Hot Stove of Santa Clara Valley

How Palo Alto’s Joe Ritzo became the voice of the San Jose Giants Ritzo has called San Jose Giants games since 2003 and joined the San Francisco Giants’ radio rotation in 2023

Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich, a San Jose native, brings his Tigers to Sunken Diamond for a three-game series against host Stanford beginning April 3 at 6:05 p.m. The teams also play April 4 at 2:05 p.m. and April 5 at 1:05 p.m.

LOCAL 2026 MLB SPRING TRAINING NON-ROSTER INVITEES

Played high school baseball in Santa Clara County:
Aaron Parker, Los Altos, 23 y.o., Blue Jays, C
Josh Kasevic, Palo Alto, 25 y.o., Blue Jays, 2B, 3B
Henry Bolte, Palo Alto, 22 y.o., Athletics, OF
Nick Yorke, San Jose, 23 y.o., Pirates, Inf.
Tommy Troy, San Jose, 24 y.o., D-Backs, Inf.
Jake Holton, San Jose, 28 y.o., Giants, Inf.

Player college baseball in Santa Clara County:
Charles McAdoo, SJSU, Blue Jays
Kellen Strahm, SJSU, Astros
Quin Matthews, Stanford, Cardinals
Jack Little, Stanford, Tigers
Austin Slater, Stanford, Tigers
Braden Montgomery, Stanford, White Sox
Cal Quantrill, Stanford, Rangers
Sklar Hales, Santa Clara, Cardinals

(List compiled from MLB rosters provided by MLB.com)

PITCHERS
FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY
CURRENTLY AT NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL PROGRAMS

SENIORS+
Jake Geis (Archbishop Mitty, GateWay CC, LMU), 6-4, 217, Grad., RHP (WCC)
Ethan Shaver (Leland High, Ohlone, Pacific), 6-2, 200, Grad., RHP (WCC)
Quentin Pohorski (Archbishop Mitty, WVC, USF), 6-5, Grad., RHP (WCC)
Jesse Gutierrez (Wilcox High, SJSU), 6-0, 200, Sr., LHP (MWC)
Kyler Bacosa (Bellarmine, Redlands, SJSU), 6-3, 225, Sr., RHP (MWC)
Austin Turkington (Bellarmine, Cal), 6-1, 210, Sr., RHP (ACC)
John Damozonio (Bellarmine, Saint Mary's), 6-2, 195, Sr., RHP (WCC)
AC Cabrera (Archbishop Mitty, USF), 5-10, Sr., RHP (WCC)
Gabriel Barrett (Mountain View, USF), 6-0, Sr., RHP (WCC)
Aidan Lee (MVC, CSUMB, Grand Canyon), 6-5, 235, Sr., RHP (MWC)
Jayce Dobie (Santa Clara High, WVC/Mission, Nevada), 6-2, 210, Sr., RHP/Util. (MWC)
Joshua Caravalho (The King’s Academy, Chabot, Oral Roberts, Houston Christian), 6-7, 220, Sr., RHP (Southland)
Joseph Lee (The King’s Academy, Ranger College, Samford), 6-6, 200, Sr., RHP (SoCon)
Dillon Haftorson (Leigh, West Valley, Lindenwood), 6-6, 225, Sr., RHP (OVC)

JUNIORS
Trevor Kester-Johnson (Live Oak, Santa Barbara CC, Purdue), 6-0, 190, RS Jr., LHP (Big 10)
Garret Plata (The King's Academy, Saint Mary's, Pacific), 6-0, 215, RS-Jr., LHP (WCC)
Landon Stump (Live Oak High, UCLA), lives in Morgan Hill, 6-3, 195, Jr., RHP (Big-10)
Ethan Marmie (Ann Sobrato High, Cal Poly-SLO), 6-7, 225, Jr., RHP (Big West)
Aidan Keenan (Live Oak High, Stanford), 6-2, 202, Jr., RHP (ACC)
Jaden Bitter (Valley Christian, Ball State, Gardner-Webb Univ.), 6-2, 190, Jr., RHP (Big South)
MJ Castaneda (Valley Christian, Northern Kentucky), 5-10, 200, Jr., RHP (Horizon)

SOPHOMORES
Alec Belardes (Valley Christian, Arizona, San Diego State), 6-2, 210, RS-So., RHP (MWC)
Quinn Larson (Gilroy High, Cal), 6-5, 225, RS-So., RHP (ACC)
Dominic Panella (Leigh, Stanford), 6-1, 206, So., RHP (ACC)
Luka Pintar (Archbishop Mitty, SDSU, SJSU), 6-2, 200, So., LHP (MWC)
Wade Mountz (Bellarmine, SJSU), lives in Morgan Hill, 6-7, 260, So., RHP (MWC)
Nate Tichy (Pioneer High, Pepperdine, Washington), 6-1, 185, So., RHP (Big 10)
Paul Wheeler (Bellarmine, UCSB, USF), lives in Los Altos, 5-11, 180, So., LHP (WCC)
Wesley Harwell (Mountain View High, USF), 6-3, So., RHP (WCC)
Vincent Braga (Palo Alto High, Santa Clara Univ.), 6-3, 200, So., RHP (WCC)
Rohan Agarwal (Mountain View, Saint Peter’s), 5-11,180, So., RHP (MAAC)
Jack Surdey (Saint Francis, Grayson CC, North Dakota State Univ.), 6-2, 185, So., RHP (Summit)

FRESHMEN
Henry Harding (Palo Alto, Holy Cross), 5-9, 165, Fr., RHP (Patriot)
Brock Ketelsen (Valley Christian, Stanford), 6-4, 206, Fr., LHP/OF (ACC)
Quinen Marsh (Valley Christian, Stanford), 6-2, 217, Fr., LHP/OF (ACC)
Tre Golino (Los Gatos, Cal), 6-2, 185, Fr. RHP (ACC)
Matt Ludeman (Los Gatos, Pacific), 6-2, 235, Fr., RHP (WCC)
Rohan Kasanagottu (Valley Christian, USC), 6-4, 210, Fr., RHP (Big 10)
Forest Zelmer (Valley Christian, CSUN), 6-5, 185, Fr., RHP (Big West)
Nick Chow (Saint Francis, Santa Clara Univ.), 6-5, 215, Fr., RHP (WCC)
Kole Laubach (Valley Christian, UCSB), 6-2, 195, Fr., RHP (Big West)

POSITION PLAYERS
FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY
CURRENTLY AT NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL PROGRAMS

SENIORS+
Logan Johnstone (Los Gatos High, Gonzaga, Washington State, Vanderbilt), 5-11, 191, Grad., OF (SEC)
Jaxson Wall (Valley Christian, Felician, LMU), 6-2, 197, Grad., Util. (WCC)
Zach Yorke (Archbishop Mitty, Mountain Ridge High, Grand Canyon, LSU), born in SJ, 6-2, 295, Sr., 1B (SEC)
Ryan Lee (Saint Francis High, UC Davis), 5-11, 195, Sr., Inf./C (Big West)
Rowan Felsch (Palo Alto High, CSM, UC Irvine), 6-2, 200, Sr., OF (Big West)
Jayce Dobie (Santa Clara High, WVC/Mission, Nevada), 6-2, 210, Sr., RHP/Util. (MWC)
Hayden Jung-Goldberg (Palo Alto High, MPC, Santa Clara Univ., Manhattan), 6-1, 195, R-Sr., Util. (MAAC)
Tyler Brodrick (Archbishop Mitty, Grayson CC, Oral Roberts), 6-0, Sr., OF (Summit)
Connor Pawlowski (Pioneer, Chico State, Butte, Bellarmine Univ.), 6-3, 210, RS Sr., C (ASUN)

JUNIORS
Ethan Payne (Bellarmine, Canada, Fresno State), 5-10, 190, RS-Jr., C (MWC)
Xavier Esquer (Palo Alto High, Arizona, UCSB), 5-10, 185, RS-Jr., Inf. (Big West)
Jarren Advincula (Archbishop Mitty, Cal, Georgia Tech), 6-2, 195, Jr.., Inf. (ACC)
PJ Moutzouridis (Valley Christian, Cal, Arizona State), 6-0, 190, Jr., Inf. (ACC)
Will Anderson (Christopher, Ohlone, Santa Clara), 6-2, 215, Jr., Inf. OF (WCC)
Myles Potter (Gunderson, De Anza, Florida A&M), 6-4, 245, Jr., DH (SWAC)
Alan Ramirez (Wilcox High, Mission College, SJSU), 5-10, 179, RS Jr., Inf. (MWC)
Mario Ricci (Archbishop Mitty, Ohlone, SJSU), 6-0, 2-5, Jr., Inf. (MWC)
Kyler Bittner (Saint Francis, Canada, Fresno State), 6-0, 180, Jr. Inf. (MWC)
Diego Castallanos (Live Oak High, Saint Mary's), 6-1, Jr., OF (WCC)
James Bose (Leigh, WVC, LMU, Santa Clara), 6-0, 180, Jr., Inf. (WCC)

SOPHOMORES
Bryant Viskovich (Leigh High, San Diego, Santa Clara), 6-0, 205, R-So., OF (WCC)
Russ Filter (Palo Alto High, Santa Clara Univ.), 5-11, 180, R-So., C (WCC)
Makoa Sniffen (Archbishop Mitty, Saint Mary's), 6-1, So., Inf. (WCC)
Luke Devine (Saint Francis High, Santa Clara Univ.), 6-4, 200, So., OF (WCC)
Carter Johnstone (Los Gatos High, CSU-Fullerton, Vanderbilt), 6-1, 195, So., Inf. (SEC)
Ollie Obenour (Leigh High, Washington State), 6-0, 171, So., MIF (MWC)
Tatum Marsh (Valley Christian, Stanford), 6-1, 194, So., OF (ACC)
Charlie Bates (Palo Alto High, Stanford), 6-0, 190, So., Inf. (ACC)
Liam Barrett (Mountain View High, UCSB), 6-0, 185, So., OF (Big West)

FRESHMEN
Tanner Kern (Archbishop Mitty, Sacramento State, San Diego), 6-1, 215, RS-Fr., Inf. (WAC)
Nico Rodriguez (Archbishop Mitty, Wichita State), 5-9, 170, RS-Fr., Inf. (American)
Brock Ketelsen (Valley Christian, Stanford), 6-4, 206, Fr., LHP/OF (ACC)
Quinen Marsh (Valley Christian, Stanford), 6-2, 217, Fr., LHP/OF (ACC)
Ben Kennaday (Pioneer, SJSU), 5-10, 165, Fr., Inf. (MWC)
Coco Vonderhaar (Palo Alto, Cal Poly-SLO), 5-11, 185, Fr., C (Big West)
Jordan Ortiz (Valley Christian, LMU), 6-2, 188, Fr., C (WCC)
Matthew Tiendas (Wilcox, Santa Clara), 5-10, 180, Fr., OF (WCC)
Hunter Fujimoto (Valley Christian, Santa Clara), 5-10, 175, Fr., OF (WCC)
Christian Duarte (Bellarmine, Santa Clara Univ.), 6-6, 215, Fr., LHP
Waylon Walsh (Archbishop Mitty, Santa Clara Univ.), 6-4, 195, Fr., Inf. (WCC)
Brandon Kim (Leigh, Manhattan), 5-11, 185, Fr., OF (MAAC)
Lance Takamura (Leigh, Manhattan), 5-7, 140, Fr., C (MAAC)
Kanghee Cho (Palo Alto, Brown), 6-0, 180, Fr. , OF (Ivy)
Ethan Johnson (The King’s Academy. University of Missouri), 6-2, 215, Fr., C (SEC)

Local umpires chosen to work 2026 Little League Baseball and Softball West Region Tournaments:

San Jose's Dennis Ingols (Little League Baseball in San Bernardino)

San Jose's Mark Houde (Junior League Softball in Tucson, Arizona)

San Jose's Matthew Everett was among the umpires chosen to work the Senior League Baseball World Series on Aug. 1-8 in Easley, South Carolina.

Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer Josh Kasevich, a Palo Alto High and Oregon Ducks alum, gets a shout-out from MLB.com:

Josh Kasevich, INF, Blue Jays: Many across the game expected Kasevich to be a part of Toronto’s World Series contender last year after he hit .325 with an .815 OPS in 41 Triple-A games back in 2024. But a stress reaction in his back delayed his season debut and a wrist issue during his rehab set him back further; by the time he did return, he slugged only .184 in 29 games with Buffalo and didn’t pick up an extra-base hit in 74 Arizona Fall League plate appearances, making his power a major question mark heading into his age-25 season. So what did Kasevich do Sunday in the first at-bat of his second Grapefruit game? Go yard, of course, with a 103 mph drive out to left-center on a 2-2 fastball from fellow righty Devin Sweet. It was a barrel that landed atop JetBlue Park’s Green Monster; that is to say, it was no cheapie. Even in his recovery, Kasevich showed the quality swing decisions and bat-to-ball skills that make him an interesting Jays prospect but lacked the impact. If that’s back, he could factor into Toronto’s infield in the first half.

https://www.mlb.com/news/prospects-impressing-at-spring-training-2026

These 5 prospects are impressing at Spring Training This story was excerpted from MLB Pipeline's newsletter. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

https://gostanford.com/news/2026/01/30/legendary-head-coach-mark-marquess-passes-away

Legendary Head Coach Mark Marquess Passes Away Mark Marquess, one of college baseball’s legendary head coaches and a man whose name is synonymous with Stanford baseball, passed away on Friday, Jan. 30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LozTFOzoGok&t=16s

Special Media Recognition Award winner Marty Lurie 40th annual Hot Stove of Santa Clara Valley Banquet at Villa Ragusa in Campbell on Jan. 13, 2026.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-1IbDSle9E

Terry Hardtke wins Mark Marquess Lifetime Achievement Award 40th annual Hot Stove of Santa Clara Valley Banquet at Villa Ragusa in Campbell on Jan. 13, 2026.