Here’s 25 high school baseball players to keep an eye on in Portland in 2025

Published 10:08 pm Saturday, March 29, 2025

Spring means baseball for Oregon high school athletes, and the season has already sprung.

Here, we take a look at some of the top returning talent for PIL schools, as well as other city schools in Central Catholic, David Douglas, Parkrose and Portland Christian.

Below, you’ll find a list of 25 players for the 2025 season to keep an eye on as the season rolls from now until May.

Wyatt Brown, Central Catholic, senior, 1B

The lone Ram to make the All-Mt. Hood Conference first team last season, Brown is back at first base ready to provide some power for the Central Catholic offense that averaged nearly 6.5 runs per game in 2024.

Aidan Rice, Central Catholic, senior, INF/RHP

A second-teamer last season, Rice is back and is off to a strong start, going 6-for-17 so far (.353) and has five stolen bases. Rice has been solid on the mound with only two earned runs given up in five innings with seven strikeouts.

Toussaint Kaptur, Central Catholic, senior, INF

Kaptur was tabbed as the second team designated hitter in the Mt. Hood last season and is looking to stay hot at the plate in 2025 to help a Rams team that lost some important offensive pieces from its ninth-seeded squad in 2024.

James Ho, Cleveland, senior, OF/RHP

Ho was a second-team outfielder for the Warriors last season and is looking to step up his senior year to help fill the gaps of some missing pieces from the 2024 senior group.

Ezra Oster, Cleveland, senior, RHP/1B

Oster was one of the best pitchers in strikeouts last season in the city, landing him on the All-PIL second team. Now as the potential ace of the Warriors staff in 2025, the senior is ready to take over on the mound and power Cleveland to a potential playoff bid.

Arlo Copony, Cleveland, junior, RHP/SS

Copony will have something to say for that potential ace spot for the Cleveland pitching staff as well. He also finished among the best in the city in strikeouts last season as a sophomore, which earned him honorable mention honors on the mound. But Copony can also bring it at the plate and in the infield where he was named to the second team in the PIL as well.

Silas Combs, Franklin, junior, INF/RHP

Combs stepped up for the Lightning last year as an important offensive piece with his patience at the plate as a sophomore, earning a second-team All-PIL nod. In 2025, the junior infielder will also look to play a larger role on the mound.

Brady McCarthy, Grant, senior, C/OF

It’s not often a team’s catcher is the fastest player but that’s the case for Grant with McCarthy, a returning first-teamer behind the dish who was also one top base stealers in the city in 2024. He’s hitting .381 with three stolen bags to start the year looking to guide a senior-laiden Generals squad to a PIL title and more.

Kaeden Cruse, Grant, senior, RHP/INF

Cruse proved to be one of the best players in the city last year, as seen by being named to the All-PIL first team as both an infielder and a pitcher. Cruse was one of the best power hitters in the city, finishing top 10 in home runs and RBI, including a game last year against Roosevelt where he hit two grand slams.

On the mound, Cruse didn’t see as high of a pitching volume due to the deep Generals staff, but he didn’t give up much when he was on the mound. If Cruse can reproduce that production in 2025, the Generals will be a dangerous squad for anyone.

Jinki Tomita, Grant, junior, RHP

Tomita was arguably Grant’s best pitcher last season, finishing in the top 10 in the city in ERA and strikeouts. The current junior was named to the second-team for his efforts as a sophomore and could only be getting better coming into 2025.

Elliot Raiton, Grant, junior, RHP/DH

Raiton was another integral part to the Grant offense in 2024, leading the team in batting average and being one of the best in the city in RBI and runs scored. All of that production earned him first-team All-PIL honors in the DH spot. He was also an honorable mention pitcher, all as just a sophomore.

Rafferty Cruikshank, Grant, senior, OF

Cruikshank was another stellar offensive weapon for the Generals, coming up clutch often with a high number of RBI. And when he reached base, he was often scoring with the guys behind him hitting him home. Now the second-team outfielder will be one of the leaders for the Generals as a senior.

Diego Martinez Griffin, Grant, senior, 1B

The second-team first baseman is back and provides another pop of power for a Generals offense that clearly brings plenty of talent back. Martinez Griffin has the power to bring home runs, but he was also a runs scored leader in the city, getting on base often and finding a way to get home.

Cody Roletto, Wells, senior, C

Roletto had a strong argument to be the PIL Player of the Year in 2024, finishing with one of the best batting averages and led the city in RBI. He also swatted three home runs to help get Wells into the postseason.

Roletto is listed as just a catcher for 2025, but was named to the PIL first team last year as an outfielder. He’s a versatile defender and a dangerous weapon on offense that the Guardians will look to this season.

Ian Kolmer, Wells, senior, RHP/OF

Kolmer got on base for the Guardians in 2024 with one of the best batting averages in the city and some of the most runs scored. That led to Kolmer being named a first-team infielder, and he got it done on the mound when his number was called, earning a first-team nod as a relief pitcher.

Cam Hammer, Wells, senior, SS

The three-sport star for the Guardians is looking to close out his prep career with a bang. Hammer’s production went under the radar last season with Roletto and Kolmer ahead of him, as well as departed seniors Quin Dufort and Griffin Scott.

But the senior had plenty of clutch moments, earning first-team honors, and provides plenty of speed on the base paths that should help the Wells offense stay as one of the best in town.

Brave Johnson, Jefferson, senior, P

Jefferson is fielding a varsity team in 2025 and it’s thanks in large part to the three-sport star in Johnson. The Demos played a JV schedule last year where Johnson was the ace and should be again this year as a former national Babe Ruth 15U champion in 2023.

Liam Eldridge, Lincoln, senior, C/OF

Eldridge was behind some talented 2023 and 2024 classes at Lincoln that helped the Cardinals win back-to-back PIL titles. Now as a senior, Eldridge is ready to shine with plenty of pop on offense and strong defense behind the plate or in the outfield.

Graeme Warner-McGee, Lincoln, junior, OF/RHP

Warner-McGee, like Eldridge, was behind some talented seniors in 2024 but has chance to breakout this season with his strong frame at the plate and defensive talent as the Cardinals’ centerfielder.

Owen Sonne, McDaniel, senior, INF/RHP

Sonne led the PIL in stolen bases last season, helping him earn a second-team nod for the infield. With many returners for the Mountain Lions, the captain in Sonne is aiming to continue his strong on-base ability and to help generate some runs in the run game.

Jackson DeYoung, McDaniel, senior, C/RHP

DeYoung led the Mountain Lions in RBI and was an honorable mention for All-PIL. Look for the senior to bring some more power behind the speedy McDaniel lineup while also stepping into a bigger role on the mound.

Julius Blair, Parkrose, senior, INF/RHP

Blair was one of the best pitchers in the city last year with an ERA under two while also being an offensive leader for the Broncos. The relatively young squad will be looking to Blair and his brother Jaiden for an improved 2025.

Jaiden Blair, Parkrose, senior, OF/LHP

Jaiden Blair is the twin of Julius, but plays in the outfield and throws lefty to give the Broncos an interesting one-two punch on the mound. Jaiden was also one of the better pitchers in the city and also finished top 10 in runs scored, using his speed as a weapon on offense.

Jack Mazurowski, Portland Christian, senior

The best hitter and pitcher in the city? It could be Portland Christian’s Mazurowski down in Class 2A. He had the best batting average and the most strikeouts on the mound in the city last year to help revive the Royals’ baseball program. He was easily named to the first-team in Special District 1 and is looking to repeat his performance in 2025.

Dean Fillinger, Roosevelt, senior, 1B

Fillinger was an honorable mention for the Roughriders in 2024 and is a captain for them in 2025. The senior is looking to bring some power to the Roosevelt lineup and already has four RBI this season. He’ll also be a vital piece of the pitching rotation this season.