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With the updated Virginia/DC 2024 rankings being released this week, we wanted to dive into some risers and new faces inside the Top 40 of our expanded rankings. Here we break down fifteen players from across the Commonwealth. 

For the full release, CLICK HERE .

Risers and New Faces:

Jacob Lee C / Matoaca, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 1 Lee is a new face to the 2024 rankings and one of the more physical prospects in the '24 class. Two-way potential with strength in the swing and some big arm strength on the mound. Was up to 86 mph this winter at the Preseason All-State.

 

 

Jackson Sirois SS / Paul VI, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 6 Sirois, a UVA commit, has made a small jump from #16 to #12. Athletic makeup with lots of projection left in the frame. Quick hands at the plate with nice feel for the barrel. Solid defender up the middle with above average hands and a quick clean exchange to release.

 

 

Chase Swift LHP / Thomas Dale, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 13 / POS: 1 Swift is a new face in the "24 ranks and was very impressive this winter. Compact athletic frame with some projection still left. Showed the run tool with a 6.9 60 at the Preseason All-State. Above average hand speed at the plate and feel for the barrel with some sneaky juice to the pull side. High end arm strength for his age from the outfield. Has some two-way potential on the mound from the left side with a fastball that was up to 84 mph and feel for secondary.

 

 

Justin Gunter RHP / Buckingham, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 18 / POS: 2 A new face to the ranks is Gunter, a projectable 6-foot-1 RHP with lean strength and more room to fill out. Loose quick arm on the mound with a fastball that was up to 86 mph this winter. Also showed a tight 12/6 breaking ball with swing and miss potential. This has potential to be one of the bigger arms in this class with more velo and room for growth in his future.

 

 

Tucker Swails RHP / Patrick County, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 20 / POS: 3 Making the jump from #28 to #20, Swails is an athletic infielder with pitchability on the mound. 5-foot-10 athletic frame and projection left. Hands work defensively and an above average arm across with accuracy and the ability to throw on the run. On the mound Swails fills the zone with three pitches and present feel for secondary including a changeup that has the makings of a legitimate out pitch.

 

 

Parker Wight LHP / Cape Henry, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 22 / POS: 2 Wight is a new face to the '24 class rankings. The left-handed pitcher stands 6-foot-2 and has projection left to the frame. Short whippy arm action on the mound and works with pace in the delivery. Has feel for two secondary pitches, one of which is a curveball with 12/6 shape and depth. High ceiling arm that has been up to 79 mph with the ability to throw strikes.

 

 

Ryan Sloan RHP / Jefferson Forest , VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 28 / POS: 7 Ultra-projectable 6-foot-3 frame with long limbs. The newly ranked right-handed pitcher has a quick live arm with some deception. Short arm circle and throws from a high three-quarter arm slot. The breaking ball is tight and late with downer bite to it and average feel. The fastball was up to 81 mph in late-February and has a chance to make some velo jumps in the future as he fills out the thin frame. Another high ceiling arm in the 2024 class.

 

 

Seth Truesdale C / Cosby, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 31 / POS: 6 Truesdale is another new face to the rankings, coming in at #31. Compact athletic frame with a very strong lower half. We have had a chance to see Truesdale on multiple occasions through events and the PBR Spring League. One of the biggest takeaways from the "24 catcher is his ability to hit. Hand-eye coordination, bat to ball skills, and handles velo well for his age. One of the first at bats of the spring league Truesdale hit a bomb to left field. Has shown ability to hit to all fields and flash some power to the pull side.

 

 

Jackson Whaley 2B / Fuqua , VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 32 / POS: 1 List at 6-foot and probably on the higher side of that listing, Whaley has a projectable frame with proportional strength throughout. Reliever profile right now and works from a low three-quarter slot with big arm side run and sink to the fastball. Possesses a heavy fastball that was up to 81 mph in March and ability to work it to both sides of the plate. Very projectable arm that has a chance to be a physical presence on the mound in the future.

 

 

Trey Gauch RHP / Deep Run, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 33 / POS: 9 Another new addition to the rankings is Gauch, who has an athletic 6-foot-2 frame with projection left. Normal effort in the delivery and feel for two secondary pitches. The fastball was up to 82 in late February and the breaking ball has sharp 11/5 shape. Like the upside and athleticism that Gauch offers on the mound.

 

 

Brycen Hamilton RHP / Maury, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 34 / POS: 10 Hamilton, a new face to the rankings, is a projectable 6-foot-2 athlete that has nice size and physical ability at the plate. Hamilton had a strong showing in the PBR Spring League. Physical right handed bat with gap to gap doubles power and potential for more. Solid defender at shortstop and long term probably fills into a corner role. We have also seen Hamilton on the mound where he was up to 80 mph in early November.

 

 

Braxton Pope 1B / Mechanicsville, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 35 / POS: 1 Athletic 5-foot-11 frame with some strength present in actions. Above average hand and bat speed at the plate with some power potential to the pull side. Pope also stood out on the mound where he showed ability to throw three pitches for strikes with above average raw spin on the fastball and curveball. Pope has seen a 5-6 mph velo jump since the fall and appears to have added good strength that has been apparent in his performances.

 

 

Davis Neighbor 1B / Walsingham , VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 36 / POS: 2 One of the new faces in the rankings, Neighbor comes in at #36. The projectable 6-foot-1 right-handed pitcher was up to 80 mph at the Preseason All-State Central. The fastball has riding life through the zone, while the breaking ball shows late 11/5 action and the ability to throw it for strikes. If he continues to grow and the velocity makes jumps this could be one of the better long term starter profiled arms in the class.

 

 

CJ Buchan C / Hampton Roads Academy, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 38 / POS: 7 Strong 5-foot-10 frame with some physical tools at the plate. Buchan has made some nice strides since we saw him in the summer. More strength and bat speed through contact, barrel stays through the zone longer, and has added arm strength behind the plate. If Buchan can allow the physical side of the offense to play in game he has a chance to be a nice middle of the order bat.

 

 

Giovanni Briggs 1B / Cosby, VA / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 39 / POS: 3 Coming in at #39 is the 5-foot-10 athletic framed Briggs. He had one of the better all-around days at the Freshmen Free Central. Level path swing at the plate and uses the whole field, works well around the bag at first base, and has some pitchability on the mound. Low three-quarter arm slot and works with some effort and intent. Fastball was up to 80 mph and average feel for two secondary pitches. Some two-way potential for Briggs as he continues to fill out the frame.