VA/DC Class of 2029 Rankings: First Edition

Braiden Miller 3B / RHP / Woodgrove High, VA / 2029

The first #1 player in the VA/DC Class of 2029 is this two way talent from Woodgrove HS. While it was a limited look during the summer, it was more than enough to leave a lot of excitement for the future. Large and durable 6-foot-1 frame. Controlled stride landing on line, medium length swing, and delivers an accurate barrel on time. It is a fairly simple and repeatable swing with some impact present and more in the future. Above average bat and hand speed for his age. On the mound it is a mid 80's arm that has gotten into the upper 80's. Normal effort delivery with some build up moving down the mound and above average arm speed. While we do like the bat and positional over the arm, Miller shows feel for three pitches, some pitchability, and slightly above average stuff for this class.

During our limited look of Miller he not only stood out during the workout and metrically, but certainly handled his own versus older competition that day. His in game performance that day was a large determining factor in Miller ultimately securing the #1 spot in this 2029 VA/DC class.

Braylon Rogers RHP / OF / Benedictine College Preparatory, VA / 2029

Another two-way talent at the top of this class, Rogers comes in as the inital #2 player in the class. Pretty young for the class, Rogers is still not yet 15 and has some pretty loud tools, especially on the mound. The 5-foot-11, 155-pound right hander has been up to 90 on the mound and has a quiet competitiveness about him. As a rising 9th grader, Rogers was in attendance for the VA/DC State Games in June. He more than held his own versus players YEARS older than him, both on the mound and at the plate. Rogers has a normal effort delivery, shorter arm swing, and works from a three-quarter arm slot. Rogers bolsters two low-mid 70's secondary pitches (SL/CH), both of which he has an above average feel for. At the plate Rogers is upright and open, fairly relaxed in stance, and gets back on line at stride. Medium length to the bat path and has shown impact to both gaps. Definitely more corner outfield, present and probably future, as the footspeed is an area that he will need to continue to improve to add to his value as a positional prospect down the road.

While the positional value will possibly remain fairly true, the arm takes the forefront for now and should only continue to improve his stock as the secondary continues to improve. The physical maturity and development to come for Rogers is certainly an exciting thought, especially with having some insight into his work ethic away from the field.

Mason Miller SS / OF / PDG Academy, VA / 2029

Miller is maybe the most intriguing bat in this group with some very hitterish tendencies to the makeup. The youngest player in this rankings release, and more than likely one of the youngest in this 2029 VA/DC class, Miller is a left handed hitter that flashes some serious offensive upside. Listed at 6-foot-3, 190-pounds, Miller hits from a balanced setup, a quiet load that gets him into a good position to hit, and has some length in the barrel out front with the feel of adjustability in the swing. It is a somewhat longer limbed frame and has above average bat speed through the zone with some future impact. Our staff has had limited looks at Miller, two this fall at PDG, but off of what we have gathered in those evaluations it is more than likely corner outfield/first base defensive profile long term with the bat carrying the profile. We have not gotten much in terms of clean run times, but looks more average to slightly below run tool. Again, Miller is still extremely young and the broader shouldered frame, paired with his length, leans us to believe he has much more strength that he will be able to hold. 

Ian Choi RHP / 3B / Freedom (South Riding), VA / 2029

Clean operation, pitchability, and projection left are the biggest things for us when talking about Choi, the #4 ranked 2029. Is the right hander the next big name at Freedom (South Riding)? Listed at 6-foot-3, 194-pounds, Choi has a slightly above normal effort delivery, a clean full arm swing, repeatable mechanics, and gets some extension down the mound. Strike thrower that challenges in the zone with a mid to upper 80's fastball and shows some feel for secondary. While there is some two-way potential, it is what he brings to the table on the mound that positions him inside the Top 5 of this rankings update. 

Charlie Garten OF / LHP / Gonzaga College High School, DC / 2029

Athlete, hitter, and just gives you the feeling that he is going to have a chance to hit long term. Those are some things that stood out to our staff about Garten and his performances this summer and fall to our staff. Fairly proportional 5-foot-10 frame and has plenty of room to add strength. Above average runner for his age and class and while he is a 7.0 runner currently, he will almost certainly be a sub 6.9 runner long term. At the plate it is a lower lift and glides to stride, hands are deeper in load, and maintains balance throughout the swing. While he does lock out a bit with the lead arm, he does a nice job getting back inside and getting the barrel out front. Like Miller, there is a really solid feel to hit with Garten and he is one of the better athletes in this grouping. While he sits in the #5 spot right now, the run tool and impact should continue to improve as he adds strength, solidifying his place as a top talent in this 2029 class.

Swisher Cook OF / LHP / Lord Botetourt High, VA / 2029

The last two southwest Virginia classes have shown a solid trend up, and Swisher Cook seems to be continuing that trend for this 2029 class. The left/left outfielder and arm is arguably the best left handed arm in this group. While he is generally a low 80's arm, his pitchability offers a lot more to his profile. One of the better strike throwers in this group, Cook has displayed the ability to land two pitches and keep pressure on opposing hitters. In addition to what he brings on the mound, his compact stroke at the plate leans in to gap to gap doubles power. While it is more doubles and contact now, the power is something that can certainly grow with the corner outfield/first base talent. Will certainly be a guy we get out in the Roanoke area to see in 2026.

Hayes Corbitt 3B / RHP / Benedictine College Preparatory, VA / 2029

Easily best present and future power of this group. Corner/corner profile with an aggressive, hitter's mentality at the plate. Is always looking to do damage, and has the ability to produce that in game. While the approach should continue to improve with maturity and AB's, you cannot turn away from his in game power production. Average bat speed, above average hand speed, and rotates extremely well through the middle of his body. The run leans into first base long term, but if that improves he could potentially move to some right field, or potentially left field. Regardless, this is a run production, scoreboard changer type of bat. There are some guys that were simply built to hit (mannerisms, approach, instincts, etc) and Corbitt is one of those guys. 

DJ Lee II OF / SS / The Maret School, VA / 2029

Best athlete in this group. Three sport guy, good body and frame that is listed at 6-foot-3. Compact level path swing with the ability to show some sneaky impact to the pull side. More line drives and can change things on the bases with his above average speed. On the positional side of things his ball tracking and reads off the bat should certainly be an asset for Lee, who spends his time at WR and DB on the football field. Will be an intriguing athlete that our staff will get up to DC and see in 2026.

Kayden Ragsdale C / RHP / Bishop Denis J. Oconnell High School, VA / 2029

Competitor. One word to describe Ragsdale. While he is fairly quiet when we have been around him, he plays the game with a different edge. Arm strength is an asset for the NOVA area two way talent, showing well above average arm strength behind the plate and some above average arm strength on the mound. Sitting in the mid 80's on the mound and will get up to 86-87. This fall he threw in our DC Fall Championships and he held velo through his third inning of work and used two secondary pitches from start to finish on opposing hitters. While it was the fastball that ultimately overpowered hitters, he did land the breaking ball and changeup for strikes, with the changeup showing really well in multiple outings this fall. For us, it is arm over positional right now, the the arm strength will certainly give him a chance to make an impact behind the plate. 

Wyatt Rusak 3B / RHP / Frank W. Cox High, VA / 2029

If there were times that Rusak did not flash this summer or fall, it was only because the then 14 year old was playing 17or 18U. Rusak played with and against 2026-2027's all summer and not once did he look out of place. There was a sense of maturity to his game, an ability to slow the game down in a sense, which left a big impression on our staff. The 757 area talent is every bit of his listed 6-foot-1 frame and shows proportional strength that could hold some bulk really well. Square and balanced stance at the plate, strides forward on line, and delivers some above average bat speed through the zone for quality impact. Advanced bat to ball skills for his age, especially considering some of the arms he was doing it against. On the mound it is more of the same. Mid 80's velo, normal effort delivery, and works from a high three-quarter slot. Has a solid feel for the strike zone and gets good direction down the mound. While the maturity and bat to ball skills leans us to the positional side a bit, there is certainly talent there on the mound, to go along with the frame upside and projection.