A year ago, Corona High School in California came to the National High School Invitational at USA Baseball¡¯s National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., for the first time with high hopes, but not knowing exactly what to expect since it was the school¡¯s debut in the tournament.
The Panthers ran the table and won the 2024 NHSI and immediately became the favorites to repeat in the 12th edition of the NHSI this year, which runs from Wednesday through Saturday this week. That¡¯s because while Corona did lose left-hander Ethan Schiefelbein, who threw a one-hit shutout at the NHSI a year ago, as a second-round pick in the Draft (to the Tigers -- he's now their No. 15 prospect), they are returning a very deep team led by a pair of players who could go in the top half of the first round in the 2025 Draft and two more who could hear their names called in the first couple of rounds.
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It all starts with right-hander Seth Hernandez (Draft No. 5). The 6-foot-4 Vanderbilt recruit is a talented two-way player for Corona, though his professional future will certainly be on the mound. Hernandez earned NHSI Most Valuable Player honors last year, capping things off with a complete-game win in the championship game. He¡¯s now the top high school pitcher in the 2025 Draft class and has more ceiling than any arm in the crop.
He¡¯s not alone. Shortstop Billy Carlson (Draft No. 12), also a member of the '24 NHSI All-Tournament team, has a chance to be a top 10 pick as well. Considered one of the best shortstops in a class that has a lot of talented prep infielders, Carlson is a Tennessee commit who makes a ton of contact and can really defend¡ and he¡¯ll also help out on the mound.
They¡¯re joined by Brady Ebel (Draft No. 25), son of Dodgers coach Dino, who hasn¡¯t been producing quite as much as expected, but whose smooth swing, makeup and lineage could allow the Louisiana State recruit to go in the top two rounds, to form one of the highest-profile prep trios in memory.
And there¡¯s a fourth member of the band who hasn¡¯t gotten as much attention ... yet. That¡¯s Ethin Bingaman, who could be a top-two round pick as a hitter who looks to do damage and could be a third baseman (though he plays outfield for Corona). He also has a potential future on the mound.
The NHSI has long been a must-stop for the scouting industry because it brings a ton of high school Draft talent to the National Training Complex at the same time and puts them under the spotlight of high-stakes, high-level competition. Past tournaments have seen future big leaguers like Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Joey Gallo and Cody Bellinger, just to name a few. Last year¡¯s NHSI field included Bryce Rainer (DET No. 4/MLB No. 50), who went No. 11 overall in last year¡¯s Draft to the Tigers.
This year¡¯s NHSI pool of talent extends beyond the Corona quartet. Frequent NHSI attendee Huntington Beach is led by catcher Trent Grindlinger, a Mississippi State recruit. Teams might want to talk about Trinity Christian right-hander Aaron Watson (Draft No. 34) in the top two rounds. Poly Prep, attending for the first time from New York, has a pair of very intriguing arms in Miguel Sime Jr. (LSU) (Draft No. 100) and Justice de Jong (Duke). Local product Josh Hammond (Draft No. 77), a talented two-way player from Wesleyan Christian in High Point, N.C., who is committed to Wake Forest, could attract attention on the mound and in the box.
First round matchups
Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) vs. Wesleyan Christian (High Point, N.C.)
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) vs. The Stony Brook School (Stony Brook, N.Y.)
Collierville (Collierville, Tenn.) vs. Holly Springs (Holly Springs, N.C.)
Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, Calif.) vs. Poly Prep (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Corona (Corona, Calif.) vs. Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
Christopher Columbus (Miami, Fla.) vs. Edwardsville (Edwardsville, Ill.)
Corona de Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) vs. Granada (Livermore, Calif.)
Venice (Venice, Fla.) vs. La Mirada (La Mirada, Calif.)