POSTSEASON PRIME: 7-5

7. Vincent Kim

Bellarmine - senior - outfield

The Skinny: Make no mistake, Vincent Kim broke out in 2026, and he is keenly aware of that fact. After hitting below .300 in his first two varsity seasons, his game took a big leap forward in his senior year. "I wouldn't say I was surprised by what I did, because I know how hard I worked to make it happen," he said. "I was seeing the ball well and I felt like the speed of the game slowed down for me." When things slow down the statistics often rise – quickly. And Kim, who will attend Pomona-Pitzer in the fall, is ready for his next baseball challenge. With family in Southern California, he'll have a built-in fan base for each game, including his grandparents, who haven't watched him play since his summer games before high school. "That's going to be exciting for me," he said. "The opportunity to play in front of them will be great." He committed to Pomona last summer, something that allowed him to go into his final season at Bellarmine without worries. "I knew I had a home before the season even started," he said. "I didn't have to play with something to prove in my senior year. I was able to relax and have fun." Now it's a matter of adjusting to college pitching, where the fastballs are faster and the breaking balls have more bite to them. "I'm definitely super excited to face more competition and college pitchers."

Season Highlight: In a nine-inning 4-3 victory over Mitty on April 28, Kim had three hits, including two solo home runs. His second homer was a walk-off in the ninth innings.

"We feel like we had something to prove this year after winning the WCAL tournament last year. A lot of people thought that was a fluke and we played every game with a chip on our shoulders."

The Numbers Tell the Story: Kim collected 33 hits, had an on-base percentage of .526 and an OPS of 1.270. He also scored 29 runs.

Eye-Popping Stat: Kim was in on 10 assists on defense this year.

6. Brady Simon

Los Gatos - senior - centerfield

The Skinny: Los Gatos rolled to a Peninsula-best 26-5 record this year and even though they got knocked out in the CCS-Division I semifinals and fell in the NorCal-Division II title game, there were still a lot of positives to take away. "I can definitely appreciate the good," said senior centerfielder Brady Simon. "Our season didn't go how we wanted it to end, but I'm super proud of this team and what we accomplished." The Wildcats featured a team that had been together since childhood, and it showed in their unity. "It's one of the most fun teams I've ever played on," said the Skyline College signee. "We're super close as a team, so I'll remember the memories for the rest of my life." And along the way, Simon says he became a more mentally tough player. "I've gotten really good a dealing with the highs and the lows," he said. Honestly, there weren't many lows. Simon put together a stellar season, earning Santa Clara Valley Athletic League-De Anza Division player of the year honors. Simon and teammate Beau Musser were constantly on base, allowing junior infielder Chase Frolich to set a new school record by driving in 49 runs. It was an offensive showing that won't soon be forgotten.

Season Highlight: It was the bottom of the eighth inning and Los Gatos trailed Bellarmine by two in the CCS-Division I quarterfinals. They had two men on when Simon stepped to the plate and took a fastball away and crushed it over the fence in right field for a walk-off three-run home run. "That was the personal highlight of this year and my career for sure," he said. "It was one of the best swings I had to the opposite field the whole year. ... It was a super exciting moment, and I still sometimes replay it in my mind."

"I like how I stayed level-headed with all the highs and lows this season. Baseball is a tough game, and I feel like my mental game improve a ton within the last year. That helped me a lot."

The Numbers Tell the Story: Simon scored a Peninsula-high 44 runs. Of his 41 hits, 21 went for extra bases. He had a .570 on-base percentage, a slugging percentage of .817 and an OPS of 1.387.

Eye-Popping Stat: Simon got hit by 13 pitches last year. Last year, he got hit 11 times. "I get up on the plate a bit, so that plays a part for sure," he said.

5. Nate Plata

The King's Academy - senior - catcher

The Skinny: Nate Plata, who graduated from The King's Academy last week as the Knights' all-time leader in hits, didn't have to storybook ending he'd hoped for. He fouled a ball off his foot and fractured his left foot in a 4-2 victory over Menlo School on May 8. In a cast, he could only watch from the bench King's final three PAL-Bay Division games – all losses – and a CCS quarterfinal loss to Los Altos. "It was pretty rough having to watch it," said Plata, the UC-Davis signee who earned Bay Division player of the year honors for the second time in three years. "I would get anxious. It was frustrating to sit and watch, but I got really good at chirping." For those who know Plata, who's a quiet kid who literally speaks softly and carries a big stick, the thought of him chirping from the bench is funny. "We're a Christian school, so there's only so much chirping you can do, but it was my way of keeping up our energy." Few players on the Peninsula had Plata's plate discipline. Every at-bat – every pitch – was an opportunity that should never be wasted. "When you take a pitch off, the pitcher is going to win," he said. "That's where guys strike out. They take pitches early in the count. They're afraid of swinging at the first pitch. I like to swing at first-pitch fastballs a lot." Plata finished high school career with 125 hits, a new record at The King's Academy.

Season Highlight: Plata wanted to finish the season with a batting average above .400. Mission accomplished. His personal highlight though was earning the Bay Division's MVP award for the second time. "There aren't many people who can say they won it twice," he said. "I'm proud of that."

"The way I see the game and how it has slowed down for me is the big difference in where I am now. Every year, I learned the game better – slowing it down and controlling it, not looking rushed or scared but realizing this is my box or my plate and I'm going to take it if it's there."

The Numbers Tell the Story: Plata had 32 hits, including 12 doubles, and walked 20 times, giving him an on-base percentage of .551. He also had an OPS of 1.294.

Eye-Popping Stat: Besides his offensive prowess, Plata made just three defensive errors in 181 total chances. That's a .983 fielding percentage. He stole seven bases, which is more than twice the number of the bases stolen against him.