VA/DC Class of 2026 Rankings Update: Positional Risers
December 2, 2024
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While there was no expansion to this rankings update, we did see plenty of movement throughout the Top 175. Today we want to highlight five positional risers from inside the rankings. Included in this story are videos and insights into the movement for each player. Check back on Wednesday and Thursday to check where these five positional players will land in the Top 175.
VA/DC Class of 2026: Positional Risers
Gavin Genovese 3B / C / Gainesville, VA / 2026An "under the radar" uncommitted junior. We have had the opportunity to see Genovese a handful of times since the start of the summer. One thing that is easy to see each time, the Gainesville product has some loud tools that still have room to add some polish to them. The profile is listed as primary third-base, but behind the plate is where he first jumps out. Easy exchange and release with advanced arm strength. It just seems like a flick of the wrist and the ball has carry through the bag with solid accuracy. At the plate it is a much cleaner operation than in years past. Simple medium leg lift, hands set back, and very few moving pieces, creating some repeatability in the swing. Strong and physical frame with functional athleticism.
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Tre Hamilton OF / OF / Ocean Lakes, VA / 2026This Ocean Lakes HS product has really taken a step forward in the last year. It was always easy to spot the athleticism and upside to Hamilton, but it is the offensive production that has continued to trend up. Quick hands and above average bat speed at the plate with the ability to impact middle to pull. Above average runner with big arm strength. Has the tools to stay in center. Long term, Hamilton shows what you like about a lot of 757 positional players. He is aggressive, plays the game hard, attacks at the plate, and still has ceiling left to his game.
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Grayson Shield OF / LHP / Gloucester , VA / 2026The left handed bat of Shield is yet another solid product of Gloucester HS. The recent Richmond commit does not necessarily have big flashy tools, but is a guy that you know what you are going to get every day. Wider base, simple operation at the plate, and stays inside at contact. Shield does a really solid job of using the whole field and taking what is given. Average bat and hand speed with more line drives and doubles from gap to gap. Above average run tool and is more center/left field.
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Nick Warner C / 2B / John Champe, VA / 2026Baseball player. That is what Warner is. The recent Wright State commit is a "dirtbag", he is a guy that does a little bit of everything well, and some of what he does, does not always show up in a box score. Whether it is behind the plate, in the infield, or in the box, Warner just plays the game. Average runner with instincts that allows it to play a touch quicker, average to slightly above average arm strength, and a contact bat that will flash a touch more on occasion. Higher floor guy and just a solid all-around player. As the classes mature, and the present begins to weigh over the projection, is where guys like Warner will start to climb.
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Jack Woda C / 3B / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2026Woda is one of our biggest risers in this rankings update. You will be hard pressed to find a positional guys in this VA/DC '26 class with as strong of tools as Woda. Well above runner, above average hand and bat speed at the plate, and above average arm strength behind the plate. He is a pretty accurate thrower behind the plate and has the athletisicm to move around the field. What is the next step for the ECU commit? While he has not shown much swing and miss, consistency of the quality of contact has room to improve. If that can pick up, he could become one of the better catchers to come from out of the state in the past few years.
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