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2025 VA/DC Preseason Power 25: No. 6

March 5, 2025
Staff
Prep Baseball Virginia/DC

 

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For the next two weeks we will roll out our Preseason Power 25. Three staff members voted on their version of the thirty best teams in the Preseason Power 25, with a possibility of 90 total vote points for each team. We will release three teams per day for the first week and then move to two teams per day once we reach the Top 10 next week. Voting for preseason teams centers more around the depth of talent on that team, as well as where it stacks up within their region/area, as opposed to strictly predicting schedule outcomes. 

Generally, larger schools and classifications have a greater depth of player talent on roster. However, once the season begins and records begin to take shape, the Power 25 will be adjusted as needed. In addition to that, we will debut our Private School Top 10 around April 1st and Small School Top 10 around mid-April.

#6: McLean Highlanders

       

Season Preview: 

The defending Class 6 State Champs are back and have the goods to make another run at the title. They return six positional players, two starters on the mound, and depth behind those two. Staff ace Alex Gonzalez (Cincinnati) returns after a dominant 2024. In addition to Gonzalez, it sounds like Christian Dray (Richmond) is healthy and if it is anything like how it was trending early last spring, he could be a gamechanger for this staff. Senior Brennan Core should give major contributions in the lineup and on the mound and Jack Dailey (UVA Wise) will add quality depth to this staff as well. Offensively, 1st Team All-State infielder Ethan Ball (Virginia Tech) is back for his senior season. Ball is joined by fellow seniors Gabriel Pegues (Lynchburg) and Aydin Prell (Dickinson) in the lineup. They have a few underclassmen that could see some time for the Highlanders, but it is usually best to let them find their way into the lineup and figure out their fit. What is missing? Any time you lose your shortstop and catcher, there will be question marks, especially when those spots are filled by younger, less experienced players. If they can figure those positions out, the Highlanders may be odds on favorites in Class 6.



Final Thoughts: 

"Gonzalez had one of the best outings I saw all last spring. He and Dray could makeup one of the best duos in the state and I would say potentially the best in all of Class 6. While they lost some key pieces, they return enough to think that there is a legitimate shot at another title run. Ball was All-State last year and will need to have another dominant year if they want to get back to the title game. Pegues, Core, and Prell are great complimentary pieces to Ball. Surrounding him with those hitters won't allow teams to work around Ball as much. Catching is a question mark, but that is one of the few gray areas that exists on this team. If they can get that figured out, Class 6 might need to buckle up."

- Jason Burton (VA/DC Scouting Director)