VA/DC 2024 Rankings: Risers
August 22, 2023
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With a week full of content on 2024's, here are five players that have made a sizeable jump in the rankings. This list includes four arms and one positional player, including three uncommitted players.
See a full breakdown on the five risers.
Rankings risers:
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Aiden Ellerts RHP / 3B / Woodbridge, VA / 2024Ellerts put up some crazy numbers this spring for Woodbridge. Over fifty innings pitched and ninety-nine strikeouts. The now senior right hander allowed less than one hit per two innings pitched and allowed only nine earned runs in those fifty-plus innings of work. It is a tall, thin frame with room to fill out and the velo continues to creep up. When our staff got out to see him in mid May, Ellerts was sitting mid 80's. Bigger shaped curveball is more get over, but has shown the ability to finish counts. The slider is a bit firmer and has more hard downer shape. -Burton
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Ryan Garcia RHP / Chantilly , VA / 2024We got a chance to see the 6-foot, 185-pound right hander in the winter and he has continued to make small gains. Solid, durable frame with effort and intent to the delivery. Full arm circle and works from a near over the top slot. The fastball was mid to upper 80's when we saw him in the winter. In early June, Garcia was up to 90 at the NPI. Has shown three offspeed pitches, all of which has solid arm speed. -Burton
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Jack Graham RHP / The Potomac School, VA / 2024One of the best event on mound performances we saw this summer came from the now JMU commit. Graham was lights out at the Summer State Games. Mid 80's FB with some serious horizontal movement. Graham had upwards of 17.6" of HM on his fastball, as well as as much as 19" of IVB. Second best fastball spin score for the event, as well as second best spin score for the slider. As strong as those two pitches were, the splitter may have won the best pitch of the event. His performance created a lot of buzz on the recruiting trail and he ultimately made the decision to call JMU his future home. He is making a jump because honestly, we did not get a chance to see him much, outside of a Renegades Scout day last spring, and he made a massive jump in multiple areas since that day. -Burton
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Miles Prusek SS / 2B / Collegiate, VA / 2024Undersize, not a power bat, average runner, but can get it done in game. Contact left handed bat, bat to ball, uses the whole field, and is a sparkplug for an offense. Prusek started to turn some heads this spring in a loaded Collegiate lineup, but I thought he really broke out this summer for his Orioles team. Solid hands in the infield and a more than capable defender in the dirt. More suited for second base at the next level due to range and arm strength. Buy the bat and he will be a solid defender at second base. -Burton
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Jack Weight RHP / 1B / Cosby, VA / 2024Personally, I had not seen Weight in probably a year. This is a different arm than I saw a year ago. Not only has the velo made a nice jump, but the body has taken the next step. Functional strength that is easily visible throughout the frame. When I saw him this summer the stuff was electric. Fastball at 86-89 through three innings and was heavy out of the hand. Short arm circle on the backside and the ball just jumped on hitters. The slider was mid to upper 70's, and while the shape could be more consistent, he threw it for strikes and got some whiffs in zone. I think long term, Weight has a chance add a few more ticks on the fastball. There are some things in the lower half, that if they get cleaned up, will allow him to make an easy quick climb in the velo department. -Burton
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