Jared Grindlinger takes a swing against Harvard-Westlake. (Photos courtesy Terry Jack Photography).
Jared Grindlinger from Huntington Beach High School left his mark as a highly competitive, determined standout baseball player with a bright future, perhaps one that includes him being an outfielder and pitcher.
Expectations appear high for the outfielder-pitcher who was the first round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2026 First-Year Major League Baseball Player Draft Saturday.
The Angels have not released information about when their top pick will sign and Grindlinger could not be reached for comment for this story about his reaction and future plans.
Grindlinger, 17, was the 12th overall pick selected.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
Grindlinger’s coach at Huntington Beach Benji Medure said he was excited to hear the news even though he’s a Dodger fan, noting he and Grindlinger often traded good natured jokes since Grindlinger has been an Angels fan for years.
But pride stands out.
“I get emotional talking about it because it’s something he’s worked for for as long as I’ve known him and I’ve known him since he was a little kid,” Medure told OC Sports Zone. “We always kind of saw the special talent, but also the special desire to get better and learn the game and just the instincts he has for the game and the love and passion for it has come to fruition, so it’s a pretty cool thing to be a small part of.
“I think the way he sees it, it’s just a matter of time before he gets there {to the majors} and he’s always felt that, his confidence is a very genuine belief in himself that he is really good and he can compete with anyone at any time.
“We saw something really special when he was 10. He was different than everybody else his age. He caught everything, he hit everything, he was just a special talent when he was very young.”
Medure wasn’t able to be at a draft party held Saturday by Grindlinger’s family. He was coaching a summer league game in San Diego. But he send texts and congratulated him on the phone Sunday.
The left-hander was also a standout pitcher for the Oilers.
The Angels indicted they drafted Grindlinger as an outfielder. But the University of Tennessee commit was also known as a standout pitcher, recording a 6-0 mark with a 0.85 ERA this past season for the Oilers.
“He was pretty dominant and we kept him on a pitch count,” Medure said. “I did not want to be the coach who ruined his career so we kind of stuck to the program that he and his family wanted.”
There were times when Grindlinger reached the pitch limit that had been set and showed his frustration in having to come out of the game.
“At one point, I had to tell the umpire to come out with me,” Medure joked, noting that he told Grindlinger he had to come out after two trips to mound.
“He was arguing with me and he didn’t want to come out,” Medure said. “He’s a special competitior.”
Grindlinger batted .376 (41/109) with 26 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 22 RBI and
a 1.000 OPS in 2026.
Grindlinger also helped lead the Oilers to their ninth consecutive Sunset League title and the 2026 CIF Southern California Division I Regional Championship.
“That was the one record he cared about the most,” Medure said of the regional crown. “He was always about winning, always about the team and winning the regional championship was such a huge part for him, because all he wanted was for his team to win.”
Grindlinger reclassified academically at Huntington Beach to become a senior this year and wound up graduating in three years after playing three seasons of baseball.
“He was supposed to be a junior this year, but in the middle of the year, he took enough classes to graduate from high school early,” Medure said. “He turned 17 in April. I got three years out of him and we had a great time.”
Since the draft, baseball experts have speculated whether Grindlinger might get a chance to showcase his talents as a two-way player for the Angels down the road. The team is currently in last place, 38-59, 11 1/2 games behind in the AL West.
“If I were a general manager, I would have drafted him as a hitter and given him the opportunity to hit and if that falls through, that 22-year-old kid who went five years in the minors and tried to hit and it didn’t work out, now I have a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher who throws 98. Jared is going to have his man’s body if he ever decides to get on the mound and do that. I see him succeeding at the plate and in the outfield and possibly come in and pitch, you never know. He could be a two-way {player}.”
Medure said the Angels organization is also getting a person of high character.
“No one knows this but I want people to know how good he is as a kid and how good of a heart he has and how much he works with young kids. He hangs out and give these kids tips and really spends time with our Huntington Beach community,” he said. “I don’t think the Angels understand what they’re tapping into.
“If he does end up making it, he’s going to be such a promiment figure in Orange County and the community. He is special in that way.”
Grindlinger was scheduled to help out Monday at a youth baseball camp at Huntington Beach, Medure said.
“He understands there are a bunch of kids who would love to have his autograph and he’s coming to do that,” Medure said. “He wants to go and help out this community and help this baseball program. I couldn’t be more proud of the kid.”
It was the second time that the Angels have selected a Huntington Beach Oiler in the first round.
“Twenty years ago, the Angels drafted an Orange County kid named Hank Conger, he was our catcher, in the first round and I think that worked out pretty well for him.”
Two other former Oilers: Nick Pratto (Kansas City, 2017) and Ralphy Veleazquez (Cleveland, 2023) were also selected in the first round.
“I hope this {Grindlinger’s journey to the majors} works out in the same way,” Medure said.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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