Through this article, we will be highlighting some of the top prospects from the 2020 and 2021 classes from the state of Washington who are off to a hot start in their current college seasons. 

All statistics are as of 4.5.24

Class of 2021

#7 3B Zach Toglia (Gig Harbor HS/Portland Univ.) 

Toglia has started off the 2024 season with a .284 batting average (25-88). The now junior has also posted 9 doubles and 4 round-trippers in 19 games played. He's started 24 of 26 possible games this year

#8 OF/C Jessada Brown (Chief Sealth HS/UC Santa Barbara) 

Brown has started off the season with a .346 batting average (28-81) including 4 HR so far. Playing mainly in the outfield for the Gauchos, Brown has also recorded 37 putouts for a 1.000 fielding percentage in the early going. 

#10 INF Drake Anderson (Puyallup HS/Nicholls State)

Anderson has started his 2024 campaign with a .276 average while also making 23 starts for the Nicholls State Colonels out of the Southland Conference. He recorded a big game on February 21st, going 1-2, with 2 runs scored, an RBI, and 4 stolen bases. Also has a quality .424 OB% this season

#13 1B Aiden Van Rensum (Archbishop Murphy HS/Oklahoma City Univ.)

Rensum has already made 33 starts for NAIA powerhouse Oklahoma City Univ. this season. The redshirt sophomore first baseman has recorded a .320 average (33-103), amassing 7 home runs & 5 2B. He had a big day at the plate on February 27th, going 2-5 with a home run, a double, 3 RBIs, and a run scored. 

#14 C Drew Reynolds (W.F. West HS/Lassen College (CA)

After originally being at Texas Tech, Reynolds has transferred to Lassen College where he has taken full advantage of his playing time. He has posted a .329 batting average (27-82), with 7 doubles and 6 home runs. Reynolds has been playing first base for the Cougars, and has also drove in 23 (RBIs), an impressive clip of almost an RBI per game, playing in 24 contests. 

#21 SS Elijah Hainline (Mead HS/Oregon State Univ.)

Hainline has been a consistent starter for one of the best teams in the country tranferring to Oregon State after 2 seasons at Washington State. The junior has started 25 out of 27 games for the Beavers. Hainline has put up a .282 average in the early going, with 8 doubles and 5 home runs. He has also put up an impressive 17:22 walks to strikeouts ratio at the plate with 4 HBP, good for a .421 OB%

#40 RHP Owen McWilliam (Bainbridge HS/Pacific Univ. (CA)

McWilliam has made 8 appearances and accumulated 15.2 innings with 14 punchouts for the Tigers to start the 2024 season. He recorded the lowest ERA for the Tigers pitching staff over 29 innings and 22 appearances last season as well. A 4-inning, no runs allowed outing against UNLV on Feb. 16th has been his best outing thus far this season. 

#42 RHP Luke Zmolik (Monroe HS/Ave Maria College)

After transferring out of Butler, Zmolik has found his groove this season at NAIA Ave Maria. Over 23 innings, he has a 2.74 ERA, while also posting an impressive 23 strikeouts to only 8 walks on the mound. Hitters are only hitting .171 off Zmolik. 

#49 3B Cole Cramer (Arlington HS/Washington State) 

Cramer has been hitting the cover of the ball to start the season for the Cougars, posting a .373 average (38-102) to go along with 7 doubles, 2 triples, and a HR. He has started primarily at third base for the Cougars, making 27 starts overall. Cramer had a big two game midweek against Seattle University on Mar. 19th-20th, going 6-8 with 3 runs scored and 2 runs batted in. 

Class of 2022

#6 RHP Ryan Orr (Tumwater HS/Washington State)

Orr has gotten off to a strong start out of the Washington State bullpen this 2024 season. The former Tumwater HS right-hander had only given up 1 run over his first 8.1 innings (1.08 ERA). Currently sits with a 4.22 ERA as the innings have increased to 10.2 on the season across 8 appearances. Has 11 K so far on the season with a .176 bavg against. 

#8 SS Tyce Peterson (Juanita HS/Oregon State)

Peterson is fighting for time in a crowded Oregon State infield. While at Oregon State, the sophomore has already had a couple of shining moments. Opening weekend this season, Peterson went 3-4 with 2 home runs, 3 runs, and 3 runs batted in. He also shined in last year's Pac-12 tournament, driving in 3 and going 2-4 against Arizona. On the year, 3 of his 7 hits have been long balls. 

#10 OF Aidan Dougherty (Mount Si HS/Linn-Benton College)

Dougherty has put together two impressive seasons since graduating from Mount Si HS in '22. At Linn-Benton this season, Dougherty carries a .324 AVG (23-71) with a .388 OBP a year after hitting .327 with a .402 OBP in '23. Currently has 4 2B, 2 3B, HR on the year. He has committed to UConn next season. 

#14 RHP Jordan Hanson (Tumwater HS/UNLV)

In limited opportunities so far as a redshirt freshman this season with UNLV, Hanson has capitalized on his opportunities. He has allowed only 1 run in 8 innings and 3 total hits. This rising underclassman has also limited hitters to .120 average through his first 25 batters faced. 

#18 LHP Sam Boyle (Columbia River HS/University of Washington)

Boyle has got plenty of work in out of the Huskies' bullpen so far this season as a sophomore. The sophomore has done well, averaging a strikeout per inning over his first 22.2, with a season ERA of 2.38.  His .141 batting average against indicates how difficult he can be to barrel up when he's on his game. Currently sports a 24:8 K to BB ratio. 

#19 Tyler Howard (Skyview HS/Portland Univ.)

Howard is tearing it up early this season after seeing limited time as a freshman (albeit with a .318 AVG). So far in his sophomore season, Howard is hitting .316 (18-57) and has already doubled the number of at-bats he had last season. Howard had a big game on Mar. 24th against Santa Clara, going 3-5 with a 2 runs and 2 runs batted in. He was a triple shy of the cycle. Howard has also been stellar behind the plate in 13 starts, only allowing 2 passed balls and sporting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on the season with 19 assists and 5 runners caught stealing in 12 attempts. 

#20 Blake Smith (Tumwater HS/Seattle Univ.)

Already as a sophomore, Smith has asserted himself into the Redhawks rotation. Smith has already made 8 to the tune of a 3.72 ERA compiling a 3-3 W-L record. In 48.1 innings, he has held opposing hitters to a .264 batting average against. Spun 7 scoreless in a start against San Jose State on Feb. 23rd has been his best start up to this point. Has only allowed 7 BB this season. 

#21 Grant Cunningham (Seattle Prep HS/Univ. of Washington)

Cunningham contributed immediately as a freshman with the Huskies throwing 53 1/3 innings last season. This year, he hasn't slowed down, throwing 28.1 innings thus far with a 1.91 ERA and a .192 batting average against. He has racked up 33 strikeouts in those innings, and had 10 K's against Santa Clara in a 5 1/3 innings outing on Mar. 1st. 

#25 Chandler Tuupo (Issaquah HS/Charleston Southern)

Last season saw action in 44 games with 31 starts, primarily at 1B. Through his first 30 games, Tuupo has started off with a blistering .388 batting average (40-103) with 8 2Bs and 6 HR.  Tuupo went 2-5 with a double and a home run, to go along with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored in a Feb. 24th win against Lehigh. He's also sporting an impressive 11:15 K to BB ratio at this point to go with 8 HBP. 

#36 Hudson Shupe (Hanford HS/Gonzaga Univ.)

Albeit a small sample size, Shupe has played tremendous in limited action this season (hamate injury) for the Bulldogs after transferring over from Seattle U, where he ranked 1st on the team in hits as a freshman with 72, sporting a .333 batting average. In 10 games this season for GU, Shupe has a .421 AVG (16-38) with 4 doubles and 2 home runs. He started every game in a recent weekend series (3/22-3/24) against Loyola Marymount, indicating more opportunities are on the way for the hot hitting sophomore.