Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released the first WCL Spotlight of 2025, on the eve of the West Coast League’s 20th Anniversary season.
“With 17 teams in our league this season,” Neyer said, “and all of them drawing from rich sources of baseball talent, the WCL has a practically infinite number of young players worth following. So our fans should consider this first Spotlight just the beginning!”
This preseason “hot list” includes one representative from each of the league’s 17 teams and includes former WCL All-Stars, collegiate award winners, and players who led their collegiate teams to the postseason this spring.
| Team | Player | Position | School | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | Eddie Madrigal | 1B | Saint Mary's | WCC HR, hits and RBI champ while leading Gaels to NCAA regional. |
| Bend | Kenny Ishikawa | UT | Seattle U | Led team with a .318 batting average at the plate and 73 K on the mound. |
| Corvallis | Cole Katayama-Stall | IF | Portland | Belted 9 HR with 38 RBI as a freshman in 2025. |
| Cowlitz | Finnegan Stewart | OF | Utah Tech | Batted .282 with 34 RBI as a freshman. |
| Edmonton | Trent Lenihan | 1B | University of British Columbia | Middle of the lineup bat with an incredible approach who also provides a sturdy glove. |
| Kamloops | Zayden Gukert | RHP/IF/OF | Webber Academy | Versatile talent who recently committed to St. Xavier University. |
| Kelowna | Koen van 't Klooster | RHP | Nicholls | Led the WCL with 60 strikeouts in 2023 while pitching for the Falcons. |
| Marion | Antony Cepedia | OF | Feather River College | Local prospect from Salem who posted a .534 on-base percentage this past spring. |
| Nanaimo | Caden Petrey | IF | University of the Cumberlands | Hit 17 home runs to help team reach the NAIA World Series. |
| Port Angeles | Jeremy Giesegh | OF | Cal State San Bernardino | Returning all-star who batted .348 for the Lefties last summer. |
| Portland | Conner Stewart | C | Long Beach State | Returnee who has the leadership and ability to handle a pitching staff. |
| Ridgefield | Taylor Takata | IF | Hawaii | All-WCL infielder for the Raptors in 2024. |
| Springfield | Bryant Starr | UT | Linn-Benton CC | 5A League Player of the Year and All-Star Series MVP. |
| Victoria | Sean Yamaguchi | IF | Nevada | Mountain West Freshman of the Year after batting .322 with 13 HR and 47 RBI. |
| Walla Walla | Johnny Backus | OF | Michigan | 2024 Perfect Game Preseason All-American as a prep who redshirted this year at Michigan. |
| Wenatchee | Adam Haight | RHP/OF | Oregon State | 2024 New York Mets Draft Pick who is part of Beaver team seeded eighth in NCAA Championship. |
| Yakima Valley | Julian Angulo | IF | Cal Poly Pomona | Batted .333 while leading team in HR and RBI. |
About the West Coast League: The West Coast League is western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. With teams ranging throughout Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alberta, the WCL offers top collegiate players the chance to compete at a high level, develop their skills, and showcase their talents in front of thousands of fans, MLB scouts, and national media. The WCL’s 20th Anniversary Season opens on Friday, May 30 and continues through the WCL All-Star Game on July 16 and the WCL Championship Game on August 14.
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