VA/DC 2026 Rankings: Newcomers
September 6, 2024
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With a new rankings update and expansion, comes plenty of new faces. This time the VA/DC 2026 class expands by twenty-five spots and has some big movement throughout the Top 175. Today we take a look at five newcomers that make their way into this 2026 class rankings.
2026 Rankings Newcomers
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Matthew Altizer RHP / C / Auburn, VA / 2026Longer 6-foot-1 frame with lean strength. Heavy workload behind the plate in the spring, but on the mound is potentially where the future may lie. Mid 80's arm with more velo in his future. Short, catcher like arm action that he creates some solid arm speed from. It is pretty easy effort and the breaking ball has some downer shape with a chance to be a solid secondary pitch. Projection arm that could make a strong jump in the next eight to twelve months as he continues to add strength and polish.
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Michael Guckian OF / RHP / COLONIAL FORGE HIGH, VA / 2026Guckian really jumped out to our staff this spring. Extremely twitchy, quick, and loose hands. Barrel explodes through the zone and the offensive upside is real. Uber-aggressive in approach and can impact middle to pull. Approach and balance can leave you wanting more at times. It is raw, but the offensive ceiling is undeniable. Potential right field/first base defensive profile with run production qualities at the plate.
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Jake Gunning C / 1B / HIGHLAND SCHOOL, VA / 2026A new face in the 2026 rankings, Gunning moves in from the 2025 rankings as a reclass and moves over to Highland School. XL framed 6-foot-4, 220-pound catcher and first baseman. Potential impact bat at the plate with power potential in the swing. Slight uphill path, shows some carry on both gaps, but really gets to his power out front to pull.
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Jack Harmon RHP / 3B / York, VA / 2026Harmon was a HUGE piece for York during the 2024 high school season and a big reason they are state champs. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound right hander doesn't necessarily have elite "stuff", but he competes in the zone and wins. Short arm action with some deception. Low to mid 80's fastball that he can move around to both outer thirds of the plate. Solid feel for two secondary pitches, including a low-mid 70's slurvy breaking ball that he can land and expand off when needed.
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Dillon O'Connor RHP / Miller School, VA / 2026O'Connor is another reclass moving into the 2026 class rankings. 6-foot-4, 194-pound frame with long levers and room to fill. Short arm action and works from a higher three-quarter arm slot. The fastball has been up to 89 mph and usually sits in the 85-88 range fairly regularly. The slider has continued to develop and showed well in a short, two inning outing at Future Games. The tight and firm slider usually sits in the 78-82 range with occasional late depth. This is a projection arm that seems to get a little bit better every single time we see him. As the consistency of feel for the zone and breaking ball shape grows, so will the future for this 6-foot-4 right hander.
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