California League notes: Zaborowski in ‘a good spot' with Quakes

Ryland Zaborowski grew up a fanatic of the Angels. Born in Laguna Hills, he attended his first game as a five-month-old, wearing diapers in his family's season seats in right field during the Angels championship run in 2002.

When Zaborowski was 3, he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a formerly coined diagnosis for a neurodevelopmental disorder on the autism spectrum that is now recognized as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

While the disorder can have varying traits, one common symptom is developing a highly specific focus towards a particular passion and acquiring vast knowledge about that interest. For Zaborowski, that was hitting and baseball.

Zaborowski became a touted college hitter, batting .307 with 49 home runs and a 1.034 OPS over four years across Division I baseball at Grand Canyon, Miami (OH), and Georgia - hitting .370 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 45 games for the Bulldogs last spring - eventually leading to a professional contract with his childhood team, the Angels.

Almost a year into his professional career, he is now playing with the Angels Low Single-A affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, and continues to hit well. He is hitting .287 through 22 games with three home runs with the Quakes, including one in his first game. However, the season, and his career, have only just started.

“(He’s playing) at a full-season affiliate for the first time,” Quakes manager Dave Stapleton said. “There’s a process of don’t try to do too much. Don’t try to overthink too much. Don’t try to overdue a lot of things. … He’s in a good spot. He works his butt off and does the things he needs to do.”

FIRST-HALF RACE

As the California League first half approaches its conclusion on Thursday, the Lake Elsinore Storm need just one win – or one loss from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – to claim the title of “first-half champion” for the Southern Division. Leading the Cal League South by two games with three games remaining, and possessing a 7-5 tiebreaker over the Quakes, the Storm are in the catbird seat to an early playoff spot.

In a bit of a throwback from the modern game, the Storm are using contact, speed, defense and pitching to take top spot in the division, with a league-leading 4.78 earned-run-average, 162 doubles plays turned, 177 stolen bases and 22.7% strikeout percentage. Their offense is led by Padres prospect Ryan Wideman who continues to lead all affiliated baseball in stolen bases with 42.

Chasing the Storm are the Quakes, led by Angels outfield prospect Hayden Alvarez who is hitting .367 with a 1.064 OPS and 23 stolen bases since May 1. Alvarez is considered to be the highest rising prospect in the Angels farm system.

TAUREK LEADS 66ERS

Despite possessing the lowest scoring offense in the league at 5.02 runs-per-game, Inland Empire 66ers hitters are finding gaps at a high-clip, with Mariners prospect and Santa Ana-native Aiden Taurek leading the league in doubles with 20, just ahead of teammates Cesas Quintas (19) and Ricardo Cova (18). Taurek’s five triples are tied for second best in the division, with his 29 extra-base hits being third-best in the league.

“I’ve been enjoying the season,” Taurek said. “It’s a great group of guys so even if you have success on any given day, or if you don’t, coming back to the clubhouse is cool. It’s fun being around them, so you never really feel like it’s a bad day when you this group and coaching staff.”

BUZZERS ARE BUZZING

The appropriately named Ontario Tower Buzzers have a buzzing offense, leading the California League in almost every major offensive mark, averaging 7.08 runs-per-game; though their pitching staff hasn’t stood to par with their offensive success, allowing 7.14 runs-per-game, second worst across the league. Dodgers slugging prospect Easton Shelton leads the league in home runs by nearly double second place with 20 home runs on the season, a mark tied for third best across all affiliated baseball.

UP NORTH

Ethan Holliday, the fourth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and 67th best prospect by Baseball America, had an impressive start to his season with the Fresno Grizzlies, hitting nine home runs in his first 33 games. In late May, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot that required surgery, prematurely ending his season. He is the son of former big leaguer Matt, and brother to current Baltimore Orioles slugger Jackson.

The defending California League champion San Jose Giants clinched the North Division first-half title after going 5-1 against the Stockton Ports last week and ending the weekend with a four-game lead over the Grizzlies with a 37-26 record.

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