High school baseball: Greatest platoons in history

Breaking down the greatest outfield, infield and pitching staff in high school history

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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MaxPreps News examines the greatest positional groups in high school baseball history, including a trio of future MLB stars who played together at Harvard-Westlake, an infield with two Hall of Famers at Locke High School, and a legendary outfield that may or may not have existed at McClymonds High School.

Why it matters

These stories highlight the incredible concentration of talent that can sometimes emerge at the high school level, with multiple future professional stars playing together on the same team. While such occurrences are rare, they offer a glimpse into the potential of young athletes and the lasting impact they can have on the sport.

The details

The article profiles three standout high school baseball teams that featured multiple future MLB stars at the same position: - Harvard-Westlake in 2012 had a pitching staff with Lucas Giolito, Max Fried, and Jack Flaherty, all of whom went on to successful MLB careers. - Locke High School in 1973 had an infield with future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith, along with other all-league players. - McClymonds High School in 1953 may have had an outfield with Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, and Vada Pinson, though the details of this legendary trio playing together are unclear.

  • In 2012, the Harvard-Westlake pitching staff had their standout season.
  • Locke High School's star-studded infield played together in 1973.
  • The potential McClymonds outfield of Robinson, Flood, and Pinson was in 1953.

The players

Lucas Giolito

A 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher who was the ace of the Harvard-Westlake staff in 2012 and was widely projected as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick that year.

Max Fried

A senior left-handed pitcher who transferred to Harvard-Westlake in 2012 after his previous school cut its baseball program, and had a breakout season that year.

Jack Flaherty

An emerging sophomore pitcher at Harvard-Westlake in 2012 who later became a two-time MaxPreps National Player of the Year.

Eddie Murray

A first baseman at Locke High School in 1973 who went on to become a Hall of Fame MLB player.

Ozzie Smith

A shortstop at Locke High School in 1973 who is widely regarded as the greatest defensive shortstop in MLB history and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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The takeaway

These stories of high school baseball powerhouses demonstrate the incredible talent that can sometimes coalesce at the prep level, with multiple future professional stars playing together on the same team. While such occurrences are rare, they offer a glimpse into the potential of young athletes and the lasting impact they can have on the sport.