Jayson Balades will serve a crucial role as one of just two left-handed pitchers on the ‘Panners’ staff this season. The southpaw was a first-team all-league selection at Oxnard High School, where he finished his career with a 1.68 ERA and 217 strikeouts over 170 innings. He also won the Tommy Hanson Pitcher of the Year Award with his club team in 2011.

The high praise in high school sent him to Pepperdine and he finished his freshman year this season after redshirting in 2013. Balades went 2-0 for the Waves in nine appearances and had the experience of playing for a Super Regional team in the College World Series. He studies Sports Medicine at Pepperdine.