batted .406 as a high school junior.
Savage Says: «Landon is one of the best pure pitchers in this class. He has tremendous tempo and attacks hitters at a very aggressive rate. He has true pitchability, and will fit in our program right away. With added strength, Landon could be a nice blend of execution and power.»
Awards/Stats: In the state of California, ranked the No. 3 outfielder and No. 14 prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 13-ranked outfielder and No. 74-ranked prospect overall … Three-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Hit over .300 in both his sophomore and junior seasons … Invited to play in the 2022 High School All-American Game at Dodger Stadium … Made the final of the 2022 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Baseball Playoffs.
Savage Says: «Dean is an athletic, compact player who projects to be a guy who can at the top of a Bruin lineup. Dean has plus feel for the strike zone, with impact to the ball. He should be a guy who can run the ball down in center field based on his very good defensive instincts. Dean is an all-around solid player.»
Awards/Stats: In that state of California, is the No. 3-ranked shortstop and No. 3-ranked prospect overall … Nationally, is the No. 7-ranked shortstop and No. 18-ranked prospect overall … Two-time Preseason Underclass All-American … Named to the Top Prospect Team at the 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase … Played in the 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. … Invited to the MLB-USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline League in summer 2022.
Savage Says: «Brandon is an impact-type player with five tools. He can play multiple positions on defense, and looks to be an impact, middle-of-the-order hitter. He has big power to all fields, with the ability to really run. Brandon is the perfect fit into our program.»
